Thomas Allen

Don,

Captains were licensed after 1871. That's the good news. But I don't know of any easy-to-find list of licensed masters. I seem to recall that there is a record group in the National Archives that deals with the Steamboat Inspection Service. That would be the first place I would look. There is an online guide to NARA Record Groups. I don't have the web address, but if you go to the National Archives web site, you should find it.

Of course, your ancestor's name might turn up in any number of other sources. These things are often found almost by accident. I'm sure someone else out there has more suggestions?

Re; Thomas Allen

One of the best places is right across the river at the Inland Rivers Library, a part of the Cincinnati-Hamilton Co. Library. Secondly the Herman T. Pott library in St. Louis is just finishing up a complete listing of licensed riverboat people. Some of our St. Louis posters might have better info.

Hi, Don Seifert & steamboating colleagues:
I agree with Michael and Bill Re: quest for data on Thomas Allen. I pawed through WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY and on Index Pg. 513 see some 12 listings of the 'Allen' name. There is a 'Tom Allen, mate' in Entry No: 4908 for the Str. SADIE LEE. She was a sternwheeler built by the Howard yards in 1901--perhaps too late for your ancestor.

There is a 'Capt. Allen' [*No first name listed] for the Entry No: 2533 for the Str. HARMONICA, built Elizabeth, Pa. 1856 with career on Red River, 1858. Snagged and lost Warsaw, Ill. Nov. 10th 1860. This also in WAY'S DIRECTORY.

There are four listings for the name 'Allen' in the Index of WAY'S STEAM TOWBOAT DIRECTORY, but none showing 'Thomas.' Is there a possibility you may know the name of said boat or have an idea of what river/region he was associated with? Use of a first, middle name may have varied also in some listings. 'LLOYD'S STEAMBOAT DIRECTORY and DISASTERS on the WESTERN WATERS, 1856,' lists an unbelievable number of disasters up to that time. It would be a Hurculean task to filter through all of that tiny print for names listed. Lloyd did not include an index. Lloyd does list from Pgs. 296 - 308 'alphabetical' list titled 'List of U.S. Licensed Pilots and Engineers' by Act of Congress, 30th August, 1852. Alas, no masters were included in that era.

Cheers and keep us posted. There are very keen eyes and minds on this web with possible data or leads.
R. Dale Flick

I've worked on inputting that licensing data at the Mercantile. Its done by licensing locations. Do you know where he lived or worked, even vaguely?

Judy Patsch;3983 wrote: I've worked on inputting that licensing data at the Mercantile. Its done by licensing locations. Do you know where he lived or worked, even vaguely?

Thank you all for your quick replies. I was overwhelmed when I saw them! You have all given me a great start for my quest.

To answer Judy Patch: All that I do know is that his wife and three children (one being my grandfather) first show up on the 1880 census record living in Kenton County Kentucky. She is listed as widowed and from the data I see that Thomas and she were born in Delaware. I am assuming his job brought him to this area. But I can only assume. My Uncle who lives in California told me via email that Thomas was a Steamboat captain and the his sister who is now deceased had given him this information years ago.
It's very possible that the status of Captain has been exaggerated over the years. I do have a photograph if anyone would like to have a look.

Again, thank you all for your help. I truly appreciate it.

Hi, Don. As you said, his title may have been somewhat inflated. Dale mentions a Tom Allen who was a Mate, but too late for your great-grandafther, but that could be the right path -- he could have been a Mate, Clerk or other officer. Owners, Masters, Mates, Pilots and Clerks all are/have been called "captain", so even if your verbal passed-down info. is correct, he may have been any of those officers. Good luck!

The Photo please...

Yes, please download your grandfather's photograph. Perhaps if we see him, we may be better equipped to help solve his "Captain" status. Kenton County is also my home county, but it was also home to Tom Leathers, J. T. Hatfield, Amos Picklehiemer and many, many others who chose steamboats on the river as their source of livelihood. However, Captain, or not, Thomas Allen does not ring a bell. Does the 1880 census list a specific address?

Shipyard Sam;4002 wrote: Yes, please download your grandfather's photograph. Perhaps if we see him, we may be better equipped to help solve his "Captain" status. Kenton County is also my home county, but it was also home to Tom Leathers, J. T. Hatfield, Amos Picklehiemer and many, many others who chose steamboats on the river as their source of livelihood. However, Captain, or not, Thomas Allen does not ring a bell. Does the 1880 census list a specific address?

The census record does not list a specific address but According to the Covington City Directory of 1880-81, the family lived at 154 W. 8th Street, Covington, KY. His wife and children that is. You can see the picture at the following link

In reading your first posting more carefully, I see he was dead by 1880. The Mercantile Library records are from 1896 to about 1900, so wouldn't be of any help, unless a later generation was also on the river.

Hello Sam,

The census record has no specific address but according to the Covington City Directory of 1880-81, his family lived at 154 W. 8th Street, Covington, KY

You can see the picture at

Thomas Allen

According to the Covington City Directory of 1880-81 his family lived at 154 W. 8th Street, Covington, KY

His picture is at

Sorry for the repetition but i had trouble posting

As far as I know there were no other family members in the steamboat business

Don,

Was your grandfather also named Thomas? If he was than I may have a possible candidate for your "Captain Thomas Allen".

Michael Marleau

Michael Marleau;4017 wrote: Don,

Was your grandfather also named Thomas? If he was than I may have a possible candidate for your "Captain Thomas Allen".

Michael Marleau

Michael,
My grandfather was named Charles but he had a brother named Thomas who was born in 1868. I know very little about him.

Don,

What I found were two Allen families, the first evidently yours in Covington. The mother was Henretta, than Charles, Thomas and Roy. This is the 1880family you are refering to, I beleive. There was another Allen family in nearby Newport that had a Thomas but no Charles for sons. In 1860 the father Thomas was listed as "Mate", in 1870 he was listed as "Pilot" that nothing in later censes records. I'll keep looking through the records maybe we'll get lucky.

Michael

Michael Marleau;4023 wrote: Don,

What I found were two Allen families, the first evidently yours in Covington. The mother was Henretta, than Charles, Thomas and Roy. This is the 1880family you are refering to, I beleive. There was another Allen family in nearby Newport that had a Thomas but no Charles for sons. In 1860 the father Thomas was listed as "Mate", in 1870 he was listed as "Pilot" that nothing in later censes records. I'll keep looking through the records maybe we'll get lucky.

Michael

Hi Michael,

Henretta (Henrietta) is my great grandmother and yes they are the family I have been talking about. At least I'm fairly certain that they are my ancestors.

I found the family from Newport that you referred to. Dont really know what to think of it. The other names in the family are not familiar to me.

One interesting note about the Kenton County Allen's. In 1880 if you notice on the census record, there is a woman listed as a border living with them. Her name is Charlotte Fenton, also from Delaware. I found Charlotte in 1870 living in Kenton County. At that time she is living with her husband, a William Fenton and he is listed as a "Steamboatsman". I just wonder if William Fenton and Thomas Allen were work mates.

Thank you and everyone for your interest in my query

Hello again,

After more research and conversation with relatives I have reason to believe that my Great Grandfather was named Miller Allen and not Thomas. Would anyone be familiar with a Captain Miller Allen?