We have a separate webpage that details why our list of includes more than those we judge were participants in the raiding group.  The essence of what we say is that: each of the listed persons have been identified by at least one researcher as being in the assault upon the Gaspee.  We have some  doubts as to some of them, but nothing so strong as to absolutely disqualify them. By listing all the names, we assist future research. We note our reservations when we have reservations.

We identify "Paul Allen" as a "possible" Gaspee raider, but only as  "possible." We list him  solely because Natalie Robinson's text Revolutionary Fire, written for the Rhode Island RI Committee for the Humanities in 1984, identifies "Paul Allen" as one of the men in the attacking longboats  She did not list sources in her account, but her text is generally sound. 

Paul Allen

There is only one Paul Allen listed in the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Database with dates which would corresponding to being present in 1772, to wit; a Paul Allen who died 17 Feb 1800, buried at Providence's Old North Burial Ground.

Paul Allen was born on 7 Dec 1742 in Braintree, Massachusetts.  Paul was the fifth of 12 children born to Micah Allen and Mary (White) Allen.

The first written reference we find for Paul as an adult shows he was one of the founders setting up the Congregational Church in Providence in 1770. (Among the other names listed as founders of this church are Darius Sessions, a known co-conspirator in the Gaspee attack, and Ephraim Bowen, a known Gaspee raider.)

In 1772, at the time of the attack on the Gaspee, Allen would have been 29 years old. He was then a merchant in a business partnership with Samuel W. Bridgham in Providence, according to an advertisement in the Gazette.  

In 1774, Paul Allen and Mary "Polly" Cooke were married (22 May 1774).

In 1775 he was a captain of a Nicholas Brown & Company ship named the Unity.  In that year he sailed that ship to the West Indies to obtain much-needed arms for the coming Revolution. The Unity was one of the ships that John Brown dispatched during the Revolution as a "Rhode Island privateer".

In 1790 Allen appeared in the census in Providence, Rhode Island.  His household consisted of 1 male over 16 (presumably Paul), six males (sons) under 16 years old; 3 females (wife and 2 daughters?); and one other free person.

Paul died on 17 Feb 1800 at the age of 57. He was buried in North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island. His estate was probated in 1800.

Paul has our reference number Buck109.

 Mary "Polly" Cooke, daughter of Nicholas Cooke, was born about 1748. She died on 5 Aug 1827 at the age of 79. She was buried in North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island.

Mary has our reference number Buck4062.

Paul Allen and Mary "Polly" Cooke had a child named Paul Allen Jr.

Paul Allen Jr. (Paul-1) was born in 1775. In 1795 he was a lawyer in Rhode Island. From 1798 to 1801 he was a Clerk of the Rhode Island Superior Court in the State of Rhode Island. In May 1801 Paul was a Justice of the Peace in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1802 he was an Editor of the Baltimore Morning Chronicle in Maryland. He died in 1826 at the age of 51 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Paul has our reference number Buck4060.

Paul Allen and Mary "Polly" Cooke had the following additional children:

Horatio G. Allen was born in 1776. He died in 1777. He has reference number Buck4058.

Hannah C. Allen was born in 1778. She has reference number Buck4055.

Horatio Allen was born in 1780. He died in Jan 1795 at the age of 21. He has reference number Buck4057.

Joseph C. Allen was born in 1782. He has reference number Buck4059.

Henry Allen was born in 1784. He has reference number Buck4056.

Thomas Allen was born in 1786. He has reference number Buck4061.

Preparer: Leonard Bucklin. © See Copyright Notices,.