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| WS 174 Lincolnshire medium bow back Windsor armchair by Nicholas Allen of Boston |
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| Arm turning detail, Lincolnshire medium bow back Windsor armchair by Nicholas Allen of Boston |
Nicholas Allen, son of Nicholas Allen and Mary Allen neé Needlar was baptised on 17 June 1764 at Stainton le Vale in the Lincolnshire Wolds, 6 miles north east of Market Rasen and 6 miles south east of Caistor. On 6 March 1835 the Stamford Mercury recorded the
"Death at Boston on Wednesday last aged 71 Mr Nicholas Allen, chair turner of Wide Bargate."
The St Botolph's Boston burial register shows that he was buried on 9 March and he is recorded as being 70 years old.
Nicholas was the second of twelve children
There appeared in the Stamford Mercury on Friday 6 August 1790 this advertisement:
"WANTED IMMEDIATELY, A JOURNEYMAN PIN-CHAIR and SPINNING-WHEEL MAKER.—A good Hand may have constant Employ, and good Wages, by applying to NICHOLAS ALLEN, Chair and Wheel-Maker, of Boston, Lincolnshire N.B, Letters (Post paid) duly answered."
"Nicholas Allen, Pin, Chair & Spinning-wheel maker" is his entry in The Universal British Directory 1791.
On 17 May 1790 the register of St Botolph's Church, Boston contains this entry
"This marriage was solemnised between us
Nicholas Allen
Frances Harrison + Her mark
In the presence of Us
James Hildred H his mark
John Allen"
The Lincolnshire Marriage Licence Bonds and Allegations reveal that Frances was a widow.
As their son John was baptised at St Botolph's on 27 November 1790 just over six months' later there may have been an element of haste over the wedding.
Masters & Apprentices County Series Vol IR 1/66 Folio 179/52 shows an entry in 1793 as follows: "Master: Nicholas Allen, Turner. Apprentice: Wm Haw 1 16 May 93. 7 yrs fm date. Sum paid £7 7s 0d. Duty paid £0 3s 9d. Date Duty Paid 16 May 1793. Date entered 31 July 1793. Collector: Richd Gibbeson Lincolnse."
On 10 June 1803 the Stamford Mercury advertised:
"To Pin Chair-makers and Bottomers. WANTED, a JOURNEYMAN to each of the above Businesses; who will meet with constant Employment, and liberal Wages will be given, by applying to NICHOLAS ALLEN, Chair and Spinning-wheel-maker, Boston, Lincolnshire. 10th June 1803."
On 11 March 1808 in the Stamford Mercury appeared:
To PIN and FANCY CHAIR-MAKERS . WANTED immediatelv, Two Journeymen Chair-makers Good hands will meet with constant employ and liberal wages by applying to NICHOLAS ALLEN, chair-maker and job turner, Boston, Lincolnshire.—Letters to be post paid. March 10th 1808."
Stamford Mercury - Friday 16 November 1827 contained the following sale:
"BOSTON, Lincolnshire. To be SOLD by AUCTION, At the Red Lion Inn in Boston, Wednesday the 28th day of November instant, at Six o’clock in the afternoon, subject to such conditions of sale as shall be then and there produced, unless previously disposed of by private contract, of which due notice will be given; A Valuable Freehold ESTATE, in Boston.
Lot 1. A Messuage or Tenement, and Grocer’s Shop, in an excellent state of repair, situate in Wide Bargate, near to Pen-street, with Yard, and Rain Water and other conveniences, as the same are now in the occupation of Elizabeth Moody.
Lot 2. Allotment of Land in the West Fen, (Tithe-free,) in the parochial allotment to Boston East, containing 4A. 2R. 22P, or thereabouts, lying near to Richardson’s Bridge, and abutting on the Horncastle road on the West, well fenced, and in a high state of cultivation, now in the occupation of Nicholas Allen.
Lot 3. Piece or Parcel Building Ground, situate on the West side of Pen-street, containing about 200 Square Yards, with a Frontage of 21 feet next the street.
Part the purchase-money may remain on security of the premises, if required.-—For particulars enquire of Mr Nicholas Allen, the owner ; or at the office of Messrs. Thirkill and Rogers, solicitors, Boston."
In Pigot's Directory 1828-39 Nicholas Allen is recorded as a cabinet maker as he is in the 1835 edition.
On 3 July 1829 the Stamford Mercury records:
"On Thursday the 25th ult., aged 50, the widow Dawney, cowkeeper, of Boston West. Same day, aged 80, Frances wife of Mr. Nicholas Allen, chair turner, of Bargate, Boston."
and on 6 March 1835
"Death at Boston on Wednesday last aged 71 Mr Nicholas Allen, chair turner of Wide Bargate."
Nicholas had a much younger brother, Joseph, the twelfth of his parents' children, baptised at Stainton le Vale on 10 July 1785 who died at Boston on 15 February 1848. He is recorded as a Chair and General Turner in Pigot's Directory 1835 at Cheapside, Boston as as a turner in the 1841 census. When Joseph married Elizabeth Haw, a widow in St Botolph's in 1814, his nephew John, Nicholas and Frances's son, was one of the witnesses.
John appears at Bargate in the 1841 census as a chair maker: he died on 16 September 1841 and was buried at St Botolph's three days later.
One thing that stands out about Nicholas Allen from the above sequence of advertisements is that had chairs such as the one featured in this post not survived, it would never have been known that his workshop made Windsor chairs. All the advertisements mention pin chairs or fancy chairs and spinning wheels. Pin chairs are rush-seated - hence the advertisement for chair bottomers in 1803.
Allen seems to have been a resourceful craftsman with a wide range of output. It is rare in Lincolnshire to find a workshop that made both rush-seated and Windsor chairs.
© Photos William Sergeant 2020 Text Julian Parker 2020
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