Samuel Allen (born 13 October, 1846) was the grandson of his namesake, Samuel Allen, 1820 settler.

His wife, Sophia, was born in Tottenham, England, on 14 November 1843.

Sophia, Samuel’s wife, died on 22 October, 1903 and is buried, not in Manubi Cemetery (-32.440091,28.612497), but across the road in the yard of the Forest Department homestead. We are grateful to the powers that be who have preserved the grave on Government property - unlike those in the main cemetery across the road.

 

Darren and Michelle Allen and children, Kayla, Ethan and Jessie Allen at Sophia Allen's grave in May 2017. Six generations of Allen are spanned in this picture.

 

The headstone reads:

 

 In loving memory of

Sophia Augusta Allen

died Manubie

October 22nd 1903

aged 59 years 11 months and 11 days

Only goodnight

beloved

not farewell

 

 Samuel Allen, himself, is buried in an unmarked grave in the yard of the Allen family home. Samuel died 23 January 1934
 

In the actual cemetery, however, is a  site surrounded by a picket fence with corner posts that are turned on a lathe in a similar way to the table legs. This fence must have also been made of hard wood similar to the teak of the table, because more than a century later, they are still solid. It could quite possibly also be the handiwork Samuel Allen. The fence could not, however, withstand the large blue gum tree that fell across this and a number of other graves in a line.