Allen, Frederick Slocum, son of Holden and Mary Devoll (Slocum) Allen, was born in Westport, Bristol County, December 25, 1837.
His early educational advantages were limited to the district schools of Fairhaven.
Before he was quite seventeen years of age, he shipped on a whaling voyage to the Arctic Ocean, and sailed from New Bedford, November 3, 1856, in the ship “Saratoga”–Frederick Slocum, master. He was connected with the whaling business some three years and a half. This business he left in 1860. As his father held a commission as pilot for the ports of Buzzard’s Bay, he then assisted him in that business as boat-keeper for about ten years, as also previous to his whaling voyage, some five years. He then spent considerable time and money in improving windlasses. Several models were on exhibition at the National Museum at Washington.
For several years he has been quite actively engaged in town affairs, and for fourteen years he has held a commission as justice of the peace. He has given special attention to the saving of life from shipwreck, and in 1887, at the International Maritime Exposition at Havre, France, he was awarded a silver medal for a reversible lifeboat.
Mr. Allen was married in Martha’s Vineyard, November 1860, to Florencia C. Austin. They have one son; Frederick Allen. His residence is Cuttyhunk Island, Dukes County.