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Thanks for your interest Josephine.John Robert Allen was born circa 1837 in Patrickswell Co Limerick and due to some family problems he was a made a ward of the Protestant Dean of Limerick he trained as Vet. He didn't fully qualify as he should have gone to Edinburgh for his Degree and on that account he wasn't allowed Practice around Limerick. He married Margaret Cotter-Bennett of Rockhill Estate, Charleville, Co Cork, who was a Dressmaker. She worked with her Aunt in Bruree. It is known that they eloped to marry as he was Protestant and she a Catholic. He died on the 16th December1894 and is buried in Kinure cemetery which is near Oysterhaven.
His son John Robert was born on the 9th of January 1861. I found his birth records in Charleville.
John Allen  son of John Robert Allen, Patrickswell  Co Limerick.  And Margaret Cotter-Bennett, of Rockhill Estate, Charleville.  Born approx.  late 1860s.  His parents came to live at Oatlands, Belgooly, Co Cork, with their clear knowledge, I reckon, that they were coming to live amongst certain families who were of Scottish origin, like John Allen`s father, who was from a Scottish family originally. John R Allen was related to Col Tom Knolles , whose Estate at Oatlands he managed.This family relation is evidenced by the fact that when John Allen died, in 1893, the Miss Knolles, sisters of Tom Knolles, wanted him to be buried in the Knolles grave, at Kinure, Oysterhaven. He is, in fact buried in the same Cemetery, where the Allen grave is. Because of the difference in religion, the request was not acceded to.    John Allen (Jnr.) lived with his Mothers relatives in Charleville up to the age of about six. He was then sent to his parents at Oatlands Estate .The following interesting anecdote is told of his coming to his parents. Since he was so young and could not travel on his own, a tag was put on the child, giving name and address. This was not an unusual occurrence in Ireland at the time. He was put on the train, and was immediately taken care of by the fellow- passengers. He arrived safe and sound at his parents? home.    As a teenager, John Allen was sent to Lord Doneraile`s stables at Doneraile Co Cork, to train as a Jockey. The Donerailes, whose family name was St Ledger, were related to him through his ancestors, the Allen`s of Patrickswell. Perhaps it should be mentioned in passing that John Allen`s Grand aunt, Agnes Allen of Patrickswell, was, at this time of which we are speaking, the wife of   The McCarthy-Murrough. She had a sister called Elizabeth Allen, Hence the names Agnes and Elizabeth in our Aherne family.  John Allen immigrated to America as a young man.

Again these are from my fathers notes and I haven't found any records to back them up.
I'd appreciate any help.

I'm trying to see if there was a connection between these 2 families.
I'm working on notes left by my late father.
I've not had much luck in finding Johns ancestors or where he finished up in the States.
I know his father, a John Allen and his mother Margaret Cotter-Bennett of Rockhill estate in Charleville, Co. Cork.

Below a section of my fathers notes:
"As a teenager, John Allen was sent to Lord Doneraile’s stables at Doneraile Co Cork, to train as a Jockey. The Donerailes, whose family name was St Ledger, were related to him through his ancestors, the Allen’s of Patrickswell. Perhaps it should be mentioned in passing that John Allen’s grandaunt, Agnes Allen of Patrickswell, was, at this time of which we are speaking, the wife of   The McCarthy-Murrough. She had a sister called Elizabeth Allen, Hence the names Agnes and Elizabeth in our Aherne family.John Allen immigrated to America as a young man. He became attached to the Payne- Whitney stables, in Carolina. As a Jockey, he was quiet famous on the American scene Our Mother, his sister, used to speak much of his attainments, saying that he rode the winner of one of the American Classics (Kentucky Derby, perhaps).At a later stage in his career, he was manager- trainer for the Payne-Whitney stables. Later he became a trainer and owner in his own right. He trained and owned several well- known horses".

I would appreciate any information or help.
Thank you.