Annie Gates’ Walking Stick

Shown in the photo above is an ebony walking stick with an ivory top that was used by Annie Gates, the last owner of the Denison Homestead. Annie loved to receive guests at the homestead; in later years many Denison relatives had strong memories of visiting Annie in her parlor, as she served tea and told the family stories.

Amos Denison Allen, Furniture Maker

Amos Denison Allen (1774 - 1855) of Windham, Connecticut was the third-great-grandson of Captain George Denison and Ann Borordell. He was the second son of Amos Allen Jr. (1744 - 1788) and Anna Babcock (1745 - 1775); he was one of 11 children.

Upon the death of his father, Amos' mother found work for him as a chairmaker's apprentice to Colonel Ebenezer Tracy of Lisbon, Connecticut. During his apprenticeship Amos adopted some of Tracy's popular designs, specifically his Windsor and Sheraton chairs. Chairs were not Amos' only specialty, he went on to employ his own assistants and apprentices in order to maintain local demand for quality furniture.

But what is a good colonial story without a bit of romance? Eight years into Amos' apprenticeship he married Tracy's own daughter Lydia; they had nine children together. Of these children, Edwin Allen, one of Amos' twin sons, went on to continue the family legacy and became a successful producer of wood-block printing equipment.

Today the rare-few pieces of Amos Denison Allen brand furniture are highly sought after, some fetching tens of thousands at auction houses throughout the country; in 2008 Christie's Auction House sold a sack-back Windsor armchair for over $27,000.

So, if you have any antique chairs in your home, flip them over and check for the distinctive A. D. ALLEN mark, it could be worth thousands.