Jemmy Allen, noted piper of Northumberland, was born in 1734 at Woodhouses, Rothbury, Northumberland. He was one of six children of a traveller family.
As he was a bright lad; a local squire sent him to school so that he would end up in a more “respectable occupation”, unlike his father. Despite everyone’s attempts to get him to better himself, he resisted. His father, Will Allen, as well as being a skilled vermin hunter was a notable musician in his own right on the Northumbrian small pipes. He taught young Jemmy the arts of his music.
‘Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast’.
Later on in his youth, he saw a performance by The Northern Militia Band at Alnwick, Northumberland and this led him to join up. This occupation turned out to be even worse than his experience with school and he soon deserted. He was arrested at Stagshaw Bank Fair, but escaped. He deserted several more times.
He travelled far and wide over the North, skilfully playing his pipes but also indulging in various criminal activities along the way. In 1769 he was appointed as a musician at Alnwick but he misbehaved and was sacked. He reverted back to his old ways of felony, breaking jail, drinking and horse stealing.
He never learned his lesson and appeared in court several times. Ultimately, this put to a stop to his lawless life. In 1803 he had been drinking and stole a horse and rode “o’er the border and awa.’” He was captured and the court found him guilty, sentencing him to death. The death sentence was then changed to transportation, but because of his age (69) and his infirmities, this was commuted to incarceration for life. He died in jail aged 77 on 13th November 1810.
It was a sign of his popularity that a petition was made to free Jemmy; the Prince Regent was first to sign it. However, his death came before the letter granting him pardon arrived.
Folklore tales, true and untrue were fondly told of the adventures of Jemmy Allen’s vagabond life as a roving musician, both before, and after, his life ended.
The Monthly Chronicle, of North – Country Lore and Legend, Jubilee Edition. Volume 1, 1887