Hannah Allen (bookseller)
Hannah Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hannah Howse |
| Other names | Hannah Chapman |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, printer |
| Years active | 1646–1651 |
| Known for | Religious writings and colonial American affairs publications |
Hannah Allen (), born Hannah Howse and subsequently known as Hannah Chapman, was an English bookseller and printer who focused on religious writings and publications related to colonial American affairs. Her professional activity is primarily recorded between 1646 and 1651.
In 1632, she wed Benjamin Allen; following his passing in 1646, she assumed control of his bookselling enterprise. Later, she married Livewell Chapman, who had been her apprentice. While 54 works are confirmed to carry her imprint, it is believed that the actual number of publications under her name is greater.
Allen has been characterized as a "radical sectarian," with her publishing portfolio including millenarian texts and works associated with the Fifth Monarchists, featuring authors such as Thomas Brightman, Menasseh Ben Israel, and several books by Henry Jessey.
Among her notable publications was Jessey's The Exceeding Riches of Grace Advanced by the Spirit of Grace, in an Empty Nothing Creature, Viz. Mris Sarah Wight released in 1647, which achieved contemporary bestseller status. This work presented the prophetic experiences of Sarah Wight, with Allen acknowledged as a witness to Wight’s ecstatic condition.
Additionally, Allen dealt in literature concerning the American colonies, including legal documents related to the Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut colonies.