Background
James Peter Allaire was born in 1785 in New Rochelle, New York, United States. He was the son of Peter Alexander Allaire и Frances Wilmot.
James Peter Allaire was born in 1785 in New Rochelle, New York, United States. He was the son of Peter Alexander Allaire и Frances Wilmot.
Allaire was one of the few skilled workmen in America capable of assembling the engines, marine and others, that were being shipped from England. In 1813 he began business as a brass founder in New York City. At the time, Robert Fulton had his engine shop in Jersey City, and in 1815 Allaire leased the Fulton shop, transferring its business the following year to his brass foundry on Cherry St. , New York City, thus founding the oldest steam-engine works in New York. Under the patronage of Fulton and others he became the leading manufacturer of steam-engines, boilers, etc. , of his day. The name of the Allaire Works became famous and was to be seen on a vast number of engines, particularly steam-boat engines, still in use in this country toward the latter half of the nineteenth century.
When the Works were in their prime Allaire heard of the presence of iron ore in the bogs of Monmouth County, New Jersey. He went prospecting and found not only iron ore but a forest nearby suited for charcoal, then essential in smelting. He purchased, in all, about 8, 000 acres of woodland and set about erecting furnace, smelter, and finishing mill, and then an ideal town (later called Allaire) to take care of his workmen. The erection of these works, called the Howell Works, began in 1831. The Squan River furnished water power. Allaire had a canal dug to enable flat-boats and barges to float up to the Works. He constructed a tiny railroad to shunt the ore to the smelter. There was every evidence of permanent prosperity. His works were said to be worth $250, 000.
Then iron ore with soft coal beds in close proximity was discovered in Pennsylvania. Charcoal became valueless. The new ore-beds were near railroads. Allaire could be but a feeble competitor when the competition came. His business dwindled and when he died he was "land poor. " But "the excellent steam machinery turned out at his extensive foundry carried his name to every part of the world. " Some of the boats for which the Allaire Works built engines were the Henry Eckford, Sun, Post Boy, Commerce, Pilot Boy, Swiftsure, Chancellor Livingston, Savannah, North River, Panama, Bay State, and Monita Puritan.
Allaire was a Protestant.
Allaire supported Loyalists.
Allaire was twice married: first to Frances Roe, and later to Calicia Tompkins.