Melissa Knickerbocker Allen was born in Madison County, NY in about 1819. She was the daughter of Peter Knickerbocker. (Peter was born in Litchfield County, CT, but had come to Eaton, Madison County as a child, with his father. In the 1820 census, Peter is living near his father, John Knickerbocker.) Melissa and Peter later lived in Potter County, PA.