Introduction / Westray Grays / David Allan and Elizabeth Sinclair / James Allan and Elizabeth Reid

James Allan and Jane Groat

James Allan was born on Eday on 26th August 1834, and baptised on 12th October 1834, to James Allan and Elizabeth Reid. He married on 11th November 1859 at Swartquoy, Shapinsay, Jane Groat. Jane was a Shapinsay native born on 6th July 1841 to William Groat and Jane Shearer. James and Jane had six children, all born Shapinsay:

• Jane Allan, b. abt 1861 who married David Craigie, of Burnside, Shapinsay, a widower and marine engineer. They were married on 27th Aug 1896 on Castle Street, Thurso, Caithness, where the Allan family had moved. David was the son of Gilbert Craigie and Jane Gibson and was born in Rousay and Egilsay on 20th Mar 1857.

• William Allan, b. 9th May 1862, a week before the death of his paternal grandfather. In 1901, William was living with his parents in Thurso and was self-employed as a fish curer. He married Easther Fraser, daughter of George Fraser and Elizabeth Manson on 24th July 1901 in Thurso.

• James Allan, b. 5th Mar 1864 and married in Aberdeenshire on 30th April 1897, Mary Heddle Campbell of Walls. Mary was born on 19th Sept 1871 to John Campbell and Elizabeth Rosie. In 1901 they were living with James' parents in Thurso and James was self-employed as a fish cureer. At the time of the 1901 census they had one daughter, Lilly Jane Rose Allan, b.21st June 1899 in Thurso.

• David Allan, b. 10th June 1868

• Thomas Allan, b. 1st May 1871

• Margaret Ann Allan, b. abt 1876. In 1891 she was in Twart Close, Kirkwall and was a dressmaker's apprentice living with her aunt, Janet Allan. In 1901 she was living with her parents and brothers William and James in Thurso.

After James and Jane were married they lived at East Laroside, Shapinsay near or with James' parents, but by 1871 they had moved to Quoybanks (which appears to be next door, or at least is very near to East Laro). James was primarily a fisherman but also did some farming. The family was at Quoybanks through at least 1891, after which they moved to Thurso, in the county of Caithness on the Scottish mainland. James continued to fish at Thurso. Jane died in Thurso on 25th August 1907, age 66. James died there also, several years later, on 27th January 1921, at age 86.