Introduction

Barbara Allan

Barbara Allan was the wife of William Gray and their children and families became the Grays in both Papa Westray and Eday. While William Gray died prior to the first census in 1841, Barbara was living at Cocklehouse in Eday with a Thomas Allan (75 years). It is not immediately apparent how Barbara and Thomas were related and this is not given by the census for this particular year. Her son, John Gray was living close by at Swart Mill.

Barbara didn't die until after the introduction of the registration of births, marriages and deaths. This was at North Cocklehouse, Eday on 3rd July 1864. While her death certificate indicates that she was 86 years old, she was probably 80 years. Her parents are given as John Allan, farmer (deceased) and Margaret Bews. The information was provided by her grandson, James Gray of South Cocklehouse.

Records indicated that John Allan and Margaret Bews had a daughter, Barbara Allan who was baptised on 24th July 1784 hence likelihood that she was 80 years when she died.

The IGI indicates that Barbara and her siblings were born in either Westray or Papa Westray. Her paternal grandparents are thought to be John Allan and Marion Hercus.

Examination of the Old Parish Records (OPR) for the maternal grandparents of Barbara Allan indicates that there were at least five Bews families on Westray and Papa Westray in the 25 year period before 1770, and there were many more on the Mainland and other islands in Orkney. Although there was a Margaret Bews baptised on Westray or Papa Westray on 3rd December 1758, the daughter of Peter Bews and Marion Port, it is not possible to prove that this Margaret was the mother of Barbara Allan. It is also not possible to prove the relationship, if any, between these early Bews families.

More information is available on the Allans in Westray.