Introduction / Barbara Allan / Westray Allans

John Allan and Margaret Bews

John Allan and Margaret Bews were probably married in the early 1780s, before marriages were recorded in the Westray OPR. While their parents cannot be proved, it is possible that John's parents were John Allan and Marion Harcus and that Margaret's parents were Peter Bews and Marion Port. John and Margaret had eight known children, all born and baptised on Westray:

• John Allan, c. 21st Apr 1782

• Barbara Allan, c. 24th July 1784, who married William Gray and lived on Eday

• Elizabeth Allan, c. 5th Nov 1786. She never married and apparently lived much of her life with her brother William at Sponess, Westray, (although in 1851 she was at North Cockleshouse, Eday with her sister Barbara). She died 15th May 1868 at Sponess

• James Allan, c. 21st Mar 1790

• Janet Allan, c. 26th Feb 1792

• Margaret Allan, c. 10th Mar 1793, d. before Aug 1801

• William Allan, c. 28th July 1798, who married three times: first, Ann Drever; second, May (Marjorie) Irvine; and third, Jean Kent

• Margaret Allan, c. 14th Aug 1801, who married John Mason

Nothing more is known of John and Margaret, except that at least by the birth of their youngest child they were living at Sponess on the east coast of Westray. They evidently died before the 1841 census because they are not listed therein.