Intoduction / Families / Reid / Elizabeth Reid and James Allan

John Allan and Christina Bews

John Allan was born on 28th May 1832 on Eday to James Allan and Elizabeth Reid. John's family moved to Shapinsay sometime after the 1851 census, and he married there, on 25th May 1858, Christina (Christy) Bews, daughter of Alexander Bews and Christy Craigie. Christina was also born on Eday, on 10th May 1834 and baptised the following 15th of June. John and Christina had four children, all born on Shapinsay:

• Jessie Allan, b. 29th June 1859. In about 1883 Jessie bore a son named John William Allan who was raised by Jessie's parents. Young John, a seaman, died in Shapinsay on 13th Aug 1907, age 24, as a result of an accident on board a ship. Jessie married Duncan Currie of Mull near Oban, on 3rd Jan. 1900. At the time Jessie was a domestic in the mance on Mull. Jessie died in Oban, on 9th Oct 1944, age 86.

• William Allan, b. 4th June 1864 who married, first, Elizabeth Inkster and, then Elizabeth Sinclair

• Alexina Allan, b. 28th June 1866 who married David Work

• Jane Fleming Allan, b. 1st Apr 1868 who married John Inkster

John and Christina lived at Pictou, Shapinsay, and John was a farmer and fisherman. He died at Pictou on 3rd May 1914 and Christina died, also at Pictou, on 9th December 1922. Their gravestone inscription reads: "In memory of John William Allan who died 13 Aug 1907 from the effects of an accident on board the ship Janet of Kirkwall, aged 24 years. Also his grandparents, John Allan died 3rd May 1911, aged 82 years. Christy Allan died 9th Dec 1922, aged 88 years. He has anchored his soul in the haven of rest. He will sail the wide seas no more. The tempest may weep over the wild stormy dead. In Jesus he is safe evermore." There appears to be a discrepancy between the transcription and the civil record in the case of John Allan's death, probably due to the condition of the stone.