John Allanach

John Allanach b. 1819 Strathdon, d. 1886 Faichla

John Allanach

Summary

When John Allanach was born in 1819 in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, his father, John, was 43 and his mother, Elisabeth, was 33. He married Amelia McGillivray on 6 December 1867 in his hometown. They had one child during their marriage. He died on 28 December 1886 in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, at the age of 67.

Parents

Father – John Allanach
Mother – Elisabeth Anderson

Birth

John Allanach was born in 1819 in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, to Elisabeth Anderson, age 33, and John Allanach, age 43. This is evidenced through the 1861 census which shows John as aged 42 and living with mother Elisabeth (76).

Siblings

John had one brother:

William Allanach

Marriage

John Allanach married AmeliaMcGillivray in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, on 6 December 1867 when he was 48 years old.

Children

John and Amelia had no children officially, but Amelia had a daughter marked as illegitimate 6 months after John died (see below).

Amelia Allanach (born 1887)

Death

John Allanach died on 28 December 1886 in Faichlaw, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, when he was 67 years old.

Life Story

1861

John (age stated as 42) lives with mother Elizabeth (76) at Faichla.

The history of Faichla is detailed here and here. The house has a long history and its owners the Farquharsons who lived here have a connection to Farquharson Wharf in Jamaica, and in more modern times, the main house was owned by famous Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

Note – the Farquharsons also have a link to Toldaquhill which is detailed here.

1867

John and Amelia marry on the 6th December1867 at Auchernach (John’s Parents’ cottage). John is stated as a weaver, Amelia as a domestic servant.

1871

John is still resident at 1 Faichla where he works as a woollen weaver. Intriguingly he resides there with a step-daughter named Joan (9) and a step-son named John (4). I am unable to read their surnames but they each look different. Joan is stated as being born in Inverness, John in Glenlivet, Banffshire.

1881

Now aged 62, John is now living alone according to the 1881 census. He still works as a weaver. The census confirms he has just 2 rooms with one or more windows.

1886

John Allanach dies on 28 December 1886 in Faichlaw, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, when he was 67 years old. Note a second death in the wider family (George aged 9) on same page of register.

It also confirms he is still married to Amelia.

Note there is a notice of correction as the original certificate stated cause of death ‘unknown’. The corrected entry updates to ‘natural causes’ as Jamie Stewart of Bellabeg had seen the body and confirmed this.

1887

Six months after John dies, a child is born called (Rebekah) Amelia Allanach. Whilst the register is marked as ‘illegitimate’, there is a stamp to the left indicating the paternity is in dispute. It could be that confirmation was needed that the child was indeed John’s and as such the register was marked as illegitimate until proven otherwise, and it would seem odd that the Allanach name would still carry if it were not John’s daughter. However, more investigation and research still required.