James Allan Esq (abt. 1747 - aft. 1796)

Born about 1747 in Alloa, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Husband of Elizabeth (Colvin) Allan — married 9 Aug 1777 in Alloa, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died after 6 Aug 1796 after about age 49 in The Hall, Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland

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Biography

James Allan was born about 1747, the son of David Allan, shoremaster at Alloa, and his second wife.^[1]

On the 9th August 1777, he married Elizabeth Colvin in Alloa, Scotland.^[2]

From 1786–7, James Allan carried out surveys of horses, carriages, shops, and servants in the parish of Dunipace, for government levies of taxes.^[3]

In 1788, he erected a dry dock at Alloa, Clackmannanshire.^[4] Consistent with sizeable capital investment, Mr. Allan purchased insurance coverage for this operation.^[5]

James Allan was also one of the several merchants engaged by Alexander Colvin of Denovan Bleachfield to market Mr. Colvin's bleached linens.^[6]

In 1794, James Allan had become encumbered financially such that sequestration proceedings were initiated.^[7] However these proceedings concluded, one of the outcomes was the family's removal from Alloa to Denny in the parish of Dunipace. Mr. and Mrs. Allan occupied a respectably proportioned house of two storeys, called simply "Hall," situated a half mile or so west of the old town of Denny, where Mr. Allan took up farming.^[1]

The date and place of death of James Allan, Esq., are unknown. However, his body lies in the family burying ground in Dunipace old churchyard.^[8][9]

Research notes

• Unknown date of death:—The year usually recited for James Allan's death is 1791, as etched on the family gravestone. However, James Allan contributed to the Memoir written about his brother, David Allan, the painter, who died on the 6th August 1796. This leads to the possibility that James Allan died sometime after that date. An entry for burial has not been found in ScotlandsPeople's online indexes from old parish registers.~Kilpatrick-1128 (2018-06-26)
• The Old Parish Registers, online at ScotlandsPeople, shows a burial for — Allan on the 4th February 1788 in Dunipace (parish no. 478, ref. 20/218), with the name, James Allan, under “Parents/Other Details.”^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ramsay, Allan. "Memoirs of the late David Allan, Painter in Edinburgh; commonly called the Scots Hogarth." The Gentle Shepherd: A Pastoral Comedy. Vol. II. Edinburgh: Abernethy & Walker, 1808. James Allan, farmer at Hall near Denny in Stirlingshire, was one of the chief contributors to a Memoir written about his brother, David Allan (1744–1796), the Scottish painter. (pp. 621ff)
2. ↑ Church of Scotland. Old Parish Registers. Marriage of Elisabeth Colvin and James Allen (FR1488), 9th August 1777, in the parish of Alloa (parish no. 465, ref. 50/252). Index online at scotlandspeople.gov.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-06-26).
3. ↑ ScotlandsPlaces. (i) A Survey upon Horses in the County of Clackmannan, from 10th October 1785 to 5th April 1786, James Allan, Surveyor (archival ref. E326/9/1/73); (ii) Survey in the County of Clackmannan upon Shop Tax from 5th April 1786 to 5th April 1787 (archival ref. E326/4/3/9); (iii) Clackmannan County Survey from 5th July 1785 to 5th April 1786 p[er] James Allan Surveyor (archival ref. E326/8/1/33); from records held by Historic Environment Scotland, National Records of Scotland, and/or National Library of Scotland). Digital images online at scotlandsplaces.gov.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 20178-07-01).
4. ↑ The Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), 28 January 1788 (pg 3). Mr James Allan put in a new dry dock at Alloa. Digital image online at newspapers.com (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2018-06-29).
5. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives. Citing one example: Insured: James Allan, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, merchant; Other property or occupiers: St John Street. dated 15th February 1792. Ref. MS 11936/384/596860.)
6. ↑ To cite an example of the annual adverts placed by Mr. Colvin:—Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), 6 March 1794 (pg 4). “At Denovan Bleachfield, by Falkirk, 1794. Mrs Colvin will lay down Cloth immediately, and Bleaches at the following prices, per yard, viz. ... Cloth for this Field is taken in at Edinburgh by [long list of vendors, including:] at Alloa, by James Allan, merchant—at Glasgow, by Thomas Colvin, merchant; ... At all which places receipts will be given. --> Cloth Bleached and prepared for Printing at this Field upon reasonable terms.” Digital image online at newspapers.com (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2018-06-29).
7. ↑ The Scots Magazine for September, 1794. Vol. XVI (pg 588). Edinburgh: Alex. Chapman and Company, 1794. “Sequestrations. Aug. 18. James Allan, merchant in Alloa.”
8. ↑ Dunipace Old Churchyard. Monumental Inscription Index. “Dunipace old churchyard is situated within the Hills of Dunipace Cemetery, Denny Road (B905) to Larbert.” Online at www.memento-mori.co.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-06-23). Names of interest: no. 29, Alexander Colvin, 1791; no. 30, Elizabeth (Allan?), 1791;† no. 31, George Colvin, 27.05.1838, age 38 years; no. 32, John Colvin, 1791; no. 33, Margaret Colvin (née Renny), 19.08-1838, age 79; no. 34, Samuel Colvins [sic], 1791; no. 2, Elizabeth Allan, 1808, age 19; no. 3, Elizabeth Allan? (née Colvin), 1791; no. 4, James Allan, 1791; no. 81, Elizabeth Harvie-Brown (née Spottiswoode), 27.06.1888, age 81; no. 82, John Harvie-Brown, 10.1888, age 79; no. 83, John Alexander Harvie-Brown, 26.07.0913, age 68. †probably Elizabeth Kennedy, wife of Alexander Colvin, sen.
9. ↑ Billion Graves. Gravestone in Hills of Dunipace Cemetery, Stirlingshire. Inscription: “1791 / James Allan / Elizabeth Colvin.” Photograph by “KittieC”. Onine at www.billiongraves.com (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-06-23).
10. ↑ Church of Scotland. Old Parish Registers. Burial of — Allan, 4 February 1788, Dunipace (parish no. 478, ref. 20/218); with “James Allan” noted under “Parents/Other Details.” Index online at scotlandspeople.gov.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-06-26).