John, born c1797, was a son of Donald and Ann nee Mackay who lived in Kirkibost before it was cleared in the early 1820s. He is living in Barraglom in 1851 with his wife Mary nee Maclennan and five children. John was a witness for the defender at the second hearing of the Lewis/Harris boundary dispute.

In 1855 John and his family emigrated to Quebec - living first in Whitton and then Bury.