John (1821-1900) was the son John Nicolson and Annie Macleod. The address at the time of his birth is not known. John's father was from South Dell and is not on the Old South Tolsta Tack sub-tenant list of 1820.

In 1830 the family obtained 16 Old South Tolsta.

John married Christina Macdonald, of Old South Tolsta.

The couple had their first three children between 1847 and 1851; it is not known where they were living during this time.

In 1851, during the croft relottings, the family obtained 3 North Tolsta.

In 1853 John's parents and several of his siblings emigrated to the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

In 1855 the tenant of 3a North Tolsta, Donald Macsween, left Tolsta with the intention of emigrating; 3a North Tolsta was merged with 3 North Tolsta.

The couple had a further six children at 3 North Tolsta; in total they had nine children: seven boys and two girls.