John Allison was born on August 1, 1714, in Strathaven, in Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County, Scotland. He was a son of Gavin Allison of Strathaven, Scotland, a shoemaker/businessman. In the early 1750's, Gavin and his family migrated to the Pennsylvania Colony. John Allison was a wheat farmer. According to Brownlee family sources, John Allison married Jean Brownlee in 1758. At the time of their marriage, Jean lived in Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Jean was born in Avondale Parish, in Lanarkshire County, Scotland. She was a daughter of Archibald and Margaret (Hamilton) Brownlee. Archibald Brownlee and his family settled in Martic Township about 1752. In 1770 and 1771, John Allison was a renter with the Martic Furnace and Forge, which was located in Martic Township. Archibald Brownlee owned 100 acres of land near the forge. In 1773, John Allison and his family moved westward and settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. This area of Westmoreland County later became part of Washington County, Pennsylvania. On April 5, 1786, John Allison obtained a warrant for 415 acres of land in Canton Township, Washington County. He received a patent for this land on September 25, 1787. This parcel of land was called "Allisford". John was associated with the North Buffalo Presbyterian (Associate Presbyterian/Seceder) Church, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. John Allison died in Cecil Township, Washington County, on March 25, 1790. He was buried in the North Buffalo United Presbyterian Cemetery. The site of his grave is not marked with a tombstone. In 1798, Jean's house in Chartiers Township, formerly owned by her husband, John Allison, was valued at $30. She also owned 100 acres of land valued at $470. In 1800, Jean lived in Chartiers Township, in Washington County. Jean (Brownlee) Allison died on February 8, 1818. She was buried in Mt. Hope United Presbyterian Cemetery, near West Middletown, Pennsylvania.

Children:

1. Gavin, b. 29 January 1759 (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania); m. Mary W. "Polly"

Koontz, 1802

2. Archibald, b. 29 September 1760; d. 4 July 1835; buried in the North Buffalo United

Presbyterian Cemetery

3. John, Jr., b. 15 September 1762; m. Eleanor ?; d. 15 April 1804

4. William, b. 23 August 1764; d. 1 November 1764

5. William, b. 22 September 1765; d. 8 April 1766

6. James, b. 8 April 1768; d. 5 July 1810

7. Thomas, b. 3 June 1770 (York County, Pennsylvania); m. Anne Henderson, 30

December 1800

8. Ebenezer, b. 10 June 1771; d. before 1789

9. Hugh, b. 2 December 1773 (Washington County, Pennsylvania); m. Jane Irwin, 30

April 1794; (2nd) Jane Brownlee, 7 October 1799; (3rd) Rebecca McBride, 8 January 1805; (4th) Jane Gabby, 2 November 1820

Father, and brothers and sisters of John Allison (1714-1790):

Gavin Allison lived in Strathaven, in Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County, Scotland. Gavin was a shoemaker. He married ?. In the early 1750's, Gavin and his family migrated to the Pennsylvania Colony. By 1759, Gavin resided in Chanceford Township, in York County, Pennsylvania. He later lived in Hopewell Township, in York County. In Hopewell Township, Gavin operated a business, and had accounts with 29 individuals, both men and women. It is unclear what his occupation was, except that he used 2 sets of weights and scales. About 1768, Gavin Allison died intestate, in Hopewell Township. On January 16, 1769, William Allison (Gavin's son), William Gemmell/Gemmill, and John S[c]hultz, signed the administrative bond for 150 pounds, for Gavin Allison's estate. Gavin Allison also had an account with Gavin "Guin"Allison, his son, who owed his father 8 shillings and 9 pence. At the Allison/Ellison DNA Project, results indicate that descendants of three of Gavin Allison's sons, John, Gavin, and William (born 1730) share matching DNA. 

Children:

1. Janet, b. 27 November 1709 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,        

                                                                                     Scotland); died before 1718?

2. William, b. 23 March 1712 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                                                                  Scotland); died before 1730?

3. John, b. 1 August 1714 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County, Scotland);

                           m. Jean Brownlee (Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)

4. Gavin, b. 11 November 1716 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                       Scotland); m. Jean Wallace (York County, Pennsylvania)

5. Jonet, b. 21 December 1718 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                                                                                                  Scotland)

6. Helen, b. 26 March 1721 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County, Scotland)

7. daughter, b. 16 June 1723 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                                                                                               Scotland)

8. Martha, b. 14 November 1725 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                                                                                                      Scotland)

9. William, b. 20 December 1730 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                             Scotland); m. Elizabeth ? (York County, Pennsylvania)

10. Archibald, b. 21 October 1733 (Strathaven, Avondale Parish, Lanarkshire County,

                                                                                                                         Scotland)

(Contributor: James Allison)