User:John Gibbons 3/James Allan (piper)

James Allan, or Allen, (1734-1810) was a famous travelling piper from Northumberland, who in his lifetime was notorious as a criminal and deserter from the army. He was christened on 21st April 1734, in Rothbury, the son of William Allen, who was himself a famous piper. He benefited from the informal patronage of the Percy family, but there is no record of him ever having received a formal appointment from them; in particular he was never appointed Piper to the Countess. His career ended when he was convicted of burglary and horse-stealing, and sentenced to death at Durham Assizes in 1803. This sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he died in prison in 1810. A notice of his death, reprinted 23 years later, read: 13th November, 1810. Died in the house of Correction (under Elvet Bridge) at Durham, where he had been confined upwards of seven years, under sentence of transportation for life, James Allan, a character wellknown in most parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Northumberland, where he was known by the name of Jemmy, the duke’s piper, and was in early life a great proficient on the pipes. He was capitally convicted of horse-stealing at the assizes held in Durham in 1803, and received sentence of death but was afterwards pardoned on condition of transportation for life; but on account of his age and infirmities, his sentence could not be carried into execution. He had nearly completed his 77th year and for the greatest part of his confinement was afflicted with a complication of disorders. Had the chequered life of this notorious character been prolonged a little, he would have regained his liberty as the first signature of the Prince Regent officially addressed to the city of Durham was a free pardon for Allan – but death had removed him beyond the reach of royal clemency.

Biographies

Allan's notoriety was such that there was a ready market after his death for accounts of his life.

External links

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