John was the son of unknown parents. The date and place of his birth have not been found.
His wife was Elizabeth Boyd (Lizzie) Shaw, who he married on 26 OCT 1906 in Bridgeton, Glasgow. Their nine known children were Jane Shaw (1908-?), Elizabeth Boyd (1910-?), John (1912-1989), William Shaw (1915-1917), Alexander (1916-?), Agnes Miller (1919-?), Thomas Shaw (1921-1922), Julia Shaw (1923-1934) and Margaret Shaw (1928-1929).