John was the youngest child of Angus MacKillop and Effie Munro of 13 Borve, born a few months after his eldest brother Johnnie's death during the Great War. John attended Berneray School between 1925 and 1932. He married Christine MacLeod, with whom he was to have three children. 13 Borve passed to him following his father's death in 1947, as did ownership of the Welcome Home.

John made sound recordings for the School of Scottish Studies Archive, and some are available via his biography page on the Tobar an Dualchais website.