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Genealogy of The Clan Gregor - 14 - Descendants of Eoin dubh nan Lurach

return to 13 - Descendants of Alasdair ruadh [1]
Iain dubh nan lurach / Black John of the mail coat
b.~1569 died at Glenfruin, February 1603
Balquhidder

Griogair / Gregor [2]
alias Murray
b.~1599 died ~1639
12th chief

mar. Margaret Sinclair



Padraig ruadh / Patrick roy [3]
alias Murray
b.~1600 died 1648
13th chief

mar. Jean Campbell
|

James MacGregor of that ilk [5]
b.5/1/1647 died 1679
14th chief



Alexander
b.21/12/1648
d.s.p. before 1679
Eoghan / Ewin [4]
b.~1601 died in Germany 1631



[1] 1603. Oct. 3. The Lairds of Tullibardine, Grant, and Murray of Strowan charged to exhibit to the Secret Council on the 25 instant each of them that son of John Dow McGregour whom they have in keeping,” showing that the youngest was in the charge of his maternal grandfather, Murray of Strowan.

[2] Gregor MacGregor, eldest son of John Dhu nan Luarag, succeeded as MacGregor of Glenstray on the death of his uncle the Chief, who was executed after the battle of Glenfruin, 1604. Gregor must at that time have been very young, and he remained in the custody of Sir John Murray, afterwards first Earl of Tullibardine. Frequent mention of him is made in vol. i. of this work, some passages of which may here be repeated.
1611. Dec. In the Treasurer’s books appears “Gregour McGregour, now callit Laird of McGregour.” At the same time through some confusion Duncan McEwne, his tutor, is spoken of in the Record of Secret Council, 3rd Jan. 1611, as “now callit the Laird,” and in the Record of Justiciary, 8th May 1612, Duncan is styled “The Laird of MacGregour.”
Gregor in honour of either his maternal grandfather, Murray of Strowan, or of his custodian, the Laird of Tullibardine, also assumed the christian and surname of John Murray; he was thus known as John Murray of Glenstray, and in the Records is mentioned alternately as “John Murray,” “Gregour Murray,” and “Gregour McGregour.”
1631. July 29. Margaret Sinclair, spouse of Gregor McGregour of that Ilk callit the Laird of McGregour, is further styled “Ye relict of umqule John Grant of Carroun.” Record of Justiciary containing notice of a complaint by James Crichton of Frendraught, of the Lady of Rothiemay, and others, including besides Gregour of that Ilk and spouse as quoted above, “Callum Bayne M°Gregour in Strathdone, Allaster McGregour McNeill younger, Patrick McGregour in Dalliabo in Strathdoun, Gregour McEan dowie, household man to ye Laird of M'Gregour.”
1639. Dec. 3. John Murray and Margaret Sinclair, his spouse, granted an obligation, to which the Stirlings, elder and younger of Ardoch, were sureties. This is the last mention of Gregor and nothing is known of any children ; there cannot have been a surviving son, at all events, as his brother Patrick succeeded him.

[3] Patrick McGregor married Jeane Campbell mentioned in Record 27, August 1649, as “Relict of Patrick Murray, Laird of MacGregor.” Register of Committee of Estates of Parliament.
From the last entry it is clear that Patrick’s death must have taken place before 1649. But no evidence appears to show how long before. An important point hinges on this. If Patrick, styled Laird of MacGregor, was alive during the time of Montrose’s wars, 1644-1645, it was he who led the Clan in those campaigns.
Chief of Clan Gregor, Patrick Roy and his wife Jean Campbell are also listed in the parish records at the same time and place with the baptism of their two sons, James (5/1/1647 GROS 360/ 0010 0043) and Alexander (21/12/1648 GROS 360/ 0010 0070) and we know that they also had a daughter, Jean, several years earlier.
After the second English civil war clashes at which Patrick Roy was claimed to have been involved he disappeared. He appears to have been a casualty in one of those battles and he would have been alive at least in March /April 1648 as his son, Alexander was born in December 1648. There were two potential battles in 1648 at which Patrick Roy MacGregor could have been killed. Mauchline Muir (12 June 1648) or the battle of Preston (17th - 25th August 1648).
Mauchline Muir (12 June 1648) was only a small conflict at which between 60 and 80 men died – equal numbers on each side.
The Battle of Preston (17th - 25th August 1648) was where the Scottish army was routed. Cromwell is recorded as having killed 2,000 scots and captured 9,000. (Bull, Stephen; Seed, Mike (1998). Bloody Preston: The Battle of Preston, 1648. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85936-041-6).
The balance of evidence would suggest Patrick died or was taken prisoner at the Battle of Preston in August 1648.

[4] In 1631 Ewen, as lieutenant of a regiment raised by the Hon. Adam Gordon, went to Germany, then the seat of war, and died in the expedition.

[5] Ewan was still the tutor in 1660, hence James must have been born after 1642
James is probably the "Laird of Macgregor" mentioned with other Macgregors as the subjects of a Commission of Fire and Sword given to Sir James Campbell of Laweris, 23rd September 1679.