Genealogy of The Clan Gregor - 78, Descendants of Iain og beag |
Return to 48 - Descendants of Duncan Abrach return to 25 - Malcolm in Inverlochlarig return to 36 - Descendants of Padraig dubh beag in Invergeldie There is considerable uncertainty concerning the ancestry of Iain og beag - alias John Campbell or Murray The view expressed in Amelia is that he descended from Duncan Ladosach through Donnchadh Abrach, but I have found this difficult to prove from the available evidence. I have speculated that he could be Griogair, alias John Campbell of Coileitir in Glen Falloch and hence of the Glengyle lineage. Evidence for this may be his support of Margaret, the widow of Coll, son of Rob Roy, who died in 1735. I suggest that Margaret was his daughter and sister of Robert. This link is to 25 - Malcolm in Lochlarig A third view, put forward by Gordon MacGregor in the Red Book of Scotland, is that Iain og beag, was the son of Patrick Murray in Dalveich, and hence of the Invergeldie line. That link is 36 - the descendants of Padraig dubh beag in Invergeldie |
John Campbell or Murray (Iain og beag)
[1]
b.~1668 d.18/9/1744 (aged 76) | | Baptisms in Killin parish (which included coileitir in Glen Falloch). The Family moved to Glencarnaig, Balquhidder in 1719 and subsequently used alias Murray [7] The OPR began in 1689, but there are gaps in the record for births: Blank May 1698 - May 1709 and Nov 1717- Oct 1727. Marriages: blank from April 1698 - Oct 1709 and Nov 1717 - Nov 1782.
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This page is essentially about John Murray, the chief of Clan Gregor from 1787. John obtained a cadetship with the East India Company in 1770 and rose to become Auditor General of Bengal. With the wealth he obtained from his post in India he returned to Scotland, built Lanrick Castle and arranged his election to become Chief. In 1769, (although the "Baronage" did not actually appear in print until 1798), John contributed to Douglas of Inverbervie's "Baronage of Scotland" an article on the Clan Gregor which a modern historian, Martin MacGregor, has described as "a piece of sustained fiction spoiled by only the occasional intrusion of fact". Instead being an innocent exposition of the then current beliefs in his family, the "Baronage Account" may be viewed as a piece of self-promotion by John. Patronage, in the 18th century, was essential for aspiring young men to make progress in life and one's elite descent could be vital in that respect. In the context of the Highland zone of Scotland which was increasingly exposed to the modern world in the 18th century, while material wealth might be lacking, one's relationship with the gentry of other clans and families was very important. Thus, the Baronage may be viewed as part of John's prospectus for advancement. In particular, the Baronage account claimed that John descended from Padraig ruadh (Patrick Roy), chief of Clan Gregor in the mid 17th century. The "History of Clan Gregor" published by his descendant, Amelia, at the end of the 19th century conceded that this was wrong and John's ancestor had been a different Patrick. The Baronage also claimed that the line of Donnchadh Ladasach had been unjustly deprived of their rightful position by the Glenstrae lineage in the 15th century.
[1]
Garth says that "Iain Oag Beg made a runaway marriage with a Daughter o Coirchaorach she was called Mairi nighean Eoain". Coirchaorach is in Glen Dochart which is part of Killin parish. Coircheich is in Glen Lochay which is also Killin parish. However, as noted below, a search of the Killin OPR, finds a marriage of John McGrigor to Jonat (Carmichell) in 1690. The subsequent birth of Robert & Duncan are consistent with Sir John's claims, although Evan & John cannot be found due to gap in the record from 1698 to 1709. (The Proscription of Clan Gregor was reimposed in late 1693, hence John McGrigor assumed Campbell thereafter.) A son John was baptised 19/12/1709 to John Campbell & Catherine. This seems likely to be a second wife, perhaps Catherine Campbell as claimed by Sir John. There is no trace of the birth of Evan who was reported to be older than John, hence I have assumed 1708, but the death of Evan in 1778, aged 63, seems to indicate that he was born in 1715,
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Garth states that 1st child of Iain oag beag was Robert Macgregor of Inverchearnaig a Decent gentleman married first a Daughter of Campbell of Ruoro Glenlyon by whom he had a son & Daughter. The son died in the West Indies and the Daughter married a son of Graham of Bogtown port parish.
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Garth states that 2nd child of Iain oag beag was Ewan (Evan or Hugh).
[4]
Garth states that Iain Oag beg had one son who died in the East Indies. However, Amelia records that John MacGregor, uncle of the officer killed at Louisberg, and youngest brother of Glencarnock, died at the battle of Ticonderoga in 1758 - which led to the subsequent capture of Quebec in Canada - not the East Indies!
[5]
As mentioned above, although Garth stated that 2nd child of Iain oag beag was Ewan (Evan or Hugh). Amelia in volume ii p395 states that "Evan, fourth son of John Oig of Glencarnaig, was born in 1710". There is no record of the birth anywhere in Perthshire. I suspect that he may have been born in the blank period of the Killin record up to 1709, but see note 20, below. Evan's birth more likely late 1717 or 1718..
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According to Amelia, it was Duncan Murray, younger brother to Robert who "succeeded him in the representation of the family of MacGregor". However, from the family discussed in the next sentence and the death of a Duncan Murray in Edinburgh in 1787, aged 62 (or slightly less), it is clear that it was the son Duncan (born 1726) who was the writer in Edinburgh, not the elder Duncan, injured at Prestonpans.
According to the Lanrick documents, Duncan Murray married Beatrix MacNiven granddaughter of Hugh Campbell of Lix and Beatrix Campbell, via Mary Campbell of Lix and David MacNiven. However in the OPR, there is an Beatrix born 15/4/1718 to Duncan McNiven & Mary Campbell in Comrie parish - probably in Glenartney where a number of MacGregor families were using the alias McNiven. There are no baptisms by a David McNiven in Perthshire. Neither is there a record in the OPR of children of Hugh Campbell in Perthshire between 1675 and 1700.
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The dates I have used are my interpretation of actual baptisms in the OPR. Thus, I have assumed two marriages. Firstly to Jenet or Jonatt Carmichael in 1690 with births of Grigor in 1691, Janet in 1693, Robert in 1695 and Duncan in 1696. Thereafter, a marriage to Catherine Campbell (Lix?) in 1702, with an assumed Margaret in 1703 who would later marry Coll, son of Rob Roy, Evan between 1704 and 1708, and John in 1709. There is a gap in the Killin OPR between 1698 and 1709.
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From Amelia, vol ii, page 337: Coll became the tacksman of thc Kirkton of Balquhidder. he died in 1735 few months after his Father.
[9]
MacGregor, G. Red Book of Scotland, vol 6, p 293 - has Alexander MacGregor Murray of Napier Ruskie, b. on 5 September 1748 and in December 1798 he received letters authorising him to raise a regiment of Fencible Highlanders which, in the following May, numbered 765 who assembled and were reviewed by Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, in Stirling. The Clan Alpin Regiment, as it was named, did not, however, serve in any conflict and after a stay in Ireland, it was ordered home in 1802 and reduced at Stirling on 24 July of that year. He m. firstly, to Frances, daughter of Major Pascal, (she d. in 1786), and secondly, on 25 March 1790, to Grace, daughter of James Hay, (she survived him and d. at Edinburgh, on 3 February 1844, aged 81 years), and he d. at Stockton on Tees, on 17 August 1822. (Inverness Courier. 22nd August 1822 edition.)
[10]
MacGregor, G. Red Book of Scotland, vol 6, p 291 - He m. first, Christian, daughter of John Campbell of Roro, (c/m 2 April 1730 (RS52/20/2/f.402.)), secondly, Robina, daughter of Major Donald Cameron, younger son of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, (c/m 21 June 1732 (SRS Lochiel Inventory.)), and thirdly, in 1751, to Barbara Mary, daughter and heiress of William Drummond of Hawthornden,
[11]
MacGregor, G. Red Book of Scotland, vol 6, p 293 - He m. Janet, youngest daughter and coheir of John MacDonald of Balcony, (c/m 10 January 1744. She survived him and d. at Edinburgh, on 15 February 1793 (Scots Magazine, 1st February 1793 edition.)), and d. at Jersey, on 29 October 1778, aged 63 years [12] Killin OPR marriage of John McGrigor to Jonat (no surname) 19/10/1690 361/10/238
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Killin OPR baptism of Grigor to John McGrigor and Jonat (no surname) 29/11/1691 361/10/18
[14]
Proscription of MacGregor reimposed after 1693. John McGrigor assumes alias Campbell
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Ewan McGrigor,m1 Margaret Fergusson in 1727 (GROS 331/20 108)
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Marriage 2 Contracted Hugh Drummond late McGrigor and Janet McGrigor both in this parish upon the 8th December 1734. (GROS 331/20 125).
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There is a Paper by Donald McGregor from September 1824 relating to claims to the Glencarnaig claim to the Chieftainship: [18] OPR Baptism: MCNIVEN, BEATRIX; DUNCAN MCNIVEN/MARY CAMPBELL; F; 15/04/1718; 341/10 / 62; COMRIE
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Another attempt to understand this family!
[20]
Another attempt to determine the birth of Evan - I'm sorry if this contradicts anything in earlier notes which I ought to review [21] OPR Marriage: MURRAY, CATHARINE; JOHN GRIGORSON/FR579 (FR579); 18/06/1768; 331/20 / 219; BALQUHIDDER |