MACGREGOR ANCESTORS

Ann MacGregor was born in about 1730 of Muckairn, Argyllshire, Scotland. She married Dugald MacCallum in about 1760. Dugald and Ann had a son, Malcolm, whose death certificate listed his parents as Dugald MacCallum and Ann McGregor in 1856, when he died at the age of 94. Malcolm also named his place of birth in the 1851 census as Muckairn.




The parish registers in Muckairn and Ardchattan began in 1758, but no record exists for a marriage of Ann MacGregor. As a matter of fact, no MacGregors appeared in the Muckairn/Archattan baptism or marriage records until 1783, with good reason. The clan MacGregor had been outlawed.


The MacGregors became Highland outlaws: "The MacGregors were one of the most famous victims of Clan Campbell's expansionism." (www.scotclans.com) "In 1589 John Drummond, the Kings forester, was murdered after hanging some MacGregors for poaching. The Chief, Alasdair MacGregor of Glenstrae, took responsibility for the act and was condemned by the Privy Council. King James VI issued an edict proclaiming the name MacGregor “altogidder abolished,” meaning that those who bore the name must renounce it or suffer death. The Proscriptive Acts of Clan Gregor were enacted on the 3rd of April 1603 following the battle of Glen Fruin where the MacGregors routed the clan Colquhoun, killing hundreds in the process. This draconian ruling authorized the capture of Alasdair MacGregor of Glenstrae and his leading kinsmen. In the spring of 1604, Alasdair MacGregor of Glenstrae, Chief and Laird of MacGregor was hung with thirty of his warriors against the West End of Saint Giles Kirk where the Tollbooth stood. The names of Clan Gregor were erased from existence. To even claim one of these names openly was to invite immediate execution. The clanfolk of the Gregorach were ordered to take different names, usually assigned. They were also to obey the new Chief placed over them. It should be noted here that many of the Gregors refused. Of those who refused (and were caught); the men were executed; the women were stripped bare, branded, and whipped through the streets. The women and children were sold into slavery for Britain’s new colonies in North America. Further additions to the proscriptive acts denied the MacGregors basic necessities of food, water, shelter, and care for infants and the elderly. The Gregors were denied the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, marriage, and last rites. The gentry of Scotland were encouraged to hunt them with dogs as if they were common game stock. But, without a doubt, the most horrifying act was the commission of selling MacGregor heads to the government to attain pardon for thievery and murder. The surviving MacGregors continued in two groups. The first were those who legally changed their name to satisfy the law, but never changed their heart or blood. The other group were those who took to the great highlands and continued to use their Gregor names in defiance." (clangregor.com)

The most famous member of the clan was Rob Roy MacGregor, who assumed his mother's name of Campbell. Sir Walter Scott wrote a novel about Rob Roy, and called the clan "Children of the Mist".


The surname ban was lifted in 1661 by King Charles II, but reinstated in 1693 by William of Orange. These laws continued in effect for over 170 years, until 1774, when the Act of Proscription against the clan was repealed. Ann McGregor was born in about 1730 while the Act of Proscription was in effect. After the act was repealed, MacGregors started appearing in the parish registers as they re-assumed their family name.


If Ann was unable to be known as a MacGregor for the first 44 years of her life, what name did she use? Malcolm may have been born before the parish registers began, and there is no marriage record for Dugald MacCallum and Ann. Only one record exists for the christening of a child of a Dugald MacCallum in the right time period. There is a christening record for Dugal MacCallum and Ann McIntyre, when their daughter Katarine was born in 1760. It seems probable that these are Malcolm's parents, and that Ann was using the name McIntyre.


The MacGregor's motto is "My blood is royal". They were descended from an ancient Celtic royal family, and "tradition holds that Gregor was the son of Kenneth MacAlpin." (www.clangregor.com)  The first documented chief was Gregor of the Golden Bridles. The MacGregors held lands in Glenstrae and Glenorchy.

Clan MacGregor tartan