Author Topic: MacGregors, Callander  (Read 6460 times)

Offline graemejmcleod

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MacGregors, Callander
« on: Monday 21 May 18 21:50 BST (UK) »
I'm trying to research my ancestor James MacGregor born 1829 in Callander, son of Duncan Macgrigor (MacGregor??) who was a builder (possibly bridge builder). James and his brother, Duncan were twins, the youngest of 10 - 12 children. I'm wondering if anybody knows where they might have lived in Callander, or really, any other information which might be relevant. James eventually became a Doctor of Divinity in Edinburgh and emigrated to New Zealand in 1881 for the sake of his children's health. I am descended from him.
Graeme McLeod

Offline valr

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #1 on: Monday 21 May 18 22:21 BST (UK) »
Have you checked the 1841 and 1851 census?'
Scotland -McCall, King, Morrison, Thomson, Mcfarlane, Stewart, Dow, Jolly, Roberston, Christie, Mclaren, Campbell, McGregor
England - Roberts, Steel, Underhill, Brookes, Pope, Stump

Offline John Andrew Hutchison

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #2 on: Monday 21 May 18 22:25 BST (UK) »
Hi Graeme,

Jame's brother Duncan is most likely the Duncan who died in Ruinacraig, Balquhidder, in 1889, aged 60. He was a builder, widower of Christine McGregor, and he says his father was Duncan McGregor, a mason, and his mother was Helen McPhason. He is probably the same Duncan recorded as a lodger on the 1851 census in Muiravonside, Stirlingshire, a mason aged 21, with another mason called Duncan McGregor, aged 68, both say they were born in Callander. Duncan and his brother James are on the 1841 census of Callander, aged 12, with their mother Helen, aged 50.

Helen is most likely the Helen on the following Callander gravestone;

By Wlliam McPherson in memory of his mother Isabella McPherson 2.1815 61, brother Duncan McPherson died Jamaica 2.1821 27, sister Helen McPherson 17.6.1865 80 (wife of Duncan McGregor mason Callander)

Duncan is buried elsewhere in the same graveyard with his son;

Duncan MacGregor 29.1.1853 70, son Angus 15.8.1843 33

This ties in with the following marriage banns and baptisms:

1807 Duncan + Helen McPherson Callander [both Callander]
1807 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Margaret Callander [possibly Brig o' Turk]
1809 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Angus Callander
1810 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Anne Callander
1814 Duncan Helen MacPherson Duncan Callander
1816 Duncan/Helen MacPherson John Callander
1822 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Robert Callander
1824 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Donald Callander
1826 Duncan/Helen MacPherson William Callander
1829 Duncan/Helen MacPherson Duncan Callander
1829 Duncan/Helen MacPherson James Callander

Given the age of Helen's husband from the 1851 census and gravestone, and the fact he says he was born in Callander on the census, he is most likely the son of Duncan and Ann Cameron. Not only does the age match, but it's also the names of his second born son and daughter. That family was;

1771 Duncan + Ann Cameron [Callander]
1772 Duncan/Ann Cameron John Callander
1774 Duncan/Ann Cameron John Kirktown Callander
1778 Duncan/Ann Cameron Donald Kirktown Callander
1782 Duncan/Ann Cameron Duncan Kirktown Callander

I hope this helps,

John.

Offline graemejmcleod

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 22 May 18 09:03 BST (UK) »
John and Karen
Many thanks for your information  -it's great to have local information. All I have to do now is find somebody with a key to the old cemetery - it's chained and padlocked!
Thanks again
Graeme


Offline John Andrew Hutchison

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 22 May 18 11:06 BST (UK) »
Someone vandalised the monuments at Leny last year, so maybe they're locking up the old graveyards now. I was there a few years ago, and it was open, but many of the inscriptions are worn down. The stone they used is easily weathered. My family plaque was gone, presumably it fell off the wall and was taken away. I bought a copy of South Perthshire Monument Inscriptions, which contains old surveys, some from over a hundred years ago, when the gravestones were more legible. It also has maps of the graves. It says Helen's grave is next to the wall on the right from the gate, midway between the watch house and the roadside wall. It doesn't say where Duncan's grave is, presumable because the marker was gone when they made the map, but from the number system the original survey used I'd guess it was also next to the wall on the right from the gate, behind Helen's, but not right behind, very close to the watch house.

Offline John Andrew Hutchison

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 22 May 18 15:07 BST (UK) »
One more thing from the South Perthshire Monument Inscriptions book, it says there's an 1832 dedication on the lintel of the watch house in the graveyard which lists the designer and builders, one of which is Dm M'Gre mason. I can't think of a name D...m, it must be D...n, and it's probably your ancestor who built it.

Offline graemejmcleod

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 22 May 18 17:08 BST (UK) »
Thanks again John. I did manage to track down a Council spokesperson who said that entry is now forbidden, but there may be an escorted opening last week in June. Just a maybe! Woman at our hotel thought a boy was killed there by a falling headstone a couple of years ago.
We're in Edzell now looking for Golds, Dukes and maybe Pattersons. The Golds and Dukes were on my father's side and the Pattersons on my mothers side - no known connection locally - had to wait until arrival in NZ to get acquainted ! Thanks again - Graeme

Offline ElaineSK

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 07 May 19 13:52 BST (UK) »
I too am trying to get further back in my McGregor Tree, my McGregors are from Auchtergaven, Logierait, Culltintogle, Callander...my 3 times great grandfather Charles McGregor born in Caputh on 1786 was head forester for the 4th Duke Murray at Blair Atholl Castle, his father John born 1758 in Cullintogle was also head foresters as was Charles son John born 1823. Charles was married to Helen Low/Lowe, their children were Janet, Mary, Elizabeth,John, Helen, Patrick,Jean, James, Ann and Margaret all born between 1817 - 1835.  Where it gets confusing is, Charles father John was married to Mary Young but I can't find much info on Mary Young born 1760, John's parents which I don't know if this is where it goes awry and maybe into another McGregor clan Donald McGregor alias Stirling (Achrakarran, Perthshire)  born 1733 married to Mary McLaren born in Balquidder 1730, this seems to be where the connection to the Balquidder McGregors come about but as we all know, some ancestry families connect people who are not necessarily connected to that family line and it goes off fact.  Donald's father I have as Patrick McGregor alias Stirling born 1702, married to Janet Ferguson....Patrick's father I have as John Iain Og Murray McGregor (1st of Glencarnoch) born Glencarnoch, Balquidder 1668  and married to Lady Catherine Campbell born 1674 . 
My worry is, is this definitely my family line or has some of this information on Ancestry through other families ancestry gotten the McGregors confused.  I just want to know if my Charles McGregor is of same lineage as this John Iain Og Murray McGregor.  I have many other brothers, sisters etc on my family tree but I would love to know all the children of each of these parents I have named if they are indeed connected back to John Iain Og Murray McGregor just so I can check them off as some of the children down the line seem to be born in different Perthshire areas, some of them born in same areas.

Any information grateful received thank you.

Elaine

Offline Skoosh

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Re: MacGregors, Callander
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 07 May 19 14:10 BST (UK) »
There was a tribe of MacGregors in Rannoch, so tenants of the duke of Atholl, who therefore used his name Murray when MacGregor was still proscribed. Might explain your Murray MacGregor origins?

Skoosh.