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Clan Gregor Chiefs
By Peter Lawrie, ©2018

Introduction

The position of a Highland clan chief today is very different from that of chiefs in the past. Today, some might say that a clan chief may be likened to the chairperson of a voluntary organisation who has his position by right of descent, but clansfolk can choose whether or not they wish to join. Perhaps some chiefs and their clan societies are no more than that.

However, the role of a Highland Clan chief ought to be more than that. This is the definition given by the current chief of Clan Gregor, Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor:

"My view is that the chiefship is much more than being the chairman of a voluntary organisation. It encompasses the whole clan, whether members of that voluntary organisation or not. Many wish to be part of a clan, and wear the tartan without being a member of any society or formal grouping.The chief is the living embodiment, possibly guardian, of the clan’s heritage, history, and current activities. Generally speaking, if there is something to be written, or a film, about a clan it is the chief who is the first port of call. I doubt that the American Clan Gregor Society (ACGS) would ever have got off the ground without my grandfather’s full involvement, and recognition of their organisation. That is the ‘active’ part of being chief."

"The second thing is that the clan chief brings ‘authenticity’ to whatever is being done. That authenticity comes from the fact that the chiefship is a legal position held through the recognition of arms, by Lyon Court. This is the only heraldic court in the world with legal powers, and I believe its origins were to bring some semblance of order to the whole business of chiefship, and indeed clanship, rather than, say, Garter King of Arms, in England which was purely for the issuance of arms. There are no clans in England or Wales though there are very powerful families with great histories. Arguably more ‘bloody’ than the clans. "

"Third a clan chief has to be ‘accessible'. Clanship is nothing if the chief is not a player and does not communicate. Whilst this may not have been too onerous in the past - it is now a different matter with the thriving global nature of clanship and the internet. I have met and corresponded with far more overseas Macgregors than home-based ones. There is a branch of the Maclean society in Santiago, Chile, with some 300 members. That is all to do with the Maclean involvement in sheep faming and ranching. In respect of Clan Gregor, we do have people in far flung corners of the world - I have met them in Africa, the USA and Australia. "At a highland Games or some such, whilst clans folk are pleased to meet the Queen’s rep, or the Ambassador or the Scot Govt. rep, they really want to meet the authentic clan chief. There is an amusing story on this concerning my father and a possible meeting with President Nixon. "

"So, if you will forgive me, I think it is all rather more complicated than being a chairperson of a voluntary organisation."

The purpose of this page is to look back at the earlier chiefs descending from the eponym or name-father, Griogair, in the 14th century.

From the time of the royal sons of Malcolm Canmore at the end of the 11th century, Scotland was a decentralized state. Most of the country was effectively ruled by powerful Lords. Some clan chiefs were Earls with powers of regality over their provincial domains, others might be rulers of a single glen. For our consideration of the role of a clan chief the important point was that, until the Act which abolished Heritable Jurisdictions in 1747, the chief had a judicial role. Apart from the reservation of capital crimes to state appointed law officers, the chief was, de facto, the law in his own domain. The effect of the 1747 Act was to turn those chiefs who held legal title to the duthchas of their clan into mere landlords who, increasingly, needed to maximize their income and rid their lands of useless mouths - hence the consequent tragedy of the Highland Clearances. The position of the chief of a clan, such as Clan Gregor, without legal titles to land was no honorific, he had little control over the actions of most of his clansfolk who lived on the lands of other lords and yet he could be held legally liable for their actions. Hence Kilmanan would go to Ireland at the end of the 17th century to escape his responsibilities, and Balhaldies agreed to be chief in 1714 only in order to obtain a share of the payments on offer from the Government. But by the end of the 18th century, some Edinburgh-based gentlemen began a new trend, founding Highland Societies and wearing newly designed tartans.

According to the “Baronage”, the Clan Gregor descends from a dark-age King Giric, elevated by Hector Boece to be Gregory the Great. [1]

While modern DNA studies do suggest the ancestry of the clan may lie in Dark Age Dalriada, the numbering of the chiefs begins with Griogair in the 14th century.

According to Dr Martin MacGregor, the most credible genealogy of the chiefs of Clan Gregor can be found in the Book of the Dean of Lismore. Martin argued that the 'Alpin' who featured at the start of that genealogy was in fact an early 12th century eponym of a tribe centred around Loch Awe and not the 9th century King Alpin. For reasons which are not documented but are most likely connected with the Wars of Independence, that tribe fractured. [2]

We do know that the rise of Clan Campbell dated from the charters bestowed by King Robert I on the Campbell Lord of Innis Chonnall for his support, particularly against the Clann Dubhgall of Lorn, based at Dunstaffnage. It seems likely that the lineage from which Clan Gregor arose had supported the regional power of Clann Dubhgall rather than Bruce and hence were punished by being made subordinate to Campbell lordship.

According to Martin, the ordinance of 1293 mentioned Terra Johannis de Glenurwy - the land of John of Glenorchy, who was presumably the last of the Clann Ailpein. On 5 April 1358 David II granted totam terram de Glenwrquhay to Mariota of Glen Orchy, daughter of umquhile Johannes of Glen Orchy, and spouse of Eoin Campbell, to be held with all the liberties her predecessors enjoyed. Therefore the lineage which became Clan Gregor were explicitly made vassals of the Campbells. [3]



The chiefs of Clan Gregor



The genealogy of Gregor to John dhu McAnecham VcGregor - Chiefs one to three

A clan genealogy has been constructed based on the obituaries in the Book of the Dean of Lismore for the earlier chiefs and also using the patronymics of various clansmen appearing in surviving charters and other documents. This genealogy is not definitive and is open to challenge, either on interpretation or from new documentation which has not, so far, been considered..

First. The earliest chiefs can be identified from the obits. The first chief was Griogair, son of Donnchadh Beag and father of Eoin cam. Since Eoin cam died in 1390 Griogair himself must have flourished in the first half of the fourteenth century.

Second.. Eoin cam. 'One Eyed' John. Obit: 1390 April 19. Death of John MacGregor of Glenurquhay.

Third. Eoin dubh. Obit: 1415. Death of John dhu McAnecham VcGregor at Stronmelochane;



The genealogy of Malcolm to John dhu Macgregor of Glenstray - Chiefs four to six

Fourth. Maol coluim. Obit: 1440. April 20. Death of Malcolm son of John dhu MacGregor, at Glenurquhay,

Fifth. Padraig. Obit: 1461. Death of Patrick MacGregor of Glenstray at Stronmelochane, (b.circa 1405, d 28th.April 1461). The son of Gille Coluim obtained a Papal dispensation to marry Mariota Campbell.

Sixth. Eoin dubh. Obit: 1519, May 24-26. Death of John dhu Macgregor of Glenstray,* son of Patrick, at Stronmelochane, he was buried in Dysart, north of the Great Altar, in a stone coffin, upon the 26th of May, on which day a great meteor was seen in Glenurquhay.

Maol coluim. Obit: 1498, June 22. Death of Malcolm Macgregor, the son and heir of John Macgregor of Glenstray, at Glenlyon. he was buried in Dysart, south of the Altar, in a stone coffin. As Malcolm pre-deceased his father who had no other heirs, there was a succession crisis.



First break in patrilinear succession.

The genealogy of The Glenstrae MacEwins , chiefs seven and eight

A charter of 16 October 1434 (AT) refers to Alasdair mac Eoin mhic Ghriogair with resignation by Eòghan mac Eòghain MacCorquodale, lord of Phantelan, to his overlord Donnchadh Campbell of Loch Awe. This suggests that Alasdair, was the second son of Eoin dubh, the third chief.

Seventh. Eoin ~1455 to his Obit: 1528, April 12 Death of John .Macgregor McEwine, Captain of the Clan Gregor of Glenstray, who died of good memory, at Achallader in Glenurquhay, he was buried in Dysart, as others of his name used to be.

1527. August 14th at Edinburgh. Quo die Johannes, Comes Atholie plegins devenit ad intrandum Donaldem Campbell nominatum ad Abbacium de Cowper & &. ....., John Makewin Makalester Captain of the Clangregour, Duncan Bayne his cousin, Duncan Brek his cousin, Donald Patricksone, Duncan Donaldsone, Gregor Patricksone, Patrik Duncansoun in Dundwrne, James his brother,....... ad subcundum leges pro arte et parte convocationes ligeorum Domini Regis ad magnum numerum vemendi super, Patricium Charteris Prepositum de Perth die festi Corporis Christi ultimo elapso, ipsum invadendo et pergarte et parte mutilationis. Duncan Cameron et Patricii Rutherford Servitorum dicte Patricus. Record of Justiciary.

John Makewin Makalester Captain of Clangregour is the chief of clan Gregor, his actual name is John MacGregor VcAne VcEwin VcAllaster (d April 12th 1528). He was the father of Griogair (d July 1526) and Alasdair ruadh (d 1547). His father was Eoghan (Ewan) and grandfather Alasdair, presumed to be the second son of Eoin dubh, the third chief.



The genealogy of Alasdair ruadh, his sons and grandson - Chiefs eight to eleven

Eighth. Alasdair ruadh / Alastair roy ~1523 to 1547.
Ninth. Eoin ruadh John roy ~1540 to 1554, the son of Alasdair ruadh. John MacGregor of Glenstray, “in which property he never was never infeoffed. He died of the hurt of an arrow, without issue”, possibly at the age of 14 years in 1554. The deed of transfer of the superiority of Glenstrae from the Earl to Glenorchy on 7 May 1554 included the ward and marriage of his brother Gregor. [4]

Tenth. Griogair ruadh / Gregor roy ~1544 to 1570. Second son of Alasdair ruadh
BBT death: 1570-04-07 Gregor McGregor of Glenstra heddit at Balloch by Grey Colin
Eleventh. Alasdair ruadh / Alastair roy ~1567 to 1604.
1604. January 20 Five persons executed - 1. Allaster Roy MacGregour of Glenstray, Captain and Chief of the ClanGregor.
The descendants of Eoin dubh nan lurach, brother of the 11th chief - Chiefs twelve to fourteen

Twelth. Griogair / Gregor alias Murray b.~1599 died ~1639
Eldest son of Eoin dubh (who had died at Glenfruin in february 1603, and the brother of Alasdair ruadh),
Thirteenth. Padraig ruadh / Patrick roy alias Murray b.~1600 died ~1649
Brother of Griogair and the second son of Eoin dubh
Fourteenth. James MacGregor of that ilk b.~1645 died 1679
son of Padraig ruadh, thirteenth chief
Second break in patrilinear succession.

The descendants of Ewen the tutor, Gregor and Archibald of Kilmanan - Chiefs fifteen and sixteen

Fifteenth. Gregor of Stukinroy b.~1660 d.1693, succeeded in 1679, buried at Inchcailleach
Gregor was a great grandson of Ewin the tutor (d.1589), the brother of Griogair ruadh, the tenth chief; and great great grandson of Alasdair ruadh the eighth chief.

Sixteenth. Archibald, 2nd of Kilmanan b.~before Jan 11 1659. mar. Anna Cochrane, May 1679
went to Ireland, ~1706 and had no more to do with the clan; he died. 24 Oct 1726 Archibald appears to have had a son, Hugh, and grandsons but they did not succeed as chiefs.
Archibald was another great grandson of Ewin the tutor, through Eoghan, 1st of Kilmanan who was listed in 1649, and still alive in 1662. Eoghan was a younger brother of Malcolm in Stukinroy, the father of Gregor the 15th chief.



Third break in patrilinear succession.

Queen Anne, the last of the Stewart dynasty, died in 1714, to be succeeded by the Elector of Hanover as George I. The Government offered to pay pensions to clan chiefs who were willing to renounce their loyalty to James Stewart, “the Old Pretender”. In the absence of Archibald of Kilmanan, a number of the clan came together to elect a new chief who would then be able receive the Government pension and share it out. It should be noted from the account given by Inverhaddon that this meeting took place in July 1714 at Blair Atholl – the seat of the Duke of Atholl.

A bond for the election of Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies was “Written be Mr Duncan Comrie Minister of the Gospel for parish of Innerallan at Auchinshcallan the twentieth day of July and at Dunblain the twentie seventh day of July 1714 years. Before these witnesses John Cameron of Locheil and the said Mr Duncan Comrie.”

Gregor McGregor of Rora head of the familie of Rora;
Donald McGrigor consents;
Duncan McGregor of Dunan consents;
Duncan McGrigor consents;
John McGrigor of ye familie of McGregor consents.
Gregor McGregor head of the familie of Clandulchier;
Robert McGregor of Craigrostan consents;
Gregor McGregor in Ardmackmuin consents;
Donald McGregor of Kyleter consents;
Ma: McGregor of Marchfield consents;
Alex; McGregor of ye familie of McGregor consents;
John McGregor of ye familie of McGrigor consents.
Gregor McGregor head of the familie of Bracklie;
Rob. McGregor consents;
Duncan McGregor consents;
McGregor of that Ilk;
Will: M'Griegor accepts

According to John and Duncan Murray in Glencarnaig, as printed in Amelia, [6] -

“This Bond of Election was kept a profound secret from the rest of the clan. Gregor in Ardmackmuir, Donald in Kyleter and Malcolm of Marchfield were all of the Glengyle family. Ardlariach and Leragan did not sign and probably did not hear of the proceedings. The family of Bracklie were a junior branch of Ladosach. A question arises who are the three signatories "of the familie of McGrigor?” It may be stated decidedly that they were not of the Ladosach family amongst whom there was no Alexander - neither were they of Ardlaraich.”

The answer to their complaint was that the “John McGrigor of ye familie of McGregor” was almost certainly John roy, a descendant of Alasdair galt, third son of Alasdair ruadh the eighth chief, and therefore of the Glenstrae lineage. Alex (of ye familie of McGrigor ) was his brother and John dow his son (born 1670 died 1737). In place of Balhaldies, the Duke of Atholl had attempted to introduce John roy, his tenant in Glen Almond. When John refused to put himself forward, the Duke was said to be incandescent with rage. His refusal may have been due to the knowledge that Kilmanan and his sons were still alive, but it may equally have been that John realized that the role could be a ‘poisoned chalice’, not an honour.

But who was "McGregor of that Ilk"? I suggest that it was, very probably, Archibald of Kilmanan himself. If so, it may be said that, by this consent he had resigned his claim to be chief for himself and for his posterity.

R.W.D Cameron’s “memoir of the Family of Ardlarich” states that Balhadies offered 2000 merks Scots to Duncan, the 4th of Ardlarich “for his individual consent to the chieftainship at the meeting of the clan at Blair Athole in July, 1714” confirming the belief that they were the lineal representatives of the Lairds of Macgregor as well as of Ardlarich. So, Duncan in the above list, is probably Ardlarich.

The protestation of John Murray and his cousin Duncan, printed in Amelia vol ii, chapter XIX, page 266 onwards concerning the election of Balhaldies in 1714 at the apparent denial of the claims of their family, date from the time of the Baronage Account in the latter part of the 18th century. Having acquired wealth, the family determined to enhance their status at home, culminating in John Murray’s campaign to become clan chief. As mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, the position of ‘clan chief’ at the end of the century had become very different from that at the start. A ‘clan chief’ could now participate in Edinburgh Society, especially in the new ‘Highland Societies’ which were being founded at that time.

The Drummonds of Balhaldies - Chiefs seventeen to nineteen

Seventeenth. Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies born ~1663 and died 1749 He was elected 17th chief in 1714 by a number of gentlemen of the clan, in order to share in the Government bounty by the Hanoverian George I. He married in 1686 Margaret, daughter of Ewen Cameron of Lochiel.
The Balhaldies claim
According to Stewart of Garth in 1822, a list of clans and the numbers of fighting men they could call out was prepared for the Government in early 1746, possibly by Duncan Forbes of Culloden. The entry for the Clan Gregor stated:
"this name was called down by Act of Parliament. They are now dispersed under the different names of Drummond, Murray, Graham and Campbell ....They have no present chief, that being elective, and continuing no longer than the current expedition. 'He is chosen on the principle of detur digniori' - (let it be given to the more worthy)". [5]

Was Garth, in 1822, influenced by John Murray who elected as chief in 1787? John may have considered that Balhaldies election in 1714 had been solely for the purposes of collecting the Government subsidy and therefore he had not continued in the role of chief until his death in 1749. This would be an alternative explanation for John Murray claiming to be the 18th chief, thus ignoring the claim of the two later Balhaldies to be the 18th and 19th chiefs.

Was the statement by Garth in 1822 what Forbes had actually written in 1746? Unfortunately there is no trace of this memorial in the 1815 printed edition of Duncan Forbes's "Culloden Papers". Which leaves the question open - Were William and Alexander Drummond, son and grandson of Balhaldies considered at the time by a widely dispersed clan during the 18th century to be the chiefs of what remained of Clan Gregor?

Also did the statement by Forbes, which Garth printed, have its precedent in the election of Balhaldies in 1714, or was this idea of an elective chiefship "as needed" of longer standing? This does raise the wider question about the dispersal of Clan Gregor over a wide area of Argyll and Perthshire in tandem with the Campbell expansion up to 1550 and, subsequent to 1603, the dispersal of survivors across Scotland. To what extent was the post-1603 Chieftainship any more than nominal insofar as it suited significant lords such as the Murrays of Atholl, Drummonds of Perth, Campbells of Breadalbane or any other lord.

It may be considered supportive of this view that Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies did not lead a clan contingent in the 1715 or 1719 Risings - they were led by Rob Roy - nor in the 1745 Rising which was led by Gregor glun dubh. It may be also regarded as significant that Duncan Forbes wrote in 1746 (before the death of Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies in 1749) that the clan had "no present chief", suggesting that the son and grandson of Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies were not widely accepted as the 18th and 19th chiefs. However, as they were so regarded by some, I have included them here as the 18th and 19th.

Eighteenth. William Drummond of Balhaldies, b.8/5/1688 died.1765, Jacobite plotter, "Mr Malloch". He married a daughter of Oliphant of Gask

Nineteenth. Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies, born 7/10/1758. He was a Captain in the 65th Regt and died 1794 in West Indies. His son, William Oliphant MacGregor attempted an unsuccessful legal action in 1799 against Sir John's claim to be chief.


Fourth break in patrilinear succession.

Descendants of Iain oag beag in Glencarnoch

The descendants of Evan Murray, from Sir John Murray to Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor - Chiefs twenty to twenty six (or eighteen to twenty four)

Eighteenth. (20th) John Murray, born 1736 and died 28/6/1822. He was granted the hereditary peerage title of the first Baronet of Lanrick in 1795, for his services to the East India Company. He arranged for a survey in 1787 which found 897 MacGregors, whose names were published, approving him as chief.

As mentioned above, at the time of the election of John Murray with no claimants from the line of Glenstrae, Alasdair MacGilespa MacGregor of Ardlarich was thought to be the next most senior in succession. However, according to this “memoir of the Family of Ardlarich” by R.W.D Cameron, he surrendered his right to claim to be the chief:

“At the time when the late Sir John Macgregor Murray sent Messrs. John and Duncan Macgregor from Balquhidder through the Highlands to collect the suffrages of the clan to his being their chief (he did not ask it as a right, but as a boon), they were primarily directed to the Rannoch Macgregors, who peremptorily refused their consent. But, upon their making a second attempt, with orders to proceed no farther if they were refused again in Rannoch, the messengers proceeded and convened the whole clan in the burial ground of Killichonan. Malcolm Macgregor in Liaran, who took a lead amongst them, was particularly averse to signing the bond from the fear of incurring the displeasure of the family of Menzies, and opposed it so strenuously that the clan began to disperse without doing anything, when his son, Captain Robert Macgregor, of the 10th Foot, asked for the bond, and upon one of the gravestones signed it. He was followed in this by Peter Macgregor in Liaran, and by Gregor Macgregor in Cardoch, and. then, considering that he had neither son nor grandson to claim it, by Alister MacGilespa, who designed himself "representative of Macgregor and of Ardlarich," and, addressing the clan, said that as he had now surrendered his right to the chieftainship, no other had a right to withhold theirs. All present then signed on his invitation.” [7]

Did John Murray claim to be the 18th chief as he did not agree with the descent after the execution of Alasdair ruadh in 1604? In Douglas's Baronage of Scotland, Gregor alias Murray (b.~1599 died ~1639), who was actually the legitimate eldest son of Iain dubh, was claimed to be a bastard son of Alasdair ruadh, the 11th chief. The Baronage claim, repeated in Amelia, was that the rightful heir of Alasdair ruadh had been Padraig abrach, grandson of Donnchadh Ladasach.

I have struggled to understand the alternate numbering of the chiefs from John Murray. However, I believe the following is one possibility: According to John Murray, if Padraig abrach had been the rightful 12th chief, then his descendant, Iain oag beag who had died in 1744, should have been the 15th chief; followed as the 16th chief, by Iain oag's eldest son, Robert who had died in 1758 leaving no male heirs; then as the 17th chief, Duncan the son of Robert’s brother (also Duncan) who died in February 1787. As Duncan’s son John had predeceased him, the succession would fall to Duncan’s cousin, John Murray as the 18th chief, not the 20th.

John Murray's reason for this was expressed in his contribution to Douglas's Baronage of Scotland . However, this probably arose from a misapprehension by John who had confused Padraig ruadh, the 13th chief who had died in 1648 or 1649, with his contemporary Padraig abrach, the grandson of Donnchadh Ladasach and grandfather of Iain oag beag. Both used the alias Patrick Murray. Even Amelia acknowledges this mistake in History of The Clan Gregor which quoted extensively from the "Baronage".

The alternative, as argued above under the Balhaldies claim, was that Alexander Drummond of Balhaldies had been elected in 1714 as the 17th chief solely to obtain the Government pension and that his son and grandson had not then been generally recognized as chiefs except by a small faction between 1714 and 1787. Due to the dispersal of former MacGregors who had followed different llords, as required by the edicts of proscription, there had been no role for a chief of Clan Gregor until the dawning of "Highlandism" at the end of the 18th century.

Subsequent generations of descendants from John Murray have continued with his numbering, hence, Sir Malcolm, the current chief uses the designation of 24th chief, not the 26th as I have suggested it should be.

Despite the above discussion, there is no dispute that the current chief. Sir Malcolm, whether the 24th or 26th, is the current hereditary chief of all MacGregors.

Nineteenth. (21st) Sir Evan Murray, b.1/1/1785 d.14/6/1841
Second Baronet

Twentieth. (22nd) Sir John Athole Bannatyne b.20/1/1810 d.11/5/1851
Third Baronet

Twenty first. (23rd) Sir Malcolm b.29/8/1834 d.31/8/1879
Fourth Baronet

Twenty second. (24th) Captain, Sir Malcolm, RN b. 3/81873 d.5/12/1958
Fifth Baronet

Twenty third. (25th) Brigadier, Sir Gregor b.15/12/1925 d.30/3/2003
Sixth Baronet

Twenty fourth. (26th) Sir Malcolm b.23/3/1959
Seventh Baronet




[1] A.G.M. MacGregor, History of Clan Gregor, vol i, 407, pages 5-6 and Appendix A
And on page 394 of volume ii:
A.- Introduction, page 2. Correspondence of Sir Robert Douglas, and John Murray, Esq., afterwards Sir John MacGregor Murray, 1st Baronet, 1769.

No. 1. Mr Murray's best compliments attend Sir Robert Douglas. He sends him inclosed three sheets of the scroll genealogical account of the family of MacGregor. Gathering the materials of it has cost him no small trouble for several years past, but he has the satisfaction to think his labours have not been entirely thrown away. Dr Gregory has seen and has been pleased to approve of it. As this Clan is upon a different footing from all others, and have for some ages past been the football of fortune, it became abso1utely necessary to enquire into and give a succinct account of the different causes of their misfortunes, in order to justify them, and render the remembrance of past actions less obnoxious than their enemies would chuse to paint them  This has been attempted as briefly as possible, and Sir Robert is left to judge how successfully. Meantime, as it is absolutely necessary to answer these purposes that the account be inserted fully with all the notes, Mr Murray begs Sir Robert may candidly say whether he will give it room as it stands, because if he does not, he insists that no part of it at all be mentioned, for to half do the affair would be in his opinion worse than silence. He knows the printing will be above the common run of the account of other families, and believes Sir Robert can have no other objection than that of the burden of these expenses. Let him however understand, that if he otherways seems satisfied to give it room, these will be made easy to him. What remains of it will be sent in a day or two.- Friday, 21st September 1769.

No.2. Sir Robert Douglas presents compliments to Mr Murray, thinks himself extremely obliged to him for the papers he has sent him, and so far as he has read of them, has not the smallest objection;  as soon as he has gone through the whole, will be glad to see Mr Murray. - Saturday, 22nd September 1769.

No.3. Sir Robert Douglas presents his compliments to Mr Murray, he has again carefully perused his account of the Clan MacGregor, and is so well satisfied with it, that he is determined to print the whole papers, without leaving out one word of it, and intends to send it to the Press to-morrow, he'll therefore please return the remainder of it without fail. -Wednesday, October 4th, 1769.

see R. Douglas, The Baronage of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1798), 493; (ed.), S. Lee, Dictionary of National Biography (London, 1909), xii, 869-72.

[2] MacGregor, Martin, 1989, unpublished thesis, page 18 at click here for link

[3] MacGregor M, op cit. page 19

[4] “GD112/2/117/1/32. 7 May 1554. Discharge by Archibald, earl of Argile, to Lady Catherine Ruthven, spouse of Colin Campbell of Glenurquhay, on his behalf, of payment for superiority of 20 merkland of Glenstra within earldom of Argyll, with ward and marriage of Gregor, son of deceased Alexander McGregour of Glenstra, 7 May 1554. Witnesses: James Campbell of Laweris, Alexander Menzies of Rannocht, Andrew Quhite and Donald Campbell.” I am thankful to Neil McGregor for identifying this document:

[5] David Stewart of Garth, Manners of the Highlanders, Vol II, appendix C

[6] A.G.M. MacGregor, History of Clan Gregor, vol ii, pages 272-273

[7] See http://glendiscovery.com/macgregor_of_ardlarich.html