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The GREGG Family Name Page
QUAKER GREGGS
Those of our clan who carry the Gregg surname might be surprised to know that a wealth of information exists regarding our migration to America and our travails preceding that migration. We are extremely fortunate to have our history lovingly detailed in a book that is available in most genealogical libraries. This book is Quaker Greggs, privately published in 1944 and the life work of Hazel May Middleton Kendall.
Except for the New England Greggs, most of whom are descended from a James Gregg and Margaret Cargill who arrived in Boston and settled in New Hampshire in the Late 1700,s the majority of Greggs in America appear to be the direct descendants of the Gregg line documented in Ms. Kendall's book. To quote Ms Kendall, her book "records the descendants of William Gregg the friend immigrant to Delaware 1682 from which disseminated nests of Greggs to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina."
Here is a synopsis of some of the most interesting facts presented in this 500 page well Indexed book.
John Gregg, descended from the second oldest son of Black John of the Coat of Mail, buried at Dysart in Glenorchy May 26, 1519, received from King James I a silver studded cane in appreciation for his agreement to move the Greggs under his influence from Scotland to a settlement in County Antrim, Ulster, in 1618. John was also granted a Barony by James.
This cane has been passed down through Willian Gregg's line and is currently in the possession of Stanley Gregg of Fredrickstown, Ohio. According to Stanley, this famous cane's ivory head possesses several gaping holes where precious stones once resided. Apparently hard up, Greggs had long since liquidated them. Stanley is more than willing to talk to any Gregg interested in their history and has been gracious enough to send me photos of the cane. With the cane has passed down an oral tradition and the responsibility of being the family bard/historian. Stanley has been known to take the cane to his grandchildren's elementary school for show and tell, in full dress kilt.
William Gregg, the oldest son of John Gregg, was forced to leave his inheritance of the Glenarm Barony due to the Irish uprising of Carrifergus in May, 1653. William took his family to Waterford, Ireland. In 1681-1682 William's second oldest son, William, heard William Penn speak in Waterford about Quakerism and converted.In 1682, William followed Penn with his family (and cane) in tow to America, finally disembarking from the ship Caledonia for the Quaker settlement in the Delaware Brandywine region. Ms Kendall's book subsequently follows and enumerates a large number of descendants of William Gregg up to modern times.
Anyone wanting to talk with a modern day expert on these Gregg lines should contact F. Lee Nichols at nichols@cjnetworks.com. Lee has been working many years to correct and update Ms. Kendall's encyclopedic work.
J. Kevin Gregg
The Gregg name is derived from the clan MacGregor of Scotland.
Most Greggs can trace their lineage to William Gregg, immigrant Friend (Quaker) from Ireland.
The history of the Gregg name is very colorful. Gregg is one of many derivatives taken from the name MacGregor of Scotland. One of the earlist of the Scottish kings was Kenneth MacAlpin of Clan Alpin. His father was a Scot and his mother a Pict. He ruled both the Celts (Scots) and the Picts from 833 to 860 A.D. His son was Greg or Griogor MacAlpin who ruled Scotland from about 875 to 893 A.D. It is from his sons the MacGregors (sons of Greg) that the surname is derived. One of the few clans of purely celtic descent.
The MacGregors were one of the largest landholding families in early Scotland. Their land had once stretched from Loch Rannock to Loch Lomond and from Loch Etive to Taymough with its center of power in Glenorchy, Argyleshire. No tribe was more proud of its ancient name or had to suffer more to bear it. Their chief, Iain of Glenorchy, died as a result of falling prisoner to Edward of England in 1296. Iain's daughter married into the Campbell family and through her the Clan Campbell laid claim to the MacGregor land. As Iain died with no son he was succeeded by his nephew Gregor. According to ancient celtic rule the land of Clan Alpin could not belong to a person but the clan, so the Campbell claim was rejected.
In the past most people in Scotland spoke Gaelic, not only in the highlands but the lowlands as well. The highlanders were wealthy and powerful, particularly in the cattle trade. The families troubles began as early as 1297 when Robert the Bruce ordered some of the MacGregors lands forfeited.
King David of Scotland (1331-1371) saw the powerful MacGregor clan's claim to royal honers as a threat to his own security. The king presented the lands of Glenorchay, rightfully possessions of the MacGregors, to the Campbell clan, represented by the Duke of Argyll. This established a bloody fued between the MacGregors and their neighbors the Campbells. The Campbells induced a quarrel between the MacGregors and the MacNab clan, who were nearly exterminated in a battle at Crainlariach. The Campbells were able to secure a commission from the king to punish both the clans for breaking the peace. By 1442 the MacGregors were without and acre of land. They survived by plundering herds of their enemies who held land they once owned. They took to the hills around Balquihidder and many became bands of outlaws.
During Queen Mary's reign, on September 23, 1563 the name MacGregor was abolished. In 1606 James VI issued letters of fire and sword against the clan. The Colquhouns were given the task, but they were massacred by the MacGregors at Glenfruin. On May 24, 1611, it had been decreed that all wives, and children of MacGregrors were to be branded on the cheek and sent into virtual slavery. On June 24, 1613 an act was passed which made it a law for any man, woman, or child with the name MacGregor to be put to death if found in a group larger than four. As a result of these injustices most of the clan opted to change its name to Gregg, Greg, Grigg, Grig, Greer, Grier, Gragg and so on. Many sought the protection of other clans, others moved from the highlands and many emigrated. The act was eventually repealed in 1775.
Sir Walter Scott's romantic novel "Rob Roy" was the life of Robert MacGregor of 18th century Scotland. Born in 1671, Robert MacGregor, known as Rob Roy, or Robert the Red because of his red hair, was the most famous of the outlawed Scottish clan Gregor. After his lands were confiscated by James Montrose, 1st Duke of Montrose, Rob Roy became a leader of uprisings. He later lived in peace for a time under the protection of John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, taking his mother's name of Robert Campbell, but was imprisioned by the English in the 1720's. He was pardoned for his crimes and lived out his life at Balquihidder where he died in 1734.
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Last updated May 2000 by Web Genealogist Chris Stefanovich.