Alexander McGregor



S. of John McGregor & Anna McDonald

Alexander McGregor
Born 10.6.1801 at Cromdale, Moray, Scotland
Bap. 17th June 1801 at Grantown, Cromdale, Moray
Occ. Farmer of 7 Ac
Marr. (1st) Mary Munro (Unmarried)
Died 19th May 1873 at Lynemore Farm, Cromdale, Moray


Child

Donald


Marr. (2nd) Margaret McKenzie 5.1.1837 at Cromdale, Moray


NOTE

Alexander's parents were recorded as Alexr. & Margaret McGregor (his death cert.) but I think maybe this was wrong as there are no Alexander's born around 1801 (he was 50 in the 1851 census) in Inverness Cromdale or Morayshire. Alexr. was born, married & died in Cromdale. The only possible match is John McGregor & Anna McDonald as his parents who had a son Alexander McGregor, born 10.6.1801 at Cromdale. The death informant was his Nephew Peter Calder. It may be a long shot to assume Peter made a mistake with Alexander's parents if of course it was him who informed the doctor of this. Peter's Mother was Isabel McGregor & Alexander did have a sister called Isabel, born in 12.2.1800 at Cromdale.

Alexander is the 'reputed' father of Donald (according to his marr. cert.)

Ref CH2/983/3 – Folio 327 Church of Cromdale 2nd January 1832. The Session being met and constituted sederunt Reverend James Grant Moderator David Stuart Donald Grant and Donald Stuart Elders. Compeared Mary Munro an unmarried woman residing in Grantown confessing herself to be with child in uncleaness and being interrogated who is the father of her pregnancy, she delated Alexander McGrigor, Lynmore as the father. The said A McGrigor was directed to be summoned to attend this day fortnight before the Session and the woman cited apud acta. The Session closed with prayer.

Ref CH2/983/3 – Folio 327 Church of Cromdale 5th February 1832. The Session being met and constituted sederunt Reverend James Grant Moderator David Stuart Donald Grant and Donald Stuart Elders. Compeared Mary Munro previously referred to who adhered to her former accusation. Compeared also upon citation Alexander McGrigor in Lynmore and being confronted with the woman, he flatly denied the accusation, and offered to take the Oath of Purgation at any time that he never had any criminal intercourse with the said Mary Munro. Whereupon the Session delayed further proceedings in the case until A McGrigor’s father be cited to appear before the session this day week at Grantown, when A McGrigor and M Munro were cited apud acta to attend the Session at Grantown. The Session closed with prayer.

These entries should be fairly self-explanatory, but a couple of terms may be unclear. Compeared means appeared and apud acta means “at the time of the proceedings”. Unfortunately, there were no further entries on this, but the Kirk Session minutes were blank between January 1833 and February 1837 so there may have been a follow-up, but it was not recorded.

However, it appears from the entry in the OPR for Donald’s birth that the Session believed Alexander was the father. This is also confirmed in an entry in the accounts. In the same book (CH2/983/3, Folio 67) there was an entry for Alexander in the list of “Delinquent names from the 31st December 1832 to 31st December 1833 with the penalties paid.” Alexander’s fine for fornication was 8 shillings and 4 pence. This was the minimum fine paid – some paid 16 shillings and 8 pence, and some as much as £2. I presume the fine was in some way means tested.

Census Year 1841, Parish Cromdale, Inverallan & Advie, Ref128B, Book 5, Page 8

Address - Lynmore

Alexr McGregor 35 Farmer
Margaret McGregor 35
Donald McGregor 9

Lynmore was a small farm or community with four families and two individuals, so we can be sure this is the correct family. Despite initially saying he was not the father to the Kirk Session, it appears that Alexander accepted Donald as his son. It also appears that Alexander was, by 1841, married to someone other than Mary Munro.

Census Year 1851, Parish Cromdale, Inverallan & Advie, Ref 128B, Book 5, Page 9

Address - Lynmore

Alexander McGregor Head Mar 50 Farmer of 9 acres (employing 2 in door labourers) Invernessshire, Cromdale
Margaret McGregor Wife Mar 51 Moray, Duthil
Donald McGregor Son Unm 20 Farmer's Son, employed on the farm Invernessshire, Cromdale
Mary Rose Serv Unm 17 House Servant Invernessshire, Cromdale
Mary Rose Serv 8 House Servant Invernessshire, Cromdale

There as also a note beside this entry that Alexander was deaf.

The 1861 census is a bit of a mystery as it records Alexr. & Margt. living at the same place but also present was a dau., May McDonald, 1837, Cromdale, a son, John McGregor, 1844, Cromdale & a Grandson, James McGregor, 1854, Cromdale. I have no idea who any of them are ?

Not much light is shed on the 1871 census either with Alexr. & Margt. living at the same place with 'son', James McGregor, 1854, Cromdale & servant, Mary Calder.

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