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John Gragg

John Gragg

Male 1690 - 1758  (68 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.

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  • Name John Gragg 
    Birth 1690  Antrim, Éire Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 1758  Augusta Co., Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 1758  Augusta Co., Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Siblings 1 Sibling 
    Person ID I366558  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 30 Jan 2002 

    Father John Gregg,   b. Antrim, Éire Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1724, Waterford, Éire Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F145196  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Nancy Ann Woods,   b. 1694, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 1758 and 1760, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years) 
    Marriage 1717  Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Robert Gregg,   b. Abt 1732, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 May 1796, Greene County, Tennessee, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years)
     2. Herny Gregg,   b. 1726   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Nancy Ann Gregg,   b. 1728   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Samuel Gregg,   b. 1830   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Jane E Gregg,   b. 1738   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. John Gregg,   b. 1725   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Margaret Gregg,   b. 1737   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Thomas Henry Gregg,   b. 1731   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Thomas Gregg,   b. 1728   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. William Gregg,   b. 1735   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F145194  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Jan 2002 

  • Notes 
    • Gregg Surname from "MacGreggor"

      "TARTANS" published by Octopus Books
      "The Colquhoun were the first clan to cause trouble for the MacGregors. Following a conference between the two clans the Colquhouns laid an ambushn in Glenfruin, and after a bloody battle they (Colquhouns) were severly beaten and their chief killed. The outcome oa all this was that sixty Colquhoun widows appeared before the King at Stirling, each carrying a blood stained shirt on a pole. The King gave orders for the Royal Is My Race (MacGreggors) extermination of the MacGregors and also for the proscription of their name. They were hunted like animals with no chance of defending themselves, the only weapon allowed MacGregors being a pointless knife. A turbulent clan, This account explains reasons for the name changes of the clan to Gregg,Gragg,Gregor,Gregory, Cragg and others.

      It goes on to say at various times they were forbidden to even use their name. It was not until 1774 that the suppression of the name was finally lifted by an act of Parliment obtained by John Murray MacGregor."

      History of the Gregg Surname:
      Clan Alpin were known as "Clann a' Cheathaich", Children of the Mist

      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 earliest 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 to a 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 trouble 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 honors 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 Mac Gregors 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 an 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 reigh, on Sept. 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 MacGregors 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 outlawedd 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 1720s. he was pardoned for his crimes and lived out his life at Balquihidder where he died in 1734.

      About Clan Gregor:
      Arms: Argent, a sword in bend dexter Azure and an oak tree eradicated in bend sinister Proper, the former supporting on its point in dexter canton an antique crown Gules.
      Badge: A lion's head, erased, crowned with an antique crown, Proper.
      Motto: 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream (Royal is My Race) is the most often heard but there is another one used on heraldic arms E'en Do and Spare Not. Both are recognized.
      Gaelic Name: MacGrioghair
      War Cry: Ard-choille! (The High Wood)
      Pland Badge: Scotch Pine

      MacGregor sites in Scotland:
      Dalmally - Glen Orchy - Glen Strae - Rannoch Moor

      In "GRAGG" by Lee Gragg:
      John Gregg
      c 1690 - 1758

      "The earliest known projenitor of our Gregg/Gragg family, with certainty is Robert Gragg of Augusta Co. VA and later of Greene Co. TN. Robert is assumed to be the son of John Gregg. Mush of the history of his ancestors if buried in obscurity. According to family tradition, John Gregg was the father of Thomas, John, Robert, William and Margaret. There us no proof or disproof of this tradition. After several years o exhaustive research, it is most disappointing not to document dates and facts completely, pertaining to this John Gregg. As previously stated, after coming to America, he lived in Cumberland Co. PA for a period of years ; and later he and his family removed to Augusta Co. VA in the early 1750s. That he was born in Northern Ireland, probably County Antrim. Through estimated dates of birth of some of his children, John was born about 1690.

      Lee Gragg had considerable correspondence with Hazel M. Kendall, a Gregg descendant, and author of "Gregg Foundations," an extremely well-documented treatise on the lineage of William Gregg, the Quaker. In compiling dates and information for her book, which was published in 1944, Miss Kendall researched all possible sources regarding the Greggs of American, and in the process, sorted out those which led to a complete presentation of history, dates and marriages of the lineage of William Gregg, the Quaker.

      Miss Kendall stated that our branch of the Greggs came from Northern Ireland to Cumberland Co. PA; that this John Gregg married Nancy Ann Wood, dau. of Wm. Wood; removed to Augusta Co. VA in 1750, and died in Augusta Co. in 1758."

      Early Colonial Gregg Families:
      It has been determined that there were six Gregg families in addition to our own Greggs, which could be considered as early American colonial. No evidenc has been found that our Greggs/Graggs are direct descendants of any of these colonial Greggs, but undoubtedly, they are related.



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