1954 - Special Collections

20
Gen. XI
YEAR BOOK A:-IERICAN CLAN GREGOR SOCIETY
1. John. He was one of the Magnates of Scotiae, made pri soner
by Edw ard (King ) of E ngland at Dunbar 1296. Menti oned
in the "Ragmans Roll". He was forced to go to France
(where he died) and fight for the King to save his lands
from forfeitu re.
Hi s dau. and heiress, Margaret, who carried the Bar ony of
Glenurchy to her husband, John, son of Neil Campbell, on
whose mother her Royal br other had conferred the Earldom of
Ath ol, became in his right , Earl of Ath ol. The Ea rl fell
in battle at Halidon Hill 1333, leaving issue by his wife,
Mar garet. The child survived only a few years. Upon its
death the Barony of Glenurchy returned to the family of
MacGregor. Gregor , Lord of MacGregor , died 1300 in
Glenurchy.
2. Malcolm, next son s. ( MacG rego r chiefs line)
Malcolm, Lord MacGr egor, and of Glenurchy, inherited ancient
titl e and lands in Perthshir e and No rthumberla nd, through Mar ­
jory and Duncan inheritance. (See Gen. VIII.) H e fought under
Edward Bruc e in Ireland, was badly wounded at Dunkir k, died at
an advanced age in 1374, in the reign ( 1370-1390) of King Robert
Bruce II.
The troubles of th e MacGregor s began to ta ke on a mor e sinister
aspect under the reign of Robert Bru ce and his son, David II. It
all came about gradually, not in the open but in secret. Although
Malcolm had led his Clan to the battle of Bannockburn in 1314,
and even carried along his famil y priest bearing the arm of St.
Ninian in a silver casket, all was forgo tten by the Kin g who seemed
to be wrapped up in his brother-in-law, Neil Campbell, who died
in 1316, and his sons. Campbell and Bruce hated above all people
the Lords of Ar gyle and Lorn , and the Comyns and the MacGregors
of Argyle also were blacklisted without specific charge. H owever,
it was Malcolm MacGr egor who was attached to the immortal
Bruce and at one time harboured him in a large cave on his lands,
enabling him to escape his enemies. Later it was made famous
by Rob Roy and to this day it is known as the Kin g's Cave.
Kin g Robert Bruce, crowned in 1306, reigned until he died in 1329.
H e was succeeded by David II who reigned fr om 1329 until he
died 1332; and in turn by Marjory Bruc e's son, Robert II (o f her
m, with Th e Hi gh Stew art of Scotland), who reign ed 1370-1390.
"Again," says Andrew Lan g, "if the opinion be correct which
holds that the Clan MacGregor, now lost its lands as being of the
part of the Lords of Lome, then in the lack of estates, the Gregors
became the "wicked Clan" of disinherited "Outlaws". Adams
writes- "when the MacGregor neighbors th e Campbells began to
wax powerful, under Robert Bruce, they insidiously managed to
get Crown Charters for lands which had always been in possession
of the MacGregors. It began in Argy le. A Campbell was first