1954 - Special Collections

30 YEAR BOOK AMERICAN CLAN GREGOR SOCIETY
The ga llant conduct of Ma jor Evan MacGregor-Murray is particularly
notic ed in them, the event being a stratagem he employed
at the gat e of Edinburgh, which enabled the Fort to be quickly
taken. A two handed sword used by an ancestor at the battle of
Glen Fruin, was used by Eva n during these and later years. The
upri sing lost its momentum and finally the revolutioni sts had to
disper se and take to the hills. Robert with his brother Evan, who
had been wandering since April, surrendered to Genera l Campbell,
afterwards Duke of Argyll, on September 18, 1756; and were
impri soned in the Castle of Edinburgh where he died Oct. 1758."
Robert, 21st Chief of the Clan Gregor, m. 3 times, and had an
only son, who lost his life in the seige of Louisburg, and predeceased
his father. Robert d. in 1758 and was s. by his brother
Duncan.
Duncan Murray, 3rd son of XX John, next surviving brother to
Robert. s. to the representation of the Family and as Chief of
the Clan not in the direct chief s line. H e was educated for the
law but went "out" in 1745, was a Capt. in his brother's Regt., had
a heel shot awa y at the battle of Preston Pans, in fact was wounded
11 times for his "P rince". Resumed practice of law at Edinburgh,
and m. Beautrix, dau. of Mr . David MacNiven. When his only
son (John ) d. in Batavia 23 Mar. 1784, he left everything to his
sister's son, John Paul, with the condition that he take the surname
of MacGr egor. David's son John was in the East India Co.'s Navy
and Commodore of the Bombay Marine when he died. John Paul
became Lt. Col. John Paul MacGregor and afterwards Deputy­
Auditor Gen. of the Bengal Arm y.
When Duncan d. in Feb . 1787 with no son to succeed him, the
succession then fell to the eldest son of E van, who d. in 1778,
before his brother Duncan.
Now that the dir ect chiefs line goes down thru the 4th son ( Evan)
of John, it is believed a short sketch of Evan is appropriate, so it
will follow.
Maj or E van Macfiregor-Murray, was b. in 1710, and while he
failed to outlive his brothers and become the Chief of th e Clan, he
was the father of a Chief that did. H e won his pr omotion to Maj.
and A.D. C. to Prince Charlie by heading the storming par ty into
Edinburgh, thru the Netherbow Port, 17th Sept. 1745. After
fighting brilliantly at Preston Pa ns 1745, he seemed to be fated
to lead the life of a soldier. In the 7 year s war in Europe he fough t
for Britain as an officer in the 88th Regt. in Germany. Letters
sent home mentio n returning his sword, "old Duncan Aberoch",
first used in the batt le of Glen Fruin. H e signed his letter as
Lieut . Murray in Col. John Campbell's Hi ghland Regt. Later he
was appointed to the 41st Regt. (Invalids) in Jer sey and d. there
29 Oct. 1778. Th e inscription on his tombstone reads Lieut. Evan
MacGregor. On account of the loss of the family for tune in 1745,
he had great difficulty in providing for his family in the years