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Two people asked me to post some thoughts on the Gregg Cane, so here goes.
As you know, Hazel May Middleton Kendall, in her book “Quaker Greggs,” writes
(page 16):
“Previous to the reign of Mary Stuart's son James I, 16031625 (known
also as James VI of England) a curious rumour floated that a Scottish King
would sympathize with Ireland because the Irish were the original ‘Scots.’
James I established circuits and a complete system of shires in northern
Ireland. The English system was violently substituted. He had a mania for
colonization. Thousands left Scotland for Nova Scotia and Ulster [in
Ireland]. King James visited Scotland for the second time in 1617 after
which whole communities of various clans were transplanted to Ulster. Among
them were many Gregs from the clan Gregor. Their leader, a John Gregg,
evidently descended from next to the oldest son of Black John of the Coat of
Mail, received from King James I a silver-studded ivory-headed cane in
esteem and appreciation of his influence and responsibility in the removal
of the Gregs from Scotland to County Antrim, Ulster, about 1618.”
I asked Sheila McGregor to comment on this story. As I noted in my previous
message, Sheila, at that time, was associated with the Clan Gregor Centre in
Edinburgh and appeared to be an expert in Scottish history (in general) and the
MacGregors of Clan Gregor (in particular). I think that anyone who has read
eight versions (three in Latin, two in Gaelic, and three in English) of the 16th
century “Chronicles of Fortingall” probably qualifies as an expert witness.
Sheila wrote:
“I suspect Kendall of putting 2 and 2 together and making more than 4
out of it. James VI was in no mood to reward Greggs or Gregors for doing
anything in 1618. He was still breathing fire and brimstone over this cursed
clan, banning its name, enforcing worse and worse sanctions in an attempt to
extirpate them root and branch, as one of his Acts puts it. If this is true,
there ought to be some historical evidence to support it.
The [existence of the] cane is of course a fact. I have perhaps not
given it enough weight. I also suspect some of the Clan were transported to
Ireland, to work as slaves, before 1611, but this would be very different
from the traditional story. There is IMO not the slightest chance of James
VI looking on any member of this family with the slightest warmth, unless
they were bringing him a bag of MacGregor heads. The going rate for them was
half a crown, and if the head was of a more important person your own might
be saved. His dislike of us can only be described as pathological.”
I remind you that these are only the opinions of Sheila McGregor. There is no
proof that Sheila is correct. In fact, the only way to disprove Kendall’s claim
and the Gregg family oral history would be to find documentation of the “true”
origin of the cane, which seems very unlikely. Therefore, those of you who wish
to believe that the Gregg Cane was a gift from King James I/VI can take comfort
in the fact that Sheila’s statements are only her personal beliefs. Those of you
who may doubt story of the origin of the Gregg Cane can be bolstered by the
expertise and beliefs of Sheila McGregor. I guess I will keep an open mind on
the subject--we will probably never know for sure.
Kendall then continues (page 16) her story of the Greggs in Ireland:
“John Gregg was given and settled his people in the barony of Glenarm,
County Antrim, Ireland, on the northeast coast.”
And then on page 17:
“William Gregg, oldest son of John Gregg and a Presbyterian landholder,
was forced to leave his inheritance of Glenarm Barony on the coast of County
Antrim after May 1653.”
Perhaps I am reading more into these statements than Kendall intended, but to
me these statements imply that “John Gregg was given the barony of Glenarm” and
that his son William inherited it about 1644. Such a reward would be far more
valuable and noteworthy than a silver-studded ivory-headed cane and, if so,
there should be some other documentation of this. The book “Civil War and
Restoration in the Three Kingdoms” by Jane H. Ohlmeyer documents the history of
the MacDonnell family in Antrim and Glenarm. Randal MacDonnell became the 1st
Earl of Antrim in 1620. His son, Randal (1609-1683), became the 2nd Earl of
Antrim in 1636/7 on the death of his father. According to Ohlmeyer (page 32),
“His legitimate younger brother, Alexander, inherited the barony and castle of
Glenarm.” This seems to imply that the first Randal MacDonnell had been the
baron of Glenarm prior to his death in 1636/7. There is no mention of a John
Gregg in connection with Glenarm in this book. This is not definitive proof that
John Gregg was not the baron of Glenarm, but I tend to doubt that he held this
title. He could, however, have “...settled his people his people in the barony
of Glenarm” on the estates of the MacDonnells and his son William could have
inherited that land, but not the barony. Re-reading Kendall, I find that she
lists two sources for the above information: “Presbyterian Church in Ireland,”
Vol. 2, by J.S. Reid, and “Wills of Ireland.” Has anyone attempted to find these
sources? Perhaps the answer can be found there.
Kendall gives the early Gregg genealogy as:
1. John Gregg (Scotland, abt 1576 - Glenarm, Antrim, Ireland, abt 1644)
2.William Gregg (Scotland, abt 1616 - Ardmore, Waterford, Ireland, abt 1672)
2.1 John Gregg (abt 1640 - abt 1724)
2.2 William “The Immigrant Quaker” Gregg (Glenarm, Antrim, Ireland, abt
1642 - Christiana Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, 1687)
2.2.1 John Gregg (1668 - 1738)
2.2.2 Ann Gregg Dixon (1670 - 1729)
2.2.3 George Gregg (1674 - 1744)
2.2.4 Richard Gregg (1676 - 1716)
2.3 Richard Gregg (abt 1644 - abt 1741)
Kendall continues (page 17):
“During the reign of Charles I (16251649) these Ulster Presbyterians
were rigorously treated and insulted. In 1642 a Scottish army under General
Robert Monro landed in Ulster to help the colonists rally. Coleraine,
Enniskillen, and Carrickfergus defied as they were strong for king and
covenant. There was an insurrection at Carrickfergus in May 1653.
William Gregg, oldest son of John Gregg and a Presbyterian landholder,
was forced to leave his inheritance of Glenarm Barony on the coast of County
Antrim after May 1653...This oldest son William (born 1616, Scotland) left
by ship after May 1653 his Glenarm Barony in County Antrim with three
children, Richard, William born about 1643 and the oldest son John. Probably
there were daughters. With his family he settled on the southwest shore of
Waterford County, Ireland, at Ardmore where he died about 1672.”
There is corroborating support for the existence of such a William Gregg and
his forced removal from Glenarm. Charles A. Hanna, in his book "The Scotch-Irish
or The Scot in North Britain, North Ireland, and North America," writes:
“By the decisive battle of Worcester in 1651, which compelled Charles
the Second to abandon the kingdom and seek safety on the continent,
Cromwell's popularity and influence became almost unbounded.
The news of this unexpected revolution reached Carrickfergus on the day
on which the members of the Presbytery appeared before the Commissioners.
The intelligence entirely disconcerted their plans, the power from which
they derived their authority being at an end. No other alternative remained
than to exhort the ministers to a peaceable conduct, and dismiss them to
their perishes without delay. The Commissioners in Dublin, however, having
cheerfully submitted to the new Council of State, and the commissions of the
subordinate courts having been renewed throughout the kingdom, the original
design of removing "all the popular Scotts" out of Ulster was immediately
resumed. A proclamation was published by "the Commissioners for the settling
and securing the Province of Ulster," specifying the conditions on which it
was proposed to transplant the leading Presbyterians in the counties of Down
and Antrim to certain districts in Munster. This proclamation was
accompanied with a list of two hundred and sixty persons--including all
those who, by their known attachment to monarchical and Presbyterian
principles, and by their station and influence, were most obnoxious to the
reigning faction--who were required, with in a specified time and under
certain penalties, to embrace the terms now offered.
Declaration by the Commissioners for the settling and securing the
Province of Ulster; dated at Carrickfergus, the 23d of May 1653.
A list of the names of such as are to remove according to the foregoing
Declaration:
COUNTY OF ANTRIM
...Glenarm Barony:
...William Greg,...”
Kendall states:
“As a devout adherent, William Gregg was a member of a colonial Friends
group which left southern Ireland after October 1682, possibly in the ship
"Caledonia" with William Hoge.”
Has anyone been able to find anything about the ship “Caledonia” or a
passenger list for any ship which includes William Gregg? And, finally, Kendall
writes:
“He [William Gregg] had with him the silver-studded ivory-headed cane
inherited as the next to oldest son from his father. By this time, the cane
had become an heirloom whose story he recited many times to his children
just as it was the custom for his ancestors to retain a bard whose duty was
to sing the exploits of the Gregg ancestral line.” Have you played the party
game where a person is given a statement and it is verbally passed from
player to player to see how it comes out at the end of the line?
A while back I came across a web site which showed some interesting early
Gregg genealogy. No sources were given for this information so I contacted the
author. I was told that the source was another, also undocumented, web site.
Again I contacted the author and was directed to another web site. At about the
fourth such web site, I was directed back to the first web site. Remember that
misinformation travels across the Internet just as fast as correct information.
And I may be contributing to it here.
The bottom line: enjoy Kendall’s book–I know I was thrilled when I first
discovered it–but do not assume that it is 100% correct, particularly in the
early years. And, by the way, do not assume that the Thomas Gregg who married
Rebeckah Janney in 1762 was the son of Samuel Gregg and Ann Robinson as stated
by Kendall.
Richard Huseth
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