THE MCGREGOR FAMILY OF MARSHFIELD

Archibald McGregor, his wife Christian Anderson and their son Alexander came from Appin, Perthshire, on the ship “Clarendon” which sailed from Oban, Scotland on August 6, 1808 with James Hines as shipmaster and anchored in Charlottetown Harbour on the 21 of September, 1808.

Christian’s brother, Alexander Anderson, his wife Isabel and their four children were also on this crossing. The McGregors settled at Hillsborough, Lot 24, on land belonging to the Montgomery Estate. The Andersons settled in Orwell.

The first record of children born on PEI was their daughter Margaret, born 26 October, 1813, Hillsborough River, Lot 34. We know from Archibald and Christian’s will that they had other children, but there is very little recorded about them.

Alexander, the oldest son, married Christiana Stewart and they had seven children. Alexander and his wife along with four of their children are buried in the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery. The other three may very well be buried there also but there are no stones to mark their resting place.

Catherine the oldest daughter, was supposed to marry a widower, “Thomas MacNaughton, widower of Township N0. 33 and Kitty McGregor, spinster, of East River ” had a marriage license dated 5 of December, 1835, directed to Dr. Jenkins, but it appears this marriage never took place as she is buried in the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery under the name McGregor.

Margaret, the second daughter, was born 26 October in 1813; baptized by Rev. DesBrisay 29 June 1814; married 8 February 1842 3 to John MacLean. John was from North River, so they no doubt lived in this area and are buried somewhere there.

Christian was the third daughter, she was unmarried and there is no record of where she is buried.

Jean or Jane, the fourth daughter, was born 28 August 1818 and was baptized by Rev. DesBrisay on the 4 of September, 1819. (St.Paul’s Church record). She was living with her sister Isobel, Mrs. Thomas Stitson [sic] in 1901 census.

Grace the fifth daughter, who married 30 March, 1842, Andrew Carr 4, lived in the Lot 23 area. A search of the records could find no record of children and the only Andrew Carr married to a Hannah and they went to Ontario to live until about

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Courtesy 01 Emma (MacNevin) MacMillan Archie McGregor. From an original carte-de-visite ca. 1870.

1870 when they returned to take over the farm for John, Andrew’s brother at “Carr’s Corner”. Is it possible Hannah and Grace are one and the same or is Grace his second wife?

Isobel the sixth daughter was born about 1821, she married 9 July, 1857 Thomas Stitson [sic]. Thomas was born 1828 and died 1923. Isobel died 13 January 1903 and was buried on the 15 January at Marshfield Presbyterian Cemetery (now known as Community Cemetery). Isabel and Thomas had three sons. (In early records Stetson is spelled Stitson).

Robert the youngest son is listed in his father’s will but little is known about him.

The McGregors are mentioned several times in the Section, Excerpts from the Diary of David Ross.

Submitted by Linda Harding