Letter Outlining the family of Richard and Catherine Gregg

Extracts from the book "A Moment in Time" by Daniel Gregg with permission of same.

As this is the family history, applying to Richard and Catherine Gregg and their descendants, it was my intention to introduce and publish the first family only of the Starritt, Young and Rankin families, with the McKays to the third generation.

There had never been any evidence or suggestion that Richard and his sister Catherine had any brothers or sisters. About 1968 I had asked Geo Starritt (1881-1971) how many brothers and sisters his mother had; the reply was, that beyond Richard Gregg being a brother, he did not know. His explanation was that in those days one was not told and did not ask.

It was on Wednesday, 11 th. July this year, in our cousin "Maimie" MacLeod's home, while trying to locate a letter written in 1898, that we discovered a Gregg Family History dating back to 1712.

Handwritten on ordinary writing paper, the abovementioned history had no envelope and showed definite signs of age. The compiler was apparently "R. Gregg" and it is reproduced verbatim, with a (?) against that of which I am not reasonably sure.

May those who are family history conscious receive some assistance from this discovery, which is reproduced by courtesy of "Maimie".

The following is an account of the Gregg Family from their first settlement in Ganacaman (?) Co. Donegal, Ireland.

R. Gregg.

B. 1712. Robert, Son of Richard Gregg of Glenarm, County Antrim, removed to Donegal Co. and married Martha, daughter and heiress of David Logan of the Loganstoon about 1735 having issue Richard, David, Robert, James, James settled in Edenacarnon the next town land but afterwards emigrated to America.

David inherited his Grandfather Logan's farm and Richard and Robert bought farms in Munielagan adjoining the Loganstoon and Edenacarnon. Richard born 1740 married Mattie Clark of Manor cunningham and had issue Robert, John, Richard, Daniel, Mattie, Betty, Jean, Nell. Nell married James Buchanan, Locker. Betty married William Graham of Ballynascadden. Mattie married John Gailey, Killylartin (?). Dan married a daughter and heiress of Mosses (?) Graham of Killycreen. John settled at Carrowcastle near Dan. Robert bought land in Ballynascadden from the Grahams and Richard inherited his father's farm in Munielagan.

Robert, born 1768, married Mattie McClure and had issue Richard, Finlay, Robert, Mary, Jeanie and Eliza. By his second wife Peggy Starrett he had issue Daniel, William, Mattie, Margaret, Nancy. Richard married Mary Ward and went to America settling in Venango, Co. Pa. Mary married John Buchanan, Locker. Jeanie married Daniel Gailey, Fullygay (?). Eliza married John Gailey, Kellylartin (?). All Peggy Starrett's issue went to America and settled in Venango, Co. Pa. after the death of their father Robert - which took place on Christmas Day 1841.

Finlay married Sarah Gailey (daughter of John Gailey, Killylartin and Mattie Gregg) and bought a farm in Muneylagan adjoining his Grandfather's farm and had issue Mary, Mattie, Jean, Ellenor, Elizabeth, Margaret Ann, Catherine, Robert, John, Richard, Finlay. Mary married John Johnstone, Eanecarnan (?). Mattie married to Anderson Churchill. Jean married Hugh Scott. Ellenor died unmarried. Elizabeth married first Robinson second James Graham. Margaret Ann married Robert Kelso and went to America. Catherine went out to Australia and married Robert Starrett of the Loganstoon. Robert married Isabella Gibson daughter and heiress of Billy Gibson, Killydensart (?). John went to America and married the daughter of W. H. Noyes at one time Governor of the State of Ohio. Richard went out to Australia and married Kattie McKay daughter of Donald McKay of the Isle of Sky. Finlay died unmarried and his elder brother Robert inherited his Father's farm in Munielagan which is now in possession of his only son Robert who married the eldest of George Burrowes of Dromore and has a numerous family of sons and daughters.

Robert - born 1810 - married Ann McConnell eldest daughter of Thomas McConnell of Fanad (?) 1836 and had issue Mary, Mattie, Robert, Thomas, Eliza, Richard, Sarah. He inherited his father's farm in Ballynascadden generally called up tho brae. Mary married Robert Rutherford, Cashlenan (?) and had issue James, Robert, Hanah, Anna, Rebecca, Mattie, Catherinne, Samuel, Robert - the first Robert died when 7 years old. Mattie married Alexander Starrett of the Loganstoon and had issue Robert, John, David, Margaret, Anna, Mary and Mattie.