Person:John Gregg (7)

Although it is likely that the Gregg family origins were in Scotland there seems to be no firm information about their ancestry there. They were likely part of the great Scottish migration to Northern Ireland during the reign of King James I of England, although there were Scots in Ireland before that time. "Quaker Greggs" Kendall 1979, says without documentation that John Gregg (below) was leader of the Scottish Clan of MacGregor who came to Ireland from Glenorchy, Argyll, Scotland in 1618. If so, the birthplace usually given for John in Antrim Ireland would be incorrect. Kendall also says that this John Gregg was the grandson of "Black" John Gregg who was buried at Glenorchy 26 May 1516. There is also, In Kendall, a lineage of the family back to Fergus McErc, grandfather of Scottish King Kennth (d.680). The surname variously was Gregor or McGregor, according to this lineage. Some internet web pages confuse the issue further, giving a variety of unsupported ancestors for John Gregg and confusing places in Ireland and Scotland. Other web cites shamelessly copy information from Kendall. This writer would like to see better research backed up by original records that make the connection between John Gregg b. 1576 and family in Scotland.

b. 1576, Glenarm Barony, Antrim, Ireland; md. abt 1596, Ireland _______; (1593-1596) d. 1644, Glenarm, County Antrim, Ireland. "Quaker Greggs" indicates that John Gregg and his followers were assigned to settle in the Barony of Glenarm by the English. As were most Scotch settlers in Ireland, the Greggs were undoubtedly Presbyterian. Listed among the early settlers of Londonderry Ireland were David Gregg, James Gregg, John Gregg, Samuel Gregg andWilliam Gregg. Most of these early settlers soon moved on to plantations in the Ulster region.