Gregor McGREGOR

1818 - 1876  (58 years)

• Name	Gregor McGREGOR
  Birth	1818	North Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Emigration	25 Aug 1840	Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland   [1]
  Emigration	Between 25 Aug 1840 and 27 Dec 1840	ship BLENHEIM   [1]
  Immigration	27 Dec 1840	Kaiwharawhaura, Wellington, New Zealand   [1]
  Death	19 May 1876	Wanganui, Wanganui, New Zealand   [1]
  Burial	21 May 1876	Wanganui, Wanganui, New Zealand   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I19322	NZ Genealogy Project
  Last Modified	17 Jun 2020

  
  

  Family	Catherine FRASER,   b. 02 Dec 1823, Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, Scotland d. 03 Jan 1914, Wanganui, Wanganui, New Zealand (Age 90 years)
  Marriage	06 Dec 1841	Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand   [1]
  Family ID	F6590	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	31 Dec 2024

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 1818 - North Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland Emigration - 25 Aug 1840 - Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland Immigration - 27 Dec 1840 - Kaiwharawhaura, Wellington, New Zealand Marriage - 06 Dec 1841 - Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand Death - 19 May 1876 - Wanganui, Wanganui, New Zealand Burial - 21 May 1876 - Wanganui, Wanganui, New Zealand  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Gregor McGREGOR

  
  

• Notes

  BIOGRAPHY Gregor McGregor was born in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in 1818, and was 21 when he emigrated on the Blenheim in 1840 to Wellington, New Zealand. He married Catherine Fraser, who had also emigrated on the Blenheim in 1840, on 6 December 1841 in Wellington. He moved, with his wife and two children, to New South Wales in 1845 where he worked as a stock overseer. In 1849 the family returned to Wellington and in 1851 the family moved to Turakina near Wanganui. In 1855 the family moved to the Matarawa Valley, Wanganui, where Gregor had purchased 300 acres in 1855 and a further 400 acres in 1858. The family moved again in 1865 to an adjoining 425 acre property iin the Matarawa Valley. From 1853-1864 he was the first Inspector of Sheep for Wanganui and Rangitikei, appointed by the Wellington Provincial Council. As noted below, Gregor died at his residence in Wanganui following a period of illness in1876. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand published a biography of Gregor McGregor in 1897. Also below is an obituary published after his death in 1876. GREGOR McGREGOR McGregor, Gregor, Settler, Wanganui. Among the early colonists of New Zealand, now passed away, must be numbered Mr. Gregor McGregor. Born in the Island of Uist in 1818, he received a sound grammar school education, and was afterwards apprenticed as a carpenter and boatbuilder. In 1840 he came to New Zealand in the ship "Blenheim," and had the honour of being one of the first colonists to land in Wellington, where he worked for several years. Upon the breaking out of the Maori war, in 1845, he left New Zealand for New South Wales, taking his wife and family, whose lives were in danger, with him. In 1849 he returned to New Zealand, and entered into partnership with Mr. Wilson, taking up a block of 2000 acres in the Turakina Valley, to which other properties were afterwards added. Mr. McGregor was the first sheep inspector appointed in the district. In 1871 he divided his properties among his family, and went to reside in Wanganui, where he remained till his death, in 1876. Mr. McGregor was married in 1841 to a daughter of Mr. D. Fraser, and left eight sons and six daughters, who are settled in the district. He was a man of strict integrity, whose influence for good was always felt, taking a prominent part in any deserving work, and a consistent upholder of the church. His wife also took a leading part in any charitable or Christian work. Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District], 1897. OBITUARY DEATH OF MR GREGOR McGREGOR A few days ago we referred to the feeble health of Mr Gregor McGregor, and now it is our painful duty to record his death, which took place at his late residence yesterday evening. The deceased gentleman has lately been suffering from a throat complaint, and a few weeks ago left Wanganui en route for Australia, in the hope that the change of air, climate, and scene might prove beneficial. On his arrival in Wellington he consulted the best medical advice procurable, and was recommended to return home, and to adopt a variety of precautions, with regard to the maintenance of a regular and equable temperature, and a careful avoidance of chills and drafts, by close attention to which it was hoped that he would ultimately be restored to health. But Providence had ruled it otherwise, and a large circle of friends and relatives now mourn his departure from their midst. The cold, chilly, wintry weather doubtless exercised a more or less injurious effect upon his already debilitated system, notwithstanding all the counteracting influences with which, he was so carefully surrounded, which, nevertheless, could scarcely wholly avert the potently penetrating effects of the temperature outside. The deceased gradually sank after his return to Wanganui, and several days ago his friends had abandoned all hope of his recovery. Mr Gregor McGregor was one of the earliest settlers who came to reside in the district, and was one of the pioneers of the olden time, the number of which is being so rapidly thinned of late. As a colonist, Mr McGregor was enterprising and progressive, and as a citizen he was a conscientious and high principled member of the community, by whom he was universally respected for his unwavering integrity, and for his many Christian virtue. He had almost reached the allotted term, and has now passed away to join those near and dear to him when on earth, who are gone before. With respectful sympathy we sincerely join in our condolences with those whose loved and esteemed relative and friend is now cold in death, but whose mournings are of those who look beyond the tomb, where the weary are at rest. Right well has Mr McGregor borne the heat and burden of the day, in days of yore, when the colonist's career was liable to sudden and dangerous vicissitudes, of which the settler of today knows but little, except from the story of the past. But the battle of life for him is now over, and he has gone to receive the reward promised to good and faithful servants. Those who stood around his death bed, previous to his spirit taking its flight, best know how literally fulfilled was the prayer, which so many have breathed as they felt that the night was far spent and the day was at hand, and that for them the impenetrable future had no dread alarms. The hour of my departure is near, I hear the voice that calls me home, At last, Oh Lord, let trouble cease, Let thy servant die in peace. In conclusion, we may append the following brief biographical sketch: - Mr McGregor was, at the time of his death, in his 58th year, having been born in North Uist, Invernesshire, in the year 1818. He left Scotland for New Zealand in 1840, in which year he arrived in the colony. He was one of the first elders of the Presbyterian Church for Wellington, and was appointed for Wanganui over 20 years ago. Of this Church he has been a staunch and liberal supporter, and has now departed steadfast in that faith which he professed and adhered to throughout his life with undeviating constancy and consistency. Source: Wanganui Chronicle, 20 May 1876, Page 2

  
  

• Sources

  [S1570] Hugh McPhail, The Blenheim People, (Hugh McPhail, Wellington, New Zealand 2015). [S385] NZ Cemetery Records, 1800-2007, (Ancestry.com). [S150] Papers Past - The Wanganui Cronicle, (Papers Past - National Library of New Zealand), none. FUNERAL - A. very large procession of mourners composed the cortege which accompanied the remains of the late Gregor McGregor, Esq , to their last resting place yesterday. A prominent and pleasing feature was the procession of children from the Presbyterian Sabbath Schools, whose subdued demeanour was more striking than any funeral pomp and display of an extravagant character. Many who composd the long line of mourners were heard to speak with respectful regret of the friend and sympathiser who was now no more, and of whom many unostentatious deeds of kindness were recorded. The feeling of sorrow seemed to be almost universally experienced, and testilied to the esteem in which the deceased had beeu held by all classes of the community. - Published 22 May 1876