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Many more people outside the Highlands of Scotland have heard of the name Rob Roy MacGregor because of the recent film made of this famous Highlander's exploits. Rob Roy actually existed, one of history's larger than life characters, a fearless fighter from a far off time.
He belonged to Clan Gregor - a clan which suffered and endured more than most over the centuries, savagely hunted by both king, state officials and neighbours, all seemingly hell-bent on nothing less than its complete extermination.
But though often left without lands, and even name, Clan Gregor showed a spirit and tenacity which earned them respect and often admiration from many of their fellow clansmen across the Highlands. Historically, Clan Gregor lands lay widely scattered, in parcels from the western end of Perthshire to the wild mountains and glens of Argyll. With the rise of other, and subsequently more powerful clans, such as the Campbells, members of Clan Gregor were reduced more and more to the role of tenant - even though their natural allegiance was to their own chief, MacGregor of Glenstrae. As well as tenant, paying rent to an alien laird, members of the clan were also obliged to make up the numbers when it came to the inevitable inter-clan disputes, skirmishes and fights so common across the Highlands.
Traditionally, the Clan Gregor chief had a pretty impossible situation on his hands, because although he was responsible by law for the deeds of his clansmen, they were scattered across other clan lands where he effectively had no control over them. The landlords, of course, did and so it was little wonder MacGregors seemed often innvolved in much of the raiding and killing which was almost a way of life in the Highlands of four hundred years ago.
The 16th century was a pretty bad time for the MacGregors. Neighbouring chiefs attempted to hunt them down in 1562, for example, and some two years later they had another unsuccessful crack at them. Two decades later and James VI tried his hand at taming the "wicked and unhappie race of the Clan Gregour". (old spelling). Sounds like there was more than a little of politics behind the move. No sooner had the king attained the throne than an Act of Council outlawed the clan. The name was also abolished because, according to the king, it led clan members "to presume of thair power, force and strenthe",(old spelling) thus encouraging them in their law breaking. The move certainly produced results, although not immediately. However, a year later, the chief and 11 clansmen were hanged in Edinburgh. A price of $1,000 - an incredible sum in those days - was put on the heads of other leaders of the clan, 100 merks for minor members, and there were pardons on offer for every clansman who brought in the head of another clansman of equal rank.
The hunt continued and the cruelty intensified over the coming decades. There were even attempts to forcibly settle the MacGregor clan women and children in the Lowlands. The MacGregor wives were even branded on the face. The carrying of weapons was prohibited, and only four clansmen were allowed to gather together at any one time. But there were clans, both near and far, who were prepared to risk the wrath of the crown to give MacGregors shelter and protection. The persecution of the clan continued off and on throughout the century and into the next, yet despite this, it somehow survived with its identity remaining intact. And whenever the opportunity arose the clan fought back!
Incredibly, during the various Jacobite rebellions, Clan Gregor always managed to muster some kind of presence. In the rising of 1745, for example, two companies of MacGregors fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Stuart cause.
But it was not until almost thirty years later, in 1774, that the centuries of persecution of the MacGregors ended finally, and officially, with the removal of the 'outlaw tag' first placed on the clan by King James VI.
And as if to prove that all really had been forgiven, in 1822 and in 1953 the clan was given a place of honour in the escort that carried the 'Honours of Scotland' before the Sovereign.
Author's note: I could have written my own account of this sad episode "the MacGregors", but I was very much pleased with the impact of the article from the above source.
Nancy MacCorkill, F.S.A.Scot USA
Author, Journalist, Poet
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