Mary Ann (McDonald) McGregor (1858 - 1925)

Born 26 Jul 1858 in Glasgow, Scotland

Wife of John Angus McGregor — married 23 Oct 1878 (to 1925) in Parkhill, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada

Died 21 Sep 1925 at age 67 in Whitedale, Doyle Twp, Schoolcraft, Michigan

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Biography

Mary Ann McDonald, b. 26 Jul 1858, daughter of Anne McLea and Angus McDonald of Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

Emigration: from Scotland to Canada, uncertain date, possibly 1878.

Immigration: to Michigan, abt 1879-1880.

Marriage: At age twenty-one, Mary married John McGregor on 23 Oct 1878 in Parkhill, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. ^[1] The couple emigrated from Ontario to Lapeer Michigan, then relocated to Whitedale, a tiny settlement near Gulliver not far from Manistique in Upper Michigan. Together the couple had children:

1. Charles Angus McGregor
2. Anne Agnes McGregor (m. Otto Lagman)
3. Kathryn Margaret MacGregor (m. Glen Beal)

While Mary was raised in the tradition of the Church of Scotland, a presbyterian faith, her husband was Catholic at the time they married. Mary's eldest daughter later recollected her mother faithfully attended church meetings every month in Manistique, wearing her best of two dresses. She had one for every day wear and one for church going.

Died: Mary died at her home in 21 Sep 1925 in Whitedale, Doyle Township, Schoolcraft, Michigan. ^[2][3]

Burial: Lakeview Cemetery, Manistique, Schoolcraft, Michigan ^[4]

Research Notes

The following lore about Mary may carry a grain or two of truth so is shared here as fun family 'yarns':

Family lore passed down from two of Mary's children and a grandson says Mary was in service to a lady in Glasgow, Scotland, and when Mary became pregnant by the lady's husband or son, the wealthy family slipped her off to Canada to avoid scandal. It was 'whispered' among the women of the family that Mary emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Canada while pregnant whereby she quickly married John McGregor of West Williams, Middlesex. Charles was born a few months later and John was recorded as his father.

• Charley's sister said her mother received financial support for Charley and he allegedly inherited a small stipend or legacy from his biological 'mystery' father as an adult.
• Charley's nephew was a bit more skeptical, noting his uncle had a great sense of humor and could have invented the story just to 'pull his nephew's leg' and his mother went along with the joke. Family members were great humorists generally, so this is very likely.

The above 'mystery' has never been proven or disproven, but certainly outlives Mary by several generations, the lore still passed down in certain family lines.

Another story says Mary's mother was a McLee.

This lore stems from the 1917 marriage record of her youngest daughter which lists her mother's maiden surname as 'McLee' (alts: McLea, McLey, McAuley... ), intimating Mary was not the biological child of Angus McDonald. Mary was still living then and attended the wedding. Mary's eldest daughter witnessed the record and also attended the wedding. This is the only mention in all discovered records of the surname McLee and is generally thought to be a reporting error.

Records

Marriage Record: 23 Oct 1878, Parkhill, Middlesex, Canada. ^[1]

Bride: Mary A McDonald, age 21, Presbyterian, parents Angus and Annie McDonald.

Groom: John McGregor, laborer; Catholic, of West Williams, parents John and Sarah McGregor.

Birth Records: Children

• Kathryn Margaret Macgregor, 02 May 1894: ^[5]

Death Certificate: Mrs. Mary A McGregor ^[2][3] Image

Name: Mrs. Mary A McGregor

Gender: Female

Race: White

Marital status: Married

Death Age: 67y 1m 25d

Birth Date: 26 Jul 1858 [sic]

Birth Place: Scotland

Death Date: 21 Sep 1925

Death Place: [White Dale], Doyle, Schoolcraft, Michigan, USA

Father: Angus McDonnald; bp Scotland

Mother: Anne McDonnald; bp Scotland

Informant: John McGregor; of White Dalle [sic].

(Note: Whitedale is a defunct town once located near Gulliver in Doyle Twp.)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMNK-R72 : 11 March 2018), John Mcgregor and Mary Ann Mcdonald, 23 Oct 1878; citing registration, Parkhill, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,863,652.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF7C-56H : 13 March 2018), Mary A Mcgregor, 21 Sep 1925; citing Doyle, Schoolcraft, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,973,093.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Mrs. Mary A McGregor. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Death Records. Michiganology.org.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 April 2020), memorial page for Mary Ann McGregor (1858–1925), Find A Grave: Memorial #26076107, citing Lakeview Cemetery, Manistique, Schoolcraft County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Glenn Geirland (contributor 40342511) .
5. ↑ "Michigan Births, 1867-1902," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQZD-5HT : 12 August 2019), Mary Ann Macdonald in entry for Kathryn Margaret Macgregor, 02 May 1894; citing item 2 p 184 rn 318, Doyle Twp., Schoolcraft, Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 2,322,561.

See also:

"Canada Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVDV-TTC : 2 March 2021), Ann McDonald, Williams, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; from "1881 Canadian Census." Database with images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing Ann Mcdonald, citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Name Ann McDonald

Sex Female

Age 60

Event Date 1881

Event Place (Original) Williams East, Middlesex North, Ontario, Canada

Sub-District Williams East

Sub-District Number C

District Number 169

Event Type Census

Birth Date 1821

Birthplace Scotland

Marital Status Widowed

Occupation Farmer

Race Scottish

Nationality Scotch

Religion Presb.

Head of Household

Name Ann Mcdonald

Other People on This Record

Donald McDonald M 30 Scotland

Cathrine McDonald F 28 Scotland

John McDonald M 26 Scotland