The passenger list of the Sophia mentioned in the previous section, lists Peter McGregor, from Strathyre, Balquidder Parish, Perthshire, Catherine Ferguson, and two children Mary eight years old and Duncan six years old. This caused much confusion in my research, because these children were not likely the children of Peter and Catherine. First of all Peter and Catherine where each twenty-two years of age in 1818 and would not likely have children that age. Secondly no record of their marriage could be found in Scotland and finally a marriage record was found at Perth, Ontario occurring May 4th 1821. The two children in question could have been a younger brother and a younger sister of either Peter or Catherine or possibly the children of Archibald McGregor Junior and his wife Janet who were travelling with them and already had two children with them. Remember the ten pounds payment covered a man, women and only two children.
The most logical explanation concerning the discrepancies in the passenger list is that Peter McGregor and his fiancé Catherine Ferguson were travelling with friends and possibly relatives from the same area of Scotland (Duncan Ferguson and family came from Strathyre).
The passengers from the Curlew, the Jane and the Sophia were given their land grants in Beckwith Township, Ontario (Canada West). They traveled from Quebec to Montreal and then up the Ottawa River to the present site of Ottawa (Bytown). The women and children camped at Nepean Point while the men traveled through the bush to draw their 100-acre lots. A military settlement had been established at Richmond and at Perth sometime prior to 1818. The Richmond Road had been cut, but may only have been a path through the woods.
Peter McGregor and his friend (or maybe relative) Archibald McGregor Junior drew adjoining lots on the seventh concession on the sixteenth of November 1818. On July thirteenth of 1819 these lots were exchanged for lots on concession nine near Mississippi Lake. Peter settled on the south western half of lot eight and Archibald on the north eastern half of lot eight.
There were several census taken of the Perth Military Settlement 1n 1819, 1820, and 1821. It is difficult to distinguish which Peter McGregor listed is our Peter McGregor. It appears our Peter did not settle on his property immediately but may have worked at some place away from Beckwith to earn some money.
At Perth on May 4th 1821 in the house of the Presbyterian minister Peter McGregor married Catherine Ferguson. This was recorded in a register of births, deaths and marriages of the Presbyterian Congregation at Perth 1817 - 1857. Also in the same register is a record of the birth of John, son of Peter McGregor, and his wife Catherine born Feb.7th 1822 and baptized Feb. 24 1822.
Peter and Catherine spent their lives in Beckwith Township. They constructed a log shanty, which stood on the farm now owned by George Gardner and the stone fireplace from that original building is still standing.
In addition to Peter’s friend Archibald JR. reference is made in his will of 1866 to two brothers, Duncan and John. I have not been able to find these men on passenger lists or early immigration records. One wonders if the six-year-old child that came out with them in 1818 was his brother Duncan.
After Catherine Ferguson’s death in 1848 Peter remarried Fortune (Traveller) Grant about 1850. I think the last child, Janet, born to Peter McGregor was after his marriage to Fortune Traveller.
Note: Dates followed by an asterisk * are approximate.
The preceding list summarizes the children born to Squire Peter McGregor and Catherine Ferguson. Each person has been has been researched and with one exception some information found on each. Naturally the most information is available on John my great grandfather because he came to Douglas and many of his papers are still in existence. A section will be reserved in this booklet for each of these offspring and as more information turns up it can be added. I have a problem with Catherine McGregor as practically no information has surfaced about her. Naturally in a family of ten children one would likely be called after the mother. Catherine does not show up in the 1851 census nor in the 1861 census, but is mentioned in Peter’s will made in 1866. Another problem yet to be solved was the parentage of Janet McGregor. If she was born in 1850 she would naturally be the only daughter of Peter and Fortune Traveller. Quite often the age on census returns is not very accurate.