Glengairn McGregors: The Move to Auchnerran

With the obvious pressures on Catholic tenants in Glengairn, it would seem that there were likely better prospects in relocating to the eastern side of Mt. Morven where there may have been a more tolerant religious attitude and perhaps some family (probably Cattanach and/or Grant) support.

Auchnerran is almost directly east from Morven Lodge. There is a rough track across the slopes of Morven and Roar Hill between the "Tom Garchory" and Culblean Hill. This track would have been well known to the McGregors due either to the legitimate activities of some of the family as Ground Officer/Bailiff for the estate and Gamekeeper for Morven Lodge or possibly from the earlier and more dubious cattle-lifting enterprises of previous McGregor generations. Either way the area to the east of Morven would have been well known to the Glengairn McGregors.

Map of the Morven area showing Auchnerran in relation to Glengairn and a plan of the farm buildings

The earliest recorded mention of McGregor habitation of the Auchnerran crofting is in 1825 in a birth notification entry in the Parish record as follows:

McGregor. Lewis & Ann McPherson, "him in Cromar, Auchnarran & her at Reneton, Gairnside, both un-married," a son, James, born 13th Oct 1825 curt. Sponsors:- James McGregor, Morven.

The 1841 census for Glenmuick, District 12, has the farm occupied by the following:

Gregor McGregor, a widower, aged 87.

Lewis McGregor, farmer, aged 43.

Ann McGregor, his wife, aged 40.

James McGregor, aged 15.

Margaret McGregor, aged 11.

Jane McGregor, aged 9.

Ann McGregor, aged 7.

Helen McGregor, aged 3.

Elizabeth McGregor, aged 3 months.

Helen Gillanders, aged 19 is described as a female servant.

William McGregor, farmer, aged 39.

Helen McGregor, his wife, aged 23.

Helen McGregor, aged 10 months.

James McGregor, aged 13 is described as an agricultural labourer. This individual is probably the nephew of both Lewis & William (ie the son of James McGregor (born 1788).

There was therefore some 14 people living in a 4 room cottage and working a 30 acre farm. A number of outbuildings were used as barns, stables and probably sleeping accommodation. The farm was/is not particularly fertile and would have been used primarily to run cattle and grow some fairly meagre crops. It cannot have been more than subsistence living conditions even in the mid 1800's.

For the next census, conducted in 1851, Auchnerran was considered in the 8th District. Gregor McGregor is not mentioned so it is obvious that he died in the intervening period. The farm is now occupied by the following:

Lewis McGregor, farmer of 30 acres, aged 57 (incorrect - he would have been aged 53 at the time).

Ann McGregor, his wife, aged 49.

James McGregor, unmarried son, aged 25.

Jean (Jane?) McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 19.

Ann McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 18.

Helen McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 12.

Lewis McGregor, unmarried son, aged 8.

John McGregor, unmarried son, aged 1.

William McGregor, farmer of 30 acres, aged 49.

Helen McGregor, his wife, aged 33.

Helen McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 10.

James McGregor, unmarried son, aged 8.

John McGregor, unmarried son, aged 6.

William McGregor, unmarried son, aged 4.

Elizabeth McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 1 month.

Margaret McGregor, unmarried, aged 21, is described as a house servant. This individual is probably the eldest daughter (born 1829) of Lewis & Ann McGregor.

James Bowman, aged 13 - described as an agricultural labourer.

Again there were some 17 people living in the 4 room cottage and working the small 30 acre farm, so the living conditions and economic pressures would have been significant. This is probably the main reason that William (being the junior brother and last to inherit) together with his wife, Helen and family decided to emigrate. It also is quite likely that other people from the area had previously emigrated to Australia and word had come back to Scotland that there was a better life beckoning half way around the world.

The 1861 census saw Auchnerran now in the 4th District and known as "No. 35". The farm is now occupied by the following:

Lewis McGregor, farmer of 30 acres, aged 60 (again incorrect - he would have been around 62).

Ann McGregor, his wife, aged 58.

Jane McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 27.

Ann McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 18.

Helen McGregor, unmarried daughter, aged 12.

Lewis McGregor, unmarried son, aged 18.

John McGregor, unmarried son, aged 12.

Jane Grant, unmarried grand-daughter and scholar, aged 8.

Lewis McGregor died at Auchnerran on 28 May 1868 aged 68 and by 1871? there were no longer any McGregor tenants. It is believed that from this time the farm was occupied by the Kellas family who were in residence until the late 1980's or the early 1990's. The property was then uninhabited (other than by rats, mice and birds) for about a decade. It was becoming derelict until Michael Wolfe-Murray saw it and arranged to lease the property. Michael and Sonia Wolfe-Murray undertook significant restoration work to the cottage commencing in 1998, but following the death of Michael in a 2010 motor vehicle accident, Sonia relocated to Ballater. The Auchnerran farm is currently (as at 2014) tenanted by Barry Wilkie together with his wife, Angela, and family. Barry is gamekeeper for the local estate. Almost all the outbuildings at Auchnerran have now deteriorated and are in various states of collapse.