Newbie in New Zealand

[Grant Drummond]

Hello,

I tripped over this site on Sunday and thought it might be an interesting site to be a part of. Whilst I have the surname of Drummond, I, like a lot of other people around the world, believe that we are direct descendants of the famous (infamous) Rob Roy MacGregor. We have some pretty strong evidence of that through DNA but continue to search to find the "missing link". This is complicated for us through the re-enactment of a proscription in 1693 by King William's government when the MacGregors were forced to change their name or face the penalty of death. The clan took up all manner of surnames dependant upon (amongst a range of possibilities) who they worked for or which clan they had married into. Those name changes were not recorded in the usual places and are so often only mentioned in military records or the musings of a local bard etc. In many cases it appears as though they may have been lost for all time??? In the case of Rob Roy, he took the surname of Campbell, even though that clan was one of the MacGregor's most vehement enemies. He had good reasons to do so, which I shall not relate herein.

We have been in New Zealand since 1855. I am 6th generation in New Zealand including the original immigrants. The family has now been here for 8 generations.

So, I live in Auckland, New Zealand and am an amateur genealogist. I got into it by default after one of our family lost the, what were in those days substantial, family tree records with a computer hard drive crash. We have recovered 99% of that information over a number of years and have it protected now. The records have been hugely expanded since the days of that crash; having been assisted to a greater extent by the advent of the 'net'. We have developed contacts all over the world who all share their findings and we all grow by the additions of this wider family research and input. This forum may be another way of sharing our information and queries to the as yet unrecognised family members.

So tartanwise, we are Drummonds of Perth by proscription and MacGregors by heritage.

Now to how I tripped over this site. I noticed a query about the movie 'Rob Roy MacGregor' and the thread that went with that. I would just like to add to that in as much as another book for the enquirer to read is "Rob Roy MacGregor" by Nigel Tranter. I have recently acquired a copy and found it very good. I believe it has been researched as accurately as possible at this time and its contents will certainly help the enquirer to sort the reality from the dramatisation issues.

Regards
Grant Drummond

[KFCarter]

Hello Grant, and welcome from Savannah, GA

[GaRebel211]

Welcome to the Rabble Grant, From Athens, Georgia

[dougle]

welcome from Worcestershire England

[Mael Coluim]

from the Old Dominion State!

[MrLion]

Welcome from the Pacific Northwest, USA.

[denmcdough]

from the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania

[2a5t2f7]

from the Lowcountry of South Carolina....Charleston.

[James Byous]

Welcome from Savannah, Georgia, midtown.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Welcome from Houston, Texas! My paternal great grandmother was a Drummond.

I seem to remember that some of the exterior scenes in the film Rob Roy were shot at the Drummond Castle gardens...

Welcome to the forum!