Mary McGregor

Biography contributed by Dr Nicola Francis

Mary McGregor was 32 years old when she signed the women’s suffrage petition at Waipū. She was born Mary McRAE on 1 February 1861 at Melvaig, Gairloch, Scotland, the fifth of 11 children of Ann URQUHART and Murdo McRAE Crofter, and twin sister to Alexander McRae, who died of measles on 21 February 1862. In 1864, when Mary was seven years old, her parents Murdo and Ann McRae emigrated from Scotland, arriving in Auckland on the Talbot on 21 December 1864. The family settled at Whangārei Heads, near relations who had arrived as part of the Scottish Highlands – Nova Scotia – Waipū migration 1851 to 1860. Mary remained in Scotland with relations. She travelled to New Zealand on the Alumbagh with her uncle Donald Urquhart in 1875.

Mary married Captain Donald McGregor (1843-1918), Mariner and Farmer, in Auckland on 7 September 1880. Donald, son of Captain Donald McGregor and Christina McRae, had left Nova Scotia on the Margaret with his family as a 10 year old as part of the migration of Highland Scots- Nova Scotian migration to Waipū. Mary gave birth to 11 children between 1881 and 1902. The family lived at Taurikura Bay, Whangārei Heads. Donald died in 1918.

In 1939 Mary retired to Whangārei to live with her daughter, Christina McGregor, on Rurumoki Street. She maintained close contact with family and friends in Waipū. At Waipū’s Caledonian Park opening and dedication ceremony in 1941, Mary, with her friends and relations Willina Lang née McKay and Barbara McGregor sang in Gaelic, their first language.

Mary was a staunch member of the Presbyterian church, and after moving to Whangārei she walked to church every Sunday, despite her advanced age.

Mary died aged 87 on 18 November 1948, at Whangārei, and was the first adult buried in the new Maunu lawn cemetery on 20 November, in a spot 'with a fine view of Whangarei Harbour and the Heads where she spent many years.' Her obituary in the Northern Advocate notes that the service was conducted at the graveside by the Revs T.H. Burton and D. McNeur (Waipū) following a service at Mary’s residence. The obituary writer also notes that Mary had been much loved, reflected in the wreaths that were so numerous a car was needed to carry the overflow from the hearse. She was survived by 11 children, 25 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Sources

Papers Past, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Te Whanganui Ā Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Waipū Museum, The Centre, Waipū, Tai Tokerau Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Scotlands People, Statutory Registers https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Images

Mary McGregor née McRae (© Waipū Museum)

Left to right: Willina Lang née McKay, Barbara McGregor née McKay and Mary McGregor née McRae. Possibly 1941 on their way to the Waipū Caledonian Park opening and dedication ceremony, where the three of them sang in their first language, Gaelic (© Waipū Museum)