Hugh McGREGOR was born on 1 May 1803 in Kirk Street, Calton, Glasgow and baptised on 15 May in the parish of Barony - the first child of John McGREGOR, grocer and his wife Christina KIRK. The following year his father secured the position of butler and house steward with Lady STUART of Castlemilk.
Hugh's mother died in 1810 when he was 7 years of age. His father remarried, later moving to Bothwell Bridge and then to Edinburgh.
Hugh received his schooling in Ruthergten and Hamilton and then had to decide on a career. The first attempt was a year's trial in the book printing trade which did not go too well. The second attempt was shoemaking of which he said "I detested but managed to keep at it until 1821". On 26 March 1821, having reached the age of 18, Hugh enlisted as a soldier with the 26th. Scotch Cameronian Regiment of Infantry.
His own words tell the sad tale of his enlistment:
"I was led to this foolish step by getting into bad company. I neither reflected on the misery I was bringing on myself or the heartbreak I caused to an indulgent and kind father who had seen to all my wants being supplied and watched over me from childhood. Little do youths think of the misery they cause their parents by their thoughtless conduct. At the time I enlisted my father was in York, England.
I embarked in the "Fifeshire", Leith smack for London at which place we arrived after a very disagreeable passage of eight days. There being eighty of us recruits for different regiments on board we had not room to lay down and scarcely to stand if we were all below at the same time. It was then I began to repent of my folly and wish myself at home again - and there was not a person on board that I knew to whom I could unburden my mind, which I thought would have relieved me."
After an overnight stay at the Bricklayers Arms in Kensington they set out on the eight day march to Southampton, crossed to Cowes and continued marching to Albany barracks.
Arrival brought no relief as they were packed into a room which again lacked the space to even sit down. The following day they washed, shaved and had their hair cropped.
There followed spells of duty in Portsmouth (as servant to the Paymaster), Gibraltar and Ireland. In April 1828 the regiment received orders for Madras and on 9 May they embarked aboard the Rose for the four month voyage. During the next eight years Hugh marched back and forth across India. From Madras to Calcutta. To Meerut and Jodpur then back to Meerut and on to Gazipur. Thousands of miles of travelling had taken its toll on Hugh. He applied for his discharge on 1 April 1836 but had to wait a whole year before it came through. In April 1837 he was fortunate in securing the position of batman to a brigadier who was returning to England for health reasons. They embarked on 9 October 1837 but the brigadier was unwell and died on 17 November. Having been left without work the captain offered Hugh seaman's pay if he would join the ship's books as a sailor. He agreed.
The much longed for discharge came through a few weeks after arrival in England. Hugh's military service totalled 17 years and 3 days.
On 26 April 1838 Hugh married Miss Sarah FEASEY at St. Mary's Church in Marylebone.
Nine days later he joined the Metropolitan Police Force, warrant number 13786, having been recommended by J. FISHER Esq. of Argyle Street. (John William FISHER was the Surgeon in Chief to the Metropolitan Police).
Four children were born to Hugh and Sarah between 1838 and 1843: John, Harriet, Hugh and Sarah.
Which brings the story to 1844 when the Hong Kong Government were looking for three experienced police officers to establish the new police force. Sergeants McGREGOR and SMITHERS must have viewed this as an interesting opportunity and volunteered (or were volunteered!) for the roles of inspectors at a salary of £250 pa. They decided that in the first instance it would be sensible for their wives and children to stay in England.
Two months later the officers resigned from the Metropolitan Police and boarded the ss Oriental for their voyage East.
Once Hugh had assured himself that Hong Kong offered a reasonable lifestyle his greatest wish was that his family could join him. In April 1846, a year after arrival, Sarah submitted a request to the Colonial Department requesting free passage to Hong Kong for herself and her children so that the family could be reunited. Gladstone acknowledged the memorial but informed Sarah that no funds were available for the passage. Hugh soldiered on without his family for another few months but at the end of 1846 submitted his resignation. Having received approval, and with very good references from The Governor, Colonial Secretary and Chief Magistrate he returned to Britain on the Sandersons. He arrived in London on 27 April 1847 having been away for 2 years 7 months and 21 days. Some historians state that Hugh "fell out" with the Hong Kong Government, however, I feel it was more a case of him having to make a difficult decision. He chose family over colonial career purely because of the cost of passages.
Hugh managed to secure a position in the household of Earl Fitzhardinge before moving to Yorkshire where he was able to resume his police career. In October 1850 he was appointed Superintendent Constable for Northallerton Division, an appointment which he held until the establishment of the County Police Force on 6 January 1857. As Hugh was then nearly fifty four years of age the highest position he was offered was that of 1st. Class Inspector and he was transferred to Guisborough. The night before leaving Northallerton many of the residents had a meeting and presented him with a purse of thirty sovereigns as a mark of appreciation for his service. He said:
"I was very fortunate in catching thieves and I had many a hard tussle with some of them, but I was strong then and when after a thief I could stand any amount of fatigue until I got him."
Hugh spent three months at Guisborough before being appointed Superintendent of Whitby Division. In 1863 he suffered a stroke which affected the left side of his body and work became difficult. In 1865 he applied for retirement and left on 30 September being "done up". At the Quarter Sessions the following month the magistrates awarded him a gratuity of £150 and wished him long life, health and happiness. The superintendents of the force invited him to a dinner at Northallerton where he was presented with a silver snuff box. After leaving the police he acted as Inspector of Nuisances as well as being appointed an Inspector of the Poor Law Union. His memory stayed as good as ever and he would entertain friends by relating the various adventures and escapades he had experienced throughout his life.
His wife, Sarah, died on 1 October 1869 at the age of 59 in York Terrace, Whitby. After Hugh had returned from Hong Kong she bore him four more children: Robert, William, Elizabeth and Charles - all born in Northallerton. Hugh continued living in Whitby until Christmas 1878 at which time he moved to York to live with his eldest son. He died on Friday 14 February 1879 at the age of 76.
Hugh's body was returned to Whitby by the noon train on Tuesday and was taken to Ash Tree House, the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah COOPER. At 2.30pm the funeral procession commenced along the crowded streets to the cemetery. Hugh was buried with military honours with the band of the 2nd. North Yorkshire Volunteer Artillery Corps playing the Dead March. Supt. RYDER and members of the Force officiated as bearers from the hearse to the graveside. Several tradesmen joined the procession to show the esteem in which he had been held.
In Affectionate Remembrance
Sarah
wife of Hugh McGregor
died October 1st. 1869
aged 59 years
Also the above
Hugh McGregor
who died February 14th. 1879
aged 76 years
And William their son
Commander of the ship
Shakespeare of Sunderland
who died at Bombay June 1st. 1878
aged 28 years
Also of John Kilvington
Master Mariner
son in law of the above who died
November 15th. 1880 aged 40 years
also John McGregor
eldest son of the above
born January 27th. 1839
died January 26th. 1904
Research note: In April 2019 I was overjoyed to find Hugh's headstone high on the hill overlooking Whitby. Thomas SMITHERS, his colleague on that mission to Hong Kong back in 1844, died at sea in 1848 and has no headstone to honour of his life. Before leaving I laid my hand on this headstone and told Hugh that he had not been forgotten.
For the story of Thomas Smithers please follow this link:
Thomas Harris SMITHERS
Thomas Harris SMITHERS
If any reader should be a descendant of Hugh & Sarah McGREGOR
© Christine M. Thomas 2019
