28 December 1734~ Death of Rob Roy MacGregor, Scottish folk Hero & Outlaw. (1671-1734) Heaven gave Rob Roy a dauntless heart, And wondrous length and strength of era, Nor craved he more to quell his foes, Or keep his friends from harm. ~ William Wordsworth [Rob Roys Grave] The infamous real-life Scottish Robin Hood, Rob Roy MacGregor, was born at the head of Loch Katrine in the Trossarchs area of Stirlingshire. His father was clan chief Donald Glas MacGregor of Glengyle, and his mother Mary was a Campbell; from her side he inherited his famous red hair, earning him the nickname Ruadh, Gaelic for red (which was later anglicized into Roy). Rob Roys troubles and adventures began in 1712, when his chief cattle driver made off with a thousand-pound loan Rob had borrowed from the Duke of Montrose to increase his flock. Before Montrose could take Rob to court for defaulting on the loan (or stealing it), the accused fled north to safety. Montrose, in response, evicted Robs wife and children from their Inversnaid home, seized the property, and burned it down. Rob Roy remained at large in the Highlands, and his family sought refuge under the Campbell Duke of Argyll, a distant relative of Robs and a rival of Montrose. Rob was eventually given some land in Glen Dochart, and he returned to his cattle protecting/raiding business - particularly targeting Montroses herds. As the years went on, he earned a Robin Hood-esque reputation for assisting those who were having financial difficulties with Montrose, whom he enjoyed provoking as their feud continued. Rob Roys daunting series of escapes made him a legend in his own time. One story speaks of the time he was captured in the Tossarchs and was to be taken to Stirling Castle. While the party was crossing the Ford of Frew on the River Forth, Rob leapt from his horse and swam away in the dusk under a hail of musket fire.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 18:26:37 +0000
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