Thomas McGREGOR born circa 1812, son of Hugh (according to Thomas' death certificate), was a carpenter by trade.

On the 25th August 1838, Thomas McGREGOR and Jean (Jane) Ann GOLLAN, celebrated their marriage at Gollanfield, Parish of Petty in the shire of Inverness.

Jane Ann GOLLAN was baptised on the 3rd March 1814 at Inverness. She was the second youngest child of Gilbert GOLLAN, a farmer in the Inverness area, and Janet McTAVISH who were married at Dores, Inverness on the 12th June 1790.

Thomas & Jane McGREGOR emigrated from Scotland to New Zealand then later to Victoria, Australia.

Their story of emigration starts back in 1839 when a Captain Heale was at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. He, along with Captain Symonds, founded a company to promote the Cornwallis settlement.

On return to Scotland Captain Symonds began to paint glowing accounts of the timber in the area which his company had claimed. A settlement here could not help but succeed by selling timber to Australia, straight across the Tasman through Manukau Heads. The profit from the milling would enable the settlers to turn the cleared land into farms. By being first on the scene they would be in a most advantageous position when, as anticipated, more settlers came to this part of New Zealand. They would be founders of a new big city.

Such was the hope with which the passengers of the "Brilliant" made their way to the Manukau in 1841. Among the passengers were Thomas and Jane McGREGOR and their two young daughters, Isabella and Christina. If they had known what lay in store, they may well have decided to remain in Scotland, for the passengers of the "Brilliant" had more than their fair share of hardships, even for those times.

On the 31st of December 1840, the "Brilliant" left the Tail of the Bank, Clyde, but shortly afterwards had a narrow escape of going on a lee shore at Rothesay Bay. She subsequently put into the Cove of Cork, where the Captain, officers, and most of the crew left - the cook and apprentices alone remaining. Some of the passengers also went, saying the ship would never reach her destination. A fresh captain - Captain Ritchie - came on board, with new officers and crew, and the "Brilliant" sailed for Melbourne as the first port of call en route for New Zealand - having some passengers for that port. She put into Sierra Leone and landed the cook there, through some trouble or other, and also called at the Cape of Good Hope. On reaching Melbourne in July 1841, she landed her passengers for that port, and also the Steward, through another difficulty which had arisen. The "Brilliant" then went to Hobart Town and from there set sail for the Manukau arriving off the Manukau on the 27th of October 1841. She first sighted the coast off Raglan and as Captain Ritchie had no chart, but only a pencil sketch of the harbour, he had some difficulty getting into the Manukau. The lead was kept going and finding the water shoaling, he anchored and left the chief officer in charge while he proceeded with a boat crew up the harbour to examine it, going as far as Cornwallis, and then returning to the ship. When the "Brilliant" was announced as having reached the Heads, there was great surprise at Cornwallis, as the vessel had been given up for lost, having been about ten months on the voyage. On the 29th of October the vessel came up to Cornwallis and landed her passengers and stores.

The passengers for New Zealand were Mr and Mrs Adams and servant, Mr and Mrs Lawlor and two servants, Mr Lachlan McLachlan and servant, Mr and Mrs McGregor and two children, Mr and Mrs John Bain, ? Forest, and two single men, Mr Holmes and Mr McAlpine. Some of the passengers came for the Cornwallis Company's service and others to settle, among the former were Mr Bain, Mr McGregor and Mr Holmes. After all the trials and tribulations of the voyage out, it would have been expected that things could only improve, but they were not to do so. Captain Symonds had been making preparations for the advent of the settlers and on the arrival of the vessel did all he could, but there were no buildings in readiness for their reception and his untimely drowning on the 23rd of November upset everything.

At this point Mr McLachlan took charge of the settlement and a vessel called the "Mary Hay" was loaded up with kauri timber until word could be sent home of the altered state of things. A sawmill was started but the settlers were unable to make a living.

Just after the arrival of the "Brilliant" in New Zealand, a son was born to Thomas and Jane McGregor. Lachlan Thomas was born on December 8th 1841. A further three children were born before the family left New Zealand. Alexander was born on December 9th 1843; Charles Thomas was born on September 26th 1849 and Jane Ann was born on June 2nd 1851. Thomas and his wife Jane, accompanied by their six children left New Zealand for Melbourne in early March 1853 on board the "Spencer".

The Cornwallis area is today a wilderness park. In 1910 Mr McLachlan's son purchased the estate and presented it to the Auckland City Council. In 1918 the council erected a monument commemorating the first settlers in the area.

Information on the voyage to New Zealand and the Cornwallis Settlement from the New Zealand Herald 4 November 1892

	Lachlan Charles Henry McGregor 26 June 1891 - 14 September 1982 Great Grandson of Thomas & Jane McGregor
& Laura Annie Ruth Rockett 14 February 1897 - 22 April 1980 married 19 September 1917 in England
	Frederick Roy McGregor 8 July 1920 - 15 May 1976 Great Great Grandson of Thomas & Jane
Frederick Roy McGregor & Dorothy Eileen Curthoys married 13 December 1943
	Matthew James Power, GrGrGrGr Grandson of Thomas & Jane, with his son Harry William Power, the youngest addition to our McGregor family.

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Background art by Catie McGregor June 1999