William Mackgehee [16798]

  General Notes:

Source: Kevin McGhee, mcgehee@mosquitonet.com

Mary, Queen of Scots succeeded the throne as an infant in 1542, but until her majority, the kingdom was ruled by regents of varying worth. When Mary finally arrived from France, she, a Catholic, initially accepted the Protestant government but married the catholic Lord Darnley. Later Darnley was murdered and Mary married the Earl of Bothwell. The Scottish nobles turned on her and she abdicated in 1567 then fled to England. There her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I imprisoned her. When English catholics plotted to replace the protestant Elizabeth with Mary, Elizabeth had Mary beheaded in 1587 for treason. Mary's son, James, became Scotland's King James IV upon Mary's abdication, and when Elizabeth realized she would die childless (The Virgin Queen - the State of Virginia was named in this manner) she designated James as her heir. Upon Elizabeth's death in 1603 James became King James I of England and Scotland. It was during 1603 that James, as King of Scotland, issued the Act of Proscription against the MacGregors. This is also the year that Patrick MacGregor of Glenstrae was born. In 1640 James' son Charles I was beset by the Puritan "roundheads" led by Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War. The roundheads defeated the King in 1645, but Charles escaped, made an alliance with the royalist Scottish nobles and renewed war in 1648. He was again defeated and was beheaded in 1649. It is possible the English Civil War could have involved William Mackgehee. William, if he was a royalist might have fled Scotland to avoid prosecution or execution.

This period was known as the "Bloody Azzises". Hundreds, if not thousands, were executed in a very short period of time. Many were "reprieved" as indentured servants and sent to one colonial holding or another. John Lively was sent to Barbados in this manner. Some were sent to Virginia. Any of this is possible for William Mackgehee.

Many changed names as they entered the colonies, their purpose being to avoid further troubles.

William married.