The Old Parish Church records for Tarbolton in Ayrshire, reveal John Gregg's[P457] baptism to have been on the 14 January 1798. In that same year a great Typhus epidemic spread throughout Britain killing thousands of people, and yet more were dying in the Anglo-French wars. The Old Parish Records for TARBOLTON read: ' John Gregg lawful son to William Gregg and Agnes Currie in Tarbolton baptised 14th January 1798'. John was fourth of six children in his family, and was the first child in our family to have been born at Tarbolton. This would be the birthplace of nearly all his descendants for the following 100 years. He was my Great-Great Grandfather. Born during the reign of King George III, John would have grown up to hear of the current military events of the day, such as the American War of Independence of 1812, Nelsons death at Trafalgar, Wellingtons victories in Europe and Napoleons defeat at Waterloo in 1815. In his teens he may have ridden on the first bicycles, invented by Sauerbronn. He was no doubt also intrigued at the invention of the phosphorous match. As a working man, he may well have been subjected to the payment of Income Tax, which was first introduced into Great Britain during his time. Being one of four brothers, John was the only one to perpetuate the family name. His elder brothers William(1)[P487] b. Dec 1793 died in infancy, and records for his brother James[P463] b.17 Jul 1798 tell us only that he 'died abroad'. Perhaps this was in the European or American wars of the period, or did he 'go west' like so many of his countrymen to the Californian and Klondike gold rushes. This is a story we have yet to unfold. His younger brother, another William[P475] born March1800 did not marry. He died in 1879 aged 79. However, we do have record referring to a child named Janet Norton Gregg, born at Cunningham Road Tarbolton on the 11 January 1864. The mother was Agnes Norton[P457] a dressmaker. Birth certificate details describe the father to have been one William Gregg, silk weaver, of Tarbolton, and as far as I can ascertain, there were only two men of this name living in Tarbolton at the time. Should the child's father indeed have been a member of this Gregg family, and bear in mind that this William was aged 64 at the time, then the other candidate was his nephew William[P489], son to John Gregg[P457] and Jean Gibson[P458]. Yet young William was married at the time to Agnes Paton, and already three children to his own marriage. The facts of the story remain a mystery and leave the answers open to conjecture. Photo 33 :  [60K] is an engraving depicting a scene in Tarbolton about 1775, a few years before John and Jean were born. From it, we can take a brief glimpse of life as it may have been in their time. The town is set in the heart of Ayrshire and towering above the tree-lined streets of this busy scene is the steeple of the old Tarbolton Church. In the very grounds of that church lay the remains of many of our ancestors. To the left of the picture are the local town-folk assembled in front of the stone-built houses, perhaps watching the local dignitaries in procession - centre picture. Centre-right a band is assembled(possibly military). To the far right appears to be a shepherd's family perhaps just passing through, or visiting town to watch the pageantry and join in the celebrations. Under the trees can be seen two adults and a child astride one horse, taking advantage of their elevation to view the proceedings.Amongst the hustle and bustle of the day can be noted the style of dress worn in the period. The men folk can be seen wearing the triangular shaped hats and others sport the wide brimmed flattop hats. A few men have the traditional kilt, but in general, they are wearing knee length breeches, which had been in fashion throughout Europe since the early 1600s, lasting for about 200 years. Long legged trousers did not become fashionable until about 1810, some 35 years after the scene portrayed. It is noteworthy to mention here that today's current style of long legged trousers has also been worn for around 200 years, and perhaps a change of fashion is impending. Will our Grandsons be wearing breeches and 'cod pieces' during their lifetime, or perhaps revert even to the 'smocks' and 'tights' that preceded the 1600's. Attire for the women in the period of our picture is ankle length skirts and dresses, often with pinafore type fronts - shawls and flat slip-on type shoes. Headgear in the picture depicts traditional bonnets for the ladies. At age 20, John Gregg married Jean Gibson[P458] a miller's daughter from Coylton. The marriage took place on 27 November 1818. Jean was the seventh and last child of Margaret Denholm[P460], and James Gibson[P459], who occupied the Mill o' Shiels water mill in Coylton. The mill is situated on the small river known as Coyle Water south of Ochiltree. Sadly, Jean was never to have memories of her father. He died in December 1791, the very year she was born. John and Jean named their first child James, most likely after her father, but neither this child nor Janet, their second, survived beyond their teens. Janet[P486] died aged only 15 on 13 January 1836, and James[P485] on 26 February 1840 aged 20. Although we are uncertain as to their ailment, we can surmise that it may have been due to the Asiatic Cholera ravaging Great Britain during the period. Thousands died as a direct result of the scourge, but many survivors, severely affected by the epidemic, also died in the years that followed. The four remaining children of John and Jean Gregg survived to adulthood. Agnes[P487] born 1824 married Robert Jamieson[P488] in 1852, and Margaret[P490] born 1830 married David Paterson[P491] in 1853. The youngest daughter in this family was named Jean Denholm Gregg[P492], inheriting the 'Denholm' name from her maternal Grandmother. Born in 1834, Jean Gregg like her mother before was also to have little recollection of her own father, for John Gregg survived to only 42 years of age, and was buried at Tarbolton on the 17 July 1840. John had inherited the 'Gregg Fiddle' from his father William [P439] and it was handed down to his son William [P489]. This must have been a great shock to his wife and family, having buried their son James only four months earlier, and aged only 20. Jean had lost two children and a husband all within four years. Jean Gibson survived John by a further 26 years. She reached her mid 70's and died in February 1866. She experienced much personal pain and sadness in her life. Having never known her own father, the first two children of her marriage died at an early age, and her husband, seven years her younger, died in the prime of his life.
John Gregg had been dead for some months at the time of this census having died 1840 17th July aged 42 and son James died also that year in February aged 20.
In August 1855 her young daughter Jean Denholm Gregg, aged 21, produced a child out of wedlock. Jeanie D. probably raised the child in her mother's home, for she did not marry until 1867, the year following Jean Gibson's death. She married George Sillars[P494] in 1867 and we have record of their residence at James Street Tarbolton. Alas Jean Denholm Gregg also lived only a short life, and died aged 48 on 1 May 1881 at Tarbolton. This entire generation of the Gregg family seems to have lived through a most difficult period in history, a time of enormous struggle for survival. Jean Gibson's life seems to have been tragic. Her father [a miller at Mill O'Sheils Coylton] died aged about 40 in 1791 the same year Jean was born. Her daughter Janet died age 15 in 1836 and son James died in February 1840. That same year Jean's husband John Gregg died in July 1840 age 42 leaving her with 4 young children. Jeans youngest daughter also named Jean had an illegitimate child at age 19 in 1855. However, Jean Gibson survived until she was 75 of age and died on 3 February 1866 at her address 10 James Street Tarbolton Ayrshire Children of John and Jean James[P485] born 1819, Janet[P486] born 1821, Agnes[P487] born 1824, William[P489] born 1827, Margaret[P492] born 1830, and Jean Denholm[P492] born 1834
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