During this research, it was discovered that the Rev William MacRae, who became the minister at Barvas (on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis) in 1813, had previously been Army Chaplain at Fort Augustus. One researcher stated that he had also been at Fort George but this could not be confirmed. Barvas is where William MacGregor's children were baptised between c1821 - 1826. See https://goo.gl/j8Zs8E p 68. Rev William MacRae’s son, John, subsequently married Helen MacGregor, William MacGregor’s daughter, while Eliza (Elizabeth) William Macrae’s daughter married John MacKenzie, who was Tacksman of South Galson prior to William MacGregor.

The obvious involvement of the clergy in the life on Lewis and their involvement with the leading families on the Isle led to further investigation of the ministers of Barvas. It was hoped that the findings would shed more light on how William MacGregor came to be Tacksman at South Galson.

The principal sources of information were Murdo Macaulay’s ‘Religious History of Lewis’ http://www.alastairmcintosh.com/islandspirituality/1980-Murdo-Macaulay-Religious-History-Lewis.pdf ; fastiecclesiaesc https://archive.org/stream/fastiecclesiaesc00scot#page/36/mode/2up ; The Men of Lewis http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/files/PDFs/Deuchainnean/00904117_The_Men_of_the_Lews.pdf and http://www.ecclegen.com/kennedy-tree/ , which presented information from Fasti Ecclesiae Scotticanae in a database and family trees.

These revealed that a Rev. Murdo Morrison (bc 1700- d1767) was ordained minister of Barvas in 1726. He firstly married Macauley of Linshader then Margaret daughter of John MacKenzie of Gruinard, confirming that there were already links between these two areas before William MacGregor arrived. Rev Morrison may also have been related to John Morrison, who was Tacksman of South Galson in 1776. Rev Morrison’s 4^th son, Kenneth Morrison b 1739 was initially ordained but subsequently became a merchant in Stornoway.

It may not be coincidence that a Roderick Morrison (unknown relationship to Kenneth), merchant & shipowner of Stornoway was tacksman of Mellon Udrigal. This is where William’s mother was reportedly living before she remarried, according to Ann Passaportis’ family tree.

Roderick lent money to his nephew William MacKenzie of Gruinard c1780 and drowned 23.5.1791. His widow & son Murdoch continued to live at Mellon Udrigal. John McK of Ballone was Tacksman of Mellon Udrigal 1781-1800. A Catherine MacIver, a MacGregor widow, was evicted from Mellon Udrigal 1838. See: 'Gruinard & Letterewe the Lairds & the Clearances' p55

Rev. Alexander MacKay (1732 – 1789) became minister of Barvas in 1732.

He was succeeded by the Rev Donald MacDonald ex Lochcarron and Torridon (Torridon is where a number of MacGregors were reportedly living after Culloden) in 1790. He wrote the Statistical Account of Barvas in 1796 and moved to Urray, on the mainland, in 1812. His son, James MacDonald, took over as minister in Urray in 1830 . Urray is next to Highfield (home of the Gillanders) and close to Achonachie, where William MacGregor was living after he left Melbost Farm 1851. Urray is also where Duncan S MacDonald and Margaret MacGregor were married.

A further study of the Ministers of Stornoway brought up:

Rev Kenneth Morrison d 1746

Rev Donald Morrison (no relation to the above) from 1747 to d 1772

Rev Clark 1773

Rev John Downie (ex Gairloch) from 1773. Chaplain to 78^th Seaforth Highlanders 1778 > Urray

Rev Colin MacKenzie b 1750 from 1789 m Jean, daughter of Rev Colin MacKenzie of Fodderty in 1794. Wrote Statistical Account in 1796. D 1815.

Rev Simon Fisher from 1815 d 1824. He who was the only minister, along with William MacRae of Barvas, to remain with the Church of Scotland rather join the Free Church in the Disruption in 1843.

Rev John Cameron from 1825

Rev Duncan MacGregor from 1849

It is not clear why Rev Donald MacDonald (ex Barvas) and Rev John Downie (ex Stornoway) should have moved to Urray but there may be a related reason for William MacGregor making a similar move.