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An Overview of the History of the McGregor 9

Gloria - Joyce - Dudley - Carlton - Cleon - Asley - Barbara - Condeo - Maxine

Before the McGregor 9 there was Martibel and Vincent McGregor, affectionately known as Mama and Poppa or Granny Mattie and Poppa Vin, the parents of the McGregor 9 but the history did not begin there.
Let’s go back a little bit further into our roots, look, and discover some things about our past and ourselves. 

Martibel McGregor (Mama) – Home Maker

Mother: Ann Brown
Siblings: Uncle Kelvin, Uncle Sammy, Curtis Johnson, Uncle Don Johnson, Aunt Vie Johnson, Aunt Emma, Aunt Flor, Aunt Gladys, Uncle Irvine Johnson
Father: Duncan Johnson (Grandpa Duncan), a mixed Cherokee Native American, Yes we have Indian in us, whose parental ancestors was of @ 300 Cherokees that were transported as slaves from the state of Georgia to St. Elizabeth, Jamaica (affectionately referred to in Jamaica as “Sainty”- pronounced SEN-TI).    This is Us!

Vincent McGregor (Poppa) – Taylor and Farmer

Siblings: Uncle Egbert, Aunt Kathleen (Aunt Kath), Aunt Dorris, Aunt Vivian, Uncle Renford, Uncle Erick, Uncle Woolsey, Uncle Doug, Uncle Arnold, Aunt Clutie, Aunt Rubie, Aunt Daphine, Aunt Dialie, Aunt Reta, Aunty Sadie, Uncle Gersham, Uncle Cleve…these are just some of the closer children of Grandpa Brian…there were more.
Mother: Originally from Port Antonio, Portland, one of Jamaica’s Parishes, Rose Smith, a maroon, who were Africans who rebelled and remained into secluded areas of mountainous areas of Jamaica, self – ruled and self-sufficient and feared by slave masters who labeled them as skillful warriors.  They were isolated and considered too dangerous to capture, allowing them to remain pure African blood, maintaining their African traditions. Although a Maroon, poor Grandma Rose was unable to tame Poppa’s Romeo father Grandpa Brian, Poppa’s father.
Father: Arthur Brian Dennis (Grandpa Brian) known to be a Romeo of sorts, fathered a plethora of children throughout the St. Elizabeth district.

When Momma and Poppa got married, they eventually moved into the famous McGregor home, which currently sits above their final resting place in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, from the “top house” – a house that sits further up on that same property where 8 of their 9 children were born.

Thereafter, the house we are now familiar with in St. Elizabeth would house their family, until their passing, where their last child Maxine was born and where several of their grandchildren were also born: Byron, Vaughan and Paulette.  This is Us!

Migration
In 1940, Poppa set the foundation for migration as a viable option for his family by embarking on 12-15 trips to the United States and Canada where he worked as a farmer in places like: Wisconsin, Florida, Connecticut, Upstate New York, Halifax and Winnipeg, Canada.  It was from that leadership that his children would be passed the baton to look far and wide for a better life, to have no limits and to not be afraid to literally fly high in life.  While Poppa initiated this notion into the fabric of his family, Mama, a strong woman of African and Cherokee decent, held down the home with the children.  This is Us.

McGregor 9 Migrates to Brooklyn, New York
By the early 60’s the McGregor 9 began migrating to the United States, beginning with Aunt G, Gloria McGregor Hanson and the others following in this order: Mummy (Joyce McGregor Brown); Uncle Dudley (Dudley McGregor), Uncle Asley (Asley McGregor), Uncle Carlton (Carlton McGregor), Maxine (Maxine McGregor Ramsahai), Uncle Cleon (Cleon McGregor) and Tony (Condeo McGregor).
This migration, movement of McGregor people, resulted in Brooklyn, New York becoming the new home of the first set of migrated McGregor 9’s, and the beginning of first generation Americans which started with Shelly-Ann McGregor Pompey – the first American born to the McGregor 9 lineage.

From Brooklyn to Queens, New York
It wasn’t long before the McGregor 9’s set out for the next step of their journey from that humble home in St. Elizabeth to embark on their dream of homeownership in their new home, America.  The family, always moving in droves, left Brooklyn behind (with the exception of Carlton who bought his home in Brooklyn), one by one, when Aunt G and Uncle Hanny (Alvin and Gloria Hanson) bought their first home in South Ozone Park, Queens.  The rest followed in this order: Asley, Joyce and Dudley. Later, they all became homeowners with Barbara in Queens and Maxine in Rochester, New York.

Conclusion
Although we lost both Poppa and Mama at a very young age, 54 & 55, and just six weeks apart, they had already planted incredible seeds which were left as legacy for their family, with a distinction, that served as a driver for their future generations that came after them.
From that humble little house in St. Elizabeth where some of us even came into the world , we have taken those seeds: the fearlessness of Poppa in those racially challenging times to step on a plane in the 40’s and fly off over and over again into the vastness of America and Canada, while Mama, demonstrated the strength of a woman by caring for her 9 children.

If I could chose a distinct memory of Mama and Poppa to leave with you I would say: Poppa had a beautiful, deep and rounded voice that when he sang resembled the sound of Nat King Cole, which attributes to the many musical talents in their lineage, and Mama was a woman who moved with an air of royalty and power – a queen.
This is all a short overview of where we came from and a testament that speaks volumes of why today…
THIS IS US.

FROM SAINTY TO…
THIS IS US
 (Notable “FIRST” Accomplishments of Vincent and Martibel’s Lineage)

First College Degree – Dr. Morin Hanson (Son of Gloria McGregor Hanson)

First Female to Earn a College Degree– Michelle Brown (Daughter of Joyce McGregor Brown)

First Doctor – Dr. Morin Hanson M.D. (Son of Gloria McGregor Hanson)

First Female Physician – Dr. Briani Jackson (Daughter of Maxine McGregor Ramsahai)

First Juris Doctorate. (lawyer)/ 1st grand daughter –Nicole Mundy Esq. (Daughter of Asley McGregor)

First to Earn a Master’s Degree – Carl McGregor (Son of Carlton McGregor)

First to Purchase a Home – Gloria Hanson (daughter of Vincent and Martibel)

First Entrepreneur – Dudley McGregor (Son of Vincent and Martibel)

First Music Business Achiever – Everton Hanson (Son of Gloria McGregor Hanson)

First Female Music Artist – Sister “P” Guitar

First Pop Artist (Victory Jones) Shea Ramsahai (Daughter of Maxine McGregor Ramsahai)

First to Work for as an agent of a federal crime agency (FBI) – Andre McGregor (Son of Cleon McGregor)

First to Return to Africa – Paulette Brown Campbell

 

Honorees
Wisdom Club – honoring those with us for 7 decades (70 years) or more.

1. Gloria McGregor Hanson (Matriarch)
2. Cleon McGregor
3. Asley McGregor
5. Norma McGregor
6. Leoni McGregor
Also, Aunty Blossom has a special birthday coming up on July 27th.