David McGregore

David McGregore (November 6, 1710 – May 30, 1777), also known as McGregor, MacGregore or MacGregor, was a Presbyterian Minister and Member of the Colonial America Christian Clergy. He brought his family and congregation of Scotch-Irish immigrants to America on five ships in 1718 and settled in a part of New Hampshire called Nutfield which today is known as the towns of Derry and Londonderry. Rev. David McGregor's sermons were very much ahead of his time and sheds light on the religious sentiments of colonial New England. He questioned the old scriptures and seems to have believed in experimenting in new beliefs and new forms of religion, which was considered very revolutionary for his time. McGregor was the first minister of the West Parish of Derry and until he died in 1777, forty families from the East Parish worshiped in the West Parish and vice versa, West to East. The residents chose to pay their worship tax to the adjacent town. Seems the problems with the different religious sects truly divided the town. The townspeople would cross paths on the way to worship. People were known to carry their shoes for miles until they got to the church. On June 3, 1720, at a public meeting it was voted that a small house be built “convenient for the inhabitants to meet in for the worship of God,” and it should be placed “as near to the center of the one hundred and five lots as can be convenience.” Reverend James McGregor claimed “there is just three kinds of songs. There is the very good song, the very bad song, and the song that is neither bad nor good. ‘While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night’ is a very good song, ‘Janie Stoops Down to Buckle Her Shoe’ is a very bad song. But ‘Sue Loves Me and I Loves Sue’ is neither good nor bad.” He was known to practice law in at least one instance David McGregor was in one instance known to have practiced law. Around 1750 a wealthy resident of Portsmouth named John Odiorne received two letters demanding 500 pounds to be left at the western end of the long bridge between Kingston and Chester. The letter threatened to burn Mr. Odiorne’s property and kill his family if the demands were not met. After the money was placed, a reputable citizen of Londonderry, Captain John Mitchell, happened along and dismounted his horse nearby. A guard stationed to watch the loot arrested Captain Mitchell and charged him with the crime. Mitchell protested his innocence and was unable to obtain an attorney for his defense.