records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第3章
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the idea of opposition to the Campbells。 Twice afterwards； on some
renewed aggression； in 1502 and 1552； we find the Macgregors again
banding themselves into a sept of 'Sons of my love'； and when the great
disaster fell on them in 1603； the whole original legend reappears； and we
have the heir of Alaster of Glenstrae born 'among the willows' of a fugitive
mother； and the more loyal clansmen again rallying under the name of
Stevenson。 A story would not be told so often unless it had some base in
fact； nor （if there were no bond at all between the Red Macgregors and the
Stevensons） would that extraneous and somewhat uncouth name be so
much repeated in the legends of the Children of the Mist。
But I am enabled； by my very lively and obliging correspondent； Mr。
George A。 Macgregor Stevenson of New York； to give an actual instance。
His grandfather； great… grandfather； great…great…grandfather； and great…
great…great… grandfather； all used the names of Macgregor and Stevenson
as occasion served； being perhaps Macgregor by night and Stevenson by
day。 The great…great…great…grandfather was a mighty man of his hands；
marched with the clan in the 'Forty… five； and returned with SPOLIA
OPIMA in the shape of a sword； which he had wrested from an officer in
the retreat； and which is in the possession of my correspondent to this day。
His great…grandson （the grandfather of my correspondent）； being
converted to Methodism by some wayside preacher； discarded in a
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moment his name； his old nature； and his political principles； and with the
zeal of a proselyte sealed his adherence to the Protestant Succession by
baptising his next son George。 This George became the publisher and
editor of the WESLEYAN TIMES。 His children were brought up in
ignorance of their Highland pedigree； and my correspondent was puzzled
to overhear his father speak of him as a true Macgregor； and amazed to
find； in rummaging about that peaceful and pious house； the sword of the
Hanoverian officer。 After he was grown up and was better informed of
his descent； ‘I frequently asked my father；' he writes； ‘why he did not use
the name of Macgregor； his replies were significant； and give a picture of
the man： 〃It isn't a good METHODIST name。 You can use it； but it will
do you no GOOD。〃 Yet the old gentleman； by way of pleasantry； used to
announce himself to friends as 〃Colonel Macgregor。〃 '
Here； then； are certain Macgregors habitually using the name of
Stevenson； and at last； under the influence of Methodism； adopting it
entirely。 Doubtless a proscribed clan could not be particular； they took a
name as a man takes an umbrella against a shower； as Rob Roy took
Campbell； and his son took Drummond。 But this case is different；
Stevenson was not taken and left … it was consistently adhered to。 It does
not in the least follow that all Stevensons are of the clan Alpin； but it does
follow that some may be。 And I cannot conceal from myself the
possibility that James Stevenson in Glasgow； my first authentic ancestor；
may have had a Highland ALIAS upon his conscience and a claymore in
his back parlour。
To one more tradition I may allude； that we are somehow descended
from a French barber…surgeon who came to St。 Andrews in the service of
one of the Cardinal Beatons。 No details were added。 But the very name
of France was so detested in my family for three generations； that I am
tempted to suppose there may be something in it。 （1）
（1） Mr。 J。 H。 Stevenson is satisfied that these speculations as to a
possible Norse； Highland； or French origin are vain。 All we know about
the engineer family is that it was sprung from a stock of Westland Whigs
settled in the latter part of the seventeenth century in the parish of Neilston；
as mentioned at the beginning of the next chapter。 It may be noted that the
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
Ayrshire parish of Stevenston； the lands of which are said to have received
the name in the twelfth century； lies within thirteen miles south…west of
this place。 The lands of Stevenson in Lanarkshire first mentioned in the
next century； in the Ragman Roll； lie within twenty miles east。
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CHAPTER I DOMESTIC
ANNALS
IT is believed that in 1665； James Stevenson in Nether Carsewell；
parish of Neilston； county of Renfrew； and presumably a tenant farmer；
married one Jean Keir； and in 1675； without doubt； there was born to these
two a son Robert； possibly a maltster in Glasgow。 In 1710； Robert
married； for a second time； Elizabeth Cumming； and there was born to
them； in 1720； another Robert； certainly a maltster in Glasgow。 In 1742；
Robert the second married Margaret Fulton （Margret； she called herself）；
by whom he had ten children； among whom were Hugh； born February
1749； and Alan； born June 1752。
With these two brothers my story begins。 Their deaths were
simultaneous； their lives unusually brief and full。 Tradition whispered me
in childhood they were the owners of an islet near St。 Kitts； and it is
certain they had risen to be at the head of considerable interests in the
West Indies； which Hugh managed abroad and Alan at home； at an age
when others are still curveting a clerk's stool。 My kinsman； Mr。
Stevenson of Stirling； has heard his father mention that there had been
‘something romantic' about Alan's marriage： and； alas！ he has forgotten
what。 It was early at least。 His wife was Jean； daughter of David Lillie；
a builder in Glasgow； and several times ‘Deacon of the Wrights'： the date
of the marriage has not reached me； but on 8th June 1772； when Robert；
the only child of the union； was born； the husband and father had scarce
passed； or had not yet attained； his twentieth year。 Here was a youth
making haste to give hostages to fortune。 But this early scene of
prosperity in love and business was on the point of closing。
There hung in the house of this young family； and successively in
those of my grandfather and father； an oil painting of a ship of many tons
burthen。 Doubtless the brothers had an interest in the vessel； I was told
she had belonged to them outright； and the picture was preserved through
years of hardship； and remains to this day in the possession of the family；
the only memorial of my great… grandsire Alan。 It was on this ship that
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he sailed on his last adventure； summoned to the West Indies by Hugh。
An agent had proved unfaithful on a se
