Gilderoy (Outlaw)

Pádruig Mac Griogair aka Gille Ruadh
Gilder Roy in his 'Genuine Highland Garb'
Born	Scotland
Died	Executed 1636 Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation	Outlaw and blackmailer

Best known as Gilderoy (executed 1636) or Gilroy,Patrick McGregor was a Scottish outlaw and blackmailer who ravaged the lands of Strathspey, Braemar, Cromarty, and other areas in the vicinity of Aberdeen during the reign of Charles I (1600 – 1649). He is remembered in published stories, Scottish ballads, tunes, popular expressions, etc. Various other renderings of his name exist such as Gilder Roy and Gilleroy.

Patrick McGregor aka Gilderoy was the leader of a band of limmers or robbers, also a murderer and a cattle thief (blackmailer). He is best known by the anglicised version of his Gaelic nickname Gille Ruadh that means 'the Red-haired Lad' from his characteristically Scottish red hair. He was also casually referred to as the 'Bonnie Lad' and is sometimes compared with other popular outlaws such as Robin Hood and also Rob Roy MacGregor who lived later (1671–1734) and with whom he is sometimes confused. The lowland Scots form 'Gilderoy' will be used throughout for consistency.

The spectacular rock formation at Burn o'Vat, near Ballater on Deeside is popularly associated as a hiding place of Rob Roy MacGregor, however it is some distance from his usual haunts and tradition says that it was used by Gilderoy, conceivably a relation of this better known outlaw who was popularised by Walter Scott. A shallow depression behind the main waterfall here is known as "Gilderoy's Cave" as he is said on one occasion to have hidden from pursuers behind the waterfall when the burn was in spate.

Gilderoy was executed in 1636 however several highly adapted, greatly exaggerated and romanticised versions of his life have been published, some giving his year of death as late as 1658.

Archibald, Lord Lorne, heritable justiciar of the South and North isles and the sheriffdom of Arygyll had finally apprehended the "arch rebel" and on 7 June 1636 in Edinburgh the trial started of Patrick McGregor and his associates John Forbes, Alistair Forbes, Callum Forbes, George Grant, John McColme, John McGregor McEane, Gillespie McFarlane, Alistair McInneir and Ewin McGregor alias Accawisch.