Gregg, Spence, McCalla, Todd Annals of Newberry, by John A. Chapman, page 602-044 GREGG, SPENCE, MCCALLA, TODD Near three miles from the town of Newberry, southeast, there stands a tombstone of marble bearing three inscriptions to the memory of three departed relatives, viz.: "To the memory of William Gregg, Sr., who departed this life on the 10th day of November, 1816, aged seventy-one years." "Also, of Mary Spence, wife of Samuel Spence and daughter of William and Jane Gregg, who departed this life on the 14th day of September, 1823, in the fortieth year of her age.'" "Likewise, of Jane Gregg, who departed this life on the 14h day of September, 1823. aged eighty-four years." Mrs. Mary Spence, here mentioned as the daughter of William and Jane Gregg, and wife of Samuel Spence, had for her first husband Samuel McOalla, Esq., who came to this country and settled on the land afterwards owned by Major James Graham, then by Chancellor Job Johnstone, now by his son, J. Malcolm Johnstone. Samuel McCalla was compelled to leave Ireland about 1798 because of the part taken by him in some political troubles in that unhappy country. Having to leave the country to avoid arrest, he left his wife and little son Robert, only two or three years old. He seems to have come directly to Newberry and settled on the above-mentioned place, his wife and son Robert not coming to America until 1817. The son he had left a sportive boy was now a young man of about twenty one years. Mrs. Mary McCalla and son Robert sailed from Belfast, Ireland, October 12th, 1817, on the ship Cyrus, commanded by Captain Gassard, and landed at Charleston, S. C., November, 30th, 1817. Andrew Todd came from Ireland to this country in 1816, and his wife and children came over in the same vessel with Mrs. Mary McCalla in 1817. This family of Todds settled in Laurens County. One of the daughters married Rev. Samuel P. Pressley, who was pastor of the Associate Reformed Ohurch in this county, and lived in the house on Caldwell street commonly known at this time as the Webb house. Drs. Samuel Todd, a brother of Andrew Todd, practiced medicine very successfully in Newberry for a number of years, afterward moved to Laurens C. H.. where he died on the 3d of June, 1825, aged sixty-three years. There is nothing to show the exact date when the Gregg family came to America, but it is quite probable that they came over prior to the coming of Mrs. Mary McCalla. Nor is it now known what part Samuel McCalla took in the troubles in Ireland; but he was a man of fine intellect, of good education, and qualified in every respect. to become a leader. He was ruling elder in the Associate Reformed Church at Cannon Creek, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace for Newberry District. He was well liked and had great influence among his acquaintances. He died not long after being reunited to his family, and was buried at Cannon Creek. His widow married Samuel Spence, who also came from Ireland, but at what time is not know. Mr. Spence was a tailor by trade, and settled and died on a place west from the present Colony Church. Samuel Spence had a brother, James Spence, who was a merchant, but for the last, few years of his life taught school . After the death of his mother in 1823 Robert McCalla, with the Gregg family, some time between 1823 and 1830 removed to Georgia; then to Lincoln County, Tennessee; then to Shelby County, Tennessee, where most of the descendants of Samuel McCalla now live; worthy scions of an honorable ancestry. Captain John McCalla, son of Robert, was an officer under General Forrest in the war between the States, and it is said that General Forrest would never go into a battle unless he had Captain McCalla at his side. For the foregoing facts the compiler of these Annals acknowledges his indebtedness to Joseph S. Reid, Esq.