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However, unlike the House of Gordon, details here will only contain the section up to and including the 13th Laird of Abergeldie. Simply this writer does not wish to cover material other than ancient Abergeldie history.
A follow-up account on Abergeldie was compiled by Edward Gordon of Cairnfield. This manuscript was part of a much larger body of work on the Gordon family (3 million words!)
Edward of Cairnfield clearly wished his work to go to print (his hand-written notes included instructions to the printer within each page margin.). Sadly it never made it to print. Fortunately though Edward's family donated his work to the National Library of Scotland. Unfortunately it gathered copyright. Therefore the transcribed version on Abergeldie must remain private to this writer.
If any individual would like details, and have written consent of the NLS (National Library of Scotland) the writer would only be too happy to pass them on. That, this writer believes, would have been the wish of Edward Gordon of Cairnfield.
ABERGELDIE by John Malcolm Bulloch M.A.
Printed in the House of Gordon
For the New Spalding Club
PREFATORY NOTE:
THERE are various sources of information on the family of Abergeldie. There is a pedigree in the Balbithan MS. (pp. 9-11); in Burke's Landed Gentry, 1898 (corrected by the late Hugh Mackay Gordon, XVII. of Abergeldie); by Rev. J. G. Michie in the Crathie Church Bazaar Book Under Lochnagar, 1894, and in Lord Huntly's Records of Aboyne; while there is a brief account of the contents of the charter chest in the sixth report of the Historical MSS. Commission, appendix (p. 7 12); and various stories are given in Rev. J. G. Michie's Deeside Tales. Many references to the Abergeldie family, more particularly in connection with various land transactions and march disputes, will be found in Mr. Michie's Records of Invercauld. Two articles on the Abergeldie Cordons by the present writer appeared in the Aberdeen Free Press of 10th and 17th November 1900. He is indebted for special information to the late Mr. Hugh Mackay Gordon, who told him that many family papers were destroyed by a fire in 1812; to Mr. Kenneth Gordon, Lee, Kent; to Dr. Charles Gordon, Pietermaritzburg; to Mr. D. Murray Rose and to others. The picture of Abergeldie Castle which is reproduced in this monograph is from a photograph by Annan of Glasgow, and represents the fine old structure from the north.
118 PALL MALL, S.W.,
February 10th 1902
John Malcolm Bulloch
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ABERGELDIE.
The lands of Abergeldie lie in the parish of Crathie, Aberdeenshire. The meaning of the name is the "confluence of the Geldie" with the Dee at the west end of the castle. The derivation of "geldie" is very uncertain. (Macdonald's Place Names of West Aberdeenshire, p. 2.) The lands have been held by the same family of Gordon, descendants of the 1st Earl of Huntly, practically since 1449, though actual possession did not come until 1482. The interest in the family has been heightened by the fact that Queen Victoria as owner of the neighbouring estate of Balmoral, rented Abergeldie during many years, and that her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her son, King Edward VII, as Prince of Wales, used to live there. He is still the tenant (until 1922), at a rent of �4500 a year. The Empress Eugenie, who is descended from the old Scots family of Kirkpatrick, has frequently stayed at Abergeldie.
The castle, which stands on the south bank of the Dee about six miles above Ballater and two below Balmoral, has been much altered and added to; but, according to MacGibbon and Ross's Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, which contains a view of the building the north-east (figure 520), it still retains the original tower which formed the nucleus of the whole, and which with its rounded angles, its crow-stepped gables and its somewhat elaborately corbelled angle turret, is a good and picturesque example of a sixteenth century manor house in Aberdeenshire. The means of access from the north bank of the river was formerly by a picturesque contrivance called a "rope and cradle" bridge, the bridge being really a rope from which the cradle or basket containing the passenger was suspended, and along which it ran.
The arms of the Gordons of Abergeldie as registered 1676 are: Quarterly: 1st, Azure, three boars' heads couped or; 2nd, Or, three lions' heads erased gules; 3rd, Or, three crescents within a double tressure flory counterflory gules; 4th, Azure, three fraises argent; the whole within a bordure quarterly argent and gules. Crest: a deerhound argent collared gules. Motto: "God for us"
ALEXANDER GORDON, Ist EARL OF HUNTLY.
(Died 1470)
Abergeldie appears in the hands of the Gordons for the first time in 1449, when it was in possession of Alexander, the first Earl of Huntly, who got it from the king for his services in suppressing the rebellion headed by the Earl of Douglas.
Abergeldie was originally part of the vast possessions of the notorious Earldom of Mar. Thomas, Earl of Mar, the last of the direct male line (he died in 1376), granted "Abbirgedly" in 1358 to "Duncan son of Roger," who was bound to give suit at the Earl's three courts held "apud lapidem de Mygvethe"- a stone at the Earl`s great manor of Migvie in Cromar.
In 1435 James I boldly claimed the Earldom for reasons denounced by all the genealogists. In 1436 the lands were in the hands of John Mowat, for in 1438, according to the accounts of the Chamberlain of Mar, a payment is entered out of the rents of Cambusnakist by the King's grant of �10 to John Mowat for his right of the lands for the two previous years.
In 1445 and 1446, the receiver of the king's rents is ordered to inquire carefully who is in possession of the lands, and what is their value, and in 1449 he reports them to be in the hands of Alexander, 1st Earl of Huntly, and in 1451 the Chamberlain accounts for �10 as the rent of Abergeldie, which is said to be in the Earl's hands. But the Rodger claim was still recognised so late as 1507 as I shall show.
The Earl of Huntly married Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Crichton, Chancellor of Scotland, and had (Records of Aboyne):-
1. GEORGE GORDON, 2nd Earl of Huntly, who married the daughter of James I.
2. Sir ALEXANDER GORDON, I of Abergeldie.
3. ADAM GORDON, Dean of Caithness, ancestor of the Gordons of Beldornie, Drummuy, and Sidderay.
4. JANET GORDON.
5. ELIZABETH GORDON, married (1) the 2nd Earl of Erroll, and (2) John, Lord Kennedy
6. CHRISTIAN GORDON, married William, Lord Forbes
SIR ALEXANDER GORDON, I. OF ABERGELDIE.
(Son of 1st Earl of Huntly: died. before 1504.)
Sir Alexander Gordon clinched the hold that his house had got on Abergeldie. He received various lands in the barony of Midmar. The following dates bear on his annexation of Abergeldie and other estates:
1482. Dec. 26 - By deed of gift, James II. granted the lands of Abergeldie to Alexander Gordon (Records of Aboyne, p. 219).
1485 - He had a lease from David, Abbot of Arbroath, of the great tithes of the churches of Coull and Kinernie (Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, ii., p. 28).
1488. Nov. 22 - He got a charter of the lands of Tullitermont from his brother, Lord Huntly (Aberdeen Burgh Sasines, vol. i;).
1499. Jan. 23 - He got a grant of the lands of Eastoun in Cromar from the King upon the resignation of John Rutherford of Tarland (Great Seal).
1501. Nov. 1 - His charter on Abergeldie and Eastoun, which were incorporated in one free barony, was confirmed (Great Seal).
1503. - He sold Old Midmar to James, Lord Ogilvie of Airlie, who however was to "tak na profit of the said lands" until Gordon's grandsons Alexander or James came of age to complete a marriage either with Janet or Marion, Lord Ogilvie's daughters. If the marriage did not take place, the lands were to remain in the hands of the Ogilvies until the sum of 6oo merks was paid (Abergeldie Charter Chest, quoted in the Records of Aboyne, P. 220.)
Sir Alexander Gordon, who died before January 1504, married Beatrice Hay, daughter of the Earl of Erroll. On October the 1st 1504, when she was a widow, she was found entitled to her terce of the lands of Carnetralzeane and others in Kinellar, of the davach of Abergeldy and of Easton, and of the lands of the barony of Midmar (Antiq. of Aberdeen and Banff, iii., p. 242).
The first laird of Abergeldie had, according to the Balbithan MS:
1. GEORGE GORDON, II. of Abergeldie.
2. WILLIAM GORDON of Netherdale, who lived, in Ruthven of Cromar. In 1522 he raided the Corryhoul lands of Agnes Grant, the widow of John McAllan, in Inverernan and took away much booty (Antiq. Aberdeen and Banff, iv., P. 477). In April 1530 James Gordon of Abergeldie as surety for William, was ordered to pay to Agnes "sex score of yowis price of the pece v schillingis, lx of wedderis & yeild scheip, price of the pece iiij, schillinges, & foure score of Iamb price of the pece ij schillings. And for.the proffictis of the saidv vjxx yowis in woll, mylk, & lammis xxvij pundis. The proffictis of the said lx wedderis & yeild scheip sen the tyme of the said spulye three pundis. The proffictis of the said lxxx lammis sen the said spulye as saidis iiij pundis " (Acta Dom.Conc.) On March 8th 1532-33, King James V. granted a charter to Agnes Grant, who had by that time married Thomas Cuming, of six bovates of the sunny half of the lands of Craibstone, apprised from James Gordon of Abergeldie for 126 marks due by him as surety for William Gordon's plunder of 6o rams & barren sheep, 100 wethers & 80 lambs (Great Seal). His nephew James, the third laird of Abergeldie, became surety for him. The Balbithan MS. says he was killed at Ruthven by John Gordon alias John Geer. He married and had:
1) MARGARET GORDON, who got Netherdale as her tocher (Sasine 26th May, 1530).
3. JANET GORDON, married before October 1501 at which date she was living, Thomas Fraser, Lord Lovat, and had a son:
2) HUGH FRASER, Lord Lovat, who was slain by the Macdonalds at Lochlochy, 1544. He was the ancestor of the present Lord Lovat.
4. Daughter, married Mortimer, the laird of Craigievar (Balbithan MS.).
5. Daughter, married ----- Ogilvy of Clova (Balbithan MS.).
6. BEATRIX GORDON (alive 1555), married (i) Garden of Dorlaithers ("of whom is come Mr. Robert Garden of Belliemore"): (ii) Ross of Auchlossin (Balbithan MS); she was alive in 1574 (Reords of Aboyne, p. 222). In 1487 there was a marriage contract (Anti. Aberdeen and Banff, iii., P. 299) between the heir Apparent of Alexander Irvine of Drum and a daughter of Alexander Gordon of Midmar; but the ceremony never seems to have been solemnised, and the girl may have been one of the four daughters mentioned in the Balbithan MS.
GEORGE GORDON, II OF ABERGELDIE
(Son of I. died before 1523)
This laird is distinguished by the fact that he got complete and indisputable possession of the lands of Abergeldie. Like everything connected with the Earldom of Mar, his tenure had been, to say the least of it, shaky. The Crown still put forward claims and the Roger family also had a claim. Gordon first cleared off the claim of the Crown:
1507. February 25th -The Privy Council decided that George Gordon was "quit fra" the petition of the Crown, which claimed the lands, "because it was clearly sene... that the said lands of Abergeldie war destynct and separate lands fra the properte of [the Earldom of] Mar, when it was cled with ane Earl, and quhen it wes uncled with ane Earl, as our soverane Lordis old rollis sene and considered propertis" (Records of Aboyne, pp. 220-1).
Then he got rid of the Rogers' claim:
1507. March 24th - By a notarial instrument (in the Abergeldie Charter Chest) dated March 24th 1507 (a month after the Privy Council decree), wherein it is act forth that in the Court of the King's justiciar held at Dundee, there appeared Thomas, son of Alexander, asserting himself to be heir of Christina Roger, his great grandmother in the lands of Abergeldie and others in the Earldom of Mar, and confessing that he had been fully satisfied and paid by George Gordon of Midmar, his rights therein being thereby renounced, and the original charter granted by Thomas, Earl of Mar to his predecessors being now delivered to the said George (Hist. MS. Com., 6th Report, Appendix).
The second laird was alive in 1510, but died before 1523. He married Margaret Stewart (the Balbithan MS. calls her "Grizal") daughter of the Earl of Buchan. She died in 1534. They had:
1) ALEXANDER GORDON, alive in 1503 (Abergeldie Charters), but apparently dead before his father (Records of Aboyne, p. 221): though the Balbithan MS gives him as third laird
2) JAMES GORDON, III of Abergeldie.
3) WILLIAM GORDON, in Logies (an illegitimate son), who married the daughter of ------- Irving of Tulloch, and had five sons. The Balbithan MS, however, names only four, namely, Alexander, Robert, James and John Gordon of Coull.
JAMES GORDON, III. OF ABERGELDIE.
(Son of II - killed at Pinkie, 1547)
On April 24th 1523, the young laird, "having arrived at the years of 'discretion and marriage," petitioned his guardian [Walter Ogilvy in Boyne) that he might be 'coupled' in lawful matrimony. "Ogilvie . . . offered him his choice of two damsels in every respect equal to himself - Janet Sinclair and Elizabeth Ogilvie" (Records of Aboyne, p. 221). But he scorned them both and married Janet Leith, daughter and coheir of George Leith of Barnes, and widow of Alexander Seton of Meldrum. He was returned heir to his father only on October 6th 1534. In 1528 he had confirmation of a charter by John Stewart, Earl of Buchan (his uncle or grandfather) of the lands of Grandoum, Auchmull, Perslie, and others (Great Seal.)
Abergeldie, as I have shown, had to pay dearly for his uncle William's raid on Agnes Grant. He had to surrender six bovates of the sunny half of the lands of Craibstone. The other part of Craibstone, in the barony of Grandholm, he sold to james Cheyne, burgess of Aberdeen. Abergeldie was to pay Cheyne " the sovme of sewyntene scoire of merkis in gold of angell nobilis crovnis of weicht unycornis and Leitht crovnis . . . witht ane sufficient lettre of tak of the said landis . . . for all the termes . . . of fyfteyne zeiris . . . followinge the rademynge ... of the said landis for tene merkis of pennye maill . . . monye of Scotland and als one sufficient lettre of balyerye of the said landis . . . for the said 15 zeiris . . . thane.... I sall ranunce the said landis . . . to the said James": witnessed 5th August 1536 (Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, iii., p. 222). This transaction gave rise to a feud between the Aberdeen burgh authorities and Forbes of Strathgirnock, who had some claim on the property.
The third laird was killed At Pinkie in 1547 (Exchequer Rolls). He had three sons and at least one daughter:
1) ALEXANDER GORDON, IV of Abergeldie
2) JAMES GORDON of Lastis, Mr Michie says he, killed Gilbert Knowles and his
son at the Calsayend. 'The Balbithan MS. says he married (December 1st 1574) the daughter of Donald Coutts of Kinarnie and had:-
(1) Thomas Gordon
(2) John Gordon, Ledach, Skene
(3) James Gordon, burgess of Aberdeen.
(4) Alexander Gordon. He may have been the merchant in Aberdeen who wrote very many poems in the Scottish language (Maidment's, Catalogues of Scottish Writers, p. 120).
3) Mr. WILLIAM GORDON, married Janet Cargill and had, Alexander, burgess in Aberdeen. (Balbithan MS.)
3) BETRIX GORDON. She had for liferent the lands of Knock. This is mentioned in the precept of sasine given to her in 1556. It is unusual to sign sasines, and the designation is curious. The sasine which is in the Abergeldie charter chest, has been summarised by Mr. D. Murray Rose as follows:
"Alexander Gordon de Perslie dilectis meis Johanni Leyth .. ballivis meis in hac parte Salutem Quia vendidi�. Dilecte mee Beatrice Gordon, sorori honorabalis viri Alexandri Gordon de Abirgeldy, in vitali redditu�terras meas de Knock cum suis pertinentis jacentes in parochia de Glenmyk infra vicecom. De Aberdeen tenandas in capite de me�vobis�.precipio�.quatenus�.sasinam dictorum terrarum cum suis pertinentiss dicte Beatrice in vitali redditu�.certo attornato�per lie thak et raip ut moris est�.tradatis Reservando tamen�.libere tenemntum dictarum terrarum� Jacobo Gordon do Leismoir patri meo pro toto tempore vitae sui. In cujus rei testimonium presentibus mea manuali subscriptione subscriptis sigilum meum proprium est appensum apud Aberdene decimo tertio die mensis Julii Anno Domini Millesimo quinquagesimo Sexto Coram hiis testibus Thoma Chalmer de Cultis Alexandro Chalmer ejus filio Willelmo Cristesoun Magistris Gilberto Murray et Johanne Nicholsoun notariis publicis cum diversis aliis. Alex. Gordon of Parsle Brynkburn with my hand."
Betrix Gordon was the second wife of Alexander Gordon (3rd son of James Gordon, I. of Lesmoir), I. of Birkenburn. She was the mother of:
(1) HARRY GORDON, in Knock. He was killed in November 1592, by the raiding party of Mackintoshes who also killed the Baron of Brackley (Earls of Sutherland, p. 217).
(2) DUNCAN GORDON of Perslie.
(3) JAMES GORDON.
5. HELEN GORDON, "daughter of James Gordon of Midmar and Abergeldie," apparently the 3rd laird, married Thomas Fraser of Durris (Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, ii., 323) and became the grandmother of Sir Alexander Fraser, the famous physician who trepanned Prince Rupert, and whose daughter, Carey Fraser, married (about 1678) the third Earl of Peterborough. Sir Alexander's son Charles translated Plutarch (Dict. Nat. Biog.).
ALEXANDER GORDON, IV OF ABERGELDIE
(Son of III: died 1596)
The laird signed a bond against the regent, 27th April, 1560 (Cal. Scottish Papers I., p. 383), "to expel the French maintained by the Queen dowager and take plain part with the Queen of England's army, sent by her for that purpose." He was known as "Black Alister," and Mr. Michie (Deeside Tales, page 140) relates some wild legends about him notably one concerning an attack, which he made on the Forbeses of Strathgirnock, who had a bitter feud with the Gordons of Knock. Abergeldie surrounded Strathgirnock's house and broke into it. Forbes was knocked down by a musket ball, and then hanged, and Abergeldie served himself heir to the lands of Strathgirnock, and came into the lands of Knock as nearest of kin. Certain it is he took part in Huntly's rebellion in 1562, and was compelled to ward in St. Andrews (on October 30th) under penalty of 5000 merks. Alexander Irvine of Drum was co-cautioner with him (Privy Council Register). In 1564 his lands were restored to him by Queen Mary (Records of Aboyne). The following items in his career are interesting:
1565. October 12th - Abergeldie was one of the assisors at the trial of Alexander Lyon of Aberdeen and his wife for the murder of John Wood of Colpna (Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, i., 471).
1566. May 4th -Tack by James, Lord St. John, Preceptor of Torphichen, to Alexander Gordon of Abergeldy and his heirs and assignees 'ane or ma being of na hiar degre nor himself,' of the teynd schevis of the Kirkis and. parochynnis of Tullich and Oboyne, with their pertinents, lying within the diocese and Sheriffdom of Aberdeen for the space of 19 years, which shall begin at the out running of the tacks made by the said Lord St. John to Beatrix Gordon, Lady Auchlossin [who was, according to the Balbithan MS., the grand aunt of the 4th laird] and Mr. Robert Gardyn, hir sone, and to their assignees of the saidis kirkis and teyn sheves for 19 years following the feast of Lammas 1555 : The said Alexander Gordon entering thereto at the feast of Lammas 1574 and paying yearly of teind,duty the sum of 75 merks within the burgh of Aberdeen at the feast of St. Bartholomew in August, or at the farthest in a whole yearly sum . . . . within one month next thereafter. At 1Edinburgh 4th May 1566. Witnesses John Forbes of Brux, Patrick Leyth of Harthill, Robert Abercromby, James Boyd, servant to the said Lord St. John (Records of Aboyne, p.222)
1568. May 8th -The laird of Abergeldie was one of those (including 9 earls, 9 bishops, 18 lords and others) who signed the bond of adherence to Mary against those who had threatened to 'tak hir majesties lyfe maist unjustlie from hir, expres aganis all lovable law of God, and, man' (Calendarr of Scottish Papers IL, P. 404).
1574. September 1st - 'The quhilk day in present [at Aberdeen] of my Lord Regentis Grace and Lordis of Secreit Counsaill compeirt Alexander Gordon of Abirgeldy and producit ane vallentyne deliverit to him for presenting of Matho Frig befoir the Justice or his deputtis, qubilk he ressavit upon the fourteene day of August last bipast: and that same nycht he send away spyis to se gif he was at the Mylne of Hoill, quhair he remainit with his fader. And the spyis remainit thair quhill the deponaris weir cuming quhilk was from the ---- day of the same moneth. And efter the resett of this valentyne [Abergeldy] depones that the said Matho come to his faderis hous, and how sone he come the spyis quhom the deponar directit come bak agane and tauld the deponar that he (Frig] wes thair, supponand he could not haif past away. Notwithstanding befoir the deponaris cuming he wes eschapit.' Abergeldie denied that he gave the spies orders to arrest Matho. On the same day James Gordon of Haddo was surety that Alexander Knowis, younger, burgess in Aberdeen, would be 'harmless' of Abergeldie whose uncle, James had killed Gilbert Knowles and his son in Aberdeen. Penalty �1000 (Privy Council Register).
1578 - He took part in the attempt to decide a dispute, between the Forbeses and the Gordons (Acts of Parliament).
1588 - He subscribed a bond at Aberdeen in defence of the 'trew religion' and his Majesties government (Privy Council Register).
1592 - Sir Robert Gordon (Earls of Sutherland, p. 218) says that Abergeldie as baillie in Badenoch to Lord Huntly was ordered by his master to raid the lands of the Mackintoshes in Petty for the slaughter of the Baron of Brackley.
1594. October 3rd - At the battle of Glenlivat Lord Huntly was supported on the left by the 'laird of Abergeldie.' (Earls of Sutherland, P. 227).
His son Alexander is called 'apparent' as late as October 24th 1594, but 'of Abergeldie' in 1598.
The fourth laird, who "dyed at home," according to the Balbithan MS., married Janet Irvine, daughter of Alexander Irvine, VII of Drum (Wimberley's Family of Irvine, p. 6), and had six sons and six daughters:
1) ALEXANDER GORDON, V of Abergeldie.
2) Mr. WILLIAM GORDON, VI of Abergeldie.
3) JOHN GORDON of Craibstone: alive 1614; he "had succession" (Balbithan MS.).
4) GEORGE GORDON, killed at the battle of Glenlivat, 1594. Bitrell in his diary, as quoted by Pitcairn (Criminal Trials, i., 361), says: 'The goodman of Dorth and his son were slain at Balrinnes. This Dorth was the brother of Abergeldie.' Mr. Michie says he got Knock from his father, who bought the property. There seem, however, to have been two different families of Gordon in possession of Knock.
5) THOMAS GORDON of Grandholm -A charter was granted on July 25th 1604, by William Allan, burgess of Aberdeen, with assent of Andrew Hervie of Alrik, and James Hervie, his eldest son and heir, for their interest in terms of a contract between the granter on the one part and Thomas Gordon of Grandholm for himself and Margaret Forbes his wife on the other, granting to them and their heirs male in feu farm the town and lands of Carnefield (i.e. Balgownie) with manor house, etc., also the lands of Danestoun and Corthyburn (St. Machar): to be held from the granter of the Principal, regents, etc., of King's College (Laing Charters, P.357).
On March 4th 1606, Thomas Gordon of Grandoun was admitted a burgess of Aberdeen (New Spald. Club Misc., i., 101). In 1607 Thomas Gordon of Grandholm granted a letter of reversion in favour of George, Marquis of Huntly, over-the lands of Auchoilzie in Glenmuick as principal, and the lands of Brodland, Newton of Watternady, as in warrandice, which Huntly had sold him redeemably for 2000 merks (Records of Aboyne). In the same year Robert Stewart, burgess in Aberdeen, became bond for Gordon in 1000 merks that he would not reset or intercommune with Patrick and Thomas Fraser, sons of Thomas Fraser, elder of Durris, who had been put to the horn for the slaughter of William Irvine and Robert Burnet. According to the Collections on the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff (p. 231), Grandholm was called Dilspro, 'while possessed by the jaffrays.' In 1626 Thomas Gordon of Dilspro, was caution in �20 (Privy Council Rgister) that Sir James Gordon of Lesmoir (whose sister Thomas Gordon of Grandholm married) should pay his College of Heralds bill (Sir James was made a baronet in 1625).
Dilspro had belonged to the Lesmoir Gordons, for the first Laird of Lesmoir had a son Harry of Dilspro. In November 1638, Thomas Gordon, 'late of Dilspro,' resigned the shady half of the lands of old Govill in New Machar to John Kintie.
Thomas of Grandholm married (i) Margaret Forbes, daughter of Alexander Forbes at the Mill of Gellan, and they had sasine on the lands of Carnfetie, July 2nd 1604. He married (ii) Janet Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Laird of Lesmoir, and widow of James Crichton of Frendraught, whose son was the host of Lord Aboyne when the latter was burned at Frendraught in 1630. (A Thomas Gordon appears in 1635 as one of the Gordons called on to give caution for their good behaviour, especially in view of the Frendraught affair.) A Thomas Gordon of Dilspro married Margaret Allardyce, daughter of John Allardyce of that Ilk. (Information from Mr. D. Murray Rose. Again Thomas Gordon "of Grandhum" was married to Elspet Grant apparently a, widow, for (according to the Privy Council Register, x., p.486) on March 28th 1616, Alexander Watsoun, messenger in Aberdeen, complained that when he went to summon James Murray, brother of the Laird of Cowbardie, and others, to appear before the Council to answer the, charge of ravishing Marjorie Fergusoun, daughter of Elspet Grant ('now wife of Thomas Gordoun of Grandum'), and was executing the charge against Arthour Chalmer, in his house in the Kirktoun of Kinnoir, he was attacked by the said Arthur, who 'preassit to haif rivene his Majesties blasin of his breist,' struck him with 'fauldit nevis' and pulled out a long dirk, with which he would have slain pursuer, had he not escaped. Pursuer having gone afterwards to the house of Alex. Mathesoun, messenger, 'and efter supper having past to his bed for taking the nichtis rest thairintill,' the said Arthour, accompanied by Johnne Abircrombie in Sandistoun, and other accomplices, to the number of ten, all armed, came to the house about midnight, surrounded it, 'strak in at the windois' with swords and long weapons, forced an entrance at the door, and thereafter most cruelly assaulted pursuer, who 'narrowlie eschaipit from thame.' The Lords order Chalmer and Johnne Abircrombie to be denounced rebels.
The Thomas who married Elspet Grant may have been the son of Thomas of Grandholm who, according to the Balbithan MS, 'had succession' by his first wife. It is just possible that these Grandholm Gardons represented different cadets (which may account for the several marriages mentioned). A Thomas Gordon of Grandholm had at any rate a daughter:
1) Agnes Gordon, who married Rev. Thomas Forbes, minister of Keig, son of the 6th Laird of Corsindae. They had: Isobel Forbes, who married Robert Lumsden of the Cushnie family (Lumsden's Forbeses)
6) JAMES GORDON of Easton - In 1609 (July 13th) he brought an action against David Kynnynmonth of Craighall, William Gray of Bandirrane, and George Seton of Parbroth, for remaining unrelaxed from hornings of February 20th and June 23rd (1609), for not paying complainer as assignee to his brother (William) 6000 merks as principal and �1000 expenses, with 720 merks over and above. He married (according to the Balbithan MS.) Marion Scrimgeour, apparently a relation of Sir James Scrimgeour of Dudhope, Constable of Dundee, who frequently was surety for his brother. He had a son by her (Balbithan MS.). Sir John Scrimgeour of Dudhope married Margaret Carnegie whose sister was the wife of a Gordon of Cairnburrow. Was this James laird of Balmoral?
7) DAUGHTER, married as his second wife Alexander Gordon of Tulloch, Chancellor of Moray, a cadet of the Buckie family (Balbithan MS., p.64) She bore him three sons who all died young.
8) DAUGHTER, married Thomas Menzies, Provost of Aberdeen (Balbithan MS).
9) MARJORIE GORDON, married (i) Robert Duguid of Auchenhove; and (ii) John Leslie XL of Balquhain (died 1638) (Balbithan MS.). Duguid was first married to Janet Forbes who divorced him for, adultery in 1583. He then contracted a marriage with Marjorie Gordon, "as then held incompetently"(Leslie's Leslies, iii., 442): but on account of his extreme youth, King James VI granted him remission and dispensation, July 29th, 1589, as if he had married Marjorie Gordon for his first wife. By Duguid she had a son William, VI of Auchenhove, and Robert.(Birth Brieve), who married Marie Forbes and had a son Robert in Poland.
10) DAUGHTER, married Patrick Mortimer of Enzie.
11) DAUGHTER.
12) CATHERINE GORDON, (natural), married James Farquharson, I of Inverey (Michie's Records of Invercauld, p.112)
ALEXANDER GORDON, V OF ABERGELDIE.
This laird was an ardent Roman Catholic. The following items him refer to him:
1593. March 3rd - Alexander Gordon apparent of Abergeldie as Principal and Sir James Scrimgeour of.Dudhope (probably a relation of his sister-in-law, Marion Scrimgeour, the wife of James Gordon of Easton) as surety gave 2000 merks assurance not to join the Catholic Earls (Privy Council Register).
1593. May 26th - Sir John Gordon of Pitlurg was caution in 2000 merks for Alexander Gordon, apparent of Abergeldie (1) that by June 15th he should return to the Clerk of Council a bond subscribed by Alexander Irving apparent of Drum, (2) that he should keep ward besouth the water of Dee till he return Lord Marischal's letter allowing his liberty. In respect of the surety he is relieved of his present ward in Edinburgh (Privy Council Register).
1594. June 12th - Alexander Gordon apparent of Abergeldie is charged to appear before the King to answer for his good rule and loyalty (Privy Council Register).
1594. July 11th - He was denounced (along with John Gordon of Newton, Robert Gordon of Savoch, and George-Gordon of Cochlarachy and others) for not appearing to answer the charge of being 'treasounable practizaris and conspiratoris aganis the true religioun.' (Privy Council Register).
1594. October 24th - The, Privy Council ordered the forfeit of the caution given on June 13th 1593, by Gordon as principal and Alexander Irving younger of Drum as surety for him in 2000 merks to appear before them. On November 4th there is a warrant under the sign manual freeing Irving as, surety. (Privy Council Register).
1598. December 9th - Registration by John Halyday as procurator of bond by Sir James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, constable of Dundee, for Alexander Gordon of Abergeldie in 2000 merks not to harm John, Earl of Mar. Subscribed at Dundee, November 30th 1598. (Privy Council Register)
The fifth laird of Abergeldie married before 1586 Margaret Mackintosh, daughter of William of that ilk, who had previously been the wife of Duncan Grant, Laird of Grant who died in 1581,and of the Laird of Pitsligo. On April 2nd 1604 she had sasine on the lands and barony of Abergeldie (Aberdeen Sasines). On December 21st 1604, she married William Sutherland of Duffus (Great Seal, November 25th 1608) who died before 1616; she was alive in 1627 (Fraser's Chiefs of Grant, vol. I.)
The Balbithan MS, says the fifth laird died without issue, but he really left an only daughter:
1) BEATRICE GORDON, who had sasine on the lands of Waukindale, Tollibog, Hilloch, Auldtoun, etc., on January 20th 1601 (Aberdeen Sasines, vol, ii.)
The fifth laird also seems to have had an illegitimate son, for according to the Privy Council Register a commission was granted in June 16th 1629, to the lairds of Pittodrie, Glenkindie, Invercauld, Monaltrie, and others to arrest:-
"ALEXANDER GORDON, the natural son of Alexander Gordon of Abergeldie, Alaster McComeis McFerrucher, his brother on the mother's side, and Robert Smith in Clauch, ane toune in the barony of Abergeldie, who on May 27th were put to the horn at the instance of Marjorie Brebner with Duncan Stewart as son, Robert Stewart in Aberardour and Arthour and James Stewart as brothers, and the remaining kin and friends of the deceased John Stewart in Aberardour for failing to answer for the slaughter of the said John Stewart. Power is given of fire and sword and there is a clause of immunity."
The fifth laird died in 1601 and was succeeded by his brother.
WILLIAM GORDON, V1 OF ABERGELDIE.
(Younger son of IV: died 1630)
He was retoured heir to his brother on May 30th 1601. He had originally got Birkhall (formerly Stering) from his father. The most interesting incident in his career was his connection with the Catholic plot, usually known as the " Spanish blanks," by which a Spanish invasion of this country was to be manoeuvred. The chief figures in the business were a Scots priest William Crichton and Father James Gordon, the son Huntly who had fallen after Corrichie. Young Abergeldie's connection with the scheme may be told thus:
1591. March 7th - Row says that on this date William Crichton ('quho hes remained in Spaine these two yeares') sent William Gordon, "sonne to Abergeldie, with letteris to Mr James Gordon jesuit to let Papists heir know quhat travel Crichton had taken with the King of Spaine since his arriving thither": and that the King of Spain was to invade England and alter the religion of Scotland by Crichton's advice. Therefore Crichton craved, "be this gentleman," so many blanks and procurations to be sent to him, as could be had of the noblemen here, "for the assurance of his trafficke." Upon the receipt of the blanks, it was proposed to send, at the end of the spring of 1592, an army of 30,000 men landing either in the Clyde or in Kirkcudbright. The answers were taken by George Ker, but he was apprehended at the Isle Cumbray. He bore many letters. One of them was written in French by Huntly and signed by two other noblemen, regretting "the defeate of the Navall Armie quhilk the King, of Spaine called blasphemouslie The Invincible Armado." Huntly is said to have averred that the Navy had not taken the right time in view of the great winds in harvest- "forgeting," adds Row, that "the Lord of Hosts, who commands winds and seas, did avowedlie fight against him, proving his 'Invincible Armado' verie easilie vincible."
1593. March 5th - Williarn Gordon and others were denounced as rebels for having failed to appear before the Privy Council to answer "touching the hearing of mess and resetting of priestis and papistis" (Privy Council Register.)
1594. October 3rd - He was present at the battle of Glenlivat, for he got remission in 1603 (Spalding Club Club Miscellany, vol. iv., p.159). His old friend Father Crichton has left a curious account of the battle (printed by Father Forbes Leith in his Narratives of the Scottish Catholics, 1885.)
1602. April 13th - Notwithstanding that Huntly had been ordered to arrest certain Papists, it was announced by the Privy Council that Abergeldie and others had not 'purged themselves of the excommunication under which they live, but still remain in this country practising against the true religion' (Privy Council Register).
1602. November 21st - He had sasine of the lands of Ballogie, Mill hole, etc. (Aberdeen Sasines, vol. ii.).
1602. December 20th - He had sasine of the Barony of Midmar (Aberdeen Sasines, vol. ii.).
1603. July 20th - William Gordon of Kennertie was caution in 2000 merks that Abergeldie should not harm John and Harry Stewart of Ballagan, Andrew McAndow, John Moir MIAllaster, Donald McAllaster (his brother), John M'Comie, John Ker, John Gordon, and James McPatrick (the last three in Crathie). The bond was signed at Abergeldie before James Gordon, Abergeldie's brother, and others (Privy Council Register).
1605. June 10th - Alexander, Montgomery, citizen of Old Aberdeen, was caution in 300 merks that Abergeldie should enter John Donald, Findlay Dow and Patrick Ewen in Stradie, alleged to be his men, to answer to the Council for going to the house at Craigmonth of Ogle, occupied by William Johnston, tenant of James Fenton of Ogle and breaking up the doors spoilying the goods (Privy Council Register).
1605. July 18th - Fenton got Abergeldie and his associates denounced as a rebel for robbing and wounding Johnston. In 1608 Abergeldie's brother-in-law Patrick Mortimer of Enzie was surety in �1000 that Abergeldie should bring his three servants to the Council. Fenton himself was put to the horn in 1609 for an offence of his own (Privy Council Register).
1607. February 21st - John Scrimgeour, apparent of Dudhope, was caution in �1000 that Abergeldie should not, reset his kinsmen Thomas and Patrick Fraser, sons of the laird of Durris, who had been put to the horn on July 22nd 1606, for the slaughter of William Irvine of Glassick (Glassel), who married a Margaret Gordon, and Robert Burnet of Cowcardie in, June, 1606. On January 13th 1607, Abergeldie reset the Frasers and was fined 1000 merks (Privy Council Register).
1607. August 13th - He had charter under the Great Seal of the lands and barony of Abergeldie.
1608. February 5th - Abergeldie was caution in �2000 for Alexander Irving of Drum (who in turn was caution for his brothers: Robert, James, William and John) not to harm the Forbeses, of whom a list is given (Privy Council Register).
1608. November 26th - Abergeldie and his old Catholic associate Patrick Butter, son of Patrick, sometime of Marytoun, found caution in 500 merks not to wear hagbuts or pistolets in future (Privy Council Register).
1609. June - He was made a justice of the Peace for Aberdeenshire.
1611. January 10th -Two of Abergeldie's tenants on Easton and Loichmaynis, George and James Ross, complained that albeit the reset and intercommuning with that 'vnhappie and rebellious race and handful of wicked people callit' the Clan Gregor was strictly discharged, yet on August 27th 1610, Nicol Davie, accompanied by ten or twelve armed men went to the market of St. Mary's and felled them (the Rosses) to the ground, and wounded them with drawn swords; and all the people bolted in fear. Davie was denounced as a rebel (Privy Council Register).
1611. January 15th - Abergeldie, Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar and James Gordon of Lesmoir were caution for the conduct of Lord Huntly after his present ward in Stirling Castle in the sum of 20,000 merks (Privy Council Register).
1611. December 3rd - Abergeldie was ordered to arrest Coutts of Auchtercoull (Privy Council Register).
1612 January 23rd - He was ordered to arrest several of the Leslies (Privy Council Register).
1612. July 28th - He was ordered to arrest James Gordon of Auchdryne and other 'broken men' (Privy Council Register).
1614. April 1st -The Aberdeen Register of Deeds (as quoted by Mr. Rose) records a contract between Arthur, Lord Forbes, on the one part and William Gordon of Abergeldie on the other; whereby, for 18,000 merks, the said Lord dispones to the said William Gordon heritably without reversion or regres the town and lands of Lairie with the croft thereof, callit Carrieauchtane, town and lands of Strathgirnock, with the pendicles thereof called Tarnagowne, Candacraig, Lynefork, otherwise called Over-pleuche of Strathgirnok: the town and lands of Easter and Wester Abirgardynes, Kirktown of Abirgardyne, with woods, boiges, fishings on the water of Dee, and Glengardyne scheilling, commonties, common pasturages, pertaining to the said lands and specially to the lands of Lairie, Strathgirnock and Abirgardyne, with the manor place and stanehous foundit upon Wolt on the said lands of Easter Abirgardyne; all lying in the parish of Glengardyn, barony of Aboyne and shereffdom of Aberdeen:
And likewise in security of the said sum the said Lord Forbes has constitut the said William Gordon, his heirs, etc., to be assignees in and to the contents of a reversion to him by Arthur Forbes of Boigis and Margaret Forbes, his souse, for redeeming from them or their heirs the town and lands of Sonehume (Sonehinnie ?) with the pertinents and teynd sheaves thereof lying in the parish of Midmar, barony of Cluny and Sheriffdom of Aberdeen; by payment of 300 merks: and farther, for security to the said William. Gordon of the said lands of Sonehume, the said Lord Forbes has sold the said lands to him: constituting here also the assignee in and to a letter of tack of the teind sheaves of the town and lands of Lairie, etc., above mentioned made to the said Lord Forbes, by the Principal, Masters, Regents, and Members of the King's College of Auld Aberdeen for the space of a liferent and two 19 years tack of date at Aberdeen October 13th 1608: And in and to another letter of tack and assedation of the teined sheaves of the said lands, granted to the said Lord Forbes by Mr John Strathauchin, person of Kincardine, with the consent of the Patron, Bishop, Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Kirk of Aberdeen, for the space of two liferents and three 19 years, for the yearly payment of 8 merks teind silver and two bolls meall, of date at Aberdeen, October 11th 1611. Reserving to the said Arthur Forbes of Sonehume and his spouse, their right and tack of the teind sheaves of the said lands of Sonehume, during the next redemption thereof from them; And seeing that the said Lord Forbes has disponed heritably to Alexander, Master of Forbes, his Lordship's son, the said whole lands, mills, etc., above specified, with the whole living and lordship of Forbes under revision of an angell of gold; Therefore the said Lord binds himself to give to the said William Gordon a declarator and decreit of the Lords of Council. and Sessions upon the lawful redemption of the said lands in favour of the said Lord Forbes, finding and declaring the same to be lawfully redeemed from the said Alexander, Master of Forbes, his son. At Aberdeen, 1st April, 1614. Witnesses: Mr Thomas Menzies of Balgownie, Thomas Gordon of Grandoum, Mr Robert Forbes, portioner of Fynnersie, etc.
1617. September 10th - He was one of those who appeared before the Privy Council on behalf of the Gordons when the latter and the Hays 'choppit hands' and buried the hatchet that had been sharpened over the extraordinarily barbaric murder of Francis Hay, who had shot (in a duel) Adam Gordon of the Gight family (Privy Council Register).
1621. March 14th - He was retoured heir to James Gordon, his grandfather, in the lands of Carntralzane, Beldestone and others (Inquis. Spec. Aberdeen)
1621. December 6th - He was ordered to arrest certain Macgregors for the murder of William Macpherson (Privy Council Register).
1623. November 7th - When the Justices of the Peace for Aberdeenshire were ordered to appear In the Tolbooth of Aberdeen all did so except Abergeldie, Gordon of Brackly and another, who, giving no excuse, were each lined �40 (Privy Council Register).
1628. March 20th - 'Sir' William (he is thus described) was commissioned to arrest several Highland thieves in Braemar and Perthshire (Privy Council Register).
1630. March 25th - Robert Skene, younger, Burgess in Aberdeen, son of Robert Skene of Slydie and Erdifork, got decreit against William Gordon of Abergeldie on a bond to the late Robert Skene, dated May 29th 1618. There was a similar decreit on the 19th July 1634, and again on the 22nd of July 1642 (but these last two must have been against the next laird) (Skene's Skenes, p.76)
The sixth laird of Abergeldie, who died at Abergeldie in 1630, married Elizabeth Seton, the 'laird of Peitbroth's' (Parbtoath's ?) daughter (Balbithan MS.). Burke (Landed Gentry, 1898) says that he married (i) Francisca Gray, daughter of Andrew, Lord Gray, but I cannot verify the statement: which "has always been handed down in the family".
According to Baird's Genealogical Memoirs of the Duffs (pp137 & 138), Catherine Ruthven, daughter of ------ Ruthven, provost of Perth and brother of the Earl of Gowrie, married "Gordon.of Abergeldie" (William ?) and had a daughter Jean, who married Adarn Duff of Drummuir, who died about 1660. He had five sons and two daughters:-
1) ALEXANDER GORDON, VII of Abergeldie.
2) JOHN GORDON. The 'Livetennant Colonell Gordon, brother to the Laird Abirzeldie,' who in 1642 'schippit' at Aberdeen men for Lord Argyll's regiment in France, as mentioned by Spalding (Troubles, II, 187), may be the John Gordon in Littlemill who had been in perpetual service with the rebels - fighting at Inverlochie, Kilsyth and other battles first as captain, then as major and then as Lieut-Colonel. He appeared before the General Assembly Commission at Aberdeen in May 1647, and begged for pardon. There was a John Gordon in Littlemill in Ruthven son of Alexander Gordon of Cromellat and grandson of James Gordon, I. of Letterfourie. A John Gordon in Littlemill was excommunicated as a papist, November 1643. A John Gordon in Littlemill was made a burgess of guild of Aberdeen on March 16th 1663, and similar honour fell to his son Patrick Gordon on October 12th 1664.
3) WILLIAM GORDON. He was served heir to his father in the lands of Grandoun, Auchmill, Perslie and Craibstone, June 17th 1607 (Inquis. Spec.).
4) THOMAS GORDON
5) JAMES GORDON.
6) MARGARET GORDON. Married Donald Farquharson of Monaltrie (known as Donald Oig). He was an enthusiastic anti-Covenanter and frequently figures in Spalding and in Britane's Distemper. On March 15th 1645 he was slain 'anent the court de guarda brave gentilman, and ane of the noblest capitans amongis all the hielanders of Scotland'. Next morning his body was found in the 'calsey stript naikit, for they had tirrit from of his bodie ane ritche stand of apparrell bot put on the samen day. His corpis ar taken wp the wynd, and put in ane cloiss kist and had wp to the Cheppelhill, thair to ly on the Castelhill.' On the following day, Sunday (March 17th), 'Donald wes buriet in the Laird [of] Drumis Iyll, with mony wo hairtis and dulefull schottis.' (Spalding's Troubles, II.,455-7). Britane's Distemper gives Farquharson a fine character. He was 'beloued of all sortes of people ... he gaue proofe of alse much true curraige as any man could hawe . . . . There was no man more humble, no man, saue a prodigal, that cared lesse for to morrow. . . . He was upon a sixe monthes stay at court, so become so weell lyked of, and in so good grace with, his soveraine lord, as he euer after called him his man. . . . In fine, nether is my judgment nor my experience able to give a true charectore to the lyfe of this gentleman's singular and most commendable parts."
7) MARY GORDON. Married a Gray of Schivas and thus increased the influence of the Abergeldies in Buchan, for her brother-in-law Farquharson was the constant companion of Nathaniel Gordon of the Gight family, who was ultimately executed. She gave a great deal of trouble to the Ellon Presbytery, which excommunicated her in 1668 (Mair's Ellon Presbytery Records). 'A View of the Diocese of Aberdeen' (Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, P. 334) declares that the Grays of Schivas were 'still Roman Catholicks' in 1732.
ALEXANDER GORDON, VII OF ABERGELDIE.
(Son of VI: died 1655.)
Like his father before him he was all for the old order: and necessarily a strong anti-Covenanter. He figures frequently in Spalding, and suffered for his faith :
1626. September 12th - Alex. Gordone, 'fiar of Abirzeldie,' was admitted a burgess of Aberdeen (New Spald. Club Misc., i., 142).
1635. August 7th - Alexander Gordon of Abergeldie and other Gordons were summoned before the Privy Council to find caution for their good behaviour (Privy Council Register). His rents this year were �1368.13s.4d. (Michie's Records of Invercauld, P. 464).
1639. May - Abergeldie was one of the gentry who gathered round Lord Aboyne at Aberdeen as a counterblast to the meeting of the Covenanters at Turriff (Spalding's Troubles, vol. i., p. 88).
1644. March - Abergeldie was one of the lairds who met Lord Huntly in Aberdeen (Spalding's Troubles, vol. ii., p. 330).
1644. July 6th - Thomas Nicolson, advocate, Procurator for the Estates of the Kingdom, complained to the Parliament that he had 'by great chairge and expense acquyred not only ye heritable right and property of the landis of Aberzeldie, bot also hes obteint ye gift of ye single escheit and escheit of lyferent of Alexander Gordon of Aberzeldie from ye Kingis Majestie off all landes haldine be the said Alexander of the king, be vertew qr of I [Nicolson] have ye only good and undoubted right to ye said lands of Aberzeldie and to ye mailles and dewtyes therof which I have bestowed and imployed yearly for ye mentinance and intertenement of Katherine Nicolsone my sister, spous to ye said Alexander Gordon and of her sevine childrene.
Till latlie during the tyme of thir troubles in ye north there are thrie hundreth men and above of these [belong to the Laird of Glenorchy's regiment], which wer leveyed for pacifieing ye saides troubles, who have entered wpoun ye saides landes of Aberzeldie (since the returne of my Lord Marques of Argyle from ye northe): and [they] satt doune wpoun ye poore tennentes, and quartered therewpon full thrie or four dayes and are as zii ye most pairt of them, wpoun ye saides boundes as I am informed quherby they have not only impoverished and depeopled ye tennents by destroyeing and takeing away all ther cattell, sheepe, and horse, bot also have eatine and distroyed ye haill growand corn wpoun ye saides landes, both of that pairt which wes labored be ye tennentes, and of ye other pairt thereof, which wes in mainesing, [sic] wherby the tennentes will not only be alluterly [sic] wnable to pay me ye fermes for ye next cropt, but also ye poore tennents, and I my selfe, will otherwayes susteine great loses throw ye impoverishing and herrying of ye ground in maner foirsaid; and yor lordships supplicant will be put to great chairges and expens for ye mentinance of my sister and her childrine without yor lordshipis provyd remcid.'
He begs for an order for the removal of the soldiers so that his sister and her children "who are now dispersed in ye cuntry of Angus in severall strangeres houss attending till ye Lord provyde remeid" may return to their home. He asks also that a sum of money should be granted by the Parliament to his sister and her children "who will be destitute of interteinment and mentinance this yere to come in respect of ye distroying of ye grounds, goudes and cornes ". The Parliament remitted the matter to the Committee of Estates, which declared "that to be publict debt dew" to Nicolson which the Committee "eftir consideratioune and tryall shall think fitting to be restored" to him (Acts of Parliament). Spalding (Troubles, II, 418) says that Argyll did not leave "ane four futted beaste" in Abergeldie.
1644. August 9th - Notwithstanding Nicolson's petition and position Abergeldie was one of the castles that the Covenanters "be the sond of the trumpet", at the cross of Aberdeen ordered at this date to be razed. But the castle "standis still" (Spalding). In 1732, according to Sir Samuel Forbes, it was "ruinous ".
1644. September 16th - Abergeldie and DonaId Farquharson of Tulligarmont or Monaltrie (his brother-in-law) with several other distressit gentilmen joined Montrose in Aberdeen and marched to Inverurie (Spalding's Troubles, II, 413).
1644. November - Abergeldie was one of those regarding whom the Estates ordered the authorities to "mell with the papistis rentis" in order to recompense Forbes of Echt (Spalding's Troubles, II, 433).
1645. February - Abergeldie joined Montrose in his expedition to Lochness (Spalding's Troubles, II., 443).
The seventh laird, who died in 1655, married (contract 8th (12th) May, 1624) Katherin Nicolson, sister of Thomas Nicolson, advocate, Edinburgh, the ancestor of the Nicolsons of Glenbervie. They had:
1) ALEXANDER GORDON, VIII of Abergeldie.
2) JEAN GORDON.
3) ANNA GORDON, married Cruickshank of Tillymorgan. In 1689 she is described as a widow, and at the same date she and her sister Jean are stated to have been granted a pension (Calendar of Domestic State Papers). The dates suggest that they were the daughters of the 7th laird. Mr. Michie (Records of Invercauld, PP. 239, 260) says that William Farquharson of Inverey married as his second wife Ann Gordon, "daughter of Abergeldie ". She brought Balmoral to the Farquharson family.
ALEXANDER GORDON, VIII of ABERGELDIE.
(Son of VII.)
The eighth laird was involved in the feud which arose between John Gordon of Braickley and the Farquharsons of Inverey in September 1666 (Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, vol. i., pp377-380). In the course of the quarrel Braickley and his brother William and James Gordon of Cults were killed. The affair is recounted in the well-known ballad on the Baron of Braickley.
It seems to have been during the life of the 8th laird that Abergeldie was garrisoned by General Mackay's troops. In 1689 Mackay set out to arrest Viscount Dundee, who escaped to Glen Ogilvie and thence to Braemar, where he was protected by Colonel John Farquharson of Invereye (the notorious "Black Colonel"). As Invereye House was very small, Dundee transferred himself to the stronghold of Abergeldie and from there directed the insurrection. Mackay burned the country for twelve miles round Abergeldie, destroying 1400 houses. He burned Invereye and then descended on Abergeldie, which was held by 72 of his soldiers in 1689. David Guthrie, of Castletoun, minister of Glenmuick, preached to the garrison on November 3rd 1689 (Gideon Guthrie, 1900, p.38).
The record of Privy Seal, as quoted in Amelia MacGregor's History of the Clan Gregor, notes under August 13th 1685: "Eschait Liferent of Alexander. Gordon of Aberzeldie, James McGregar in Glencallater, James McGreigar ther, Alexander McGrigar ther, James McGrigar ther, given to Charles, Earl of Marr, ------ fferquharsone of Invercald and ----- McIntosh, Lady Invercald, his mother". The Particular Register of Sasines for Aberdeenshire notes (vol. xiii., p.279) that in February 16th 1689, there was recorded "Sasine to Allaster Mcgrigor, sometime in Balnacroft, now in Tornawarran, on heritable bond by Alexander Gordon of Aberzeldie, under reversion of 1000 merks in the lands of Tornawarran. Witnesses Gregor McGregor in Belno, Robert and John McGregors, sons to John McGregor, Portioner of Wester Micrae." The record of justiciary as noted in Amelia MacGregor's History of the Clan Gregor (vol. ii., p.14) notes that on June 13th 1692, Malcol.m McGregor of Ballater and Alexander McGregor, sometime in Clachenturne, now in Tilliechurder, were charged along with Gordon of Abergeldie, at the instance of Robert Steuart of Innerchat with burning his house.
The eighth laird. married Euphemia Graham, daughter of Robert Graham, the laird of Morphie. She was alive in 1696 (Poll Book). They had:
1) JOHN GORDON, IX of Abergeldie.
2) RACHEL GORDON, X of Abergeldie.
JOHN GORDON, IX of ABERGELDIE.
(Son of VIII: died.1698.)
He married Elizabeth Rose, daughter of (the late) Hugh Rose, XIV of Kilravock. The marriage contract, which is dated December 11th 1694, is witnessed at Kilravock by Sir Charles Ramsay of Balmain, Alexander Rose of Clova, Hugh Rose of Broadly, Captain Charles Gordon in Pitchaise, Mr. Williarn Falconer, minister at Dyke; and Mr. David Guthrie of Castleton, minister of Glenmuick, Alexander Falconer in Kinstearie, and Henry Rose of Ardersier (Register of Sasines, Elgin, vol. v.).
In the Family of Kilravock (page 385) she signs her "deed of destiny" as Betsy Rose, in what Cosmo Innes calls a "sweet Roman hand". Her brother, Kilravock, "instantly makes payment of 7,000 merks in name of tocher. She is to be infeft in 1,400 merks of yearly rent out of ye barony of Abergeldie, and to have the manor house of Abergeldie to live in if she becomes a widow during the life of Euphemia, Abergeldie's mother, and after Euphemia's death to have the house of Knock as a dowery house." The house of Knock was described by Mr. R. A. Profeit in Under Lochnagar.
John Gordon died in 1698 without leaving issue and was succeeded by his sister Rachel. In 1696 the value of Abergeldie's property in Glenmuick was �430 out of the total of �1,122, and in Kincardine �140 (Poll Book).
RACHEL GORDON, X of ABERGELDIE.
(Daughter of VIII)
Rachel succeeded her brother John in 1698. She married (before July 5th 1698) Captain Charles Gordon of the Minmore family, which was a cadet of the Knockespocks and descended from "jock" Gordon of Scurdargue. Thus, though the direct male line of Gordon of Abergeldie was broken, the name was retained, for Abergeldie is one of the very few estates in Aberdeenshire which have been retained by the same family for so long a period as four centuries,
The captain's descent runs as follows (Balbithan MS.):
1) "Jock," of Scurdargue, illegitimate cousin of Elizabeth Gordon, had a son
2) Alexander, of Essy, who had a son, John, I. of Buckie, who had a son,
3) William, I of Knockespock, who had a son,
4) Alexander, Il of Knockespock, who had a son,
5) Alexander, burgess in Elgin, who had a natural son,
6) William, of Minmore, who had a son,
7) Peter, of Minmore, who married Janet Gordon of Cluny and had a son,
8) Charles, married Rachel Gordon of Abergeldie.
Charles Gordon who, described as "in Pitchaise," witnessed his brother-in-law's marriage contract in 1694, signed a bond for the Earl of Aboyne insuring the peace of the country in 1700 (Allardyce's Jacobite Papers, p.21), and he was made a Commissioner of Supply in 1704 (Acts of Parliament). He built the house of Birkhall in 1715. He had:
1) PETER GORDON, XI of Abergeldie.
2) ALEXANDER GORDON. He was at the Grammar School and at Marischal College 1706-I7I0, and was an advocate and merchant in Aberdeen. An Alexander Gordon, who had served his apprenticeship with Alexander Thomson, was admitted a member of the Aberdeen Society of Advocates, June 4th 1718. One of his servants, Charles Davidson, was imprisoned at Aberdeen for taking part in the rebellion of 1745 (Allardyce's Jacobite Papers. P.237). He acted as tutor and guardian to his nephew Charles, XII of AbergeIdie. He is apparently the Alexander Gordon in Aldihash, Glenmuick, "sometime merchant in Aberdeen," who died November 1751, Charles Gordon of Abergeldie being his executor dative qua creditor. Charles had paid �165.13s.4d. for his grave linen, coffin and funeral expenses; �36 to a physician "for his pains and trouble" in coming about 18 miles and attending the defunct during his sickness whereof he died; together with other sums paid to John Watt, Charles Stewart, James Glass, James Mackandrew, Thomas Ogilvy and others. The inventory contains the sum of �225.8s Scots, as the value of the defunct's household furniture, cow, calf, an old horse and other effects, rouped on December 24th 1751, by Samuel Gordon in Miltown of Braickley and Charles Farquharson in Drumnapark, Joseph Gordon in Birkhall being judge of the roup (Aberdeen Commissariat Testaments).
3) JOSEPH GORDON, in Birkhall, was cautioner for his brother Peter's widow, as executrix to Peter's will, November 29th 1735 (he was alive December 1751). I think it was his wife who sheltered the Oliphants of Gask when the latter were in hiding after Culloden. Old Gask, Laurence, 6th laird, lived in the moors near Birkhall for six months under the name of "Mr. Whytt," while his son, the 7th laird, took the name of "Mr. Brown," and this disguise they kept up for 20 years. Gask landed at Maisterland, Sweden, on November 10th 1746. His escape was planned by Mrs. (Eliza) Gordon of Birkhall as described here in a letter to Gask's wife as follows (see the Oliphants of Gask):-
Madam -
The bearer, John Glass, tould me you asked him for a mare I should have of Gasks. When I had the honour of seeing him first, he had a big brown mare. He desired me either to sett her att liberty in the hills, or send her to any place I thought she was safe in. Andrew Forbes, younger of Balfour, came here two days after I gott that mare. He took her along with him and put her into Parks in the Mearns. One Baillie Arbuthnott att Edinburgh proved the mare to be hiss. Your nephew the Master of Strawthallan knew all the story and seed the threatening letters I gott about her. My nephew Abergeldie when he has the honour of seeing your ladyship will inform you likewise. Andrew Forbes sent me an account from the time off Culloden to August for keeping the mare in Parks, which account I have not paid nor do I desire to pay, because 1 think it reasonable the gentleman who has the nag ought (to) pay that himself. If you please to inform yourself concerning the mare, you will find all to be Truth I have wrote you. All 1 have belonging your husband is a silver snuff box, which he oblidged me to take as a memorandum off him. Whenever you please to call for it, I have it ready. No doubt there might have been some small things lost, as I was oblidged to remove them oft times from place to place. If it pleases God to send Gask to his Native Country, he will do me the justice and honour to acknowledge me one of his friends. His watch which I caused mend, he sent an express for it two days before he left Glenesk. 1 seed a letter from a gentleman, written from Gottenborg, who writes me Mr. White and Mr. Brown is in very good health. I trust in Almighty God you'l have the pleasure off seeing them in triumph soon, and I am with regard and esteem
Your Ladyship's most humble servt.
ELIZA GORDON
PETER GORDON, XI of ABERGELDIE.
(Son of X: died 1733)
He entered Marischal College in 1706. He was three times married:
1) Margaret Strachan, daughter of Peter Strachan, Edinburgh;
2) Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Lord Gray;
3) Margaret Foulis, daughter of Sir George Foulis of Dunipace, and sister of Sir Archibald Foulis, who assumed the name of Primrose and was executed as a Jacobite at Carlisle at the same time as the laird of Terpersie, November 5th 1746.
Peter Gordon died in September 1733, and left his widow as his executrix. According to his will, which was confirmed November 29th 1735, with his brother Joseph Gordon in Birkhall as cautioner, there was owing to the laird the following sums:
�775.3s.4d. Scots, the value of his "sheep, some kine and young store" which were rouped, with Thomas Gordon, portioner of Crathienaird, and John Gordon, his son, as judges.
�475.12s. Scots, the estimated value of his riding horses, plough oxen and some young store on the Mains of Abergeldie.
�250.15s. Scots, "as the amount of the whole produce of the Mains of Abergeldie in Peter Gordon's own hand, cropt 1733, that cropt being for the most part bad or wrong in the High Country; and to which the sums last mentioned, the said rideing horses, oxen, and grain, etc., were appretiate by John Bowman in Gowindargue and John Gordon in Balmorall".
The Bond of Caution by Joseph Gordon, dated Abergeldie, November 22nd 1735, and written by John Gordon, the eldest son of Thomas Gordon, portioner of Crathienaird, is witnessed by Alexander Gordon, Abergeldie, merchant, Aberdeen. The following entries in the Aberdeen Inventories also refer to the will :
1737. March 24th - Peter's widow, who had by this time married Harry Lumsden of Cushnie, appeared before the Commissary of Aberdeen, and reported that she had added, eiked and conjoined to the sums of money formerly given up the sum of �149.2s.6d. received by her for wood sold since the last confirmation. David Lumsden, eldest son to the late Charles Lumsden of Harlaw, was her cautioner.
1740 March 1st - She accounts for �9 stg. as the price received by her for a "yellow horse," which had belonged to Abergeldie.
As stated, Peter's widow, Margaret Foulis, married Harry Lumsden of Cushnie, as her second husband. Peter Gordon had the following children, by which wife I cannot say:
1) CHARLES GORDON, XII of Abergeldie married Alisone Hunter of Burnside
2) JANET GORDON, died unmarried at Edinburgh, February 14th 1811 aged 87 years (Scots Mag.).
3) RACHEL GORDON, died unmarried.
4) EUPHEMIA GORDON, married in or before 1752 James, 5th Viscount Strathallan, whose father had been killed at Culloden. Her husband held the peerage for four days, April 14th-18th, 1746, when it was forfeited. He died 1765, and she on July 5th 1796. They had:
(i) James Drummond (de jure), 6th Viscount Strathallan. He was an officer in the navy, and died unmarried 1775.
(ii) Andrew John Drummond (de jure), 7th Viscount Strathallan; a general in the army. His petition for the restoration of the peerage honours was rejected by the House of Lords 1790; and, as he died unmarried, the Abergeldie strain in the Drummonds died out. The family honours were restored in 1824, to his cousin, the great-grandfather of the present Viscount Strathallan, who was born in 1871, and is heir presumptive to the Earldom of Perth.
5) JEAN GORDON, died unmarried (Burke's Landed Gentry, 1898).
6) BARBARA GORDON (daughter by the second wife) married David Hunter of Burnside.
CHARLES GORDON, XII of ABERGELDIE.
(Son of XI: died 1796.)
He was born in 1724 (Scots Mag.). He was served heir to his father in 1737 and to his, grandfather Charles in 1768. He entered Marischal College in 1739. The principal improvements on Abergeldie Castle were made by him. He voted in 1786 for Skene of Skene in the Parliamentary contest against Ferguson of Pitfour.
He married (contract October 6th 1750) his cousin, Alison Hunter, daughter of David Hunter of Burnside "and widow of one Paterson". "They lived together," says their tombstone in Glenmuick churchyard, "nearly half a century in this part of Deeside, the best of parents, giving a good example in every way and serving to the utmost of their power all who stood in need."
The 12th laird died at Birkhall, March 19th 1796, aged 72 (Scots Mag.), and his wife died in March, 1800. He left his eldest son Peter his executor under date February 8th 1783. From the will (Aberdeen Inventories in the Register House) it appears that he had acquired since his marriage in 1750 the following lands:
From James Farquharson of Invercauld -The Town and Lands of Toldow, Tombrack, and Altveit, in Glenmuick in excambion for the lands of Dilliefour and Broghdow and the Glen of Glencallater in Braemar and Glenmuick.
From Charles, Earl of Aboyne - The Forest of White Mounth and the Haugh of Achallie, commonly called the Haugh of Dalmullachie, in Glenmuick.
All these lands, together with Abergeldie, he left to his eldest son Peter. To his other sons, he left 100 merks Scots each, to be paid out of the sums and subjects conquest and acquired by him during his marriage. His daughter Margaret (Mrs. Skene) was excluded as she had already got her marriage portion. There were owing to him at the time of his death the following sums:-.
�14.15s. stg. and interest thereof, since due, contained in a bill dated May 20, 1794, drawn by James Gordon, then in Spittal of Gleninuick, now in Tombrack, upon and accepted by John Thow in Haugh and John Donaldson in Lochside.
�1.5s. stg. as the expense of raising and executing horning at the defunct's instance against the said John Thow and John Donaldson, on the foresaid bill.
The 12th laird had the following children:
1) PETER GORDON, XIII of Abergeldie.
2) DAVID GORDON (3rd son), XIV of Abergeldie.
3) CHARLES GORDON (2nd son), born 1756. He assisted in raising the 71st Fraser Highlanders formed at Glasgow during the early part of the American War by Lt.-General the Master of Lovat, and got a lieutenancy in the regiment in April 1776. He went with it to America and got a company in the 26th Cameronians on January 8th 1778. When the Cameronians arrived home in a skeleton state in February, 1780, he became regimental major and obtained a brevet lieut-colonelcy in April, 1783. In 1787, when French intrigues led to the invasion of Holland by the Prussians under the Duke of Brunswick (for according to the Gent.'s Mag. he possessed a "perfect acquaintance with the topography of Holland" and spoke several continental languages), Gordon accompanied the Duke, and planned the capture of Amstelveen, which was the key of the defences of Amsterdam. As an attack in front was impossible the Duke determined to take the enemy in the rear. Thomas Bowdler in Letters written in Holland says that, to determine if this was possible, Gordon, "who had acted as a volunteer throughout the expedition, was directed to proceed in a boat along the Harlem Meer and make as accurate a survey as possible of the ground behind Amstelveen. This dangerous but important service was executed with courage, ability and success, and our countryman passed several of the enemy's batteries. He proceeded along the Harlem Meer to the further part of it where the lake terminates in a long narrow tongue, which is called the Nieuve Meer. He examined the situation of the ground near the water and returned in safety to the Duke, making his report that the enterprise though difficult was not impracticable. The Duke immediately resolved to undertake it, and a detachment of between 600 and 700 men embarked in float-boats at the valley of Aalsmeer. The troops were ordered to proceed along the Harlem Meer to endeavour to land and gain the high road between Amsterdam and, Amstelveen, and then by attacking the post in the rear to make way for the entrance of the Duke's army. As this object was of the greatest importance, the Duke for fear the detachment which crossed the lake should not be successful ordered two companies to endeavour, under cover of the night, to proceed along a footpath by the edge of the water, and in like manner to get the road at the back of Amstelveen. The charge of the embarkation was committed to the same British officer [Gordon]. Under his direction the whole was conducted in such a manner that not one boat was overset, nor one man lost either in embarking or landing the soldiers [at Leile]. After the troops landed they were forwarded under the command of a Prussian officer."
Gordon seems to have been recalled to England and made lieut-colonel of the 41st Regiment which had till then been a corps of invalids. "Viator A," who had investigated Gordon's career, writing to the Gentleman's Magazine (vol. lx., p. 1066), speaks of Gordon's "intrepidity, activity and military knowledge". He adds: "Upon the probability of war between the Houses of Austria and Brandenburg, he joined the Prussian army in Silesia in the course of last spring [1780], and from the great estimation in which he was held by the chief personages, there it is probable he would have been conspicuously employed there had a rupture actually taken place. Sensible of the services rendered in Holland by Colonel Gordon, and highly pleased with his intelligence and activity, the King of Prussia not only treated him with every mark of flattering attention, but invested him with the [Prussian] Order of [Military] Merit [which like all foreign Orders, until 1814, carried knighthood with it in England. He got permission to wear it in England, Aug. 3rd 1790. Up to 1793 he was the only foreigner on whom this decoration had ever been conferred.] The King of Prussia also I believe gave him the strongest letters of recommendation to the Sovereign of this country. When Colonel Gordon passed through Saxony a short time since upon his return to England, I heard the highest praise bestowed on him by the first military characters in the Electoral service. At Brunswick I heard him mentioned with the greatest esteem and commendation by the most illustrious personages at the Court, and the reigning Duke of Brunswick gave him letters for this country full of approbations and esteem."
A letter from Gordon to the Duke of Leeds, dated Dresden, April 3, 1790, says the Duke of Brunswick wished him for his A.D.C., and the Dictionary of National Biography says that Gordon "appears to have gone through the campaign of 1791-2 as British Military Commissioner ". In 1793 a large expedition (4,891 strong) went to the West Indies under Sir Charles Grey (1st Earl) and Admiral Jervis. Gordon was one of the three brigadiers (pending the arrival of the Duke of Kent) who commanded the attack on Cas de Navire, at the attack on Martinique, and was thanked in general orders (see Rev. Cooper Willyarns' Account of the campaign, 1796). He was employed at the capture of St. Lucia and was made governor of the island. Difficulties and disputes as to prize rights in property in the captured islands led to the most unfounded charges of confiscation And extortion against the sea and land commanders of the expedition. Against Gordon like accusations proved either better founded or more successful. Formal complaints were made against him, in his capacity of governor of St. Lucia, of extortion and taking bribes from disaffected persons to allow them to remain in the island and afterwards breaking faith with them. Gordon was court-martialled and sentenced to refund the money and be cashiered. In consequence of his past services and circumstances disclosed at the court-martial he was allowed to receive the value of his commissions, for the sentence of cashiering was confirmed neither by the authorities in the West Indies or at home. He survived his dismissal more than forty years.
He appears to have been in Holland in 1803 and in communication with the home authorities just after the Peace of Amiens. He died in Ely Place, London, 26th March, 1835, aged 79. According to Mr. Hugh Gordon, the 17th laird of Abergeldie, Sir Charles was constantly employed b the Foreign Office in various capacities on the Continent from 1799 to 1815. "I well recollect him visiting at my father's house at Blackheath, when I was a boy, as a fine, upright old gentleman, and I have a good portrait of him painted some years earlier."
4) ADAM GORDON, of Denmark Hill, London, was born in 1758. He and his brother David, who married sisters, were members of the firm of Gordon & Biddulph, iron manufacturers, engineers and shipbuilders. Mr. John Biddulph, their partner and brother-in-law, was also a partner in the banking firm at Charing Cross, now Cocks, Biddulph & Co. The Biddulphs are an old family, who settled at Ledbury in Hereford in the 17th century. One of them was married to the sister of Major-General Shrapnel, the inventor of shrapnel shell (1793).
Adarn Gordon married Penelope Biddulph, the daughter of Michael Biddulph. He died on the 28th May,1800, leaving an only son:
(1) WILLIAM GORDON, of Haffield, Hereford, born December 8th 1794. He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1812 (Foster). He was High Sheriff in 1829. He married at St. George's, Bloomsbury, December 21st 1820, Mary Wingfield, eldest daughter of William Wingfield, a Master in Chancery, by Lady Charlotte Digby (Burke's Commoners). Besides two daughters, Charlotte Florence and Caroline Anne, he had a son:
(i) Reverend EDWARD WILLIAM GORDON, born May, 1828. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, 1847-1851; M.A. 1854; and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn 1860 (Foster). He married, at Florence, on May 5th 1855, Mathilde Henriette Adelaide Heloise, daughter of Baron de Hagermann, and died April 29th 1879, leaving issue:
(i.) ARTHUR MICHAEL WINCIFIELD, born May 11th 1859.
(ii.) HERBERT EDWARD, born March 4th 1862.
(iii.) CLARA GEORGINA MARY, born December 26th 1856.
(iv.) EDITH LUCY, born October 23rd 1860.
(v.) ALICE EMILY, married Arthur Midgley Kettlewell.
5) WILLIAM GORDON. He was born in 1765 and was a tertian and magistrand at Marischal College, 1778-80. Then he entered the 60th Regiment, now the King's Royal Rifles. He was captured (October 19th 1781) at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, where he commanded the light infantry company of the 71st Regiment (Michie's Records of Invercauld, p. 184). In recording his death at Dominica on July 6th 1793, in the 28th year of his age, the Scots Magazine says: "It was owing to Major Gordon's gallant conduct at the head of the storming party composed of a small column of light infantry, who dashed into the enemy's walls and forced the commandant to surrender at discretion, that the island of Tobago was captured. (The 17th laird of Abergeldie possesses several letters by him dealing with Tobago, copies of resolutions in praise of him passed by the Council of the island. The silver vase, which was presented to his father in his memory, is still preserved as an heirloom in the family.] For during the event, Brigadier-General Ayler, who commanded the main body of the troops, had been obliged to fall back and knew not that the fort had been taken till the fact was announced by the firing of the morning gun and the hoisting of the British colours by Major Gordon. When the attack on the island of Martinique was afterwards determined on, Major Gordon was appointed to the command of the light infantry companies of all the regiments in the Leeward Islands, in which important situation he evinced the sarne intrepid spirit. And at the landing of the troops on that expedition he pushed forward and penetrated upwards of six miles into the island under every possible disadvantage, exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, almost incessant rain succeeding scorching sun, and during forty hours under arms, without a morsel to eat or any other covering but the heavens. The House of Assembly at Barbadoes, in which island Major Gordon had commanded the battalion many months, voted to him in June last (1793) an elegant sword as a token of their respect and expression of their approbation of the uniform regularity and good conduct of his troops. And the inhabitants in general testified their regard to him by stocking with every kind of refreshment the man-of-war on which he embarked against Martinique, where his gallant and soldier-like conduct in repulsing an attack of the enemy was so peculiarly distinguished that the Commander-in-Chief returned particular thanks in public orders."
7) ALEXANDER SINCLAIR GORDON, d.s.p. June 30th 1837, aged 77. He was adjutant to the London and Westminster Volunteers. The Abergeldie family possess an oil portrait of him on horseback, with drawn sword, in the uniform of the regiment (Scottish Notes and Queries, 2nd series, i., 95).
8) JOHN GORDON, died young.
9) MARGARET GORDON, married October 26th 1769, Dr. George Skene, physician in Aberdeen, VI of Dumbreck. He was made Professor of Natural Philosophy in Marischal College at the age of 19. Mrs. Rodger (Aberdeen Doctors, p.68) says a portrait of his wife "shows a lady of keen Aberdeenshire features in a mob cap and ribbons". Dr. Skene died suddenly March 25th 1803, aged 61: his wife died January 16th 1802, aged 51. He had five sons and six daughters (Anderson's Fasti Academiae. Mariscallanae, ii., 46). His fourth son, ANDREW SKENE, became Solicitor-General for Scotland (Skene's Skenes, pp.73-4).
PETER GORDON, XIII of ABERGELDIE.
(son of XII: died 1819.)
He was born in 1751 and entered Marischal College in 1762. He was one of the assessors to the Lord Rector in 1804 (Fasti Acad. Marisc., vol. ii., p.19). Mr. Michie (Under Lochnagar) says he was captain in the 81st Regiment, which was raised by Colonel William Gordon, brother of the Earl of Aberdeen, and disbanded in 1783. In Deeside Tales Mr. Michie says he was a lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders, and was instructed to get recruits for the new regiment (1794). The Peter Gordon, however, who was a lieutenant of the Gordons at that date, is stated in Gardyne's Gordon Highlanders (p. 20) to have died in 1806. It was in his time that Keith wrote (Agriculture of Aberdeenshire, 1811):
"Abergeldie abounds in so many natural beauties as are seldom to be met with in one place; and it is at least doubtful whether the present venerable mansion would not in this Highland district be preferred by a person of taste and sensibility to a modern house of the most correct architecture."
He married:
(i) Mary Forbes, daughter of John Forbes of Blackford (Landed Gentry, 1898),
(ii) Elizabeth Ann Leith at Glenkindy in April, 1803 (Scots Mag.), second daughter of Alexander Leith of Freefield (by Mary Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of James Gordon of Cobairdy). Her brother, Sir Alexander Leith, the "Knycht of Glenkindie," was a notable soldier. His second wife (Elizabeth Ann Leith) died without issue at Palmer's Cross, Morayshire, October 1855, and was buried in Elgin Cathedral (Descendants of James Young, p. xvi.). It was probably in honour of one of the thirteenth laird's wives that Robert Petrie (1767-1828), the famous Strathardle fiddler, composed the air known as "Mrs. Gordon of' Abergeldie," to which Mr. W. M'Combie Smith has written a ballad called "A' for Love". It may be noted that Burns's song, "The Birks of Aberfeldy," was founded on an earlier song in which Abergeldie was the place mentioned.
The thirteenth laird died at Aberdeen on December 6th 1819, aged 68 (Scots Mag.), and was buried in Glenrnuick Churchyard, and was succeeded by his brother David, for his only daughter (by his first wife),
KATHERINE GORDON, died at her uncle's house, Dulwich Hill, Camberwell, January 26th 1802, in her 18th year (Scots Mag.).