Who was'Papa Camlet?'
Clue 2 - Crathienaird & the Mormon
Gordons o' Girnoc
My Family - 'Camlet John'
The Girnoc Farms
Past Research
Location Map
 Gordon Tombstones
 Sources
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The 'Nathaniel hypothesis' has sat enduringly at odds with the recorded baptismal entries of the Mormons. It is true that the credibility of the Mormon research has often been called into question, but for this family there is one special reason why the Camlet 'baptismal records' perhaps should be considered as having a much stronger foundation. On the 7th April 1859 upon the vessel the 'William Tapscott' a grandson of 'Camlet John' (who was to carry forward his grandfather's name) emigrated with his wife Isabella Bissett for the Land of Zion. This John Gordon (1807-1876) was the son of Joseph Gordon Miller at the Girnoc's Cosh. Joseph Gordon (1782-1858) was the first son of 'Camlet John.'

Ten years before they set sail for Utah, John Gordon and his second wife Isabella Bissett were baptized by the visiting Mormon Elders (the date of this baptism being the 18th of September 1849.)  A 'Mormon Archive Record' was compiled in 1949 - on the centenary of this baptism - by Ruth Virginia Richardson, a 3G-Grandaughter of 'Camlet John.'  This record gives the parents of 'Camlet John' as John Gordon born 6th August 1745 and his spouse Isobel Shepherd. There is no mention of Leys anywhere. It is worth commentating upon a couple of facets of this record. Firstly the sources of information were given as: "John Gordon's Temple Record, the Bovagli' Manuscript Rent Rolls, F. Scot." Secondly the 'Baptized date' for 'Camlet John,' his spouse Euphemia McAndrew, and eldest son Joseph are given as April and September 1872 respectively.

So it was that the Mormon record brought us across the Dee to Crathienaird. It was here that John Gordon (the 'identified' father of 'Camlet John') was born in 1745. At the age of twenty-one, this John, inherited 1800merks from his father John Gordon the 'Portioner of Crathienaird.'
The ORIGINAL Temple Record - March 1865
After years of doubt the writer gained help from a kind LDS archivist, who sent on the original and very first mormon record pertaining to this Gordon family. The letters below should follow the conclusions through:

Thursday, November 6th 2003

Dear Elaine,

Many thanks for sending on the enclosures on JOHN GORDON (1807-1876) LDS#246-479 Webform Request.

The original Temple Record (2212, book E, page 109) for this John Gordon contains his parents only: JOSEPH GORDON and NICHOLAS GORDON (female - despite the name!)... this record makes NO reference to his grandparents.

You also sent a list of "HOLDING FILE ENTRIES" with at least 8 LDS ordinances for the grandfather of the JOHN GORDON (above)... these are all dated between 1950 and 1982. Several of the records state that the parents of this grandfather (born supposedly Aug 1745) were John Gordon and Isobel Shepherd and had this ordained as such. This part I am interested in ... for I truly wonder where the evidence came for this endowment (perhaps I will never find out)

Yes there WAS a John Gordon christened 6 Aug 1745 to John Gordon and Isabel Shepherd at a farm called Crathienaird... but it is my ever growing belief that this is NOT the grandfather of John Gordon (1807-1876)

So Claire what do you think? Certainly my reading of this is that the grandfather of JOHN GORDON (1807-1876) was NOT given in by him prior to his death, and that it was ONLY MUCH LATER researchers that ordained his grandfather as son of John Gordon and Isobel shepherd. Is that correct?

There is good (but sadly not conclusive) evidence to say that grandfather ('Camlet John') was 'son of ---- Gordon and Mary Leys' (not Isobel Shepherd)

I would value your thoughts on how the enclosures you sent should be read. Do the ordinance dates carry details regarding how they came to that parental line and indeed if there was clear evidence??

Sorry for being so 'analytical' but the LDS files sit opposing 20 years of work and umpteen researchers including myself keep oscillating between 'Leys and Shepherd' as the mum of the John Gordon (who was the grandfather of John born 1807).

Thank you again.

Dr Peter J. Gordon

                                                                             -  0  -

14th November 2003

Peter,

If there are batches that begin with a number you can order the Patron information.  Which will give you the name and address of the submitter at that time not always correct now.  They sometimes have there sources listed but not always.   If the batch number starts with a letter with the exception of A and some M batches the film numbers listed on the IGI will refer to the original source materials which  they were extracted from.

I sent the holding file just so you can you could see all possibilities just in case. 

Yes I think I would go with the years of research and what you can verify as correct.  Yes I think the parents were added in and rather it was the right John to the right parents unless you can find the research I would not be to hasty in excepting it.  Some of the early records which were done I have been told was from memory of the people or from entries written in Journals and Family records so could have errors in them.  Not many ordinance dates have references as to how they came to that conclusion they do sometimes it the were on family group sheets as the A batches will be sometimes.  Hope this helps you .
Elaine E Tanner
Overall I think this takes much of the 'solid' credence away from John Gordon/Isobel Shepherd but of course does not disprove it.
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