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THE GORDONS of CRATHIENAIRD
By Dr J. M. Bulloch
'Aberdeen Journal' Notes and Queries - Volume II (1909)
Crathienaird means "Crathie-on-the-height," is in the parish of Crathie and has been associated with the Gordons for many years. In 1539 a certain John Reid Gordon appears as one of the King's tenants in Crathienaird (Michie's 'Deeside Tales' page 280.) The connected family of modern times begins with:
THOMAS GORDON of CRATHIENAIRD
I do not know his origin, but his descendants are clear. He had at least two children:
1. John Gordon of Crathienaird (died 1766)
2. ----- Gordon, who married David Farquharson (son of James Farquharson of Tullochcoy, who trace from the Inverey Farquharsons) Dr Michie says they had issue, but gives no names ("Records of Invercauld," page 112)
JOHN GORDON of CRATHIENAIRD
On December the 11th 1739 sasine was granted to John Gordon, eldest son of Thomas Gordon, portioner of Crathienaird, of part of the lands of Lausie and Blairglass, in the shire of Aberdeen (General Register of Sasines)
John Gordon of Crathienaird died December 1766. He signed his will at Milntown of Rippachie on the 19th December 1766, before these witnesses: Alexander Tawse, miller at the Mill of Rippachie and Reverend James Lumsden, Minister of Towie. The document opens thus:
I, John Gordon of Crathienaird, being at the present time sick in body, but, by the Blessing of God, sound in memory, judgement and understanding, and considering myself subject to mortality with the rest of mankind, have thought fit to make my testament."
He died at Milntown of Rippachie the SAME day. ("Aberdeen Journal") There was owing to him certain money by James Farquharson in Balmoral, in a bond by him to William Young in Riebrach, and assigned to Gordon by Young and his children (James and Margaret Young) on November the 13th 1765.
There was also due �36.15s Scots and annual rent thereof contained in a bill of October the 18th 1764 by the late John Ross at Mill of Lairny and James Low in Firfins (?Torphins.)
The will was confirmed on February 28th 1767 (John Forbes of Bellabeg being cautioner) and the Eik on the 3rd of March 1769 (Aberdeen Commissariot.)
John Gordon of Crathienaird married on the 29th of December 1738 Isobel Shepherd (Crathie Register) and had:
1. Rev. Thomas Gordon of Crathienaird, born 1743.
2. John Gordon, born 4th May 1744 (Register.) His father bequeathed him 1800 merks Scots to be paid "at the first term of Martinmas after the years of his apprenticeship are expired, with the ordinary annual rent thereof during the not payment after the said term of payment, and to support him in clothes and other necessarys until the saids years are run."
3. Charles Gordon, born the 30th June 1748 (Register.) He got 1000 merks from his father under the same conditions as John.
4. George Gordon, born 6th July 1752 (Register.) Thomas was instructed under the father's will that "on his own proper charges and expenses to aliment George Gordon, my fourth son, and Patrick Gordon, my fifth son, and by the advice of his and their nearest relatives and friends on the father's and mother's side, to put them to said trades and employments as their genius and inclinations lead and incline them to, and whereby, by the Divine Blessing, they may gain their bread and livelihood in the world, and to pay their apprentice fees if they shall be bred artificers and merchants, and then to pay each of them the sum of 1000 merks money foresaid at the first term of Martinmas after either their attaining to the age of 21 years compleat or after the years of their apprenticeship are expired, with the ordinary annual rent thereafter during the next payment."
5. Patrick Gordon
6. Isobel Gordon, born 25th March 1747 (Register.) Not mentioned in the will.
7. Janet Gordon, born 27th July 1750 (Register.) Her father left her 2300 merks at the first term of Martinmas after her attaining the age of 21 years compleat, or within year and day after her marriage, if it shall happen before that time, (Thomas) being obliged to afford her a decent aliment and support as her father's daughter, ay and until her said portion become payable, which portion is to bear annual rent during the not payment after the terms above expressed.
REV. THOMAS GORDON of CRATHIENAIRD
He was the eldest son of John Gordon of Crathienaird, to whom he was served heir on the 7th of July 1767, and he was born in 1743. He was the sole executor of his father's will. He went to Marischal College, taking his M.A. in 1761, but instead of becoming a country laird, entered the Church, being licensed by the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil the 23rd of April 1768, and ordained the 11th January 1769 as missionary at Crathie, afterwards removing to Glenmuick. He was presented to the Kirk of Aboyne by the Earl of Aboyne in April 1784, being admitted colleague and successor in the following year.
Rev Thomas Gordon married at the Manse of Cluny, Elizabeth Michie, daughter of the Rev. Robert Michie ("Aberdeen Journal," April 23rd 1781.) He died on the 13th of January 1826 in his 83rd year. His widow died on the 3rd of August 1830. He had:
1. John Gordon, who took his M.A. at Marischal College, 1799, and went to Jamaica (Scott's Fasti, iii. 520.)
2. George Gordon of Buxburn. The estate was feued to him the 22nd of December 1827, a charter being granted by the Town Council of Aberdeen January the 1st 1828, for a feu-duty of �162 (Morgan's "Woodside" p.198.) He married at St Paul's Church, Aberdeen the 18th June 1832, Rachel Young, daughter of Provost William Young of Sheddocksley (St Paul's Marriage Register.) She aquired her father's estate of Sheddocksley, and was served heir to her uncle Alexander Anderson of Bourtie on the 10th of December 1852. George Gordon died in 1847, aged 56, and was buried in St Nicholas, Aberdeen. His wife died without issue on the 16th of May 1873 in her 90th year (Munro's "Provosts of Aberdeen," p. 249.)
3. Barbara Gordon, youngest daughter ("Scott's Fasti.")
Tradition assigns another kinsman to the Rev. Thomas Gordon in the person of Charles Gordon, farmer of Crathienaird, who died in 1900. His son James Gordon, now at Crathienaird, tells me, however, that the parson-laird was his father's "grand-uncle." To return to Charles Gordon, he was the son of Charles Gordon and Margaret McPherson, and he died in 1900 at the age of 78. He was a cousin of John Brown. He married Mary Brown and left two sons - James, now at Crathienaird, and Charles, and six daughters (Eliza, Margaret, Mary, Charlotte, Jessie and Jane.) James, now at Crathienaird, married Mary Mathieson.
Some Gordons at Crathienaird were apparently quite unconnected with the laird thereof. One of these is Donald Gordon, Crathienaird who married Euphemia Small, on the 28th of March 1771, and had a son, Donald, baptised on the 2nd of July 1785.