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Author of the Bovagli' Manuscript
The Gordons O' Girnoc
JOHN GORDON, born Bovaglie and baptised the 3rd of April.1805, went to farm at Foulzie, in King Edward parish, on the borders of Banffshire. He moved to Crovie, on the east corner of Gamrie Bay, in Banffshire. The farm extended to 200 acres and in 1871 he employed 5 men.
John was apparantly an extrovert, and his family were said to be "rather wild." Perhaps "restless" would be more appropriate for they dispersed widely around the world, but especially Australasia, and New Zealand in particular.
John Gordon was deeply interested in his family history, and his so called Bovagli' Manuscript, a copy of which was lent to Dr J.M. Bulloch, the historian of the Gordons, has provided the basis for all subsequent research on this line of the surname.
For any researcher interested in the Deeside Gordons, the writings of John Gordon are invaluable. He stems from two separate branches of the Gordon family, for his father (Donald Gordon) was of Bovaglie, and his mother (Elspet Gordon) of Camlet.
As well as the Bovagli' Manuscript, John Gordon prepared a hand-drawn 'pedigree of Camlet.' This pedigree has been lost, but Dr J. M. Bulloch referred to it in his piece on 'Gordons in Camlet' published in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal on the 1st of January 1910.
"Closely related to the Gordons in Bovaglie were the Gordons in Camlet. Mr John Gordon, Foulzie, Strathdon, drew up a pedigree of the family, and Mr Charles Brown, 56 Dee Street, Aberdeen, has lent me his aid in completing it"
The whereabouts, indeed the survival of this 'pedigree' remains undiscovered. Perchance a descendent of Charles Brown has it in their attic? If this is you, please contact me.
John married 19.8.1845, Elizabeth, second daughter of Alexander Pyper farmer at Bridgend, King Edward parish, and had issue.