Michael Francis Gordon
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Glenmuick was naughty: for it sired two young loons, both given the name Michael Francis Gordon, and both born within a short period of each other.

The following account separates these Gordon lads and attempts to trace their (assumed) connection to one another.
Why then were these two boys christened Michael Francis? Well surely it was to honour the Laird of Abergeldie.

David Gordon (1753-1831) the 14th Laird of Abergeldie, named the first of his two sons - Michael Francis Gordon. This Michael Francis was born in 1792.

When the 14th Laird died in October 1831 (this solemn occasion was remembered in Deeside as the last occasion when birch wine was served), his oldest son Michael Francis succeeded him as the 15th Laird. It is  worth noting thoug, that Michael Francis Gordon was probably an absentee laird, for he busied himself in London with the family business Gordon & Biddulph. During Michael's Lairdship Abergeldie was occupied by the Duchess of Kent (Queen Victoria's mother), the ex-Empress Eugenie of France, King Edward the VII and the Prince of Wales (later George V)

Michael Francis Gordon died on the last day of 1860: as all his sons predeceased him, Abergeldie was served upon his brother Robert, who was to be the 16th Laird.

A tombstone to Michael Francis Gordon of Abergeldie is to be found within the Protestant Cemetery in Florence, Italy.
ONE: MICHAEL FRANCIS GORDON (1832 -1877) of Tombreck 

Birth: June 10, 1832, Tombreck
Death: January 5, 1877, 166 Crown Street, Aberdeen
Occupation: Cashier with J. Mair & Sons (1868); Provision Works Cashier (1877)
Father: Nathaniel GORDON of Tombreck (1778-1850)
Mother: Janet COUTTS of Dalmuchy (~1794-1879)

Spouse: Agnes URQUHART (married February 1, 1861, 39 Union Terrace, Aberdeen)
Birth: September 11, 1831, Old Machar, Aberdeen
Father: James URQUHART (d. after 1861)
Mother: Margaret SPALDING (d. after 1861)

Children of Michael Francis Gordon of Tombreck & Agnes Urquhart:
1) Frances Isabella (1868-)
2) Agnes (1863-)
3) Janet (1864-)
4) Margaret (1866-)
5) Mary (1871-)

Marriage Certificate:
Michael Francis Gordon married Agnes Urquhart
Married on: 1st February 1861 at 39 Union Terrace, Aberdeen
Michael Francis Gordon: Bachelor, Bookeeper, aged 28yrs, Living at 20 North Silver St, Aberdeen.
Groom's Father: Nathaniel Gordon - farmer (D)
Groom's Mother: Janet Coutts
Agnes Urquhart: Spinster, Milliner, aged 29yrs, Living at 39 Union Tce
Bride's Father: James Urquhart - plasterer (D)
Bride's Mother: Margaret Spalding
Witnesses: Samuel MacLean and John Edward Berry

Death Certificate:
Michael Francis Gordon
Died at 166 Crown Street, Aberdeen
Died on the 5th January 1877, aged 44yrs
Died at 4am
Informant - James Fraser of 50 Chapel Street, (brother-in-law by marriage)
Cause of Death: Phthisis (2yrs 6mths)

1881 census - Victoria Cottage, Aberdeen Old Machar
Agnes GORDON, Widow, Head, age 48yrs, Lodging House Keeper, born Aberdeen
Agnes GORDON, Daughter, unmarried, age 19yrs, Assistant to Lodging Ho Keeper, born Aberdeen,
Janet GORDON, Daughter, unmarried, age 17yrs, Pupil Teacher, born Aberdeen
Margt. GORDON, Daughter, unmarried, age 15yrs, Scholar, born Aberdeen
Frances J. GORDON, Daughter, unmarried, age 12yrs, Scholar, born Aberdeen
Mary GORDON, Daughter, unmarried, age 10yrs, Scholar, born Aberdeen
Colin MACRAE, unmarried, age 46yrs, Border, Inland Rev Officer, born Aberlour, Banff
Wm. W. HOLMES, unmarried, age 20yrs, Clerk at Architects, born Newcastle On Tyne
David HOWAT, unmarried, Boarder, age 18yrs, Appn Clerk at Architects, born Dudley, Worcester, England
James H. CORLOFF, unmarried, Boarder, age 22yrs, Student Of Medicine (Univsy Of Abdn), born Nadella, Ceylon
TWO: MICHAEL FRANCIS GORDON (1833 - 1897) of Cortachy 

Birth: Birkhall, Glenmuick baptized 13th September 1833  
Father:  JOHN GORDON
Mother:  JANE STEWART

Although born at Birkhall, this Michael Francis, followed his parents south, over the Mounth to the Angus Glen of Cortachy.

1881 census - Burnside Of Cullow, Cortachy, Forfar
Michael F. GORDON, Married, Head, age 45yrs, Shepherd, born Aboyne ((Ballater))
Mary GORDON, Wife, age 40yrs, born Kirriemuir, Forfar
Frank GORDON, son age 4yrs, born Cortachy, Forfar, Scotland
Betsy Jane GORDON, daughter, age 7mths, born Cortachy

Now this Michael is of interest: it should be noted that he was Farmer at BURNSIDE of Cullow (Cullew.) Michael Francis Gordon's grave is one of the most ornately carved amidst the handful of the Cortachy Cemetery stones. A more remote and mysteriously beautiful resting spot you could not find.
Below is a copy of Cortachy Michael's death certificate: He died in mid-March 1897 at Burnside as a result of mailgnancy of the bladder. His son, Frank Gordon, aged just twenty years, was the informant.

So it is clear: Michael Gordon followed his parents to Burnside of Cullow. This writer believes there is significance in this destination - for it is likely 'family' lured the 'shepherd Gordons' to Burnside & Cortachy (but more of that later.)
So where is Burnside? Well it is cradles the old Market Stance of Cullew and marks the opening north into Glen Clova. Travel 2 miles further north, and the  hamlet of Inchdowrie, lies hidden and tumbled in the heather. Two miles north beyond Inchdowrie to Clova. Then over the Mounth - the Drover's Trek, to Glenmuick.

Below is the 1865 map of the Burnside community: this was before the cemetery had its sleepy awakening (if a cemetery can do such.) In fact the cemetery  was built on Burnside land, approximately where the small dam (in blue above Burnside) appeared on the 1865 map.

Note the names of the neighbouring communities: Artithol, Clash & Dykehead. Travel one mile south of Dykehead and you reach the splendid Cortachy Castle, home of the Earls of Airlie.
Link to Transcriptions of the Cortachy Stones
Above and below: the Cortachy Death Certificates of the PARENTS of Michael Francis Gordon. Note that Michael is himself the informant at his father's death at BURNSIDE, CORTACHY in March 1875.

You will also note that he lists his father's parents as:
JOHN GORDON - Farmer (deceased)
JANE GORDON (deceased)
See below
The death certificate of Jane Stewart, the mother of Michael Francis Gordon. Her parents were recorded as Charles Stewart - farmer (deceased) and Anne Ross (deceased)
The next certificate, relates to the SISTER of Michael Francis Gordon. She died in January 1898 at Blacklaw, Fowlis Easter. This intrigues the writer, for the neighbouring farm - North Binn, was where this writer's 3G-Grandfather set up home as Shepherd with his wife Ann Selbie.

There were VERY FEW Gordons in Easter Fowlis. The writer concludes then some form of connection between:
1) John Gordon (1816-1899) his 3G-Grandfather
2) Jane Gordon (1822-1898) - sister of Michael Francis, and daughter of John Gordon/Jane Stewart.
1881 census - Blacklaw Farm, Fowlis Easter
John McGREGOR, Head, Married, Shepherd, age 56yrs, born Glenisla, Forfar
Jane McGREGOR (Gordon), Wife, age 58yrs, born Glenmuick (sister of Michael Francis)
John McGREGOR, Son, age 28yrs, Shepherd, born Tannadice, Forfar.
James McGREGOR, Son, age 22yrs, Shepherd, born Kettins, Forfar

Note the last son was born in Kettins. This was exactly where the brother of John Gordon (the writer's 3G-Grandfather) was based - go to James Gordon (c1815-1890 N.Z.)
Time then to return to the PARENTS of this Michael Francis Gordon who ended up in Cortachy:

As stated it is difficult to disentangle two family groups helmed by the names John Gordon & Jane Stewart. Donald Whyte, in his Private Manuscript "Gordons in Upper Deeside" attempted this, as follows under his section on 'Toldhu' in Glenmuick:

TOLDHU
There were two men named John Gordon in Glenmuick parish at the same time, both of whom married women called Janet Stewart or Stuart. An attempt is made here to separate the families.

JOHN GORDON married 29.11.1818, Jane Stewart, and had issue:
1. James, b. Blacharage, bapt. 13.11.1819.
2. Alexander, b. Blacharage, bapt. 4.12.1820.
3.Anne, b. Braichlie, bapt. 24.1.1826.
4. Margaret, b. Easter Micras, bapt. 10.10.1828.
5. Michael Francis, b. Birkhall, bapt. 13.9.1833.

JOHN GORDON, possibly son of another John Gordon, by his wife Jean Gordon, married 10.3.1819, Jane Stewart in Alltcailleach, and and had issue:
1. Anne, b. Toldhu, bapt. 30.6.1822.
2. John, b. Toldhu, bapt. 18.6.1823.
3. Betty, b. bapt. 6.5.1826.
4. James, b. Forresterhaugh, bapt. 6.6.1828.
5. Barbara, born Spittal, bapt. 20.5.1830.
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