By Dr John M. Bulloch
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By Dr J.M. Bulloch
Aberdeen Weekly Journal 29th September 1909
Notes & Queries
A very interesting group of Gordons are those associated with the farm of Bovaglie in the region of Loch Muick. They were tenants on the Abergeldie estate "for eight generations," but not always on Bovaglie. An attempt to trace the history of the family was made by John Gordon, a son of Donald Gordon, Bovaglie, and his wife Elspet, daughter of John Gordon, Camlet. The manuscript was copied by the late Mr D.S.R. Gordon, and his copy was transcribed by the present writer, who has supplemented it with subsequent data.
The manuscript is prefaced by the following remarks:
"The writer has been enabled to compile the present table of the Genealogy of the Gordons of Bovagli (commonly called the Halhead Gordons) from the Rent Books of his father , Grand Father and Great Grandfather who were all farmers on the Estate of Abergeldie.
He regrets that it is not in his power to give a fully accurate account as his Books do not give the names of the first three generations but considerable confidence may be placed in the list as down to the seventh generation there was but one heir male in each family.
The founder of the family was a Gentleman of the name of Gordon, a son of the Laird of Halhead, Leochel, Cushnie, Aberdeenshire who came to the Estate of Abergeldie and then rented some land. His descendants have never been removed from the Estate. The date of the old house of Hallhead engraved on the wall is 1668."
JAMES GORDON IN CLACHENTURN
The founder of the Bovaglie family, so far as documentary proof goes, was JAMES GORDON in Clachenturn, which is in Crathie. The name Clachenturn comes from a Gaelic phrase meaning 'stone of the kiln'. There is a lime kiln marked on the map at this place, very likely occupying the site of the kiln that gave rise to the name. A JAMES GORDON, shoemaker, Clachenturn was witness on Aug 2nd 1723 and a James Gordon, had a son Charles Feb 7th 1725.
DONALD GORDON, TORNOURAN.
Donald Gordon is given in the manuscript as the son of James Gordon, Clachenturn, and is stated to have married "a daughter of Abergeldie and Janet Abercrombie." He is clearly the Donald Gordon, Tornouran, whom the Crathie register mentions as having married Janet Abercrombie. McLeay says (Highlanders of Scotland.18: notice 16) that he died at Tornouran, Balnacroft. The Crathie register gives him only three children, but the manuscript adds others:
1. Charles Gordon, baptised October 12th 1746 (Crathie Register)
2. Peter Gordon, born April 1750, "upon a Friday about the middle of April." (ibid.)
3. James Gordon, Kintore, Crathie (Bovaglie MS).
4. Mary Gordon, baptised January 3rd 1742 (Crathie Register)
5. Margaret Gordon (MS), married Donald McGregor.
6. Ann Gordon (MS), Married - Duncan.
JAMES GORDON, KINTORE, CRATHIE.
James Gordon does not appear in the Crathie Register, figuring only in the Bovaglie MS which says he was the son of Donald in Tornouran, and places him at Kintore. But the births of his children show him to have lived also at Tombreck, Tamindoes, presumably before he went to Kintore. The Bovaglie MS says that he married Janet Gow or Smith (Fergus). The register, on the other hand, shows that James Gordon, farmer Kintore, married Mary Brown, Lausie, Crathie. She died July 23rd 1793. Combining the two accounts we get the following Issue:
1. Charles Gordon and Ann Gordon twins, born July 1st 1791, the children of James Gordon in Tamindoes and Mary Brown, Lausie (Crathie Register). Both died in infancy.
2. Peter Gordon (MS): married Margaret Riach, August 27th 1796, and had:
(1) James Gordon, born at Tombreck, December 12th 1798 (Register) He became a gamekeeper at Abergeldie., but an old resident tells me he was "notable not as a gamekeeper but the reverse", but then such men were quite heroes, as you can see from the Rev. J.G. Michie's "Deeside Tales", and McCombie Smith's "Romance of Poaching."
(i) Charles Gordon, born about 1828. He was educated at Ballater village school under the Rev. James Smith. He attended the bajan and magistrand classes at Marischal College in 1846-48 and took hi s M.D. at King's College in 1850. He took the practice of his uncle, Dr. Arthur McHardy, at Pernambuco, Brazil, for about fourteen years, and then migrated to Pietermaritzburg, Natal, where a brother of his resided. He died there 0ctober 31st 1904. He was married four times. His first wife was Bertha Gordon, daughter of Michael Francis Gordon, XV of Abergeldie. He married her at Gettisham, Devon, October 4th 1855. She died at Pernambuco, December 4th 1857. I do not know the names of his other wives. He had at least three sons and two daughters:
(1) Charles Austin Gordon, by his second wife. He was educated at Oxford and became a mining engineer. When the South African war broke out he joined the Imperial Light Horse and was present at the battle of Elandslaagte, being afterwards shot at Ladysmith. On December 17th 1900, he was accidentally wounded at Johannesburg, and lost his left leg.
(2) Son.
(3) Son. These two were noted, unnamed, in the Aberdeen Free Press In 1904.
(4) Margaret Alice Gordon,, by the first wife: died at Algiers March 23rd 1883.
(5) Bertha Gordon, by the first wife, died at Bath, January, 1872.
(ii) William Skene Gordon: drowned in the Dee.
(iii) James Gordon: emigrated to Canada and became port officer at Hamilton, Ontario. He fought and was disabled in the Riel Rebellion.
(iv) Arthur Gordon became a soldier. In 1920 he was alive in Toronto.
(v) Peter Gordon was a banker at the Cape and became manager of the Standard Bank of South Africa. He retired on pension and died in Edinburgh.
(vi) Mary Gordon.
(vii) Betsy Gordon: married R. Mennie, Belhelvie.
(viii) Margaret Gordon: kept house for her brother Peter at Grahamston, where she married, and where she was living in 1911.
(2) John Gordon, born at Tombreck, 21st July 1797 (Register). The Bovaglie MS says he married Margaret Bowman and had:
(i) James Gordon.
(ii) Margaret Gordon.
(3) Francis Gordon, born Tombreck 11th February 1801 (Register). He was killed and was buried at Kirkliston.
(4) Donald Gordon, born 2nd July 1802 (Register). The Bovaglie MS calls him in Spout, Forfar. He married Jean Symon.
(5) Peter Gordon: cattle dealer, Banchory (MS)
(6) Charles Gordon: crofter, Kintore (MS).
(7) Helen Gordon (MS).
(8) Rachel Gordon: married: and had issue (MS).
3. Donald Gordon, Bovaglie, (1770? - 1854): treated separately.
4. Nicolas Gordon, born 3rd January 1779 (Register). She appears in the Crathle Register as the daughter of James Gordon, Kintore, and Mary Brown, Lausie. She married Joseph Gordon, Mill of Cosh, son of John Gordon, Camlet ,by his first wife, Euphemia McAndrew. They had:
(1) Joseph Gordon, born March 20th 1817
(2) ? John Gordon. The manuscript gives a son John who went to Salt Lake City. A John Gordon "born Banff, Aberdeenshire (sic), Scotland," October 3rd, 1807, died at Tooele City, Utah, January 5th, 1876. (Scottish Notes and Queries, 2nd series vol. IV., page 102): he had married Jessie, Bisset, who now resides at West Jordan. Utah. She tells me, (January 21st, 1909) that her husband's father was called Joseph, so that the Bovaglie, MS. may be right. She and her husband had three sons and six daughters:
i. Joseph Gordon; when last heard of, he was residing at Sydney.
ii. David Gordon lives at Dundee, but has got out of touch with his family.
iii. John Bisset Gordon, county attorney at Tooele City, Utah.
iv. Jessie Gordon, married ----- Kein and resides at 36 South West Temple Street, Salt Lake, city.
v. kate Gordon, married ----- Steiner and resides at West Jordan, about 75 miles from Tooele City.
vi. Ellen Gordon, married ----- Conway, and resides at Stockton, Utah
vii. Mary Jane Gordon, married ----- Kein and is dead.
viii. Jane Gordon married Buckley, and lived at Logan, Cache County, Utah. She is dead.
ix. Margaret Gordon married ----- Ricks. She lives in Logan, Cache County, Utah.
(3) Jean Gordon, born May 7th 1809.
(4) Margaret Gordon, born April 9th 1811. The Manuscript says she married Donald McKenzie, Ardoch, and had issue
(5) Elspet Gordon, born February 16th 1813. The manuscript says she married in Australia.
(6) Helen Gordon, born February 4th 1815. The manuscript says she married and went to Australia.
(7) Jean Gordon, born March 12th 1820. The manuscript bays she married Charles Leys, and went to Australia.
5. Helen Gordon, horn October 28th 1776. The manuscript says she married James Stewart, Glenmuick, and has issue.
6. Margaret Gordon, born August 11th1784. She married as his second wife John Gordon, Camlet. The manuscript says they have three children:
(1) Alexander Gordon
(2) James Gordon, born August 3rd 1809 (Crathie Register.)
(3) Eliza Gordon, twin of James, the manuscript says she married James Kennedy, Camlet and had issue
7. Janet Gordon (MS.). She married Peter Gordon "brother to Camlet" (MS.), He may be the Peter Newton of Girnoch, who had by his wife Janet Gordon, Crathie, a daughter Ann, baptised June 13th 1792. (Crathie Register.)
8. Jane Gordon, married John Thow.
DONALD GORDON, BOVAGLIE (DIED 1854).
He was the younger son of James Gordon, Kintor, and seems to have been the first of his family to farm land in Bovaglie. The M.S. says that originally there were five tenants in Bovaglie, and two householders (Betty Gull and Jean Stephen).
On February 17th 1788, Jean Gordon, Bovaglie, married Charles Gall, and had two sons end three daughters (Crathie Register). A John Gordon, Bovaglie, married Margaret Fleming, January 18th 1793, and had a son John (ibjd.). A Joseph Gordon, Bovaglie, married Rachel Tastard, July 27th 1788, and had four sons (ibid.). Joseph Gordon Bovaglie, married Margaret Stewart, Toldhu, and had a son born May 1801. Peter Gordon Bovaglie, married Margaret McPherson, and had Mary, born July 21st 1818.
I am quite unable to coordinate these people. Donald, however, in course of time got all Bovaglie, which was rented in 1826 at �40.
Donald Gordon married Elspet Gordon (eldest daughter of John Gordon of Camlet), of whose brother Joseph Gordon married Nicholas Gordon, the sister of Donald. He died in March 1854, aged 84. (Macleay's "Highlanders") They had:
1. John Gordon, Bovaglie, born April 3rd 1805. This John Gordon was AUTHOR of The Bovagli' Manuscript. He migrated to FouIzie. King Edward, and then to Crovie, Macduff. He retired to the town of Macduff, where he died. He married on August 19th 1845, Elizabeth Pyper (born September 18th 1822), second daughter of Alexander Pyper, Bridge-End, King Edward, and had:
(1) John Gordon, born at Foulzie, June 10th 1846.
(2) Peter Gordon, born at Foulzie, April 13th 1848. He married Isabell Murdoch McGillivray, and had a son.
(3) Alexander Gordon, born it Foulzie, June 11th 1850.
(4) William Gordon, horn at Crovie, Gamrie, November 12th 1852.
(5) William Wernham Gordon, born at Crovie, November 20th 1859.
(6) Donald Gordon, born at Crovie, August 2nd 1862.
(7) Charles Collie Gordon, born at Crovie, October 20th 1865.
(8) Elizabeth Gordon, born at Crovie, February 13th 1854. She married William Menty, and had a son.
(9) Margaret Gordon, born at Crovie, February 16th 1857.
2. Donald Gordon, Bovaglie, born September 4th 1811.
3. Peter Gordon, born October 1st 1815, at Baddoch, Braemar. The manuscript says he married Euphemia Meston, October 5th 1845. They had, according to the manuscript:
(1) Donald Gordon, born June 24th 1847.
(2) Peter Gordon, born October 16th 1848. He married at Glasgow, June 15th 1877, Elizabeth Drummond, and had a daughter, Euphemia Gordon.
(3) John Gordon, died aged 11.
(4) James Gordon, died aged 9.
(5) Meston Gordon, born January 19th 1861.
(6) Helen Gordon, born February 19th 1843.
(7) Margaret Gordon, born January 18th 1844.
(8) Euphemia Gordon, died aged 5.
4. James Gordon, born January 1st 1826. He went to Finnylost, Invernetty, and married Ann Grassick, Parkville, on June 29th 1855. They had:
(1) James Gordon.
(2) John Gordon.
(3) Donald Gordon.
(4) William Gordon.
(5) Alexander Peter Gordon.
(6) Jean Gordon.
(7) Mary Anne Gordon.
(8) Ann Gordon.
5. Margaret Gordon, born May 2nd 1808 She Married John McColl, gamekeeper, Abergeldie.
6. Jean Gordon, barn August 22nd 1809; died 1816.
7. Elspet Gordon, born October 18th 1813: married Patrick Glennie, Eastfield, Ballater.
8. Mary Gordon, born May 11th 1821 (M.S.): died young.
9. Elizabeth Gordon. (MS.): died young.
10. Helen Gordon: married (1) James Glass, Heughhead, Colston, Tarland; (2) James Hay, Heughhead, Tarland. She had issue by both husbands. (M.S.)
DONALD GORDON, BOVAGLIE.
He was the second son of Donald Gordon, Bovaglie, Kintore. He was born on September 4th 1811. He is represented in one of the handsome, coloured, lithograph portraits in Kenneth McLeay's "Highlanders of Scotland," R.S.A. (atlas folio, 1868, notice 16). The notice says:
"Donald Gordon . . . now (1868) occupies Bovaglie. As the estate of Abergeldie is leased to the Queen, he is personally known to Her Majesty and "turns out" with the Queen's Highlanders . . . He holds another farm, Wester Morven on the Marquis of Huntly's estate [which was considered locally to have, been a great catch for him to get]. The family have lived for eight generations on the Abergeldie property."
He married January 26th 1855 (M.S.) Margaret Smith daughter of James Smith at Kintore and died February 5th 1897. He had:
1. John Gordon
2. Donald Gordon, farms Bovaglie and Morven.
3. James Gordon, merchant in Aberdeen
4. David Gordon.
5. Mary Gordon
6. Margaret Gordon, married James Walker, ex-Lord Provost of Aberdeen (1902-5), and had issue:
James Gordon Walker, Margaret Gordon Walker and Agnes Elizabeth Walker.
7. Elizabeth Gordon.
8. Victoria Gordon married (November 11th 1896) Robert S. Cook, son of Charles Cook, Carden Place House, Aberdeen, by his wife Elspet Nicol (whose mother, Margaret Hunter's sister, married Samuel Gordon, Crofts of Glenmuick), and has issue - Robert Charles Victor Cook and Norman Gordon Cook.
9. Janie Gordon married at Richmondhill, Aberdeen, February 14th 1907, Allan Hair.
MRCS LRCP (London), Fairmead House, Holloway, second son of John Hair, Upper Park Road, Hampstead, and has issue : John Allan Gordon Hair.
10. Mary Gordon.
J.M. Bulloch