'Wardhead Nathaniel'
Jervise trumps Beattie...
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 Gordon Tombstones
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"Fallen Stone: 1823. ALEXANDER GORDON, sometime farmer Wand..head, parish of Glenmuick d. 1786 aged 52, his widow ELIZABETH OGG d. 1806 aged 6?, son JOHN GORDON d. �, ALEXANDER GORDON � Kincardine O'Neil d. 15.5.? (only child, ALEXANDER GORDON d. March 1823 aged ?, widow ELIZABETH d. Kincardine O'Neil 18th April 1854 age�)"
This is one of a huddle of four Gordon tombstones to be found by the old ruins of Glengairn Church.
It is marked on the plan below, as stone number 5.
Now this family has truly been a challenge to unravel. Though much has been done, much remains to emerge.

Interest was sparked by the reference to WARDHEAD in Glenmuick, and also the marriage of a Gordon to an 'Ogg.' The latter name has cropped up, perhaps coincidentally, in several branches of the Girnoc Gordons.

Donald Whyte, put together an itinary of this family under his section on Wardhead, in his most comprehensive manuscript: "Gordons in Upper Deeside"

Yet taking closer scrutiny of the above Inscription - something was amiss:
  1) This inscription starts with Alexander Gordon (and not Nathaniel - as stated by Donald Whyte)
  2) Why was a family from Wardhead (it is Wardhead despite the spelling in the above transcription) have their memorial placed in Glengairn rather than Glenmuick?
Weathering and the honest progression back to nature; for we all know, that even stone fades. When Jervise, transcribed the stones of Glengairn, he was doing so in 1875. When the honourable Beatties did so (for their volume Pre-1855 Monumental Inscriptions in Upper Deeside) one hundred and ten further years, (440 seasons of weather) had passed by! One asks - who had the harder task!

This explains much. Jervise, you will now understand, in 1875, had a much less worn stone. Legible it read 'Nathaniel Gordon" (sometime of Wardhead) and NOT 'Alexander Gordon'
Do not be mistaken, attribute not any recent progress (as follows) on 'Wardhead Nathaniel' to this writer. Credit should be directed then to the writer's friend and fellow enthusiast, Sharon Jamieson.

It was Sharon who took the research back to the original primary records, starting with the marriage of Nathaniel Gordon to Elizabeth Ogg: as follows:
Lumphanan OPR

1766 October 6th
Nathaniel Gordon in the Parish of Tullich and Eliz Ogg in this parish consigned pledges and were proclaimed pro primo

November 2nd
Gordon and Ogg proclaimed pro 2nd

November 9th
They were proclaimed pro 3rd

November 11th
The aforesaid Gordon and Ogg were married.
Sharon found the following footnote to the above banns: "There is a reference in the surname column which is very hard to read however it does direct you to an entry on 'page 121of this book.' The only entry I can see that would have any link at all to the above is ...."

June 20 1813
Alexander Gordon in this Parish and Margaret Muirson Parish of Coull were proclaimed for marriage - their pledges lodged at Coull.
Mar 2 1769: Nathaniel Gordon in Cobletown a son - John
Jul 12 1772: Nath Gordon Wardhead - Hellen
Aug 6 1774: Nath Gordon Wardhead - Alexander
Jun 28 1777: Nathaniel Gordon Wardhead - Jean
Feb 21 1780: Nathaniel Gordon Wardhead - Janet
Dec 30 1782: Nathaniel  Gordon Wardhead - James
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