Gordon, Adam 1 2a 3a
| Birth Name | Gordon, Adam |
| Gender | male |
| Age at Death | 50 years |
Narrative
The family historians have attributed to this Sir Adam Gordon a romantic history by identifying him with the Sir Adam Gurdon, Knight, who had a personal encounter with Prince Edward (afterwards King Edward I) of England. This encounter took place in 1266, and ended in the discomfiture of Sir Adam, who was wounded, but for his bravery received special commendation and courtesy from the Prince. The story is told by the English chroniclers, and leads to a question which has been raised as to whether Sir Adam Gorson of Scotland was not of English descent. That there was a family of Gurdon in England in Hampshire at the period is indisputable, and Adam was a prominent name amongst them, but there are good reasons for doubting that the husband of Alicia was one of the English Gurdons, as the dates and marriages do not agree. Further, on 30 September 1255, a papal dispensation was issued for the marriage of Adam de Gurdon, Knight, and Constance, daughter of John Vernuz, which marriage took place, and subsisted until about 1292. This is no doubt the hero of the duel.
Sir Adam Gordon, some time after his marriage, granted to the monks of Dryburgh, on behalf of himself and Alicia, his spouse, certain rights of pasturage and peatary in his lands of Fawnes, Berwick. A recent writer on the Gordons suggests that this was done in preparation for Sir Adam's departure for the Crusade under King Louis XI of France in 1270, and the writer adds that Sir Adam, as did a number of other Scots knights, died on the expedition. This statement may be true, but there is no record or authentic evidence for it. Ferrerius, in his history of the Gordons, states that a Sir Adam of Gordon
Birthdate: circa 1215-1220
Death: circa 1270 (41-58)
Immediate Family:
Son of Adam of Gordon and Name Not Known
Husband of Alicia of Gordon
Father of William Gordon; Robert Gordon and Sir Adam de Gordon, 6th Laird of Gordon
Biographical Summary
This Adam is said to have accompanied Louis IX of France in his crusade for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre in 1270, and to have died during the expedition (before reaching Palestine).
Sir Adam Gordon was the son of Sir Adam Gordon.1 Sir Adam Gordon was also known as Adam of Huntly.1 He married Alicia Gordon, daughter of Sir Thomas Gordon and Marjory Unknown.1
Sir Adam Gordon died in the Crusades.1 He left Scotland to assist Louis IX of France in the Crusades, but died before reaching Palestine.1
Child of Sir Adam Gordon and Alicia Gordon
Adam Gordon+1 b. c 1255, d. 28 Apr 1296
Citations
[S24] Edward Gordon, History of the House of Gordon, XVIII Vols. by Edward Gordon of Cairnfield (n.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date). Hereinafter cited as House of Gordon.
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William Gordon at this period went as a Crusader, and died in 1270. As, however, the name of William Gordon is nowhere on record, it has been assumed that Sir Adam was the Crusader, though the narrative had no recorded basis. Suffice it to say, Alicia Gordon survived her husband, as appears from a charter to the Abbey of Kelso, granted by her in her widowhood. She is said to have died in 1280, but no authority is given.
[The Scots Peerage IV:509-510]
Events
| Event | Date | Place | Description | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 1220 | Fawnes, Berwickshire, Scotland | 1 | |
|
|
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| Death | 1270 | Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia | 4 | |
|
Cause: Died enroute to crusade Age: 50y |
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Parents
| Relation to main person | Name | Birth date | Death date | Relation within this family (if not by birth) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father | de Gordon, Adam | about 1200 | about 1270 | |
| Mother | ||||
| Gordon, Adam | 1220 | 1270 |
Families
Family of Gordon, Adam and of Gordon, Alicia |
||||||||||||||
| Unknown | Partner | of Gordon, Alicia ( * 1230 + 1280 ) | ||||||||||||
| Children | ||||||||||||||
| Name | Birth Date | Death Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon, William | 1250 | |
| Gordon, Robert | 1252 | |
| of Gordon, Adam | 1254 | 1296 |
Pedigree
Ancestors
Source References
- Errol Bevan: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=bevangenealogy&id=I32594&style=TABLE @ RootsWeb Ancestries of Errol S. BEVAN and Hollie C. ATKINSON BEVAN to ADAM and EVE including REINHARDT and BLOCKER Cousins and more
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Errol Bevan: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bevangenealogy&id=I32586 @ RootsWeb Ancestries of Errol S. BEVAN and Hollie C. ATKINSON BEVAN to ADAM and EVE including REINHARDT and BLOCKER Cousins and more
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Source text:
ID: I32586
Name: Adam GORDON
Surname: GORDON
Given Name: Adam
Sex: M
Birth: ABT 1220 in Of Fawnes, Berwickshire, Scotland
Ancestral File #: HRDT-LV 1
Change Date: 3 Apr 2007 at 01:00:00Marriage 1 Alicia Of GORDON b: ABT 1230 in Of Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Children
Robert GORDON b: ABT 1252 in Of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
William GORDON b: ABT 1250 in Of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Adam Of GORDON b: ABT 1254 in Of Aberdeenshire, ScotlandSources:
Repository:
Name: Family History Library
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USATitle: Ancestral File (R)
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998 -
Citation:
bevangenealogyservices@hotmail.com
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Source text:
Alicia Gordon, 4th of the Gordon family was the heiress who married her cousin, Adam Gordon. Adam Gordon was a soldier who King Alexander III of Scotland sent with King Louis of France to Palestine. One tradition is that from Adam's grandson, Sir Adam all of the Gordons in Scotland are descended from. This Adam Gordon supported Sir William Wallace in 1297 to recapture the Castle of Wigtown from the English and Adam was made the Governor.
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Citation:
http://www2.thesetonfamily.com:8080/cadets/Gordon_Family.htm
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Source text:
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Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770: The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ...
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Source text:
Page 295
GORDON Duke of GORDON.
THOUGH there are many elegant hi∣stories
of this ancient and illustrious fa∣mily,
written by learned and judicious anti∣quaries,
yet they differ greatly as to their
origin and first settlement in this island.Some bring them from Greece to Gaul, and
from thence to Scotland, at least a thousand
years ago; others bring them from Italy; o∣thers
from Spain, Flanders, &c.Certain it is, there were many consider∣able
families of the name of Gordon in
France, long before the Norman conquest of
England, whose posterity we shall have occa∣sion
to mention hereafter, and whose descen∣dents
are subsisting in France to this day.The most probable conjecture therefore is,
that some of these Gordons came to England
with William the Conqueror, anno 1066, and
to Scotland with king Malcolm Canmore, or
his son king David I. for it is well known,
that the ancestors of several of the best fami∣lies
in this kingdom are of Norman extract,
and came to Scotland with one or other of
these princes.It is also said, that in the reign of king
Malcolm Canmore, a valiant knight, of the
name of Gordon, came to Scotland, and was
kindly received by that prince; and having
killed a wild boar, which greatly infested the
borders, the generous Malcolm gave him a
grant of several lands in the Merse, or Ber∣wickshire,
which he called Gordon, after his
own sirname. He settled there, took the
boar's head for his armorial bearing, in me∣mory
of his having killed that monstrous ani∣mal;
that he was progenitor of all the Gor∣dons
in Scotland; and mention is made of
Adam de Gordon the father, and Adam his
son, in the reigns of the said Malcolm and
David.It is most certain the Gordons were mak∣ing
no small figure in Scotland immediately
after that aera; we shall therefore insist no
more on the historial accounts; but proceed
to deduce the descent of this great and most
noble family, by unquestionable authority,
from their immediate ancestor.I. RICARDUS de GORDON, said to be
grandson of the knight who killed the boar,
or son of the second Adam. He was a man
of considerable distinction in Scotland in the
reigns of king Malcolm IV. and king William
the Lion, who succeeded Malcolm, anno 1165.He was undoubtedly proprietor of the
lands and barony of Gordon, and others, in
Berwickshire, which is instructed by a dona∣tion
he made,"To St. Mary's church of Kelso,* and the monks serving God there, and to the church of St. Michael in his village of Gordon, (a bounded piece of his lands and estate of Gordon, lying contigu∣ous to the church-yard of Gordon,) in a free and perpetual alms; and grants to whatever minister they shall place in the said church of Gordon, all the ordinary privileges of pasturage, moss, muir, and other conveniencies that the inhabitants of the lands of Gordon enjoyed, &c."
This deed has no date, but by the subse∣quent
confirmations, appears to have been
made inter 1150 et 1160.He died about the year 1200, and was suc∣ceeded
by his son,II. Sir THOMAS de GORDON, who, by
his charter, confirms all the donations made
by his father,* to God and St. Mary's church
at Kelso, and to the Monks serving God
there, &c. and that in as full, free, and ample
a manner as expressed in the deeds of his fa∣ther;
and he is then designed Thomas de
Gordon, filius Ricardi, &c.Cotemporary with this Thomas, there
flourished in France, Bertram de Gordon, who
wounded with an arrow king Richard I.* of
England, before the castle of Chalons, of
which he died, anno 1199.About this time lived also Adam de Gor∣don
in Scotland. This appears by a charter
of confirmation, in which Richard bishop of
St. Andrews confirms to the abbacy of Kelso,
in a free and perpetual alms, the church of
Gordon, with the whole of its parish, (viz.
of Gordon and Spotiswood,) and in which he,
at the desire of the abbot and monks, point∣ed
out a church-yard or burial place to that
parish;* but granting liberty to the inhabi∣tants
of the other half of the lands of Gor∣don,
belonging to Adam de Gordon, to take
their sacrament, and bury either there, or, at
their pleasure, in their mother-church of
Home, &c.Richard was bishop of St. Andrews, from
1163 to 1178, so this deed must have been
made within that space.If this Adam was not a younger son of
Richard, he was certainly a near relation of
the family,* seeing he possessed part of the lord∣ship
of Gordon. He is a frequent witness in
charters and donations to the monastery of
Kelso, in the reign of king William the Lion,
Page 296and was probably grandfather of Adam, who
married the heiress Alicia, &c.Thomas died in the reign of king Alex∣ander
II. and was succeeded by his son,III. Sir THOMAS de GORDON, who, by a
charter,* confirms to the monks and abbot
of Kelso, all the donations and concessions
made to them by Richard de Gordon his
grandfather, and Thomas his father, &c.In two other charters granted by him, with
consent of Marjory his wife, to the said ab∣bot
and monks of Kelso, for the salvation of
his own soul,* and that of his wise and daugh∣ters,
his ancestors and successors, &c. he con∣firms
all his father's and grandfather's donati∣ons,
and grants them several other privileges
and possessions, in his lordship of Gordon, and
commits his body to them,* to be buried at
Kelso as they shall see meet.He also makes a donation to the religious
at Coldstream, of pasturage upon the lands of
Thorndyke and Gordon, tempore Alexandri
II. and is then designed filius domini Thomae,
militis.This sir Thomas is mentioned in two other
charters to the monastery of Kelso,*anno 1258,
in which he is designed dominus Thomas de
Gordon, miles, &c.Pontius de Gordon, of a considerable fa∣mily
in Normandy, lived about this time.
In a convention with king Henry III. of Eng∣land,
this Pontius did homage to king Henry,
pro castro et honore de castellania de Gordon, in
Normandy, and for all his other castles and lands
which he held of the king of France, and that
he shall hold these lands in the same manner of
the king of England,* as he held them former∣ly
of the king of France, for which king Hen∣ry
grants him many noble privileges, anno
1263.Sir Thomas de Gordon had no male issue,
and was succeeded in his whole lands and e∣state
by his daughter,IV. ALICIA de GORDON,* who, in many
charters, is designed daughter and heiress of
sir Thomas, &c.She married her cousin Adam de Gordon,
who, in the beginning of the reign of king
Alexander, in a donation to the monastery of
Coldstream, is designed Adam filius Adae de
Gordon,* and was probably the grandson of
Adam, proprietor of part of the estate of Gor∣don,
before mentioned; by which marriage
the whole lordship of Gordon was now uni∣ted
in one family.This Adam mortified to the monastery of
Dryburgh, a bounded piece of land, lying in
his territory of Fawns, in Berwickshire, for
the salvation of his own soul,* the soul of Alicia
his spouse, his ancestors and successors, &c.
ante annum 1270.When king Alexander III. sent one thou∣sand
auxiliaries to king Lewis of France, to
attend him in his expedition to the Holy
Land, anno 1270, Adam de Gordon was
one of the chief commanders, and lost his
life in that enterprise, leaving issue by the
said Alicia, a son,Sir Adam, their heir.
Alicia survived her husband, which ap∣pears
by her charter of confirmation to the
religious in Kelso, in these words: Alicia de
Gordon,*filia et haeres quondam domini Thomae
de Gordon, militis, in pura viduitate, &c. pro
salute animae meae et animarum fratris mei, et
Adae de Gordon quondam sponsi mei, &c. confir∣masse,
&c. omnes donations, &c. a domino Ri∣cardo
proavo meo, five a domino Thoma quondam
avo meo, five a domino Thoma quondam patre
meo, &c. to which deed her seal is appended.V. ADAM, designed dominus de Gordon,
succeeded Adam and Alicia, his father and
mother, and confirms all the donations of his
predecessors to the religious at Kelso.This Adam appears to have had some pro∣perty
in England, whether his own inheri∣tance,
or in right of his wife, who was an
English lady, cannot now be determined;
but in a writ, dated at Westminster the 14th
June 1287, he, as a subject of England, is
ordered to meet Edmund earl of Cornwall,
king Edward's lieutenant, at Glocester, in or∣der
to give advice and assistance in certain
great affairs of state, which should be com∣municated
at meeting, but whether he obey∣ed
the summons or not is uncertain.He was always on the Baliols side, which
probably proceeded both from inclination and
interest, for most of his lands then held of
that prince, or of the earls of March, his fast
friends; but he died before king John (as
he is then called) resigned the sovereign∣ty
of Scotland to king Edward I.* for Mar∣jory
his wife obtained a safe conduct from
king Edward to go up to England, and is
then designed Uxor quondam Adae de Gordon,
anno 1296.By the said Marjory, (but of what family
we know not) he left issue a son and succes∣sor,VI. Sir ADAM de GORDON, dominus
ejusdem, who was certainly one of the great∣est
men of that age, being equally qualified
for the cabinet and the field.As all the Gordons in Scotland appear to
be descended of this sir Adam, and as he is
Page 297variously represented by different authors,
we shall endeavour to trace his conduct, step
by step, from authentic documents, and submit
his character to the judgment of our readers.The first appearance he makes is, his assisting
the brave sir William Wallace, then guardian
of Scotland, in his expedition into Galloway,
who,* having made himself master of the castle
of Wigton, gave the keeping of it to sir A∣dam,
anno 1297.About that time he acquired the lands of
Glenkenns,*&c. in Galloway, which he gave
to his second son William, as will be shown
hereafter.He was afterwards appointed warden of the
marches by the guardians of Scotland, in the
absence of John Baliol then their king;* for to
him is intimated, as warden aforesaid, a truce
concluded betwixt Scotland and England, at
Dumfries, 30th October 1300.In 1305, sir Adam, for being along with
John Cummin lord of Badenoch, sometime
guardian of Scotland, is fined by king Edward
of England,* then acting as over-lord of Scot∣land,
in three years rent of his estate, for ad∣hering
to the Baliol's party.In 1308, sir Adam de Gordon, John de
Moubray, Alexander de Abernethy, Robert de
Keith, and Henry Haliburton, are sureties for
the good behaviour of William bishop of St.
Andrews, whose relief out of prison they had
procured.About this time sir Adam settled a difference
that had long subsisted, betwixt him and the
abbot and convent of Kelso, whereby he got
liberty to build a chapel for the use of his fa∣mily,
in any place of his parish of Gordon he
should think fit:* he then made a donation to
the church of Kelso, with consent of Anabel∣la
his wife, of a bounded piece of ground on
his lands of Gordon, &c. and he is there de∣signed
filius et haeres quondant Adae, &c. 1308.In January 1312, David earl of Athole,
sir Adam de Gordon,* and Alexander de Aber∣nethy,
are appointed plenipotentiaries by king
Edward, to treat of a peace with king Robert,
which at that time took no effect.In April 1313, he, with the earl of March,
were sent to England by Baliol's party,* to en∣deavour
to get some of their grievances re∣dressed.And in November thereafter,* he is again
employed by king Edward to negociate a
peace with king Robert, which was the last
of his actions in favours of the Baliol party. King
John died in 1314, and we find sir Adam e∣ver
after, one of king Robert's firmest and
most respected friends.He obtained from Thomas Randolph, earl
of Murray, a grant of the lands and barony of
Stitchell,* in Roxburgh-shire, which king Ro∣bert
ratified and confirmed to him and his son
William, by his charter, dated at Perth, 28th
June 1315.King Robert knowing sir Adam to be a
man of great abilities, joined him in commis∣sion
with sir Edward Odard de Mombuisson,
to go to Rome, to manage the affair of his ex∣communication
with the pope;* and they car∣ried
with them that famous letter from the
nobility of Scotland to his holiness, asserting
the independency of their country, anno 1320.King Robert afterwards, in reward of his
faithful services, gave a grant to him and his
heirs, of the noble lordship of Strabolgie,
&c. in Aberdeen-shire, then in the crown
by the forfeiture of David de Strabolgie,* earl
of Athole, which was afterwards confirmed to
his family, by several charters under the great
seal, as will be shown hereafter.Sir Adam fixed his residence there, and
gave these lands and lordship the name of
Huntly, which hath been one of the chief
titles of his family ever since.By the said Annabella his wife, he left is∣sue
four sons and one daughter.1. Sir Alexander, his heir.
2. William, to whom he gave the lands
of Glenkenns in Galloway, and Stitchell in
Roxburgh-shire, of whom the family of Ken∣mure,
aud several others in the south of Scot∣land,
are descended. Vide title viscount Kenmure.3. John.
4. Thomas.
The last two went into the service of the
church,* and obtained letters of recommenda∣tion
to the pope, from king Edward of Eng∣land,
anno 1313.His daughter Mary, was married to sir Walter
Hamilton,* ancestor of the duke of Hamilton,
as appears from a charter under the great seal,
anno 1319.Sir Adam was at last killed in the service
of his king and country, at the battle of Ha∣lidon-hill,
anno 1333, and was succeeded byVII. Sir ALEXANDER GORDON, now de∣signed
of Huntly, a great patriot, a firm and
steady friend to king David Bruce, and who had
behaved gallantly at the battle of Halidon∣hill,
where his father was killed, though he
had the good fortune to escape.*He attended king David in his unfortunate
expedition into England, and was slain at the
battle of Durham, where his royal master
was taken prisoner, anno 1346.He was succeeded by his son,
VIII. Sir JOHN GORDON of Huntly, who
was also a great loyalist, and was taken priso∣ner
Page 298with king David, at the foresaid battle of
Durham.* He was not released, till the be∣ginning
of 1357, and then the earl of Dou∣glas
was one of his sureties, where Elizabetha
uxor Johannis de Gordon, is mentioned.He obtained from the said king David,* a
confirmation of the lands and lordship of Strath∣bogie,
which had been granted by king Robert
I. to his grandfather, (avo suo) dated 20th
March 1358.He died soon thereafter, leaving issue by the
said Elizabeth, a son and successor.IX. Sir JOHN GORDON of Huntly, a great
warrior, and of an undaunted spirit. He with
his own vassals and followers,*, routed a consi∣derable
body of the English, under the com∣mand
of sir John Lilburn, whom he took pri∣soner
at Carram, anno 1372.Immediately after this he surprised and took
prisoner sir Thomas Musgrave,* governor of
Berwick, but released him soon thereafter.He got a new charter from king Robert
II. confirming the lands and lordship of Strath∣bogie,
to him and his heirs, quas terras, Ro∣bertus
illustris rex Scotiae,*praedecessor noster,
dedit quondam Adae de Gordon militi, proavo
dicti Johannis, ratione forisfacturae, David
de Strathbogie, &c. dated 10th July 1376,
after which he was designed lord Gordon of
Strathbogie or Huntly.In the year 1378, sir John Gordon, along
with the earl of Douglas came up with another
considerable body of the English,* under the
command of sir Thomas Musgrave, and killed
or took prisoners every man of them.This great man lost his life with his
brave general the earl of Douglas,* at the bat∣tle
of Otterburn, anno 1388.He was succeeded by his son,
X. Sir ADAM GORDON, dominus de Gor∣don
and Huntly, who was inferior to none of
his brave ancestors in magnanimity and cou∣rage.He married Elizabeth, daughter of sir Wil∣liam
Keith,* great marishal of Scotland, by
whom he had only one daughter,Elizabeth his sole heiress.
He was killed at the battle of Homildon,
anno 1402, and was succeeded in his whole
great and opulent estate by his daughter,XI. ELIZABETH, who married sir Alex∣ander
Seton, second son of sir William Seton
of that ilk,* ancestor of the earls of Winton,
who thereupon got charters from Robert duke
of Albany, governor of Scotland, of the baro∣nies
of Gordon, Huntly, and many others, A∣lexandra Seton, &c.He was afterwards designed Alexander Se∣ton,
lord of Gordon and Huntly, and by the
said Elizabeth, left issue two sons and one
daughter.1. Alexander, afterwards lord Gordon and
earl of Huntly.2. William, ancestor of the Setons of
Meldrum, &c. in vicecom de Aberdeen.His daughter Elizabeth, was married to A∣lexander
earl of Ross.He died before the year 1421, and was
succeeded by his eldest son,XII. ALEXANDER lord Gordon, who was
a man of great parts and abilities.He was one of the commissioners appointed
by the estates of the kingdom,* to treat with
the English about king James's liberty, anno
1421, and is then designed Alexander de Se∣ton
dominus de Gordon. He was afterwards
one of the hostages for his ransom, anno 1423.He was appointed one of the ambassadors
extraordinary,* to treat with the English about
a peace, anno 1437. They concluded a truce,
anno 1438; and he was again sent to England
to treat of a final peace, anno 1439.He got a charter under the great seal,*A∣lexandro
Seton, filio et haeredi Elizabethae de
Gordon, dom. de eodem, anno 1439.This Alexander lord Gordon, grants a char∣ter
to James de Forbes,* son and heir apparent
of Alexander lord Forbes, of the lands of Cor∣sindie,
&c. 30th September 1444.He married, 1st, Jean, daughter of Robert
master of Keith, son and apparent heir of Wil∣liam
first earl marishal, by whom he had no
issue.He married, 2dly, Giles, daughter and heir∣ess
of John Hay of Tullibody, in Clackman∣nan-shire,
by whom he had a son,Sir Alexander Seton, who succeeded to his
mother's estate,* and was ancestor of the Se∣tons
of Touch, and got a charter under the
great seal, Alexandro fratri Georgii comitis de
Huntly, &c.He married, 3dly, Elizabeth, daughter of
William lord Crichton, chancellor of Scotland,
by whom he had three sons and three daugh∣ters,
who all took the name of Gordon.1. George, who became heir to his estate
and honours.2. Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, an∣cestor
of the Gordons of Abergeldie.3. Adam Gordon, who was dean of Caithness.
1st daughter,*Janet, married to James
Dunbar earl of Murray.2. Elizabeth, married to William third
earl marishal.3. Christian, married to William lord
Forbes.Page 299
This Alexander lord Gordon having per∣formed
many great services to his country, in
the minority of king James II. was by that
prince created earl of Huntly, anno 1449, the
honours being limited to the heirs-male of his
last marriage with Elizabeth Crichton, they
being obliged to carry the name and arms
of Gordon, &c.He afterwards got charters under the great
seal,*Alexandro comiti de Huntly, domino Gor∣don
et Badenoch, of the lands of Strathbogic,
(Huntly) Aboyne, Glentanner, Glenmuck,
the lordship of Badenoch, Lochaber, Forest
of Enzie, &c. in the north, with Huntly and
Gordon, &c. in the shire of Berwick, inter
1451 et 1457.He was employed in several negotiations
to the court of England,*inter 1451 et 1458.After the commencement of the earl of
Douglas's rebellion, he raised a considerable
army of his own friends and vassals, for the
king's assistance,* and defeated the earl of Craw∣furd,
one of the earl of Douglas's chief asso∣ciates,
near Brechin, who immediately after
submitted to the king, whereby the Douglas's
rebellion was soon thereafter entirely crushed.This worthy patriot died at a great age, in
1470, and was succeeded in his estate and
honours by the eldest son of his last marriage.XIII. GEORGE, second earl of Huntly,
who got charters,* under the great seal, of
many lands and baronies, Georgio comiti de
Huntly, &c. inter 1473, et 1476.He was for a long time a steady friend of
king James III.* and was one of his privy
council; but he afterwards joined the lords
on the other side, though he was always a∣gainst
every violent measure.Upon king James IV.'s accession to the
crown, he was sworn one of the privy coun∣cil,
and was constituted lord lieutenant of the
northern parts of Scotland beyond the river
North-Esk,*anno 1491.He being highly esteemed, and in great
favour with his majesty, was constituted lord
high chancellor of Scotland, in the year 1498,*
and continued in that high office till the
year 1502, that he resigned the seals, which,
with the office of chancellor, were immedi∣ately
given to the king's brother the duke of
Ross;* but he, in lieu thereof, had a grant of
the castle, et lacum castri de Inverlochy, by a
charter, under the great seal, dated in 1505.He sat in the parliament that settled the
jointure upon queen Margaret that same year.*He married, 1st, lady Jean Stewart, daugh∣ter
of king James I.* widow of James earl of
Angus, by whom he had four sons, and six
daughters.1. Alexander, his heir.
2. Sir Adam Gordon, lord of Aboyne, who
married Elizabeth, countess and heiress of
Suth•rland, by which marriage he became earl
of Sutherland.3. Sir William, ancestor of the Gordons
of Gight, who was slain at Flowdon, anno
1513.4. Sir James Gordon of Letterfury, admi∣ral
of the king's fleet, anno 1513.1st daughter, lady Catharine, married, 1st,
to Perkin Warbeck, the pretended duke of
York; 2dly, to sir Matthew Cradock in Wales,
of whom the earl of Pembroke is descended.2. Lady Janet, married, 1st, to Alexan∣der
lord Lindsay, son and heir of David earl
of Crawfurd; 2dly, to Patrick lord Gray.3. Lady Mary, married to sir William
Sinclair of Westerhall.4. Lady Sophia, married to sir Gilbert
Hay of Killmalloch, knight.5. Lady Agnes, married to sir James Ogil∣vie
of Finlater.6. Lady Eleanora, married to—Crich∣ton
of Innernytie.He married, 2dly, lady Elizabeth Hay,
daughter of William earl of Errol, by whom
he had no issue.He died anno 1507, and was succeeded by
his eldest son,XIV. ALEXANDER, third earl of Huntly,
who, in his father's lifetime, got charters, un∣der
the great seal,* of the lands of Huntly,
Gordon, and many others, inter 1503 et
1508.He was one of the guarantees of a treaty
of peace with the English,*anno 1509; and
being in great favour with the king, was no∣minated
one of his privy council: and in∣deed
he had not a braver nor a more faith∣ful
subject in his whole kingdom.He accompanied his majesty to the fatal
field of Flowdon, and though he gave his opi∣nion
against fighting at that time, where so
many disadvantages were obvious, yet when
he found the king was determined, he yield∣ed
to his majesty; and having the command
of the right wing of the army, performed
wonders, and drove all before him that stood
in his way; but the left wing, and the main
body, were not so successful, being over∣powered
with numbers, and the king and the
slower of the nobility being killed,* he was at
last obliged to give way, and with great dif∣ficulty
made his retreat in the evening.In the minority of king James V. he was
appointed lord lieutenant of the north, be∣yond
the river Forth; and in the year 1517,
was joined in commisstion with the earls of
Page 300Angus, Arran, and Argyle, as governors of
the young king.He married lady Janet Stewart, daughter of
John earl of Athole,* by whom he had three
sons and four daughters.1. John, lord Gordon, his apparent heir.
2. Alexander, to whom he gave the lands
of Strathdown. He was ancestor of the Gor∣dons
of Clunie.3. William, who, applying himself to the
service of the church, was first chancellor of
the church of Elgin, and afterwards bishop
of Aberdeen.1st daughter, lady Janet, married to Colin
earl of Argyle.2. Lady Jean, married to Patrick, fourth
lord Gray.3. Lady Isabel, married to—lord In∣nermeath.
4.—, married to—Menzies
of Weem.He died anno 1523.
XV. JOHN, lord Gordon, first son and ap∣parent
heir of Alexander, third earl of Hunt∣ly,
in his father's lifetime got charters under
the great seal, Johanni domino Gordon,* of the
lands of Badenoch, castle of Ruthven, and
many others, inter 1507 et 1510.He married Jean,* natural daughter of king
James IV. by Margaret, daughter of John
lord Drummond, by whom he had two sons,1. George, afterwards earl of Huntly.
2. Alexander, who, by queen Mary, was
appointed bishop of Galloway.He died anno 1517.
XVI. GEORGE, eldest son of John lord
Gordon, succeeded his grandfather earl Alex∣ander,
anno 1523, and was fourth earl of
Huntly.He was a man of a sine genius, and excel∣lent
natural parts, which were greatly improv∣ed
by a liberal education and travelling.He got charters,* under the great seal, of a
vast number of lands, lordships and baronies,
inter 1530 et 1540.In 1535, the king appointed him one of
his privy council, and also constituted him one
of the regency, when he went to France, in
order to espouse princess Magdalene, daugh∣ter
of king Francis I. The lords regents were
James archbishop of St. Andrews, Gavin
archbishop of Glasgow, chancellor, George
earl of Huntly, William earl of Montrose,
Hugh earl of Eglington, and Robert lord
Maxwell, whose ample commission is fully
narrated in the lives of the officers of state,*
and is dated at Stirling, 29th August 1536.The king, upon his return, having entire
confidence of the loyalty and fidelity of this
earl, constituted him lieutenant of the north,
and captain-general of the forces that were
raised to oppose the English under the com∣mand
of sir Robert Bowis, whom he pursued
closely,* defeated the whole party at Halden∣rig,
and took their general prisoner.King Henry VIII. then sent a much greater
force to the borders, under the command of
the duke of Norfolk; but the brave earl
of Huntly, by his prudence, dextrous conduct,
and frequent skirmishes, so hemmed him in,
that he never durst advance two miles on this
side of the Tweed.After the death of the king, the earl of
Huntly was, by act of parliament, appointed
one of the lords of the privy council, to the
earl of Arran, the governor; and upon the
death of Cardinal Bethune,* he was constitut∣ed
lord high chancellor of Scotland: his com∣mission,
and the great seal were delivered to
him in open parliament on 10th June 1546.He had a considerable command at the un∣fortunate
battle of Pinkie; and though he be∣haved
with the utmost conduct and resoluti∣on,
was taken prisoner, and sent to England;
but made his escape from Morpeth about one
year thereafter, returned immediately to Scot∣land,
and went directly upon the administra∣tion
of the chancellor's office.He always strenuously opposed the match
betwixt queen Mary and the prince of Eng∣land,*
and accompanied the queen dowager to
France, when she went to visit her daughter;
was made a knight of the antient order of St.
Michael by king Francis I. and upon his return,
had a grant of the earldom of Murray, then
in the crown, by the death of earl James, the
queen's natural uncle.When the queen dowager was made re∣gent,
she gave the great seal to Monsieur
Rubie, a Frenchman; which, upon queen
Mary's return from France, was delivered
back to the chancellor, but her Majesty was
pleased to give the earldom of Murray to her
natural brother the prior of St. Andrews, and
created him earl of Murray; between whom
and the chancellor, there was always a mor∣tal
enmity.When the queen went on an expedition to
visit the northern parts of her dominions, it was
alledged the earl had amind to apprehend her
majesty's person, and get her out of the hands
of the earl of Murray;* he had got together
about 1500 men, but the queen having been
joined by some MacKenzies, Monros, Frasers,
and MacIntoshes, attacked Huntly near Cor∣richie,
where he was deseated, and himself kill∣ed,
anno 1562.His son, sir John, was executed the next
Page 301day at Aberdeen; another of his sons, sir A∣dam,
was pardoned; but the earl's estate and
honours were forfeited to the crown for trea∣son,
though her majesty was pleased to re∣verse
the forfeiture,* and restore his son to the
whole estates, honours, and dignities of the
family, anno 1567.By Elizabeth, daughter of Robert lord
Keith, son and apparent heir of William third
earl Marishal, he had issue seven sons and three
daughters.1. George, afterwards earl of Huntly.
2. Mr. James, who went into holy orders,
and died at Paris, anno 1620.3. Sir John Gordon, designed of Finlater or
Deskford, who was executed as above, with∣out
issue.4. Sir Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, who
died without issue, anno 1580.5. Sir Patrick of Auchindoun, who was
slain at the battle of Glenlivet, anno 1594.6. Mr. Robert.
7. Mr. Thomas.
1st daughter, lady Margaret, married to
John, eighth lord Forbes.2. Lady Jean, married, 1st, to James earl
of Bothwell; 2dly, to Alexander earl of Su∣therland;
3dly, to Alexander Ogilvie of
Boyne.3. Lady Elizabeth, married to John earl
of Athole.XVII. GEORGE, fifth earl of Huntly, was
restored to all his estates, and honours of his
ancestors, anno 1567, as before observed.Though his forfeiture was not reversed in
parliament till 1567,* yet we find him in
great favour with her majesty before that
time, who appointed him lord high chancel∣lor
of the kingdom, on 20th march 1565;
which high office he held till the queen re∣signed
the government;* then the earl of
Murray conferred it upon his good friend the
earl of Morton.Upon the breaking out of the civil war,
he adhered to the queen's interest with great
firmness and fidelity, and was appointed com∣mander
in chief of all the forces raised, or
to be raised in the north for her majesty's
service. He soon got together a considerable
body, both of horse and foot, which gave the
other party a great deal of trouble; but they
being strongly supported by the queen of Eng∣land,
Huntly was forced to come to an ac∣commodation
with the earl of Morton,* then
regent, anno 1573.The earl after this retired to his country
feat, where he lived all the rest of his days,
without meddling any more in publick af∣fairs.He married lady Anne Hamilton, daughter
of James duke of Chattelherault, by whom he
had a son,George, his heir,—and a daughter,
Lady Jean, married to George earl of
Caithness.He died in May 1576, and was succeeded
by his son,XVIII. GEORGE, sixth earl of Huntly, who
continuing steady in the Roman catholick re∣ligion,
he, the earls of Angus, Errol, and
others, were unjustly suspected to have had
some correspondence with the Spaniards,* a∣bout
the time of their armado, and of course
became obnoxious to the court.The king was very sensible that these noble
earls were no enemies, either to himself or the
country, but were only arming in defence of
their religion and estates, and was unwilling
to drive them to extremities. The earl of
Bothwell was then in actual rebellion; the
king, therefore, in the beginning of the year
1594,* proposed that the general assembly
should order it to be intimate from the pul∣pits,
that he was determined to prosecute, ac∣cording
to law, the earl of Bothwell, and all
his rebellious subjects, &c.The ministers answered, and insisted, that
he should first prosecute the enemies to God
and religion,*viz. the earls of Angus, Huntly,
and Errol, the laird of Strathdon, and sir James
Chisholm, and then prosecute the traitors and
rebels against himself, &c.There was therefore an army levied, and
sent north against these earls, under the com∣mand
of Archibald earl of Argyle, the king's
lieutenant.* They came to an engagement
near Glenlivet; the king's troops were de∣feated,
and some persons of rank killed on
both sides, in October 1594However, the earls were soon thereafter
pardoned, and Huntly got so much into the
king's favour, that he obtained from his ma∣jesty
a grant of the dissolved abbacy of Dun∣sermline,
was constituted lord lieutenant of
the north, and raised to the honour of mar∣quis
of Huntly,* by patent, dated 17th April
1599.He got charters, under the great seal, (Geor∣gio
marchioni de Huntly,)* of many lordships
and baronies, inter 1608 et 1625.He married lady Henriet Stewart, daugh∣ter
of Esme duke of Lennox, by whom he
had four sons and four daughters.1. George, his heir.
2. Sir John Gordon, created viscount Mel∣gum
and lord Aboyne, by king Charles I. an∣no
1627, and married lady Sophia Hay, daugh∣ter
of Francis ninth earl of Errol, but died,
Page 302and was burnt in the house of Frendraught,
without issue.3. Lord Francis Gordon, who died in Ger∣many,
anno 1620.4. Lord Adam, who was laird of Auchin∣doun.
1st daughter, lady Anne, married to James
earl of Murray.2. Lady Elizabeth, married to Alexander
earl of Linlithgow.3. Lady Mary, married to William mar∣quis
of Douglas.4. Lady Jean, married to Claud Hamilton,
lord Strabane, of the kingdom of Ireland.He died anno 1636, and was succeeded by
his eldest son,XIX. GEORGE, second marquis of Hunt∣ly,
who was a great loyalist, and inviolably
attached to the interest of the royal family.While a young man, he was a captain of
the Scotch gens d'armes to Lewis the XIII. of
France; but upon the breaking out of the
civil war, he returned to his native country,
joined the loyalists, and was appointed lieute∣nant
in the north;* and for his steady adhe∣rence
to the king, was forfeited by parliament,
anno 1645.He was excepted from pardon, 4th March
1647, and his houses of Boig of Gight and
Strathbogie taken possession of,* by order of
parliament, 8th June 1648.He was at last executed for his loyalty at
Edinburgh, on 30th March 1649, having
married lady Anne Campbell, daughter of Ar∣chibald,
seventh earl of Argyle, by whom he
had five sons and five daughters.1. George, lord Gordon, who joined the
king upon the breaking out of the civil war,
and never deserted his interest, till he lost his
life in his service, at the battle of Alford, anno
1645, without issue.2. Lewis, afterwards marquis of Huntly.
3. Lord Charles, afterwards earl of A∣boyne.
4. Lord James, also a great loyalist, who,
after the murder of the king, retired to France,
where he died, without issue.5. Lord Henry Gordon.
1st daughter, lady Anne, married to James
earl of Perth.2. Lady Henriet, married, 1st, to George
lord Seton; 2dly, to John earl of Traquair.3. Lady Jean, married to Thomas earl of
Haddington.4. Lady Mary.
5. Lady Catharine, died unmarried.
XX. LEWIS, or LUDOVICK, third mar∣quis
of Huntly, succeeded his father in 1649.He married Isabel, daughter of sir James
Grant of that ilk, by whom he had a son,George, his heir,—and three daugh∣ters.
1. Lady Anne, married to the count de
Crolly.2. Lady Mary, married, 1st, to Adam
Urquhart of Meldrum; 2dly, to James earl
of Perth, chancellor of Scotland.3. Lady Jean, married to Charles earl of
Dunfermline.The marquis did not long survive his fa∣ther,
but died anno 1653, and was succeed∣ed
by his son,XXI. GEORGE, fourth marquis of Hunt∣ly,*
who was parliamentarily restored to his
whole estate, had the act of forfeiture rescind∣ed,
anno 1661; and got charters, under the
great seal, totius marchionatus de Huntly, &c.He was much esteemed by,* and in great fa∣vour
with king Charles II. who created him
duke of Gordon, by patent to the heirs-male
of his body, dated 1st November 1684.Upon the accession of king James VII. to
the crown, he was made one of the lords of
the treasury, one of his majesty's most ho∣nourable
privy council, governor of the castle
of Edinburgh, and one of the knights of the
most antient order of the thistle.At the revolution he held out the castle of
Edinburgh for his master king James; but at
last, seeing no hopes of relief, he surrender∣ed
it to the troops of king William, and re∣tired
to his seat in the country, where he
continued to his death.He married lady Elizabeth Howard, daugh∣ter
of Henry duke of Norfolk, by lady Anne
Somerset his wife, daughter of Edward mar∣quis
of Worcester: by her he had issue a son,Alexander,—and a daughter,
Lady Jean, married to James earl of Perth.
He died anno 1716, and was succeeded by
his son,XXII. ALEXANDER, second duke of
Gordon. He married lady Henrietta Mordaunt,
daughter of Charles earl of Peterborough and
Monmouth, by whom he had •our sons, and
seven daughters.1. Cosmo-George.
2. Lord Charles.
3. Lord Lewis, who died anno 1754.
4. Lord Adam, a colonel in the army, and
member of parliament for the county of Aber∣deen.1st daughter, lady Henriet.
2. Lady Mary.
3. Lady Anne, married to William earl of
Aberdeen.Page 303
4. Lady Betty, married to Mr. Skelly, a
clergyman of the church of England.5. Lady Jean.
6. Lady Catharine, married to the honour∣able
Francis Charteris of Amisfield; Esq;.7. Lady Charlotte.
He died anno 1728, and was succeeded by
his eldest son,XXIII. COSMO-GEORGE, third duke of
Gordon, who was elected one of the sixteen
peers to the tenth British parliament, in the
year 1747.He married lady Catharine Gordon, daugh∣ter
of William earl of Aberdeen, by whom
he had three sons, and three daughters.1. Alexander, now duke of Gordon.
2. Lord William.
3. Lord George.
1st daughter, lady Susan.
2. Lady Anne.
3. Lady Catharine.
He died in August 1752, and was succeed∣ed
by his eldest son,XXIV. ALEXANDER, fourth duke of
Gordon.ARMS.
Quarterly, first, azure, three boars heads a∣razed
or, for Gordon; second or, three lions
heads erazed gules, for Badenoch; third or,
three crescents within a double tressure gules,
for Seton; fourth azure, three cinquefoils ar∣gent
for Fraser.CREST; in a marquis's coronet or, a stag's
head guardant proper.SUPPORTERS; two grey hounds argent,
each gorged with a collar gules, and three
buckles or.MOTTO; Bydand.
CHIEF SEATS.
At Strathbogie in the county of Aberdeen,
and Gordon-castle in Banff-shire.
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