GORDON, William 3rd of Terpersie ²

   Another name for William was GORDON, William of Knockespock.⁵

   User ID: B763.

  General Notes:

"William Gordon, 3rd laird of Terpersie, was like his father George before him the feudal superior in matters relating to the land ownership of Knockespock. Robert Gordon, who was described as 'son of James Gordon of Arradoul and Jane Bisset', and who was therefor the grandson of William Gordon, 4th laird of Knockespock, entered Douai College on June 20, 1650, returning to Scotland on January 6, 1653 (" Records of the Scots Colleges," i. 40).

"As this date occurred after his father's death, it is difficult to understand why Robert was not served heir to his father as Laird of Arradoul. The Elphinstone Dalrymple MS. calls him 'of Haugh,' but is mistaken in saying that he succeeded to the estate of Knockespock. He seems to be the Robert Gordon, eldest lawful son of the deceased James Gordon, apparent of Knockespock, who, on May 22, 1648, had a sasine registered on a precept of clare constat by William Gordon of Terpersie, in the town and the lands of Clatt, etc., dated at the kirk of Drumblade, May 16, 1648. Among the witnesses is Robert Gordon of Civiley ("Particular Register of Sasines," Aberdeen vol. xiii).'

from Gordons of Cairnfield




"Clatt. The lands of Clatt were apprised in 1648 from William Gordon of Terpersie in favour of George Anderson, Milton of Noth (Great Seal, ix., No. 2,014). William Gordon got sasine in Kirktown of Clatt, December 16, 1637."

from Terpersie ^{2 5}

  Research Notes:

KNOCKESPOCK

William Gordon became 4th laird of Knockespock when his father died about 1631. In Gordons of Cairnfield, J.M.Bulloch wrote:

"William Gordon seems to have disposed of the lands of Knockespock about 1634. He is still described as late as Aug. 7, 1635, as 'of Knockespock,' but he also appears as 'of Arradoul' at the same time. He was baillie to Lord Gordon (Mackintosh Muniments, No. 385), and much in the confidence of the Huntly family."

The 4th laird William's son, James was known as

"Captain James Gordon Apparent of Knockespock, and 3rd of Arradoul."

James had a son, Robert, to whom J.M.Bulloch referred in Gordons of Cairnfield. It seems to have been with Robert that the association with Knockespock dissolved in that family, possibly about 1663 or thereabouts, at his death,and reverted to the feudal superiors, Gordon of Terpersie, probably in the lifetime of William, 3rd laird of Terpersie.

That William Gordon of Terpersie, or his son James, the 4th laird, would have been free to assign the land within his own family. This appears to have been what happened, since the brother of James, Henry/Harry Gordon of Auchlyne, had a son John, a burgess of Aberdeen, who was later referred to as the Laird of Knockespock, certainly by 1680. This John Gordon also had a son, John, more famously known at a later time as 'old Glenbucket'. These two John Gordons, before the Glenbucket title was ever used in that family, were known as John Gordon of Knockespock, as here:

a]

At Clatt 1680: "The names of the elders of Clat are as followes, John Gordon of Knokespoke, Arthur Dalgarno in Blairdinny, Thomas Paterson, Andrew Couper, John Shirreffe, who being called did compeir with such of the heritors, and masters of families as were present."

from Exercise of Alford

b]

In Historical papers Relating to the Jacobite Period 1699-1750 in the section Bonds by Heritors in Presbyteries of Kincardine and Alford to concert measures for the peace of the Country, 1700. there can be found among other names in the text

"Arthour Forbes of Achintoull Roderick Forbes yor of Brux John Leith of Leithhall and John Gordon of Knockaspak for the presbiterie of Alford to meitt at Kincardine the tenth day of May ensuing"

and

"Sic Subscribetur (among many other heritorswho signed) J. Gordon of Laso Nathaniell Fforbes of Argeith Jn. Gordon of Knockaspak yor H. Lumsden of Cushney Ja. Gordon of Newbigging F. Gordon of Craig"

and

c] Further down the same section

"We undersubscrybing Hertors Within the Presbitries of Alford and Kincardin Haveing Mett at Scotsmilne the dait of thir presents and Haveing Conserted Measures for Secureing Our selves ffrom the Violent Depredations and robberies that are Daylie and Nightly comitted In all Corners of the saids Presbitries Have unanimously of our owin Goodwill Condescended to Pey ane Merk Scots aff off the Hundreth Pounds of Valued rent to be uplifted and appoynted ffor any Person or persons that shall apprehend the persons off Allaster Moir alias Mckdonald Angus Mckdonald alias the Haked Stier John Mckdonald alias the Laird of Glendy John Roy alias Mckinriach Alaster riach and Donald Riach Angus Dow Roderick and Alaster MckDonalds sons to Duleowir Allaster or any others whom John ffarquharsone of Invercald Wm fforbes of Craigivar Harie ffarquharsone of Whyt House Roderick fforbes younger off Brux Arthour fforbes of Auchintoule John Leith of Leith Hall and John Gordoune Elder of Knockespick whom the saids Heritors hath appoynted to meit the tent of May next at Kincardine o neill ffor ffurthe secureing the peace of the Countrie SHall Think ffitt to be Apprehended as notorious robbers and thieves"

When the Glenbucket estate became available later, and was purchased either by John Gordon elder or younger of Knockespock, the Knockespock estate was then sold, but remained within the same family. It was sold to Henry Gordon of Auchlyne younger son George Gordon.

In an email of September 2013 Judith Grimes wrote: "George (Gordon of Knockespock) became the VIII Laird of Knockespock after purchasing it from his kinsman, John Gordon of Glenbucket on 23 March 1705. (Ref: Captain Douglas Wimberley in the Appendix of On the Family of Gordon of Terpesie with a Table of their Descendants.)"

Gordons Under Arms, in referring to Adam Gordon of Park, who sold Glenbucket estate, gives this account of the sale:

"Eldest son of Adam (d. 1693), of Glenbucket, and Jean Douglas, of the Glenbervie family. 1696, imprisoned his mother for thirty days in Glenbucket Castle (as she complained to the Privy Council). 1701, got into debt, and had to dispose of the property to John Gordon, of Knockespock, father of the notorious Jacobite, General John Gordon, of Glenbucket."

There are references in the Strathdon Parish Register of Baptisms from February 1703 onwards which refer to "John Gordon elder and younger of Glenbucket" as witnesses.

One such is in June 1705, that is, after October 1704 when Family of Gordon of Knockespock says John Gordon of Knockespock died. If these dates are correct as given, this last must refer to John Gordon, 'Old Glenbucket', the Jacobite leader and his son, also called John, probably born in the early 1690s. Whether 'Old Glenbucket's father, John, who died in 1704, was the elder John referred to as John Gordon of Glenbucket in the baptisms before October 1704, we can only speculate. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

William married Margaret GORDON, daughter of John GORDON of Leitcheston and Marjory OGILVY 'Lady Birkenbog'.^{1 2 3} (Margaret GORDON was born about 1585.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Daughter married William Gordon, III. of Terpersie. Her name is given in neither of the two references in the Balbithan MS., pp. 47-9."

from Leichestoun




"His (ie George Gordon's) eldest Son William Gordon of Terpersie married the blind Lady Litchestons daughter Gordon, whose mother was a daughter of the Earl of Findlaters Ogilvy..."

from Balbithan MS




"William Gordon, who was interred in the church of Tullynessle, married (according to the Balbithan MS., pp. 47,49) his kinswoman, the 'blind Lady Litcheston's daughter (Gordon), whose mother was a daughter of the Earl of Findlater (Ogilvy),' and the relict of the laird of Birkenbog (Abercrombie). In a somewhat obscure birthbrieve, dated February, 1703, relative to the descent of the two sons of Patrick Gordon of Harlaw, son of an Alexander Gordon of Kincraigie, the latter is said to have married Marjorie Gordon, daughter of William Gordon of Terpersie by his 'wife' Margaret Gordon of Auchannachy. If for 'Auchannachy' we read Auchanacie, the reference is clear enough, for the Leichestoun Gordons were connected with Auchynachie."

from Terpersie ^{1 2 3}