KNOWLES, Janet ^{1 2 3}

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  General Notes:

"In 1559 his cathedral chapter warned Bishop Gordon that heresy was growing, that it was losing control of its income through his excessive leasing of its lands, and that clerical concubinage remained unchecked. The latter was a pointed reminder that Gordon already had five sons and three daughters of his own, born of his liaison with Janet Knowles, an unmarried gentlewoman, and provided for by diocesan funds. All these issues, however, were swept away by the Reformation Parliament, meeting in July and August 1560, which abolished papal authority throughout the realm, forbade the celebration of the mass, approved the Scots confession of faith, and recognized the sole competence of a reformed ministry."

from Dictionary of National Biography ¹

Janet had a relationship with Right Reverend Dr William GORDON last Pre-Reformation Bishop of Aberdeen, son of Alexander GORDON 3rd Earl of Huntly and Jean STEWART. (Right Reverend Dr William GORDON last Pre-Reformation Bishop of Aberdeen was born about 1499, died on 6 August 1577 ^{2 4} and was buried in 1577 in Old Machar Churchyard, Aberdeen, Scotland ⁵.)

  Marriage Notes:

"About the dawn of the Reformation, the patrimony of the hospital was dilapidated by Bishop William Gordon, the last Roman catholic prelate of Aberdeen, who, with Sir John Collison, the rector and subchantor of the church, alienated the lands, by way of feu, to different persons. Among these we find Andrew Brebner, burgess of Aberdeen, feuer or vassal of South Spittal and Wester Peter, afterwards distinguished by tlie name of Froghall. On the 20th of October, 1565, the same bishop, with concurrence of the chapter, in consideration of L.15, Scottish money, of annual feu duty, and Ss. 4d. of augmentation, conveyed, by a feu charter, the lands of North Spittal to Janet Knowles, his concubine [*Keith's History of Scotland, Appendix], in life rent, and to George Gordon, her son, in fee, whom failing, to his brothers John and William, and to his sisters, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Mathia, successively."

from Annals of Aberdeen




"On 20th October 1565, Bishop Gordon granted a charter of the lands of North Spittal to 'Janet Knowles [probably "the gentilwoman who slandered him"] in life rent and to George, John, William, Elizabeth, Margaret and Martha Gordons in fee.' Janet Knowles, Knowis, or Knollis was the daughter of Alexander Knowles, burgess of Aberdeen, and the foregoing were her children by the Bishop. Of the above children, Margaret married George Knowles. John and George possessed property in Aberdeen. William Gordon possessed the half lands of Boghole and Mill thereof, which he sold to William Menzies and Elizabeth Cocklaw, his spouse, in 1562. He also possessed the lands of Corthymure, which he resigned on 14th April 1562, when his father granted them to Andrew Buk and Meit Menzies, his spouse (Reg. Mag. Stg., xxxii., 125). John Gordon died without issue, and he was succeeded by another brother, 'Mr. Walter who married and had a son, William Gordon' (M. S. Pedigree). Marjory, another daughter, married Mr. John Fraser, and they had a charter of the lands of Towie from Bishop Gordon, 4th February 1556. She died on 14th January 1581."

from Records of Aboyne ^{2 6}