GORDON, William 2nd of Farskane ¹

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  General Notes:

Crommellat

".... Before I end the Genealogie of Cairnborrow and their Cadents I must tell you that Severalls of their Posterity are extinct, only the family of Artloch is represented by William (?) Gordon of Drumwhyndle and William Gordon of Farsken, two Brothers, sons of William Gordon a Second Son of Artlochs who first coft Farsken."

from Balbithan MS ¹

William married E. HAMILTON?. (E. HAMILTON? was born about 1655.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Rathven. (S. PETER, APOSTLE.)

The churches of Rotht-uen and Freschane, both in the diocese of Aberdeen, were annexed by Bishop William in 1483.

The kirk of Freschane, Forscan, Farskin, or Faskin, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It stood in a field about a mile to the west of the town of Cullen, where the site is still pointed out. The three churches of Rathven, Dundurcas (now part of Rothes), and Bellie, were served by one minister in 1574. It is stated at the same period that 'Forsken neidis na reidare.'

A freestone slab, built into a wall at Farskane, initialed E. H., and dated 1677, presents a carving of the arras of Hamilton of Ruglen - a family, so far as I know, that never had any connection with the locality, unless it may have been that a laird of Farskane married a Hamilton. Gordons were designed of Farskane in 1049, how long before, or afterwards, I am not aware; but one of them, who joined Mar's rebellion, is said to have found a safe retreat for some time in a cave, which still bears his name, among the cliffs by the seashore.

In early times, a family was named Farskin, and designed of that Ilk. Farskin, or Faskin, is still a surname in Banffshire. The property, once owned by Hay of Rannes, now (1875) belongs to the Earl of Seafield.

from Epitaphs and Inscriptions

Note:

Some have, without evidence, supposed a connection with the Dukes of Hamilton. William, second duke of Hamilton married in 1638 Elizabeth Maxwell. They had a daughter Elizabeth who had two husbands, neither surnamed Gordon. Anne, his heir, married in 1656 to William Douglas, and did not have a daughter Elizabeth, whose surname would have been Douglas or Douglas- Hamilton, in any case.

John Douglas-Hamilton, son of William Douglas and Anne Hamilton, was the first Earl of Ruglen and later became Earl of Selkirk. He was born about 1665 and was created Earl of Ruglen in 1697, so the above statement presents some contextual difficulty with regard to him, and should be treated with caution.

The first laird of Farskane's wife is unknown. If 1677 is a correct year for some connection to the Gordon lairds of Farskane, it may represent a death, in which case the information may refer to the first laird's wife. Or, it may point to a marriage - of the second laird of Faskane, as presented here. I either instance it is still unknown to whom it may refer.
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