GORDON, Elizabeth ^{1 2}

   Another name for Elizabeth was GORDON, of Achanacy, Miss.³

   User ID: B748.

  General Notes:

"(Gordon, Elizabeth) d. of George of Jamaica, to her uncle Captain Adam of Auchanachy h. of line gen. S. H., 15 Aug.; 23 Aug. 1782"

"(Gordon, Elizabeth) d. of George of Jamaica, to her uncle John of Auchanachy h. of line gen. S. H., 15 Aug. ; 23 Aug. 1782"

from House of Gordon (Services of Heirs)




"Bishop Geddes was always ready to assist his fellow Catholics - in whatever circumstances of difficulty they might be placed. This year (1783) a case occurred which awakened his zeal and gave exercise to his ability as a negotiator or diplomatist. The case was that of Miss Gordon of Achanachy, Achanachy, whose ancient castle had so long afforded a home and protection to the clergy in times of trial and persecution, a large room therein being set apart for the celebration of the Holy Mysteries. It must be noted here that John Gordon of Achanachy, the uncle and predecessor of the said Miss Gordon, had sold the estate to the Duke of Gordon and received from him a long lease on condition of paying to his Grace a moderate rent.

This lease was the object of dispute between Miss Gordon, who claimed, as the daughter of George Gordon, next brother of John Gordon, and Rose of Pluscardine, who claimed as the nearest Protestant heir. It being possible that, according to the penal laws, the latter was entitled to succeed, Bishop Geddes considered it necessary to use influence in high quarters. Accordingly he obtained a letter of introduction from Bishop Hay to the Lord advocate. He also requested Principal Robertson to favour him with a personal introduction. One morning, the Principal having cheerfully consented, he breakfasted with this worthy gentleman and then proceeded with him to wait upon the Lord Advocate. proceeded with him to wait upon the Lord Advocate. He was well received, and a promise given that His Lordship would do everything in his power in the case of Miss Gordon.....

The case came first before Lord Eskgrove, who, remarking that it was one of great nicety, referred it to the inner court, or whole bench of Judges. Mr. Abercrombie, Miss Gordon s counsel, drew up an able pleading, which was shown to Bishop Geddes for his revision, before it was printed for the use of the judges. The services of the Lord Advocate were also retained. When the case came for hearing before the court, there were ten judges present. They were unanimous in their decision that a Catholic could succeed to and enjoy a lease of land in Scotland, on equal terms with a Protestant. The framers of the penal laws must have forgot to have it enacted that land held by lease should be subject to the same disability as that which is actually owned. Another great difficulty in Miss Gordon's case had been got over.

In early youth, she had been sent for her education to a convent at Paris. Somehow on leaving the convent she had become governess in a family which she accompanied to Ireland It was, for a long time unknown to her family what had become of her. A cousin made diligent search, and at last found her at Dublin, in a state of great destitution. During the time that she was missing, Adam Gordon, a younger brother of her father and of John Gordon, who had been an officer in the Neapolitan army, enjoyed, for about ten years, the lease of Achanachy. It would have been difficult, if at all possible, to prove Miss Gordon s identity, but for the fortunate circumstance of a lady who had been educated in the convent at Paris with her, meeting her in London, and, at once, recognizing her as her former school companion, Betsy Gordon."

from The Catholics of Scotland ^{1 3}

  Research Notes:

This account, found at http://www3.telus.net/pollock/ghost.htm , probably refers to this Elizabeth Gordon. It demonstrates a not unusual bias of the time and place against 'popish' practices:

'The Phantom Nun of Auchanachie
From The Illustrated London News
"Christmas Number, 1957

Auchanachie, Aberdeenshire, where the spiral staircase is walked upon by a phantom nun - a long defrauded Gordon heiress of the property. [Auchanachie house, a fine house contemporary with Crathes (A Castle in Kincardineshire), bears over the door the inscription, "From Our Enemies Defende Us O Christ 1594." It contains a fine spiral staircase and an enormous chimney, and was built by a branch of the Gordon family. [with illistration in original website])
Some ghost stories are such obviously good stories that their credibility is suspect, they seem "man-made"; others are so tenuous, so inconclusive that they gain credibilty thereby, on the argument that no one would be bothered to make them up. Auchanachie, an old house in Aberdeenshire, has a fine spiral staircase and several vaulted rooms, one of which, a small room with three carved stone pendentives, is called "the nunnery".
There is a tradition that this room and this staircase are haunted by mysterious footfalls; and that the ghost is a woman dressed as a nun. Traditionally, too, this woman is Elizabeth Gordon, who was born in 1733 but whose death (some time after 1801) is unrecorded. At a very early age she was placed by her father in a French convent; and soon afterwards the father died. The knowledge of Elizabeth's existence was concealed by an unscrupulous relative, who entered into the inheritance.
After many years a man on the run for killing another in a drunken brawl heard her story and, in spite perhaps, or to gain favour, told of her continued existence, in misery and poverty, after many years in the convent. As a result and after a lawsuit in 1783, Elizabeth Gordon came into her rights, and returned to Auchanachie until 1801, when she left and "was never heard of or seen again" - at all events in the flesh." '