GORDON, Alexander elder, 2nd of Oxhill ¹

  General Notes:

"His (Sir Alexander Gordon brother of Sir Robert Gordon 1st Baronet of Gordonston) first purchase of land was made in 1595, when only ten vears old, when he bought the mill of Innes and some adjacent ground from Alexander Gordon, apparent of Oshill."

from The Book of Sutherland


Bulloch presents in a long paragraph occasions where "Alexander Gordon of Oxhill" was named. This has been edited for presentation as a list for easier reading. Note the comment below that *two* Alexanders are referred to, presumably father and son, otherwise the said Alexander would have been charged before the Committee of Estates at the age of about 90 years of age!

'- Alexander Gordon in Oxhill was in the remission for the battle of Glenlivet, 1594, granted 1603 (Spald. Club Misc., iv., 160).

- Alexander "apparent" of Oxhill sold the Mill of Innes in 1595 to Sir Alexander Gordon of Navidal (Fraser's Sutherland Book, i. 206).

- Alexander of Oxhill, and James Gordon of Auchinraith, apparent of Leitcheston and Alexander Gordon of Birkenburn were witnesses when James Gordon of Lesmurdie was cautioner for Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir in £1000 and James Gordon, apparent thereof in 1000 merks not to harm George, Robert and Alexander Gordon in Scurdargue, and James Duncan, tenants of George, Marquis of Huntly : signed at Auchindoir and Lesmoir, October 20, 1604 (Privy Council Register).

- 1604, October 23.— Alexander Gordon of Birkenburn, along with Alexander Gordon of Oxhill and James Gordon, apparent of Leichestoun, witnessed a bond ot caution granted by James Gordon of Lesmurdie for Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir and James Gordon, apparent thereof, signed at Auchindoir and Lesmoir (Pvivy Council Reg.).

- On June 22, 1607, Alexander Gordon of Oxhill was cautioner for Mr. Thomas Bissett, minister, for 500 merks, not to harm Mr. James Mertine, minister at Peterhead.

- Again, Alexander Gordon of Oxhill was cautioner (May 4, 1609) for James Petrie, burgess in Elgin, in 400 merks not to harm Isobel Cuming (Privy Council Register).

- On February 2, 1610, Alexander Gordon of Oxhill and James Gordon in Over Auchinraith, eldest son to John Gordon of Leitcheston, were "delaitit of airt and pairt of the slauchter" of Alexander Abercromby of Pitmedden on
March 12, 1594 (Pitcairn's Criminal Trials, iii., 78-80).

- Alexander Gordon in Oxhill was present at a presbyterial visitation of the Kirk of Rathven, July 21, 1630(Cramond's Church of Rathven).

- On April 24, 1638, Alexander Gordon in Oxhill received from the Marquis of Huntly a charter of wadset on Oxhill (Gordon Castle Inventory). He was a strong anti-Covenanter, and raided the house of Alexander Strachan of Glenkindie at Auchnagat in 1644 (Acts of Parliament, Scottish Notes and Queries, xi., 152).

- On January 2, 1647, Alexander in Oxhill appeared before the Fordyce Presbytery and confessed in "humble maner" his "grieff and sorrow for going in the wicked rebellion" (Cramond's Church of Rathven).

- He and George Gordon of Leitcheston were charged before the Committee of Estates in 1649.

- On May 29, 1651, there was a bond for £17 10s. by Alexander Gordon of Oxhill to John Ogilbie, merchant at Keith, dated Keith, November 10, 1650 (Elgin Commissary Record).
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**These Alexanders were not, however, identical as is shown by an entry in the Elgin Commissary Record of January 6, 1648, when James Geddes of Auchenraith assigns a band (sic, Scots for bond) of August 1, 1633, "maid to me be umqll. (late or deceased) Alexander Gordon, sumtyme of Oxhill, as principall, and with and for him George Gordone then in Oxhill, now in Newton of Drany, his sone, his caur. for 100 merks". George in turn had granted a band of date October 8, 1637. 0n April, 1649, there was a band for 180 marks by George Gordon in Nether Auchinreath to George Gordon in Newton in Drany, granted at Elgin, June 3, 1637, "before thir witnesses, Jon Gordoune my lawfull sone, James Gordoune my brother and William Thorne, notar " (writer of the deed) (Elgin Commissary Record).' ^{1 2 3 4}

Alexander married.