GORDON, John 4th of Kennerty ²

   Cause of his death was murder.²

   Other names for John were GORDON, John of Kennertie ¹ and GORDOUN, Johnne of Kennartie.¹

   User ID: J386.

  General Notes:

In the Huntly Express, 25 February 1910, Dr John Bulloch, refers to the two murders of 1592 and 1666, perpetrated against members of this family line. He makes the point that even Professor Child, an expert on ballad form, though he was no genealogist, realised that the ballad of "Baron of Braichlie" was a confusion or conflation of two different events within the same family.

from The Gordons of Kennerty ²

John married Janet LINDSAY before 24 July 1548.¹ (Janet LINDSAY was born about 1530.)

  Marriage Notes:

"In 1548, in view of his son's marriage, he (Thomas Gordon of Kennerty, John's father) resigned his estates in the Queen's hands, and upon 24th July same year the Queen grants a charter to John Gordon (son and apparent heir to Thomas of Kennertie) and Janet Lindsay his spouse, and their heirs, of the lands and Barony of Kennertie, with the fishings and pertinents, with certain reservations in favour of Thomas and his spouse (Reg. Mag. Sig., xxx., 197). Upon 6th November same year John Gordon has Instrument of Sasine of all and sundry the lands of Balnacraig, Braeruddoch and Knockewis, in the Barony of Aboyne (Aboyne Charter Chest)."

"John Gordon of Kennertie was one of the Barons of the north who subscribed the Bond to the King in 1574 (Reg. of Privy Council, ii.,p. 401). George, 5th Earl of Huntly, two years later directs Precept to Alexander Gordon in Toldow (John's uncle), his bailie, for infefting John Gordon, now of Kennertie, as heir of late Thomas, his father, in the lands of Braeruddoch, holding in chief of the granter in blench ferm. This deed is dated at Huntly 26th June 1576 : witnesses, James Gordon of Haddo, George Gordon of Gight, John Gordon of Pitlurg, and John Gordon of Carnborrow, &c. (Aboyne Charter Chest). Sasine followed four days later, and is witnessed by Alexander Gordon in Cults, and William Gordon in Braelycht."

"John Gordon of Kennertie...on 4th January 1584, granted a charter to William Gordon, his son, his heirs male and assignees,

'of the lands of Braeruddoch and Craigton for a certain sum of money paid to the granter in his urgent necessity : To hold from the granter, of George Earl of Huntly, in fee and heritage, for payment of one penny yearly at the Castle of Aboyne in name of blench ferme if asked : Reserving to Katherine Fraser spouse of the granter her frank tenement and usufruct of said lands for her life time.'

John Gordon could not write, and the deed has got his seal appended (Aboyne Charter Chest). In 1588, he had to find caution that he would not harm William Leslie of Sevile, and next year he had to become bound in 2000 merks that he should behave loyally, and attempt nothing in hurt of his Majesty, or his authority, &c. (Reg. Privy Council, iv., p. 37S). On 2nd August 1589, he and his son, William, had to find caution in £2000 that they would not harm Leslie of Sevile; the sureties being John Grant of Freuchie, John Levingstone, younger of Dunipace; and Donald Farquharson of Tulligarmont (Ibid., p. 4.05). John Gordon of Kennertie seems to have died prior to 1593, when William Gordon of Kennertie becomes bound not to assist the Earl of Huntly.'

from Records of Aboyne ¹

John next married Katherine FRASER before 4 January 1584.¹ (Katherine FRASER was born about 1550.)

  Marriage Notes:

"John Gordon of Kennertie, to whom we referred in a previous note (p. 128), on 4th January 1584, granted a charter to William Gordon, his son, his heirs male and assignees, 'of the lands of Braeruddoch and Craigton for a certain sum of money paid to the granter in his urgent necessity : To hold from the granter, of George Earl of Huntly, in fee and heritage, for payment of one penny yearly at the Castle of Aboyne in name of blench ferme if asked : Reserving to Katherine Fraser spouse of the granter her frank tenement and usufruct of said lands for her life time.'"

from Records of Aboyne ¹