GORDON, John of Braichlie, elder 2
- Born: About 1625
- Marriage (1): BURNET, Margaret 1
- Died: September 1666 2
Cause of his death was murder.2
Another name for John was GORDON, John of Brackley.1
User ID: G876.
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.(Gordons of Kennerty and Braichlie)
In a Footnote on an Electric Scotland webpage featuring the ballad commemorating the murder of Brackley it states: "Two versions surround the events described in this song which took place in Strathdee on the 7th of September 1666. John Gordon of Brackley bought from the Sheriff of Aberdeen fines 'Exigible from Inverrey and others, for killing of blackfish'. According to Farquharson of Inverey, Brackley refused his offer of a settlement and, with his followers '... loused several shotts' against Inverey's party who, in self defence, opened fire in return and killed the Laird of Brackley and his brother William. The account by Brackley's son, of the event is different. According to him Farquharson of Inverey, with a band of armed followers, came to the house of Brackley, and commanded the Laird to restore his cattle which had been impounded. An argument followed during which Brackley and his brother were murdered." 2 3
John married Margaret BURNET.1 (Margaret BURNET was born about 1626.)
Marriage Notes:
"Robert (Lumsden), who married, in 1644, Agnes, daughter of John Leith of Bucharn .... had a large family .... Of his time there is nothing to record except two 'Discharges' to 'Lady Brackley' - Margaret Burnet - relict of John Gordon of Brackley. She is the heroine of the ballad, 'The Baron of Brackley.'
'Doun Deeside cam' Inverey, whistlin' and playin',
And he lichtit at Brackley yetts at the day dawing,' &c.
The ballad writer, we are pleased to find, is correct in calling her 'Peggy'. After Brackley's slaughter she married, as we learn from the same papers, Dr James Leslie, Doctor of Medicine."
from Families of Lumsden 1
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