GORDON, Hugh of Manar ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

   User ID: B589.

  General Notes:

"Hugh had three sisters, and an older brother Robert Gordon, who had been apprenticed to a relative in Aberdeen, but was treated so badly that he ran away to India, starting a business as a jeweller. In due course, Hugh followed his brother out to India, where he eventually made his fortune."

"Hugh Gordon strongly claimed that his grandfather Peter Gordon of Haddoch was a son and heir of the Gordons of Birkenburn, and that the family therefore had a claim to the Baronetcy of Lesmoir. This was a claim he maintained throughout his life. According to some, there had been a falling out between Peter Gordon of Haddoch and his family, and Peter had moved to the backwater of Rhynie, where indeed he was buried."

"After having received training as a watchmaker, being apprenticed to Patrick Gill in Aberdeen, he arrived at Madras in 1792 to be reunited with his elder brother Robert Gordon who had run away to make his own way in the world. For a number of years Hugh Gordon was employed by the East India Company but was also in business as a watchmaker and silversmith on his own account from 1793. We have a photo of one of the silver spoons he produced, with his initials 'HG' and a thistle emblem. He continued in business at Madras until 1803 when, in that year, his business was passed to the firm of Gordon & Lovell (George Gordon I, Francis Lovell, and Robert Gordon II)."

"When he returned from India with his fortune in 1804, Hugh Gordon bought the estate which he re-named Manar, after the straits between India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where according to some accounts Hugh had made part of his fortune in pearls."

All from the Gordon of Manar website ⁸

Hugh married Elizabeth FORBES, daughter of William FORBES of Echt (second family), and of Springhill, Merchant in Aberdeen and Elizabeth ARBUTHNOTT, on 2 April 1807 in Saint Nicholas parish, Aberdeen, Scotland.¹ (Elizabeth FORBES was born on 29 April 1784 in Aberdeen, Scotland,⁶ died on 10 February 1870 in Inverurie parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland ⁶ and was buried in 1870 in Saint Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen, Scotland ⁶.)

  Marriage Notes:

"GORDON
HUGH
ELIZABETH FORBES/FR4950 (FR4950)
01/04/1807
168/A
150 256
Aberdeen"

"GORDON
HUGH
ELIZABETH FORBES/FR5073 (FR5073)
02/04/1807
168/A
160 187
Aberdeen"

from Index of Marriages ¹