Research Notes:

AUCHORACHAN

The name of this large Banffshire farmstead is found with different spellings, usually based on pronunciation: Acherachan, Achorachan, Achorrachan, Aucherachan, Achurrachan and so on. In modern times it is best known for the distillery that has been there at least since the time of this William Gordon:

"Aucherachan Distillery
Address: Glenlivet, Banffshire, Scotland
History: 1790 William Gordon died; 1833 William Grant; 1851 Operating; 1852 Captain William Grant"

It is also famous for being the name of a Strathspey tune composed by William Marshall, and for its Standing Stone.

For centuries it has been in the ownership of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, but Grants and Stewarts, as well as Gordons have resided there:

"1675-1711 Miscellaneous accounts, including
2. John Stewart of Achorachan, money mail and duties of Strathaven, Glenlivat, Tombreackachie and part of Glenrinnes contained within his factory, crops 1687, 1689-96." (NRS Ref. GD44/51/123/1)
"1697-1699 Miscellaneous vouchers, Including some of those of James Stewart of Achorachan, chamberlain of Strathdoun and Glenlivet." (NRS Ref. GD44/51/496/9)
"1708-1795 Achorachan: Liferent writs and other papers relating to lands of Auchorachan, Auchbrack, Chapelchrist and others in parishes of Kirkmichael and Inverhaven, sheriffdom of Banff" (NRS Ref. GD44/23/11/1)
"1761 Plan of daugh of Achorachin: Farm plan showing townships of Tombreckachie, Shenval, Torvanich, Achbreck, Auchorachan and Tam a Chork. Buildings in elevation. Land use indicated - arable, pasture, wood and moor. Watermill and lead noted. Table of contents. Detailed notes." (NRS Ref. RHP2487/3)
"1774 Plan of Auchorachan, Chapplechrist and Tomachark, Banffshire: Plan of infield-outfield lands of Auchorachan, Tomachork and Chapple Chriest coloured to show boundaries of townships. Field boundaries with field-names, acreages and land use - arable, pasture, wood and moor. Steadings with occupants' names, types of trees and old stance of Tomnagalachan noted. Relief by grey wash. Pencilled additions relating to improvements." (NRS Ref. RHP1787)
"1790, 1797 Multiplepoinding at instance of Alexander, duke of Gordon, and another, v. representatives and creditors of William Gordon, elder and younger, of Achorachan" (NRS Ref. GD44/42/1/37)
"1795-1803 Achorachan: Papers in multiplepoinding, Alexander, duke of Gordon, and Dr George Gordon, v. creditors and legatees of William Gordon, elder and younger, of Auchorachan" (NRS Ref. GD44/23/11/2)
Note: "multipoinding" in Scots Law - "A legal action taken when there are several claimants to the same fund or property"

J. M. Bulloch writes in the Gordons and Smiths in Minmore:

'Auchorachan, which is in the parish of Inveravon, was apparently held by Harry Gordon, son of William Gordon I. in Minmore, for he is described in 1652 as "in Auchorachan." A gap occurs in the history of the farm, but on February 23, 1745, John Gordon (died before 1767), son and heir of the famous Jacobite, John Gordon of Glenbucket (died 1750) had sasine on the lands of " Auchroachan" (Banff Sasines).
This seems to have been the origin of the belief that the Gordon-Smith family is descended from the Glenbucket line. John's son, William, had sasine on December 8, 1767, on an annual rent of £400 Scots, " to be taken partly of all and haill the half daugh lands of Auchroachan."
Curiously enough, the next Gordon connected with Auchorachan is also a William, but, so far as is known, he was not connected with the Glenbucket family.'

This is a mere snippet of the ongoing history of the farmstead. Today it has its own website https://www.auchorachan.com/,

"the website for D & R Durno & Sons, breeders of pedigree Simmental, Charolais, Limousin, Aberdeen Angus, and Salers cattle as well as cross bred Commercial cattle."

BOGFOUTAIN

While the place name in the spelling above is often found with regard to this William Gordon, and was used in a self-subscribed document, the more generally used historical spelling is Bogfouton. This is listed as a place name in the parish of Forgue, Aberdeenshire. The parish is about six or seven miles from Huntly, in Strathbogie, an area typically associated with the House of Gordon, though the Crichton mansion of Frendraught, infamously a scene of Gordon cruelty, was also situated there. Like the name Forgue itself, the place name Bogfouton has a Celtic origin:

"Bogfouton (for Bog Chothain). Bog covered with a frothy scum. Bog, bog; chothain, gen. asp. of cothan, froth.
Ch had become ph, equivalent to /; and h of th had become silent and had been lost. Fouton may represent chuitan, small fold."

Examples of where 'Bogfouton' is found:

[i] 1769 May National Records of Scotland Ref RHP98315
"Sketch plan of hilly ground belonging to Glenmellan and Bogfouton (plan no.6 of Forgue)
Papers of the Ogilvy family, Earls of Seafield (GD248) (NRS)

[ii] 1769 May National Records of Scotland Ref RHP98315
"Sketch plans of lands of Bogfouton (plan no.7 of Forgue)
Papers of the Ogilvy family, Earls of Seafield (GD248)" (NRS)

1790 21st July Aberdeenshire Roll of Freeholders made up at the meeting held at Aberdeen for choosing their Representatives to the Parliament of Great Britain summoned to meet at Westminster the 10th August 1790
"Sir James Grant of Grant for Bogfouton" (Mackenzie)
Note:This was the 8th Baronet, (1738-1811), 'the good Sir James', co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He married Jean Duff. James Grant was the son of Sir Ludovick Grant, 7th Baronet, and Margaret Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield. His eldest son, Lewis, inherited the Grant Baronetcy from his father and the earldom of Seafield through his grandmother.

1791 26 Oct. A deed was written by John Marshall, advocate in Aberdeen, and subscribed at Aberdeen by William Gordon younger, "fourth lawful son to the deceast William Gordon of Bogfouton". (Bulloch)
1791 21 Dec. The deed was put on record at Elgin.
"Know all men by these presents me William Gordon, fourth lawful son to the deceast William Gordon of Bogfouton, heritable proprietor of the subject after disponed, for the favour and affection I bear to John Gordon, only lawful son to Robert Gordon in Castletown, and in consideration of the confidence I repose in the Rev. Mr George Gordon, minister of the gospel at Mortlach, and Robert Mitchell at Parkmore to have disponed . . . . to and in favour of the said Mr George Gordon and Robert Mitchell, or either of them ... all and whole the town and lands of Bogfouton lying in the county of Aberdeen as described in the writs and
title deeds thereof. . . for the use and behoof of the said John Gordon, his heirs and assignees, and for other purposes mentioned, but providing that the said John Gordon himself shall not be entitled to enter to possession or management of the same until he arrive at the age of 21 years complete, at which time my said trustees are to denude themselves of this trust..."
(Bulloch)

1790-1796 National Records of Scotland Ref. CS96/3298
"William Gordon of Bogfouton. Report in process of multiplepoinding: 1796
Dispute amongst Gordon's legatees and children. Accounting from 1790, when Gordon died." (NRS)
Note: These papers have not been seen by this researcher. They may refer to William Gordon elder, died 1790. or William Gordon younger, died in 1791 or 1792.

1802 5th Oct. Land Tax at £13.16.0 Scots per £100 Scots of Valued Rent:
"Proprietor: John Gordon of Bogfouton £88. 13s. 4d Valuation Scots" (Scotland's Places)
Note: This is William Gordon's grandson, the son of Robert Gordon in Castletown, who benefited in this respect from his uncle William's will.

1811 1st Oct. Aberdeenshire Roll of Freeholders made up at the Michaelmas Head Court held at Aberdeen
"Colonel Francis William Grant of Bogfouton" (Bridges)
Note: This was the fourth son of Sir James Grant and Jane Duff. In 1840 he became Francis William Ogilvy-Grant, 6th Earl of Seafield (1778-1853), succeeding his elder brother.

19th century National Records of Scotland Ref GD248/96/2
"Miscellaneous writs, including Ardfour, Colps, Tullidown, Bogfouton and Tulloch
Papers of the Ogilvy family, Earls of Seafield (Seafield Papers)" (NRS)

Modern records regularise the spelling to Bogfountain. For example in Scotland's Places Aberdeenshire OS Name Books, volume 31, Wether Hill is described as "A Slight eminence principally rough heathy pasture Situate about halfway between the Church of Ythan and the farm of Mains of Bogfountain; the property of A. Morison, Esq Bognie, Forgue."

Note with a view to the connection of this William Gordon to Bogfouton:
(i) Some information about links between members of the Gordon family and the Morrisons who owned Bogfouton may be found in "The Genealogy of the Morrison Origins in Scotland" by Alexander Weir Morrison, available online in pdf format.
(ii) The links to "John Gordon of Balmade", a merchant and Provost of Banff, married to Janet Sanders, might be further researched for a possible connection to this William Gordon.
(iii) Similarly, the Gordons of Birkenburn, had links to Drumblade parish and to Forgue parish.

POSSIBLE TIMELINE FOR WILLIAM GORDON

1719? Birth
1741 Marriage in Aberlour parish: "William Gordon in this parish & Margaret Stuart in Inveraven"
1742-1746: Three of his children baptised in Aberlour parish "William Gordon in Glenrinnes". (There is another William Gordon named in Aberlour Registers designated as 'schoolmaster')
1745 "carried arms as a private man" (Rosebery's List, 112) 19 August 1745 Royal Standard raised at Glenfinnan
1746 "May 7 at home" (Rosebery's List, 112) William's third child was baptised on 6 June 1746.
1748-1762:Five of his children baptised in Inveravon parish "William Gordon in/of Achorachan/Achurrachan/ Auchorachan"
1762-1775 death of wife Margaret Stuart
1775 23 April Marriage in Knockando parish: "William Gordon in Parish of Inveravon & Helen Ord in this Parish"
1785: Listed as having female servant at Achorachan
late 18th century: said to be distilling whisky at Achorachan
1790 Death at Achorachan ^{14 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36}

William married Margaret STEWART, daughter of Thomas STEWART in Nevie and Unknown, on 23 July 1741 in Aberlour parish, Banffshire, Scotland.^{1 2} (Margaret STEWART was baptised on 17 August 1717 in Inveravon parish, Banffshire, Scotland ^{12 37} and died before 16 April 1775 ³⁸.)

  Marriage Notes:

"STUART
MARGARET
WILLIAM GORDON/
23/07/1741
145 10 / 248
ABERLOUR"

from Index of Marriages


Old Parish Registers
Aberlour parish Banffshire
Marriages

"1741
23 July
Gordon & Stuart
William Gordon in this parish & Margaret Stuart in Inveraven Married" ^{1 2}

William next married Helen ORD on 23 April 1775 in Knockando parish, Moray, Scotland.^{3 4} (Helen ORD was born 1735 ?.)

  Marriage Notes:

Old Parish Registers
Inveravon parish Banffshire
Marriages

"AD 1775
William Gordon in this parish & Hellen Ord in the Parish of Knockando being contracted & regularly proclaimed were married April 16^th 1775"

Note: this was probably the date of the last proclamation


Old Parish Registers
Knockando parish Banffshire
Marriages

"1775
Gordon & Ord
April 23^d. William Gordon in Parish of Inveravon & Helen Ord in this Parish married" ^{4 9}