GRAY, Alexander of Schivas, Merchant burgess of Aberdeen 2
- Born: About 1465
- Marriage (1): HAY, Elizabeth 1
User ID: G406.
General Notes:
"3793. Apud Edinburgh, 6 Dec. REX confirmavit cartam Willelmi Gordoun de Schevez, - [qua, pro certa summa pecunie persoluta, vendidit et alienavit ALEXANDRO GRAY, burgensi de Abirdene, heredibus ejus et assignatis, - terras de Newtoun de Schevez, in baronia de Schevez, vie. Abirdene : - Tenend. de rege: - Test. Gilberto Menzeis preposito de Abirdene, Joh. Leslie de Warderis, Jac. Chene de Straloch, Joh. Ogilvy rectore de Dingwale, Wil. Dumbrek, Wil Cheishome, burgen. de Abirdeue, David Lyell et Joh. Striveling capellanis ac notariis publicis : - Apud Abirdene, 27 Nov. 1512]: - Test. ut in carta 3722. xviii. 115."
from Great Seal
"On December 6, 1512, the king confirmed the charter by which William sold to Alexander Gray, burgess of Aberdeen, the lands of Newton of Schivas (Great Seal). This deal may explain the fact that Sir William was elected a burgess of Aberdeen in 1511-2, along with Robert Anthone, tailor (Miscellany of the New Spalding Club, p. 45). It shows that William was borrowing money and that the worthy burgess of Aberdeen had money to lend." (page 12)
from Gight
Note:
"1537. Aug. 31. The Gordons are described for the first time as 'de Geith' in the Privy Council Register. Till then they are described as 'de Scheves'." (page 22)
So even though William Gordon, baron of Schivas, sold Schivas land to Alexander Gray in 1512, George Gordon. 2nd laird, William's heir, could still be known as 'of Schivas' in 1537.
George Gordon, died 1579, 3rd laird of Gight, husband of Agnes Beton, continued to be referred to as 'of Scheves' till the end of his life, and after (5 April 1584).
It is likely, since the Maitland and other families were also named in later documents regarding Schivas and the sale of its lands, that the lands of the barony were sold to and held by different individuals or families after 1512. To put it another way, the Gordon family were overlords of particular individual landowners of Schivas. 2 3
Research Notes:
SCHIVAS
Also Schives, Scheves. Situated in Traves parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
"The estate of Schives had belonged to the old family of Maitland. Sir Patrick Maitland died, leaving two sisters, Elizabeth and Janet. The second Earl of Huntly financed them, and they resigned Schives in his favour [....]
1467. June 12. Resignation of Janet Maitland, in pursuance of the above bond, of the lands in the hands of the king as superior. Dated at Methlick.
1467. June 12. The Royal Charter following on last, to George, Lord Gordon of Gight, Naterdale, Pettinbrinzeane and Drumnaketh. Dated at Perth.
The Balbithan MS. account of the whole affair runs : Sir Patrick Maitland Barron of Gight and Sheeves leaving only three [only two are mentioned in the charters] Daughters, Earle George got the gift of the Ward of their marriage, and his said third son William Gordon not being willing to marry any of the three daughters, Earl George provided them of other Husbands, with whom he transacted for the Lands of Gight and Sheeves, which he gave to his son the said William. The elder daughter Elizabeth is stated (Temple's Thanage of Fermartyn, p. 308) to have married 'Jock' Gordon of Scurdargue, but the dates seem to suggest that 'Jock's' consort was at least the aunt of Elizabeth mentioned in the charter of 1467. In the Sir Name of Baird (1870, p. 13) we are told that Huntly gave the other daughter, Janet Maitland, in marriage to her cousin-german, Thomas Baird, and with her the lands of Drumnaketh, Pettinbrinzeane and others in the Boyne, and several lands, fishings and houses about Banff, 'particularly the lodging formerly belonging to Lord Airly and now to Lord Fife'. This Maitland-Baird marriage, according to the same authority, took place in 1490 [....]
1505. April ii. Discharge: Thomas Baird and Janet Maitland, his spouse, to William Gordon of Gight, upon the payment of 3,000 merks in lieu of claims.
1506. Charter by George, Earl of Huntly, upon the lands of Drumnaketh, etc., to Thomas Baird and Janet Maitland, his spouse.
The Maitlands retained some hold on the lands of Schives, for they received a charter of infeftment from the king on July 6, 1672 [....]
On October 8, 1479, Huntly gave the estate of Gight to his second son, Adam, who married Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, and who founded the Gordon line of the Sutherland family. Huntly dated a charter 'apud le Geych' on May 4, 1481 (Antiq. Aberdeen and Banff., ii., 271). Adam exchanged Gight for Aboyne with his younger brother, William ('familiaris armiger'), on November 1, 1490 [....]
Another stage in the history of the estate was when Lord Huntly resigned Schivas, for on May 16, 1498, the king confirmed William's charter, settling the estate on him ; failing him, on his brother, James ; and failing him, on the earl and his heirs. On January 4, 1510-1 (Great Seal), the king again confirmed the charter by William Gordon and Jonete Ogilvy, his wife (mentioned here for the first time). On December 6, 1512, the king confirmed the charter by which William sold to Alexander Gray, burgess of Aberdeen, the lands of Newton of Schivas ...."
from Gight 2
Alexander married Elizabeth HAY.1 (Elizabeth HAY was born about 1478.)
Marriage Notes:
"Alexander (Gray), merchant in Aberdeen, made a considerable fortune, and married Elizabeth Hay. He had a charter of the lands of Newton of Schives in Aberdeenshire on the resignation of William Gordon of Schives on 27 November 1512."
from Scots Peerage (vol 4) 1
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