GORDON, ? James of Sheepbridge, near Newry ¹

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  General Notes:

"(?) James Gordon of Sheepbridge near Newry, a family that became extinct in the direct male line in 1891." (page 35)

"The Sheepbridge lands acquired by James Gordon in 1692, were a part of the Abbey property of the Cistercian Abbey at Newry granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Nicholas Bagenal ; and James Gordon leased them from Nicholas Bagenal, his descendant. Benn's History of Belfast contains a note stating that in Queen Elizabeth's reign, Sir Nicholas Bagenal and Henry Bagenal, his son, obtained a patent granting to them the Abbey of Comber in Countv Down. Rathfriland apparently came within the Bagenal ownership of these abbey lands ; and, since the Presbyterian minister at Comber occupied Bagenal lauds, it is natural to suppose that this minister's son, James would have a preference at Sheepbridge ; and that the Bagenal interests and influence would be powerful in behalf of the same familv at Rathfriland, and its adjacent townland of Ballinteggart. Another suggestive link is to be found in the fact that the Rev. Alexander Gordon of Rathfriland was succeeded in 1711 by the Rev. Robert Gordon, 'a native of Donagh dee,' which is in the neighbourhood of Comber. Now the fact that one of this Robert's wives was buried in the same grave with the Rev. Alexander Gordon of Rathfriland suggests that there was some familv relationship between the two ministers. The diary of the Rev. Robert Gordon is now in the possession of a Dr Annesley of Derrylin, County Fermanagh, but I have not had the opportunity of seeing it." (pages 39 and 40)

from Gordons of Salterhill ¹

  Research Notes:

DOUBT REGARDING ANCESTRY OF SHEEPBRIDGE GORDONS

"Mr Armistead Churchill Gordon holds that the founder of his family was the Rev. James Gordon of Comber, Co. Down, for he makes him the ancestor of the Gordons of Sheepbridge, County Down. If this suggestion is correct, the descendants of the minister can be numbered by the hundred, for though the direct line actually owning Sheepbridge died out in 1891, the house has been extremely prolific. Mr Gordon has constructed a pedigree (running into 51 pages of typewritten quarto), and last year he wrote a life of his grandfather, General William Fitzhugh Gordon, 1787-1858, issued by the Neale Publish ing Company of New York (8vo. : pp.412)...." (pages 3 and 4)

" .... I am not satisfied that the Rev. James Gordon of Comber was the father of James of Sheepbridge. If that could be proved, the minister would be doubly interesting." (page 4)

"The descent of the Gordons of Sheepbridge and of Ballinteggart, both in County Down, from the Rev. James Gordon of Comber, is at present a great difficultv. Mr Armistead Gordon is inclined to believe that James Gordon I. of Sheepbridge was the son of the minister of Comber; but Mr Philip Crossle,of Dundalk, who has made elaborate investigations into the history of the Irish Gordons, thinks that James Gordon I. of Sheepbridge, and Robert Gordon I. of Ballintaggart, were probably brothers and sons of Robert, the brother of the Rev. James Gordon of Comber." (pages 39 and 40)

from The Gordons of Salterhill ¹