GORDON, William ¹

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  General Notes:

"William (Gordon), illegitimate, was concerned in the attack on Richard Gordon" (page 61)

"Patrick (Gordon) was engaged in a vendetta in 1625 to avenge the case of his illegitimate son William. He had been anxious that this son should marry Margaret, the only daughter of John Cushnie, Culsalmond. The girl, however, set her heart on one Richard Gordon. He was the son of John Gordon of Drymies (a cadet of Craig). Richard was servitor of Leslie of Wardes (a brother, Oliver, was servitor to the laird in 1627) ; he was put to the horn in 1623 for the 'felloun and cruell slaughter of John Johnston in Inverurie,' and in 1622 had been denounced as having worn hagbuts for three years, and 'shoit thairwith at deir, rae, and wyld foull '.

Patrick Gordon heard of the intended wedding in September, 1625, and he immediately sent his son William 'with a nomber of| laules personis' to Cushnie's house, 'of purpois to haif ravished' the girl. They offered 'grite violence both to hir fathir and mother,' hurt 'diverse of hir familie,' and 'perforce caryed away the said Margaret Cushnie, band hir upon a horse behind ane of thame, and at last the said William verie barbarouslie did force hir'. By the aid of the justices of the peace she was rescued, and shortly afterwards married her Richard.

The Gights resolved to be avenged. They lay in wait for Richard, 'soght him divers tymes, and [at] last, rancountering him betuix Tillyfour and Newton of Colsalmond, he wes violentlie assaultit and persewit of his lyffe by the said Patrik, accompanyed with Johnne Gordoun of Ardlogie, his brother [the father of the notorious Nathaniel, executed in 1646], Johnne Gordon of Knockespock [who had married the latter's sister], and a nombir of thair complices, who, nochtwithstanding of the said Richart his humble salutatioun unto thame, and of his submissive intreatie for Godis peace and his majesties, did hurt and wounde bothe him and his hors'.

At last Richard was 'constrayned in his just and necessar defence to stand to the saulftie of his lyffe, and haveing a pistoll about him, wheras no prayer nor intercession availlit him, he shoit' Patrick 'with the pistolett'. Patrick succumbed to his wounds, 'acknawledgeing at the verie houre of his death his fault and just deserving, and did freelie acquite and pardoun the said Richart'. (page 59; the narrative continues until page 61)

from Gight ¹