GORDON, Alexander in Oldmad, then at Mill of Aberdour ^{1 2}

   Another name for Alexander was GORDOUN, Alexander.

   User ID: P325.

  General Notes:

"4. Alexander Gordon, Mill of Aberdour, and founder of the family of Gordon of Aberdour. His son John ultimately became laird of Nethermuir."

from Gordons of Nethermuir

  Research Notes:

OLDMAD

Also Old Maud, or Auld Maud, in the parish of New Deer, Aberdeenshire, east of the village, near the B9106.




THE FATHER OF ALEXANDER GORDON

There is some confusion in the text The Gordons of Nethermuir about the father of Alexander Gordon.

The confusion lies specifically as to whom Bulloch refers as the father of Alexander Gordon of Mill of Aberdour:

1

On page 7 of the 1913 edition privately printed at Peterhead, a family tree outline places the 6th Laird, John Gordon, as the son of Alexander Gordon of Mill of Aberdour, and the latter as the son of James? Gordon, son of Patrick Gordon 2nd Laird of Nethermuir.

2

On page 17 of the same 1913 edition, the text reads:

"The 1670 MS. says that all Patrick's sons, 'except the youngest sone James, God hath blissed with a numerous hopeful issue,' and the Theodore Gordon MS. says the same. This is rather borne out by the statement in the 'Tagebuch' (ii., 505) that James put Gen. Patrick and his children in his will. But Paterson ('History of Ayr') gives James as the grandfather of John Gordon who succeeded to Nethermuir, and whose father was undoubtedly Alexander, Mill of Aberdour, founder of the Gordons of Aberdour. I cannot clear up these statements at present."

3

On pages 42 and 43 of the same 1913 edition:

"In his 'History of Ayr' (i., 221), James Paterson states that 'George Gordon of Nethermuir, dying without issue, was succeeded by [John Gordon] the grandson of James, third son of Patrick Gordon of Nethermuir.'

John Gordon was certainly the next heir male after George, but, as I have stated, the latter never seems to have held Nethermuir. This came to John long before George's death.
John Gordon was the son of Alexander Gordon, Mill of Aberdour, who was the son of James Gordon, which James was the younger son of Patrick Gordon II. of Nethermuir. He seems to have come into Nethermuir throug;h his marriage with his kinswoman Christian Gordon, daughter of John Gordon of Nethermuir. and sister of the aforesaid George.

The Old Parish Register for New Deer demonstrates that there is no doubt that the John Gordon baptised there in 1698 was the son of Alexander Gordon ' in Culsh' and Anna Lindsay. One of his godfathers was John Gordon of Nethermuir, presumably 5th laird. Alexander Gordon 'in Culsh' therefore would appear to be the same person as 'Alexander Gordon, Mill of Aberdour' referred to by Bulloch, since later documents make it clear that the John Gordon who married Christian Gordon and became the 6th laird was the son of this man. The 6th laird's will refers to another son of the same Alexander, also Alexander, and he is entitled "Alexander Gordon, at Miln of Aberdour, formerly in Oldmad".

This confused picture is not the only evidence of poor editing. The 'book' may be really a collection of the author's notes gathered for publication. It is still a highly valuable collection for all that.




CULSH

This occurs in several place names in New Deer parish Aberdeenshire, specifically north of the village, as well as being found in the names of places in other parishes around Aberdeenshire. ^{3 4}

Alexander married Anna LINDSAY, daughter of William LINDSAY of Culsh, writer (solicitor) in Edinburgh and Barbara LEITH, about 1689.¹ (Anna LINDSAY was born about 1668 and died in May 1699 ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

"John Gordon of 'Myreston' and Coynach married Jean Lindsay, daughter of William Lindsay (died 1694) of Culsh, whose daughter Anna, married Alexander Gordon, Mill of Aberdour. He had at least two sons"

from Gordons of Cairnfield




"Lindsay (Ann), second daughter of William Lindsay of Culsh and Barbara Leith his first wife, was married about 1689 to Alexander Gordon of the family of Nethermuir, who resided for some time after his marriage in the Parish of New Deer but latterly removed to Mill of Aberdour. She died in May, 1699, besides other children leaving a daughter, Barbara Gordon or Fordyce (537')."

from Family Record ^{1 5}