GORDON, John of Essie, and of Buckie ^{1 2 3}

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John married Daughter SPENS 'of Boddam', daughter of Right Reverend Mr Thomas SPENS Bishop of Galloway, then Bishop Aberdeen, Keeper of the Privy Seal and Unknown.¹ (Daughter SPENS 'of Boddam' was born about 1459.)

  Marriage Notes:

"His (Alexander Gordon's) eldest son John Gordon of Essy married the Heretrix of Bodom Spens, with whom he begat four sons, viz, Alxr Gordon of Buckie Constable of Bog of Gight, Thomas Gordon of Auchinheives goodman of Craicullie, William Gordon of Knockespock, and David Gordon. Their father the said John of Essy sold the Lands of Boddam and coft the Lands of Buckie ; he dyed in peace."

from Balbithan MS (Buckie)

Note:

There can be confusion about landholding in the feudal system. At the peak of the hierarchy was the monarch. He granted lands to his nobles or barons - baronies - in exchange for loyalty and service. The barons in turn could grant pieces of their barony for rent, as gifts, or exchange them for money or other land. Thus one might read of the barony 'of Boddam', but also encounter smaller parts of the barony held by others, who might be said to be 'of Boddam'. Ultimately all land could revert to the king under particular circumstances, since he was the feudal superior. Land given as part of a woman's marriage settlement was held by her husband usually, as the 'head' of his wife in law. Sometimes the land was transferred to one or more of her children depending on the contract arrangements.




"William Gordon, first laird of Knockespock by repute, was the third son of John Gordon of Essie by Spens, daughter and heretrix of Boddam, in the parish of Insch (Balb. MS., p. 57), and grandson of Alexander of Essie by Christian, daughter of Leslie of Balquhain. John is said to have sold Boddam and bought Buckie (Balb. MS., ibid), but perhaps he sold only part of Boddam, for Alexander Gordon of Boddam is mentioned as a witness to a charter granted by the Earl of Huntly in 1553 (R.M.S., III., No. 1295). This Alexander may have been William's eldest son. Again, William Spens of Boddam was witness to charters in 1527, 1535, and 1536 (R.M.S.) ; and John Spens was served heir to his father, William of Boddam, in 1579, and Alexander Spens, heir to John, his father, in 1586. Perhaps John Gordon of Essie's wife was heretrix of only part of Boddam, which may have been sold to a Spens, who owned the other part."

from Gordons of Knockespock ¹