GORDON, William of Minmore, cadet of Knockespock ^{1 3}

   Other names for William were GORDON, William of Menmoir, GORDON, William of Miniemore ² and GORDON, William of Minimore.⁴

   User ID: X865.

  General Notes:

"THE Gordons of (more correctly in) Minmore form part of a large group of the house of Gordon in the district of Glenlivet; the name given to the southern part of the parish of Inveravon, which runs right across Banffshire, from Aberdeenshire on the south-east to Elginshire on the north-west. The group consists broadly of the families in Achnarrow, Auchorachan, Clashnoir, Inchnacape, Lettoch, Minmore, Morinsh, Tomnachlaggan, Tomnavoulin, and Tullochallum, with Croughly in the adjoining parish of Kirkmichael."
Note:"in" is more correct because the Minmore Gordons tenanted the land but did not own it. It is the land itself that affords the Scottish laird his title. This system is distinct from life or hereditary peerage.

"THE burgess of Elgin proved that he thought nothing of the stigma, for he planted his natural son William in Minmore, and by a commonplace irony his legitimate descendants have all vanished, while the house of Minmore still flourishes.
The first reference to Minmore as associated with William Gordon occurs in what is believed to be the year 1632. On May 7 and 8 of a year not actually stated, the Synod of Moray, meeting at Elgin, ordered William Gordon 'of' Minmore and others to be 'processit' as 'papists' (Cramond's Synod of Moray, p. 24)."

"THE lands of Minmore were tenanted by a family of Gordon, for over two centuries, at least from 1632 to 1840, when the family of Smith, in Upper Drumin, took up the tenancy...
The Minmore Gordons trace to the Gordons of Knockespock, in the Aberdeenshire parish of Clatt, twenty miles to the north east as the crow flies."

"...he was captured in 1646 by Middleton's Covenanting troops, who sent him to Edinburgh with Gordon of Newton, old Leith of Harthill, Captain Mortimer, and Thomas Stewart of Drumin."

"....on April, 1658, the Synod of Moray ordered that William Gordon 'of Minniemore' and three women should have the sentence of excommunication against them for 'obstinacie in poperie', intimated in all the congregations of the province (Cramond's Synod of Moray, p. 125).
William did more than help his chief with arms. He lent him money, for in November 1632 Lord Gordon wadset to him for £1000 the easter half of Lettoch, and on May 24, 1647, William Gordon, younger of Minmore, and his mother had sasine on Easter Lettoch on a charter by Huntly, registered at Banff, May 29, 1647."

'1642, April 17 William Gordon in [sic] Minmore witnessed the baptism of William, son of William Gordon in Achnarrow'

all above from The Gordons and Smiths at Minmore

1632
Synod of Moray, meeting at Elgin, ordered William Gordon "of" Minmore and others to be 'processit' as 'papists'
1639
Minimore was an officer in Donald, Farquharson of Monaltrie's Regiment
1644
Minimore was an officer in Donald Farquharson of Monaltrie's Regiment. After the death of Monaltrie in 1645, Minimore's became an independent formation.
1645 July 2nd
Fought at Alford (200 men approx) accompanied by 'three of his sonnes' at the head of 200 'Straithawine men' \endash described in Britane's Distemper as ' - of Minimore, a waliant gentleman, who shew himself a loyal subject of his King, and a faithful and constaint follouer of the house of Huntly in all their expeditions' At Alford, Minimore fought under the banner of James Farquharson of Inverey.
1646
Captured by Middleton's Covenanting troops when Huntly's rising collapsed, Minimore was sent to Edinburgh with Gordon of Newton, Old Leith of Harthill, Captain Mortimer and Thomas Stewart of Drumin. He was imprisoned in the Tolbooth. He was referred to as 'an active and bloody Instrument in rebellion'
1647
May 24th William Gordon younger of Minimore (son of the one in the Tolbooth), and his mother had sasine*** on Easter Lettoch in a charter by Huntly, registered at Banff, May 29th 1647.
1647-1649
William Gordon of Minimore released from the Tolbooth. Originally freed by the 'Engager' regime in August 1648, but after it collapsed, Parliament cancelled the order for Minimore's release. He was eventually released in 1649.
1662 "Again, he was one of thirteen gentlemen commissioned on December 18, 1662, to carry out the important task of discovering what lands, lordships, and others belonging formerly to the Marquis of Huntly were possessed by the late Marquis of Argyll for the five years preceding his forfeiture, and to report thereupon to the Privy Council (Privy Council Register, 3rd series, vol. i., p. 280).
1674
September \endash William Gordon of Minimore died. It is recorded in the Mortlach Session record notes that 'John Leslie (probably in Parkbeg), having borrowed the Mortcloth to Minimoir, and not being a parishioner, did promise to pay a rex dolor.'

extracts from a Civil War reenactment site:
Colonel William Gordon's Company of Foote, timeline called William Gordon of Minimore A Chronological History
and The Gordons and Smiths of Minmore ^{2 5}

  Research Notes:

GORDONS IN INVERAVON

The baptism and marriage registers for Inveravon contain a substantial number of Gordons between 1631 and 1648, then cease abruptly after this year. This is undoubtedly linked to the fortunes of King Charles II, for by the last month of that year Charles was being held in armed custody by his enemies, and by the end January 1649 this monarch of three kingdoms was decapitated.

WITNESS AT BAPTISM 1642

Old Parish Register
Inveravon Parish Banffshire
Baptisms

"17 April 1642
Bap
William Gordon in Achinarrow his sone William baptised Wm Gordon in Minimore Allaster Gordon in Clasmore Witnesses" ⁴

William married Janet GRANT.^{1 2} (Janet GRANT was born about 1605.)

  Marriage Notes:

"The forsd Alexander Gordon had a Natural son gotten with a Gentlewoman of the Sirname of Stuart called William Gordon of Menmoir, who married Jannet Grant with whom he begat four sons...."

from Balbithan MS




"William Gordon is credited by the Balbithan MS. with having been twice married to ladies of the family of Grant : (1) Janet Grant, whose parentage is not stated ; and (2) 'Grant of Auchorachan's daughter.' 'Elspet Gordon, goodwyff of Minimor,' witnessed a baptism on April 7, 1640. She seems to be the 'gentlewoman (spouse to Mr Gordon of Munmore') who, when Huntly was captured at Delnabo, December, 1647, took him word to Blairfindy that the men of the country would rescue him. (Illustrious Family of Gordon, ii., 546.)"

from Minmore Gordons ^{1 2}

William next married Elspet GRANT 'of Auchorachan'.² (Elspet GRANT 'of Auchorachan' was born about 1606.)

  Marriage Notes:

"William Gordon is credited by the Balbithan MS. with having been twice married to ladies of the family of Grant : (1) Janet Grant, whose parentage is not stated ; and (2) 'Grant of Auchorachan's daughter.' 'Elspet Gordon, goodwyff of Minimor,' witnessed a baptism on April 7, 1640. She seems to be the 'gentlewoman (spouse to Mr Gordon of Munmore') who, when Huntly was captured at Delnabo, December, 1647, took him word to Blairfindy that the men of the country would rescue him. (Illustrious Family of Gordon, ii., 546.)"

from Minmore Gordons ²