GORDON, James 3rd of Knockespock ²

   User ID: J11.

  General Notes:

"In the Rental of the Lordship of Huntly for 1600, James Gordoun of Knockespock is entered as Tenant of Tullich, Ballater, Muir, and Knock, and paying Fewe maill £22 13s. 4d. He was also tenant of the Marquis of Huntly in the small farm of Elrick, in the Cabrach ; ane pleuch, payis yeirlie maill Fourtie markis, Buttir ane stain. (R.M.S., V., No. 1120.)" (page 19)

"From the above sasines it seems evident that James, the 3rd laird, was alive in 1619 ; and according to the Register of the Privy Council James and his apparent heir were appointed Justices of the Peace in 1623, but William is designed 'of Knockespock' in two sasines of 5 June 1620.

I found no mention of a Gordon of Knockespock in the Register of the Great Seal, Vol. VII., A.D. 1620-1633, nor in Vol. VIII. According to the Balbithan MS., James, the 3rd laird, died in 1631. Perhaps he resigned his lands in favour of his eldest son, reserving the liferent, but I have failed to find any record of this, or any service of William as heir." (page 25)

"Perhaps we may assume that the date given by Balbithan of the death of the 3rd laird of Knockespock, 1631. is correct : he adds that he was buried in the Kirk of Clatt (Balb. MS., p. 64). From about the beginning of the century, his son, William, seems to have been practically the laird, for it will be seen below that by October 1601, he was 'fiar of Knockespock,' although designed 'apparent' thereof as late as 1623. A sasine given below, dated 5 June 1620, tends to confirm this. I have not found anything to prove that James of Knockespock was alive later than 1623. He is incidentally mentioned as the 'deceased James G. of Knockespock in December 1633.' (page 26)

from Gordon of Knockespock ²

James had a relationship with Unknown PARTNER. (Unknown PARTNER was born about 1560.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Among the witnesses was James Gordon, fiar of Arradoull, and his father's illegitimate brother James (Littlejohn's 'Aberdeenshire Sheriff Court,' ii. 506).'

from Gordons of Cairnfield ¹

James next married Margaret GORDON heiress of Arradoul, daughter of William GORDON of Arradoul and Margaret INNES.¹ (Margaret GORDON heiress of Arradoul was born about 1564.)

  Marriage Notes:

"William Gordon of Arradoul, 'who dyed in peace' (Balbithan MS.), had: -

1. Margaret Gordon, the only legitimate child mentioned by the Balbithan MS. She married James Gordon of Knockespock, and had a son : - William Gordon II. of Arradoul.

2. William Gordon in Lunan, natural son (ibid.) I shall describe him at length later on as the ancestor of Alexander Gordon, W.S., who founded the third set of Gordons of Arradoul" (page 40)

"1587, Dec. 20.- recept of clare constat by Alexander Seton, Lord of Urquhart, etc., in favour of Margaret Gordon, spouse to James Gordon of Knockespock, as nearest said lawful heir to said William Gordon in Arradoul, her father, deceast. Sasine thereon, 2 Jan. 1587." (page 41)

from Gordons of Cairnfield




"James (Gordon), 3rd laird of Knockespock, succeeded his father, and became the owner of considerable landed estates. He married Margaret, daughter and heiress of William Gordoun of Arradoul, the second son of Alexander Gordoun of Buckie, by the Lady Innes, and his second cousin, by whom he had issue 3 sons and 3 daughters" (page 17)

"It should be borne in mind that William Gordon of Kenartie, 'Baron of Braicklie,' George Gordon of Cracullie, and Donald Farquharson of Inchmarnoch (elder brother of Mr James Farquharson, W.S.), married three sisters, daughters of James Gordon of Knockespock" (page 39)

from Gordon of Knockespock ^{1 2}