GORDON, John of Leitcheston 1
- Born: About 1533
- Marriage (1): ABERNETHY, Elizabeth 1
- Marriage (2): KEITH, Christian 'Lady Boig' 2
- Marriage (3): OGILVY, Marjory 'Lady Birkenbog' 1
- Died: by 24 February 1622
Another name for John was GARDEN, John of Lichenstoun.3
User ID: W785.
General Notes:
"The Elphinstone-Dalrymple MS. of 1600 (usually ascribed to 1580), says Lesmoir left to his 'sixt son John Gordone certaine wodsett lands and sowmes of money when he died but no possessions, by which he made to himself a gentleman's living and dwelt in the Enzie at Leichestone.' "
"1592-1610. The most notable event in Leichestoun's career was his vendetta with the Abercrombys of Birkenbog, which reached a climax in the brutal murder of Alexander Abercromby in 1594, and lasted close upon twenty years, affecting other branches of the house of Lesmoir, notably the Gordons of Newton."
"1598, June 11. Renunciation by John Gordon in Leichestoun in favour of the Earl of Huntly, of his infeftment in Auchinreith, Lichistoun and Orlidge (Document in Gordon Castle Charter Chest)."
"1600, July 28. John Gordon of Leichiston became surety (£2,000 in all) for William Dunbar, portioner of Hempriggs and others, not to harm Mr. James Dundas, the minister of Alves and Lanbryde. The bond was signed at Elgin July 28, before William Gordon, portioner of Foirnachtie and George Gordon 'my sones' (Privy Council Register)
from Leichestoun
"...witnesses a charter to his brother in 1576, of the sunny half of the lands of Auldmerdrum."
from Records of Aboyne
Research Notes:
LICHESTON
Licheston, Leichestoun modern name Leitcheston, is situated in the modern Moray district of Scotland, south east of Port Gordon, and more specifically just south east of Glasterim. (Aberdeenshire Council)
John Bulloch wrote:
"Leichestoun, or Leitcheston, as it is now spelt, is a small property in Rathven, Banffshire, and it remained in the hands of the Gordons of the Lesmoir family until 1659, when it passed to Dr. Thomas Gordon, Elgin...." (Leichestoun) 1 4
John married Elizabeth ABERNETHY, daughter of Michael ABERNETHY of Saltoun and Margaret GORDON.1 (Elizabeth ABERNETHY was born about 1543.)
Marriage Notes:
"Alexander Gordon (of Birkenburn) married (1) Margaret Gordon (Balbithan MS., I5, 33), eldest daughter of George Gordon of Cairnburrow. She had first married Michael Abernethy, son of Lord Saltoun, by whom she had a daughter, who married her third husband's younger brother, John Gordon of Leichestoun."
from Birkenburn
"John Gordon seems to have been married three times. The first wife was a daughter of Michael Abernethy, brother of Baron Saltoun by his wife Mary Gordon of Cairnborrow (Balbithan MS., pp. 33, 49). The 1600 MS. makes her Elizabeth, and mother of five sons that came to perfection (James, John, Patrick, George and William)."
from Leichestoun 1 5
John next married Christian KEITH 'Lady Boig', daughter of Alexander KEITH of Troup and Agnes CHEYNE.2 (Christian KEITH 'Lady Boig' was born about 1564 and died on 8 April 1587 2.)
Marriage Notes:
"On April 8, 1587, Christian Keith, 'wife of John Gordon of Leichestoun, died'. The 1600 MS. calls her 'Lady Boig, lawful daughter to Alexander Keith of Troup,' and says he got with her a fair living, but mentions no children. Her will was given up by Alexander Stewart, indweller in Edinburgh, her lawful son an executor ; confirmed March 15, 1594."
from Leichestoun 2
John next married Marjory OGILVY 'Lady Birkenbog', daughter of Alexander OGILVY younger, of Cardell and Barbara OGILVY.1 (Marjory OGILVY 'Lady Birkenbog' was born about 1558.)
Marriage Notes:
"Leichestoun's third wife (he married her before 1592) was Marjory Ogilvy. The Balbithan MS. (p. 49) calls her 'the laird of Findlater's daughter, Ogilvy, Lady Birkenbog'. The 1600 MS. calls her 'Lady Leyis in the Boyne, daughter to Alexander Ogilvie of Cullen, yong Laird of Finlatter', On page 47 of the Balbithan MS. she is spoken of as 'blind Lady Lichestoun,' and is called 'a daughter of the Earle of Findlater, Ogilvy'. The story of her blindness is borne out in a charter of 1632, which she signs by notaries, 'be resson off the blindness of my eyes'. Alexander Abercromby, who was murdered in 1594, describes her (1592) as his 'dochter-in-law'. She may have been the widow of Abercromby's eldest son, Alexander, of Galcors, 'who may be Alexander Abercromby of Ley, slain through the witchcraft of Jonet Grant before 1590" (Tragic History of the Abercrombies, p. 16)."
"1592-1610. - The most notable event in Leichestoun's career was his vendetta with the Abercrombys of Birkenbog, which reached a climax in the brutal murder of Alexander Abercromby in 1594, and lasted close upon twenty years, affecting other branches of the house of Lesmoir, notably the Gordons of Newton. It is somewhat difficult to discover the cause of the quarrel, for the genealogical points are far from clear. John Gordon of Leichestoun's wife is described as the 'dochter-in-law' of Alexander Abercromby, who was murdered in 1594. But the phrase 'dochter-in-law' is always vague in documents of the period." (page 377)
from House of Gordon (Leichestoun) 1
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