GORDON, William 4th of Knockespock, and 2nd of Arradoul ²

   Other names for William were GORDON, William of Arradoul,¹ GORDON, William of Arradowle,¹ GORDOUNE, of Arradul, Captaine ¹ and GORDOUNE, William of Aradull.¹

   User ID: J13.

  General Notes:

"William Gordon seems to have disposed of the lands of Knockespock about 1634. He is still described as late as Aug. 7, 1635, as 'of Knockespock,' but he also appears as ''of Arradoul' at the same time. He was baillie to Lord Gordon ('Mackintosh Muniments,' No. 385), and much in the confidence of the Huntly family."

"1648, Feb. 23. William Gordon of Arradoul, being in rebellion, was ordered to repent ('Presbytery Book of Strathbogie').

1650. By March 19, William Gordon had subscribed the Covenant, and on Sept. 25 he was an elder (Cramond's 'Church of Rathven')"

from Gordons of Cairnfield




"It seems probable that William (Gordon), 4th laird of Knockespock, like too many of the Aberdeenshire lairds of the time, became embarrassed with debts, and was compelled to part with most or all of his property." (page 31)

"I think it may be held that the old and first line of Gordons of Knockespock as lairds came to an end on the death of William, the 4th laird, whose eldest son, James, does not seem to have been fiar." (page 32)

from Gordon of Knockespock ^{1 2}

William married Helen GARDYNE, daughter of David GARDYNE of that Ilk and Elizabeth STEWART, by 17 October 1601(charter).^{1 2} (Helen GARDYNE was born about 1581.)

  Marriage Notes:

"His (James Gordon's) eldest son William Gordon of Knockespock married the Laird of Gairns [David Garden of Garden's] daughter with whom he begat sons and Daughters viz James Gordon and Captain Alexander Gordon."

from Balbithan MS




"William Gordon (4th of Knockespock) married, at least as earlv as 1601, Helen Garden, daughter of David Garden of that ilk (Great Seal). On December 31, 1642, she was described as 'wife of William Gordon of Arradowl, formerly of Knockespock.' She then renounced her rights in the lands of Knockespock, Over and Nether, in favour of George Gordon of Knockespock, the commission being carried out by John Gordon of Carnefeild as Sheriff Depute in that part. Among the witnesses was James Gordon, fiar of Arradoull, and his father's illegitimate brother James (Littlejohn's 'Aberdeenshire Sheriff Court,' ii. 506)." (page 45) "1634, Jany. 13. Registration by William Gordon of Knockespock and Helen Gardyne, his spouse, to James Gordon, their eldest lawful son, and for certain sums of money paid to them by Mr Robert Bisset of Lessendrum, in name of Jean Bisset, his daughter and future spouse of the said James, of certain revenues specified therein, in which mention is made of the deceased James Gordon of Knockespock, father of the said William Gordon of Knockespock; dated at Arradoul, December 9, 1633 ('Particular Register of Sasines,' Aberdeen, viii. f. 413)." (page 46)

"1634, Jan. 13. Registration of assignation by William Gordon of Knockespock and his wife Helen Gardyne, to James Gordon, their eldest son, and Jean Bisset his future spouse, of a reversion made by the deceased William Gordon of Kennertie and Janet Gordon, his spouse, to the deceased James Gordon of Knockespock, over the Newton of Knockespock. Dated at Cocklarachie, Dec. 4, 1633, among the witnesses being Mr William Gordon, doctor of physic, and Mr George Gordon, parson of Clatt; signed at Arradoul by the said Helen Gardyn, before Donald Farquharson of Monaltrie and Robert his brother ('Particular Register of Sasines,' Aberdeen, viii. f. 414)." (pages 46 and 47)

from Gordons of Cairnfield




"1375 - William. 1639, Jun. 18-19, fought at the battle of the Bridge of Dee, against the Covenanters (Britane's Distemper, 24, 28; Gordon's Scots Affairs, 11. 28, which calls him a 'resolute gentleman '). 1644, associated with Lord Huntly against the Covenant (Spalding's Trubles, n. 305, 334, 336), 1645, May 9, at the battle of Auldearn, where he was 'appoynted by Aboyne to attend nixt his person' Britane's Distemper, 123); Aug. 26, got a commission from Lord Montrose against some of his neighbours (Banffshire Advertiser, 1911, Mar. 23), where it is stated that

he hath followed as faithfully in his Majesty's service at these three late battles and hath always farthered the said service by his council, advice and example, so far as did He in his power; and that he hath suffered and sustained great skaith and prejudice by having his lands burnt by certain malicious and wicked ennemies, his workemen and neighbours ; . . . helped and protected by that late army of Rebells under the conduct and command of Livetennant General Baillie. Sep. 15, in command at Aberdeen (Records of the Commission of the General Assembly, 136). 1646, 'Captane Gordoun of Arradul' was quartered in Banff, from which his force retreated to Montrose before 600 Covenanters (Britane's Distemper, I76).

Son of James, of Knockespock, who m. Margaret, dau. of William, I. of Arradoul, to which he succeeded; m. Helen, dau. of David Garden of that Ilk; and had James and Alexander, III and IV. of Arradoul (Bulloch's Gordons of Cairnfield, 40-5). Great-grandfather of Thomas, 1317. "

from Gordons Under Arms ^{1 3 4}