GORDON, William 6th of Birkenburn, Commissioner of Supply for Banffshire ¹

   Other names for William were GORDON, Wm of Birkenburn ² and GORDON, Wm.³

   User ID: J954.

  General Notes:

"William Gordon was retoured heir special to his father, Alexander, in town and lands of Birkenburn, February 25, 1721 (Retours, Special Services). He-was Commissioner of Supply for Banffshire in 1702 and 1704 (Acts of Parliament)."

"1695, January 27. - William Gordon was present with other heritors at a meeting, apparently of the kirk session, at Keith, on some church business; and he with William Duff, son to Alexander Duff of Braco, was a witness at the baptism of William Gordon, lawful son to Charles Gordon of Glengerack, July 2, 1699."

"1723, November 25. - Bond by William Gordon of Birkinburn to Peter Gordon of Ardmellie for 1100 merks Scots... (Petrie-Hay Papers)."

"1735, May 30. - Assignation of said bond by Peter Gordone of Ardmealie to Mr. John Stuart, minister at Drumblade, son-in-law of William Gordon of Birkenburn : written and signed by himself at Ardmealie, May 30, 1735...(ibid.)"

"1738, January 27. - Bill by William Gordon of Birkenburn to Adam Longmoor for £210 ; assigned on December 11, 1739, to Mr. John Stuart, minister of Drumbleet.(ibid.)"

"1738, December 9. - Bill by William Gordon of Birkenburn to John Skinner, Keith, for £105 : assigned November 23, 1739, to Mr. John Stuart, minister at Drumblade.(ibid.)"

"1751, Sept. 4. - Receipt by Margaret Stuart, relict of Mr. George Chalmers, late minister at Botriphny, to Magdalen Gordon of Birkenburn, relict of Mr. John Stuart, late minister at Drumblade, for 40 merks, being a year's interest of 800 merks due to her by bond by William Gordon, late of Birkenburn, now deceased : signed at Pittivaich, September 4, 1751, before Mr. Alexander Chalmers, minister at Glass [and her son] and John Maver in Pitglassie, kirk officer at Mortlich(ibid.)."

"William, who is said to have been a spendthrift, seems to have died during 1740; for on April 5, 1740, the 'submission and decreet arbitral anent marches between Grant of Auchoynany and Gordon of Birkenburn' appears in the Banff Sasine Register, while on August 15, 1740, Mr. John Stewart, minister at Drumblade, and his spouse, got sasine in Birkenburn."

from Birkenburn ¹

William married Jean DUFF, daughter of William DUFF Provost of Banff, then of Inverness and Jane LOCKART, on 6 June 1700.¹ (Jean DUFF was born about 1682 ⁴.)

  Marriage Notes:

"William (Gordon) married, Thursday, June 6, 1700, Jean, daughter of William Duff, Provost of Inverness (who was the second son of the famous Adam Duff in Clunybeg). On May 27, 1700, there was signed at Birkenburn an obligation by William Gordon, younger of Birkenburn, by which, in respect that in his contract matrimonial with Jean Duff, daughter of William Duff, provost of Inverness, his father, Alexander Gordon, elder of Birkenburn, and his mother, Helen Bisset, disponed to him the lands of Birkenburn, with the reservation to themselves of one chalder of victual and one hundred merks Scots during their lifetime, he confirms the said allowance to his mother should she survive his father; and also assigns to his father a croft of land of three bolls of oats sowing and one boll of beir sowing, he to labour the said croft for his father, £20 annually being deducted from the 100 merks as the value of the croft; and 'the said Alex, and his spouse to have keale and petts out of the yarde and from the pettstake of Birkenburne yeerlie dureing all the days of their lyffe'; signed at Birkenburn May 27, 1700, before witnesses John Ogilvie of Old Cranache, wreiter heirof, and Johne Wilsone, servitor to the said William Gordone, and Johne McAndrew in Birkenburn (Petrie-Hay Papers)."

from Birkenburn




"Jean (Duff), 1682, married, June 6, 1700, William Gordon of Birkenburn (who frequently writes to Alexander of Drummuir as ' affec. brother and servant '), and had five sons and eight daughters, all of whom died young, except three daughters: (1) Magdalen, born 1702, who married the Rev. John Stuart, minister of Llanbryde, and afterwards held Birkenburn; (2) Helen, born 1708, married the Rev. W. Miln, Inverkeithny; and (3) Isabel. The first Gordon of Birkenburn was a son of James Gordon of Lesmoir, and acquired Birkenburn in fee from the Bishop of Moray, 1556. The family lasted for six generations, and failed in the three co-heiresses mentioned. Beatrix Gordon, wife of Adam of Clunybeg, was great-aunt of the last William Gordon. "

from Book of the Duffs ^{1 4}