DUFF, William 2nd of Corsindae ¹

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William married Katherine GORDON, daughter of Major Arthur GORDON of Carnousie, Jacobite 1745 and Isobel CAMPBELL of Clunes, in 1743.¹ (Katherine GORDON was born about 1728 and died in 1753 ².)

  Marriage Notes:

"Katherine (Gordon) (d. 1753), m. William Duff, of Corsindae"

from Gordons Under Arms




"Baird adds that 'she (Katherine Gordon) died in 1753, and though William Duff was then but a young man, he has lived unmarried ever since for the sake of his children, to all whom he has given the best education. He resided several years at Edinburgh on their account, and taught his daughters the French language himself. The eldest is married to Mr. John Dingwall, junior, merchant in Aberdeen, and they have a promising young family.'

William Duff is known to have had strong Jacobite sympathies, and tradition says that he started out with the Prince's forces, as did also his father-in-law, Gordon of Carnousie. But the proverbial caution of the Duffs brought William home again before he had entirely committed himself, and he returned to Corsindae uncompromised; so was therefore able, also according to tradition, to conceal there a friend who was a fugutive after Culloden. In Lord Rosebery's List of Persons concerned in the Rebellion (1745), the following passage occurs:

'Aberdeen district. Francis Gordon of Kincardin Miln, Writer, Aberdeen, acted as General Quarter-Master to the Rebels, lurked afterwards in the Highlands. Did not long survive the campaign, as his Will, subscribed at London, Oct. 1746, was soon after confirmed at Aberdeen. He bequeathed his whole personal estate to William Duff of Corsindae and Alexander Chambers of Belnacraig for the use and benefit of his only son, Hugh Gordon, then an infant. Personalty was chiefly debts due to him by various parties, chiefly Jacobite.' The room in which Francis Gordon was concealed and the opening by which food was conveyed him, are still shown at Corsindae."

from The Book of the Duffs ^{1 2}