GORDON, Alexander of Strathavon (Stra'an) ^{1 2}

   User ID: A380.

  Research Notes:

STRATHAVON (Stra'an) - The valley of the River Avon in Strathspey, Moray

This designation is also rendered as Strathawen and Strathaven, but should not be confused with Strathaven in Lanarkshire.

Alexander Gordon of Strathavon's title is also often written as (of) Strathoun, Strathdoun, Strathdown or Strathdon. This appears to be an attempt to approximate to the local pronunciation. In the 1700s a cattle droving route did exist through Strathspey, up Stratha'an to Corgarff in Strathdon and Ballater on Deeside or through the Lairig an Laoigh to Braemar.

The two, however, are not the same place, but are over 30 miles apart. Tomintoul is the largest settlement in the strath or valley.

Alexander married Agnes SINCLAIR, daughter of George SINCLAIR 4th Earl of Caithness and Elizabeth GRAHAM, 1588(contract).^{1 2} (Agnes SINCLAIR was born about 1559 and died on 6 November 1619 ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

"The Earl (of Erroll) married, secondly (contract dated 20 and 21 September 1581), Agnes, daughter of George, fourth Earl of Caithness, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Graham, Earl of Montrose. She survived him, and married (contract dated 1588) Alexander Gordon of Strathdon, son of George, fifth Earl of Huntly, and died 6 November 1619. On 29 May 1596 she was charged with resetting and intercommuning with Francis, Earl of Bothwell."

from Scots Peerage (vol 3)




"Alexander (Gordon) of Strathaven. He married (contract 1588), Agnes, daughter of George, fourth Earl of Caithness, and widow of Andrew, eighth Earl of Erroll. They had a charter of the ruined manse of the rector of Clatt in Aberdeen December 1588. She died 6 November 1619. He died in January 1622, and was buried in Elgin Cathedral, where his tomb, with an armorial stone, is still visible."

from Scots Peerage (vol 4) ^{1 2}