GORDON, Charles 6th of Terpersie, Jacobite 1745 ¹

   Cause of his death was execution.

   User ID: J244.

  General Notes:

"With this laird the Gordon ownership of Terpersie came to an end under melancholy circumstances. He was an enthusiastic Jacobite, and along with his eldest son joined Prince Charlie's army - perhaps in Gordon of Avochie's regiment. On April 26, 1700, his father George had duly signed a bond at Scotsmill to concert measures for the peace of the country Historical Papers Relating to the Jacobite Period, p. 20). But the son joined the Jacobites, though on August 29, 1746, the Magistrates of Aberdeen assured the Lord Justice Clerk that they could find 'no person in this place that ever saw' Terpersie in arms. His son was taken at Carlisle and in due course the laird himself was captured. Tradition says that his arrest was effected at his own house when, after lurking among the hills (after Culloden), he ventured to pass the night there. [....]

The trials, which took place before Chief Baron Parker, Sir Thomas Burnet, Sir Thomas Dennison and Baron Clark, began on August 12, 1746, and lasted several days. There were 382 prisoners to be tried. It was arranged that, with some exceptions, the prisoners should have the option of drawing lots for selection of one of every twenty to stand trial, the remaining nineteen to submit to transportation. Charles Gordon of Dalpersey was one of those tried, and he was sentenced to death, September 24. Out of ninety-six so condemned, thirty-one were executed and two died in prison. The rest were transported. Gordon was hanged with ten others on November 15 (Scots Mag.) on the Gallows Hill, at Harraby, Carlisle. G. G. Mounsey (Occupation of Carlisle in 1745, pp. 247-68) gives the date as November 16. The victims were afterwards 'drawn and quartered'. In the List of Rebels (Scot. Hist. Soc.) he is wrongly entered (p. 28) as Charles Gordon, 'yr.' of Terpersie, while his son James is given as 'senr' of Terpersie (p. 30)."

from Terpersie




"The story is told that after lurking some time in the neighbourhood he ventured to his own house, and was captured there. 'His captors, not being sure of his identity, carried him before the minister of the parish, but not getting satisfaction from him, they took him to a farmhouse where his wife and children resided. On his approach his children ran out and greeted him with cries of, "Daddy ! Daddy !" and so unwittingly sealed his fate."

from Scottish Forfeited Estates Papers quoting The Lyon in Mourning ²

  Research Notes:

TERPERSIE ESTATE

"The Estate of Terpersie, after the laird's forfeiture, was purchased by the York Buildings Company, who, a few years afterwards, sold it, about 1760, to James Gordon, then of Knockespock, who, having gone to the West Indies as a young man, and acquired a large fortune, purchased Grenada in 1751, and other estates abroad, and later Moor Place in. Hertfordshire, as well as Terpersie. He married, but had no issue, and executed an entail in 1767 or 1769, shortly before his death.

This James Gordon was of the Terpersie family: he was the eldest son of George Gordon of Knockespock by his first wife, Marjory, daughter of Dr Moir of Scotstown : George of Knockespock was 2nd son of Harry of Auchlyne, who again was 5th son of William Gordon of Terpersie by his wife, a daughter of Gordon of Leichiston, and youngest brother of James of Terpersie: consequently James Gordon, who purchased Terpersie from the York Buildings Coy., was a second cousin of Charles of Terpersie who was forfeited."

from Notes of Terpersie ³

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Estate: forfeited, 1746, Terpersie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

2. Claims settled: on estate, 1779, Terpersie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Charles married Margaret GORDON, daughter of Adam GORDON 'at the Mill of Artloch' and Unknown, 7 April 1726(contract). (Margaret GORDON was born about 1705 and died in March 1777.)

  Marriage Notes:

"2074- Charles. 1745, Nov., Volunteer; Dec. 19, captured at Carlisle (Rosebery's List, 28). 1746, Nov. 15, executed there (S.M., 1746, p. 543), as fully described in the House of Gordon (II (I91)-(I95)) - Son of George, V. of Terpersie; m. Margaret, dau. of Adam Gordon, at the Mill of Artloch, and had Henry, 616, and James, 2107-"

from Gordons Under Arms




"Charles Gordon married Margaret, the daughter of Adam Gordon 'at the mill of Artloch' (Balbithan MS.) who may have been a descendant of the Gordons of Cairnburrow. She was admitted a creditor on the forfeited Terpersie estate. She was resident at Collithie in 1761."

from Terpersie




"Margaret Gordon, relict of the deceased Charles Gordon, late of Terparsie, attainted, and Margaret and Helen Gordon, her daughters, were found to be lawful creditors upon the Estate real and personal of the said Charles Gordon, and the sum of £78 8s. Ster. as per scheme of Division was paid to the daughters, their mother being dead, 6 Augt. 1779."

from Scottish Forfeited Estates Papers ^{2 4 5}