GORDON, John 11th of that Ilk, Sir ¹

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  General Notes:

"Sir John Gordon, who succeeded, had from King Robert II. on 16 June 1376 a renewed confirmation of the charter of Strathbogie granted by King Robert Bruce to his great-grandfather, Sir Adam. This appears to be the earliest notice of him after his father's death, and in the writ he is designed simply John Gordon, not having attained knighthood." [....]

"Sir John Gordon, who succeeded, had from King Robert II. on 16 June 1376 a renewed confirmation of the charter of Strathbogie granted by King Robert Bruce to his great-grandfather, Sir Adam. This appears to be the earliest notice of him after his father's death, and in the writ he is designed simply John Gordon, not having attained knighthood. He may have been a minor for some years after his succession. In the next year, 1377, he took an active part in fighting against the English, who in retaliation for the Earl of March's attack on Roxburgh, raided Gordon's lands and goods. He also defeated at Garham a superior English force under Sir John Lilburn. In this conflict he was severely wounded, but recovered. He also took part in the combat at Melrose under the leadership of Sir Archibald Douglas, when Sir Thomas Musgrave, Warden of Berwick, was made prisoner. He is also said to have been present at the battle of Otterburn on 5 August 1388, but he was not killed there, as he was witness to a charter by Andrew Leslie of that Ilk, of date 30 May 1391, before which date he had been made a knight, and is also styled Laird of that Ilk."

from Scots Peerage (vol 4) ²

  Research Notes:

BALBITHAN MANUSCRIPT ACCOUNT

"Jock and Tom" are dealt with on pages 26-30 of the Balbithan manuscript:

"I proceed now to account for the genealogie of Jock and Thorn the Heiress two Brothers begotten by Adam Gordon fifth Lord of Huntly on Elizabeth Cruickshank Aswanlies daughter in the Reign of King Robert the Second about the year 1383."

From this quotation it is clear that, however generally correct the Balbithan has turned out to be, it differs from more modern thinking on the matter of the father of Jock and Tom Gordon. According to the fourth volume of The Scots Peerage, the father of Jock and Tom was not Adam but John Gordon. There has also been a suggestion that they were cousins of the heiress, Elizabeth Gordon, and not siblings.

The pages also discuss the question of the legitimacy of the two brothers, and the conflicting arguments among their descendants, especially between the Pitlurg and Buckie families, as to their status. ^{1 2 3}

John had a relationship with Elizabeth CRUIKSHANK, daughter of CRUIKSHANK of Aswanley, Toshstirgh or Toshachdera and Unknown. (Elizabeth CRUIKSHANK was born about 1358.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Sir John was not legally married, so far as known, but there is clear evidence that he had two sons whose mother is said to have been Elizabeth Cruickshanks, daughter of the Laird of Aswanley the 'Jock' and 'Tam' Gordon of popular fame, styled natural sons, but probably the offspring of a handfasting union, who in the Highlands were not accounted illegitimate, though not recognised by the law or the Church."

from Scots Peerage (vol 4) ²