GORDON, James 2nd of Newton 1
- Born: About 1580
- Marriage (1): FORBES, Issobel 'Lady Williamstoun' 1
- Died: Before 29 May 1620
Other names for James were GORDON, James Fiar of Newton 1 and GORDON, James of Williamstoun.1
User ID: B488.
General Notes:
"A distinct difficulty arises in classifying James, the eldest son of John, I. of Newton, for while his father undoubtedly made over the lands of Newton to him in 1594, it is extremely doubtful whether the transaction was ever more than a legal fiction intended in some way to shelter the father during the troublous times of religious prosecution. Out of the sixteen references to him after the transfer he is described only three times as of Newton (twice in 1595 and once in 1602). He is described as 'younger of Newton' once; as 'apparent of Newton' three times ; and 'fiar of Newton' nine times. The Newton MS. calls him 'Laird of Williamston' only. The difficulty is complicated by the fact that the father outlived the son, and seems to have resumed possession of the estate. In a sasine of May 29, 1620, George Gordon, on getting Wrangham, is described as 'eldest son of the late James Gordon, fiar of Newton.' "
"Dr. David Littlejohn comments on the fact that James after this date (2 October 1594) was still called 'Fiar of Newton,' as follows :
As I read the grant he was 'fiar,' having the fee in him as well as full right to the rents : but it was quite contrary to the usage of the time to call him 'fiar,' if his father was absolutely divested. There may have been some other transaction that we do not know ........
In any case it adds to the clearness of this deduction to place James as if he actually had been full laird ......."
"James died before May 29, 1620, when he is described in a sasine of that date as the 'late' James."
from House of Gordon 1
James married Issobel FORBES 'Lady Williamstoun', daughter of William FORBES 2nd of Monymusk and Margaret DOUGLAS.1 (Issobel FORBES 'Lady Williamstoun' was born about 1585.)
Marriage Notes:
"He (James Gordon) married Isobel, eldest daughter of William Forbes of Monymusk, by Margaret Douglas, daughter of the ninth Earl of Angus. On June 14, 1622, she was served heir to James Gordon, 'fiar of Newton, her late husband'; her terce of the lands and barony of Newton of Wranghame, containing in special Newton of Wrangham (Littlejohn's Aberdeenshire Sheriff Court Records, ii., 80)."
from House of Gordon 1
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