William Gordon (abt. 1468 - 1513)

Born about 1468 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1513 at about age 45 in Flodden Field, Northumberland, England

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Biography

William Gordon is a member of Clan Gordon.

William was born about 1468 son to George Gordon earl of Huntly, probably his second illegitimate son as his brother Adam was also described as his "filius carnalis".^[1]

His father gifted to William the barony of Aboyne. At Huntly on 2 October 1490 William and his brother Adam who had been granted the barony of Shivas made an excambion of these lands with the approval of their father.^[2] Thereafter William was designed of Shivas ( Scheves in old form)

William married Janet Ogilvy about 1500 and had issue:

• George heir to barony of Shivas
• James of Cairnbanno
• John of Gight
• Catherine mar. James Innes d. Battle of Pinkie Sept 10,1547,
• Barbara mar. (1) William Hay of Lormy (2) John Grant of Ballindalloch
• Janet

William was leased the lands of Abernethy on 21 Dec 1495 by the King and on 3 Feb 1496 the Commissioners also set a tack of the same lands to Robert Stewart a tenant of the lands of Abernethy. Robert raised a complaint regarding this double assedation and the case was heard before the Lords of Council on 21 June 1496 when both parties attended to give their evidence. A solution was agreed allowing William to possess these lands.^[3]

At Lochkilkeran on 16 May 1498 the King confirmed William Gordon in the lands and Barony of Shivas and his heirs whom failing his brother James.^[4]

On 28 May 1502 after William Gordon of Shivas having resigned the lands of Little Ardsch, Auchencrieff and others in the sheriffdom of Aberdeen, he and his wife Janet were cojointly infeft in these lands.^[5]

At Edinburgh on 26 Feb 1502/03 William was a witness to the charter of sale of the lands of Inverrowres and Inverlochy to Alexander earl of Huntly along with Walter Ogilvy of Boyne, Sir Alex. Gordon de Midmar and John Dempster of Aucherless ^[6]

William Gordon of Shivas was a juror at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 1 Feb 1504/05 for the trial of Thomas Alexanderson accused of breaking into his fathers room and stealing sheets, blankets and other goods. That same day at Aberdeen he was a juror on the assise of Inquisition for the retour of Alexander Cumming as heir to his late father Alexander Cumming of Culter,^[7] Also for the retour of William Forbes as heir to his father the late Malcolm Forbes of Tochon. ^[8]

On 11 April 1505, Thomas Baird and Janet Maitland, his spouse, discharged William Gordon upon his payment of 3,000 merks in lieu of claims.

Later that year on 30 Sep 1505, George was a member of the assize of Inquisition for the retour of John Forbes as heir to his grandmother Elizabeth Garioch in the lands of the two Tiligounens.^[9] Also on that day he was a member of the assize for the service of James Dunbar as heir to his grandfather Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield in the lands of Conzie.^[10]

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 27 Jan 1506/07, William Gordon of Shivas was a member of the jury regarding the terce of Marjory Hay widow of Henry Cheyne in part of the lands of Esslemont.^[11]

William Gordon of Shivas witnessed a Charter of Excambion at Aberdeen on 26 June 1509.^[12]

At Aberdeen on 26 Jan 1508/09 William Gordon of Shivas witnessed a charter of Alexander Johnston of Balliandach to William Johnston on the lands of Ballindach.^[13]

On 22 Nov 1509 William Gordon of Shivas was fined £33. 13s 4d and warded for taking 20 head of cattle to prevent them being poinded by the Mair of Fee when William had acted security for John Cheyne brother german to James Cheyne of Straloch. ^[14]

In 1510 William Gordon of Shivas, protested in court that the service of a brieve in favour of Alexander Ogilvy of Finlater, should not prejudice his right to the fishings in the River Ythan corresponding to his lands. ^[15]

At Edinburgh, the King on 4 Jan 1510/11 confirmed the Charter to William Gordon of Shivas and Janet Ogilvy his spouse in the lands of Meikle Gight, Little Gight, Meikle Ardach with its mill, Little Ardach and Auchincreif in the barony of Shivas in the county of Aberdeen which William had resigned into the hands of the king. These lands were to be held by William and Janet by the longest liver of the two in conjunct infeftment and their heirs born to them or whom failing by William's nearest heir. ^[16]

William made arrangements to travel to France and at Edinburgh on 6 Oct 1511, the King granted him a licence and gave his Royal protection to him, his wife, his children and his tenants for a year and a day from that date and a further 40 days beyond his return from France. ^[17]

On 27 Nov. 1512 at Aberdeen, William Gordon of Shivas sold to Andrew Gray burgess of Aberdeen the lands of Newton of Shivas.^[18] One of the witnesses was James Cheyne who may have been a tenant of William as John Cheyne was one of the named tenants given the King's protection in 1511.

William Gordon of Shivas, with his brothers, the Earl of Huntly and Lord Adam earl of Sutherland, fought at Flodden (September, 1513). Adam fled from the field ; Sir William was found among the dead. ^[19]

An account of Sir William see^[20].

Sources

1. ↑ RMS Vol.ii 1985 see [1]
2. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol. iii p,65 see [2]
3. ↑ The acts of the Lords of Council in civil causes Vol.ii p.9 see [3]
4. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol. iii p,65 see [4]
5. ↑ RSS Vol.i 843 see [5]
6. ↑ RMS Vol.ii 2689 see [6]
7. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol,iii p.340 see [7]
8. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol,iii p.551 see [8]
9. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol. iii p,65 see [9]
10. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol. iii p,6590see [10]
11. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol. iii p,14 see [11]
12. ↑ RMS Vol.ii 3374 see [12]
13. ↑ Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol,iii p.224 see [13]
14. ↑ Records of the Sheriff Court of Aberdeenshire Vol. i p.67 see [14]
15. ↑ Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff Vol.iii p69 see [15]
16. ↑ RMS Vol,ii 3525 see [16]
17. ↑ Register of the Privy Seal Vol.i 2312 see [17]
18. ↑ RMS Vol,ii 3793 see [18]
19. ↑ Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland, p. 86 see [19]
20. ↑ Bulloch: Vol1 Page 9

• Bulloch, John Malcolm. The House of Gordon (Aberdeen University Press, Aberdeen, 1903)

• Scottish Notes and Queries Volume 12 p 112.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Sir William Arbuthnot for starting this profile.