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This letter is handwritten upon writing paper the first page of which bears, in the top left corner, an embossed shield, bearing the words “Advocates’ Library Edinburgh”.

It appears to have informed or to be otherwise connected with:

William Gordon of Terpersie


                                               18 Nelson St.
                                           Edin: 3 July, 1894.

Dear Mr Leiper,

                           The Book I spoke of y’day is
“The Thanage of Formartyn, including the district
commonly called Formatine, its proprietors, antiquities &c.”
by Rev. William Temple F.S.A. Scot. of St. Margaret’s Forgue,
Aberdeen. D. Wyllie & Son. 1894.

             There is an incidental reference to the Gordons
of Terpersie, in tracing the descent of Mrs. Crawford Leslie
of Rothie-Norman. She goes back to Wm. Gordon of
T. 4th son of Jas. Gordon, 1st Laird of Lesmoir. He married
a dau of --- Ogilvie of Banff & relict of Geo. Gordon 7th.
of Strathavon. They had issue besides others, a son George.

             Said William G. was at the battle of Corrichie with
his chief, 28 Oct. 1563, & 10 yrs afterwards was with
Adam G. Laird of Auchindown at the battle of Tillyangus,
where he killed Black Arthur Forbes, brother of Lord Forbes
& champion of that surname & family. He was with the said
Adam G. at the battle of Craibstone, near
Aberdeen, & was with him also at the
bourd of Brechin, where the said Adam was still victorious.
He built the House of Terpersie, & cast a ditch about it
hard on the marches betwixt him & Lord Forbes. Mr. William
G. was forfaulted along with his chief, the E. of Huntly, & others
of the name of G. for the part they took at Corrichie. He died
at the House of Rannes in the Logie & was honourably
interred in the church of Rathven. He was succeeded by his son

                             II. George Gordon of Terpersie.
                             III. William, son of G.

The story then diverges to the Badenscoth family
fr. wh. Mrs. Crawford Leslie came.

        Your ancestor W. G. appear s to have been habit
& repute a fechter & associate of notour fechters,
and no to be trifled wi. What the battle of Corrichie
may have been about, you are doubtless (certieraled?1), but
it must have been a fell business and William must
have taken a first rank place in it from the honourable
mention he obtained in the subsequent and I dare
say iniquitously oppressive proceedings.

        Our copy of the work is marked “not to be
lent out” but if you have any difficulty in seeing
it in Glasgow I shall try to get you a sight of
this one for a few days.

        I have not seen the Lyon2 yet.

                         Yours sincerely,

                                     J. Dean Leslie3

I take it you know all about Corrichie, bourds of Brechin &c.
If not it will give me great pleasure to hunt out
particulars of them.

Notes

1 I am unable to make sense of this word. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

2 Presumably the Lord Lyon King of Arms, whose province is heraldry

3 See also John Leper, Burgess in Edinburgh, 1189

Sheriff John Dean Leslie to William Leiper