Captain Wimberley’s typeset draft (or rather part thereof), as presented here, incorporates the abundant handwritten amendments which were directed by the author. It contains a considerable amount of detailed information concerning the Gordons of Terpersie and related families, mostly collated from legal records and simultaneously highlighting the horrendous uncertainties inevitably attending detailed research pertaining to such a remote period.

WILLIAM GORDON, Ist OF TERPERSIE, was twice married, his first wife was Margaret Ogilvy, either a daughter of Sir Walter Ogilvy of Dunlugas (according to old M.S. Pedigree, 1580, formerly in possession of C.E.D.), or of Ogilvy of Banff, (according to Balbithan M.S.)      His second wife, Elspet, was daughter of George Gordon of Tilphondie by Helenor, daughter of Adam, Lord of Aboyne, and Earl of Sutherland. Elspet was relict of John Forbes of Brux, and she married, 3rdly, William James1 of Calrossie, in Ross. (See Records of Aboyne, p.p. 201 and 213-14).      James of Lesmoir had acquired for himself and his heirs, &c., in 1550, the lands of Braichlie and others in the Lordship of Aboyne from George, Earl of Huntly, with consent of his Countess, Lady Elizabeth Keith, but granted a letter of Reversion on payment of 1000 merks in gold. This money was paid, and a discharge granted, 6th May, 1552, and the following day the Earl sold the said lands to William Gordon of Terpersie. (See Records of Aboyne p. 78). The Earl afterwards issued a Precept of Clare constat in favour of George of Terpersie of these lands and those of Ballater: both Charter and Precept were confirmed by the King, 12th December, 1596. (See Records of Aboyne ibid).      William Gordon of Terpersie got a Charter, dated 12th July, 1556, from William, Bishop of Aberdeen, of the lands of Terpersie and others, viz. – Warakstoun and Bogyshallach in Sheriffdom of Aberdeen to be held in feu ferme by the said William and Margaret Ogilvy, his spouse, and the longer liver of them in conjunct fee, and the heirs male of their bodies, whom failing the heirs male and assigns whomsoever of the said William – of the said Bishop Reddendo £13 6s 8d : with precept of sasine directed to Mr. Thos. Gordoun – dated at City of Aberdeen, 12th July, 1556, Confirmed at Stirling, 18th August, 1585. R.M.S. V.877.      This laird built the house of Terpersie (see Castles of Aberdeenshire): he was at *2battle of Corrichie, 1562 : he signed the bond for the Queen’s service, 1568, was at battle of Tillyangus under Adam Gordon of Auchindoune, 1572 : also at the battle of Craibstane : was one of those Gordons who agreed to submit differences in the Clan feud with the Forbses to certain members of the Privy Council in 1580 : probably as Gordoun of Dalpersie is mentioned as one of those alleged to be in arms against the King in 1589, and as Mr William Gordoun of Dalpersie gave a bond of caution in same year. He is said to have died at Rannes3 in the Enzie and to have been buried at Rannes Aisle, Rathven, (See Castles of Aberdeenshire, and Thanage of Fermartyn p. 103).      George of Terpersie was at the battle of Glenlivat, 1594, his name is in the remission granted, 1603, as “of Dalpersie”; admitted a Burgess of Aberdeen, 1597, and was one of two sureties as “George Gordoun of Terperse” for the Earl of Huntly in same year ; is mentioned in Huntly Rental of 1600 as tenant of the farm of Rochefindzeuche in the Cabrach ; (the name of the farm cannot now be identified, it may possibly be what is now called Rochford, very near the upper part of Glen- bucket, or it may be what is called Rastinnuch (Rath-finnuch) in the Poll-book for the Cabrach, 1696 : he was made a Burgess of Aberdeen, 1597 : he acquired Bruchles about 1600, and Badinscoth, 1603, and Darley from the Meldrums of Iden, 1614. (See Thanage of Fermartyn p. 104): he got a Charter of lands of old Leslie from his cousin, Alex. Gordon of Lesmoir, in 1602 (see Rec. of Aboyne p. 195) : he got sasine in Ardlair, 1618 : granted a Reversion of the east half of Kirktoun of Clatt to James Gordon of Knockespock, 1619 : purchased lands of Premnay, 1622 (R.M.S. VIII, 399). He purchased Meikle and Little Raitie, &c., in Parish of Inverboindie, Banffshire, and the Charter was signed at Law, 17th January, 1623 : among the witnesses were his son, William, and William’s son, Alexander : confirmed at Edinburgh, 8th July, 1623. R.M.S. VIII, No. 480. He got sasine on Innererne, 1624.      George of Terpersie and his wife, Margaret Ogilvy, were among the defendants against whom John, Earl of Mar, raised an action in 1626 before the Lords of Session for the reduction of their Charters of certain lands held by them (a numerous body, about 150 in number), and succeeded in 1628: possibly this refers to the superiority of Leith Hall and Leslie, which his son, William, and his sons obtained presumably by purchase from the Earl of Mar in 1630 (see Rec. of Aboyne p. 201). He got grant of Blairshinoch, Culbairnie and other lands in Inverboindie, Banffshire, on the resignation of Ogilvy of Deskfurd, 1627 : con- firmed at Halirudhous, 15th November, 1627 (R.M.S. VIII, No. 1161).      George and his son, Williiam4, mentioned as consenting parties to the resignation of some lands by Sir Thomas Burnett of Leyes, and Sir Alex. Cuming of Culter in 1628 : George being designed “of Terpersie,” and William G., apparent of the same, his son : the King confirmed the grant of these lands to George Johnston, junr., at Halyruidhous, 30th July, 1628 (R.M.S. VIII, No. 1291). George’s daughter md the laird of Culter.      In 1633 George and his son, William, mentioned together as restant (owing) money (see p. 42 below).      In 1636 George is mentioned as deceased in connection with the grant from the King to Sir George Ogilvy of Banff of certain lands in the barony of Montbray, including Blairschinnoch, Meikle Raittie in Parish of Inverboyndie, which lands (or at any rate Meikle Raittie and those following in the Charter) George and his son and heir William G. of Terpersie had resigned. Charter confirmed at Edinburgh, 23rd January, 1636 (R.M.S. IX, No. 423.5      George of Terpersie’s first wife is said, in a birth brieve of much later date, 1703, to have been Margaret Gordon, daughter of Gordon of Auchannachy ; or rather I should have said a William Gordon of Terpersie is said to have had by his wife, Margaret Gordon of Auchannachy, a daughter, Marjorie Gordon, wife of Aiexander4 Gordon of Kincraigie, son of Patrick Gordon of Craig.6      I believe very little of the above is correct, but it seems not improbable that George of Terpersie married a daughter of John Gordon of Auchannachy and sister of John Gordon, junr., of Auchannachy, both mentioned in Reg. Pno. Co., the former in 1592 and 1594, and the latter and a sister, Isobel, in 1609. There are no dates given in the birth-brieve, and “Patrick of Craig” may mean Patrick of Johnsleys, father of William who became first laird of Craig, or Patrick of Auchmenzie, brother of William of Craig. There is a great deal of information in Records of Aboyne about the decendants of this family, but I can find no Alexander of Kincraigie.      Patrick of Auchmenzie, brother of William of Craig, had an eldest son, George of Auchmenzie, who succeeded his father about 1573 : he and his wife, Helenor Gordon, got a Charter of Tilphondie and other lands, 1562 : this Helenor was a daughter of Adam Lord of Aboyne and Earl of Sutherland, and those who drew up the birth-brieve appear to have supposed that “Patrick of Craig” was descended from the Earl of Sutherland. This George of Auchmenzie, who died before 1582, had 9 sons, the 5th of whom was named Alexander, but in Records of Aboyne he is designed “of Bonti” (a place near Aboyne) : his wife was a Helenor Gordon, daughter of John G. Bruny, and their son, Patrick, was killed at Glenlivet, 1594, with his brothers.      Nothing can really be made out of the above, except that it seems possible that one of the lairds of Terpersie married a daughter of Gordon of Auchannachy, and that probably a daugh- ter of theirs married one of the Auchmenzie or Kincraigie family.      I have found it equally difficult to discover who the Gordons of Auchannachy were. I have a note that John Gordon, Auchann- achy got a charter of Avochie as heir of John of Avochie in 1622 ; but the first Gordon of Avochie seems to have been William, second son7 James Gordon, first laird of Cairnborow, living about 1545. Different lairds, Gordons of Auchannachie, are mentioned from 1592 to 1663.      Nisbet in his heraldry gives the arms of “John Gordon of Auchanassie, whose grandfather was a second son of the family of Lesmoir, azure a fesse argent, &c.” Possibly Auchanassie may be another mode of spelling Auchannachy ; on the other hand Mr. James Macdonald8 says that Auchannachie, which is very near Daugh o’ Riven, belonged to Tam O’Riven and his descen- dants up to the middle of the last century9, and he was likely to know.      There seems to have been some confusion between Auchann- achie, Auchanassie, Achindachie, Auchindacht, Auchinacie, and Auchenhaudoch.      Nisbet’s statement is puzzling ; the arms too seem to confirm his statement, and the having the same motto, “Bydand,” the only “2nd son of the family of Lesmoir,” I can think of as the one he might refer to is John of Newton, whose grandson may have been of Auchannachie, but I don’t think it probable.      In any case I have no proof that George of Terpersie’s first wife was a daughter of G. of Auchannachie ; only the statement in the birth-brieve which has evidently several mistakes. “Auchan- achie Gordoun” is mentioned in a list of sundry heritors in Aberdeenshire in 1659, and Adam of A. as a witness in 1663. (See Rec. of Aboyne p. 294).      (6) William of Terpersie. I have not succeeded in getting proof of this laird William’s marriage to a daughter of Ogilvie of Inverquharitie.10      William is mentioned as “fiar of Terpersie” and a witness along with his father and his brother, John, in 1610. (See Rec. of Aboyne p. 201) ; he is mentioned in Book of Annual Rentars (see p.11 2 below). He appears to have succeeded his father in 1634 ; got sasine on a renunciation, 1634.      In a Rental of the Parish of Kennethmount, and Chrystiskirk, 1635, the lands are mentioned of Law, Earlsfield, Ardler, Segiden, mure12 parts and pendicles belonging heritably to William G. of Terpersie, installed13 at 5 Chalders victual, &c., &c., there are also other lands in same Parish mentioned in same Rental as wadsetted14, and others belonging heritably to him.      In an agreement between the heritors, &c., of same Parish, and the minister thereof for a constant stipend, inter alia, the whole lands of *15Wardes are described as belonging to the laird of Wardes “Wadsets be” (apparently a mistake for “to”) William Gordoun of Terpersie ; and the lands of Earlsfield and Segiden and others as belonging heritably to the said William G. of Terpersie. Each of these 3 lots are valued at 8 Chalders victual, (Ant. A. & B., Nos. 513 and 515).      With regard to Wardes, or Wardhouse, that property appears from the above to have been wadsetted to the laird of Terpersie by 1635. I found mention of its having been purchased in Nisbet’s heraldry, by *15Robert Farquharson of Invercauld, the 4th laird who married Margaret, daughter of Erskine of Pittodrie. And in 1672 Alexander Farquharson of Invercauld and Ward- house, being called before the Lords of the Council to give bond for the peace of the Highlands, had to do this as Principal with Archd. Reid of Edindurno as cautioner, binding themselves, their heirs and successors, and Invercauld’s tenants, servants, and indwellers upon his lands, and persons of his name to commit no murders, deforcement of messengers, thefts, fire-raising, &c., under penalty of 3000 merks, over and above redress, and giving up offenders when cited. (See Introduction to Historical Papers, Jacobite period, New Spalding Club, p. X.)      William of Terpersie got sasine in Tullich, 28th November, 1636, and in Erlsfield and Segiden, 24th December of same year, in Kirktoun of Clatt, 16th December, 1637.      The house of Terpersie was burnt by the Covenanters in 1645 ; and no doubt the laird suffered in pocket.      I think there can be no doubt that William, 3rd laird of Terpersie, succeeded his father, George, and was succeeded by his son, James, not by a son, William ; James was younger of Terpersie in 1643 – William had a brother John, and also a son, John.      The lands of Clatt were apprised from William in favour of George Anderson in Milsetown of Noth in 1648. (See R.M.S., IX., No. 2014).      William of Terpersie got sasine in Rothmuriel, 1649. He was served heir to George, his father, 29th August, 1655, in the lands of Calburnie and others in the Parish of Inverboindie, Banff- shire Retours, though his father appears to have died more than 20 years before – probably to enable a title to be made up. He got sasine in Badinscoth, 1657 ; and in 1668, William and James (his son) of Terpersie granted a reversion to Henry G. of Auch- lyne, who got a sasine in Clatt 1669. William of Terpersie probably died at the end of 1668, for John G. of Law granted a reversion to James G. of Terpersie apparently in December of same year.      (7) George Gordon of Terpersie is mentioned (and George, 2nd son of George of Terpersie) in a sasine, 1603. Perhaps, as the charter (1602) was of old Leslie, acquired from Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir, George may have been “of old Leslie.” (See Rec. of Aboyne p. 195 and 201.) It is in the Charter, 1602, George is called George’s 2nd lawful son.16      (8) John Gordon, along with his brother, William was a witness in 1618 to a reversion granted by their father, George, of the east,17 half of the Kirktoun of Clatt to James Gordon of Knockespock. (see Rec. of Aboyne p. 201).      A son of Gordon of Terpersie is said to have fired a shot at the bidding of Gordon of Haddo at Mr. James Stalker and killed him at Turiff in 1639 ; this may have been either the above George, or more probably John or Henry, two of the sons of William of Terpersie.      According to a pedigree of the Badinscoth family given in the Thanage of Fermartyn, John, son of George, and brother of George, was “of Law,” but I doubt it.      (9) Patrick of Badinscoth. See separate notes on pedigree of Badinscoth family.      (10) Alexander, younger of Terpersie, predeceased his father unmarried; see Balbithan M.S. and Castles of Aberdeenshire. I have not found any other mention of him.      (11) James of Terpersie is mentioned as early as 1637, when he and his spouse got sasine in Auchlyne. I think there is no doubt that his wife was Anne, daughter of John Gordon of Craig.18 James G, younger of Terpersie, and spouse got sasine in New- bigging, &c., 1643 ; he was (I believe) served heir of Terpersie in 1671 ; got a reversion from John G., (apparently of Law) in December, 1668 ; he and his father granted a reversion to Henry G. of Auchlyne in same month and year ; he got or granted a renunciation, 20th June, 1671 ; he got a sasine in Terpersie in October, 1675, and another in February, 1676.      NOTE – The series of extracts of sasines I have relative to Gordons is a very large one, extending over the first three- quarters of the 17th century, with gaps, as some old volumes for Aberdeenshire are lost ; but they are only in skeleton, being brief notes made by a searcher for his own guidance, when trying to trace out the descent of a probable heir to the Lesmoir baronetcy.      (12) John Gordon, apparently of Law. I cannot find any evidence to determine whether this John, son of William, or John, brother of William, was first laird of Law ; possibly both, the former may have had it and left no son, and Law may have granted to his brother, William of Terpersie, who granted it to the younger John, nephew of the elder one. In the Balbithan M.S. John, son of Willm was first laird of Law : his uncle John is designed “of _____ ___”19      According to the M.S. notes on the Terpersie family, lent to me some years ago, John, son of William of Terpersie, was laird of Wardhouse. I think this is hardly correct, and that Wardhouse was acquired from Alexander Farquharson of Inver- cauld, who evidently was “of Wardhouse,” in 1672, and at a date later than the sasines, I have come down to, viz., 1684 ; at any rate I find no mention of a John Gordon getting sasine in Ward- house in them. According to the Balbithan M.S. John, grandson of the first John of Law, purchased Wardhouse, his father having died in the flower of his age.      In 1630 there is a procuratory of resignation for William Gordon of Terpersie, and John and Henry, his sons, they having obtained the superiority of the lands of Leslie and Leith Hall from John, Earl of Mar, Aberdeen, (sasines vol. I., II., quoted in Rec. of Aboyne p. 201. I cannot recognize this among the sasines, included in my list, unless it is briefly, “Renunc. to William G. of Terpersie, 25th November, 1634.”      From the mention of this John in 1630, I think it probable that when John of Law is mentioned later, it refers to him and not to his Uncle John, who is mentioned in 1618. Law evidently belonged to Wm. of Terpersie in 1635. There were 3 Johns of Law successively, then an Arthur.      In 1643 John G., son of William G. of Terpersie, and Isobel Gordon20 , his future spouse, got sasine in Ardlair on 16th June ; in 1650 John G. got sasine in Darley on Bogs of Darley ; and in 1656 John G. “of Law” got sasine in Earlsfield ; but I cannot find a John G. getting sasine in Law in my brief notes ; he got sasine in Clatt in 1668, and he granted a reversion to James G. of Terpersie in same year ; and John G. of Law got sasine in Rothienormand in 1674.      There is mention of a James G.21, second son to John G. of Law, in 1681, and a John G. is returned heir (General sasines) to John G. of Law, his father, in 1694.      I think all these entries refer to the same James Gordon, son of William of Terpersie ; and that he acquired Wardhouse when advanced in life, and was succeeded by his son, John, who prob- ably became of Wardhouse, and that John was father of Arthur, younger of Law, who seems to have purchased Lesmoir about 1740, of a son, James, and probably a daughter, Mary, who married James Gordon of Beldorney.      (13) Harry of Auchlyne is mentioned along with John as sons of William of Terpersie as having the superiority of the lands of Leslie and Leith Hall from the Earl of Mar in 1630 ; (See Rec. of Aboyne p. 201. Harry and his son, James, got sasine in Seggieden, 1658. Harry voted for Lord Aboyne going to meet General Monk in 1659 ; he and his wife got sasine in 1663 and another in 1664, his wife’s name, Marjorie Innes, is given in the second of these, both in Auchlyne. Harry got sasine in Mill of Clatt, 1665, in Clatt, 1669 and 1671 ; in Tillyangus, 1674, and in Auchmenzie, 1677. James G. of Auchlyne and Rachel Burnett, his spouse, in Auchline, 1680.      I think that it is probable that a daughter of Harry of Auch- lyne married a James Brebner in Clatt, and in some way Knockespock (I don’t know whether he was related to the old family of K.) granted a remunciation (sic) to Patrick G. of Badinscoth, but whether it was a remunciation (sic) of the estate my information does not state ; if the laird of Badinscoth got it he may have sold it to Harry of Auchlyne or his son.      (14) George Gordon of Terpersie : he was entered as Jr. of Terpersie at Kings College, 1668 and his spouse, a daughter of Sir Alexander Burnett of Craigmyle, got sasine in Civile (presumably Clatt).      Omitted above, Mr. Temple in “Thanage of Fermartyn,” p. 222 and 350, mentions that Sir John Gordon Park, the second Gordon of Park, and father of the Ist Bart. had a 3rd son, David G. of Achoynanie, who married Janet Gordon, daughter of Gordon of Terpersie.      This David was brother of Sir John, Ist Bart. of Park, and of George Gordon of Edinglassie, mentioned in a sasine, 1672 ;                      22 I think Janet was daughter probably of James of Terpersie.      David of Achoynanie and Janet had a son, James Gordon of Balbithan, who was author of the M.S. History of the Gordons, called the Balbithan M.S. He married Ist Elizabeth, sister of Sir Alexander Burnett of Craigmyle, and had issue ; and 2ndly a daughter of Innes of Balornie23, by whom he had a son, Benjamin, who succeeded to Balbithan and became a General in the army.      From the book of the Annual Rentaris and Wadsettaris, date, 1633, we find that Mr. George Gordoun of Terpersie was indebted to William Orem in Dullab, Im. IIc. Merkis ; Mr. George Gordon, of Terpersie to Robert Meldrum at the Mill of Rothie, VIIc. Merkis, and Patrick Gordoun of Badinscoth to the same, IIIc. Merkis ; George Gordon of Terpersie to James Ros in Auhobbis, IIc. Merkis ; George Gordon of Terpersie to John Bisat in Stayndfield, Im. Merkis ; that George G. of Terpersie had recently paid to William Crystie in Wardhill, Im. Merkis ; that George Gordon of Terpersie was indebted to Thomas Gordoun of Brodland, Im. Merkis ; that George of Terpersie had recently paid to Duncan Calder in Cowll, VIII Merkis and still owed him Vc. Merkis ; that George and William Gordon of Terpersie were owing to Robert Meldrum at the mylne of Rothie, Im. VIc. Merkis ; that George Gordoun of Terpersie was owing upon the wodsett of the lands of Darley redeemable, IIIIm. Merkis ; and that William Gordoun of Terpersie had wodset to Helen Patersone, spouse to Robert Lamb in Bogs of Darley, of which she had his life rent right for the sum of Im. IIIIc. Merkis, the said Bogs of Darley.      The George and William of above named are of course the 2nd and 3rd lairds. Thomas Gordon of Brodland may be the son of William of Brodland, probably of the Pitburg family and Brodland near Huntly, who got a remission for Glenlivat.

Handwritten notes appended at the end of the printed page:

John Gordon, first of Law, (according to the Balbithan M.S.) md. Isobel Gordon, daughter to Leichiston and had 3 sons, viz. John G. afterwds of Law ; James of Darley, and Hary in Drum- head, apparently of Auchlyne.      John Gordon 2nd of Law md. a dau. of the Laird of Culter, (Cum- ing) and had a son John afterwards of Law : this second laird died in the flower of his age.      John Gordon 3rd of Law acquired Wardes ; he was 3 times md 1st to a dau. of Mr Robt Irvine Minister of Towie, by whom he had Arthur Gordon, younger of Law & Wardes when Balbithan wrote : 2nd Mary Gordon dau. of Hary Gordon of Auchlyne, 3rdly a lady named Q7 Hay, Lady Crimond = and had no issue by the two last marriages.

Notes

¹ Marginal note: ‘I think this sh^d be Innes.’

² The purpose of this asterisk is not immediately obvious, no doubt the answer lies in some other part of the manuscript which is not to hand.

³ Marginal note: ‘I find Rannes is near Ruthven. I think it belonged to Hays in early times.’

⁴ Sic and uncorrected

⁵ No close bracket

⁶ Marginal note, associated with this paragraph: ‘Ogilvy of Inverquharities daughter?’

⁷ Has an ‘of’ been omitted here?

⁸ James Macdonald of the Farm, Huntly, almost beyond a shadow of doubt

⁹ Probably referring to the 19^th century

¹⁰ The following handwritten note appears at the bottom of p. 2:

Sir William of Terpersie’s wife was (see g to the Balbithan M.S.) a daughter of John Gordon of Licheson by his second wife a daughter of Ogilvy, laird, of Findlater, and relict of the laird of Birkenbog (Abercromby).