Janet Coutts -m- William Gordon
Janet was christened at Murly, Parish of Birse, on the 26th December 1803. She was the daughter of Andrew Coutts and Mary Turner. Andrew Coutts in Murly had a daughter baptised named Janet. Witnesses Alexr Harper and Francis Birss.
(Birse OPR)
Janet married William Gordon, who according to a stone in Banchory Ternan Kirkyard, was more than 30 years her senior.
Samuel Gordon farmer Cluny of Raemoir d. 19 Mar 1844 aged 70, brother William EICS died 24 July 1845 aged 73 (wife Janet Couts 30 July 1880 aged 76 son William died 10 Oct 1866 aged 24, grandson John died 10 June 1890 aged 10 days, son Alex died 3 June 1910 aged 66 (wife Elizabeth Strachan died 16 Jan 1910 aged 63 years))
1838 William Gordon in this parish and Janet Coutts in the parish of Kincardine
O'Neil after being regularly proclaimed were married July 2nd.
1841 census Banchory Ternan: Living
at Arbeadie District 6 page 5
GORDON William 65 Cooper No
COUTTS Janet 39 Yes
1851 census Banchory Ternan: Living at Arbeadie
GORDON Janet Head widow 44 carpenter's widow ABD Birse
GORDON William son Un 9 scholar KCD Banchory Ternan
GORDON Alexander son Un 7 scholar KCD Banchory Ternan
1861 census Banchory Ternan: Living at Arbeadie
GORDON janet Head widow aged 56 stocking knitter, pauper born ABD Birse
1871 census Banchory Ternan: Residing at Waukmill
GORDON Janet head widow 69 ABD Birse
GORDON Alexander son Unm 27 wood turner KCD Banchory Ternan
Death Certificate: Banchory
Ternan #27
Janet Gordon, widow of William Gordon, cooper
1880 July 13th 4hr pm at Waulkmill of Invercannie, Banchory Ternan
Female 76 years
Parents: Andrew Coutts, farmer (deceased) and Mary Coutts m.s. Turner (deceased)
Cause: Chronic bronchitis 4 months as certified by J McHARDY LFPS
Informant: Alexander Gordon, son
Registered: 1880 July 31st at Banchory
James Stewart, Registrar
Children of WILLIAM GORDON and JANET COUTTS
1841 November 30th William Gordon at Arbeadie had a son born of his wife Janet Coutts, baptised
December 17th and named William.
(Banchory Ternan OPR)
According to the inscription on the above stone William died 10 Oct 1866.
September 5th 1843 William Gordon at Arbeadie had a son born of his wife Janet
Coutts, baptised October 5th 1843 and named Alexander.
According to the inscription on the above stone Alexander died 3 June 1910.
William married Elizabeth Strachan from the Parish of Birse
Marriage Certificate: Banchory Ternan #1
1874 on the 16th day of January at Inchmarlo
Alexander Gordon, woodturner (journeyman) (bachelor) aged 30 residing Inchmarlo, Banchory Ternan
Parents: William Gordon, cooper (deceased) and Janet Gordon m.s. Coutts
Elizabeth Strachan housekeeper (spinster) aged 24 residing Trustack Banchory Ternan
Parents: James Strachan, general labourer and Catherine Strachan m.s. Bain (deceased)
Witnesses: George Hutcheson DD Minister of Banchory Ternan, James Mitchell and Alexander Strachan
Registered: 1874 January 19th at Banchory Ternan
James Stewart, Registrar
According to the 1881 census (Waulkmill Banchory Ternan), Alexander Gordon and Elizabeth Strachan had the following children.
William born abt 1875 at Banchory Ternan
Alexander born 3 Feb 1877 at Cairnaquheen Crathie (Crathie & Braemar #7)
Jean born abt 1880 Banchory Ternan
John born 1890 died 10 June 1890 Banchory (from above stone)
(thank you to Dr Peter J Gordon Gordons o'Girnoc for this information)
The link back to Deeside (Glenmuick) seems likely for William Gordon in Arbeadie (c1776-1845) and his siblings
Ann Gordon ‘second wife of Aucholzie’ (c1770- 1827)
Jane Gordon (c1771 - 1852) (born ‘Ballater' according to the 1851 census for Banchory Ternan) Is mentioned in her brother Samuel's will - see below.
Samuel Gordon in Cluny (c1776 - 1884)
1851 census - Ley, Banchory Ternan
Jane Gordon, age 80, born c1771, Annuitant, Head, Where born: Ballater, Aberdeenshire
Alexander Ross 10, Visitor, born Banchory c1841
As will be seen from the above MI (pre-1855 for the Means) Jane does not appear. The online ANESFHS index shows her with this family group and dying 29 Sept 1852.
Their father has been documented by a descendent of the Gordon family of Aucholzie, Glenmuick, as ALEXANDER GORDON:
On an old typed family document about the family's history there are some hand written notes: -
'at Aucholzie
Donald Gordon and his wife Elspet Taggart Mrs Macdonald
Family James, Donald and Isobel married to C Small Altonrea
James married Ann Leys and had family
William born 20? 1788
Donald born 12 may 1791 died in infancy
Second wife Ann Gordon sister of Samuel Gordon Cluny
Alexander born 8 Feb 1794
Samuel born 20 march 1798
? born 9 Feb 1804'
Gordon Samuel 08/02/1847 Farmer, residing at Cluny in parish of Banchory Ternan Inventory; Testament Stonehaven Sheriff Court SC5/41/11(9 pages)
SAMUEL GORDON died March 1844 at Cluny
SOLE Executor as per Testament dated 26th December 1839 was ALEXANDER ROSS, farmer at Ley of Crathes.
Samuel Gordon left nearly his whole estate to this Alexander Ross, his son-in-law.
To his sister, JEAN GORDON, currently living in family with me, I leave all household furniture.
To my ‘natural son’ JAMES GORDON = £100
To WILLIAM GORDON my brother, Cooper in Aberdeen = £100 (he died just after Samuel)
Inventory:
Cash in house = £12
Cash due to Defunct by John Johnson, Mill of Lin = £20
Cash due to Defunct by DONALD McDONALD, Haugh of Sluie = £9.8s.6/- (DONALD McDONALD is the spouse of JANE GORDON, daughter of JOHN GORDON and EUPHEMIA McANDREW, Camlet, Glenmuick.)
Several debts totalling = £37.6d
Principal sum in Bank Bill drawn by the Defunct upon and accepted by ALEXANDER GORDON, Farmer, Crofts, Glenmuick dated 20th December 1837, payable 6 months after date = £834.4s.11/- (including interest). ALEXANDER GORDON of Crofts is his nephew - His mother was ANN GORDON.
Clothes and effects = £17-5-9/-
Old watch = £2
ALEXANDER ROSS was the spouse of Margaret Gordon and the son-in-law of Samuel Gordon.
Banchory Ternan Parish Registers read: 1838 Alexander Ross farmer in Ley and Margaret Gordon Cluny after being regularly proclaimed were married June 31st.
Alexander Ross was born in Birse: Birse Parish Registers: May 26 1805 Andrew Ross in Boghead had a child baptised named Alexander. Witnesses Alexander Ross and James Birss.
His death certificate (Old Machar #792) states Alexander was the son of Andrew Ross and Elizabeth Anderson.