Memorials of four old families

James Douglas, Lord of Abercorn and Aberdour, had granted a
Charter, dated 5th Oct., 1408, of the lands of Over and Nether Pettouly,
Petslegach, Ardclach and several others, Mamsey, with the Mill of Badc-
chall and Rathen and pertinents, lying in the Barony of Aberdour and
County of Aberdeen, in favour of William Fraser of Philorth. This Charter
was confirmed by James Douglas' brother, Archibald, Earl of Douglas and
Lord of Galloway, known as "The Grim," at Edinburgh on 28th October
following. Precept of Sasine followed, dated Perth, 6th October, 1420, to
which James de Douglas, Lord of Balveny, not having his own seal at hand,
adhibited the seal of Alexander de Seton, Lord of Gordon.
But in 1418 William Fraser of Philorth sold Ardclach and the Mill of
Badechall, with the thirled multures, to John de Gordon, natural son of
Dominus John de Gordon Miles, to be held and had (1) by the foresaid
John and his male heirs lawfully begotten or to be begotten between him-
self and Elizabeth, now his wife ; whom failing (2) by his other male heirs
to be lawfully begotten between himself and any other wife ; whom failing
(3) by Alexander, natural son of the said John, and his male heirs to be
lawfully begotten of his body; whom failing (4) by Adam, natural son of
the foresaid John, and his male heirs to be lawfully begotten of his body ;
whom failing (5) by Thomas de Gordon, brother of the foresaid John, and
his male heirs lawfully begotten or to be begotten of his body ; whom fail-
ing (6) by true and lawful heirs de Gordon, bearing the sirname and arms
of Gordon in feu and heirship for ever. The Reddendo was a pair of wax
candles annually on the feast of Pentecost, if asked only.
This Charter was sealed at Aberdeen on the last day of May, 141 8, the
witnesses being Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen, Chancellor of Scotland ;
Dominus Robert, Abbot of Der ; Dominus Alexander de Seton, Lord of
Gordon ; Andrew Keith, Lord of Inverugie ; and Andrew Giffarte ; and
confirmed at Edinburgh by James de Douglas, Lord of Abercorn, 16th
January, 1422. — Vide Spald. Club Antiq. Aberdeen and Banff, vol. II., pp.
378-9.
If John de Gordone, the grantee, was Jock of Scurdargue, his wife's
name must have been Elizabeth. I do not know that he or his descendants
held property in Aberdour, most of them settled in Strathbogie.
The meaning of " filius naturalis" in old Charters is not very clear:
the father of Sir William Fraser above mentioned, Sir Alexander Fraser of
Cowie, was, according to Douglas and Wood's Peerage, twice married, his
second wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Sir David de Hamilton of Cadyow,
by whom he had a son Alexander ; and Alexander had a Charter, " Alex-
andra Fraser filio naturali Alexandri Fraser de Colly et Durris," from his
father and his wife, Elizabeth, to him and his heirs of certain lands in the