Gordons of Nethermuir

out his license ("Privy Council Register,"
v., 184).
David seems to have died in 1595, for that
is the date on the "Nethermuir Tomb" in
the churchyard of Old Deer.- The tomb is-
a square enclosure to the right of the en-
trance to the graveyard, and it contains
several stones which composed the old church
belfry. Mr Henderson ("Aberdeenshire
Epitaphs," i. , 401) says that "when the
church was demolished about 183Q, the tomb
was erected, many stones for the purpose
being- carted from Nethermuir. Amongst
these was a triangular slab of granite, which
is now fixed over the doorway. It has at the
top the motto "Sveir Nocht," below which
is a shield showing the Gordon Arms,
flanked by the initials D. G. and the date
1595. The name David Gordon follows,
underneath which are three ornaments, one
of which is a sand-glass. Below is a shield
displaying the Mowat Arms, flanked by the
initials I. M. This block rests upon a red
sandstone lintel, which is believed to have
formed part of the kirk belfry. It bears the
letters in bold form K. and A. ; W. E. M. L.,
representing William, Earl Marischal, Lord
Keith and Altrie, who was patron of the
parish.
According to the Balbithan MS., David
married "the goodman of Auchencruive's
daughter, Maitland." The 1670 MS.
calls her Janet Maitland, "daughter to the
Deane of Aberdeen." The Dean was Robert
Maitland, and it was in connection with a
service to the latter's nephew, Robert, that
David Gordon of Nethermuir was on the
jury in 1584. He had, according- to the 1670
MS., three sons and two daughters: — ■
1. Patrick Gordon of Nethermuir.
2. James Gordon of Knaven. The Bal-
bithan MS. calls him "Sir James of
Knaven," and says he married Elizabeth