New Spalding Club > Thanage of Fermartyn including the district commonly called Formartine

512 Tlic Tlianage of Fennartyn.
evidenced by the following retour: — "In 1640, May 28, Gilbert, Earl of Errol, Lord
Hay, constable of Scotland, heir male of William, Earl of Errol, his father, in the town
and lands of Corstane, Cairnhill, Chapeltown of Esslemont, town and lands of Bourhill,
Woolaw, Gray's Fortree, and the mill of the same ; and in 1705 there is the special
service of ' Charles, Earl of Errol, as nearest heir of his father, John, Earl of Errol,
Lord Hay and Slaines, great Constable of Scotland, iS:c. ; also in the lands and barony
of Esslemont, comprehending the lands of Corstane, Cairnhill, Chapeltown of Essle-
mont, dominical lands of Esslemont, with the tour and manor place thereof; the lands
of Bourhills, Woolaw, Fortrie, Gray's Fortrie, alias Fairley, &c.°
The Errol family had long before this time acquired the whole barony of Esslemont,
and it remained in their possession until 17 — , when it passed, by purchase, to James
Gordon of Ellon and Esslemont. He was, according to the author of the " View of the
Diocese," son to a farmer in Bourtie, and a merchant in Edinburgh, and at one time a
baillie there, and a rich man.^ A terrible tragedy took place in his family, when two of
his children were cruelly murdered by their tutor in Edinburgh. Robert Irvine, the
assassin, after the deed, attempted suicide, but was prevented, and being taken " red
hand," was summarily executed between Leith and Edinburgh.'' James Gordon sold
Esslemont in 1727 to Robert Gordon of the Hallhead family.
The Gordons of Hallhead and Esslemont are descended from Thomas
Gordon of Ruthven. (For his descent and status see Gordons of Parkhill.)
Thomas Gordon of Ruthven was the brother of John Gordon of Essie or
Scardargue, and the two were commonly called " Jock and Tarn Gordons." Thomas
Gordon is said to have married three wives, by whom, according to one account, he had
sixteen sons ; according to Gordon of Rothiemay, eighteen sons.^ His first wife was
the daughter of Thomas Hay of Enzie, by whom he had issue, with others,
I. Patrick, of Auchinreath, Corriedown, &c., and Cotonhill, which he ex-
cambed for Sauchen.
By his second wife, a daughter of Walter Innes of that ilk, he had issue, at least
four sons : —
II. William, of Balvenie.
III. Adam, Chantor of Murray, and parson of Kinkell.
IV. Thomas, of Kenchie or Braikleys.
V. George, of Cushney and Hallhead.
IL George Gordon of Hallhead.
He acquired the lands of Cushney and Hallhead. He married first a daughter of
the laird of Craigellie, without issue ; secondly, a daughter of Mortimer of
Craigievar, by whom he had, besides a daughter, Margaret, married to Alexander
1 Ret. Spec. Aber. No. 249. 4 Pratt's Buchan, p. 286. Cham. Dom. Annals III. p. 422
2 Ant. A. and B. II!. p. 158. 5 Balbithan MS. p. 79. Gordon of Rothiemay 's
3 Id., I. p. 301. Hist. Vol. I. Pref.