A Gordon!

[Jerry]

Gordon on my mother's side. GGGrandmother Mary Gordon Willis. Gordons in Virginia by way of County Down in 1750-ish, by way of Aberdeenshire 1650-ish.

Mary Gordon's pedigree

We may be fairly closely related. My Maternal Grandfather was Charles Gordon. I know he lived i South hill Va at the time my mother was born, but I haven't had a lot of success in tracing the family beyond there. I see several names in the pedigree with which I am familiar. My uncle was James Gordon. Do you know if any sources that I can check for further information?

[turpin]

While I'm not a Gordon, my dog is. (The Gordon Setter breed was originated by Alexander, the fourth Duke of Gordon (1743-1827) to hunt grouse.)

Best regards,

Jake

Good enough, cousin. Dogs are generally better companions than humans anyway.

We may be fairly closely related. My Maternal Grandfather was Charles Gordon. I know he lived i South hill Va at the time my mother was born, but I haven't had a lot of success in tracing the family beyond there. I see several names in the pedigree with which I am familiar. My uncle was James Gordon. Do you know if any sources that I can check for further information?

Jerry, you should PM McFarkus. He is the family geneologist and did all the compiling of the tree. He is in contact with relatives all over of a similar bent and could provide you with some enlightening references and resources. And don't forget there is a reunion of the Willis-Gordon-Garnett allied families in Virginia this coming August. That might be a good way to make contact with folks in the know about family histories.

[J.B. Simpson]

My Great Great Grandmother was Jessie Gordon, until she married George Simpson. So now I am Fraser. My Grandfather had the Gordon Tartan all over the house, even though my Grandmother told him we were Fraser. I love the Gordon Tartan, and will probably get a Kilt in it one of these days.

[James MacMillan]

I've never found any Gordons in my personal tree, but I sure do like the Dress Gordon Tartan!

[Riverkilt]

Here I am. Somehow missed this thread. I'm 1/16th Gordon by way of a great great grandmother on my father's side. She's descended from James Gordon who came to America from Scotland to fight with Burgoyne at Saratoga. Family lore is he wanted to wangle a way to America so enlisted. Once here he was selected to reconnoiter American forces, was sent through the British lines and never came back. He signed up and fought with the American forces for the duration. The family eventually settled in Allegheny County New York in Rushford. Strong stock from the stories about the family, well documented in a family book published in the 1860s that I found in the Library of Congress.

James is supposed to have come from a town called Leeds Scotland around Perth that no one can find. His brother John stayed in Scotland and inherited a vast estate but never married or had kids so when he died the estate went to the Crown according to family lore.

My great great grandmother Ellen Louise Gordon crossed the Bozeman Trail through hostile Indian country in 1866 headed for the mines in Virginia City, Montana. She left a diary and letters home that are now part of libraries and museums in Montana and have been published and referenced in may books of the times. She was one of the few women to document her adventures during those times.

Aye, House of Gordon here for sure.

Ron

[BoldHighlander]

I'm 1/16th Gordon by way of a great great grandmother on my father's side. She's descended from James Gordon who came to America from Scotland to fight with Burgoyne at Saratoga. Family lore is he wanted to wangle a way to America so enlisted. Once here he was selected to reconnoiter American forces, was sent through the British lines and never came back. He signed up and fought with the American forces for the duration.

Hey Ron, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some truth to this family lore of yours. Being a student of the Rev War & a member of the Brigade of the American Revolution (oldest Rev War living history org both nat'l & international) I have heard & read of many such documented cases.
Happened even more so (as you describe) with the Hessians

[Riverkilt]

Well, it is kind out there. His sympathies were with the Colonists even when back in Scotland so he had to fake it to serve the British Army.

According to family lore once he was past the British lines he turned himself in to the Americans who sent him to Washington who wound up employing him as a waiter for his staff. He was said to be a good knitter and tailor and often knit sox and made uniforms for Washington and his staff.

But James Gordon is also said to have served in Captain Norris Poor's 9th Regiment of the New Hampshire forces in 1775. Then reenlisted in the Continental Army in Portsmouth, NH serving in Pierce Long's regiment under Captain Mark Wiggins company in 1776. He was discharged and reenlisted three more times in 1777 with Captain Z. Gilman, 1779 with Nathan Gilman, and 1781 with Captain Roswell Rowell's 2nd New Hampshire regiment.

Family lore also says he was an Aide-de-Camp for George Washington but that's unlikely since there's no proof. There's also a family story that when Lafayette was wounded James Gordon accompanied him to Mt. Vernon. There is supposedly a razor once owned by Lafayette in the family.

Whatever he really did during the war he was given a pension for his service in 1820.

Sounds like he was a busy guy during the war...not surprising for a Gordon man.

Ron