John Gordon <b1813?>, Grammar School Moffat 1841 - 1844, D Glasgow 6 Oct 1850

[flashMinor]

I am trying to go backwards from my ancestor John Gordon, a schoolmaster who died in Glasgow on 6 Oct 1850. He married Margaret Steele in Selkirk in 1838, and her family has been much easier to trace.

The only information I have been able to find on John Gordon comes from his marriage certificate and children's birth & baptismal records. His will refers to his surviving family in generic terms only and has no information on his antecedents.

I know that he was Rector of the Grammar School in Moffat at least between 1841 and 1844, and that he lived in Glasgow from at least 1846 to his death there in 1850. His will records that he owned a school in Glasgow at the time of his death but contains no further information about it.

I would be very grateful for any information which anyone might have so as to give me a clue as to which of the considerable number of John Gordons springing up in about 1813-ish I should look closely at.

Thanks very much,

Anne

[MonicaL]

Hi Anne

Have you tried to follow up the niece, Jessie Gordon, aged 14 b. Midlothian (I can't make out from the index I am looking at the birth place in Midlothian, it is transcribed as Mupellro?), who shows in the household in 1851 with Margaret and cousins?  It might point you in the direction of John's brother and family 

What were the names of Margaret Steel's parents?

Monica 

[flashMinor]

Hi Monica and thank you very much for the tip!

Margaret Steele's parents were James Steele and Margaret Pae, both originally from Coldingham Berwick.

All the best,

Anne

[MonicaL]

I wonder if Mupellro is supposed to be Musselbourgh? You would have to check the original image (you may have this already) for accuracy. There is this entry for example on IGI:

JANET GORDON  Christening:21 OCT 1838 Inveresk With Musselburgh, Midlothian
Parents: GRAHAM GORDON and ELSPET WILSON

Monica

[MonicaL]

Just to help anyone who is also doing any searches, the children showing for John Gordon and Margaret Steel, from IGI - a mixture of submitted and actual extract:

1. John Johnstone Gordon  Birth: 07 JUL 1842 Moffat,
2. Margaret Elizabeth Gordon  Birth: 1843 Moffat
3. James Steele Gordon Birth: 13 MAR 1844 Moffat
4. William Steel Gordon  Birth: 26 JUL 1846 Govan
5. Robert More Alexander Gordon Birth: 10 DEC 1850 Govan

No children show in their 1841 Census entry in Moffat - maybe some early deaths following their marriage in 1838...

Monica

[flashMinor]

Monica, "Mupellro" is indeed meant to be Musselburgh.

I've now traced Jessie Gordon back to her parents Samuel Gordon and Margaret Nicholson of Musselburgh, and Samuel Gordon back to his parents Alexander Gordon and Isabel or Isabella Clark of Kells, Kirkcudbright. Unfortunately, when I searched for their children I found only Alexander (baptised 1803), Isabella (1805), Samuel (1807) and William (1811). I had high hopes for a John around 1813 (and a James of similar vintage who was named as an executor in John Gordon's will in 1848 but either didn't accept the appointment or didn't survive to do so on John Gordon's death in 1850).

I can't help wishing that John had been granted a more exotic name so as to narrow down the possibilities!

Anne

[Merril Bourne]

Hi Anne

Have you tried to follow up the niece, Jessie Gordon, aged 14 b. Midlothian (I can't make out from the index I am looking at the birth place in Midlothian, it is transcribed as Mupellro?), who shows in the household in 1851 with Margaret and cousins?  It might point you in the direction of John's brother and family 

What were the names of Margaret Steel's parents?

Monica 

Hi Monica & other Gordon researchers, I too have an interest in the GORDON family, but know very little of my Scottish roots. My Great Grandmother was Jessie GORDON, born c 1844. Details from the records of her children's births here in NZ, show her birthplace, as either Cupar, Fife or Dundee. She was the daughter of George Gordon & Janet ( maiden name unknown ) & had siblings, Charles & Margaret. Jessie came to New Zealand in 1860, as a ladies maid to a family called  HARDING. I have a photo I believe to be Charles, his wife & daughter, but that is all I know.
 
I realise this is not very much information, but just hope that you might have something that may be a link.
 
I would like to hear from anyone who may also be interested  in the same family line.

Kind Regards
Merril BOURNE
Auckland
New Zealand

[flashMinor]

Hi Merril. I've had a very difficult time trying to locate the Jessie Gordon listed as my ancestor's niece in the 1851 Census. Your Jessie may be a little young to be the one on the Census but you never know - there may be a link. I'm very happy to share what I've done so far with you.

One line of enquiry I had to follow up in locating Jessie Gordons was the fact that the names Jessie and Janet were used synonymously at the time. It is likely that many Jessies were actually baptised as Janets or variants. I noticed that the mother of your Jessie was named Janet - have you tried checking for baptisms in the name of Janet as well? I did a quick check on Scotland's People and the IGI and the closest I could see was a Janet Gordon born to George Gordon & Agnes Pagan on 12 Feb 1843 in Durrisdeer, Dumfries, and a Jane Brown Gordon born to George Gordon and Janet Wilkie in Glasgow on 30 Aug 1840.

I'll send you a private message with some details.

Good luck!

Anne