Alexander Gordon, 1st Baronet of Cluny

Biographical Summary

"Sir Alexander Gordon, of Cluny, co Aberdeen, son and heir of Sir Thomas Gordon of the same, by Grizel, daughter of James (Stewart) Lord Innermeath [S], had special service to his father, 11 July 1607; was M.P. [S] for Aberdeenshire, 1612-17; Knighted, May 1617, and was created a Baronet [S] 31 August, sealed, 20 October 1625, with rem. to heirs male whatsoever, and with a grant of, presumably, 16,000 acres in Nova Scotia, entitled the Barony of New Cluny, of which he had seizin in the same month of October. His affairs soon became involved, and in 1630 he was a prisoner of debt in the Tolbooth in Edinburgh. In 1632 he sold his estate of Tillyfour etc. In 1639 he was Lieut. of the North; in 1644 he was adjudged a prisoner till payment was made for 1,110 merks, due to Sir Thomas Nicolson. He married firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of William (Douglas), 9th Earl of Angus [S], by Elidia, daughter of Sir Robert Graham. He married secondly, Violet, daughter of John Urquhart, of Craigfintry, co Aberdeen. He married thirdly, 22 June 1611, a few months after her husband's death, Elspeth, widow of Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet [S 1625], of Wardes, daughter of John Gordon of Newton. She had previously intrigued with him, and had caused her then husband to make over to him his heavily burdened estates in co Aberdeen. She died at Durham, 2 December 1642. He died before 1650."

SOURCE: Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1900; Vol. II; page 297