Alexander Gordon
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gordon fought as a Royalist
and was captured by Oliver Cromwell
's army at the Battle of Worcester
on 3 September 1651 at the end of the English Civil War
. He was imprisoned at Tothill Field outside London
over the winter of 1651–1652. He was transported to the New World
in 1652 and entered into indentured servitude. His later victory over servitude became the legal precedent in Massachusetts
.
The Alexander Gordon line is the earliest Gordon family in the New World according to the Gordon Genealogy DNA Project, and descends from Adam de Gordoun through Sir William Gordon 1265 Laird of Strathbogie (now Huntly).
Along with many other Scotch prisoners, he sailed on the ship "Liberty", commanded by Capt. James Allen to Boston
and was confined at Watertown
as a prisoner of war.
For a year or more Alexander remained with John Cloyes, a boatswain
, or mate, of the vessel living in Cambridge
on the road to Watertown—near the site of Cambridge Hospital today.
While there he formed an acquaintance with Samuel Stratton of Watertown, with whom he made a six year contract on April 25, 1653, as an apprentice, to learn the art of husbandry. This contract should have ended in 1659, but after a years work without pay, Cloyes sold Alexander, like chattel, to Samuel Stratton in Watertown, as a "husbandry apprentice."
The term apprentice was used in name only. Later, other consignments of this virtually free workforce was shipped to America and was used in the towns of Massachusetts and the adjacent provinces. As the story of the first consignment had whetted the envy of those who had failed to procure cheap labor from this new kind of auction block of slave laborers. They were sold to planters and mill owners, the usual terms was a service of six years.
Those who engaged in this traffic, euphemistically hid with the label "apprenticeships." The idea was that this label would encourage the masters not to drive their helpless servants to the point of ill treatment, although it is not believed that this was the situation.
On May 23, 1655, a number of them, including Alexander, complained of this inevitable outgrowth of bondage and petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for freedom, but their request was refused.
Samuel Stratton of Watertown had bought one of these Scotsmen; one Alexander Gordon. It is, of course, an open question whether these men/boys, unable to sign their names, or read, could read the indentures by which they were bound and in this particular case it is clear that Alexander Gordon was a victim of ill treatment.
On November 3, 1663, through the kindness of a resident of Cambridge, Alexander appealed again to the court in Massachusetts and was released from his contract. His six year contract with Samuel Stratton ended on paper in 1659. But Alexander was forced to continue working until November of 1663 when he won his freedom in a landmark court case in Massachusetts.
Alexander made his way to New Hampshire
, where in the company of other Scots ex-prisoners, he helped found the town of Exeter
. He found employment at the sawmill of Nicholas Lisson.
At 28, Alexander Gordon married the owner's daughter, Mary Lisson(19) and became the forefather of the extensive Gordon family in New England
.
Notable New Hampshire Gordons descending from Alexander include Senator
William Gordon
and philanthropist
Nathaniel Gordon
.
Alexander Gordon died in 1697.
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
and was captured by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's army at the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
on 3 September 1651 at the end of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He was imprisoned at Tothill Field outside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
over the winter of 1651–1652. He was transported to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
in 1652 and entered into indentured servitude. His later victory over servitude became the legal precedent in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The Alexander Gordon line is the earliest Gordon family in the New World according to the Gordon Genealogy DNA Project, and descends from Adam de Gordoun through Sir William Gordon 1265 Laird of Strathbogie (now Huntly).
Along with many other Scotch prisoners, he sailed on the ship "Liberty", commanded by Capt. James Allen to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and was confined at Watertown
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
as a prisoner of war.
For a year or more Alexander remained with John Cloyes, a boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
, or mate, of the vessel living in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
on the road to Watertown—near the site of Cambridge Hospital today.
While there he formed an acquaintance with Samuel Stratton of Watertown, with whom he made a six year contract on April 25, 1653, as an apprentice, to learn the art of husbandry. This contract should have ended in 1659, but after a years work without pay, Cloyes sold Alexander, like chattel, to Samuel Stratton in Watertown, as a "husbandry apprentice."
The term apprentice was used in name only. Later, other consignments of this virtually free workforce was shipped to America and was used in the towns of Massachusetts and the adjacent provinces. As the story of the first consignment had whetted the envy of those who had failed to procure cheap labor from this new kind of auction block of slave laborers. They were sold to planters and mill owners, the usual terms was a service of six years.
Those who engaged in this traffic, euphemistically hid with the label "apprenticeships." The idea was that this label would encourage the masters not to drive their helpless servants to the point of ill treatment, although it is not believed that this was the situation.
On May 23, 1655, a number of them, including Alexander, complained of this inevitable outgrowth of bondage and petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for freedom, but their request was refused.
Samuel Stratton of Watertown had bought one of these Scotsmen; one Alexander Gordon. It is, of course, an open question whether these men/boys, unable to sign their names, or read, could read the indentures by which they were bound and in this particular case it is clear that Alexander Gordon was a victim of ill treatment.
On November 3, 1663, through the kindness of a resident of Cambridge, Alexander appealed again to the court in Massachusetts and was released from his contract. His six year contract with Samuel Stratton ended on paper in 1659. But Alexander was forced to continue working until November of 1663 when he won his freedom in a landmark court case in Massachusetts.
Alexander made his way to New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, where in the company of other Scots ex-prisoners, he helped found the town of Exeter
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
. He found employment at the sawmill of Nicholas Lisson.
At 28, Alexander Gordon married the owner's daughter, Mary Lisson(19) and became the forefather of the extensive Gordon family in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Notable New Hampshire Gordons descending from Alexander include Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
William Gordon
William Gordon
-British people:*William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen *William Gordon, 6th Viscount of Kenmure , Scottish Jacobite*William Gordon, Lord Strathnaver , MP for Tain Burghs, judged ineligible to sit because he was the eldest son of a Scottish peer*William Gordon , last of the pre-Reformation bishops...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Nathaniel Gordon
Nathaniel Gordon
Nathaniel Gordon was the only American slave trader to be tried, convicted, and executed "for being engaged in the Slave Trade" in accordance with the Piracy Law of 1820.Gordon was born in Portland, Maine...
.
Alexander Gordon died in 1697.
External links
- Alexander Gordon and his descendant's contributions are featured prominently in Bell's "History of Exeter, New Hampshire", "Alexander Gordon and His Descendants" by Marion Otis, and on the Gordons of Maine site at Gordons Of Maine .