Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo
Encyclopedia
Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet (1610 – 19 July 1644) was a Scottish Royalist
supporter of Charles I
during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
. Gordon distinguished himself against the covenanters at Turriff
, 1639, and joined Charles I
in England. Created a baronet
in 1642 for his services, he was excommunicated and forced to surrender by the Covenanter
s under Argyll at Kellie in 1644 and was subsequently beheaded for treason at Edinburgh.
John was the son of George Gordon (eldest son of James Gordon of Haddo and Methlick
), and Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Bannerman. George predeceased his father, and John succeeded to his grandfather's estates on the latter's death in November 1624.
second-in-command of the forces raised against the Covenanters, under the Marquess of Huntly
. He took a distinguished part in the skirmish at Turriff
on 14 May 1639, where the Royal forces dispersed a gathering of the Covenanters. Gordon was made a baronet
on 13 August 1642 for his role in this affair, an honour which rendered him further odious to the Covenanters. After the conclusion of the treaty of pacification on 20 June, Gordon repaired to the king at Newark. When Huntly raised an army for the King that year, Sir John again joined him, and both were excommunicated by the General Assembly in April. Huntly was forced to retreat, but Sir John tried to hold Kellie against a powerful army led by the "glied Argyll
".
For his opposition to the covenant, letters of intercommuning were issued by the convention against him in November 1643, and an order granted for his apprehension. The sheriff of Aberdeen proceeded accordingly, in January 1644, to his house of Kellie at the head of a large force, but Gordon had escaped. He joined the Marquis of Huntly in behalf of the king, and sentence of excommunication was pronounced against them both by order of the committee of the general assembly on 16 April 1644. On the retreat of the marquis's forces, Gordon attempted to defend his house of Kellie against the Marquis of Argyll, Promised honourable terms of surrender by his cousin, Earl Marischal
, then in Argyll's army, Gordon capitulated unconditionally on 8 May 1644. Argyll released most of the garrison, but held Gordon and a few officers and plundered Kellie in violation of his terms, much to Marischal's dissatisfaction. Gordon was brought to Edinburgh
and imprisoned in the western part of St. Giles' Cathedral
, which thereby acquired the name of "Haddo's Hole". He was tried for high treason
against the Estates for his actions in 1639, and for maintaining a garrison against the Covenanting armies. Gordon defended himself on the grounds that his actions at Turriff had been pardoned under the Pacification of Berwick, and that he had had the King's authority in his deeds, to no avail. He was found guilty and beheaded at the Mercat Cross
in Edinburgh on 19 July 1644.
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
supporter of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
. Gordon distinguished himself against the covenanters at Turriff
Turriff
Turriff is a town and civil parish in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. It is approximately above sea level, and has a population of 5,708.Turriff is known locally as Turra in the Doric dialect of Scots...
, 1639, and joined Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in England. Created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1642 for his services, he was excommunicated and forced to surrender by the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s under Argyll at Kellie in 1644 and was subsequently beheaded for treason at Edinburgh.
John was the son of George Gordon (eldest son of James Gordon of Haddo and Methlick
Methlick
Methlick is a village in the Formartine area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated on the River Ythan north-west of Ellon.- Services :Methlick is served by a general store, a garage and hardware store, one hotel and a village hall...
), and Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Bannerman. George predeceased his father, and John succeeded to his grandfather's estates on the latter's death in November 1624.
Career
Gordon was the son of George Gordon (d. 1610), by Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Bannerman of Elsick in Aberdeenshire. He succeeded his grandfather, James Gordon of Methlick and Haddo, Aberdeenshire, in November 1624. In 1639, Gordon was appointed by Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
second-in-command of the forces raised against the Covenanters, under the Marquess of Huntly
George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly
George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly , styled Earl of Enzie from 1599 to 1636, eldest son of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly by Lady Henrietta Stewart, daughter of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, was brought up in England as a Protestant, and later created Viscount Aboyne by Charles I.On...
. He took a distinguished part in the skirmish at Turriff
Turriff
Turriff is a town and civil parish in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. It is approximately above sea level, and has a population of 5,708.Turriff is known locally as Turra in the Doric dialect of Scots...
on 14 May 1639, where the Royal forces dispersed a gathering of the Covenanters. Gordon was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 13 August 1642 for his role in this affair, an honour which rendered him further odious to the Covenanters. After the conclusion of the treaty of pacification on 20 June, Gordon repaired to the king at Newark. When Huntly raised an army for the King that year, Sir John again joined him, and both were excommunicated by the General Assembly in April. Huntly was forced to retreat, but Sir John tried to hold Kellie against a powerful army led by the "glied Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
".
For his opposition to the covenant, letters of intercommuning were issued by the convention against him in November 1643, and an order granted for his apprehension. The sheriff of Aberdeen proceeded accordingly, in January 1644, to his house of Kellie at the head of a large force, but Gordon had escaped. He joined the Marquis of Huntly in behalf of the king, and sentence of excommunication was pronounced against them both by order of the committee of the general assembly on 16 April 1644. On the retreat of the marquis's forces, Gordon attempted to defend his house of Kellie against the Marquis of Argyll, Promised honourable terms of surrender by his cousin, Earl Marischal
William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal
William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal was a Scottish nobleman and Covenanter. He was the eldest son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal...
, then in Argyll's army, Gordon capitulated unconditionally on 8 May 1644. Argyll released most of the garrison, but held Gordon and a few officers and plundered Kellie in violation of his terms, much to Marischal's dissatisfaction. Gordon was brought to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and imprisoned in the western part of St. Giles' Cathedral
St. Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, more properly termed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to...
, which thereby acquired the name of "Haddo's Hole". He was tried for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
against the Estates for his actions in 1639, and for maintaining a garrison against the Covenanting armies. Gordon defended himself on the grounds that his actions at Turriff had been pardoned under the Pacification of Berwick, and that he had had the King's authority in his deeds, to no avail. He was found guilty and beheaded at the Mercat Cross
Mercat cross
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations...
in Edinburgh on 19 July 1644.
Family
He married Mary Forbes, daughter of William Forbes of Tolquhon, in 1630, and had issue:- Sir John Gordon, 2nd Baronet, of HaddoSir John Gordon, 2nd Baronet, of HaddoSir John Gordon, 2nd Baronet was the eldest son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo and Mary Forbes. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet on the execution of his father for treason on 19 July 1644, but due to his father's attainder, was under forfeiture until the Restoration in 1660...
(c1632-1665) - Patrick Gordon (born between 1633 - 1636)
- George Gordon, 1st Earl of AberdeenGeorge Gordon, 1st Earl of AberdeenGeorge Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen , Lord Chancellor of Scotland, was the second son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo, Aberdeenshire, ; by his wife, Mary Forbes.-Education:...
(1637-1720) - Charles Gordon (born about 1638)
- James Gordon of Saphak (about 1639 - about 1683)
- Janet Gordon (born c. 1644)
- Jean Gordon