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"The appearance of the big New Spalding Club book, "Gordons Under Arms" - forming Vol.III. of the "House of Gordon" shows how much has been done in the way of the monograph. But it should not be forgotten that a large amount of Gordon material is finding its way into periodical literature, so as to form (in collected shape) other monographs. These monographs, however, take a Iong time to compile. A case in point is that of the Gordons on Deeside (from its source to the mouth), articles about them having appeared in different places during the past eleven years.
Though the Gordons quickly followed up their advent in Strathbogie by an invasion of Deeside, and though the Gordons of Abergeldie have been longer in possession of their lands than almost any other Gordon family in the county, the "clan" never became powerful in the river valley, except at Aboyne. They were mostly confined, as tenants only, to small farms. Consequently, it is very difficult to trace them.
The monograph on these Gordons found its origin in the investigation of the Gordons of Abergeldie, as issued by the New Spalding Club in 1903. By a curious coincidence, while that was in preparation, two other investigators were at work. The Rev. J.R. Middleton contributed two articles on Kennerty and Braichlie group, "The Murder of the Baron of Brackley" (1666) to the "Aberdeen Free Press," November 13th and 22nd ,1901. Then Mr David Stewart Ramsay Gordon, who had come home from South America with money and wanted to trace his relationship with the Gordons in Ardmeanach, from whom he was descended, had the registers of Glenmuick and Crathie searched and might have made a survey of the region involved but for his death on June 12th 1905. His son lent me his notes, which I transcribed, though, I was unable to publish them till 1908.
After publishing the Abergeldie monograph in 1903, I did Aboyne (1908), and, having accumulated a lot of notes, I tackled Kennerty and Braichlie in 1910, following it with notes on the families in the neighhouring crofts and in the whole of the valley down to Aberdeen."
J. M. BULLOCH.
The following shows the tortuous appearance of the articles:
AWJ stands for the "Aberdeen Weekly Journal," FP for the " Aberdeen Free Press," and HE for the "Huntly Express"
1901, November 13th & 22nd - FP Braichlie (by J. R. M.)
1903, New Spalding Club Abergeldie.
1904, November 1st - FP William of Abergeldie,
1907, November 15th 1908, February, - HE - Aboyne.
1908, December 5th 26th, -HE Glenmuick and Crathie registers.
1909, September 29th Bovaglie.
1909, October 27th, - AWJ - Crathienaird.
1909, December 1st, - AWJ - Camlet,
1909, December 15th, - AWJ Aucholzie and Auchallater.
1910, January 1st, - AWJ Camlet.
1910, February 25th, April 15th, - HE Kennerty and Braichlie.
1910, March 2nd, - AWJ Ardmeanach.
1910, April 22nd-29th, May 6th, - HE Braichlie's neighbours and families to the mouth of the river, 35 different places
1910, May 27th June 24th, - HE Abergeldie.
1911, February 17th, - AWJ Baddoch.
1911, April 7th, - AWJ Sir Charles, Abergeldie.
1911, April 25th, May 3rd 1911, " Buchan Observer " Mosstown.
J. M. BULLOCH.