216 APPENDIX. Sasine, Alexander Gordon, on ane annualrent out of Easter Auchleuchries
Summary
Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"
216 APPENDIX.
Sasine, Alexander Gordon, on ane annualrent out of Easter Auchleuchries, presented 20
February, 1724. — [From the Particular Begister of Seisins for Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire,
Tol. xxi., foil. 348, 349.)
61 By bond, dated at Aberdeen on the 6th February, 1724, Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries bound
himself to infeft Alexander Gordon in Sandend in an annualrent of 275 merks Scots (correspond-
ing to the principal sum of 5500 merks Scots), out of Easter Auchleuchries. Sasine was given
on the 18th February, 1724.
Sasine, Alexander Gordon, on Auchleuchries, etc., presented 9 March, 1726.— (i'roOT the Particular
Begister of Seisins for Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, vol. xxii., foil 63-65.)
62 By disposition, dated at Aberdeen on the 5th February, 1726, Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries
conveyed to Alexander Gordon in Sandend the toun and lands of Auchleuchries, Easter and
Wester, with the pendicles of Muirtack and the Miln of Auchleuchries (excepting that part of
Muirtack sold by the deceased John Gordon of Auchleuchries, father of the said Patrick Gordon,
to James Gordon of Ellon), under burden of the jointure of Elizabeth Grant, mother of the said
Patrick Gordon. Sasine was given, in presence of John Gordon, brother german of the said
Patrick Gordon, on the 9th of March, 1726.
Discharge and renunciation, Katherine Gordon and her husband, to Alexander Gordon, pre-
sented 19 July 1729. — [From the Particular Begister of Seisins for Aberdeenshire and Kincardine-
shire, vol. xxii., foil. 381, 382.)
63 By deed, dated at Blackwater, on the 10th and 25th June, 1729, Katherine Gordon, daughter
of the deceased John Gordon of Auchleuchries and Elizabeth Grant his wife, with consent of
Kenneth Mackenzie, at Blackwater, her husband, acknowledge to have received from Alexander
Gordon, now of Auchleuchries, the sum of 1600 merks Scots, for security of payment of which
her brother german, Patrick (Jordon of Auchleuchries, had infeft her in the Westertown of
Auchleuchries on the 7th April, 1723.
Discharge and renunciation, Alexander Gordon, to Patrick and Alexander Gordon, presented on
17 January, 1730. — (From the Particular Begister of Seisins for Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire,
vol. xxii., foil. 437, 438.)
64 By deed, dated at Aberdeen on the 19th December, 1729, Alexander Gordon of Barrack,
factor for James and Alexander Gordons, lawful sons of the deceased John Gordon of Auch-
leuchries, acknowledges to have received the sum of 1000 merks Scots as their share of the sum
of 2000 merks, for security of payment of which they (with their brothers, John and Charles
Gordon) were infeft by their brother, Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries, in the Westertown of
Auchleuchries, on the 17th of April, 1723.
Gordon was brought up and remained a lifelong Roman Catholic, at a time when the Church was being persecuted in Scotland. At age of fifteen, he entered the Jesuit college at Braunsberg, East Prussia, then part of Poland. In 1661, after many years experiences as a soldier of fortune, he joined the Russian army under Tsar Aleksei I, and in 1665 was sent on a special mission to England. After his return, he distinguished himself in several wars against the Turks and Tatars in southern Russia. In recognition of his service he was promoted to major-general in 1678, was appointed to the high command at Kiev in 1679, and in 1683 was made lieutenant-general. In 1687 and 1689 he took part in expeditions against the Tatars in the Crimea, being made a full general. Later in 1689, a revolution broke out in Moscow, and with the troops under his command, Gordon virtually decided events in favor of Peter the Great against the Regent, Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna. Consequently, he was for the remainder of his life in high favor with the Tsar, who confided to him the command of his capital during his absence from Russia. In 1696, Gordon's design of a "moveable rampart" played a key role in helping the Russians take Azov. One of Gordon's convinced the Tsars to establish the first Roman Catholic church and school in Muscovy, of which he remained the main benefactor and headed the Catholic community in Russia until his death. For his services his second son James, brigadier of the Russian army, was created Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1701. At the end of his life the Tsar, who had visited Gordon frequently during his illness, was with him when he died, and with his own hands closed his eyes. General Gordon left behind him a uniquely detailed diary of his life and times, written in English. This is preserved in manuscript in the Russian State Military Archive in Moscow. Passages from the Diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries (1635–1699) was printed, under the editorship of Joseph Robertson, for the Spalding Club, at Aberdeen, Scotland, 1859.