Extracted from Burke's Peerages, dated 1866, traces the Gordons of Kenmure from 1290 until the viscountship fell dormant in 1847.

GORDON — VISCOUNT KENMURE.

By Letters Patent, dated 8 May, 1633.

Lineage.

Sir Adam De Gordoun, a knight of great renown, was the representative of the family in one of the most momentous periods of Scottish history. Although his possessions were almost on the borders of England, he long held out against the power of Edward 1., and for a long time resisted the bond of fealty and submission prescribed by Edward in 1292 ; but that bond having become generally subscribed by the successively conquered Scotch nobility, and Sir Adam's own son, William de Gordoun, having been obliged to do so, the valiant knight was compelled to succumb, 28 July, 1296. Baliol's subsequent resignation of the crown to Edward gave Sir Adam a pretence to fly to arms, and thereafter, like Wallace and others, he leagued his fortunes with those of Robert Bruce, from whom he obtained for his services a grant of the lands of Strathbogie in the north, forfeited by the desertion of the Earl of Atholl. These Sir Adam never however possessed, for the donation became ineffective by the return of the earl to his allegiance. Sir Adam had another son, who shone conspicuously at Hallidon Hill, in 1333, but it has not yet been ascertained whether William or Alexander was the elder son. But it appears from the records, that Sir Adam, in 1306, took a charter of his barony of Stitchill in life-rent to himself, and in fee to his son,

Sir William De Gordoun, who subscribed the bond of fealty, 12 July, 1296, and was designed in a writ, in 1331, as Signor de Stitchill. He was s. by his son,

Roger De Gordoun, who was s. by his son,

Sir Alexander De Gordoun, who d. in 1432, leaving a son and successor,

William De Gordoun, who fixed his residence in Galloway, and was the first who designated himself of Lochinvar. He d. in 1460, and was s. by his son,

Sir John Gordon, of Lochinvar, who had three sons,

Alexander, a valiant knight, who d. v. p., falling with his sovereign, James IV., at Flodden, in 1513.
Robert (Sir), successor to his father.
William, of Craichlaw and Culvennan. (See Burke's Landed Gentry.)

Sir John d. in 1517, and was s. by his son,

Sir Robert Gordon, who m. Marion, dau. and solo heir of John Accarson, of Glenshireburne; and dying in 1520, was s. by his eldest son,

Sir James Gordon, of Lochinvar, who m. Margaret, dau. and sole heir of Robert Crighton, of Kilpatrick, and had, with other issue,

John, his successor.
William, of Pennygame, who m. Helen, dau. of Alexander Stewart, of Garlies, and was s. by his son,
John, of Pennygame, who was s. by his son,
Alexander, of Pennygame, who d. about the year 1645, and was s. by his son,
William, of Pennygame, who left two sons,
John, d. s. p. in 1662.
Alexander, of whom hereafter, as 5th Viscount Kenmure.

Sir James fell at the battle of Pinkie, 10 September, 1547, and was s. by his elder son,

Sir John Gordon, of Lochinvar. This gentleman m. 1st, in 1563, Juliana, dau. of Home, of Wedderburne, and had an only dau., Margaret, m. to Hugh, 1st Lord Loudoun. Sir John espoused 2ndly, Elizabeth, dau. of John, Lord Herries; and dying in 1604, was s. by his eldest son,

Sir Robert Gordon, of Lochinvar, remarkable for his great bodily strength and activity, who, at a tournament proclaimed by James VI., obtained, as one of the three successful champions, a prize from the hands of the Princess Elizabeth. He m. Lady Isabel Ruthven, dau. of William, 1st Earl of Gowrie, and dying in 1628, was s. by his eldest son,

Sir John Gordon, of Lochinvar. This gentleman disposed of Stitchill, the ancient inheritance of the family, and is said to have given the produce in a purse to the Duke of Buckingham, to insure his grace's interest in forwarding his claim to the Earldom of Gowrie. But the duke falling the very next day by the hand of the assassin Felton, the expectation proved abortive. Sir John was, however, elevated to the peerage, as Lord Lochinvar and Viscount Kenmure, in the Peerage of Scotland, by patent, dated 8 May, 1633, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever bearing the surname and arms of Gordon. His lordship m. Jane, dau. of Archibald, 7th Earl of Argyll, and dying in 1634, was s. by his only son,

John, 2nd Viscount; who d. s. p., in 1509, when the peerage reverted to (the eldest son of James Gordon, of Barncrosh, by Margaret, dau. of Sir John Vans, and relict of John Glendonwyn, of Drumrash) his lordship's cousin and next male heir,

John, 3rd Viscount. This nobleman d. unm. in October, 1643, when the honours devolved upon his brother,

Robert, 4th Viscount, b. in November, 1622, was a devoted adherent to the house of Stuart, and suffered in consequence. He d. s. p. in 1663, when the peerage descended to his cousin,

Alexander Gordon, Esq,., of Pennygame, as 5th Viscount.

His lordship m. thrice, and was s. in 1698 by his eldest son (by his 2nd wife, Marian, dau. of Maculloch, of Ardwell),

William, 6th Viscount. This unfortunate nobleman inheriting the attachment of his family to the Stuarts, took up arms, in 1715, against George I. He was made prisoner at Prestonpans the following year, and thence conveyed to London, where he was tried, condemned, and executed on Tower Hill, 24 February ensuing, when the honours of his house fell under an attainder. He m. Mary Dalzell, only sister of Robert, 6th Earl of Carnwath, by whom he left three sons (the eldest and youngest d. unm.) and a dau., Harriet, m. to John Dalzell, Esq. When his lordship's estate was brought to the hammer, his dowager purchased it; and when her son Robert, came of age, delivered it up to him free of debt; which son.

Robert Gordon, was styled 7th Viscount. He d. unm. 1 August, 1741. when the estates devolved on his brother,

John Gordon, by courtesy 8th Viscount; who m. Frances, only dau. of William, 5th Earl of Seaforth, and had issue,

William, his successor.
John, 10th Viscount.
Adam, who d. in 1806, leaving issue by Miss Davies,
Adam, of the R.N., 11th Viscount,
Louisa (Hon.), m. 19 August, 1815, Charles Bellamy, Esq., and, in her widowhood, resumed her maiden name of Gordon.

John, 8th Viscount, d. in June, I769. and was s. by his eldest son,

William Gordon, by courtesy 9th Viscount; a capt. in the army; who d. 7 February, 1772, unm., and was s. by his brother,

John Gordon, 10th Viscount and Lord Lochinvar, who was restored by act of parliament, 17 June, 1824, to the honours forfeited by the 6th Viscount; he was b. in 1750; m. in 1791, Miss Morgan, by whom (who d. in 1815) he had no issue. The Viscount who was vice-lieutenant of the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, d 21 September, 1840. and was s. by his nephew,

Adam, 11th Viscount; b. 9 January, 1792, who m. November, 1843, Mary-Anne, dau. of the late James Wildey, Esq., and d. s. p. 1 September, 1847. Since that time the Viscounty of Kenmure has remained Dormant.

Arms — Az., three boars' heads, erased, or, armed and langued, gu.