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Your connection with Scotland in the 1700s, and with pioneers in South Australia in the late 1800s
Jessie & Alexander GORDON - family tree & stories
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 1822 - 1895 (73 years)
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| Name |
Alexander GORDON |
- Name : Spelled 'Alexr' on the birth certificate. In our biography we refer to him as Alexander 'senior' Gordon to distinguish between his son also called Alexander (he is of course 'junior') and several other descendants called Alexander Gordon.
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| Born |
19 Feb 1822 |
| Christened |
19 Feb 1822 |
Kiltearn, Ross Shire, Scotland, UK  [1] |
- Presbyterian Church, Kiltearn
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| Gender |
Male |
| General event |
Birth : Alexander's name was spelled 'Alexr' on the birth record. |
| General event |
19 Feb 1822 |
Kiltearn, Ross Shire, Scotland |
Birth : Old Parochial Register "1822, Feby 19 : John Gordon gardener at Kiltearn and Lizy Gordon his spouse had a child baptised named Alexr" - extract 003149 10th April 1984 and family search MM9.1/X1D7-16R, FHL microfilm 990653, 990654.
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| Immigration |
5 Oct 1854 |
From Scotland to South Australia [2] |
Migration : On the 'Eldorado' in 1854. They left Glasgow on 18th June 1854 and arrived in Port Adelaide on 5th Oct. This was a journey of 15 and a half weeks.
The Captain was J MacKay.
"SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVED. Thursday, October 5 on the barque El Dorado, 357 tons, Mackay master from Glasgow, 18th June. Passengers - Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sharp, Miss Jessie, Miss Agnes Jessie, Mr. A. Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Gordan (sic), Messrs. John and Alexander Gordan, and Miss Margaret Cowan, in the cabin. Mr John Brown, Mr. John Fisher, Mr. David Dewer, Mr. Alexander Cowsland, Mr. James Reid, Mr. Malcolm MacCree, and Mr. Alexander Gordan, in the steerage. Disher Brothers, agents.? (ref : SA Adelaide Register on 6th Oct 1854, p2)
That's not many passengers - just 14 in the cabins (including children) and 7 in steerage.
It is not surprising that Kitty, a babe in arms, is not mentioned. The other Alexander Gordan (sic) in steerage is a bit of a mystery. It was not their son (Alexander junior, aged 2 years) because he was already listed as 'Messr Gordan' with his parents in the cabins. It might have been someone not related to 'our' Gordons. It would have been convenient, but not probable, if it was Jessie's brother, Alexander Matheson, who came out around this time. |
| Will |
19 May 1894 |
Will : The trustees and executors nominated as wife Ann Gordon and son James Munro Gordon. Alexander left everything to Ann (or James on Ann's death or remarriage)
The estate did not exceed 300 pounds. James ended up owning 'Beaufort'.
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| General event |
5 Sep 1895 |
Belvidere |
| Death : Alexander died on 5th September 1895 (73 years old) or 15th November?? at 'Beaufort'. The cause of death was renal disease, pleurisy. He was buried in the same plot as Jessie who died 8 years before, in Strathalbyn Cemetery, lot 222, division 1 - opposite all the Matheson and Gollan graves. It was unmarked until Colin Semmler and his mother (Nathalie) and Robert Gordon (Lav's son) had a plaque made and mounted it in concrete and placed it on the grave. The plaque needs replacing because it has the wrong death date for Alexander. |
| Occupation |
Occupation : Alexander worked in Brahan, possibly as a gardener. He was a platelayer laying railwy lines) in Stonehaven (ref : 1851 census). Then a farmer around Belvidere and Collinsfield. [3] |
| Religion |
Religion : Alexander was bought up as Presbyterian in Scotland and was initially with the Presbyterians in South Australia. In 1869 be joined the Church of Christ, was baptised by W Judd (maybe in 1870). He was prominent in the early growth of the Church of Christ in Strathalbyn. |
| Residence |
Land : On 19th November 1873, E Hector conveyed section 2800 to Gordon and Gollan. On 18th June 1878 the South Australian Company conveyed section 2772 for 678 pounds. On 13th December 1880, Alexander Gordon of Tatiara near Bordertown, leased section 2772 of 282 acres to Mathew Rankine for 5 years. This is the Belvidere property and had part of the Angus River on it. On 16th May 1881, Donald Gollan and Alexander Gordon, both of Tatiara, leased section 2880 to William Charles Bonney of near Langhorne Creek, for 5 years. On 1st January 1883, Alexander Gordon the elder, of Tatiara, re-converyed section 2819 to Arthur Tucker, Hemp, McBain, Perry and St Clair. On 2nd March 1884, Alexander Gordon of Huntly Park, Bordertown, mortgaged section 2772. Entries for Alex junior all concern this section ? very complicated.
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| Residence |
Residences : Kiltearn then Brahan in Urray. After their wedding they were in Barclay Street in town of Stonehaven in Fettresso (ref : 1851 Census), then Kincardine or Dunnotar in Aberdeen (where John was born). Then then Larbert in Stirling (where Alexander and Kitty were born). After they migrated in 1854, they settled in Belvidere near Stathalbyn in South Australia. For a few years Alexander was up 'north' or Alma or Bordertown before settling back at Belvidere. Maybe at 'Burnt Gully' (check this??), 'Titiara' and 'Huntly Park' at some stage. [3] |
| Died |
5 Sep 1895 |
'Beaufort', Belvidere, SA, Australia |
| Buried |
Strathalbyn Cemetery, lot 222, division 1 |
| Person ID |
I2 |
Alexander & Jessie |
| Last Modified |
13 May 2025 |
| Father |
John GORDON, b. 27 Feb 1795, Belmaduthy, Knockbain, Scotland , d. 16 Sep 1869, Brahan's Ferry, Urray, Scotland, UK (Age 74 years) |
| Mother |
Elizabeth 'Lizzy' GORDON, b. 1791, d. 8th July 1883, Brahan Mains, Urray, Scotland, UK (Age 92 years) |
| Married |
Y [4] |
| Children |
* There are records of John and Elizabeth having 9 children - but there might have been others.
* The births were over a period of 20 years - from 1814 to 1834.
* There is a gap of 6 years between the first 2 (Hugh then Ann) so maybe there was there was another child or two, or miscarriages.
* Then there were 8 children born in 14 years - notably 3 (David, Margaret & the first James) in just 31 months.
* There were early deaths, including the first James.
* David and Alexander were the only ones to migrate.
* Locations: The first child was born in Killreanon, the next 5 were in Kiltearn and the last 3 were in Contin.
(These notes by Don Gordon in May 2025)
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| Family ID |
F111 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Jessie MacKinzie Kennady MATHESON, b. 17 Apr 1823, Inverness, Scotland, UK , d. 12 Jun 1866, Lake Plains, SA, Australia (Age 43 years) |
| Married |
18 Feb 1850 |
Kirkhill, Scotland, UK |
| Wedding |
18 Feb 1850 |
Kirkhill |
| OPR marriages 103/0020 0133 - Kirkhill on 18th February 1850: "Married of this date Alexander Gordon Brahan Parrish of Urray to Jessie Matheson Inchberry Parish of Kirkhill witness Alex Fraser? esq Inchberry and Alex Douglas schoolmaster Keswick?" |
| Children |
| | 1. John Forbes GORDON, b. 7 Jan 1851, Stonehaven, Dunnottar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK , d. 29 Nov 1914, Owen, SA, Australia (Age 63 years) |
| + | 2. Alexander (jnr) GORDON, b. 4 Apr 1852, Larbert, Stirling, Scotland, UK , d. 21 Apr 1925, Wxx Laurences Private Hospital, Wakefield St, Hindmarsh West, Adelaide (Age 73 years) |
| + | 3. Catherine Gillon 'Kitty' GORDON, b. 8 Apr1854, Larbert, Stirling, Scotland, UK , d. 4 May 1914, 'Montefiore', North Adelaide, SA, Australia (Age 59 years) [Birth] |
| + | 4. Donald Matheson GORDON, b. 4 May 1856, Strathalbyn, SA, Australia , d. 18 Feb 1923, Jamestown, SA, Australia (Age 66 years) [Birth] |
| + | 5. Hugh GORDON, b. 27 Nov 1857, Angus Plains, SA, Australia , d. 21 Nov 1910, Braeside, Wallerawang NSW (Age 52 years) |
| | 6. Margaret Ann GORDON, b. 27 Apr 1860, Angus Plains, SA, Australia , d. 31 May 1943 (Age 83 years) |
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| Last Modified |
12 Mar 2018 |
| Family ID |
F2 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 2 |
Ann CAMPBELL, b. 1843 or 1845, d. 21 Jul 1917 (Age 72 years) |
| Married |
6 Aug 1868 |
'Beaufort', Belvedere, SA [5] |
| Children |
At the time of Jessie's death, Donald was 10 years old, Hugh was 8 and Maggie was 6 years. Ann became the housekeeper for Alexander and, two years after Jessie's death, Ann and Alexander were married and they had two children - James was born 6 years after the wedding. James was 12 years younger than Maggie. |
| Children |
| + | 1. James Murray GORDON, b. 18 Jul 1872, Angus Plains, SA, Australia , d. 27 Jan 1953 (Age 80 years) |
| | 2. David Campbell GORDON, b. 4 Jan 1875, Angus Plains, SA, Australia , d. 26 Feb 1875, Strathalbyn (Age 0 years) |
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| Last Modified |
6 Jan 2024 |
| Family ID |
F46 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Documents
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 | Alexander Gordon & Jessie Matheson - marriage on 18th Feb 1850 in Kirkhill
OPR marriages 103/0020 0133 - Kirkhill on 18th February 1850
"Married of this date Alexander Gordon Brahan Parish of Urray to Jessie Matheson Inchberry Parish of Kirkhill witness Alex Fraser esq and Alex Douglas schoolmaster Taewilt??" |
 | Census 1851 - Gordon household in Stonehaven - Alexander, Jessie & John
1851 Census, Parish of Fetteresso, town of Stonehaven - reference 258/1/53, page 53 number 287.
Barclay Street
* Alexander Gordon, head, married, male, 29 years old [c1822], platelayer, born in Rosshire Kiltearn
* Jessie Gordon, wife, married, female, 25 years old [c1826], born in Inverness Kirkhill
* John Gordon, son, unmarried, male, 3 months old [c1851], born in Kincardine Stonehaven |
 | Alexander Gordon - baptism 19th Feb 1822 in Kiltearn, Ross
Birth extract registration 003149, County of Ross
Father - John Gordon, gardener at Kiltearn
Mother - Lizy Gordon |
 | WW - Alexander Gordon - born 19th Feb 1822 in Kiltearn
John Gordon gardener at Kiltearn and Lizy Gordon his spouse had a child baptized named Alex |
 | Alexander Gordon (senior) - biography
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 | Strathalbyn Church of Christ - notes
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| Stories |
 | 1.30 - Alexander (senior) GORDON & Jessie, nee MATHESON
Alexander was born in Kiltearn in 1822 and Jessie was born in Loch Alsh in 1823. They married near Inverness and had three children (including Alexander jnr in 1852 - he married Annie Saltmarsh) in Scotland before migrating to South Australia. They settled at Belvidere and had three more children. Jessie died and Alexander's second wife was Ann Campbell with whom he had two more children. Alexander was a successful farmer and acquired many properties, but was not a rich man. He was predominant in the Church of Christ in Strathalbyn.
(Biography by Don Gordon, updated in June 2019) |
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| Sources |
- [S11] Old Parochial Register, Extract 003149 10th April 1984 and family search MM9.1/X1D7-16R, FHL microfilm 990653, 990654) .
1822, Feby 19 : John Gordon gardener at Kiltearn and Lizy Gordon his spouse had a child baptised named Alexr
- [S1] Trove newspapers, SA Adelaide Register on 6th Oct 1854, p2.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVED. Thursday, October 5 - The barque El Dorado, 357 tons, Mackay master from Glasgow, 18th June. Passengers - Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sharp, Miss Jessie, Miss Agnes Jessie, Mr. A. Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Gordan (sic), Messrs. John and Alexander Gordan, and Miss Margaret Cowan, in the cabin. Mr John Brown, Mr. John Fisher, Mr. David Dewer, Mr. Alexander Cowsland, Mr. James Reid, Mr. Malcolm MacCree, and Mr. Alexander Gordan, in the steerage. Disher Brothers, agents. (ref : SA Adelaide Register on 6th Oct 1854, p2)
- [S12] Census, 1851.
1851 Census
Residence : Barclay Street, town of Stonehaven, parish of Fettresso
Head : Alexander GORDON, platelayer, born in Kiltearn, Rosshire, aged 29 years (ie about 1822)
Wife : Jessie GORDON, born Kirkhill, Inverness, aged 25 years (ie about 1826)
Son : John GORDON, born Stonehaven, Kincardine, aged 3 months (ie about 1851)
- [S16] Colin Semmler - these notes can be seen with Documents on the left of the home page, Page 1.
- [S16] Colin Semmler - these notes can be seen with Documents on the left of the home page.
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