GORDON, JOHAN [SSNE 5266]

Surname

GORDON

First name

JOHAN, JOHN

Nationality

SCOT

Region

BANFF (NOW ABERDEENSHIRE)

Text source

A George Gordon from Banff was listed as a merchant burgess in Bergen as of 30 August 1700. He married Grizele Forbus who was buried in Bergen on 20 August 1728. George himself died on 23 July 1715. In his will it was noted that he had a brother John/Johan who lived in Rotterdam and had some relationship, probably business, with Andrew Christie. This may be the same John Gordon who also had business with Gilbert Spens in 1672. Gilbert Spens worked as an agent for Sir William Bruce of Ballcaskye in Germany and the Dutch Republic between 1672 and 1676. Spens arrived in Rotterdam on 7 March that year and met in with a Mr Gordon with whom he travelled in search of the consignment of timber sought by Bruce. In a letter to Bruce written on the 8th March he noted that there was both scarcity and difficulty in getting the order. He specifically sought planks of 14 inch bredth and 16 feet long. He could only get 12 inches broad and 12 feet long, and they were more expensive that in Spens's commission. Because of these factores, Spens left Rotterdam for Amsterdam on 9th March taking Mr Gordon with him. In his letter, Spens also noted the preperations being made by the Dutch for war, including putting a fleet to sea and arming civilians. By 19/29 March, the men were back in Rotterdam having secured some of the planks and ribs at Dortrecht.

National Archives of Scotland, Kinross House Papers, GD 29/1906/1-2; Bergen Statsarkiv, Sollied Archive. Gordon section.

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, ROTTERDAM

Arrived 1672-01-01

Departed 1715-12-31

Capacity MERCHANT, purpose MERCANTILE, TRADE