KIT NUMBER: 34587-2
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Descendants of William Gordon
My Grt Grt Grandfather, William GORDON was born 18 August most likely 1815, possibly in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Documentary evidence to date points to a range between 1815 and 1823 however 1815 is the most likely.
William matriculated Magdalen (pronounced Maudlin) Hall, University of Oxford in 1840, aged 25. The Oxford Alumni records William as being the third son of William Alexander, Army, St George Hanover Square. The following year William is found living at Lilly Bridge Cottage, Northam, Devon where his wife-to-be Susan Sussex JUDD is one of the house servants. On 17 July 1841, William GORDON married Susan Sussex JUDD at Northam, Devon - an "upstairs/downstairs" marriage. The Marriage Certificate states William's father is William Alexander Gordon, Colonel in the Light Dragoons. Susan was the fourth child of thirteen born to Peter JUDD and Patience SUSSEX of St Giles in the Wood, Devon. William and Susan's first child, a son, named Cosmo Percy Boulderson GORDON was born 10 Nov 1841 with a second child, Augusta Talbot Mordaunt GORDON being born 13 Apr 1843 also at Northam, Devon. The Christian name of Cosmo has been continued down the generations to today.
Somewhere around 1845 it would appear William deserted Susan and the children and lived abroad for some years, possibly in Rome and Naples as the dedications in a couple of books William wrote, would suggest. These books were published in London in 1847 and were "Demonstrations of the divine perfections, as manifested in the material universe" and also "The discipline of the physical and intellectual powers". It is apparently a pre-Darwinian theory of evolution, school text book on natural history. After his return to England William made application for enrolment at Kings College Theological studies and was admitted on 27 Jan 1849. His residence in London at the time was given as Strand Lane. (Kings College records).
On the 19 Aug 1850, at St Anne Soho, Westminster, London, William entered into a bigamous marriage with Mary Eliza PETERS. The marriage certificate (MXC 267915) states that he is William GORDON of Kenmure and he now gives his father as Cosmo Alexander GORDON, Gentleman. At the time of the 1851 Census however William is found at the home of Mary Eliza's parents as a Visitor. Mary Eliza is recorded with her maiden name and shown as unmarried. William is recorded as being married which he still was- to Susan. Therefore the bigamy had already been discovered by March 1851. On the census William's place of birth is recorded as Kenmure Scotland.
William appeared in Court in Jun and Jul of 1851 and was sentenced to 18 months gaol (London Times). It is unknown at this stage whether he served his sentence or whether a deal was made by the family whereby he was instead sent to Australia, never to return. At the time of the court case it was reported Mary Eliza was pregnant. On the 4 Apr 1852 at St Clement Danes, Westminster, London, the child of William GORDON and Mary Eliza PETERS was christened (LDS/IGI). He was named Thomas PETERS after Mary Eliza's father. William's name was not recorded.
As there are many William Gordon's and Mr Gordon's arriving in Australia in the time period, it has not been possible to pinpoint the actual time of William's arrival in Australia. The first record found to date of him being in Australia is a Sydney Morning Herald news article which reports William as being presented with 23 gold sovereigns as a farewell gift upon his departure from St Peter's School Campbelltown, New South Wales, on 27 Nov 1856.
William then moved to Camden, not far from Campbelltown, where he commenced his own Boarding School at Macquarie Grove, commencing in January 1857. An ad in the Sydney Morning Herald described his school as a Classical School.
In 1857 William's first wife Susan, together with their daughter Augusta and Susan's brother's and their families arrived into Victoria on the British Trident. It is unknown when Susan and William reconciled but Susan and Augusta ended up with William at Macquarie Grove. Son Cosmo Percy Boulderson GORDON was not to arrive into Australia until 1861, after he completed his Machinist/Wheelwright apprenticeship with Brinsmeads in St Giles Devon. Cosmo arrived into Victoria on the Donald McKay. William continued with his school until it closed in 1866 possibly because of declining health. The lease for Macquarie Grove had not yet expired at the time of closure. It is thought William continued on in the capacity of a private tutor from his home at Burton House in Narellan, near Camden until his death on 24 Oct 1877(1877/004513) at the age of 63. Son Cosmo who went on to marry and had four surviving children, died as the result of an accident on 9 Jun 1890; wife Susan died 23 Apr 1899 aged 88, and daughter Augusta who never married, died 19 Sep 1934.
Interestingly, on William's headstone it has him as being Sir William GORDON. However even after finding the Kenmure connection we don't believe it to be a legitimate title. There is no evidence that William himself ever used the title Sir. At the time the headstone was erected, only daughter Augusta was left to make the arrangements. She may have thought she was righting some perceived injustice.
My father John Cosmo Percy GORDON (Cos), was the eldest child of Cosmo Percy Boulderson GORDON'S eldest surviving son, Cosmo Percy GORDON (CP).
Today there are many descendants of William and Susan spread all over Australia. In addition to this, there are also descendants from William's second son Thomas, yet to be traced.
