James Gordon

11 January 1856 to 31 August 1929

GOR00002

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Shoemaker, Upholsterer, cabinet maker, business owner.

Headlines are in brown.

Dates are in red.

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Context and local history are in purple.

Geographical context is in green.

1856

James Gordon, son of James and Elizabeth (nee Michie) Gordon (GOR00007) was born on 11 January 1856 at St Fergus, Banffshire (Scotland Births and Baptisms, census).

1861

1861 Census – Manse Gate, Banffshire

James Gordon, 54

Elizabeth Gordon, 40

Jane Gordon, 15

Alexander Gordon, 13

Alexander Gordon, 10

James Gordon, 5

1871

1871 Census – 70 Kirktown, St Fergus, Banffshire

James Gordon, 63

Elizabeth Gordon, 50

Alexr Gordon, 20

Jas Gordon, 15, apprentice shoemaker

1878

James Gordon married Margaret Sutherland perhaps in about 1878. Margaret Sutherland was the daughter of James Sutherland (1815 to 1898) and Margaret (nee Forsyth) Sutherland (1813 to 1885) and was born in Bellie, Banffshire on 23 December 1852, and baptised there on 12 January 1853.

1880

Lizzie Bella Gordon (GOR00001) was born on 18 October 1880 in Aberdeen (School Admissions Register).

1881

1881 census – 47 View Terrace, Old Machar

James Gordon, 25, upholstery salesman

Margaret Gordon, 28

Lizzie B Gordon, 5 Months

1886

Margaret (“Maggie”) Gordon died at the age of 34 in 1886 and was buried on 22 November 1886 at Nellfield cemetery (Burial Register).

1891

1891 census – 34 Thistle Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen

James Gordon, 35, upholstery salesman

Lizzie B Gordon, 10, scholar

James Gordon, 84, retired meat and flour miller

Elizabeth Gordon, 71

Elizabeth Robertson, 17

James’ daughter, Lizzie B Gordon, born on 18 October 1880, was admitted to Ferryhill School, Aberdeen (School Admissions Register).

1891

James Gordon became a partner in the firm of John Alexander & Co and later joined in partnership with his son in law, Robert Merchant Coutts (COU00006), who was also an upholsterer.

John Alexander & Co was a well known Aberdeen furniture store, which closed its doors after 156 years in business in 2014 (Aberdeen Press & Journal, 7 October 2014).

It was 1858, Queen Victoria was on the throne and the British Empire covered much of the globe when John Alexander started up in the city.

When it closed in 2014, Alexanders had been at the Rosemount location for more than 30 years having previously been located in Union Street. The shop was founded as an upholsterer and quickly added cabinetmaker and a carpet warehouse to its services.

It was previously known as John Alexander & Co, and the firm reconstructed the shop front and premises at 257 Union Street in 1931. It was declared as ‘enhancing the beauty of Union Street’ in an article in the city’s Press and Journal newspaper at the time.

The original John Alexander was a master cabinetmaker who died in 1891. Perhaps James took on this business at about this time.

1895

James Gordon married Annie Irvine (born about 1858), the daughter of Charles Clouston Irvine (1823 to 1910) and Isabella (nee Tait) Irvine (1821 to 1891) perhaps in about 1895. She came from the Isle of Man.

1901

1881 census – 45 Beaconsfield Place, St Machar, Aberdeen

James Gordon, 45, cabinet maker and upholsterer

Annie Gordon, 43

Lizzie B Gordon, 20

1911

1911 Census - 81 Devonshire Road, Rubislaw, South Aberdeen

James Gordon, 55, upholsterer and cabinet maker, employer

Annie Gordon, 53

Maggie Taylor, 15, servant

1921

1921 census – 81 Devonshire Road, Rubislaw, South Aberdeen

James Gordon, 65, upholstery and cabinet maker

Robert M Coutts, son in law, 41, upholstery and cabinet maker

Lizzie B Coutts, 40

Evelyn G Coutts, 14

Dorothea H Coutts, 8 years 11 months

Kathleen M Coutts, 6

2 others

1923

(Mearns Leader, 16 February 1923)

1929

Shortly before he died, James resigned his interest in his cabinet making business, John Alexander & Co, which was continued by his son in law, Robert Merchant Coutts (COU00006).

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 27 February 1929)

(Aberdeen Press and Journal, 2 September 1929)