L-"t tr“,

BRUDENERLL PIONEERB' 9

weaving, tailoring, sho-emaking and tive of the Parish of Blair Athol. even their own carpentering and That he has resrded in it from his blacksmith work They must have infancy. That he always maintain-

endured much hardship and priv-

ation during the first year of their

settlement lie-,re. until they had Cut down the forest and cleared land enough for their patches of wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. But they had energy and persev- erance and in due time experien-

ced the beneficial results of their labour.

BUILDING OF THE CHURCH

Here in this lovely little island with the great trees above them and the blue waters of the river about them, they' built a little church, where on Sabbath morn- ings the patriarchal James Mc- Laren read the beautiful Episcopal service to the few who might gather there They sang hymns of glory and offered praise and sup- plication to the lovmg God who preserved them through their voy- age and safely established and maintained them in the new land. Here also they made a burial ground where they had buried their dead as they passed away one by one, the green trees their monuments, the wild: flowers to decorate their graves, the birds singing their requiem and the rippling weaves making lullaby to their long sleep.

Grandfather Donald Gordon was born in WGIZ at Fincastle, Parish

of Duhl, Perth-shire, Scotland, on

the river Tummel, near Blair Athol, and about three miles from Lake Tummel and the Pass of Killiecranki-e. He was justly re- spected in the community in which -he lived, in evidence of which we have the following testimonials:— CERTILF'DCATE in favor of . Donald Gordon NBS . These certify that the ‘ bearer hereof, Donald Gordon, is a na-

ed a. fair, honest, and inoffensive

character, free from public scan-

dal or ground of church censure.

So that there is nothing known to

us that can hinder his reception

into any christian society or con- gregation where Providence may o-rder his lot,

Given in the interval of sessions at Blair Athol,- »18th February. 1788. . .

JAMES McLAanAN, Minister. ALLAN FARQUHARSON, Clerk. At this time he was twenty-sixe

years old and was about to leave

Blair Athol for Balquhidder.

And the- following which was given on the eve of his departure from Scotland in 18013:

'CERTICE‘ECATE in favor of Donald Gordon and wife 87; family 1803.

These certify that Donald Gor- don and Christina McLaren, a married couple are natives of the Parish of Du-hl, and resided here mostly from their infancy. That they are of .unexceptionable char- acter and morals, so there is no reason known to us to hinder their reception into any christian so- ciety where Providence may order their lot.

As attested by:

.A‘RJC‘mBIAJIJD MEN ZIE, Minister

JOHIN FORBES, Elder

PATRICK STEWART, Elder.

Donald Gordon was the son of Charles Gordon, who settled at Glen Fincastle on the River Tum- mel; He came with his father from Invern-ess, who built a castle on the banks of the 'Ilay, near Athol, and. established a ferry there. He belonged to the Gordons of Hunt-

'ly, and was related to the family

of the first Duke of Gordon. He had another son, Alexander Gor- don, who was an officer in the English army, and fought at the American Revolution.

‘1n1911si.»m...,,,,‘§, iiiikiimkaiiixifi‘f.

pa, W, - :.... I V 1" It {153.7%{MR-3#11-'7~7§¥*‘:Lr5'§:~ncrm;;:;zisms-11??‘:liLSIZLE 2‘1“; «55;: ;- g, 154%." 5,15,: ‘1‘ 1.; wt 9“, ”1‘65 31,, J3“ ‘1'? 531:2 ”with" trig 7’“ 11%; :15 f ()5 hfi-Lglganéahhfi 1

HI

.....

123‘E "