THE GORDONS OF KENMURE.
page 363

SIR JOHN GORDON OF LOCHINVAR, the elder son of this gallant [p.363] Gordon, by his wife, a daughter of the first Earl of Ruthven, was elevated to the peerage, by thetitle of Viscount Kenmure and Lord Lochinvar, by Charles I. when he visited Scotland, in 1633, for the purpose of his coronation. Sir John had previously, in 1629, obtained from that monarch the charter of the royal burgh of New Galloway, which was at that time created on the Kenmure estate. Lord Kenmure was distinguished for his personal piety as well as for his attachment to Presbyterian principles, and was the intimate friend of the famous John Welch, son-in-law of John Knox, with whom he resided some time in France, and also of Gillespie and Samuel Rutherford. It was through his influence that Rutherford was appointed minister of Anwoth in 1627, and that famous divine dedicated to the Viscount his first work, entitled, 'Exercitationes Apologeticæ pro Divina Gratia,' &c. The Viscount sold the ancient family estate of Stichell, in order, it was said, to obtain the forfeited earldom of Gowrie, to which he laid claim through his mother. It was reported that the money was paid to the Duke of Buckingham, who had undertaken to support the claim, but in consequence of the assassination of the Duke the very next day, the Viscount both lost his money and failed in his object. The report, however, does not rest on any satisfactory evidence. Lord Kenmure died in 1634, in the thirty-fifth year of his age. Rutherford, who attended him on his deathbed, wrote a tract, entitled, 'The last and heavenly Speeches and glorious Departure of John,Viscount Kenmure.' Lady Kenmure, the Viscount's widow, who lived to a great age, took for her second husband, in 1640, the Hon. Sir Harry Montgomery of Giffin, and was a constant correspondent of Rutherford.

 
THE HAYS OF TWEEDDALE.
page 389

The Earl was twice married, first to Lady Jane Seton, daughter of the first Earl of Dunfermline, his brother-in-law, by whom he had one son, John; and secondly, to Lady Margaret Montgomery, eldest daughter of the sixth Earl of Eglintoun, who bore to him four sons and three daughters, but they all died in childhood, except one son, William. The Earl was present at the coronation of Charles II. in 1650, and survived till 1654.

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