Hello Suzieque 14,
Lovely to hear from you, and YES I am still doing research on the Forbes family along with other ancestors in my husbands tree... Interesting that last year I too decided to put all my findings into book form as it makes more interesting reading than a tree, especially as our sons as yet do not seem to have great interest in family history. The book is an ongoing project.
Ian, my husband is descended from both the Forbes and the Gordon Families as Alexander Gordon (you have him named John) married Margaret Glennie sister to Annie (Anne) who married William Forbes.. The story we have which has been passed down the family is very similar to that which you have ie:
Sisters Annie & Margaret Glennie married foster brothers William Forbes and Alexander Gordon.
As we have no idea as to whether the Forbes or the Gordons were the Foster parents it is proving difficult to accurately determine parentage of the boys... However, as Alexander became a Tailor and the Forbes were a family of renowned Tailors and Outfitters having premises in Stonehaven I am inclined to believe that Alexander was the 'fostered' child.
Cousin Howard Valentine in Canada produced a family tree compiled by his father, from information given to him by
his grandparents many years ago. This tree names Alexander as being a Bastard son of The Duke of Gordon. Alex was brought up in Stonehaven by a Miss Smith, and eventually fostered by the Forbes family.
Following some research into the Dukes of Gordon I find Alexander Gordon 4th Duke of Gordon. (18 June 1743 – 17 June 1827)
....... The Duke and Duchess's marriage was tempestuous from the start and neither made any particular effort to be faithful to the other. For some years before her death she was bitterly estranged from the Duke. While the Duchess resided in the centre’s of society, the Duke lived in retirement at Gordon Castle.....the Duke lived very disreputably in this solitude, for he was very little noticed, and, I believe, preferred seclusion." ... Any Bastard children by the Duke will probably be impossible to find.
My research was unable to find any local record of an Alexander Gordon born c1770, however, records show he married Margaret Glennie 2nd April 1791 in Dunnottar..
William Forbes m Annie Glennie in 1786, William had been baptised in Fetteresso on 7th July 1757, his father recorded as being Alexander Forbes.
So, as we were able to find a parent for William Forbes but not for Alexander Gordon we assumed until proven otherwise that Alexander was the adopted boy....
Your theory of BOTH boys being brought down from the north is a new line to research and I would be interested to know where your mum got her information from, do you have Forbes ancestors too..
I would love to know more about your research if possible. Also, would you mind if I included the information re the Forbes siblings in our tree?
I recently sent a sample from Ian for a DNA test, we are awaiting the results... really excited now...
Ians line;
George Warden Valentine (father)
James Lilley Valentine
George Valentine
George Guthrie Valentine m Mary Gordon
Alexander Gordon 1792 - 1869
Alexander Gordon c1770 - Margaret Glennie 1769
G W Valentine
J L Valentine
George Valentine m Margaret Thomson Warden
Robert Warden m Rose Young Forbes
John Forbes 1789 - 1858 m Margaret Thomson 1796 - 1860
William Forbes 1757 m Annie Glennie 1762
Alexander Forbes c1710
Thank you so much for getting in touch
Kind regards Patricia (Ians Wife)
ps There is also a Jim Forbes Tailoring based in Glasgow, I am plucking up courage to email them and ask if we have a connection... Apparently he is reclusive so I may get a rebuff.