Anent the historical basis for "Achnachie Gordon" {N.B. this spelling
is as heard by me in the singing of this song by my late Gutcher who
learned the ballad in South Africa during the Boer war.}
It has been suggested to me of late years that this is incorrect--
however a note in a late 19th. C. publication mentions that details
of a marriage between a Gordon and a Miss Achnachi are recorded in the parish church records of KNOCKANDO in Bamffshire.

Now if this Miss Achnachi were her fathers heir and he was Achnachi
of Achnachi {Achnachi of that Ilk} by the then law of Scotland her
husband,on the death of her father, would become Gordon of Achnachi
or "Achnachi." The law to this day allows anyone owning a named feu to be known by the name of their lands, hence most farmers are
referred to by the name of their farm, their surname being ommited.


I passed the information, as found, to the School of Scottish Studies
and trust that they may find records to throw some light on the
subject.
Joe.