On 20 March 1769, John Gordon and Rachel his wife of of the County of Essex, taylor, sold to Isaac Jordan of the same, carpenter. For £25 current money of Virginia, John and Rachel convey a parcel of land in the Parish of Southfarnham, Essex County, bordering land of the said Jordan and Thomas Gordon, containing 47 acres more or less, “a moiety of the tract of Land devised to the said John Gordon party hereto by the last will & Testament of his father William Gordon late of the aforesaid County decd.” Signed John Gordon, Rachel Gordon. No witnesses. At a court held for Essex County on 20 March 1769, John Gordon and Rachel Gordon (first privately examined) acknowledge the deed, which was ordered recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 30, pages 219–221.]

Rachel St. John was listed, as Rachel Gordon, in the 1780 will of her father Thomas St. John. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, page 313.]

On 10 December 1785, Rachel Gordon was mentioned as a bordering landowner to a tract sold by William Banks, James Banks and Statira his wife (whose name also appears as Stati Re) of the parish of southfarnham and County of Essex sold to Thomas Wood. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 32, pages 424–426.]

On 8 January 1787, Rachel Gordon appealed for a new trial in a case with Barker Minter and Margaret his wife: Your oratrix Rachel Gordon of the County of Essex. That in August 1786 judgement was obtained against her as administratrix of her deceased husband John Gordon in a suit brought against her by Barker Minter and Margaret his wife. Money was due to Margaret from the estate of her father John Gordon. Barker Minter’s father was Josiah Minter. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 6, item 6-E-96.]

On 20 October 1795, a division of the estate of John Gordon was made by Thomas Wood Sr., James Paul, and Tho. Allen. A widow’s dower was devised to Rachel Gordon. The remainder of the estate was divided into fifths, with one fifth to William Gordon, deceased, one to Alexander Gordon (who is “to receive Williams do. as heir”), one to Vincent Gordon, one to John Gordon, and one to Robert Gordon. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, pages 197–198.]

On 15 May 1815, Purkins Armstrong, John Armstrong, and Barker Minter were bound in the penalty of $3,000 for Purkins Armstrong’s administration of the goods, chattels and credits of Rachel Gordon, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, page 165.]

On 17 July 1815, an inventory and appraisal of the estate of Rachel Gordon, deceased, made by Winter Bray, Richd. Woodward and James Montague, was returned to court. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 191–192.]

In about 1816, a chancery suit was brought forward by grandchildren of Rachel. Orators and oratrices Hundley Moody & Elizabeth his wife, Purkins Armstrong & Polly his wife, William Gordon, Isham Gordon, Alexander & Lucy Gordon infants by Hundley Moody their next friend. That John Gordon late of this county died [no date] intestate leaving a son William Gordon who has died. John left a widow Rachel. When William died land went to Alexander, next in line. Rachel died February 1815. Alexander died intestate, leaving a widow Susanna. The orators and oratrices are children of Alexander, who also left three other children now dead: Nancy, Peggy and Daniel. Nancy died of full age. Susanna was the mother of your orators and oratrices. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 26, item 26-B-18.]

In an undated petition, orator William Gordon with the will annexed of Robert Gordon complained that Rachel Gordon mother of the sd Robert died in 1815 intestate. Robert’s legacies went to Sophronia, Laura, Threshley and Agnes. Sophronia and Threshley died soon after the death of their father. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 37, item 37-F-21.]

On 21 January 1817, the estate of Rachel Gordon for 1815 in account with Purkins Armstrong administrator was recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, page 348.]