John Frederick was the third son of Alexander GORDON and Dorothea daughter and co-heir of Gen James GISBOURNE, C-in-C Ireland, Gov of Charlemont and MP for Lismore.

He married 10th December 1839, Dorothea Josepha MILLER daughter of Alexander MILLER of Downpatrick. They had four children, Alexander Hamilton Miller Haven, Robert Francis, John Frederick George and Thomas Gisborne

(Their son Robert Francis of Tully Lodge Co Kildare, married Alice Aimee SHARMAN-CRAWFORD and whose daughter Alice Mary Dorothea married her cousin the Rt Hon Alexander Robert Gisbourne GORDON, son of Alexander Hamilton Miller Haven, Robert's brother ).

John Frederick was Rector of Anahilt, Co Down.