James Guthrie

Said to be the cadet of the Guthrie of Halkerton family and Royal Falconer to James III but I cannot find any records that prove this James was either part of the Halkerton family or Royal Falconer to James III.

Apparently Patrick Guthrie of Halkerton was styled son of James, in an act of 1473 (Burke 1849, A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry of Great Britain and Ireland) but I cannot find this record. This family tree is also not a credible source because it is very inaccurate and does not match the testament and sasine records. This is probably what CE Guthrie Wright 1900 is referring to when she mentions "In many places the copying in the earlier MS. is careless and very inaccurate."

The Guthries of Halkerton are said to be a branch of the family of Guthrie of Guthrie, and Sir James Guthrie, first of Halkerton, to have been a brother of Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie but the only authority for this statement is an inference drawn by Mr Andrew Jervise in his 'Epitaphs and Inscriptions', from the Register of Aberbrothoc, where David Guthrie of Kincaldrum and James, his brother, are mentioned. That David became Sir David Guthrie, succeeded to Kincaldrum. and acquired Guthrie and other lands in Angus and Mearns, appears to be correct; but the statement that James became Sir James Guthrie of Halkerton, and Royal Falconer to James III., has yet to be proved.
- (James Hardy 1900, The session book of Bunkle and Preston, 1665-1690).

1472. Feb. 23.—Charter by David Guthrie of that ilk to Malcolm Guthrie, his natural son, of the lands of Balnabreich, in the lordship of Brechin, among the witnesses to the granting of which at Edinburgh are Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum, son and heir - apparent of the said David Guthrie ; Malcolm Guthrie of Kingeny ;and James Guthrie, brother of the said David Guthrie. Confirmed by charter under the Great Seal on 4th February 1472-73.—Registrum MagniSigilli, vol. i. No. 1104.

This James Guthrie is stated by some writers upon the family to have been the first Laird of Halkertoun. This, however,seems to be disproved by the existence in the previous year of a William Guthrie of Halcartoun.

"1471. May 8.—William Guthre de Halcartoune is witness at Forfar to a charter granted by William Merchell of Walterstoune to James Einde of Broxmounth of an annual rent of four merks out of the lands of Walterstoun.—Register of the Great Seal, vol. i. No. 1028."
- (Christian Edington Guthrie Wright 1901, Gideon Guthrie; A Monograph Written 1712 to 1730).