One candidate for review is Rev. John Guthrie, Minister of Tarbolton.
This man was born in 1633 in Scotland and baptized on 21 Nov 1633 at Brechin, Angus, Scotland. His parents were James Guthrie, Laird of Pitforthie, and Janet (or Jonat) Lyon of Easter Ogle. He was the youngest child in a family of 10 children and had 5 older brothers, all of whom had became ordained minister or were at least schooled in religion.
The eldest brother was Rev. William Guthrie (1620-1665), the Minister of Fenwick who gave up land an title to a younger brother, Andrew, who later died, and the title went to next brother in line, David Guthrie.
John Guthrie received his Master of Arts degree in Glasgow, 1652. He was appointed Minister of Tarbolton and Barnwell in 1658. He married Mary Haldane and they had 1 known son, also named John Guthrie born bet. 1660-70, who married in Edinburgh to Jean Young on 16 Feb 1692.
The next few years led to a clash between religion men like Rev. John Guthrie and the state. He was deprived of his position by an Act of Parliament in 1662, and accused of turbulent and seditious conduct on 14 July 1663. John took part in the Pentland Rising on 29 Nov 1666.
"The Covenanters then renewed the Solemn League and Covenant at Lanark before marching towards Edinburgh to protest to the king about the persecution they were facing and the fact that bishops had been forced on the church. The king’s army came out to face the Covenanters at Rullion Green in the Pentland hills. The Covenanters had about 900 men, many without proper weapons, and the army had 3,000 men. The Covenanters were completely defeated, with 50 killed, 80 taken prisoner, and the rest escaping into the darkness. 36 of the prisoners were executed, and some were tortured, including 25 year-old minister Hugh MacKail." (Source: reformationhistory.org)
John Guthrie was too sick to be present at Ruillion Green, but he was already on the crown's radar. On 15 August 1667, he was indicted before the Justiciary Court 15 Aug 1667 and condemned to death, but received a royal pardon for his role in the Pentland Rising on 1st October therafter.
(Source: Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, II.75)
John Guthrie reportedly died in 1669. There was one record for Edinburgh on 30 Aug 1669, which is the only OPR found for a John Guthrie death in that year.
Then there is proof that he died before 5 Nov 1676, when ""(Mr Anderson), on Sabbath the 5th of November 1676, he conducted divine service in a house in Edinburgh, inhabited by Mrs Guthrie, widow of John Guthrie, minister of Tarbolton." (Histories of Scotland)
Yet another source comments, ""After their defeat at Pentland (John Guthrie) no doubt had his share of the violence and cruelty that then reigned, till annoying 1689, he removed to a better world."
PROS:
1) The Guthries of Pitforthie are part of the family tradition / origin story for descendants of Guthrie Family Group 2A - Branch G out of Londonderry, Ireland.
2) Although older than the estimated birth year range above (1660-1680), that would not technically be an issue.
3) His story is very similar to that of John Guthrie, father of John Guthrie of Oxford Twp.
CONS:
1) Rev John Guthrie, Minister of Tarbolton, has some form of documentation that seems to keep him in Scotland.
2) No matter which proposed DOD is correct, they are all a little too early to be father to Robert (c1700), John (1708), or certainly James (c1720)
It seems that Rev John Guthrie is probably not the right man to be John Guthrie, the Covenanter, father of John Guthrie of Oxford Twp.
The minister's son, John Guthrie, born in 1692, would also be too young to be a candidate.
Reviewing the list of Rev John Guthrie's brothers...
1) Rev. William Guthrie, Minister of Fenwick - Had sons, but they all died young. Surviving daughters only.
2) Andrew Guthrie - died without male heirs. Brother David inherited.
3) David Guthrie - married Margaret Livingston. This couple had 5 sons all in the right DOB range, however had no known son named John. Most ineages are poorly traced except for son James Guthrie's marriage to Margaret Skinner.
4) Robert Guthrie - poor consitution - was licensed to preach, but seems to have died young-ish. No info on marriage or children.
5) Rev Alexander Guthrie - Minister of Stracthro - married to Magdalen Carnagie - children include 1 known son, Alexander.
If the Pitforthie Guthries are related to GFG2A-Branch G the lack of an obvious place for John Guthrie, the Covenanter, suggests that the most recent common ancestor between GFG2A-Branch H (John of Oxford) and GFG2A-Branch G (John Guthrie/Jane Reed) may be a couple of generations further back.
