REV. JAMES GUTHRIE: SON of A LAIRD?
According to the earliest published sources on the life of Rev. James Guthrie, Minister of Sterling, he was born about 1612, presumably in Angus. He is said to be a son of the Laird of Guthrie, either the eldest son, or a younger son depending upon the author. No implication on his legitimacy has been documented by any of the known sources. At the time of his death he is said to have possessed a ring with the family coat of arms. See profile summary for details and source links.
There were 7 men to hold title as Laird of Guthrie between 1597 and 1677. So which one of these men was the father of our martyred minister? Below, you’ll find some basic facts, but you’ll need your detective hat for this one. They don’t make it easy.
Some inherited their title the old fashioned way from father to eldest son. Others reportedly had no male heirs to inherit, and so arranged for the title to go to a relative. Sometimes they outright sold / bought it.
LAIRDS of GUTHRIE DURING REV. JAMES GUTHRIE’S LIFETIME (c1612-1661)
1. Alexander Guthrie, 6th of Guthrie, inherited his title from his father about 1597 and died in 1616. Alexander reportedly had no male issue and the title went to his brother William. For this reason, James is unlikely to be a legitimate son.
2. William Guthrie, 7th of Guthrie seems like a good candidate. He inherited in 1616, after James would have been born, and at some point chose to legally transfer lands and title to his 3rd cousin once removed. This sounds like it was a money transfer. Also sounds like a good place to lose track of records, but William also reportedly had no issue. This would be another potential place for an illegitimate son.
3. David Guthrie, 8th of Guthrie, was about the same age as James Guthrie. David had a wife and son, Alexander, who died prior to his father. Even if James was a candidate to be a son, it would have put him in position to be the “spare heir” and there would have been no need for David to turn the barony over to his brother, Patrick Guthrie in 1636. If David’s est. age is correct he is not a good candidate to be a father of James legit or otherwise.
4. Patrick Guthrie, 9th of Guthrie, died only 2 years after assuming control, but he had a son, Peter, who assumed his title. Peter was born about the 1620s, which is after the birth of James Guthrie. If James was a legitimate son, he would have been set to inherit, so he would have had to refused it. This is another place for a potential illegitimate son.
5. Peter Guthrie, 10th of Guthrie, was younger than James and therefore could not be his father either in a legitimate or illegitimate way. Peter inherited from his father Patrick about 1636, but that same year the Rt. Rev. John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray, made him an offer of money he could not refuse, and Peter sold the barony.
6. Rt. Rev. John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray, 11th of Guthrie, was old enough to be James Guthrie’s father, but his lack of male heirs is well-documented. He married off his eldest daughter Bethia to her cousin, his ward, Francis Guthrie, 3rd of Gagie, who inherited at his death to become 12th of Guthrie. James would have to be an illegitimate son under this regime, however, considering the bishop’s opposing religious views were in contradiction to James Guthrie’s one would think such a relationship would be notable in the history books. Bishop Moray also went out of his way to keep the lands and title in the family. He probably had the power to legitimize an illegitimate son.
7. Francis Guthrie, 3rd of Gagie, 12th of Guthrie, was born about 1600, married the bishop’s daughter Bethia in order to keep the Guthrie name and title within the family. Too young to be James’ father. He assumed title about 1649 and held it his death in 1677.
GOT A FAVORITE CANDIDATE?
You can also try to work out whether a 1st cousin relationship to Rev. William Guthrie fits the situation: “Rev. William Guthrie, born 1620, Minister of Fenwick, was the son of a younger brother of James’ father, and lived at Pitforthie in the same neighborhood.” (Unless you go with the version that claims they were uncle and nephew.)
1. If the Rt. Rev John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray, (11th) was father to an illegitimate James Guthrie, William Guthrie’s father James of Pitforthie would have to be the son of Patrick Guthrie (goldsmith) and Margaret Raitt, but they already have a documented son, James Guthrie, Minister in Kinell and Arbirlot, whose diary detailed the closing of his brother’s eyes upon his death.
2. Peter (10th) was younger than James, so N/A.
3. Patrick (9th) is only eligible if James was illegitimate or disponed his rights. If he did, it would mean that William’s Father, James Guthrie of Pitforthie would be a son of Alexander Guthrie, 6th Kincaldrum, and Alice Douglas. James of Pitforthie was born about 1596, which would make him the eldest of their children, so that is not the right fit because he would have inherited Kincaldrum.
David Guthrie, 8th of Guthrie, is also a son of Alexander Guthrie and Alice Douglas. James would be about the same age, so the right age to be a younger brother, not a son. Again, James Guthrie of Pitforthie was born earlier, and does not fit the description of being a younger brother of the laird.
4. Back to William Guthrie, 7th of Guthrie. Assuming he actually had children with Isabella Fenton, and sold the barony without addressing any potential inheritance by his children, it would make James Guthrie of Pitforthie his brother, and both would be sons of Alexander Guthrie 5th of Guthrie and Agnes Falconer. Alexander died in 1597 and James Guthrie of Pitforthie was born about 1596, so that timing would actually be ok. Except….William reportedly had no legitimate male issue.
WHAT’S YOUR PICK?
1. Legitimate Son of a Laird of Guthrie?
There is currently no conclusive evidence or a “most likely path” to a specific Laird of Guthrie as a legitimate son, unless we can discover documentation that refutes the “no issue” statements for one of the above men.
2. Illegitimate Son of a Laird of Guthrie? If Rev James Guthrie was illegitimate, there has been no discovered documentation to prove it, and similar bastardy documents and notations of being a ‘nartural’ son are commonplace in Scottish records. Four of the above seven men would become candidates.
3. Refused to Inherit?
Rev James Guthrie could have disponed his right to land and title because he was a minister. His cousin, Rev. William Guthrie of Fenwick did so, but when his brother took over there was a legally binding document. This would take us back to looking for a placement of an undocumented legitimate son.
4. Not a Guthrie of Guthrie? A fourth possibility is that Rev. James Guthrie was not the son of a Laird of Guthrie, which would mean Howie was wrong in his statement. No evidence has been presented in other publications throughout the years because they all quote his work. What was his source?
