Close Rolls / State Papers
Guthrie Genealogy · Special Collections · British Archive
Close Rolls & State Papers
Guthrie & Variant-Name References · 1261–1693
This cross-series collection brings together Guthrie references found in English and British Crown records published on British History Online: the medieval Calendar of Close Rolls, State Papers Foreign, State Papers Domestic, Interregnum papers, and later Restoration and William-and-Mary records.
The records range from a 1261 bail order for William Guthere at Grimsby to seventeenth-century correspondence, church disputes, royal warrants, Scottish land charters, denization, forfeiture and bounty administration. Because these are several distinct record series rather than one publication set, the page is organized as a cross-series finding aid.
Master Index · Guthrie & Variant References
The records from the Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland are maintained in their complete 13-volume Special Collection. Their buttons below open the corresponding canonical entry there. All other records expand on this page.
| Date | Collection | Guthrie(s) | Role / Context | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1261 | Close Rolls · Henry III | Willelmus Guthere (William Guthere) | One of eight men accused of homicide; ordered released on bail | |
| 6 Jun 1551 | State Papers · Scotland | Alexander Guthrie | Safe conduct requested to travel between Scotland and England for one year | |
| 28 Jul 1569 | State Papers · Scotland | Alexander Guthrie | One of three burgh representatives at the Convention at Perth | |
| Oct 1573 | State Papers · Scotland | “Willie” / “Wille” Guthree (William Guthrie) | Mentioned in examination concerning silver brought from England | |
| Nov 1586 | State Papers · Scotland | John Guthré (John Guthrie) | Notary before whom David Stewart of Vezines executed a bond | |
| Dec 1587 | State Papers · Scotland | Robert Guthrie, aged 40 | Witness to the spoiling of the ship The Abye in the Humber (1575) | |
| 15 Oct 1559 | State Papers · Foreign | William Guthrie | Recipient of a letter from John Knox’s wife, to be forwarded via Anna Lock | |
| 18 May 1566 | State Papers · Foreign | Saunders Guttry (Alexander/Sander Guthrie) | Arrested at the instance of the Scottish ambassador after the Rizzio murder | |
| 2 Apr 1635 | State Papers · Charles I | Bishop John Guthry of Moray | Joint letter of Scottish bishops to Archbishop Laud on liturgy & canons | |
| 21 May 1640 | State Papers · Charles I | Archibald Guthrie | Recipient of intelligence letter from Marquis of Douglas (Berwick) | |
| 16 Jul 1640 | State Papers · Charles I | A. Guthrie (Archibald) | Presses Marquis of Douglas’s claim for redress from Covenanter goods | |
| 17 Feb 1657 | State Papers · Interregnum | Jas. Guthry (James Guthrie) | Petition with James Simpson and the Stirling eldership concerning the second ministerial charge | |
| 14 May 1657 | State Papers · Interregnum | Jas. Guthrie (James Guthrie) | Report on the February petition; interim payment advised for Robert Rule | |
| Jun 1661 | State Papers · Charles II | Guthrie (James Guthrie) | Reported as executed with Giffen; described as a seditious minister | |
| 5 Mar 1672 | State Papers · Charles II | James Guthrie, deceased | Grant of his forfeiture and escheat to James Spence | |
| 9 Jun 1673 | State Papers · Charles II | Sir Harry Guthrie of King Edward & Dame Barbara Urquhart | Charter of the lands and barony of Fishrie; erected into barony of King Edward | |
| 25 Jul 1673 | State Papers · Charles II | Gideon Guthrie | Party resigning rights in a charter of new infeftment | |
| 2 Jun 1675 | State Papers · Charles II | Robert Guthery | Took the oaths of allegiance and supremacy | |
| 6 Jun 1675 | State Papers · Charles II | Robert Guthery | Grant of denization | |
| 30 Mar 1677 | State Papers · Charles II | John Guthrie of Over Dysert, Jane Lamb (spouse), Robert (eldest son) | Resignation of lands with reservation; part of barony of Dysert charter | |
| Jun 1683 | State Papers · Charles II | Guthrie (author) | Work listed as “Guthrie upon ruling” among seized radical papers | |
| Dec 1691 | State Papers · William & Mary | Mr. Guthrie | Named among young Scotch gentlemen in constrained circumstances in Holland | |
| 9 Jun 1693 | State Papers · William & Mary | Mary Guthery, widow | Listed to receive payment as widow of an officer of the Londonderry garrison |
Calendar of Close Rolls · Henry III
1 Guthrie reference represented
Willelmus Guthere (William Guthere) · One of eight men accused of homicide; ordered released on bail
Vol. 11, p. 425 · Aug 1261
DateAugust 1261 (Exact day not stated in the calendar entry; tested “ut supra”)
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Willelmus Guthere (William Guthere / Guthrie) – one of eight men detained in the king’s prison at Grimsby and ordered to be released on bail
Role
One of eight men accused of homicide; ordered released on bail
Document FocusEight men, including William Guthere, were being held in the royal prison at Grimsby on a charge of the death of Nicholas Dyny. A writ was issued to the sheriff of Lincoln ordering that they be released on bail pending appearance before the justices.
Other Primary Parties
- Johannes Espau
- Walterus Steresman
- Petrus filius Jacobi
- Egidius filius Simonis
- Baldewinus filius Lecie
- Lambertus filius Johannis
- Walterus filius Jacobi
- Nicholaus Dyny (the deceased)
- Sheriff of Lincoln (recipient of the writ)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“De ponendo per ballium.—Johannes Espau, Willelmus Guthere, Walterus Steresman, Petrus filius Jacobi, Egidius filius Simonis, Baldewinus filius Lecie, Lambertus filius Johannis et Walterus filius Jacobi, detenti in prisona regis de Grimmisbi pro morte Nicholai Dyny unde rettati sunt, habent breve vicecomiti Linc’ quod ponantur per ballium.”
Why This Record Matters
This is an early reference (1261) to a man named Willelmus Guthere in Lincolnshire, specifically connected with Grimsby. He appears as one of a group accused of homicide and granted bail. The surname form “Guthere” is a recognised medieval variant of Guthrie. The entry places a bearer of the name in the north-eastern English counties in the mid-13th century, well before the better-documented Scottish Guthrie lines of the later Middle Ages.
Terms & Practices
- Ponantur per ballium – order that the prisoners be released on bail.
- Rettati sunt – they have been accused / appealed of the death.
- Grimsby (Grimmisbi) was a royal prison at this date; the case fell under the sheriff of Lincoln.
Source: ‘Close Rolls, August 1261’, in Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III: Volume 11, 1259–1261, ed. A. E. Stamp (London, 1934), pp. 417–429, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/hen3/vol11/pp417-429 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
State Papers, Foreign · Elizabeth I
2 Guthrie references represented
William Guthrie · Recipient of a letter from John Knox’s wife, to be forwarded via Anna Lock
Vol. 2, pp. 31–44 · 15 Oct 1559
Date15 October 1559 St Andrews
Guthrie(s) Identified
- William Guthrie – recipient of a letter from John Knox’s wife, to be sent to him at Dieppe
Role
Recipient of a letter from John Knox’s wife, to be forwarded via Anna Lock
Document FocusIn a postscript to his letter to Anna Lock, John Knox asks her to forward another letter from his wife to William Guthrie at Dieppe. The main body of the letter deals with religious and political matters in Scotland during the early stages of the Reformation crisis of 1559–60.
Other Primary Parties
- John Knox (writer)
- Anna Lock (addressee)
- Knox’s wife (author of the letter being forwarded)
- Other individuals greeted or mentioned in the letter (Mr Hickman, Mr Michael Locke, etc.)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“P.S.—His increasing troubles would not suffer him to finish his letters to his brethren of Geneva. If they expel the French from Leith, she and they shall understand more. Asks her to excuse him to Adam Haliday for not writing; and to send this other letter to Dieppe to William Guthrie from his [Knox’s] wife.”
Why This Record Matters
This is a contemporary reference to a William Guthrie located in Dieppe in October 1559, who was in correspondence with the household of John Knox. Dieppe was a key port for Scots travelling to and from the Continent during the Reformation period, and Knox himself had connections there. The entry places a William Guthrie within the network of Scottish Protestant exiles and supporters at a critical moment in the Scottish Reformation.
Terms & Practices
- Knox was writing from St Andrews during the escalating conflict with the French forces and the Queen Regent.
- Anna Lock (Anne Locke) was an English Protestant correspondent and supporter of Knox.
- Letters routed via trusted intermediaries in London or elsewhere were a common means of communication with Scots on the Continent.
Source: ‘Elizabeth: October 1559, 11–20’, in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 2, 1559–1560, ed. Joseph Stevenson (London, 1865), pp. 31–44, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol2/pp31-44 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Saunders Guttry (Alexander/Sander Guthrie) · Arrested at the instance of the Scottish ambassador after the Rizzio murder
Vol. 8, pp. 58–78 · 18 May 1566
Date18 May 1566 Paris
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Saunders Guttry (Alexander / Sander Guthrie or Guttry) – a Scot recently imprisoned at Dieppe
Role
Arrested at the instance of the Scottish ambassador after the Rizzio murder
Document FocusSir Thomas Hoby reported to Cecil that a Scot named Saunders Guttry had recently been arrested and imprisoned at Dieppe at the instance of the Scottish ambassador and the Cardinal of Lorraine. Guttry had fled Scotland after incurring the Queen’s displeasure because, at the time of David Rizzio’s murder, he had kept the abbey gate and had been ordered by the King (Darnley) to watch the Queen’s movements.
Other Primary Parties
- Sir Thomas Hoby (writer)
- William Cecil (addressee)
- The Ambassador of Scotland
- The Cardinal of Lorraine
- Mary, Queen of Scots (the “Queen” referred to)
- David Rizzio (“David” – the murdered secretary)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“A Scot, named Saunders Guttry, was lately taken and imprisoned at Dieppe by the procurement of the Ambassador of Scotland and Cardinal of Lorraine, who fled upon a displeasure the Queen took with him that at the killing of David he kept the abbey gate, and was commanded by her husband to have an eye to her doings.”
Why This Record Matters
This is a contemporary English diplomatic report linking a man named Saunders (Alexander/Sander) Guttry/Guthrie to the events surrounding the murder of David Rizzio in March 1566. He is described as having been stationed at the abbey gate on the orders of Lord Darnley and as having subsequently fled Scotland after falling under Mary’s displeasure. His arrest in Dieppe in May 1566 shows that the Scottish and French authorities were still pursuing individuals associated with the Rizzio conspiracy two months later. The entry provides a rare named Guthrie connection to one of the central political crises of Mary’s reign.
Terms & Practices
- Saunders – a common Scots diminutive or variant of Alexander / Sander.
- The “killing of David” refers to the murder of David Rizzio on 9 March 1566 in Holyrood Palace.
- Dieppe was a frequent port of call and refuge for Scots travelling to or from France.
Source: ‘Elizabeth: May 1566’, in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 8, 1566–1568, ed. Allan James Crosby (London, 1871), pp. 58–78, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol8/pp58-78 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
State Papers, Domestic · Charles I
3 Guthrie references represented
Bishop John Guthry of Moray · Joint letter of Scottish bishops to Archbishop Laud on liturgy & canons
Vol. 286, Apr 1–17 · 2 Apr 1635
Date2 April 1635
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Bishop John Guthry of Moray (John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray; later 11th of Guthrie)
RoleOne of six Scottish bishops jointly writing to Archbishop Laud concerning the completion of the Scottish liturgy and canons.
Document FocusThe Scottish bishops inform Archbishop Laud that they have sent the Bishop of Ross south with the drafts of the liturgy and canons. They acknowledge Laud’s favour to the Scottish Church and to themselves, request its continuance, express the desire for full conformity (while recognising it must be gradual), and report that substantial progress has already been made.
Other Primary Parties
- Archbishop John Spottiswood of St. Andrews
- Bishop Patrick Lindsay of Glasgow
- Bishop David Lindsay of Edinburgh
- Bishop Adam Bellenden of Dunblane
- Bishop Thomas Sydeser of Brechin
- Bishop John Maxwell of Ross (the bearer of the documents)
- Archbishop William Laud (recipient)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
Archbishop John Spottiswood of St. Andrews, Bishop Patrick Lindsay of Glasgow, Bishop David Lindsay of Edinburgh, Bishop John Guthry of Moray, Bishop Adam Bellenden of Dunblane, and Bishop Thomas Sydeser of Brechin, to Archbishop Laud. They have put their brother the Bishop [John Maxwell] of Ross to the pains of a new journey, for ending the liturgy and canons of the church, and as they have found Archbishop Laud’s favour both to their church in general and themselves, for which they are his debtors, so they entreat the continuance thereof in this and other their common affairs. They could wish a full conformity in the Church, but the Archbishop knows that this must be the work of time. They have made a further progress than could have been expected in many years, and hope still to go forward, if the Archbishop continue in health and life.
[Indorsed by Archbishop Laud;—“Conformity must be a work of time.”]
Why This Record Matters
This letter places Bishop John Guthrie of Moray (c.1577/78–1649) among the Scottish episcopal leadership actively engaged with Archbishop Laud in the final preparation of the Scottish Canons and Liturgy in the spring of 1635. The documents carried by the Bishop of Ross formed part of the process that produced the Canons of 1636 and the Scottish Book of Common Prayer of 1637. The episode is therefore a key contemporary reference for the bishop’s role in the ecclesiastical policies that later contributed to the National Covenant and the Bishops’ Wars.
The entry also supplies Laud’s own laconic endorsement of the letter, which has become a frequently cited remark on the difficulties of imposing religious conformity in Scotland.
Terms & Practices
- Liturgy and canons – the Scottish Book of Common Prayer and the accompanying Canons of the Church of Scotland prepared under royal and Laudian direction.
- Full conformity – the complete alignment of Scottish church practice with the English model favoured by Charles I and Laud.
- Indorsement – Laud’s contemporary note written on the reverse of the letter.
Research Note: At the date of this 1635 letter Bishop John Guthrie had not yet acquired the estate of Guthrie. He purchased Guthrie in 1636. His parents were Patrick Guthrie of St Andrews, goldsmith, and Margaret Rait.
Source: ‘Charles I – volume 286: April 1-17, 1635’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1635, ed. John Bruce (London, 1865), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1635/pp1-31 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Archibald Guthrie · Recipient of intelligence letter from Marquis of Douglas (Berwick)
Vol. 454, May 19–25 · 21 May 1640
Date21 May 1640 Berwick
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Mr. Archibald Guthrie (at St. Giles’, London)
RoleRecipient of the letter; addressed as “cousin” by the Marquis of Douglas and treated as a trusted private correspondent in London capable of receiving and discreetly circulating sensitive intelligence.
Document FocusThe Marquis of Douglas reports from Berwick on current military and political developments during the Second Bishops’ War and asks Archibald Guthrie to pass the information to those he judges appropriate.
Document Summary
Writing from Berwick on 21 May 1640, the Marquis of Douglas informs his cousin Archibald Guthrie in London of the rapidly deteriorating situation. He describes encouraging (and, in his view, seditious) reports being spread by a servant of Lord Loudoun, the loss of a royal supply ship bound for Dumbarton Castle, the Covenanters’ successful blocking of the castle’s sea and land approaches, and their planned assault on Edinburgh Castle. He notes Colonel Munroe’s northern campaign with several thousand men and the Covenanters’ intention to invade England with an army of 20,000. The Marquis also complains of personal losses inflicted on himself and on his friend the Laird of Renton, and of Scottish ships seized by the other side. He urges that the King be made fully aware of these developments so that timely measures can be taken.
Other Primary Parties
- William Marquis of Douglas (writer)
- Mr. James Gordon (bearer)
- John Haddane (servant of Lord Loudoun)
- Lord Loudoun
- The Earl of Northumberland
- Colonel Munroe
- General Ruthven (Lord Ettrick)
- The Laird of Renton
- The Marquis of Hamilton
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“I could wish his Majesty were truly sensible of all their proceedings, that timely course may be taken to prevent their rebellious plots. Howsoever, you may impart these things to such as you think expedient.”
Why This Record Matters
This letter places Archibald Guthrie, resident at St. Giles’ in London, in direct confidential correspondence with the Marquis of Douglas at a critical moment in the Second Bishops’ War (May 1640). Addressed as “cousin” and trusted with private military and political intelligence, Guthrie appears as a reliable royalist intermediary in the capital. The entry is valuable both for the contemporary royalist perspective it records and for documenting a Guthrie active in these high-level networks during the conflict.
Terms & Practices
- Covenanters – adherents of the National Covenant who opposed the King’s religious policies.
- Lord Ettrick – title used for General Patrick Ruthven, governor of Edinburgh Castle.
- Seal with coronet and arms – formal indication of the Marquis of Douglas’s rank.
Research Note: The July 1640 State Paper continues the same correspondence chain and strongly supports identifying “A. Guthrie” there with this Archibald Guthrie.
Source: ‘Charles I – volume 454: May 19-25, 1640’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1640, ed. William Douglas Hamilton (London, 1880), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1640/pp181-217 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
A. Guthrie (Archibald) · Presses Marquis of Douglas’s claim for redress from Covenanter goods
Vol. 460, Jul 14–23 · 16 Jul 1640
Date16 July 1640
Guthrie(s) Identified
- A. Guthrie (almost certainly the same Archibald Guthrie previously addressed at St. Giles’, London)
RoleWriter of the covering note; intermediary actively pressing the Marquis of Douglas’s claim for compensation through Robert Read and “Mr. Secretary.”
Document FocusArchibald Guthrie forwards a memorandum on behalf of the Marquis of Douglas seeking royal authority to recover compensation from Covenanter goods found between Berwick and Newcastle, and urges that the request be put before the King promptly and discreetly.
Document Summary
On 16 July 1640 A. Guthrie writes to Robert Read asking him to remind Mr. Secretary to bring the enclosed business before the King at the earliest opportunity and to report back on the prospects. The annexed memorandum states that the Marquis of Douglas’s losses, already severe the previous year, have now become so heavy that he faces ruin unless the King provides some form of reparation. The Marquis requests a royal warrant allowing him to take redress from Covenanter goods located between Berwick and Newcastle (especially those sheltered in Northumberland near the Borders). The claim is carefully limited so as not to interfere with the King’s own revenues, casualties, or prizes taken at sea. Secrecy is particularly requested so that the design is not frustrated.
Other Primary Parties
- Robert Read (recipient)
- “Mr. Secretary” (to be reminded to raise the matter with the King)
- The Marquis of Douglas (the party whose losses are the subject of the petition)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“His desire is to have redress out of such goods pertaining to Covenanters as he shall find betwixt Berwick and Newcastle or thereabouts, and that his Majesty’s warrant may be had to that effect.”
Why This Record Matters
This document continues the correspondence chain begun in the May 1640 letter from the Marquis of Douglas to Archibald Guthrie. Two months later Guthrie is shown actively advancing the Marquis’s claim for compensation at the highest levels of government, working through Robert Read and the Secretary of State. The entry reinforces Archibald Guthrie’s role as a trusted royalist agent in London handling sensitive financial and political business for the Douglas interest during the Second Bishops’ War.
Terms & Practices
- Mr. Secretary – one of the Secretaries of State (most likely Sir Francis Windebank or Sir Henry Vane at this date).
- Casualties – feudal and other incidental revenues belonging to the Crown.
- Booties or prizes taken at sea – goods seized under letters of marque or in naval operations.
Research Note: Read with the May 1640 letter, this record shows Archibald Guthrie acting as a trusted London intermediary for the Marquis of Douglas during the Second Bishops’ War.
Source: ‘Charles I – volume 460: July 14-23, 1640’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1640, ed. William Douglas Hamilton (London, 1880), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1640/pp475-508 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
State Papers, Domestic · Interregnum
2 Guthrie references represented
Jas. Guthry (James Guthrie) · Petition with James Simpson and the Stirling eldership concerning the second ministerial charge
Vol. 153, pp. 258–297 · 17 Feb 1657
Date17 February 1657
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Jas. Guthry (James Guthrie) – minister of Stirling; one of the petitioners
Role
Petition with James Simpson and the Stirling eldership concerning the second ministerial charge
Document FocusJames Guthrie and James Simpson, ministers, together with the eldership of Stirling, petitioned the Protector concerning the second ministerial charge in the town. After the death of David Bennet they had called Robert Rule and settled the stipend on him. A opposing party later obtained the appointment of Matthias Simpson and diverted the maintenance and half the preaching place to him. The petitioners ask for Simpson’s removal and the restoration of the maintenance to Rule, warning that the opposition threatens Guthrie’s own ministry as well.
Other Primary Parties
- Jas. Simpson – fellow minister and co-petitioner
- The eldership of the congregations of Stirling – co-petitioners
- Oliver Cromwell, the Protector – addressee
- Rob. Rule – the minister they had called to the second charge
- Matthias Simpson – the rival appointee opposed by the petitioners
- David Bennet – the previous second minister (deceased)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Petition of Jas. Guthry and Jas. Simpson, ministers, and the eldership of the congregations of Stirling, to the Protector. On the death of David Bennet, 2 years ago, we, with approval of the majority of the magistrates, called Rob. Rule to be our minister, and got the stipend of the second minister in Stirling settled on him. But a disaffected party… obtained the appointment of Matthias Simpson… and to him they have given the maintenance of the second minister, and ½ the preaching place. … We beg Mat. Simpson’s removal, and the restoration of the maintenance to Rule.”
Why This Record Matters
This petition shows James Guthrie, the well-known minister of Stirling, still actively exercising his ministry and defending the settlement of the second charge in early 1657, during the Protectorate. It documents the continuing local conflict between the Resolutioner/Protester-aligned majority and a “malignant” or disaffected party in Stirling. The reference to seven years of strong opposition against Guthrie himself aligns with the known hostility he faced from the mid-1640s onward. The document is a useful fixed point in his career four years before his execution in 1661.
Terms & Practices
- James Guthrie had been minister of Stirling since 1649/50 and was a leading Protester.
- Disputes over the calling and maintenance of ministers were common in Scottish burghs during the 1650s under the English occupation and the Protectorate’s Committee for Scotland.
- The petition was referred by the Council to the Committee for Scotland.
Research Note: This petition belongs to the documented career of Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling. It should be read with the May 1657 follow-up and the later Restoration records concerning his execution and forfeiture.
Related biography: Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling.
Source: ‘Volume 153: February 1657’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1656–7, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1883), pp. 258–297, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/interregnum/1656-7/pp258-297 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Jas. Guthrie (James Guthrie) · Report on the February petition; interim payment advised for Robert Rule
Vol. 155, pp. 362–390 · 14 May 1657
Date14 May 1657
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Jas. Guthrie (James Guthrie) – minister of Stirling; one of the original petitioners whose case is under report
Role
Report on the February petition; interim payment advised for Robert Rule
Document FocusThe Council received a report on the earlier petition of James Guthrie and James Simpson concerning the second ministerial charge in Stirling. The report advised that a present sum should be paid to Robert Rule and that his stipend should be stopped until both parties had been fully heard. Separately, the Council ordered payment of £120 to Rule from vacant livings in Scotland for past services.
Other Primary Parties
- Jas. Sympson (James Simpson) – co-petitioner
- Rob. Rule – the minister whose stipend and position are at issue
- The Council (Protectorate)
- The Lord President and Council in Scotland
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“25. i, ii. Report on the petition of Jas. Guthrie and Jas. Sympson [see 17 Feb. 1656–7] advising payment of a present sum to Rule, and stoppage of his stipend till both parties be fully heard. [2 papers.]”
Why This Record Matters
This is the official follow-up to the February 1657 petition by James Guthrie and the Stirling eldership. It shows that the Protectorate authorities took the dispute seriously enough to commission a report and to make an interim financial provision for Robert Rule while ordering further hearing of both sides. The entry confirms continued high-level attention to the Stirling ministerial conflict in which Guthrie was a principal figure.
Terms & Practices
- The cross-reference in the calendar explicitly links this report to the petition of 17 February 1656/7.
- Payment from “vacant livings in Scotland” was a common method used by the English administration to support approved ministers during the 1650s.
Research Note: This is the administrative follow-up to the 17 February 1657 petition rather than a separate dispute.
Related biography: Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling.
Source: ‘Volume 155: May 1657’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1656–7, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1883), pp. 362–390, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/interregnum/1656-7/pp362-390 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
State Papers, Domestic · Charles II
8 Guthrie references represented
Guthrie (James Guthrie) · Reported as executed with Giffen; described as a seditious minister
Addenda 1660–85, pp. 28–30 · Jun 1661
Date[June] after the 18th, 1661 (Letter written shortly after 18 June 1661)
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Guthrie (James Guthrie) – described as “a seditious minister” and one of “a pair of old incendaries”
Role
Reported as executed with Giffen; described as a seditious minister
Document FocusA news letter reports recent events in Scotland following the Restoration. After noting the honourable reburial of the Marquess of Montrose and the execution of the Marquess of Argyle, the writer records that the same justice has been carried out on Giffen and Guthrie, calling them “a pair of old incendaries” and identifying Guthrie as a seditious minister. The writer expresses the hope that further members of the same party will follow.
Other Primary Parties
- The writer of the letter (unnamed in the extract; reporting to the Earl of Winchelsea)
- Giffen (executed with Guthrie)
- The Marquess of Argyle (recently executed)
- The late Marquess of Montrose (whose body had been reinterred)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“The like justice was executed on Giffen and Guthrie, a pair of old incendaries, this last being a seditious minister, and ’tis hoped several others of that brotherhood may follow, in all which and several other instances of loyalty and good affection to his Majesty and his interest they continue our hopes of seeing a happy settlement in that kingdom.”
Why This Record Matters
This is a contemporary English report of the execution of James Guthrie (c.1612–1661), the well-known Covenanting minister of Stirling, who was hanged in Edinburgh on 1 June 1661. He was condemned for his persistent support of the National Covenant and for writings judged seditious after the Restoration. The letter’s hostile language (“old incendaries,” “seditious minister”) reflects the official royalist view of the leading Covenanting clergy in the early months of Charles II’s reign. The entry confirms the rapid circulation of news of Guthrie’s death in government and diplomatic correspondence.
Terms & Practices
- James Guthrie – minister of Stirling; leading Protester; executed 1 June 1661; often remembered as one of the first Covenanting “martyrs” of the Restoration period.
- Giffen – almost certainly the minister executed alongside or near the same time (contemporary accounts sometimes pair Guthrie with other Presbyterian ministers who suffered).
- The letter also notes the burning of the Solemn League and Covenant and related documents in London, showing the wider campaign against Covenanting symbols in 1661.
Research Note: The hostile description reflects a royalist correspondent’s viewpoint. It is evidence for contemporary reaction to James Guthrie’s execution, not a neutral characterization of him.
Related biography: Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling.
Source: ‘Charles II: June 1661’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, Addenda 1660–1685, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell and Francis Bickley (London, 1939), pp. 28–30, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/addenda/1660-85/pp28-30 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
James Guthrie, deceased · Grant of his forfeiture and escheat to James Spence
1671–2, pp. 173–263 · 5 Mar 1672
Date5 March 1672 Whitehall
Guthrie(s) Identified
- James Guthrie, deceased, late minister of Stirling – the person whose forfeiture and escheat are being granted
Role
Grant of his forfeiture and escheat to James Spence
Document FocusA royal warrant was issued granting to James Spence, writer in Edinburgh, the forfeiture and escheat of James Guthrie, the deceased former minister of Stirling.
Other Primary Parties
- James Spence, writer in Edinburgh – grantee of the forfeiture and escheat
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Warrant for a grant to James Spence, writer in Edinburgh, of the forfeiture and escheat of James Guthrie, deceased, late minister of Stirling.”
Why This Record Matters
This warrant, issued more than ten years after James Guthrie’s execution in June 1661, records the formal disposition of his forfeited estate. As a leading Protester and Covenanting minister, Guthrie had been condemned for treason and his property escheated to the Crown. The 1672 grant to James Spence shows that the legal consequences of the 1661 forfeiture were still being administered in the early 1670s. The entry provides a clear administrative endpoint to the process that began with Guthrie’s trial and death.
Terms & Practices
- Forfeiture and escheat – the process by which the property of a person convicted of treason or certain other crimes reverted to the Crown.
- Writer in Edinburgh – a Scottish solicitor or legal agent.
- James Guthrie (c.1612–1661), minister of Stirling, was one of the most prominent Covenanting figures executed after the Restoration.
Research Note: This is a later administrative consequence of Rev. James Guthrie’s 1661 conviction and execution.
Related biography: Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling.
Source: ‘Charles II: March 1672’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1671-2, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1897), pp. 173–263, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1671-2/pp173-263 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Sir Harry Guthrie of King Edward & Dame Barbara Urquhart · Charter of the lands and barony of Fishrie; erected into barony of King Edward
1673, pp. 327–414 · 9 Jun 1673
Date9 June 1673 Whitehall
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Sir Harry Guthrie of King Edward (Sir Henry Guthrie) – grantee, in conjunct fee with his wife
Role
Charter of the lands and barony of Fishrie; erected into barony of King Edward
Document FocusA royal warrant was issued for a charter granting the lands and barony of Fishrie to Sir Harry Guthrie of King Edward and his wife Dame Barbara Urquhart in conjunct fee, and to Sir Harry and his heirs in fee. The grant included a novodamus, united the lands into a single barony to be called the barony of King Edward, and changed the tenure from ward to taxt-ward.
Other Primary Parties
- Dame Barbara Urquhart, his spouse – joint grantee in conjunct fee
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Warrant for a charter to Sir Harry Guthrie of King Edward and Dame Barbara Urquhart, his spouse, in conjunct fee and to the said Sir Harry, his heirs and assigns in fee, of the lands and barony of Fishrie, with a novodamus and an union of all the foresaid premises into a barony to be called the barony of King Edward, and a change of the holding from ward to taxt-ward.”
Why This Record Matters
This warrant records a significant landed transaction for Sir Harry (Henry) Guthrie of King Edward in June 1673. The erection of the lands of Fishrie into the barony of King Edward, held in conjunct fee with his wife Barbara Urquhart, strengthens the family’s territorial position in the north-east of Scotland (Aberdeenshire/Banffshire area). The change from ward to taxt-ward holding was a common and advantageous alteration at this period. The entry is a clear primary reference for the Guthrie of King Edward line in the early 1670s.
Terms & Practices
- Conjunct fee – joint ownership by husband and wife, with the survivor normally taking the whole.
- Novodamus – a clause granting the lands anew, often with additional rights or a change in tenure.
- Ward / taxt-ward – forms of feudal landholding; taxt-ward substituted a fixed annual payment for the more burdensome casualties of ward holding.
- King Edward – a parish and estate in Aberdeenshire; the Guthrie family held interests there in the 17th century.
Related lineage: Guthrie of Colliston — Sir Henry Guthrie of King Edward and Barbara Urquhart.
Source: ‘Charles II: June 1673’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1673, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1902), pp. 327–414, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1673/pp327-414 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Gideon Guthrie · Party resigning rights in a charter of new infeftment
1673, pp. 414–473 · 25 Jul 1673
Date25 July 1673 Whitehall
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Gideon Guthrie – one of the parties resigning rights in the lands
Role
Party resigning rights in a charter of new infeftment
Document FocusA royal warrant was issued for a charter of new infeftment of the lands of Inverightie, Halcartowne and others. The charter followed resignations by William Gray (elder and younger), Gideon Guthrie, and Patrick, Lord Gray. The new grant included a novodamus, united the lands into a free barony, and changed the holding from simple ward to taxt-ward.
Other Primary Parties
- William Gray of Inverightie (elder and younger)
- Patrick, Lord Gray
- Michael Gray of Turfbeg and George Gray of Halcartowne (named in the related preceding charter of the same date)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Warrant for a charter of new infeftment to the persons named in the last charter in the same order of succession under the reservations and conditions specified in the said letters of disposition of the said William Gray, the elder, of the lands of Inverightie, Halcartowne and others on the resignations of the said William Gray, the elder and younger, Gideon Guthrie, and Patrick, Lord Gray, with a novodamus and a union of the premises into a free barony and a change of the holding from simple ward to taxt-ward.”
Why This Record Matters
Gideon Guthrie appears here as a party resigning rights in a group of Forfarshire/Angus lands (Inverightie and Halcartowne) that were being re-granted and erected into a free barony. His involvement alongside members of the Gray family and Lord Gray indicates a connection—likely through prior ownership, wadset, or other real right—to these properties in 1673. The entry is useful for placing a Gideon Guthrie in a landed transaction in the north-east of Scotland during the reign of Charles II.
Terms & Practices
- Infeftment – the formal act of giving legal possession of land under Scots law.
- Novodamus – a clause in a charter by which the superior grants the lands anew, often with additional privileges or a change in the nature of the holding.
- Simple ward / taxt-ward – forms of feudal tenure; the change to taxt-ward altered the casualties due to the superior.
- Docquet – a brief official abstract or minute of the warrant.
Source: ‘Charles II: July 1673’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1673, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1902), pp. 414–473, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1673/pp414-473 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Robert Guthery · Took the oaths of allegiance and supremacy
1675–6, pp. 146–193 · 2 Jun 1675
Date2 June 1675
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Robert Guthery (Robert Guthrie), late of Dundee, but now of London, mariner
Role
Took the oaths of allegiance and supremacy
Document FocusWilliam Wood and Josiah Ricroft certified that Robert Guthery, formerly of Dundee and now a mariner living in London, had taken the oaths of allegiance and supremacy before them on 2 June 1675.
Other Primary Parties
- William Wood – certifying official
- Josiah Ricroft – certifying official
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Certificate by William Wood and Josiah Ricroft that Robert Guthery, late of Dundee, but now of London, mariner, had taken before them that day the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.”
Why This Record Matters
This certificate records a Robert Guthery (or Guthrie), a mariner who had moved from Dundee to London, taking the required oaths of allegiance and supremacy in early June 1675. The timing is notable: a Robert Guthery appears only a few days later (6 June 1675) in the list of persons granted denization. It is highly probable that the two entries refer to the same man, documenting both his formal naturalization and the oaths that commonly accompanied or followed such grants. The entry supplies a clear occupational and residential link (Dundee → London, mariner) for a Guthrie in the mid-1670s.
Terms & Practices
- Oaths of allegiance and supremacy – required of many office-holders, naturalized persons, and others to affirm loyalty to the Crown and recognition of the monarch as supreme governor of the Church of England.
- The certificate is a routine administrative record but valuable for placing the individual in both Scottish and English contexts.
Research Note: The denization granted four days later, on 6 June 1675, almost certainly belongs to the same Robert Guthery: a Dundee-born mariner then living in London.
Source: ‘Charles II: June 1675’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1675-6, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1907), pp. 146–193, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1675-6/pp146-193 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Robert Guthery · Grant of denization
1675–6, pp. 584–585 · 6 Jun 1675
Date6 June 1675
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Robert Guthery (Robert Guthrie) – recipient of letters of denization
Role
Grant of denization
Document FocusRobert Guthery was granted denization (naturalization) by the Crown. The grant is recorded in the Home Office Warrant Book.
Other Primary Parties
- None named in the calendar abstract (standard form for denization grants)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“6 Robert Guthery Home Office, Warrant Book 1, p. 66”
Why This Record Matters
This is a straightforward record of denization for a man named Robert Guthery in June 1675. Denization conferred many of the rights of a natural-born subject (including the ability to hold land and bring legal actions) without full naturalization by Act of Parliament. The entry places a Guthrie/Guthery in the official records of foreign-born or previously alien individuals seeking English legal status in the mid-1670s. No further personal details (origin, occupation, or place of residence) are supplied in the calendar.
Terms & Practices
- Denization – a royal grant by letters patent that gave an alien many of the rights of a subject. It was less comprehensive than parliamentary naturalization but quicker and cheaper.
- The list in which this entry appears is a cumulative register of denizations granted during the period covered by the volume.
Research Note: The 2 June 1675 oath certificate identifies the likely recipient more fully as Robert Guthery, late of Dundee, then a London mariner.
Source: ‘Charles II: February 1676’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1675-6, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1907), pp. 539–586 (denization list at pp. 584–585), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1675-6/pp539-586 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
John Guthrie of Over Dysert, Jane Lamb (spouse), Robert (eldest son) · Resignation of lands with reservation; part of barony of Dysert charter
1677–8, pp. 1–72 · 30 Mar 1677
Date30 March 1677 Whitehall
Guthrie(s) Identified
- John Guthrie of Over Dysert (Over Dysart) – resigning party, with reservation of part of the lands
- Jane Lamb, his spouse
- Robert Guthrie, his eldest son
Role
Resignation of lands with reservation; part of barony of Dysert charter
Document FocusA warrant was issued for a charter of new infeftment of the lands of Over Dysert (Little Dysert) in the parish of Marytoun, Forfarshire. Part of the lands was reserved to John Guthrie of Over Dysert. The grant proceeded on the resignations of Robert Melvill of Dysert (with consent of his son William) and of John Guthrie himself (with consent of his wife Jane Lamb and their eldest son Robert). The lands were united into a free barony of Dysert and the holding of the related Meikle Dysert lands was changed from simple ward to taxt-ward.
Other Primary Parties
- Thomas Lyell of Easter Gaigy and Joanna Maria Lindsey, his spouse – principal grantees
- Robert Melvill of Dysert and William, his eldest son – also resigning
- Patrick Scott of Rossie – consenting party
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“…with a reservation of part thereof to John Guthrie of Over Dysert, proceeding on the resignation of Robert Melvill of Dysert with consent of William, his eldest son, and Patrick Scott of Rossie and on that of the said John Guthrie with the consent of Jane Lamb, his spouse, and Robert, his eldest son, with a novodamus and an union of the said lands into a free barony to be called the barony of Dysert…”
Why This Record Matters
This entry documents John Guthrie of Over Dysert (Forfarshire) in March 1677, together with his wife Jane Lamb and their eldest son Robert. John is shown resigning his interest in the lands while retaining a reserved portion. The transaction places a Guthrie family at Over Dysert / Little Dysert in the parish of Marytoun (near Brechin) and supplies the names of the next generation (wife and heir). It is a useful fixed point for the Guthrie presence in this part of Angus in the later 17th century.
Terms & Practices
- Over Dysert / Little Dysert – lands in the parish of Marytoun, Forfarshire (Angus), formerly associated with the parish of Brechin.
- Reservation – a portion of the lands kept back by the resigning party for his own use.
- Novodamus and change from simple ward to taxt-ward – standard improvements frequently granted in charters of this period.
Source: ‘Charles II: March 1677’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1677-8, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1911), pp. 1–72, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1677-8/pp1-72 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Guthrie (author) · Work listed as “Guthrie upon ruling” among seized radical papers
1683 Jan–Jun, pp. 284–390 · Jun 1683
Date[June ?] 1683 (Undated memorandum among papers seized about this time)
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Guthrie – author of the work listed as “Guthrie upon ruling”
Role
Work listed as “Guthrie upon ruling” among seized radical papers
Document FocusAmong the papers and books seized with the “Red Paperbook” belonging to Gordon of Earlestoun (taken at Newcastle) was a work recorded as “Guthrie upon ruling.” The memorandum lists it together with sermons and papers of Cargill and Cameron, arms associated with Cameron and Gordon, and other items of a radical Presbyterian character.
Other Primary Parties
- Pringle / Gordon of Earlestoun – owner of the seized “Red Paperbook”
- Mr. Cargill and Mr. Cameron – authors of other seized sermons and papers
- Other Covenanting or radical materials listed in the same memorandum
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“With memorandum: Testimony in justification, all Mr. Cargill’s and Cameron’s sermons, all Mr. Cargill’s —, Caleg’s papers, Cameron’s arms, Gordon’s arms, Guthrie upon ruling, Iconoclastes.”
Why This Record Matters
The reference is almost certainly to a treatise on ruling elders or church government by James Guthrie (the Stirling minister executed in 1661) or possibly another Covenanting Guthrie. Such works continued to circulate among radical Presbyterians more than twenty years after Guthrie’s death. Its appearance in a seizure connected with Gordon of Earlestoun in 1683 places Guthrie material still in active use within the networks of the later Covenanting / Society movement during the period of the Killing Times.
Terms & Practices
- “Guthrie upon ruling” – almost certainly a work dealing with the office of ruling elder or Presbyterian church government, consistent with the known writings and concerns of James Guthrie of Stirling.
- The seizure forms part of the wider government effort in 1683 to suppress radical Presbyterian networks in the aftermath of the Rye House Plot and ongoing unrest in Scotland.
- Gordon of Earlestoun was a prominent figure in these circles.
Research Note: The author represented by “Guthrie upon ruling” is not securely identified in the memorandum. James Guthrie of Stirling is a plausible attribution because of the Presbyterian context, but the identification should remain provisional.
Related biography: Rev. James Guthrie of Stirling.
Source: ‘Charles II: June 1683’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1683 January–June, ed. F. H. Blackburne Daniell (London, 1933), pp. 284–390, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1683-jan-jun/pp284-390 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
State Papers, Domestic · William & Mary
2 Guthrie references represented
Mr. Guthrie · Named among young Scotch gentlemen in constrained circumstances in Holland
1691–2, pp. 21–80 · Dec 1691
DateDecember 1691 (Exact day not stated)
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Mr. Guthrie – listed among the young Scotch gentlemen sojourning in the Dutch provinces
Role
Named among young Scotch gentlemen in constrained circumstances in Holland
Document FocusIn a memorial describing Scottish nonconformist ministers and young gentlemen living in constrained circumstances in the Dutch provinces, “Mr. Guthrie” is named among a group of eleven young Scotch gentlemen, most of whom had taken up arms and whose situations were said to call for charitable consideration.
Other Primary Parties
- Various named Scottish nonconformist ministers in Holland (Alexander Pitcairn, James Veatch, James Kirtoun, etc.)
- Other young Scotch gentlemen listed (Fullerton, Dickson, Wishart, Cleeland, Bruce, Campbells, Seaton, Bagell, James)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Then follow the names of 11 young Scotch gentlemen, most of whom applied themselves to arms, and who may be in their respective places not a little useful upon occasions, whose circumstances, which are afterwards given, call for charitable and compassionate consideration:— … Mr. Guthrie. Mr. Seaton, a relation of the family of Winton forced to stay abroad from being with the late Earl of Argyll in his expedition. …”
Why This Record Matters
This entry places an otherwise unidentified Mr. Guthrie among the community of Scottish political and religious exiles in the Netherlands in late 1691. Many of those listed had been involved with the Earl of Argyll’s rising or were nonconformist ministers and supporters living abroad after the Revolution. The absence of further personal detail limits precise identification, but the context indicates a Guthrie connected with the wider network of Scottish Presbyterians and political refugees on the Continent in the early 1690s.
Terms & Practices
- The list appears to have been drawn up to solicit charitable support for Scottish exiles in the United Provinces.
- Several of the named individuals are linked to the 1685 Argyll rising or to nonconformist ministry.
- Such memorials are useful for recovering the names of Scots living in exile during the period of the Revolution and its aftermath.
Source: ‘William and Mary: December 1691’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William and Mary, 1691–2, ed. William John Hardy (London, 1900), pp. 21–80, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/will-mary/1691-2/pp21-80 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Mary Guthery, widow · Listed to receive payment as widow of an officer of the Londonderry garrison
1693, pp. 165–208 · 9 Jun 1693
Date9 June 1693 Whitehall
Guthrie(s) Identified
- Mary Guthery, widow – listed among the officers and officers’ widows of the Londonderry garrison to receive payment
Role
Listed to receive payment as widow of an officer of the Londonderry garrison
Document FocusA warrant was issued to Lord Sydney to pay the officers and widows of officers who had served in the garrison of Londonderry the sums specified in an annexed list. Mary Guthery, widow, appears on that list.
Other Primary Parties
- Lord Sydney (to whom the warrant is directed)
- Numerous other named officers and widows of the Londonderry garrison (Colonels, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Ensigns, etc.)
Calendar Extract / Key Passage
“Warrant to Lord Sydney to pay the officers, and widows of officers, who were of the garrison in Londonderry the sums specified in the annexed list. … Samuel Johnston, corporal of horse, Mary Guthery, widow; and Christophilus Jenny as chaplain.”
Why This Record Matters
Mary Guthery is recorded as the widow of an officer (or possibly of a corporal of horse, though the punctuation links her more generally with the widows) connected with the defence of Londonderry during the siege of 1689. This entry forms part of the post-siege distribution of royal bounty or arrears to the garrison and their dependents. It is consistent with the earlier Treasury Books reference (May 1693) to a Mary Guthery, widow, receiving £10 as royal bounty for Londonderry service. The two records almost certainly refer to the same woman.
Terms & Practices
- The Siege of Londonderry (April–July 1689) was a key early episode of the Williamite War in Ireland.
- Many officers and their widows received subsequent payments or bounty from the Crown in recognition of their service and losses.
- This warrant is one of several issued in 1693 to settle outstanding claims.
Research Note: This is the same Londonderry-bounty context found in the Calendar of Treasury Books. Mary Guthery’s appearance across both series reflects different administrative records generated by the same royal payment process.
Source: ‘William and Mary: June 1693’, in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William and Mary, 1693, ed. William John Hardy (London, 1903), pp. 165–208, British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/will-mary/1693/pp165-208 [accessed 30 July 2026].
Direct access: British History Online
Direct access: British History Online
Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland · 1547–1603
Complete 13-volume survey maintained as a dedicated Special Collection
The Scotland series now has its own complete volume-by-volume survey, Master Index and Research Sketches. The five references represented in this cross-series index belong to that larger collection, which also contains additional Guthrie records not included here.
| Date | Volume / Page | Guthrie(s) | Record Focus | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1551 | Vol. 1, pp. 186–187 | Alexander Guthrie | Safe conduct requested to travel between Scotland and England for one year | |
| 28 Jul 1569 | Vol. 2, pp. 656–664 | Alexander Guthrie | One of three burgh representatives at the Convention at Perth | |
| Oct 1573 | Vol. 4, pp. 615–623 | “Willie” / “Wille” Guthree (William Guthrie) | Mentioned in examination concerning silver brought from England | |
| Nov 1586 | Vol. 9, pp. 145–178 | John Guthré (John Guthrie) | Notary before whom David Stewart of Vezines executed a bond | |
| Dec 1587 | Vol. 9, pp. 509–531 | Robert Guthrie, aged 40 | Witness to the spoiling of the ship The Abye in the Humber (1575) |
Guthrie Research Sketches
Three groups of records are especially useful when read together rather than as isolated State Paper references.
Archibald Guthrie · Royalist Intermediary in London
May–July 1640 · Marquis of Douglas · Second Bishops’ War
Evidence Chain
On 21 May 1640 the Marquis of Douglas wrote from Berwick to his “cousin” Archibald Guthrie at St Giles’ in London, entrusting him with sensitive military and political intelligence and authorizing him to circulate it discreetly. On 16 July an “A. Guthrie” wrote to Robert Read while actively pressing Douglas’s claim for compensation from Covenanter goods.
Interpretation
The matching political context, London setting and continuity of Douglas business make it highly probable that the July writer was the same Archibald Guthrie. Together, the two records place him in a trusted intermediary role rather than as a passive correspondent.
Assessment
Probable identification across the two records. The May document names Archibald in full; the July note gives only “A. Guthrie,” so the identity should not be stated as absolute.
Rev. James Guthrie · Ministry, Execution & Administrative Afterlife
Stirling · 1657–1683
Evidence Chain
The February and May 1657 Interregnum papers document James Guthrie actively defending the settlement of Stirling’s second ministerial charge. A Restoration news letter reports his execution in 1661 from a hostile royalist viewpoint. In 1672 a royal warrant grants his forfeiture and escheat to James Spence. By 1683 a seized radical collection included a work described as “Guthrie upon ruling.”
Interpretation
The sequence illustrates four distinct stages: active ministry, execution, later administration of forfeited property, and the continuing circulation of Guthrie-associated Presbyterian material after his death.
Assessment
James Guthrie is securely identified in the 1657, 1661 and 1672 records. The 1683 “Guthrie upon ruling” attribution is plausible in context but not securely proven to be his work.
Related Page
Robert Guthery · From Dundee Mariner to English Denizen
London · June 1675
Evidence Chain
On 2 June 1675 Robert Guthery, described as late of Dundee and then a mariner in London, took the oaths of allegiance and supremacy. Four days later a Robert Guthery received letters of denization.
Why the Pair Matters
The four-day interval, identical uncommon surname form and legal context make the two records much more informative together. The oath certificate supplies the origin, residence and occupation omitted from the denization list.
Assessment
Highly probable same man. The evidence is strong but the denization entry itself does not repeat the Dundee or mariner description.
Sources & Access
Digital platform: British History Online. This page is a curated cross-series finding aid rather than a single publication series.
Record families represented: Calendar of Close Rolls; Calendar of State Papers, Foreign; Calendar of State Papers, Domestic under Charles I, the Interregnum, Charles II, and William & Mary; plus a canonical cross-reference to the separate Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland collection.
Each documentary card links to the exact British History Online section from which the entry was extracted. The complete Scotland-series survey is maintained separately so its volume statuses, later discoveries and Research Sketches remain in one canonical location.
Guthrie Genealogy · Special CollectionsClose Rolls & State Papers · British Archive / Library Collection