Commissariot of Edinburgh
The Commissariot Record of Edinburgh
Edited by Francis J. Grant for the Scottish Record Society, the three published volumes form a finding aid to testaments confirmed in the Edinburgh Commissary Court. The surviving court records extend well beyond the city itself and include people from Angus, Fife, Kincardineshire, Perthshire, the Lothians and other parts of Scotland.
The Guthrie survey is substantial: 103 Guthrie-related index rows across the three volumes, comprising 69 Guthrie testament holders and 34 secondary references in which another person’s entry names a Guthrie spouse, parent, child, servant or other relationship.
Collection Overview
Edinburgh Civic & Professional Families
The indexes identify clerks, advocates, merchants, writers, medical men, excise officers and other urban residents, often with spouses or household relationships that help distinguish same-name individuals.
Angus & Cadet Lines
Part I includes territorial Guthries of Halkertoun, that Ilk, Collestoun, Lownane, Pitmoweis, Kingandy and Kinblakmonth, giving the Edinburgh court series unusual value for Angus lineages.
Women as Relationship Evidence
Secondary entries preserve wives, widows, daughters and remarriages—including Jonet Henryson/Henderson, Agnes Falconer and numerous Guthrie women whose marital connections may bridge otherwise separate documentary trails.
Administrative Continuity
The three volumes span nearly three centuries, allowing later records—such as James Guthrie, Dingwall pursuivant—to be compared with other Special Collections such as the Treasury Books and State Papers.
Part I · 1514–1600
| Testament Holder | Description / Relationship | Place | Date(s) | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Guthrie | of Halkertoun | Angus | 18 Feb. 1577-8 | Entry |
| Alexander Guthrie | common clerk of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 6 Dec. 1583 | Entry |
| Alexander Guthrie | of that Ilk in Angus | Angus | 16 Jan. 1588-9 | Entry |
| Alexander Guthrie | burgess of Elgin | Elgin (Moray) | 28 Nov. 1590 | Entry |
| Archibald Guthrie | in Muretoun | Angus | 31 July 1600 | Entry |
| Copine Guthrie | burgess in Aberbrothok | Angus | 1 May 1577 | Entry |
| David Guthrie | terce pryour of the Abbay of St. Andrews | Fife | 2 June 1564 | Entry |
| David Guthrie | cordiner, citizen in Brechin | Angus | — | Entry |
| Elizabeth Guthrie | sometime spouse to George Wischart of Drymmie | Angus | 23 May 1584 | Entry |
| Eufame Guthrie | relict of Robert Montgomrie | Kincardine | 26 Feb. 1598-9 | Entry |
| Grissell Guthrie | sometime spouse to Alexander Blair of Brucetoun | Perth | 3 Aug. 1581 | Entry |
| Helen Guthrie | sometime spouse to William Watt | Angus | 26 July 1577 | Entry |
| Henry Guthrie | of Collestoun | Angus | 4 May 1582 | Entry |
| Hercules Guthrie | of Lownane and Over-Dysart | Angus | 27 July 1565 | Entry |
| Isobel Guthrie | sometime spouse to William Tyrie, younger | Perth | 13 July 1581 | Entry |
| Isobel Guthrie | last spouse to Robert Falconer of Ballandro | Kincardine | 5 Jan. 1600 | Entry |
| Mr. John Guthrie | of Pitmoweis in Angus | Angus | 3 Apr. 1577 & 16 Mar. 1578 | Entry |
| John Guthrie | alias Wobster, younger, in Blaklaws of Harvestoun | Kincardine | 22 June 1591 | Entry |
| John Guthrie | clerk in Leith | Edinburgh | 2 Sept. 1596 | Entry |
| Jonet Guthrie | sometime spouse to James Spalding | Angus | 31 July 1595 | Entry |
| Dame Margaret Guthrie | Lady of Kynnaird | Angus | 18 May & 5 Dec. 1576 | Entry |
| Marion Guthrie | sometime spouse to Mr. John Lindesay, parson of Menmuir | Angus | 21 Nov. 1592 | Entry |
| Matillo Guthrie | sometime spouse to Mr. Patrick Galloway | Edinburgh | 27 Nov. 1594 | Entry |
| Ninian Guthrie | of Kingandy | Angus | 10 Jan. 1586-7 | Entry |
| Robert Guthrie | on Kinblathmonth | Angus | — | Entry |
| Thomas Guthrie | mariner, burgess of Dundee | Angus | 24 Mar. 1600 | Entry |
| Thomas Guthrie | in the Bonitoune of Inveraratie | Angus | — | Entry |
| William Guthrie | of Kinblakmonth | Angus | 15 Feb. 1575-6 | Entry |
| William Guthrie | of Halkertoun in Angus | Angus | 6 June 1583 | Entry |
| Primary Person | Guthrie Relationship / Cross-Reference | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonet Henryson / Henderson | relict of Alexander Guthrie (later spouse of Mr David Carnegie of Kynnaird) | Edinburgh | 23 May 1600 |
| Agnes Falconer | sometime spouse to Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk | Angus | 2 Nov. 1591 |
| Jonet Will | sometime spouse to David Guthrie, cordiner | Angus | 1 Apr. 1597 |
| George Wischart | of Drymmie (See Elizabeth Guthrie) | Angus | — |
| Robert Montgomrie | in Haltoun (See Eufame Guthrie) | Kincardine | — |
| Alexander Blair | of Brucetoun (See Grissell Guthrie) | Perth | — |
| William Watt | in Nethirtoun of Melgound (See Helen Guthrie) | Angus | — |
| Jonet Anderson | relict of Hercules Guthrie of Lownane and Over-Dysart | Angus | 28 Jan. 1582-3 |
| William Tyrie | younger, burgess of Perth (See Isobel Guthrie) | Perth | — |
| Robert Falconer | of Ballandro (See Isobel Guthrie) | Kincardine | — |
| William Hercues | indweller in Edinburgh; Isobel Guthrie, his relict | Edinburgh | 20 June 1589 |
| John Webster (Wobster) | See John Guthrie, younger, in Blacklaws of Harvestoun | Kincardine | — |
| Margaret Spark | relict of John Guthrie, alias Webster, elder | Kincardine | 22 June 1591 |
| James Spalding | in Balmuckatie (See Jonet Guthrie) | Angus | — |
| Jonet Gray | servant to Jonet Guthrie, relict of Mr. James Lowson, minister at Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 30 Nov. 1588 |
| Mr. John Lindsay | parson of Menmuir (See Marion Guthrie) | Angus | — |
| Mr. Patrick Galloway | minister to the King’s Majesty (See Matillo Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| Isobel Ogilvie | sometime spouse to Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmonth | Angus | 5 Jan. 1578-9 |
| Katherine Gray | spouse of umquhile Thomas Guthrie | Angus | 25 Mar. 1569 |
Part II · 1601–1700
| Testament Holder | Description / Relationship | Place | Date(s) | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Guthrie | of Gagie | Angus | 15 Feb. 1640 | Entry |
| Alexander Guthrie | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 20 May 1646 | Entry |
| Mr. Alexander Guthrie | common-clerk of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 1 May 1654 & 2 July 1655 | Entry |
| Mr. Alexander Guthrie | sometime minister at Linlithgow | Linlithgow | 31 Mar. 1655 | Entry |
| Bessie Guthrie | relict of Captain David Boiswall | Kinghorn, Fife | 2 July 1608 | Entry |
| Bathia Guthrie | relict of William Mauld, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 1 Sept. 1627 | Entry |
| Bathea Guthrie | relict of Walter Murray, master-overseer of his Majesty’s works | Canongate, Edinburgh | 2 Nov. 1636 | Entry |
| Bethia Guthrie | spouse to Robert Hamilton of Milburne | — | 27 Jan. 1646 | Entry |
| Christian Guthrie | relict of John Daes, burgess of Dundee | Dundee | 21 Oct. 1607 | Entry |
| Mr. David Guthrie | advocate, indweller in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 4 June 1605 | Entry |
| Euphame Guthrie | (See Calderwood, Thomas, in Dalkeith) | — | — | Entry |
| Hercules Guthrie | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 1 Sept. 1623 | Entry |
| Isobel Guthrie | sometime spouse to John Meikill, tailor, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 23 Jan. 1649 | Entry |
| Isobel Guthrie | spouse to Hew Neilson, apothecary, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 26 July 1667 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | burgess of Kirkcaldy | Fife | 19 Dec. 1601 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 18 Feb. 1663 | Entry |
| John Guthrie | fermourer in Dolphingston | — | 3 Oct. 1667 | Entry |
| Mr. John Guthrie | M.D. | — | 11 Oct. 1682 | Entry |
| Jonet Guthrie | relict of Alexander Harrower, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 8 Apr. 1640 | Entry |
| Jonet Guthrie | relict of George Gibson, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 13 Aug. 1655 | Entry |
| Margaret Guthrie | sister lawful to umquhile Thomas G., merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 6 Aug. 1630 | Entry |
| Robert Guthrie | servitor to Mr. Alexander Gibson, clerk of Session | Edinburgh | 11 Oct. 1617 | Entry |
| Thomas Guthrie | litster, burgess of Linlithgow | Linlithgow | 31 Dec. 1679 | Entry |
| Walter Guthrie | merchant, burgess of Musselburgh | Musselburgh | 16 Oct. 1663 | Entry |
| Captain William Guthrie | resident in Ireland | Ireland | 16 June 1649 | Entry |
| Primary Person | Guthrie Relationship / Cross-Reference | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Anderson | relict of Alexander Guthrie, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 11 Feb. 1678 |
| Alexander M'Art nay | servitor to Mr. Alexander Guthrie, common town-clerk of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 13 June 1646 |
| Captain David Boswell | in Kinghorn (See Bessie Guthrie) | Fife | — |
| William Maule | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See also Bathia Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| Walter Murray | master-overseer of his Majesty’s Works (See also Bathea Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| Robert Hamilton | of Milburne (See Bethia Guthrie) | — | — |
| John Daes (Deas) | burgess of Dundee (See Christian Guthrie) | Dundee | — |
| Thomas Calderwood | in Dalkeith; and Euphame Guthrie, his spouse | Edinburgh | 25 Feb. 1605 |
| John Meikle (Meikill) | tailor, burgess of Edinburgh (See Isobel Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| Alexander Harrower | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See Jonet Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| George Gibson | merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See also Jonet Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
Part III · 1701–1800
| Testament Holder | Description / Relationship | Place | Date(s) | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Guthrie | relict of James Bannatyne, merchant in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 19 Feb. 1731 | Entry |
| Alexander Guthrie | limner in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 14 Nov. 1755 | Entry |
| Alison Guthrie | widow of William Ranie, merchant in Ormiston | East Lothian | 9 Oct. 1797 | Entry |
| Elizabeth Guthrie | daughter to the deceased John G., of Over-Dysart | — | 11 Aug. 1712 | Entry |
| Henry Guthrie | stay-maker in Pleasants, and Frances Fraser, his relict | Edinburgh | 13 June 1746 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | mariner on board the ship “Rising Sun” | — | 4 Oct. 1707 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | Dingwall pursuivant, residenter in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 11 Feb. 1718 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | lawful son to the deceased Mr. David G., of Carsbank | — | 12 Dec. 1754 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | late secretary to the Hon. Board of Trustees for Improvement of Fisheries and Manufactories in Scotland | — | 24 Nov. 1779 | Entry |
| James Guthrie | sometime merchant in Dumfries, afterwards merchant in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 7 June 1790 | Entry |
| Mr. John Guthrie | W.S. | Edinburgh | 4 Apr. 1707 | Entry |
| John Guthrie | Major in Lord Cardross’ Regiment of Dragoons | — | 2 June 1715 | Entry |
| John Guthrie | officer of Excise in Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 19 Dec. 1734 | Entry |
| Patrick Guthrie | of Gray’s Inn, London | London | 11 Dec. 1754 | Entry |
| William Guthrie | merchant in Leith | Leith | 17 Jan. 1729 | Entry |
| Primary Person | Guthrie Relationship / Cross-Reference | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Bannatyne | merchant in Edinburgh (See Agnes Guthrie) | Edinburgh | — |
| William Rannie | merchant in Ormiston (See Alison Guthrie) | East Lothian | — |
| Frances Fraser | (See Henry Guthrie, stay-maker) | Edinburgh | — |
| James Gardine (Garden) | second lawful son to the deceased William G., D.D. and M.D., and to the also deceased Barbara Guthrie, his spouse | Edinburgh | 18 Apr. 1722 |
Research Leads from the Index
Several entries intersect directly with established Guthrie Genealogy research. They are presented here as leads—not as substitutes for the original testament.
common clerk of Edinburgh · 6 Dec. 1583
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
of that Ilk in Angus · 16 Jan. 1588-9
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
of Collestoun · 4 May 1582
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
of Lownane and Over-Dysart · 27 July 1565
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
clerk in Leith · 2 Sept. 1596
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
of Gagie · 15 Feb. 1640
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
Dingwall pursuivant, residenter in Edinburgh · 11 Feb. 1718
This indexed testament intersects directly with an established Guthrie Genealogy research line or documented office. The underlying CC8 testament should be consulted for full estate and kinship evidence.
Terms & Practices
Testament: In Scottish commissary practice, the confirmed record commonly concerns moveable estate and may include an inventory, debts, executors, cautioners and kinship clues.
Umquhile: Scots legal term meaning “late” or “deceased.”
Relict: Widow or widower of the deceased.
Eik: A later addition to a confirmed testament, often recording property or debt omitted from the original inventory.
Best research practice: Use Grant’s index to identify the person and confirmation date, then consult the relevant CC8/8 register entry and, where surviving, the CC8/10 testament warrant. NRS notes that its Scottish Record Society index covers 1514/5–1800 and relates to both the testament registers and testament warrants.
Sources & Access
Part I: Francis J. Grant, W.S., ed., Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1514 to 1600 (Edinburgh, 1897), Scottish Record Society Old Series No. 1. Internet Archive.
Part II: Francis J. Grant, W.S., ed., Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1601 to 1700 (Edinburgh, 1898), Scottish Record Society Old Series No. 2. Internet Archive.
Part III: Francis J. Grant, W.S., ed., Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1701 to 1800 (Edinburgh, 1899), Scottish Record Society Old Series No. 3. Internet Archive.
Repository: National Records of Scotland · Edinburgh Commissary Court, CC8. The principal surviving probate series include CC8/8 Register of Testaments and CC8/10 Warrants of Testaments.
Series bibliography: Scottish Record Society · Old Series Publications.
Guthrie Genealogy · Special CollectionsEdinburgh Commissary Court · Thistle Archive