Commissariot of Edinburgh

The Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments is one of the most important published sources for Scottish probate research in the early modern period. Edited by Francis J. Grant, W.S. (later Sir Francis Grant, Lyon King of Arms), and issued in three volumes by the British Record Society / Scottish Record Society between 1897 and 1899, it provides abstracts of testaments (wills and inventories) confirmed in the Commissariot of Edinburgh from 1514 to 1800.

The Commissariot of Edinburgh was the principal probate court for a large part of lowland and eastern Scotland, with jurisdiction that frequently extended well beyond the city itself. Its registers therefore capture not only Edinburgh residents but also many families from Angus, Forfar, Kincardine, Perthshire, Fife, and other areas long associated with the Guthrie name.

Each entry typically records the name of the deceased, their designation or occupation, place of residence, the date the testament was confirmed, and often the name of a spouse or other relation. While these are abstracts rather than full transcripts of the original documents, they remain an essential finding aid and a rich source of genealogical clues.

For researchers tracing Guthrie (and related spellings) lines, this series is particularly valuable. Multiple members of the family appear across the three volumes, offering dates, locations, and family connections that can anchor or extend research into the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

These published registers form a convenient and reliable starting point before consulting the original testament papers held in the National Records of Scotland.

Part I: 1514 to 1600

Role of Guthrie	Primary Person (Testament Holder)	Guthrie Person / Relationship	Place	Date
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	of Halkertoun	Angus	18 Feb. 1577-8
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	common clerk of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	6 Dec. 1583
Secondary	Jonet Henryson / Henderson	relict of Alexander Guthrie (later spouse of Mr David Carnegie of Kynnaird)	Edinburgh	23 May 1600
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	of that Ilk in Angus	Angus	16 Jan. 1588-9
Secondary	Agnes Falconer	sometime spouse to Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk	Angus	2 Nov. 1591
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	burgess of Elgin	Elgin (Moray)	28 Nov. 1590
Primary	Archibald Guthrie	in Muretoun	Angus	31 July 1600
Primary	Copine Guthrie	burgess in Aberbrothok	Angus	1 May 1577
Primary	David Guthrie	terce pryour of the Abbay of St. Andrews	Fife	2 June 1564
Primary	David Guthrie	cordiner, citizen in Brechin	Angus	—
Secondary	Jonet Will	sometime spouse to David Guthrie, cordiner	Angus	1 Apr. 1597
Primary	Elizabeth Guthrie	sometime spouse to George Wischart of Drymmie	Angus	23 May 1584
Secondary	George Wischart	of Drymmie (See Elizabeth Guthrie)	Angus	—
Primary	Eufame Guthrie	relict of Robert Montgomrie	Kincardine	26 Feb. 1598-9
Secondary	Robert Montgomrie	in Haltoun (See Eufame Guthrie)	Kincardine	—
Primary	Grissell Guthrie	sometime spouse to Alexander Blair of Brucetoun	Perth	3 Aug. 1581
Secondary	Alexander Blair	of Brucetoun (See Grissell Guthrie)	Perth	—
Primary	Helen Guthrie	sometime spouse to William Watt	Angus	26 July 1577
Secondary	William Watt	in Nethirtoun of Melgound (See Helen Guthrie)	Angus	—
Primary	Henry Guthrie	of Collestoun	Angus	4 May 1582
Primary	Hercules Guthrie	of Lownane and Over-Dysart	Angus	27 July 1565
Secondary	Jonet Anderson	relict of Hercules Guthrie of Lownane and Over-Dysart	Angus	28 Jan. 1582-3
Primary	Isobel Guthrie	sometime spouse to William Tyrie, younger	Perth	13 July 1581
Secondary	William Tyrie	younger, burgess of Perth (See Isobel Guthrie)	Perth	—
Primary	Isobel Guthrie	last spouse to Robert Falconer of Ballandro	Kincardine	5 Jan. 1600
Secondary	Robert Falconer	of Ballandro (See Isobel Guthrie)	Kincardine	—
Secondary	William Hercues	indweller in Edinburgh; Isobel Guthrie, his relict	Edinburgh	20 June 1589
Primary	Mr. John Guthrie	of Pitmoweis in Angus	Angus	3 Apr. 1577 & 16 Mar. 1578
Primary	John Guthrie	alias Wobster, younger, in Blaklaws of Harvestoun	Kincardine	22 June 1591
Secondary	John Webster (Wobster)	See John Guthrie, younger, in Blacklaws of Harvestoun	Kincardine	—
Secondary	Margaret Spark	relict of John Guthrie, alias Webster, elder	Kincardine	22 June 1591
Primary	John Guthrie	clerk in Leith	Edinburgh	2 Sept. 1596
Primary	Jonet Guthrie	sometime spouse to James Spalding	Angus	31 July 1595
Secondary	James Spalding	in Balmuckatie (See Jonet Guthrie)	Angus	—
Secondary	Jonet Gray	servant to Jonet Guthrie, relict of Mr. James Lowson, minister at Edinburgh	Edinburgh	30 Nov. 1588
Primary	Dame Margaret Guthrie	Lady of Kynnaird	Angus	18 May & 5 Dec. 1576
Primary	Marion Guthrie	sometime spouse to Mr. John Lindesay, parson of Menmuir	Angus	21 Nov. 1592
Secondary	Mr. John Lindsay	parson of Menmuir (See Marion Guthrie)	Angus	—
Primary	Matillo Guthrie	sometime spouse to Mr. Patrick Galloway	Edinburgh	27 Nov. 1594
Secondary	Mr. Patrick Galloway	minister to the King’s Majesty (See Matillo Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Ninian Guthrie	of Kingandy	Angus	10 Jan. 1586-7
Primary	Robert Guthrie	on Kinblathmonth	Angus	—
Secondary	Isobel Ogilvie	sometime spouse to Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmonth	Angus	5 Jan. 1578-9
Primary	Thomas Guthrie	mariner, burgess of Dundee	Angus	24 Mar. 1600
Primary	Thomas Guthrie	in the Bonitoune of Inveraratie	Angus	—
Secondary	Katherine Gray	spouse of umquhile Thomas Guthrie	Angus	25 Mar. 1569
Primary	William Guthrie	of Kinblakmonth	Angus	15 Feb. 1575-6
Primary	William Guthrie	of Halkertoun in Angus	Angus	6 June 1583

Part II: 1601 to 1700

Role of Guthrie	Primary Person (Testament Holder)	Guthrie Person / Relationship	Place	Date
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	of Gagie	Angus	15 Feb. 1640
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	20 May 1646
Secondary	Jean Anderson	relict of Alexander Guthrie, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	11 Feb. 1678
Primary	Mr. Alexander Guthrie	common-clerk of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	1 May 1654 & 2 July 1655
Secondary	Alexander M’Art nay	servitor to Mr. Alexander Guthrie, common town-clerk of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	13 June 1646
Primary	Mr. Alexander Guthrie	sometime minister at Linlithgow	Linlithgow	31 Mar. 1655
Primary	Bessie Guthrie	relict of Captain David Boiswall	Kinghorn, Fife	2 July 1608
Secondary	Captain David Boswell	in Kinghorn (See Bessie Guthrie)	Fife	—
Primary	Bathia Guthrie	relict of William Mauld, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	1 Sept. 1627
Secondary	William Maule	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See also Bathia Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Bathea Guthrie	relict of Walter Murray, master-overseer of his Majesty’s works	Canongate, Edinburgh	2 Nov. 1636
Secondary	Walter Murray	master-overseer of his Majesty’s Works (See also Bathea Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Bethia Guthrie	spouse to Robert Hamilton of Milburne	—	27 Jan. 1646
Secondary	Robert Hamilton	of Milburne (See Bethia Guthrie)	—	—
Primary	Christian Guthrie	relict of John Daes, burgess of Dundee	Dundee	21 Oct. 1607
Secondary	John Daes (Deas)	burgess of Dundee (See Christian Guthrie)	Dundee	—
Primary	Mr. David Guthrie	advocate, indweller in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	4 June 1605
Primary	Euphame Guthrie	(See Calderwood, Thomas, in Dalkeith)	—	—
Secondary	Thomas Calderwood	in Dalkeith; and Euphame Guthrie, his spouse	Edinburgh	25 Feb. 1605
Primary	Hercules Guthrie	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	1 Sept. 1623
Primary	Isobel Guthrie	sometime spouse to John Meikill, tailor, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	23 Jan. 1649
Secondary	John Meikle (Meikill)	tailor, burgess of Edinburgh (See Isobel Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Isobel Guthrie	spouse to Hew Neilson, apothecary, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	26 July 1667
Primary	James Guthrie	burgess of Kirkcaldy	Fife	19 Dec. 1601
Primary	James Guthrie	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	18 Feb. 1663
Primary	John Guthrie	fermourer in Dolphingston	—	3 Oct. 1667
Primary	Mr. John Guthrie	M.D.	—	11 Oct. 1682
Primary	Jonet Guthrie	relict of Alexander Harrower, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	8 Apr. 1640
Secondary	Alexander Harrower	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See Jonet Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Jonet Guthrie	relict of George Gibson, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	13 Aug. 1655
Secondary	George Gibson	merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (See also Jonet Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Margaret Guthrie	sister lawful to umquhile Thomas G., merchant, burgess of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	6 Aug. 1630
Primary	Robert Guthrie	servitor to Mr. Alexander Gibson, clerk of Session	Edinburgh	11 Oct. 1617
Primary	Thomas Guthrie	litster, burgess of Linlithgow	Linlithgow	31 Dec. 1679
Primary	Walter Guthrie	merchant, burgess of Musselburgh	Musselburgh	16 Oct. 1663
Primary	Captain William Guthrie	resident in Ireland	Ireland	16 June 1649

Part III: 1701 to 1800

Role of Guthrie	Primary Person (Testament Holder)	Guthrie Person / Relationship	Place	Date
Primary	Agnes Guthrie	relict of James Bannatyne, merchant in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	19 Feb. 1731
Secondary	James Bannatyne	merchant in Edinburgh (See Agnes Guthrie)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	Alexander Guthrie	limner in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	14 Nov. 1755
Primary	Alison Guthrie	widow of William Ranie, merchant in Ormiston	East Lothian	9 Oct. 1797
Secondary	William Rannie	merchant in Ormiston (See Alison Guthrie)	East Lothian	—
Primary	Elizabeth Guthrie	daughter to the deceased John G., of Over-Dysart	—	11 Aug. 1712
Primary	Henry Guthrie	stay-maker in Pleasants, and Frances Fraser, his relict	Edinburgh	13 June 1746
Secondary	Frances Fraser	(See Henry Guthrie, stay-maker)	Edinburgh	—
Primary	James Guthrie	mariner on board the ship “Rising Sun”	—	4 Oct. 1707
Primary	James Guthrie	Dingwall pursuivant, residenter in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	11 Feb. 1718
Primary	James Guthrie	lawful son to the deceased Mr. David G., of Carsbank	—	12 Dec. 1754
Primary	James Guthrie	late secretary to the Hon. Board of Trustees for Improvement of Fisheries and Manufactories in Scotland	—	24 Nov. 1779
Primary	James Guthrie	sometime merchant in Dumfries, afterwards merchant in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	7 June 1790
Primary	Mr. John Guthrie	W.S.	Edinburgh	4 Apr. 1707
Primary	John Guthrie	Major in Lord Cardross’ Regiment of Dragoons	—	2 June 1715
Primary	John Guthrie	officer of Excise in Edinburgh	Edinburgh	19 Dec. 1734
Primary	Patrick Guthrie	of Gray’s Inn, London	London	11 Dec. 1754
Primary	William Guthrie	merchant in Leith	Leith	17 Jan. 1729
Secondary	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

Citation:

Scottish Record Society. “Old Series Publications.” Scottish Record Society. https://www.scottishrecordsociety.org.uk/publications/old-series/. Accessed 21 July 2026.

The Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, edited by Francis J. Grant.

Volume 1 (Part I) Grant, Francis J., W.S., editor. Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1514 to 1600. Edinburgh: British Record Society, Limited—Scottish Section, 1897. 304 pages. (Scottish Record Society Old Series, no. 1).

Volume 2 (Part II) Grant, Francis J., W.S., editor. Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1601 to 1700. Edinburgh: Scottish Record Society, 1898. 448 pages. (Scottish Record Society Old Series, no. 2).

Volume 3 (Part III) Grant, Francis J., W.S., editor. Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1701 to 1800. Edinburgh: Scottish Record Society, 1899. 296 pages. (Scottish Record Society Old Series, no. 3).

Guthrie Genealogy