Guthrie Family Group 17 – Branch B
DAVID GUTHRIE 1759SCT – 1841-51SCT and ELSPET CHRISTIE
in Cortachy, Angus, Scotland

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of David Guthrie & Elspet Christie
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project
Reading and Resources

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG17 – BRANCH B

The most recent common ancestors for GFG17 are believed to be David Guthrie & Janet Stewart in Cookston and Balbirnie Mill. They are the probable grandparents of Branch B’s confirmed progenitors, David Guthrie & Elspet Christie. The paper trail is pretty solid in Cortachy and there is a great candidate identified to be David’s father: Robert Guthrie in Bogside.

The identification of Robert’s immediate family and proving his parentage gets a little, well, boggy. David’s place as the son of Robert Guthrie and Helen Eddieson in 1759 seems certain, but Robert may have been previously married to a Margaret Nicoll in 1731. That’s 28 years earlier. Was there another generation stuck in between, or was Robert simply married twice and produced his second family with a much younger wife?

Robert Guthrie in Bogside is believed to be the youngest son of David Guthrie & Janet Stewart. The evidence trail will be discussed below in Historical Highlights.

THE FAMILY of DAVID GUTHIRE & ELSPET CHRISTIE & MARGARET LINDSAY

DAVID GUTHRIE
Speculative Parents: Robert Guthrie and Helen Eddieson in Bogside, Craigtown, & Glenmoy
Speculative Grandparents: David Guthrie (c1650s) and Janet Stewart in Cookston & Balbirnie Mill
Born: Abt. 27 April 1759
Location: Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
Marriage (1st): Elspet Christie on 21 November 1786 in Cortachy, Angus, Scotland (contracted 4 Nov)
Marriage (2nd): Margaret Lindsay presumably married about 1824 in Cortachy, Angus, Scotland. No OPR.
Occupation: Farmer
Death: Bet. 1841-1851
Location: presumably in Hindhaugh, Glenmoy, Cortachy and Clova, Angus, Scotland
Buried: Unknown

ELSPET CHRISTIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: Rough Est. Abt. 1765
Location: Scotland, noted to be of Cortachy Parish at the time of her marriage in 1786.
Guthrie Sons: John (1787), Robert (1789), James (1795), Alexander (1797)
Guthrie Daughters: Margaret (1788), Isobel (1791), Mary (1792), Elspet (1798), Susan (1801)
Death: 9 Nov 1808 “Mortcloth for Elspet Christie & John Guthrie” same page 2 Dec 1808 Robert Guthrie
Location: Hindhaugh, Glenmoy, Cortachy and Clova, Angus, Scotland
Buried: Unknown

MARGARET LINDSAY
Parents: David Lindsay & Jean Lindsay
Born: Abt. 19 Sep 1779
Location: Coldom, Cortachy and Clova, Angus, Scotland
Stewart Sons: Uncertain, possibly Alex Stewart
Stewart Daughters: None Known
Ogilvy Sons: William (1815)
Ogilvy Daughters: None Known
Guthrie Sons: Charles Lindsay (1825)
Guthrie Daughters: None
Death: 21 May 1866
Location: Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
Buried: Unknown

CHILDREN: 10 (+ 1 – 2 stepchildren)

JOHN GUTHRIE
1787 SCT – 1808 SCT

Their eldest son was baptized at Cortachy on 6 October 1787. “David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named John.”

He was only 21 years old at his death abt. 9 November 1808, which is the same date recorded for his mother, Elspet Christie. No marriage record has been found in the OPR, so it is believed that John was still single at this time.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No – Probably N/A – No known descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: No – Probably N/A – No known descendants

MARGARET GUTHRIE
1788 SCT – ????

On 14 Oct 1788 “David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Margaret.”

This is the last record confirmed to belong to this Margaret Guthrie. There are no corresponding marriage or death records in Cortachy or Brechin in an appropriate time frame to be this person.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – female
Autosomal DNA Participants: No – Probably N/A – No known descendants

ROBERT GUTHRIE
1789 SCT – 1808 SCT

“David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named Robert” on 19 November 1789.

Robert Guthrie died at 19 years of age on 2 December 1808 a month after his mother and older brother as noted in the Cortachy records for use of the mortcloth.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No – Probably N/A – No Descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: No – Probably N/A – No Known Descendants

ISOBEL GUTHRIE
1791 SCT – ????

The Register of Baptisms in Cortachy for 12 March 1791: “David Guthrie in Hindhaugh & Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Isobel.”

This is the last record confirmed to belong to this Isobel Guthrie. There are no corresponding marriage or death records in Cortachy or Brechin in an appropriate time frame to be this person.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – female
Autosomal DNA Participants: No – Probably N/A – No Known Descendants

MARY GUTHRIE
1792 SCT – ????

“David Guthrie in Hindhaugh & Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Margaret” on 27 May 1792 in Cortachy.

There is no OPR marriage record found for this daughter. One tree has linked her to the Mary Mill found in the 1841 census of Arbirlot whose estimated DOB is 1791 in Angus. Uncertain if this is accurate as there is no corresponding link to the family.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – female
Autosomal DNA Participants: No Confirmed Descendants

JAMES GUTHRIE
1795 SCT – 1876 SCT

At Cortachy dated 13 December 1795, “David Guthrie at Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named James.”

On 24 January 1834 “James Guthrie and Margaret Ogilvy, both of this (Cortachy) parish. Proclaimed thrice on the 25th instant.” Margaret Ogilvy was the daughter of John Ogilvy, a farmer, and Janet Edward, born in Kingoldrum about 3 May 1801. This couple lived in Dillyfrocket, Cortachy where James Guthrie worked as a farmer and gamekeeper. They were parents to John (1824), David (1826), Elspet (1828), Janet (1833), Alexander (1835), James Ogilvie (1838), William Ogilvie (1840), Margaret (1842), and Charles Robbie (1846). On 9 May 1858, Margaret Ogilvy Guthrie died of dropsy, a heart condition.

James Guthrie remarried on 20 November 1858 to Ann Sandeman, the daughter of William Sandeman, a master blacksmith, and Jane Fairweather. No known children.

James Guthrie died of a paralytic seizure at 82 years of age at Redhall, Kirriemuir. His widow Ann Sandeman Guthrie survived another 3 years, but died on a malignant mesenteric disease.

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Autosomal DNA Participants: Yes

ALEXANDER GUTHRIE
1797 SCT – ????

This is the first record not naming David’s spouse Elspet on the baptismal record. “David Guthrie at Hyndhaugh had a lawful son baptized and named Alexander” on 6 May 1797.

No OPR or Statutory marriage or death records found that conclusively belong to this Alexander Guthrie.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No – Possibly N/A – No known descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: No – Possibly N/A – No known descendants

ELSPET GUTHRIE
1798 SCT – 1894 SCT

“David Guthrie at Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a child baptized named Elspet” on 30 September 1798.

Elspeth’s death record dated 18 March 1894 in Kirriemuir reveals that she was the spouse of Gilbert Berry, a shepherd. No OPR marriage record found, but it was probably about 1830. Only two of their children are found with baptismal records in the OPR, Ann (1832) and Mary (1834), both in Cortachy, and the rest found in census and death records. They had two other daughters, Margaret (1836) and Susan (1838). Gilbert Berry died sometime between 1838 and 1841 for Elspet was listed as the head of household in 1851. She never remarried.

Elspet lived in Tannadice during the 1841, 1851, and 1861 census of Scotland, and was living in Kirrimuir from the 1870s until her death of “senile decay” at 95 years of age in Westmuir, Kirriemuir.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – female
Autosomal DNA Participants: No

SUSAN GUTHRIE
1801 SCT – 1859 SCT

No OPR baptismal record has been found for Susan Guthrie.

What we know about Susan comes from her death record found in the Statutory Register for Tannadice, Angus, Scotland. She was single and considered a pauper having formerly worked as a domestic servant. Her parents are listed as David Guthrie, a farmer, and Elspet Christie. Her cause of death was reported as being “probably a diseased brain.” She was 58 years old at her death on 25 June 1859.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female
Autosomal DNA Participants: No Known Descendants

ALEXANDER STEWART
Abt. 1806 SCT – p1841

Uncertain whether Alex Stewart is David Guthrie’s stepson or not. David married Margaret Lindsay sometime prior to the birth of their only son, Charles Lindsay Guthrie, in 1825 when she is identified as his spouse and their son as lawful. No OPR marriage record found. Margaret did have an association with an Alexander Ogilvy about 1814-15 when her son William Ogilvy was born. There is no OPR birth record, but his death record indicates that William was illegitimate and his father purportedly Alexander Ogilvy. This document also identifies his mother as “Margaret Guthrie previously Stewart m.s. Lindsay” indicating that he was married to a Stewart prior to her marriage to David. The 1841 census lists the household of David Guthrie 80 Farmer, Margaret Guthrie 50, Charles Guthrie 15, William Ogilvy 25 agricultural laborer, Alex. Stewart 35 agricultural laborer, Alex. Millen 90 mason, and next door: Mary Guthrie 70. If Alex Stewart is Margaret’s biological son, he would have been born when she was about 15, which is not impossible, but if he is any kind of relation he may actually be Margaret’s stepson.

WILLIAM OGILVY
1815 SCT – 1880 SCT

According to his death record, William Ogilvy was Margaret Lindsay’s illegitimate son purportedly with Alexander Ogilvy. Census records estimate his birth year as about 1815, but there is a birth record in Kirriemuir for a William Ogilvy, son of Alexander Ogilvy and Margaret Lindsay dated 23 August 1812.

William died on 16 June 1880, a pauper, formerly working as an agricultural laborer / surface drainer. He was single and 65 years of age. He died of blood poisoning from an abscess.

CHARLES LINDSAY GUTHRIE
1825 SCT – 1907 SCT

“David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Margaret Lindsay his spouse had a lawful son born the 14th January and baptized the 22nd Ditto named Charles Lindsay.

Charles’ father, David Guthrie, died when he was 16. The family was still at Hyndhaugh at that time and in the 1851 census in Cortachy, at 26, Charles was labelled as a farmer’s son, and his mother Margaret (Lindsay) Guthrie as the head of household. He moved to Tannadice where he worked as a ploughman. Charles married on 18 January 1858 to Ann Stewart, 19, working as a servant, the daughter of John Stewart & Margaret McDonald. They lived in a few locations in Angus finally settling on a farm at Dalmanlin. They had 7 children: James McDonald (1860), David (1861), Duncan William (1863), Anne (1866), Charles (1870), Margaret (1873), and Jessie (1880).

Ann (Stewart) Guthrie died on 5 May 1895 of pleurisy. Charles lived another 12 years. He was 80 at his death on 19 Nov 1907 from cardiac disease.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Participants: No

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1705: BIRTH of ROBERT GUTHRIE, SON OF DAVID GUTHRIE & JANET STEWART
Brechin, Angus, Scotland in 1705
Robert Guthrie is the theorized father of David Guthrie (1759-1841). He is believed to be the youngest child of David Guthrie & Janet Stewart of Cookston and Balbirnie Mill whose baptism was recorded at Brechin on 13 January 1705. “DAVID GUTHREY husband to JANET STWARD had a man child baptized named ROBERT, witnesses Mr ROBERT SPENCE, Schoolmr. and ROBERT SKINER.”

Robert Guthrie’s DOD is unknown, but was before 1841.

1731: MARRIAGE of ROBERT GUTHRIE to MARGARET NICOLL
Oathlaw, Angus, Scotland on 17 June 1731

There are only 2 marriages recorded for men named Robert Guthrie bet. 1720-1745 in Angus, assuming that Robert probably would have married between the ages of 15 and 40. Consider that the Old Parish Registers might be missing documentation, too.

The first option is in 1726 between a Robert Guthrie and Jean Fowler in Dundee. A review of the baptism records of their children reveals that this Robert Guthrie is the son of James Guthrie 1669-1711 and Christian Scott and his brother the James Guthrie, the 1st Baron Craigie. Not this family. Those folks belong to GFG1A.

The second record dated 17 June 1731 is the marriage of a Robert Guthrie and Margaret Nicoll in Oathlaw. The details are lacking simply stating “Robert Guthrie & Margaret Nicoll married here.” The marriage record itself provides no clues as to his family or whether either Robert or Margaret belonged to the parish in Oathlaw.

Some online trees identify Margaret Nicoll as the daughter of Alexander Nicoll who was baptized in Cortachy on 8 July 1709. There are 20 Margaret Nicol baptisms recorded in Angus bet. 1700-1716. None in Oathlaw. Just the one in Cortachy.

The birth/baptismal records for Robert Guthrie and (presumably) Margaret Nicoll’s children are also few and far between. You have to dig into the details to bridge the connection between the children of this family and those from Robert’s second marriage to Helen Eddieson.

1732-1742: BIRTH of ANN GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER of ROBERT GUTHRIE in BOGSIDE
Tannadice, Angus, Scotland
Ann’s DOB is listed in trees as 1732, which is about a year after Robert Guthrie & Margaret Nicoll’s marriage in 1731. There is no OPR birth/baptismal record for Ann, so the DOB is most likely an estimate based on her husband Robert Doig’s DOB/baptism in 1732 Kirriemuir. A broad estimation of her DOB would be 1732-42 making her between 17 and 27 at her marriage.

1748: BIRTH of ELIZABETH GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER of ROBERT GUTHRIE in BOGSIDE
Bogside of Kinallty, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland and Cortachy Parish, Angus, Scotland
The next child found with ties to Robert in Bogside is daughter Elizabeth Guthrie who was baptized 20 March 1748.
“Robert Guthrie in Bogside had a daughter baptized at Cortachy by the Rev. Mr. Crookshank minister at Rathven who preached at Cortachy that day named Elizabeth the witnesses before the Congregation.“

1753-1767: BIRTH of MARGARET GUTHRIE, (POSSIBLE) DAUGHTER of ROBERT GUTHRIE in BOGSIDE
The third daughter credited to Robert Guthrie in Bogside and first wife Margaret Nicoll is Margaret Guthrie, whose DOB of 1754 appears to be an estimate based on her husband, John Clark’s DOB. This also assumes that the John Clark in question was the son of James Clark born in Cortachy in 1754. A broad estimated DOB of 1753-1767 would make her 17-30 at her marriage.

There is no document specifically connecting Robert Guthrie of Bogside with Margaret Guthrie. Her marriage location in Cortachy and that family’s use of Cortachy parish is the likely reason for the inferred placement of Margaret as his daughter.

Margaret and John married on 14 Jun 1783 in Cortachy. John was noted to be of the parish in Tannadice and Margaret in Cortachy. After their marriage they lived in Burnside of Coull in Tannadice and had children: Barbary (1786), Mary (1787), Robert (1789), John (1790), Isabel (1794), and William (1798).

1754: DEATH of MARGARET (NICOLL) GUTHRIE
Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
Dated 9 April 1754 “For the mortecloth for Robt. Guthrie’s wife.”

1754: MARRIAGE of ROBERT GUTHRIE and HELEN EDDIESON
Angus, Scotland (presumably)
No marriage record has been found for this couple, but it is presumed that they married soon after the death of Robert Guthrie’s first wife as there are two children credited to Robert Guthrie in Bogside after the death of his wife. Could there be an unidentified son named Robert also in Bogside who might have married Helen instead? He would have to be about 18-21 years of age, so possible, but there is no documentation found to support it. For the purposes of this site and corresponding tree, I will list Robert Guthrie in Bogside with 2 spouses: Margaret Nicoll and Helen Eddieson.

1755: BIRTH of CHRISTIAN GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER of ROBERT GUTHRIE in BOGSIDE
Bogside of Kinallty, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland and Cortachy Parish, Angus, Scotland
On 14 March 1755, “Robert Guthrie in Bogside had a daughter baptized named Christian.”

The inferred mother is Helen Eddieson, who is documented as Robert Guthrie’s spouse on future baptismal records.

Christian Guthrie married James Findlay sometime before 1780 when their daughter Margaret was baptized at Cortachy. “James Findlay in Hindhaugh & Christian Guthrie his wife had a lawful daughter baptized the church named Margaret.” They had Margaret (1780), James (1781), Charles (1783), David (1786), Robert (1788) and Mary (1791).

1759: BIRTH of DAVID GUTHRIE, SON of ROBERT GUTHRIE in BOGSIDE
Bogside of Kinallty, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland and Cortachy Parish, Angus, Scotland
On 27 April 1786, Robert Guthrie in Bogside had a son baptized named David.

The inferred mother is Helen Eddieson, who is documented as Robert Guthrie’s spouse on future baptismal records.

This is the David Guthrie suspected of being the one who married Elspet Christie on 21 Nov 1786. Both are noted in their marriage record as being from that parish, but without any notation of parentage.

1759: CONTRACT & MARRIAGE of ANN GUTHRIE to ROBERT DOIG
Tannadice, Angus, Scotland on 14 December 1759
Ann Guthrie is the daughter of Robert Guthrie in Bogside.
Marriage Contract: “Robert Doig evidenced from Kerrimuir that he is unmarried and free of known scandal and Anne Guthrie lawful daughter to Robert Guthrie in Bogside of Kinallty were matrimonially contracted. Married at Kirrimuir.“

Recorded 29 Dec 1759 – Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
“Robt. Doig in parish of Kirriemuir and Ann Guthrie in parish of Tannadice, the intimation(?) of their banns being regularly finished attested from these different parishes.”

They were parents to: Jean (1760), Robert (1762), John (1764), Margaret (1767), and James (1773).

1765: BIRTH of KATHRINE GUTHRIE, DAU. of ROBERT GUTHRIE & HELEN EDDIESON
Craigtown, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland and Cortachy Parish, Angus, Scotland
Robert Guthrie & Helen Eddieson in Craigtown in parish of Tannadice had a daughter baptized named Kathrine witnesses John Wood in Craigtown & George Smith in Bogside both in said parish. (Register of Baptisms in Cortachy and Clova)

This baptismal record provides a bridge between the records of Robert Guthrie and wife Helen Eddieson to the previous entries for Robert Guthrie in Bogside. One of the witnesses also lives in Bogside.

No further info.

1767: BIRTH of THOMAS GUTHRIE, SON of ROBERT GUTHRIE & HELEN EDDIESON
Midloan/Midland, Glenmoy, Angus Scotland abt. 4 Oct 1767
On 4 October 1767, Robert Guthrie and Helen Addison in Midland had a lawful son baptized named Thomas before the congregation.

No further info.

1769: BIRTH of MARY GUTHRIE, DAU. of ROBERT GUTHRIE & HELEN EDDIESON
Midland/Midland, Glenmoy, Angus, Scotland abt 9 Apr 1769
On 9 April 1769 at Cortachy, Robert Guthrie and Helen Addison in Midloan had a lawful daughter baptized named Mary before the congregation.

This daughter remained single. She died on 9 October 1857 in Burnside in Coull, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland at 80 years of age. COD: Unknown. Her parents are named on her death record.

1772: BIRTH of AGNES GUTHRIE, DAU. of ROBERT GUTHRIE & HELEN EDDIESON
Midloan/Midland, Glenmoy, Angus, Scotland abt. 23 May 1772
On 23 May 1722 at Cortachy, Robert Guthrie and Helen Eddieson in Midloan of Glenmoy had a lawful daughter baptized named Agnes, witnesses David Eddieson ____ and Jas. Beaukirk.

No further info.

1773: MARRIAGE of ELIZABETH GUTHRIE to JAMES WHYTE
Cortachy, Angus, Scotland on 5 June 1733
Elizabeth Guthrie is the daughter of Robert Guthrie in Bogside.
Contracted 5 June 1733. James Whyte (Kirriemuir) and Elspet Guthrie (Cortachy). Married (no additional date listed)
No children found in the OPR for this couple.

1783: MARRIAGE of MARGARET GUTHRIE to JOHN CLARK
Cortachy, Angus, Scotland on 14 Jun 1783
Margaret is the presumed daughter of Robert Guthrie in Bogside.
Margaret and John married on 14 Jun 1783 in Cortachy. John was noted to be of the parish in Tannadice and Margaret in Cortachy. After their marriage they lived in Burnside of Coull in Tannadice and had children: Barbary (1786), Mary (1787), Robert (1789), John (1790), Isabel (1794), and William (1798).

1786: MARRIAGE of DAVID GUTHRIE to ELSPET CHRISTIE
Cortachy Parish, Angus, Scotland on 21 November 1786
Contracted 4th November. David Guthrie and Elspet Christie both in this parish. Married 21 November.

This was the first of two marriages for David Guthrie. There are 9 Elspet/Elizabeth Christie births and baptisms recorded in the Angus OPR between 1750 and 1770. None in Cortachy or Tannadice. One each in Brechin and Menmuir. Elspet was the mother of David’s children: John (1787), Margaret (1788), Robert (1789), Isobel (1791), Mary (1792), James (1795), Alexander (1797), Elspet (1798), and Susan (1801). She died in 1808.

1787: BIRTH /BAPTISM of SON: JOHN GUTHRIE
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
On 6 Oct 1787, David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named John.

1788: BIRTH/BAPTISM of DAUGHTER: MARGARET GUTHRIE
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
On 14 October 1788, David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Margaret.

1789: BIRTH/BAPTISM of SON: ROBERT GUTHRIE
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
On 19 November 1788, David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named Robert.

1791: BIRTH/BAPTISM of DAUGHTER: ISOBEL
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
On 12 March 1791, David Guthrie in Hindhaugh & Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Isobel.

1792: BIRTH/BAPTISM of DAUGHTER: MARY
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
On 12 May 1792, David Guthrie in Hindhaugh & Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful daughter baptized named Mary.

1795: BIRTH/BAPTISM of SON: JAMES
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
David Guthrie in Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a lawful son baptized named James.

1797: BIRTH/BAPTISM of SON: ALEXANDER
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
David Guthrie at Hyndhaugh had a lawful son baptized and named Alexander.

1798: BIRTH/BAPTISM of DAUGHTER: ELSPET
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
David Guthrie at Hyndhaugh and Elspet Christie his spouse had a child baptized named Elspet.

1801: BIRTH of DAUGHTER: SUSAN
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
There is no baptismal record for Susan Guthrie in the OPR in Cortachy parish. Susan Guthrie’s death record in 1859 lists her parents as David Guthrie and Elspet Christie, and her age as 58 years old.

1808: DEATH of WIFE & SONS: ELSPET CHRISTIE, JOHN GUTHRIE, & ROBERT GUTHRIE
Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
Payments for the use of the mortecloth are noted for Elspet Christie and John Guthrie on 9 November 1808, and also for Robert Guthrie on 2 December 1808.

Abt. 1824: MARRIAGE of DAVID GUTHRIE to MARGARET LINDSAY
Scotland
There is a marriage record for a couple by this name dated 2 Jun 1822, but it is recorded in Arbuthnott, Kincardineshire, Scotland. All indications are that both parties were in Cortachy. Margaret also may have been going by the surnames Stewart or Ogilvy at the time.

1841: SCOTLAND CENSUS
Hindhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
David Guthrie 80 farmer born SCT
Marget Guthrie 50 (Not listed as born in SCT)
Charles Guthrie 15 born in SCT
William Ogilby 25 ag lab born in SCT
Alex Stewart 35 ag lab born in SCT
Alex Millen 90 mason born in SCT
Listed in the house next door is Mary Guthrie 70 born in SCT

1841-1851: DEATH of DAVID GUTHRIE
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland (presumably)
No OPR record found.

1851: SCOTLAND CENSUS
Hyndhaugh, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
Margaret Guthrie, head, widowed, 72, farmer of 10 Acre, born Forfar Cortachy
Charles Guthrie, son, unmarried, 25, farmer’s son, born Forfar Cortachy
William Ogilvy, son, unmarried, 36, ag lab, born Forfar, Kingoldrum
David Munro, servant, – 17, cattle herder, born Forfar Glammis

1861: SCOTLAND CENSUS
Whitehorn, Tannadice, Angus, Scotland
Margaret Guthrie, head, widowed, 85, pauper, born Forfarshire, Cortachy, # of rooms with one or more windows: 2
William Ogilvy, son, unmarried, 46, ag lab, born Forfarshire, Kingoldrum

1866: DEATH of WIDOW – MARGARET (LINDSAY) GUTHRIE
Wellhilt, Cortachy, Angus, Scotland
MARGARET GUTHRIE, widow of DAVID GUTHRIE, farmer, died 9PM at Wellhilt, Cortachy, 92yrs, Parents: DAVID LINDSAY, shepherd, & JEAN LINDSAY, both decd, COD: Chronic Bronchitis, old age, Info: WILLIAM OGILVY, son.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG17
Group Designation: Branch B – The Guthries in Cortachy

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: Not Yet Tested

YDNA Matches: 1
Kit: IN115719 (YDNA)
David Guthrie/Elspet Christie > James Guthrie/Margaret Ogilvy > John Guthrie/Marjory ‘May’ Lindsay > Andrew Lindsay Guthrie/Margaret Ann Edward (GGP)

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Matches: 1
Kit (AncestryDNA): David Guthrie/Elspet Christie > James Guthrie/Margaret Ogilvy > John Guthrie/Marjory ‘May’ Lindsay > Andrew Lindsay Guthrie/Margaret Ann Edward (2xGGP)

Findings:
Two participants with a matching YDNA profile have a strong ancestral connection to the same region in Scotland. Matching Y-DNA is conclusive genetic evidence for a shared common on their direct paternal line. They do not match up with any other established group, so a new Guthrie Family Group labelled as GFG17 has been formed.

Our Y-DNA participant, Kit IN115719 designated as GFG17-Branch B, is a 36/37 match for the Guthrie whose ancestors are designated as Branch A descending from John Guthrie and Helen Wyllie in Knowhead. Both John Guthrie in Knowhead and David Guthrie in Cortachy are theorized to be descendants of David Guthrie & Janet Stewart. 

There is only 1 genetic difference between the Branch A and Branch B participants at the Y37 level giving us a very high probability that their most recent common ancestor (MRCA) can already be found within the speculated # of generations. More Y-DNA participation from Guthrie men who descend from David Guthrie & Janet Stewart is needed to solidify this theory as the paper trail in the Old Parish Records gets pretty thin.

Our Autosomal participant is the daughter of the YDNA participant. She has atDNA matches to others descending from David Guthrie and Janet Stewart.

READING & RESOURCES

BOOK: Jervis, Andrew. Epitaphs & Inscriptions from Burial Grounds & Old buildings, etc., Volume II, 1879. Edinburgh. Digital Repository: Electric Scotland.

WEBSITE: ScotlandsPeople. Old Parish Records – Births, Baptism, Marriages, Deaths. Legal Records. More.

WEBSITE: ScotlandsPlaces. Angus. Digital Originals and Transcriptions of documents, books and tax rolls.