The lands of Kincaldrum were part of the vast possessions of the Earls of Angus. During the middle of the fourteenth century these lands were conveyed by Alexander of Abernethy into the hands of the Wemyss family, which held it for nearly a hundred years. Kincaldrum’s history is significantly entwined with the Guthries of that Ilk. Younger sons were frequently styled with the Kincaldrum title during the lifetime of their fathers.

1st Guthrie of Kincaldrum: Sir Alexander Guthrie, 1st of Kincaldrum

Birth: Unk, Est. 1390-1410 – Death: Unk @ Age: Unk
Parents: Unidentified
Spouse: Marjory Guthrie
Children: 1) David Guthrie (heir) 2) James, 1st of Halkerton, 3) William Guthrie of Essie [Burke’s Landed Gentry]

Note that Warden’s Angus or Forfarshire, p.407 names two sons: David and Alexander, with a possible third son, William.

1446. April 20.–A charter in favor of Alexander Guthrie and his wife Marjory Guthrie showing that Alexander Guthrie obtained from Sir Thomas Wemyss, Knight, of the lands of Kincaldrum, in the barony of Lour-Leslie and sheriffdom of Forfar. The lands were to be held for Sir Thomas and his heirs for the annual payment of £9 6s 8d. (Warden, p.407)

1457. April 10.–Alexander Guthrie obtained Kincaldrum by Charter from George, Lord Leslie-upon-Levern, afterwards 1st Earl of Rothes. (Burke, p.998)

2nd Guthrie of Kincaldrum: Sir David Guthrie, 1st Baron Guthrie of Guthrie, and 2nd Kincaldrum

Birth: Est. 1420-1440 – Death: 1474 @ Age: Unk
Parents: Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum and Marjory Guthrie
Spouse 1: (FNU) Maule, a daughter of Sir Thomas Maule, Lord of Panmure
Spouse 2: Janet Dundas, a daughter of Sir Archibald Dundas of Dundas, Knight, Sheriff of Linlithgow
Children by (FNU) Maule: No Issue.
Children by Janet Dundas: 1) Alexander Guthrie (heir), 2) Elizabeth Guthrie (m. Alexander Maule, ancestor to the Earls of Panmure)
Natural Child by Unidentified Partner: Malcolm Guthrie of Balnabreich

Sir David Guthrie was armor-bearer to King James II, Sheriff of Angus (1457), Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, Comptroller of the Household (1466-68 and 1470-73), Ambassador to England (1472); Lord Justice General. He founded the Collegiate Church of Guthrie, and obtained a Papal Bull from Pope Sixtus IV.

1457–Sir David Guthrie was armor-bearer to King James III.

1465. March 15.–David Guthrie obtained a Royal Charter from King James III giving him license to fortify his house of Guthrie on 14 Sep 1468.

1466-68 and 1470-73–Lord High Treasurer of Scotland; Comptroller of the Household

1472–Ambassador to England

1473–Appointed Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. “By these great employments he augmented, in a vast degree, his paternal fortune, and to testify his thankfulness to God, he founded and endowed a collegiate church at Guthrie for a provost and three prebends, decicated to the Virgin, which was confirmed by a bull from Pop Sexton IV, dated at Rome, 14 June 1479.

3rd Guthrie of Kincaldrum: Sir Alexander Guthrie, 2nd Baron Guthrie of Guthrie and 3rd Kincaldrum

Birth: Est. 1440-1460 – Death: 1513 at Flodden Field @ Age: Unk
Parents: Sir David Guthrie, 1st of Guthrie, 2nd of Kincaldrum, and Janet Dundas
Spouse: Hon. Margaret Lyon, dau. of John Lyon, 3rd Lord Glamis and Elizabeth Scrimgeour.
Children: 1) David Guthrie (heir-died at Flodden Field 1513), 2) Alexander Guthrie, 4th Kincaldrum, 3) George Guthrie of Kincreich, 4) John Guthrie, 1st of Hiltoun (also ancestor of Guthries of Craigie), Elizabeth Guthrie (m. John Ogilvy, Younger of Inverquharty)

Sir Alexander Guthrie, son of Sir David, was designed of Kincaldrum during the lifetime of his father, possibly at the time of his birth or majority.

1450. July 21.–Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum is mentioned

1466-7. February 7.–Obtained from Sir Thomas Wemyss a charter of Kincaldrum by which the lands were to be held of the barony of Lour, and for payment of a red rose on the ground thereof, at the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in name of blench ferme. This charter proceeds on an instrument of resignation, granted by Sir Alexander’s grandmother, “Mary of Guthrie (she is called Marjory in the charter of Kincaldrum in 1446), relict of Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum” and Mr Alexander Guthrie, her brother, in favour of the said Sir Thomas Wemyss, the superior of the lands, dated 6th Feb 1466-7. (Reg. Epic. Br., I, 42)

1472. September 25.–Sir Alexander Guthrie obtained a charter under the Great Seal, o the resignation of his father, of the lands and barony of Four.

1474–Sir David Guthrie, 1st of Guthrie, 2nd of Kincaldrum, died in 1474 at which time Sir Alexander Guthrie officially succeeded to his estates.

1478–Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum was charged before the Lords of Council and Session by the Abbot and Convent of Cupar, about a mill built on Kincaldrum, and withholding the cultures of the corn of the same; the barony of Kincaldrum, the monks affirmed, being thirled to their mill of Kincreich. (Acta Dom. Con., 3 and 69)

1506–Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum was a juror in 1506

1509–Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum was a witness in 1509

1513. September 9–Died during the Battle of Flodden Field, Braxton, Northumberland, England
“Sir Alexander, surrounded by friends and vassals, attended his sovereign to the fatal field of Flodden, and there fell, with his eldest, David, his three brothers-in-law, David, William, and George Lyon, and his nephew, Sir Thomas Maule.”

4th of Kincaldrum: Alexander Guthrie, 4th of Kincaldrum

Birth: Unk, Est. 1470-1490 – Death: 20 July 1553 @ Age: Unk
Parents: Sir Alexander Guthrie, 2nd Baron Guthrie of Guthrie, 3rd Kincaldrum and Margaret Lyon
Spouse: Unidentified
Children: David Guthrie, 5th of Kincaldrum

Alexander Guthrie was a younger son of Sir Alexander Guthrie and Margaret Lyon. Both his father and elder brother were slain at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. Andrew Guthrie, his brother’s son and heir continued the Guthrie of Guthrie line.

5th of Kincaldrum: David Guthrie, 5th of Kincaldrum

Birth: Unk, Est. 1490-1510 – Death: 1593 @ Age: Unk
Parents: Alexander Guthrie, 4th of Kincaldrum and Unidentified Mother
Spouse: Janet Kerr
Children: Alexander Guthrie, 6th of Kincaldrum

1553. July 20.–David Guthrie served as heir to his father and obtained seisin of the lands of Kincaldrum, Kinreich, Kirktou of Nevay on 10 Nov 1558.

1590–David Guthrie acquired the lands of Carrot.

6th of Kincaldrum: Alexander Guthrie, 6th of Kincaldrum

Birth: Unk, Est. 1530-1550 – Death: Unk @ Age: Unk
Parents: David Guthrie, 5th of Kincaldrum, and Janet Kerr
Spouse: Alice Douglas of Glenbervie
Children: David Guthrie 7th Kincaldrum, 8th Guthrie, with Memys and Kincreich; Patrick Guthrie, 9th Guthrie

1567. Dec 28.–A contract for the marriage of Alice Douglas and Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum, younger was signed on 28 December 1567.

1598. May 31–Succession of lands and Titles:
Obtained sasine of all lands which had been acquired by Sir John Kerr, his maternal grandfather, from his paternal grandfather Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie and Kinkaldrum, and was also served heir to his mother.

7th of Kincaldrum: David Guthrie, 7th Kincaldrum, 8th Guthrie

Birth: Unk, Est. 1568-1580 – Death: Unk @ Age: Unk
Parents: Alexander Guthrie, 6th of Kincaldrum, and Alice Douglas
Spouse: Katherine Blair
Children: 1) Alexander Guthrie, 8th Kincaldrum; 2) Elizabeth Guthrie

1593. July 22.–David’s father granted him a charter of the whole lands and barony of Kincaldrum and others. Confirmed by a charter under the Great Seal on 30 Jun 1607.

1611. December 3.–Extract of obligation by David Guthrie of Kincaldrum to Robert Falconer of Ballandro. Registered 12 June 1629. Ref: Ch.15040

1616. June 20.–William Guthrie of Memys, 7th Laird of Guthrie, succeeded his brother Alexander, who had no male issue. William, who also had no male issue, was succeeded by his cousin, David Guthrie, 7th Kincaldrum. Both David Guthrie and his son Alexander Guthrie disponed (legally conveyed) the Guthrie lands and title to Patrick Guthrie

1621. Apr 24.–Instrument of Sasine in favour of David Guthrie of Kincaldrum of the Lands of Heughhead of Guthrie Mylnetoun of Guthrie Eastertoun of Guthrie Kirktoun of Guthrie and others lying in the barony of Guthrie and Sheriffdom of Forfar, on Charter

1623. August 9.–Discharge by David Guthrie of Kyncaldrum to Patrick Falconer of Ballendrow. Ref: Ch.150411634. November 14.–Extract retour of Isobella Falconer, wife of John Ogilvy in Tuning as heir to her brother Patrick Falconer, son of Robert Falconer of Ballindro. Ref: Ch.15042

1633. Nov. 29–The death of his son and heir, Alexander Guthrie, and so David Guthrie sold the Barony of Kincaldrum to Sir John Blair of Balgillo, in Tannadice.

1633. Dec 12th–Contract terms for sale of Barony of Guthrie to Patrick Guthrie: This gentleman, with the consent of Alexander Guthrie, of Kincaldrum, his eldest son, first wadsett by two different contracts, the first dated, 3rd June, redeemable for payment of 10,000 merks (555pounds. 11s. 1 3/4d. sterling), the other dated, 19th August, both in the year 1624, redeemable for 16,000 merks (888pounds, 17s, 9 3/4d. sterling), part of the barony of Guthrie, to Mr. Patrick Guthrie, his brother german designed minister of Kembothock. On the 22nd May, 1629, he wadsett the whole barony of Guthrie, with the patronage of the kirk of Guthrie, and others therein mentioned, to the said Patrick, then designed minister of Logie Buchan, redeemable upon payment of 19,000 merks (1583 pounds. 6s. 8d. sterling); and on the 12th December, 1633, the barony was absolutely and irredeemably disponed by David and Alexander, his son, to the said Patrick Guthrie.

1635. March 26.–Horning at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15043

1635. April 10.–Apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15044

1635. May 15.–Decreet of apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15045

1635. May 20.–Instrument of intimation of apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15046

1635. December 8.–Decreet in case Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum against Isobel Falconer and John Ogilvy in Turing, her spouse. Ref: Ch.15047.

8th of Kincaldrum: Alexander Guthrie, 8th of Kincaldrum

Birth: Unk, Est. 1580-1600 – Death: About 1633 @ Age: Unk
Parents: David Guthrie, 7th Kincaldrum, 8th Guthrie, and Katherine Blair
Spouse: Marion/Mariote Graham, daughter of Sir William Graham, 4th of Claverhouse, and Agnes Lundy
Children: No Issue

1615. Oct. 20.–The marriage contract between David Guthrie, father of Alexander, and William Graham of Claverhouse, father of Marion, bound David to put Alexander in fee of the barony of Kincaldrum.

1633. Nov. 29–The death of his son and heir, Alexander Guthrie, and so David Guthrie sold the Barony of Kincaldrum to Sir John Blair of Balgillo, in Tannadice.

1633. Dec 12th–Contract terms for sale of Barony of Guthrie to Patrick Guthrie: This gentleman, with the consent of Alexander Guthrie, of Kincaldrum, his eldest son, first wadsett by two different contracts, the first dated, 3rd June, redeemable for payment of 10,000 merks (555pounds. 11s. 1 3/4d. sterling), the other dated, 19th August, both in the year 1624, redeemable for 16,000 merks (888pounds, 17s, 9 3/4d. sterling), part of the barony of Guthrie, to Mr. Patrick Guthrie, his brother german designed minister of Kembothock. On the 22nd May, 1629, he wadsett the whole barony of Guthrie, with the patronage of the kirk of Guthrie, and others therein mentioned, to the said Patrick, then designed minister of Logie Buchan, redeemable upon payment of 19,000 merks (1583 pounds. 6s. 8d. sterling); and on the 12th December, 1633, the barony was absolutely and irredeemably disponed by David and Alexander, his son, to the said Patrick Guthrie.

Alexander died before his father without issue ending the Kincaldrum line by the Guthrie family.

READING and RESOURCES

DOCUMENTS: Writs of the Lands of Guthrie, 1388-1630. National Records of Scotland. Ref: GD188/1/1

Including:

1. 1388, December 8.
Charter under the Great Seal in favour of David de Lyndesay, kt., his son, of superiority of barony of Guthry in sheriffdom of Forfar. Witnesses: Walter, Bishop of St. Andrews, John, Bishop of Dunkeld, chancellor, John, Earl of Carrick, eldest son of the King, steward of Scotland, Robert, Earl of Fyfe and Menteth, son of the King, George, Earl of March, Archibald de Douglas, kt., and Thomas de Erskyne, kt. [Fragment of Great Seal appended]. [Not in R.M.S.]. with transumpt.

2. 1468, September 14.
Licence under the Great Seal in favour of Mr. Davide de Guthre of that ilk, to build a tower or fortalice in the lands of Guthre, fortified with walls and ditches and secured with an iron door, ‘barmking’ and ‘machcoling’, and with weapons of war and defence placed on top. [Fragment of Great Seal appended]. [Not in R.M.S.].

Barmking: 1. The rampart or outermost fortification of a castle.
2. An aperture for musketry.

Machcoling: Openings in the floor of a projecting battlement through which missiles might be hurled upon the assailants.

4. 1465, March 25.
Charter under the Great Seal in favour of Mr. David de Guthre of Kincaldrum, treasurer, of lands of Guthre, following on resignation of David, Earl of Craufurde. [Fragment of Great Seal appended]. [R.M.S. ii, 868].

7. 1474, August 23.
Instrument of Sasine in favour of Alexander Guthre as son and heir of deceased David Guthre of Guthre, kt., of lands of Guthre.

8. 1514, May 15.

Instrument of Sasine in favour of Andrew Guthre as son and heir of deceased Alexander Guthre of Guthre, kt., of lands of Guthre.

10. 1550, November 16.
Charter by George Dunbar, son and heir of deceased Patrick Dunbar in Moy, in favour of Peter Wynchestre of Arturlye, of 2 burgh tenements in burgh of Innernes.

11. 1553/4, March 8.
Charter by Mr. William Gordoun, chancellor and treasurer of cathedral kirks of Dunkeld and Catheness, and canon of cathedral kirk of Moray, in favour of the chaplains and choristers of cathedral kirk of Moray, of an annualrent of 55s. Scots from 2 roods of land in burgh of Elgin, for the celebration of mass fo rhis parents, brothers and sisters, and for himself after his death. [Seals of said William and of William Auldcorne, bailie of Elgin, appended]. Payments to be made to the various persons for their services are specified, e.g., to minor sacristan for ringing the great bells of said kirk, 8d., and to the ringers of hand bells within the bounds of the burgh of Elgin and college of Moray, 4d.

12. 1594, September 22.
Tack for 19 years, by Mr. John Lyndsay, provost of collegiate kirk of Guthrie, with consent of the chapter and of Alexander Guthrie of that ilk, the patron, in favour of Alexander Guthrie, younger and fiar of that ilk, son of said Alexander, of teindsheaves of lands of Teiltoun of Guthrie, Hillsyid, Loneheid, Eistertoun of Guthrie and Mylnetoun thereof. [Seals of said John and Alexander, elder, appended].

13. 1630, February 20.
Presentation by John, Bishop of Moray, in favour of Patrick Guthrie, his son, of chaplainries of St. Thomas, St. Coline and St. John the Baptist in cathedral kirk of Moray, and of chaplainry of Our Lady in parish kirk of Elgin. [Fragment of seal appended].

DOCUMENTS: Documents concerning the family of Guthrie of Kincaldrum, 1611-1635, Ref: Ch.15040-15047. National Library of Scotland
1611. December 3.–Extract of obligation by David Guthrie of Kincaldrum to Robert Falconer of Ballandro. Registered 12 June 1629. Ref: Ch.15040
1623. August 9.–Discharge by David Guthrie of Kyncaldrum to Patrick Falconer of Ballendrow. Ref: Ch.15041
1634. November 14.–Extract retour of Isobella Falconer, wife of John Ogilvy in Tuning as heir to her brother Patrick Falconer, son of Robert Falconer of Ballindro. Ref: Ch.15042
1635. March 26.–Horning at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15043
1635. April 10.–Apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15044
1635. May 15.–Decreet of apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15045
1635. May 20.–Instrument of intimation of apprising at instance of Francis Ogilvie of Newgrange against David Guthrie of Kincaldrum. Ref: Ch.15046
1635. December 8.–Decreet in case Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum against Isobel Falconer and John Ogilvy in Turing, her spouse. Ref: Ch.15047.

BOOK: Wedderburn, Alexander (1898). The Wedderburn Book, A History of the Wedderburns in the Counties of Berwick and Forfar, designed of Wedderburn, Kingennie, Easter Powrie, Blackness, Balindean, and Gosford, and their younger branches, together with some account of other families of the name. 1296-1896. Volume 1–History of Scottish Families, and Volume 2–The Evidence

Vol. 2, p.433.
No. 118. 1635. Oct 24.–Bond (26 Nov, 8 Dec 1632) by Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum, and his cautioners, to Elizabeth Wedderburn, relict of Dr Peter Bruce, principal of S. Leonard’s College, for 525 merks. (G.489).

BOOK: Roll of Eminent Burgesses of Dundee, 1513-1886.

p.33-34: Alexander Guthrie, Fiar [heir-apparent] of that Ilk, is made a Brother of the Guild. Gratis. 1559. June 20th.
The family of Guthrie of Guthrie is one of the oldest in Forfarshire, and they have held the estate from which their territorial title is derived from the time of DAVID II. Sir DAVID GUTHRIE was Sheriff of Forfarshire in 1457, was made Armor-bearer to JAMES III, and became Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1461, and Lord Clerk Register in 1467. Shortly afterwards he was one of the ambassadors sent from this country to conclude the Peace of Newcastle; and in 1473 he was made Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. His son, ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, was connected by marriage with the families of GLAMIS and of DUDHOPE, and he fell fighting by the side of his Sovereign at Flodden Field. His grandson and successor was ANDREW GUTHRIE of GUTHRIE, whose son ALEXANDER was the Laird at the date of this entry. ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, for some unexplained reason, had quarreled with the family of his mother, CHRISTIAN GARDYNE of Gardyne, and a feud ensued which resulted in the assassination of the LAIRD of GUTHRIE in his house of Inverpeffer, by the hand of his cousin, PATRICK GARDYNE. To avenge his death, his second son, WILLIAM GUTHRIE of GAGIE, accompanied by several of his associates, “Bodin with daggis and pistolletis,” set upon PATRICK GARDYNE, the murderer of his father, “and cruiellie, schamefullie, and unmercifully slew him be shot of and gun or dag, upoun set purpose and provisioun.” For this outrage, he was denounced a rebel, but no proceedings were taken against him. ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, who is entered here as a Burgess, was the eldest son of the ALEXANDER GUTHRIE who was murdered, and of his wife ISABEL, daughter of WILLIAM WOOD of Bonnyton. He was married in 1568 to AGNES, daughter of SIR ALEXANDER FALCONER of Halkertoun, and was succeeded at his decease by his eldest son, bearing the same name.

pp.46-47: David Guthrie of Kincaldrum is made a brother of the Guild. Gratis. 1574. January 12th.
“The descent of the family of GUTHRIE of Guthrie and their relationship to Dundee has been explained where the admission of ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, Fiar, of that Ilk, is noted, under the date 20th June, 1559 (p.33). David Guthrie of Kincaldrum was an uncle of this Alexander, and consequently son of Andrew Guthrie and Christian Gardyne. Kincaldrum was the estate usually given to younger sons of the Lairds of Guthrie, and though the name of DAVID does not appear in the genealogy of the family, his existence is proved by his signature to several charters, in which he is described as the son of ANDREW. It was his brother ALEXANDER who was assassinated at Inverpeffer by his cousin PATRICK GARDYNE, as already related. The most important event, however, with which his name is associated to place years after his admission as Burgess of Dundee. On the 18th July, 1576, he appeared in presence of the REGENT MORTON and the Lords of the Privy Council, at Edinburgh, together with his nephew, WILLIAM GUTHRIE of HALKERTOUN, William Rand of Carse, and James Arbuthnot of Lentusche, and gave in a bond and obligation making himself surety with them for the printing of the first Scottish Bible. The terms of this contract are of sufficient interest to be transcribed here, as they are entered in the Records of the Privy Council:–(see p.47) This important historical bond was dated 18th March, 1575, and signed by all the persons named.”…”A series of misfortunes overtook this Bible.”…”Even after the Bible was finished, great difficulty was experienced by the subscribers in obtaining copies for which they had paid, and an action was raised against DAVID GUTHRIE of Kincaldrum and the other sureties in 1587–nine years after the date of the bond–by ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, Messenger in Old Aberdeen, for 102 “Biblis bund in black and glasspitt,” which the deceased Alexander Arbuthnot and Thomas Bassinden had failed to deliver. Three years afterwards these Bibles had not reached their destination, and letters of horning were granted in 1590 against DAVID GUTHRIE of Kincaldrum. The last trace of this notable Burgess of Dundee is under the date 1592, and he appears to have been succeeded at that time by his eldest son, ALEXANDER.”

DOCUMENT: Papers of the Scrymgeour Wedderburn of Wedderburn Family, Earls of Dundee. National Records of Scotland. Ref. GD137
1621. April 24.–Instrument of Sasine in favour of David Guthrie of Kincaldrum of the Lands of Heughhead of Guthrie Mylnetoun of Guthrie Eastertoun of Guthrie Kirktoun of Guthrie and others lying in the barony of Guthrie and Sheriffdom of Forfar, on Charter containing Precept of Sasine dated 19 and 23 April 1621 by William Guthrie of that Ilk with consent of Isabella Fenton his spouse.

DOCUMENT: Papers of the Shairp family of Houston, West Lothian, 1455-1926. National Records of Scotland. Ref. GD30.
1626. Nov 3. – 1630. Jun 23.–Letters of Horning and Poinding at the instance of David Guthrie of Kincaldrume [Kincaldrum] against David Wod [Wood] in Carse, as principal, and James Guidlat [Goodlad] of Drumalin [Drumallen], as cautioner, for payment of bond, dated 17 May, 1619; and letters of Arrestment, 23 June 1630, following thereon.

DOCUMENT: Barclay Allardice family of Allardice. National Records of Scotland. Ref. GD49.
1629. May 15.–Bond by Robert Falconer of Drime to Robert Falconer, sometime of Ballandrow, whereby he acknowledged receipt of a bond for 300 merks from the letter for relief of his cautionry on the latters’ behalf to Patrick Levistane [Livingston] of Balrovnie [Balruthrie?] and bound himself to return the superplus over and above his relief of cautionry of the above sum to the said Robert Falconer, sometime of Ballandrow, provided he received payment of the 300 merks from the laird of Guthrie and Kincaldrum his son.