Retours / Services of Heirs
Retours / Services of Heirs
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio
A three-volume abridgment of Scottish heirship inquests, preserving legal evidence of inheritance, kinship, property, territorial identity and succession.
Scotland • Sixteenth–Seventeenth Centuries • Published 1811About the Retours
A Scottish Service of Heirs was a legal proceeding used to establish a claimant as the lawful heir of a deceased ancestor. The resulting inquest might identify the heir, the ancestor, their relationship, the nature of the heirship and, where property was involved, the lands, annualrents, offices, superiorities and valuations passing by inheritance.
The verdict of the jury was returned to Chancery. Once entered there, the completed record was commonly called the Retour of the Service.
The Three Published Volumes & Page Navigation
The published Retours are a three-volume work, but the volumes do not perform identical functions. Volumes I and II contain the substantive abridged records. Volume III is the published name and place index used to locate and reconcile them.
Volume I — Special Services
Begins the county-by-county abridgment of the Inquisitiones Speciales, including the earliest Guthrie succession records in this collection.
Guthrie entries include Edinburgh and the important Forfar series associated with Guthrie, Halkertoun, Memus, Wester-Gaigie and related properties.
Go to Volume I →Volume II — Special, General & Other Inquests
Continues the county Special Services and then presents the General Services, supplements, Tutory proceedings and other classes of Retours.
This volume contains a large part of the Guthrie material, including General Services and the supplemental records.
Go to Volume II →Volume III — Indexes & Corrections
Contains the published indexes of names and places rather than a third body of Service entries.
Its Guthrie references were reconciled against Volumes I and II and revealed several article-number and spelling issues documented later on this page.
Go to Volume III →Digital Sources
Read the Published Volumes Online
- FamilySearch Digital Library — Volumes I–III: digital images of all three published volumes are available through FamilySearch.
- FamilySearch Digital Library — Volume I
- HathiTrust — Retours index/reference copy
Many other online copies encountered for this title provide only the published indexes or other partial access rather than the complete three-volume image set. FamilySearch is therefore the primary public image-access point used for this collection.
The Guthrie audit behind this page was conducted against the working copies of Volumes I–III and reconciled against the published indexes and the collection’s own Addenda & Corrigenda.
Guthrie Audit & Research Method
The Retours required more than a surname search. Volume III’s name indexes were reconciled against the actual entries in Volumes I and II; surname variants were checked; supplements were searched; cross-county references were followed; and repeated portions of complex Retours were distinguished from genuinely separate Services.
Separate from those succession events are a Guthrie Tutory relationship, Guthrie or Guthrie-variant individuals appearing as ancestors or spouses rather than heirs, Guthrie place-name references and a Guthrie juror in a five-year-possession inquest.
Guthrie Master Finding Aid — Service Records in Volumes I–II
This Finding Aid combines the audited Guthrie Special and General Services from Volumes I and II in chronological order.
Volume III does not contain a third body of Service entries. Its name and place indexes were used to locate, verify and reconcile the records listed here.
Select the corresponding detailed entry below the Finding Aid, then open its gold Full Record accordion for the source text, modern rendering, evidence discussion and legal or Scottish terminology relevant to that particular record.
| Date | Heir | Ancestor & Relationship | Property / Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1550 | Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk | Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk, knight — grandfather | Kirkbuddo; six acres, pasture and church benefice |
SPECIAL Forfar 5 |
| 1 May 1591 | Alexander Guthre of that Ilk | Alexander Guthre of that Ilk — father | General heirship |
GENERAL SUPP. 8388 |
| 9 Feb 1593 | John Guthrie | Robert Guthrie in Lunan — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 3 |
| 26 Apr 1600 | William Guthrie | John Guthrie, common clerk of Leith — father | Bristo crofts; Dalry / Innerleith |
SPECIAL Edinburgh 36 |
| 8 Nov 1606 | Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun | Alexander Guthrie of Halkertoun — great-grandfather | Hiltoun of Guthrie; Barony of Guthrie |
SPECIAL Forfar 52 |
| 8 Nov 1606 | Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun | William Guthrie of Halkertoun — grandfather | General heirship |
GENERAL 270 |
| 18 Mar 1607 | John Guthrie | John Guthrie, inhabitant of Stirling — father | Annualrent from Queinshauche |
SPECIAL Stirling 57 |
| 4 Jan 1611 | William Guthrie | Jonet Patersone — mother | Leith properties; Barony of Restalrig |
SPECIAL SUPP. 1448 |
| 11 Aug 1614 | Lodovicus / Louis Guthrie | Christina Somer — mother | Annualrent from Edinburgh tenement |
SPECIAL SUPP. 1487 |
| 14 Mar 1615 | Bethia Guthrie | Mr David Guthrie, advocate — father | Edinburgh tenement |
SPECIAL Edinburgh 348 |
| 7 Oct 1615 | William Guthrie | Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk — brother german | Barony of Guthrie; Kirktoun, Teiltoun, Haltoun, Milntoun |
SPECIAL Forfar 88 |
| 20 Jul 1622 | William Guthrie of that Ilk | Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk — father | Memus; Barony of Tannadice |
SPECIAL Forfar 141 |
| 11 Mar 1625 | Henry Guthrie, baker & burgess of Dundee | Patrick Guthrie, merchant burgess of Dundee — paternal uncle | General heirship |
GENERAL 1187 |
| 7 Dec 1626 | Margaret Guthrie | Thomas Guthrie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 1285 date corrected by Addenda |
| 19 Oct 1627 | Margaret Guthrie | John Guthrie of Inverlounan — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 1361 |
| 24 Mar 1629 | Alexander Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie | William Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie — father | Wester-Gaigie; Regality of Kirriemuir |
SPECIAL Forfar 180 |
| 24 May 1636 | Peter Guthrie | Mr Patrick Guthrie, minister at Logie-Buchan — father | Principal lands and Barony of Guthrie |
SPECIAL Forfar 233 |
| 31 May 1642 | Alexander Guthrie | Alexander Guthrie, fiar of Memus — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 2692 |
| 30 Dec 1643 | Francis Guthrie of Gaigie | Alexander Guthrie of Gaigie — brother german | General heirship |
GENERAL 2938 |
| 8 May 1649 | John Guthrie | James Guthrie, Writer to the Signet — father | Barnhill, Over Pitvar and associated Culross lands |
SPECIAL Perth 588 |
| 20 Aug 1653 | Hercules Guthrie | Gilbert Guthrie — brother german | Claimant identified as son of Hercules Guthrie, surgeon-burgess of Aberdeen |
GENERAL 3833 |
| 10 Sep 1653 | Anne Gutherie | James Gutherie, tailor in London — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 3838 |
| 4 Nov 1653 | John Guthrie of Over-Dysart | John Guthrie of Inverlounan — paternal uncle | Inverlounan; Lordship of Arbroath |
SPECIAL Forfar 326 |
| 5 Apr 1654 | John Guthrie of Halkertoun | Harry Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun — son | Halkertoun and mill; Barony of Essie |
SPECIAL Forfar 332 |
| 8 Aug 1654 | John Guthrie of Halkertoun | Harry Guthrie of Halkertoun — father | Halkertoun teinds; Milntoun of Conon; Arbroath properties |
SPECIAL Forfar 338 |
| 13 Nov 1655 | Margaret Guthrie, wife of William Rutherfurd | Alexander Guthrie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh — father | Two booths in Edinburgh |
SPECIAL Edinburgh 1056 |
| 26 May 1656 | Anna Guthrie | James Guthrie, tailor in London — father | Annualrent from mill of Doune; Stewartry of Menteith |
SPECIAL Perth 640 |
| 26 May 1656 | Anna Guthrie | John Guthrie, servant to Colin, Earl of Argyll — grandfather | Annualrent from Queinshauche |
SPECIAL Stirling 220 |
| 4 Apr 1665 | John Guthrie of that Ilk | Francis Guthrie of that Ilk — father | Wester-Gaigie; Barony of Guthrie; collegiate church rights |
SPECIAL
LINKED Forfar 412 |
| 4 Apr 1665 | John Guthrie of that Ilk | Francis Guthrie of that Ilk — father | General status as heir |
GENERAL
SAME SUCCESSION 4885 |
| 3 May 1666 | Peter Guthrie | Mr Patrick Guthrie of that Ilk — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 4988 |
| 14 Jun 1666 | Agnes & Maria Guthrie | Mr William Guthrie, minister of Fenwick — father | Heirs-portioners |
GENERAL 5001 |
| 14 Feb 1667 | Margaret Guthrie | Alexander Balmano, writer in Edinburgh — maternal grandfather | General heirship through maternal line |
GENERAL 5062 |
| 12 Jul 1667 | Alexander Guthrie | Mr Alexander Guthrie, minister of Stracathro — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 5087 |
| 13 Oct 1670 | David Guthrie of Carsbank | Alexander Guthrie of Carsbank — father | Craigheid; Carsgownie; Easter Mairstoun |
SPECIAL Forfar 444 |
| 13 Dec 1670 | David Guthrie | Henry Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun — brother | Halkertoun and mill; Barony of Essie |
SPECIAL Forfar 445 |
| 5 May 1675 | Joneta, Jeanna, Issobella & Margareta Guthrie | Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont — grandfather | Annualrents and tenements in Arbroath |
SPECIAL Forfar 461 |
| 19 Oct 1676 | Elizabeth Guthrie | Thomas Guthrie — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 5944 |
| 5 Nov 1684 | Sir Henry Guthrie of King-Edward, baronet | Henry Guthrie of Colliston — grandfather | Colliston, Ruives, Park of Conon, Guthrieshill |
SPECIAL Forfar 493 |
| 26 Jun 1686 | Mr David Guthrie, apothecary & burgess of Dundee | Mr David Guthrie, minister of Anstruther Wester — father | General heirship |
GENERAL SUPP. 8738 |
| Jun 1686 | Mr David Guthrie, apothecary & burgess of Dundee | Mr Colin Guthrie — brother; son of the late minister David Guthrie | General heirship |
GENERAL SUPP. 8739 |
| 9 Jun 1687 | Mr John Guthrie | Mr John Guthrie, minister of Dundee — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 6838 |
| 25 May 1693 | James Guthrie | Francis Guthrie, writer in Dundee — brother german | General heirship |
GENERAL 7367 |
| 30 Jun 1698 | Henry Guthrie | Mr David Guthrie, minister of Glenmuick — father | General heirship |
GENERAL 7994 |
Volume I — Special Services
Volume I contains the first part of the county-by-county Inquisitiones Speciales. The detailed Guthrie records below are presented chronologically, with the original source wording, modern rendering and evidentiary discussion available inside each gold Full Record accordion.
↑ Return to Guthrie Master Finding Aid • Volume Navigation • Return to Menu
16 June 1550 — Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 5 • Volume I
Andreas Guthrie de Eodem
Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem militis
avi
A. E. 10s.
N. E. 30s.
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Source Text
ANDREAS GUTHRIE de Eodem, hæres Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem militis, avi,—in 6 acris terrarum jacentibus contigue apud ecclesiam de Kirkbuddo, cum pastura 6 vaccarum, &c. et donatione beneficii dictæ ecclesiæ.—A. E. 10s. N. E. 30s. i. 27.
Modern Rendering
Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk was served heir to Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk, knight, his grandfather, in six acres of land lying together beside the church of Kirkbuddo, together with pasture for six cows and the donatio beneficii of that church. The property was valued at 10 shillings Old Extent and 30 shillings New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour provides direct legal evidence that Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk was a grandson and heir of Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk, knight.
The wording is especially important because the relationship is expressed explicitly by avi—“grandfather”—rather than merely identifying Alexander as a previous landholder.
The Retour does not identify Andrew’s parent or state whether his descent from Alexander was through a son or a daughter. That intermediate generation therefore should not be supplied from this record alone.
Property & Heirship
This was a Special Service, so the finding did more than establish Andrew’s general status as an heir. It served him in specified heritable rights at Kirkbuddo: six contiguous acres, associated pasture, and a right described in the abridgment as the donatio beneficii of the church.
The latter phrase is best retained close to the source wording. In this context it concerns the benefice connected with the church, but the abridgment alone should not be expanded into a more specific claim about the precise form of patronage or ecclesiastical presentation without the underlying Retour.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 5, 16 June 1550; original record reference i. 27.
1 May 1591 — Alexander Guthre of that Ilk
GENERAL SUPPLEMENT No. 8388 • Volume II
Alexander Guthre de Eodem
Alexandri Guthre de Eodem
patris
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Source Text
ALEXANDER GUTHRE de Eodem, hæres Alexandri Guthre de Eodem, patris. C. 6.
Modern Rendering
Alexander Guthre of that Ilk was served heir to Alexander Guthre of that Ilk, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service supplies a direct father-to-son relationship between two successive men named Alexander Guthre of that Ilk.
Unlike a Special Service, the entry does not identify a particular estate being inherited. Its genealogical value lies in establishing Alexander’s general legal character as heir to his father.
The spelling Guthre is the form printed in this supplemental record. It has been retained rather than silently normalized to Guthrie.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, General Services Supplement, No. 8388, 1 May 1591; record reference C. 6.
9 February 1593 — John Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 3 • Volume II
Joannes Guthrie
Roberti Guthrie in Lwnan
patris
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Source Text
JOANNES GUTHRIE, hæres Roberti Guthrie in Lwnan, patris. iv. 31.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie was served heir to Robert Guthrie in Lunan, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes John Guthrie as the son and heir of Robert Guthrie in Lunan.
The territorial wording is significant. Robert is described as in Lwnan—“in Lunan”—rather than de Lwnan, “of Lunan.” The wording should therefore not be expanded into a claim that Robert was proprietor or laird of Lunan unless another source establishes that status.
Because this is a General Service, the record does not identify the particular estate or property through which John claimed heirship.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 3, 9 February 1593; record reference iv. 31.
26 April 1600 — William Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Edinburgh No. 36 • Volume I
Willielmus Guthrie
Joannis Guthrie clerici communis villæ de Leyth
patris
E. 2d. argenti
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Source Text
WILLIELMUS GUTHRIE, hæres Joannis Guthrie clerici communis villæ de Leyth, patris,—in 3+ acris croftæ orientalis de Bristo, in dominio de Dalry et baronia de Innerleyth;—crofta occidentali de Bristo;—orientali crofta de Bristo, cum heidrigis ejusdem.—E. 2d. argenti. ii. 33.
Modern Rendering
William Guthrie was served heir to John Guthrie, common clerk of the town of Leith, his father, in croft lands at Bristo within the lordship of Dalry and Barony of Innerleith, including eastern and western crofts and their associated headrigs. The abridgment records a valuation or duty of 2 pence silver.
Evidence in Perspective
This Special Service provides two kinds of useful evidence: it establishes the direct relationship John Guthrie → son and heir William Guthrie, and it identifies John by office as common clerk of Leith.
The office designation is valuable because it distinguishes this John Guthrie from contemporary men of the same name. The inherited property was not in a territorial Guthrie estate, but in and around Bristo within the Dalry/Innerleith jurisdiction.
The extracted text renders the acreage figure as “3+ acris”. Because that numeral is not completely secure in the working transcription, it is retained as printed in the source-text section but is not expanded into a precise acreage in the modern rendering.
Property & Heirship
As a Special Service, this Retour identifies the particular property to which William was served heir. The abstract names eastern and western crofts at Bristo together with their heidrigs.
A headrig was the strip or turning ground at the end of cultivated rigs. Its presence in the abstract is part of the description of the inherited agricultural holding.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Edinburgh, No. 36, 26 April 1600; record reference ii. 33.
8 November 1606 — Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 52 • Volume I
Henricus Guthrie de Halkertoun
Alexandri Guthrie de Halkertoun
proavi
A. E. 26s. 8d.
N. E. 5l. 6s. 8d.
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Source Text
HENRICUS GUTHRIE de Halkertoun, hæres Alexandri Guthrie de Halkertoun, proavi, in umbrali dimidietate 3 quartarum partium terrarum de Hiltoun de Guthrie;—trigesima parte ad umbram solaris dimidietatis earundem terrarum de Hiltoun de Guthrie, in baronia de Guthrie.—A. E. 26s. 8d. N. E. 5l. 6s. 8d. iv. 54.
Modern Rendering
Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun was served heir to Alexander Guthrie of Halkertoun, his great-grandfather, in specified portions of the lands of Hiltoun of Guthrie within the Barony of Guthrie. The property was valued at 26 shillings 8 pence Old Extent and £5 6s. 8d. New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Special Service directly establishes a great-grandfather / great-grandson relationship between Alexander Guthrie of Halkertoun and Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun.
The use of proavi is critical. It means great-grandfather, not father. Any pedigree that reduces Alexander to Henry’s father misstates the legal wording of the Retour.
The record does not identify the two intervening generations. Their placement must therefore come from other evidence.
Property & Heirship
The inherited property lay in Hiltoun of Guthrie within the Barony of Guthrie. The abstract distinguishes fractional interests in the shadow-side portions of the estate, showing that the Retour concerned a defined share rather than the whole lands.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 52, 8 November 1606; record reference iv. 54.
14 March 1615 — Bethia Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Edinburgh No. 348 • Volume I
Bethia Guthrie
Magistri Davidis Guthrie advocati
patris
E. 40s.
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Source Text
BETHIA GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Davidis Guthrie advocati, patris,—in tenemento in Edinburgh.—E. 40s. vi. 29.
Modern Rendering
Bethia Guthrie was served heir to Mr David Guthrie, advocate, her father, in a tenement in Edinburgh, valued at 40 shillings.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour provides direct evidence that Bethia Guthrie was a daughter and heir of Mr David Guthrie, advocate.
David’s professional designation is useful for identification. The word advocatus distinguishes him from other men named David Guthrie and places him within the Scottish legal profession.
The entry does not identify Bethia’s mother, siblings, or marital status. Those details must come from other records.
Property & Heirship
Bethia was served heir in a specified Edinburgh tenement. The abstract is brief and does not provide the street or a more detailed description of the property.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Edinburgh, No. 348, 14 March 1615; record reference vi. 29.
7 October 1615 — William Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 88 • Volume I
Willielmus Guthrie
Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem
fratris germani
hæres masculus
New Extent £28
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Source Text
WILLIELMUS GUTHRIE, hæres masculus Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem, fratris germani, in terris dominicalibus de Guthrie ab antiquo vocatis The Kirktoun, cum molendino granorum;—terris de Teiltoun;—reliquis terris baroniæ de Guthrie subscriptis, viz. Eistertoun alias Haltoun, et Milnetoun de Guthrie, cum advocatione ecclesiæ collegiatæ de Guthrie, communi mora de Monthrewmonyth, et superioritate terrarum de Langlands.—A. E. 7l. N. E. 28l. vi. 176.
Modern Rendering
William Guthrie was served heir male to Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk, his full brother, in the principal lands of Guthrie, anciently called the Kirktoun, with the grain mill; the lands of Teiltoun; and the remaining lands of the Barony of Guthrie, including Eistertoun or Haltoun and Milnetoun of Guthrie, together with the patronage of the collegiate church of Guthrie, common rights in the moor of Monthrewmonth, and superiority over the lands of Langlands.
The estate was valued at £7 Old Extent and £28 New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This is one of the most important Guthrie succession records in the collection because it explicitly identifies William and Alexander Guthrie as full brothers.
William is not merely described as an heir. He is specifically styled hæres masculus — heir male of Alexander. The record therefore documents male-line succession to the principal Guthrie estate after Alexander.
The Retour does not name their parents. It proves the sibling relationship and William’s legal succession, but parentage must be established from other evidence.
Property & Heirship
Unlike the small property interests recorded in several other Guthrie Retours, this service concerns the core Barony of Guthrie. The abstract names the principal lands, mill, collegiate-church patronage, common moor rights and the superiority of Langlands.
The reference to the superiority of Langlands is particularly useful when separating ownership or possession of individual lands from the superior rights held by the Guthries of Guthrie.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 88, 7 October 1615; record reference vi. 176.
20 July 1622 — William Guthrie of that Ilk
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 141 • Volume I
Gulielmus Guthrie de Eodem
Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem
patris
terris de Memas
E. 5l.
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Source Text
GULIELMUS GUTHRIE de Eodem, hæres Alexandri Guthrie de Eodem, patris,—in terris de Memas in baronia de Tannadyce.—E. 5l. viii. 49.
Modern Rendering
William Guthrie of that Ilk was served heir to Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk, his father, in the lands of Memus within the Barony of Tannadice, valued at £5.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes the relationship Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk → son and heir William Guthrie of that Ilk.
Its particular importance lies in the property: Memus. The record demonstrates that William, while styled “of that Ilk,” succeeded his father in lands at Memus within the Barony of Tannadice.
This is direct evidence for the connection between the Guthries of that Ilk and the later territorial designation “of Memus.” It should not, however, be used by itself to identify every later Guthrie styled of Memus as William’s child or descendant.
Memus in the Succession Record
The source spells the place Memas. The modern research usage on Guthrie Genealogy is Memus. The original spelling is retained in the transcription while the modern form is used in the explanatory text.
Because the entry is a Special Service, it proves William’s succession to the identified lands, not merely his general status as Alexander’s heir.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 141, 20 July 1622; record reference viii. 49.
24 March 1629 — Alexander Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 180 • Volume I
Alexander Guthrie de Wester-Gaigie
Willielmi Guthrie de Wester-Gaigie
patris
regalitate de Keremure
New Extent 40s.
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Source Text
ALEXANDER GUTHRIE de Wester-Gaigie, hæres Willielmi Guthrie de Wester-Gaigie, patris,—in villa et terris de Wester-Gaigie, in regalitate de Keremure.— A. E. 10s. N. E. 40s. xii. 62.
Modern Rendering
Alexander Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie was served heir to William Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie, his father, in the town and lands of Wester-Gaigie within the Regality of Kirriemuir. The property was valued at 10 shillings Old Extent and 40 shillings New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes the succession William Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie → his son and heir Alexander Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie.
Because both father and son carry the same territorial designation, the entry documents continuity of the Wester-Gaigie branch rather than merely a Guthrie individual acquiring property there.
The record does not identify Alexander’s mother or other children of William. Those relationships must come from separate evidence.
Property & Heirship
Alexander was served in both the town and lands of Wester-Gaigie. The Retour places them within the Regality of Kirriemuir and provides both Old and New Extent valuations.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 180, 24 March 1629; record reference xii. 62.
24 May 1636 — Peter Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 233 • Volume I
Petrus Guthrie
Magistri Patricii Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Logie-Buchane
patris
New Extent £26 13s. 4d.
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Source Text
PETRUS GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Patricii Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Logie-Buchane, patris, in terris dominicalibus de Guthrie vocatis ab antiquo Kirktoun, cum molendino granorum;—terris de Teiltoun;— reliquis terris baroniæ de Guthrie subscriptis, viz. Eistertoun alias Haltoun et Mylnetoun de Guthrie, cum advocatione ecclesiæ collegiatæ de Guthrie, et communia in mora de Montreumonth.—A. E. 6l. 13s. 4d. N. E. 26l. 13s. 4d. xv. 217.
Modern Rendering
Peter Guthrie was served heir to Mr Patrick Guthrie, minister of the Word of God at Logie-Buchan, his father, in the principal lands of Guthrie, anciently called Kirktoun, with the grain mill; the lands of Teiltoun; and the remaining lands of the Barony of Guthrie, including Eistertoun or Haltoun and Mylnetoun of Guthrie.
The inheritance also included patronage associated with the collegiate church of Guthrie and common rights in the moor of Montreumonth. The lands were valued at £6 13s. 4d. Old Extent and £26 13s. 4d. New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes Peter Guthrie as son and heir of Mr Patrick Guthrie, minister at Logie-Buchan.
It is especially important because the inherited property is not a minor annualrent or detached holding. Peter was served in the principal Guthrie estate and barony, including Kirktoun, Teiltoun, Haltoun and Mylnetoun, together with associated ecclesiastical and common rights.
The record proves Patrick’s relationship to Peter and Patrick’s position in this succession. It does not by itself establish Patrick’s own parentage or explain how he first acquired the right represented by these lands.
Property & Heirship
The property description closely resembles the core estate listed in the 1615 service of William Guthrie. That continuity makes this record particularly useful for tracing the legal transmission of the Barony of Guthrie across the early seventeenth century.
The church-related wording is retained conservatively. The abstract records the advocatio of the collegiate church of Guthrie, indicating an associated patronage right, but the precise practical scope of that right should not be expanded beyond the source wording without the underlying Retour.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 233, 24 May 1636; record reference xv. 217.
15 February 1643 — Patrick Guthry, Burgess of Dundee
SPOUSE / CONTEXT SPECIAL SERVICE Fife No. 640 • Volume I
sponsa Patricii Guthry
avi
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Source Text
GRISSILLIS BOYTER sponsa Patricii Guthry burgensis de Dundie, hæres Andreæ Boyter burgensis de Dundie, avi, in terris de Bodomcraig extendentibus ad 5 acras cum pastura, in dominio de Balmerinoche.—E. 38s. 4d. &c. xvii. 146.
Modern Rendering
Grissillis Boyter, wife of Patrick Guthry, burgess of Dundee, was served heir to Andrew Boyter, burgess of Dundee, her grandfather, in five acres of the lands of Bodomcraig with pasture, within the Lordship of Balmerino.
Evidence in Perspective
Patrick Guthry appears here only because he is the husband of the claimant. Grissillis Boyter—not Patrick—is the person being served heir.
The entry nevertheless provides useful independent evidence that a Patrick Guthry held burgess status in Dundee and was married to Grissillis Boyter by 15 February 1643.
Patrick should therefore be retained as contextual evidence, but this record is not counted as a Guthrie succession event.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Fife, No. 640, 15 February 1643; record reference xvii. 146.
4 November 1653 — John Guthrie of Over-Dysart
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 326 • Volume I
Feu duty of 40 bolls of bear, etc.
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Source Text
JOHNE GUTHRIE of Over-Dysart, heir maill of Johne Guthrie of Inverlounan, his father’s brother, in the toune and lands of Inverlounan with the teynd sheves, within the pareoch of Lownan and lordship of Aberbrothock.— E. 40 bolls beare, &c. offeufarm. xxiii. 2.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie of Over-Dysart was served heir male to John Guthrie of Inverlounan, his father’s brother, in the town and lands of Inverlounan together with the teind sheaves, within the parish of Lunan and the Lordship of Arbroath.
The feu duty is recorded as 40 bolls of bear, with additional obligations abbreviated in the printed abstract.
Evidence in Perspective
This is unusually useful kinship evidence because the Scots wording explicitly identifies the deceased John Guthrie of Inverlounan as the claimant’s father’s brother—his paternal uncle.
John of Over-Dysart is also described as heir male, indicating that the legal succession being recognized followed the relevant male line rather than a simple father-to-son inheritance.
The Retour does not name the claimant’s father. It proves that his father and John of Inverlounan were brothers, but the father’s identity must be supplied from separate evidence.
Property & Heirship
The succession concerned the town and lands of Inverlounan and their teind sheaves. The property lay in the parish of Lunan and under the Lordship of Arbroath.
The stated feu duty in grain is part of the legal description of the holding and should not be mistaken for a valuation of the estate’s market worth.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 326, 4 November 1653; record reference xxiii. 2.
5 April 1654 — John Guthrie of Halkertoun
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 332 • Volume I
Harie was John’s son
Extent 13s. 4d.
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Source Text
JOHN GUTHRIE of Halkertoun, heir maill and of provisioun of Harie Guthrie fier of Halkertoun, his soune,— in the landis of Halkertoun with the milne, within the barony of Essie.—E. 13s. 4d. xxi. 292.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie of Halkertoun was served heir male and of provision to Harie [Henry] Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun, his son, in the lands of Halkertoun with the mill, within the Barony of Essie.
Evidence in Perspective
This is an important reversal of the more usual parent-to-child succession pattern. The source expressly says that Harie Guthrie was John Guthrie’s son.
John was therefore being served heir to property or rights associated with his deceased son. The wording should not be inverted into a father-to-son succession.
The designation fiar of Halkertoun indicates that Harie held the fee or prospective heritable right while John remained associated with the estate. The additional phrase “heir male and of provision” should be retained because it describes the legal character of John’s succession.
Property & Heirship
The Retour concerns the lands of Halkertoun and their mill within the Barony of Essie. The printed abridgment records an extent of 13 shillings 4 pence.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 332, 5 April 1654; record reference xxi. 292.
8 August 1654 — John Guthrie of Halkertoun
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 338 • Volume I
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Source Text
JOHN GUTHRIE of Halcartoune, heir of Harie Guthrie of Halcartoune, his father,—in the teynd sheaves and personag teynds of the lands of Halcortowne and milne lands therof, within the parochin of Forfar-Restennet:—O. E. 2s. 8d. N. E. 10s. 8d.—the lands of the West or Shaddow-halfe of Mylnetoune of Connone, with halfe of the mylne and mylne lands, and the teynd sheaves, within the regalitie of Aberbrothock:— E. 1 chalder bear, &c. of feufarm: the fewferme dewties, &c. of the said shaddowhalfe of the Mylnetoune of Connone, with the teynd sheaves:—O. E. 12s. N. E. 48s.—the halfe of the tua pairt of the West pairt of the muire called the Firth-muire of Aberbrothock, within the lordship and regalitie of Aberbrothock.—O. E. 6d. N. E. 2s. xxiii. 17.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie of Halkertoun was served heir to Harie [Henry] Guthrie of Halkertoun, his father. The inheritance included the teind sheaves and parsonage teinds of the lands of Halkertoun and its mill lands within the parish of Forfar-Restennet.
It also included the west or shadow half of Mylnetoun of Conon, half of the mill and mill lands there, associated teinds and feu duties, and a further interest in the west portion of the Firth Moor of Arbroath.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour presents a different relationship from the 5 April 1654 service. Here the source explicitly states that Harie Guthrie of Halkertoun was John’s father.
Because the two services are only four months apart and name men of the same designation, they must not be casually merged. In April, John was heir to Harie, his son; in August, John was heir to Harie, his father. The printed records therefore describe two distinct kinship positions and require careful identity work outside this abridgment.
The Retour itself does not explain whether the two men named Harie were from different generations with the same name, nor does it supply enough information to resolve that question independently.
Property & Heirship
The property package is more complex than the April service. Rather than simply Halkertoun and its mill, this Retour concerns teinds, mill lands, fractional property at Mylnetoun of Conon, feu duties and moorland interests.
The distinction matters because the two April/August services should not be treated as duplicate statements of the same inheritance.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 338, 8 August 1654; record reference xxiii. 17.
13 November 1655 — Margaret Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Edinburgh No. 1056 • Volume I
E. 3s. 4d.
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Source Text
MARGARET GUTHRIE spous to William Rutherfuird merchand, heir of Alexander Guthrie merchand burges of Edinburghe, her father,—in 2 buiths in Edinburgh.— E. 3s. 4d. xxiii. 116.
Modern Rendering
Margaret Guthrie, spouse of William Rutherfuird, merchant, was served heir to Alexander Guthrie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, her father, in two booths in Edinburgh.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour provides a compact but valuable family group: Alexander Guthrie → daughter Margaret Guthrie, with Margaret additionally identified as the wife of William Rutherfuird, merchant.
Alexander’s occupation and civic status are also explicit: he was a merchant burgess of Edinburgh. These identifiers are useful when distinguishing him from other contemporary Alexander Guthries.
The record does not identify Margaret as an only child or heir-portioner. It proves her heirship in the specified property but should not be used to infer the absence of siblings.
Property & Heirship
Margaret’s inheritance consisted of two booths in Edinburgh. In an urban Scottish context, a booth could be a shop, stall or commercial room associated with a tenement or street frontage.
The Retour therefore links this Guthrie family not only to Edinburgh burgess status but also to specific commercial property in the burgh.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Edinburgh, No. 1056, 13 November 1655; record reference xxiii. 116.
4 April 1665 — John Guthrie of that Ilk
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 412 • Volume I
Joannes Guthrie de Eodem
Francisci Guthrie de Eodem
patris
hæres lineæ et masculus
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Source Text
JOANNES GUTHRIE de Eodem, hæres lineæ et masculus Francisci Guthrie de Eodem, patris,—in terris de Wester Gaigie, infra regalitatem de Kirriemure:— A. E. 40s. N. E. 8l.—terris et baronia de Guthrie comprehendentibus terras dominicales de Guthrie vocatas ab antiquo Kirktoun de Guthrie;—molendinum granorum de Guthrie;—terras de Teiltoune;—alias terras dictæ baroniæ, viz. Eistertoun alias Haltoun, et Milntoun de Guthrie, cum advocatione ecclesiæ, præposituræ, et præbendariæ ecclesiæ collegiatæ de Guthrie, et communitate in mora de Montrewmonth:—A. E. 6l. 13s. 4d. N. E. 26l. 13s. 4d.— terris ecclesiasticis lie Templelands de Kincreich:— E. 11s. feudifirme:—terris de Brax cum decimis garbalibus, infra dominium et regalitatem de Aberbrothock:— E. 12 bollæ hordei, &c. feudifirme:—parte moræ vocatæ Firth de Aberbrothock, infra dictum dominium.— E. 3l. 4d. feudifirma. xxviii. 9.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie of that Ilk was served heir of line and heir male to Francis Guthrie of that Ilk, his father.
His inheritance included the lands of Wester-Gaigie within the Regality of Kirriemuir, and the lands and Barony of Guthrie, comprising the principal lands anciently called Kirktoun of Guthrie, the grain mill of Guthrie, Teiltoun, Eistertoun or Haltoun, and Milntoun of Guthrie.
Associated rights included the patronage and offices connected with the collegiate church of Guthrie, common rights in the moor of Montrewmonth, the Templelands of Kincreich, the lands of Brax with grain teinds, and a portion of the moor called the Firth of Arbroath.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes Francis Guthrie of that Ilk → son and heir John Guthrie of that Ilk.
John is specifically described as both heir of line and heir male. The combination is significant because the same claimant satisfied both forms of succession identified by the abridgment.
The property list also reconnects the principal Guthrie estate with Wester-Gaigie, showing that John’s inheritance encompassed more than the central Barony of Guthrie alone.
This same father-to-son succession is also entered among the General Services as No. 4885. The two published entries therefore represent the same succession in different classes and should not be counted as two independent inheritance events.
Property & Heirship
The Retour gives an unusually broad picture of the estate: principal demesne lands, mill, associated barony lands, collegiate-church rights, common moor rights, temple lands, teinds and additional property under the Lordship and Regality of Arbroath.
The Barony of Guthrie lands are valued at £6 13s. 4d. Old Extent and £26 13s. 4d. New Extent, while Wester-Gaigie is separately valued at 40s. Old Extent and £8 New Extent.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 412, 4 April 1665; record reference xxviii. 9.
13 October 1670 — David Guthrie of Carsbank
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 444 • Volume I
David Guthrie de Carsbank
Alexandri Guthrie de Carsbank
patris
baronia de Phinheavin
New Extent £8
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Source Text
DAVID GUTHRIE de Carsbank, hæres Alexandri Guthrie de Carsbank, patris, in terris de Craigheid vulgo vocatis Eister et Wester Craigheidis in baronia de Phinheavin;— tenandria et superioritate villæ et terrarum de Carsgounie quæ sunt dimidietas ejusdem, et terrarum de Eistir Mairstoune, in baronia de Phinheavin.—A. E. 40s. N. E. 8l. xxx. 111.
Modern Rendering
David Guthrie of Carsbank was served heir to Alexander Guthrie of Carsbank, his father, in the lands of Craigheid, commonly called Easter and Wester Craigheid, within the Barony of Finhaven.
The inheritance also included the tenandry and superiority of the town and lands of Carsgownie, representing one-half of that holding, together with interests in the lands of Easter Mairstoun, likewise within the Barony of Finhaven.
The property was valued at 40 shillings Old Extent and £8 New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes Alexander Guthrie of Carsbank → son and heir David Guthrie of Carsbank.
The territorial designation is carried by both generations, making this useful evidence for succession within the Carsbank branch.
The property description also distinguishes between direct landed interests and tenandry and superiority rights. Those feudal rights should not automatically be read as direct possession of every acre within Carsgownie.
Property & Heirship
The estate included Easter and Wester Craigheid as well as rights relating to Carsgownie and Easter Mairstoun. All are placed by the abstract within the Barony of Finhaven.
The explicit reference to superiority is particularly useful in distinguishing feudal lordship from physical occupation or direct ownership by a tenant beneath the superior.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 444, 13 October 1670; record reference xxx. 111.
13 December 1670 — David Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 445 • Volume I
Her forename is not supplied in the printed text
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Source Text
DAVID GUTHRIE filius Joannis Guthrie portionarii de Milntoune de Connon inter eum et ……… Philp procreatus, hæres masculus Henrici Guthrie feoditarii de Halkertoune filii dicti Joannis Guthrie, inter illum et Elizabetham Lindsay ejus primam sponsam procreati, fratris,—in terris de Halkertoun cum molendino, in baronia de Essie.—A. E. 13s. 4d. N. E. 53s. 4d. xxx. 123.
Modern Rendering
David Guthrie, son of John Guthrie, portioner of Milntoun of Conon, by a woman whose surname was Philp, was served heir male to Henry Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun.
Henry is identified as another son of the same John Guthrie, born to Elizabeth Lindsay, John’s first wife. The inherited property consisted of the lands of Halkertoun with the mill within the Barony of Essie.
The lands were valued at 13s. 4d. Old Extent and 53s. 4d. New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This is one of the most genealogically detailed Guthrie Retours in the collection. It identifies not simply an heir and ancestor, but the parentage of both men.
The record establishes:
John Guthrie, portioner of Milntoun of Conon
+ Elizabeth Lindsay, his first wife
→ Henry Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun
John Guthrie
+ ……… Philp
→ David Guthrie
David is then served heir male to Henry, his brother. Because the Retour gives the same father but different mothers, the relationship can more precisely be understood as paternal half-brothers.
The printed abridgment leaves David’s mother’s forename blank. It should remain unresolved here rather than being supplied from another pedigree without separate evidence.
Connection to the 1654 Halkertoun Services
This record adds important context to the two 1654 Halkertoun Retours. It expressly identifies Henry Guthrie, fiar of Halkertoun, as a son of John Guthrie and names Henry’s mother as Elizabeth Lindsay, John’s first wife.
It also identifies David as another son of John and therefore clarifies the family structure behind the later succession to Halkertoun.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 445, 13 December 1670; record reference xxx. 123.
5 May 1675 — Joneta, Jeanna, Issobella & Margareta Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 461 • Volume I
hæredes portionariæ
avi
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Source Text
JONETA, JEANNA, ISSOBELLA, ET MARGARETA GUTHRIES, hæredes portionariæ Roberti Guthrie de Kinblethmonth, avi, in annuis redditibus 22s.—3l.—et 3l. de tenementis intra libertatem burgi de Aberbrothock;— in tenementis infra libertatem dicti burgi.—E. 40d. xxxii. 342.
Modern Rendering
Joneta, Jeanna, Issobella and Margareta Guthrie were served heirs-portioners to Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont, their grandfather.
Their inheritance included annualrents of 22 shillings, £3 and £3 from tenements within the liberty of the burgh of Arbroath, together with tenement property there. The abstract also records an extent of 40 pence for the tenement interest.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes that all four women were granddaughters and heirs of Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont.
Their designation as heirs-portioners means that the inheritance was divided among co-heirs rather than passing as an undivided succession to a single heir.
The Retour does not name their parent. It therefore proves their descent from Robert but does not establish from this record alone whether they were sisters, cousins, or children of one or more of Robert’s sons or daughters. Their exact intermediate parentage must be demonstrated from other evidence.
Why “Heirs-Portioners” Matters
In Scottish succession, several daughters or other female co-heirs could succeed as heirs-portioners, each taking a portion of the heritable estate rather than one individual succeeding to the whole.
The terminology therefore tells us something about the structure of this inheritance, but it should not be used to infer more about their parents or sibling relationships than the Retour expressly states.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 461, 5 May 1675; record reference xxxii. 342.
5 November 1684 — Sir Henry Guthrie of King-Edward, Baronet
SPECIAL SERVICE Forfar No. 493 • Volume I
Dominus Hendricus Guthrie de Kingedward miles baronetus
Henrici Guthrie de Collistoune
avi
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Source Text
DOMINUS HENDRICUS GUTHRIE de Kingedward miles baronetus, hæres Henrici Guthrie de Collistoune, avi,—in terris de Collystoune, Ruives, et Park de Conon, cum crofta nuncupata Guthrieshill, in dominio et regalitate de Aberbrothock:—E. 30l. &c. fevdifirmæ:—prato vocato Weitmeadow et Collistoune meadow;—modica parte et portione moræ de Firth de Aberbrothock, omnibus jacentibus infra regalitatem de Aberbrothock.—E. 10s. feudifirma. xxxvii. 329.
Modern Rendering
Sir Henry Guthrie of King-Edward, knight baronet, was served heir to Henry Guthrie of Colliston, his grandfather, in the lands of Colliston, Ruives and Park of Conon, together with the croft called Guthrieshill, within the Lordship and Regality of Arbroath.
The inheritance also included the meadow called Weitmeadow, Colliston Meadow, and a small part or portion of the moor known as the Firth of Arbroath.
The principal lands are recorded at a feu duty of £30 and associated obligations, while the additional moorland portion carried a feu duty of 10 shillings.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes Sir Henry Guthrie of King-Edward as grandson and heir of Henry Guthrie of Colliston.
The relationship is expressed by avi, grandfather. The Retour therefore provides an important fixed genealogical point between the later baronet and the earlier Colliston proprietor.
It does not identify Sir Henry’s parent. The intervening generation cannot be supplied from this Retour alone, even though it may be established elsewhere in the Colliston evidence.
Sir Henry’s title and territorial designation are also explicit in the record: he is styled of King-Edward and knight baronet, while the inherited property derives from his grandfather’s Colliston estate.
Property & the Colliston Estate
The named lands— Colliston, Ruives, Park of Conon and Guthrieshill— are especially useful because they preserve the recognizable property cluster associated with the Colliston Guthries.
The Retour also shows that the inheritance extended beyond the core lands to meadow and moorland interests within the Regality of Arbroath.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Forfar, No. 493, 5 November 1684; record reference xxxvii. 329.
Volume I — Guthrie Special Services Complete
The Guthrie entries above complete the audited Volume I Special Services. They preserve direct evidence for several major Guthrie branches and territorial lines, including Guthrie of that Ilk, Halkertoun, Wester-Gaigie, Carsbank, Kinblethmont and Colliston, as well as urban and professional Guthrie families in Edinburgh, Leith and elsewhere.
Several people already encountered in Volume I reappear in Volume II in General Services or supplemental entries. Those records are retained separately where they provide distinct heirship evidence, while exact duplicate succession events are identified as such.
Volume II — Special Services, General Services & Other Inquests
Volume II continues the county-by-county Special Services and then adds the collection’s General Services, supplemental Services, Tutory proceedings, Extents and five-year-possession inquests.
The Guthrie material in this volume is therefore broader than the landed Special Services alone. It includes general heirship, maternal and collateral succession, clerical and professional families, supplemental entries and related evidence that does not always describe a specific estate.
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8 November 1606 — Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun
GENERAL SERVICE No. 270 • Volume II
Henricus Guthrie de Halkertoun
Gulielmi Guthrie de Halkertoun
avi
also dated 8 November 1606
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Source Text
HENRICUS GUTHRIE de Halkertoun, hæres Gulielmi Guthrie de Halkertoun, avi. iv. 54.
Modern Rendering
Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun was served heir to William Guthrie of Halkertoun, his grandfather.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly identifies William Guthrie of Halkertoun as Henry Guthrie’s grandfather.
A related Volume I Special Service dated the same day, Forfar No. 52, identifies Alexander Guthrie of Halkertoun as Henry’s great-grandfather.
Taken together, the two records establish two generations above Henry:
Alexander Guthrie of Halkertoun
— great-grandfather
↓
William Guthrie of Halkertoun
— grandfather
↓
unnamed intervening parent
↓
Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun
The two Retours do not name Henry’s parent, nor does either one expressly state that William was Alexander’s son. Those connections require separate evidence.
Why This Is Not a Duplicate
The Volume I Special Service and this Volume II General Service are related, but they are not duplicate entries.
The Special Service concerns Henry’s succession in particular property at Hiltoun of Guthrie through his great-grandfather Alexander. This General Service establishes Henry’s general status as heir to his grandfather William.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 270, 8 November 1606; record reference iv. 54.
18 March 1607 — John Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Stirling No. 57 • Volume II
Joannes Guthrie
Joannis Guthrie incolæ de Striviling
patris
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Source Text
JOANNES GUTHRIE, hæres Joannis Guthrie incolæ de Striviling, patris,—in annuo redditu 40m. de terris de Queinshauche. iii. 267.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie was served heir to John Guthrie, an inhabitant of Stirling, his father, in an annualrent of 40 merks payable from the lands of Queinshauche.
Evidence in Perspective
This Special Service directly establishes a father-to-son relationship between two men named John Guthrie.
The elder John is described as incola de Striviling—an inhabitant of Stirling. This indicates residence rather than a territorial style such as “John Guthrie of Stirling.”
The inherited right was an annual payment issuing from Queinshauche. The Retour does not say that either John Guthrie owned the lands of Queinshauche themselves.
Property & Heirship
The distinction between an annualrent and ownership of the underlying estate is important. John succeeded to the financial right of 40 merks annually rather than being served heir in Queinshauche as a landed estate.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Stirling, No. 57, 18 March 1607; record reference iii. 267.
4 January 1611 — William Guthrie
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT No. 1448 • Volume II
Willielmus Guthrie
Jonetæ Patersone
matris
E. uniuscujusque 12d.
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Source Text
WILLIELMUS GUTHRIE, hæres Jonetæ Patersone, matris,—in terra in villa de Leyth ex australi parte aquæ ejusdem, in baronia de Restalrig;—altera terra in dicta villa de Leyth ex dicta australi parte aquæ ejusdem, infra baroniam prædictam;—pecia vastæ terræ, in præfata villa ex dicta australi parte aquæ ejusdem, et in baronia prædicta;— tenemento cum horto in dicta villa, ex australi parte aquæ ejusdem, et in baronia prædicta.—E. uniuscujusque 12d. E. 37.
Modern Rendering
William Guthrie was served heir to Jonet Patersone, his mother, in several properties in Leith on the south side of the Water of Leith, within the Barony of Restalrig.
The inheritance included two pieces of land, a piece of vacant ground, and a tenement with a garden. Each is recorded at an extent of 12 pence.
Evidence in Perspective
This is direct evidence for a mother-son relationship: Jonet Patersone → William Guthrie.
Maternal Services are especially useful because they can identify family connections that would not be apparent from the Guthrie surname alone. Here William’s inheritance came specifically through his mother.
The Retour does not identify William’s father. It should not be linked to a particular Guthrie branch solely from the maternal inheritance described here.
Property & Heirship
The property cluster lies in Leith, south of the Water of Leith, within the Barony of Restalrig. The description includes both occupied and vacant urban land as well as a tenement with garden.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Special Services Supplement, No. 1448, 4 January 1611; record reference E. 37.
19 February 1612 — Peter Gothray & the Haddington Tenement
RELATED EVIDENCE SPECIAL SERVICE Haddington No. 60 • Volume I
avunculi
New Extent 2s.
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Source Text
WALTERUS LUKKIE, hæres Petri Gothray, avunculi, in tenemento in Hadingtoun.—A. E. 8d. N. E. 2s. iv. 458.
Modern Rendering
Walter Lukkie was served heir to Peter Gothray, his maternal uncle, in a tenement in Haddington. The property was valued at 8 pence Old Extent and 2 shillings New Extent.
Evidence in Perspective
This Special Service confirms the same Walter Luckie/Lukkie → Peter Gothray maternal-uncle relationship already seen in the 1609 General Service.
Unlike the General Service, this entry supplies the specific inherited property: a tenement in Haddington.
The two records belong to the same family context and should not be mistaken for direct Guthrie claimant Services. Peter Gothray remains the deceased ancestor in both.
Why Both Records Matter
The General Service establishes Walter’s general heirship to Peter. The later Special Service identifies a particular Haddington property passing under that relationship.
Together they illustrate why both General and Special Services were checked during the audit rather than treating one class as sufficient by itself.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Haddington, No. 60, 19 February 1612; record reference iv. 458.
11 August 1614 — Lodovicus / Louis Guthrie
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT No. 1487 • Volume II
Modern rendering: Louis Guthrie
Christinæ Somer
matris
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Source Text
LODOVICUS GUTHRIE, hæres Christinæ Somer, matris,—in annuo redditu 10m. de tenemento in Edinburgh. F. 228.
Modern Rendering
Lodovicus, or Louis, Guthrie was served heir to Christina Somer, his mother, in an annualrent of 10 merks from a tenement in Edinburgh.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly establishes Christina Somer as the mother of Lodovicus Guthrie.
As with the 1611 William Guthrie service, the succession passes through the maternal line and therefore supplies a surname connection that would otherwise be easy to overlook.
The record does not identify Lodovicus’s father or provide enough evidence to assign him to a specific Guthrie lineage.
Name Form
Lodovicus is the Latinized form used in the printed Retour. It is commonly rendered in English as Louis. The source form is retained in the transcription, with the modern form supplied for readability.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Special Services Supplement, No. 1487, 11 August 1614; record reference F. 228.
11 March 1625 — Henry Guthrie, Baker & Burgess of Dundee
GENERAL SERVICE No. 1187 • Volume II
Henricus Guthrie polentarius ac burgensis de Dundie
patrui
polentarius
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Source Text
HENRICUS GUTHRIE polentarius ac burgensis de Dundie, hæres Patricii Guthrie mercatoris ac burgensis dicti burgi, patrui. viii. 335.
Modern Rendering
Henry Guthrie, baker and burgess of Dundee, was served heir to Patrick Guthrie, merchant and burgess of Dundee, his paternal uncle.
Evidence in Perspective
The key relationship is paternal uncle. The Latin patruus refers specifically to the claimant’s father’s brother.
This means Patrick Guthrie and Henry’s unnamed father were brothers. The Retour therefore supplies collateral male-line evidence even though Henry’s father is not named.
It also distinguishes both men by occupation and civic status: Henry was a baker and burgess, while Patrick was a merchant and burgess of Dundee.
Patrick should not be described as Henry’s father. The source explicitly says patrui, paternal uncle.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 1187, 11 March 1625; record reference viii. 335.
7 December 1626 — Margaret Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 1285 • Volume II
Margareta Guthrie
patris
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Source Text
The body of the printed General Services reads:
(1285) Sep. 7. 1626.
MARGARETA GUTHRIE, hæres Thomæ Guthrie
mercatoris burgensis de Edinburgh, patris.
ix. 168.
The volume’s own Addenda & Corrigenda corrects “Sep. 7.” to “Dec. 7.”
Modern Rendering
On the corrected date of 7 December 1626, Margaret Guthrie was served heir to Thomas Guthrie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, her father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes Thomas Guthrie → daughter and heir Margaret Guthrie.
Thomas is further identified as a merchant burgess of Edinburgh, providing occupational and civic evidence useful for distinguishing him from other contemporary men of the same name.
The date requires editorial care. The body entry prints 7 September 1626, but the same published volume’s Addenda & Corrigenda expressly corrects the month to December.
This page therefore uses 7 December 1626 as the corrected date while preserving the original body reading here so the discrepancy remains transparent.
Editorial Correction
Addenda & Corrigenda: “Sep. 7.” — read “Dec. 7.”
Date used in this Finding Aid: 7 December 1626
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 1285, corrected date 7 December 1626; record reference ix. 168; date corrected in the volume’s Addenda & Corrigenda.
19 October 1627 — Margaret Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 1361 • Volume II
Margareta Guthrie
Joannis Guthrie de Innerlownane
patris
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Source Text
MARGARETA GUTHRIE, hæres Joannis Guthrie de Innerlownane, patris. x. 33.
Modern Rendering
Margaret Guthrie was served heir to John Guthrie of Inverlounan, her father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes John Guthrie of Inverlounan → daughter and heir Margaret Guthrie.
John’s territorial designation is explicit: of Inverlounan. This distinguishes the record from entries that describe a person merely as resident “in” a place.
No particular property is listed because this is a General Service. The entry establishes Margaret’s legal status as John’s heir without describing the estate through which succession was later completed.
Connection to Later Inverlounan Evidence
The Inverlounan designation appears again in the 1653 Special Service of John Guthrie of Over-Dysart, who was served heir male to another John Guthrie of Inverlounan, identified as his father’s brother.
The two Retours belong to the same territorial research context, but this 1627 record alone does not establish the precise relationship between Margaret’s father and the later John Guthries.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 1361, 19 October 1627; record reference x. 33.
31 May 1642 — Alexander Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 2692 • Volume II
Alexandri Guthrie feoditarii de Memes
patris
Source spelling: Memes
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Source Text
ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, hæres Alexandri Guthrie feoditarii de Memes, patris. xvii. 274.
Modern Rendering
Alexander Guthrie was served heir to Alexander Guthrie, fiar of Memus, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes a father-to-son succession between two men named Alexander Guthrie, with the elder specifically designated fiar of Memus.
The territorial designation is important because it places this family directly within the Memus succession evidence. The record does not merely associate the elder Alexander with a place; it describes him as the feoditarius, or fiar, of Memus.
The General Service does not identify the particular property passing to the younger Alexander, nor does it name his mother or siblings.
Memus Research Significance
This Retour is separate from the 1622 Special Service in which William Guthrie of that Ilk succeeded his father Alexander in the lands of Memus.
The 1642 record proves a later Alexander Guthrie, fiar of Memus → son Alexander succession, but it should not be used by itself to reconstruct the entire sequence between the 1622 and 1642 generations.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 2692, 31 May 1642; record reference xvii. 274.
30 December 1643 — Francis Guthrie of Gaigie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 2938 • Volume II
Franciscus Guthrie de Gaigie
Alexandri Guthrie de Gaigie
fratris germani
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Source Text
FRANCISCUS GUTHRIE de Gaigie, hæres Alexandri Guthrie de Gaigie, fratris germani. xvii. 265.
Modern Rendering
Francis Guthrie of Gaigie was served heir to Alexander Guthrie of Gaigie, his full brother.
Evidence in Perspective
The Retour explicitly describes Francis and Alexander as full brothers. The phrase fratris germani is stronger than a generic statement of brotherhood because it denotes a brother of the same parentage.
Both men carry the territorial designation of Gaigie, documenting succession within that branch.
The General Service does not name their parents or list the property involved. It proves the sibling relationship and Francis’s legal status as Alexander’s heir, but no additional parentage should be inferred from this entry alone.
Gaigie / Wester-Gaigie Context
Earlier Volume I evidence records Alexander Guthrie of Wester-Gaigie succeeding his father William in 1629. This 1643 General Service records Francis succeeding a brother Alexander of Gaigie.
The similarity of territorial designations makes the records important for Gaigie research, but the Retour itself does not state whether the Alexander named here is identical with the claimant of 1629. That identification requires comparison with other evidence.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 2938, 30 December 1643; record reference xvii. 265.
8 May 1649 — John Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Perth No. 588 • Volume II
Joannes Guthrie
Jacobi Guthrie scribæ signeto
patris
E. 6l. 6d.
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Source Text
JOANNES GUTHRIE, hæres Jacobi Guthrie scribæ signeto, patris,—in dimidietate terrarum de Barnhill;— octava parte terrarum de Ovirtoun de Pitvar;—duabus tertiis partibus villæ et terrarum de Barnehill, in dominio de Culrois.—E. 6l. 6d. xix. 357.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie was served heir to James Guthrie, Writer to the Signet, his father, in one-half of the lands of Barnhill, one-eighth of the lands of Over Pitvar, and two-thirds of the town and lands of Barnhill within the Lordship of Culross.
The property was recorded at an extent of £6 6d.
Evidence in Perspective
This Special Service directly establishes James Guthrie, Writer to the Signet → son and heir John Guthrie.
James’s professional designation is valuable because Writer to the Signet was a distinct legal and professional identity, helping distinguish him from contemporary men of the same name.
The Retour also shows that this was a substantial landed inheritance comprising fractional interests in several Culross properties, rather than merely a general heirship declaration.
Property & Heirship
The listed interests were divided fractionally: one-half of Barnhill, one-eighth of Over Pitvar, and two-thirds of the town and lands of Barnhill.
Those fractions should be preserved rather than simplified into a statement that John inherited the whole of Barnhill or Over Pitvar.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Perth, No. 588, 8 May 1649; record reference xix. 357.
20 August 1653 — Hercules Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 3833 • Volume II
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Source Text
HERCULES GUTHRIE sone to Hercules Guthrie chyrurgeon burges in Aberdene, heir of Gilbert Guthrie, his brother germane. xxii. 39.
Modern Rendering
Hercules Guthrie, son of Hercules Guthrie, surgeon and burgess in Aberdeen, was served heir to Gilbert Guthrie, his full brother.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service is unusually valuable because it gives both a sibling relationship and the claimant’s father.
It directly establishes:
Hercules Guthrie, surgeon and burgess of Aberdeen
↓ father of
Hercules Guthrie
and
Gilbert Guthrie, full brother of the claimant
The phrase “brother germane” means full brother. Because the claimant is expressly stated to be the son of the elder Hercules, this record strongly supports the placement of Gilbert within the same immediate family.
The General Service does not identify the brothers’ mother or describe any particular property.
Occupational Context
The elder Hercules is identified as a surgeon and burgess in Aberdeen. That occupational and civic description is useful for distinguishing this family from landed Guthrie branches appearing elsewhere in the Retours.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 3833, 20 August 1653; record reference xxii. 39.
10 September 1653 — Anne Gutherie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 3838 • Volume II
Source: tailzor
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Source Text
ANNE GUTHERIE, heir of James Gutherie tailzor at Londoune, her father. xxi. 182.
Modern Rendering
Anne Gutherie was served heir to James Gutherie, tailor in London, her father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes James Gutherie → daughter and heir Anne Gutherie.
The surname is printed here as Gutherie, one of the confirmed variants recovered during the three-volume audit.
James is again identified by occupation and residence as a tailor in London. That description closely parallels the 1656 Special Service in which Anna Guthrie is served heir to James Guthrie, tailor in London.
The similarity is important, but this General Service alone does not prove whether Anne Gutherie of 1653 and Anna Guthrie of 1656 are the same woman. That identification should be made only if supported by the combined evidence.
Connection to the 1656 Anna Guthrie Services
Volume I records an Anna Guthrie on 26 May 1656 as heir to James Guthrie, tailor in London, and also to John Guthrie, her grandfather.
Because the father’s name, occupation and residence agree, the 1653 and 1656 entries are clearly relevant to one another. The Retours page should preserve that comparison without silently collapsing the two name forms into a single identity.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 3838, 10 September 1653; record reference xxi. 182.
4 April 1665 — John Guthrie of that Ilk
GENERAL SERVICE SAME SUCCESSION No. 4885 • Volume II
Joannes Guthrie de Eodem
Francisci Guthrie de Eodem
patris
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Source Text
JOANNES GUTHRIE de Eodem, hæres Francisci Guthrie de Eodem, patris. xxviii. 10.
Modern Rendering
John Guthrie of that Ilk was served heir to Francis Guthrie of that Ilk, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service repeats the same core succession recorded in Volume I, Forfar Special Service No. 412: Francis Guthrie of that Ilk → son and heir John Guthrie of that Ilk.
The Special Service provides the detailed property description, including Wester-Gaigie, the Barony of Guthrie, collegiate-church rights and other holdings. This General Service records John’s general legal heirship to his father without repeating those lands.
For the collection-wide audit, these two entries are treated as one succession event represented in two service classes, not as two independent inheritances.
Why Both Entries Are Retained
Although they represent the same succession, both published entries are retained because they show how the same heirship could appear in both the Special and General series.
Keeping both also preserves the published record structure while preventing an inflated count of Guthrie inheritance events.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 4885, 4 April 1665; record reference xxviii. 10.
3 May 1666 — Peter Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 4988 • Volume II
Petrus Guthrie
Magistri Patricii Guthrie de Eodem
patris
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Source Text
PETRUS GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Patricii Guthrie de Eodem, patris. xxviii. 151.
Modern Rendering
Peter Guthrie was served heir to Mr Patrick Guthrie of that Ilk, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes Patrick Guthrie of that Ilk → son and heir Peter Guthrie.
The entry is brief, but Patrick’s territorial designation is explicit. He is styled de Eodem, “of that Ilk.”
No property is described because this is a General Service. The record proves the father-son relationship and Peter’s general status as heir, but it does not identify the lands through which he succeeded.
Comparison with the 1636 Peter Guthrie Service
Volume I includes a 1636 Special Service for a Peter Guthrie who was heir to Mr Patrick Guthrie, minister at Logie-Buchan, in the principal Barony of Guthrie lands.
The name combination is notable, but the 1666 General Service itself does not state that its Patrick or Peter is identical with the individuals in the 1636 service. The records should therefore be compared, not automatically merged.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 4988, 3 May 1666; record reference xxviii. 151.
14 June 1666 — Agnes & Maria Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 5001 • Volume II
Agneta et Maria Guthries
patris
hæredes portionariæ
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Source Text
AGNETA ET MARIA GUTHRIES, hæredes portionariæ Magistri Willielmi Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Finnick, patris. xxviii. 171.
Modern Rendering
Agnes and Maria Guthrie were served heirs-portioners to Mr William Guthrie, minister of the Word of God at Fenwick, their father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly identifies Agnes and Maria Guthrie as daughters and co-heirs of Rev. William Guthrie of Fenwick.
Their status as heirs-portioners is important: the legal succession was divided between them rather than passing to one sole heir.
The record also securely identifies their father by office as minister at Fenwick, making this a particularly useful source for the family of Rev. William Guthrie.
Because this is a General Service, no particular property is listed. The entry proves the daughters’ heirship and relationship to William, but not the composition of the estate.
Heirs-Portioners
The plural hæredes portionariæ indicates female co-heirs who shared the heritable succession in portions. The wording therefore tells us more than simply that both women were William’s daughters: it records their legal status in the succession.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 5001, 14 June 1666; record reference xxviii. 171.
14 February 1667 — Margaret Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 5062 • Volume II
Margareta Guthrie
avi ex parte matris
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Source Text
MARGARETA GUTHRIE, hæres Alexandri Balmano scribæ in Edinburgh, avi ex parte matris. xxviii. 252.
Modern Rendering
Margaret Guthrie was served heir to Alexander Balmano, writer in Edinburgh, her maternal grandfather.
Evidence in Perspective
This is direct maternal-line evidence. The phrase avi ex parte matris identifies Alexander Balmano specifically as Margaret’s grandfather on her mother’s side.
The Retour therefore establishes that Margaret’s mother was a child of Alexander Balmano, although the mother’s own name is not supplied here.
This record is also important editorially because the published Volume III Guthrie index mispoints the entry as No. 3062. The actual body record is No. 5062. The body entry controls the citation used here.
Index Correction
Actual Volume II body entry: 5062
Correct date: 14 February 1667
Correct relationship: maternal grandfather
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 5062, 14 February 1667; record reference xxviii. 252. Volume III’s Guthrie index incorrectly points to No. 3062.
12 July 1667 — Alexander Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 5087 • Volume II
patris
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Source Text
ALEXANDER GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Alexandri Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Stracathrow, patris. xxviii. 373.
Modern Rendering
Alexander Guthrie was served heir to Mr Alexander Guthrie, minister of the Word of God at Stracathro, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes Rev. Alexander Guthrie of Stracathro → son and heir Alexander Guthrie.
The father’s clerical office is especially useful for identification because the source does not rely on a landed territorial designation. Instead, it distinguishes him by his ministry at Stracathro.
The entry does not identify the younger Alexander’s mother or any siblings, nor does it list the estate involved.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 5087, 12 July 1667; record reference xxviii. 373.
19 October 1676 — Elizabeth Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 5944 • Volume II
Elizabetha Guthrie
Thomæ Guthrie
patris
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Source Text
ELIZABETHA GUTHRIE, hæres Thomæ Guthrie, patris. xxxiii. 30.
Modern Rendering
Elizabeth Guthrie was served heir to Thomas Guthrie, her father.
Evidence in Perspective
This entry provides a clear legal relationship: Thomas Guthrie → daughter and heir Elizabeth Guthrie.
Beyond that relationship, however, the abstract is unusually sparse. Thomas is given no occupation, residence, office or territorial designation, and no property is listed.
The record therefore should not be connected to another Thomas Guthrie solely on the basis of the shared name. Additional evidence is required to identify this family more precisely.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 5944, 19 October 1676; record reference xxxiii. 30.
26 June 1686 — Mr David Guthrie, Apothecary & Burgess of Dundee
GENERAL SUPPLEMENT No. 8738 • Volume II
patris
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Source Text
MAGISTER DAVID GUTHRIE apothecarius burgensis burgi de Dundie, hæres Magistri Davidis Guthrie ministri apud ecclesiam de Anstruther Wester, patris. I. 142.
Modern Rendering
Mr David Guthrie, apothecary and burgess of Dundee, was served heir to Mr David Guthrie, minister at Anstruther Wester, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service Supplement directly establishes a father-son relationship between two men named David Guthrie.
Their occupations make them readily distinguishable: the father was minister at Anstruther Wester, while the son was an apothecary and burgess of Dundee.
A second supplemental entry immediately following this one identifies another son of the minister, Mr Colin Guthrie, as the claimant David’s brother. The two entries therefore work together as a compact family reconstruction.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, General Services Supplement, No. 8738, 26 June 1686; record reference I. 142.
June 1686 — Mr David Guthrie, Apothecary & Burgess of Dundee
GENERAL SUPPLEMENT No. 8739 • Volume II
fratris
Exact day unclear in the working source text
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Source Text
MAGISTER DAVID GUTHRIE apothecarius burgensis burgi de Dundie, hæres Magistri Colini Guthrie filii quondam Magistri Davidis Guthrie, olim ministri apud ecclesiam de Anstruther Wester, fratris. I. 142.
Modern Rendering
Mr David Guthrie, apothecary and burgess of Dundee, was served heir to Mr Colin Guthrie, his brother.
Colin is expressly identified as a son of the late Mr David Guthrie, formerly minister at Anstruther Wester.
Evidence in Perspective
Read with General Supplement No. 8738, this entry provides a strong family grouping:
Mr David Guthrie, minister at Anstruther Wester
↓
Mr David Guthrie,
apothecary and burgess of Dundee
Mr Colin Guthrie
No. 8738 makes the minister the claimant David’s father. No. 8739 identifies Colin as a son of that same late minister and as the claimant’s brother.
The exact day in June is not secure in the working text, which prints an incomplete date. It is therefore left as June 1686 rather than supplied by inference.
Date Note
Editorial treatment here: June 1686
No exact day is supplied unless verified from a clearer image or original record.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, General Services Supplement, No. 8739, June 1686; record reference I. 142. Exact day unresolved in the working source text.
9 June 1687 — Mr John Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 6838 • Volume II
Magister Joannes Guthrie
patris
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Source Text
MAGISTER JOANNES GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Joannis Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Dundie, patris. xxxix. 592.
Modern Rendering
Mr John Guthrie was served heir to Mr John Guthrie, minister of the Word of God at Dundee, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes Rev. John Guthrie of Dundee → son and heir Mr John Guthrie.
The elder John’s ministerial office is the principal identifying detail supplied by the Retour and distinguishes him from other contemporary men named John Guthrie.
No property, spouse, mother or siblings are identified in the abstract. Its evidentiary value is the explicit father-son relationship and the father’s office.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 6838, 9 June 1687; record reference xxxix. 592.
25 May 1693 — James Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 7367 • Volume II
Jacobus Guthrie
fratris germani
scriba in Dundie
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Source Text
JACOBUS GUTHRIE, hæres Francisci Guthrie scribæ in Dundie, fratris germani. xliii. 296.
Modern Rendering
James Guthrie was served heir to Francis Guthrie, writer in Dundee, his full brother.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service expressly identifies James and Francis Guthrie as full brothers.
Francis is further distinguished as a writer in Dundee, providing a useful occupational and geographic identifier.
The Retour does not name their parents or describe the property involved. It proves the sibling relationship and James’s legal heirship to Francis, but not their broader family placement.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 7367, 25 May 1693; record reference xliii. 296.
30 June 1698 — Henry Guthrie
GENERAL SERVICE No. 7994 • Volume II
Henricus Guthrie
patris
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Source Text
HENRICUS GUTHRIE, hæres Magistri Davidis Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Glenmuck, patris. xlvii. 293.
Modern Rendering
Henry Guthrie was served heir to Mr David Guthrie, minister of the Word of God at Glenmuick, his father.
Evidence in Perspective
This General Service directly establishes Rev. David Guthrie of Glenmuick → son and heir Henry Guthrie.
A Tutory record dated the same day adds another important family relationship by identifying Mr Gideon Guthrie as David’s full brother and as Henry’s nearest paternal agnate.
The two records therefore reinforce one another: the General Service establishes Henry’s father, while the Tutory proceeding independently identifies David’s brother Gideon and places him within Henry’s paternal kin.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 7994, 30 June 1698; record reference xlvii. 293.
30 June 1698 — Gideon Guthrie & Henry Guthrie
TUTORY No. 1166 • Volume II • Related Kinship Record
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Source Text
MAGISTER GIDEON GUTHRIE frater germanus Magistri Davidis Guthrie ministri verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Glenmuck,—propinquior agnatus, id est consanguineus ex parte patris HENRICI GUTHRIE filii dicti Magistri Davidis Guthrie, sui fratris. xlvii. 297.
Modern Rendering
Mr Gideon Guthrie, full brother of Mr David Guthrie, minister at Glenmuick, was found to be the nearest paternal agnate of Henry Guthrie, son of the said Mr David Guthrie, Gideon’s brother.
Evidence in Perspective
This is not an ordinary Service of Heirs. It belongs to the Tutory series and concerns the identification of Henry’s nearest paternal male relative for guardianship purposes.
Genealogically, however, it is exceptionally valuable because it states two relationships explicitly:
Mr David Guthrie
and
Mr Gideon Guthrie
— full brothers
Mr David Guthrie
→ father of
Henry Guthrie
Gideon is then legally identified as Henry’s nearest paternal agnate, reinforcing his place within Henry’s father’s family.
Because this is a Tutory inquest rather than a succession Service, it is kept outside the count of 44 direct Guthrie claimant Service records.
Tutory & Paternal Agnates
A Tutory proceeding could identify the appropriate paternal male relative in connection with the legal guardianship of a minor. The source itself glosses propinquior agnatus as a relative “on the father’s side.”
That makes the record independently useful for genealogy even though it is not a Service of Heirs.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Tutory, No. 1166, 30 June 1698; record reference xlvii. 297.
28 February 1609 — Peter Gotthray as Deceased Ancestor
RELATED EVIDENCE GENERAL SERVICE No. 405 • Volume II
Walterus Luckie nauta
Petrus Gotthray
avunculi
Open Full Record: Source Text, Modern Rendering & Evidence
Source Text
WALTERUS LUCKIE nauta, hæres Petri Gotthray, avunculi. iv. 218.
Modern Rendering
Walter Luckie, mariner, was served heir to Peter Gotthray, his maternal uncle.
Evidence in Perspective
This is not a direct Guthrie claimant Service because Walter Luckie is the heir. Peter Gotthray appears as the deceased ancestor.
It is nevertheless retained because Gotthray is one of the surname forms identified during the broader Guthrie variant audit.
The relationship avunculus means maternal uncle. The record therefore establishes that Peter Gotthray was a brother of Walter Luckie’s mother, though the mother’s name is not supplied.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, Inquisitiones Generales, No. 405, 28 February 1609; record reference iv. 218.
26 May 1656 — Anna Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Perth No. 640 • Volume II
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Source Text
ANNA GUTHRIE, heir of James Guthrie tailyeir in Londoun, her father,—in an annualrent of 50 merks forth of the mylne of Downe in the stewartrie of Monteith. xxiv. 161.
Modern Rendering
Anna Guthrie was served heir to James Guthrie, tailor in London, her father, in an annualrent of 50 merks payable from the mill of Doune in the Stewartry of Menteith.
Evidence in Perspective
This Retour directly identifies Anna Guthrie as the daughter and heir of James Guthrie, a tailor in London.
James’s London occupation is particularly useful for identification because the record connects a man resident and working outside Scotland with a heritable financial interest in Scotland.
Anna’s inheritance was an annualrent, not ownership of the mill of Doune itself. The distinction is important: the mill was the property from which the payment issued.
A Paired Service on the Same Date
Anna appears again on 26 May 1656 in Stirling Special Service No. 220. That second Retour serves her heir to John Guthrie, her grandfather, in a different annualrent.
The two entries are therefore not duplicate county portions of one property description. Together they provide complementary evidence for two generations of Anna’s Guthrie ancestry.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Perth, No. 640, 26 May 1656; record reference xxiv. 161.
26 May 1656 — Anna Guthrie
SPECIAL SERVICE Stirling No. 220 • Volume II
Scots: guidser
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Source Text
ANNA GUTHRIE, heir of Johne Guthrie servitor to Colene Erie of Arguyle, her guidser,—in ane annualrent of 40m. furth of the lands of Oueinshauch. xxiv. 162.
Modern Rendering
Anna Guthrie was served heir to John Guthrie, servant to Colin, Earl of Argyll, her grandfather, in an annualrent of 40 merks payable from the lands of Queinshauche.
Evidence in Perspective
The Scots word guidser is the key genealogical term in this entry. It means grandfather, not father.
Read together with Perth No. 640 on the same date, the two Retours provide a valuable two-generation framework:
John Guthrie, servant to Colin, Earl of Argyll
↓ grandfather of
Anna Guthrie
James Guthrie, tailor in London
↓ father of
Anna Guthrie
The records make John Anna’s grandfather and James her father, but they do not explicitly state that John Guthrie was James Guthrie’s father. That connection is a reasonable genealogical possibility, but the intermediate relationship should not be presented as proven by these two Retours alone.
Property & Heirship
Anna inherited an annualrent payable from Queinshauche. As with the Perth service, this was a financial right issuing from land rather than an explicit inheritance of the underlying lands themselves.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. I, Stirling, No. 220, 26 May 1656; record reference xxiv. 162.
6 March 1684 — Robert Guthrie, Writer in Dumfries
RELATED EVIDENCE Five-Year-Possession Inquest • Volume II
scriba
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Relevant Source Text
… Jacobum Wilson in Tinloch, Robertum Guthrie scribam in dicto burgo de Drumfries, et Joannem Carsane in Lochenlies; qui jurati invenerunt …
Modern Rendering
Among the sworn jurors in this inquest was Robert Guthrie, writer in the burgh of Dumfries.
Evidence in Perspective
Robert Guthrie appears here only as one of the jurors. The inquest concerns the possession of lands associated with James Gibson of Inglistoun, not an inheritance by Robert.
The record nevertheless provides a useful occupational and geographic identification: Robert Guthrie, writer in Dumfries.
Because Robert is neither the heir nor the deceased ancestor, this appearance is excluded from the count of direct Guthrie Service records and retained only as contextual evidence.
Why This Record Was Checked
Volume II contains several classes of inquest in addition to ordinary Services of Heirs. The audit therefore reviewed those sections as well, rather than assuming every Guthrie occurrence represented a succession.
This entry demonstrates why that distinction matters: a surname hit can identify a juror or official rather than an heir.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, five-year-possession inquest dated 6 March 1684; Robert Guthrie, writer in Dumfries, named among the sworn jurors.
17 December 1675 — Archibald Guthrie in County Londonderry
SPOUSE / CONTEXT GENERAL SUPPLEMENT No. 8710 • Volume II
Agneta Agnew
fratris germani
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Source Text
AGNETA AGNEW sponsa Archibaldi Guthrie in Culhch, in comitatu de Londondarie in regno Hybernia, hæres Samuelis Agnew de Lawristoun, fratris germani. I. 67.
Modern Rendering
Agnes Agnew, wife of Archibald Guthrie in Culhch, County Londonderry, in the Kingdom of Ireland, was served heir to Samuel Agnew of Lawristoun, her full brother.
Evidence in Perspective
Archibald Guthrie is not the claimant in this Service. His wife Agnes Agnew is being served heir to her own brother, Samuel Agnew.
The entry is nevertheless significant Guthrie context because it places Archibald Guthrie in County Londonderry, Ireland and identifies his wife by name and family.
The record does not state Archibald’s parentage, Scottish origin or relationship to any other Guthrie family in the Retours. Those connections should not be inferred from this entry alone.
Ireland Context
The Latinized geographic wording places Archibald in Culhch, County Londonderry, in the Kingdom of Ireland. That residence is worth preserving exactly because it may help distinguish him from Scottish men of the same name.
Terms & Context
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. II, General Services Supplement, No. 8710, 17 December 1675; record reference I. 67.
Extents — No Direct Guthrie Heirship Record Identified
This negative result matters because Volume II contains several record classes beyond ordinary Special and General Services. The collection was therefore checked across those classes rather than assuming that all relevant Guthrie evidence would appear under the principal Service headings.
Contextual Guthrie appearances found elsewhere in those additional classes—such as Robert Guthrie, writer in Dumfries, serving as a juror—are documented separately and are not counted as succession events.
Volume II — Guthrie Audit Complete
The Volume II review is now complete across the Special Services, General Services, supplements, Tutory material and other inquest classes.
The next section turns to Volume III, which is not a third body of Retours. It is the published name and place index used to locate, cross-check and reconcile the substantive entries in Volumes I and II.
Volume III — Names, Places, Cross-References & Corrections
Volume III contains the published indexes to the Retours rather than another chronological series of Services. Its name and place entries were used as a finding and checking tool for the Guthrie audit.
The index is extremely valuable, but comparison with the actual entries in Volumes I and II revealed several discrepancies in article numbers and one important date correction elsewhere in the published set. These are documented below so that future researchers can move between the index and the body records without repeating the same problems.
↑ Return to Guthrie Master Finding Aid • Volume Navigation • Return to Menu
Volume III — Guthrie Index Audit
Volume III is the published name and place index to the Retours rather than a third chronological body of inheritance records. For this project, its Guthrie entries were checked against the actual records in Volumes I and II rather than accepted at face value.
Open Volume III Guthrie Index Summary
Forfar Guthrie Name Index
The Volume III Forfar index gathers many of the principal landed Guthrie references under a single surname heading. Among those indexed are:
Alexander Guthrie — Carsbank, of that Ilk,
Halkertoun and Wester-Gaigie
Andrew Guthrie — of that Ilk
David Guthrie — Carsbank and Halkertoun context
Francis Guthrie — of that Ilk
Henry Guthrie — Colliston, Halkertoun and
King-Edward
John Guthrie — of that Ilk, Halkertoun,
Inverlounan, Milntoun of Conon and Over-Dysart
Patrick Guthrie — minister at Logie-Buchan
Peter Guthrie
Robert Guthrie — Kinblethmont
William Guthrie — of that Ilk and
Wester-Gaigie
This index concentration is useful for orientation, but the detailed records on this page rely on the underlying Retours, not on the abbreviated index descriptions alone.
Place Index — Guthrie Is Not Always a Person
Volume III’s place index separately records Guthrie / Guthra as a territorial name and distinguishes associated features such as:
This distinction was important during the surname audit: a search result containing “Guthrie” could identify a person, a barony, a church, a village or another place-name. Only the actual record context determines which it is.
Source Citation
Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc servantur, Abbreviatio, Vol. III, Index Nominum and Index Locorum, Guthrie / Guthra entries.
Volume III Correction — William Guthrie: 1447 → 1448
INDEX CORRECTION 4 January 1611 — William Guthrie
Open Correction Evidence
Volume III Index Reading
Under GUTHRIE, the Edinburgh index lists Willielmus, 36, 1447.
Volume II Body Record
(1448) Jan. 4. 1611.
WILLIELMUS GUTHRIE, hæres Jonetæ Patersone,
matris …
Audit Conclusion
Actual Volume II body entry: 1448
Correct citation used on this page: Special Services Supplement No. 1448
The discrepancy is not merely an OCR artifact in the working copy: Volume III’s printed Guthrie index itself points William to 1447, while the substantive record is numbered 1448.
The body record therefore controls.
Volume III Correction — Margaret Guthrie: 3062 → 5062
INDEX CORRECTION 14 February 1667 — Margaret Guthrie
Open Correction Evidence
Volume III Index Reading
Under GUTHRIE, the General Services index
lists:
Margareta, 1285, 1361, 3062.
Volume II Body Record
(5062) Feb. 14. 1667.
MARGARETA GUTHRIE, hæres Alexandri Balmano
scribæ in Edinburgh, avi ex parte matris.
Why 3062 Cannot Be the Guthrie Record
The body sequence shows that Margaret’s Retour is No. 5062. The Volume III index has dropped the leading 5 and points instead to 3062.
Volume II body: 5062
Correct citation: General Service No. 5062
This correction is particularly important because article numbers are the primary route from Volume III’s index back to the substantive entries in Volume II.
Published Correction — Margaret Guthrie: September → December 1626
DATE CORRECTION General Service No. 1285
Open Date Correction Evidence
Body Entry
(1285) Sep. 7. 1626.
MARGARETA GUTHRIE, hæres Thomæ Guthrie
mercatoris burgensis de Edinburgh, patris.
Addenda & Corrigenda
“Sep. 7.” — lege “Dec. 7.”
Editorial Treatment
Unlike the 1447/1448 and 3062/5062 problems, this correction comes directly from the editors’ own Addenda & Corrigenda.
Published correction: 7 December 1626
Date used throughout this page: 7 December 1626
Volume III — Surname Variants & Index Limitations
The three-volume audit did not rely on the modern spelling Guthrie alone. Variant forms were checked against the body records and the published indexes so that relevant individuals would not be lost simply because a clerk, editor or compositor used a different spelling.
Open Audit Notes: What the Index Can & Cannot Tell Us
The Index Is a Finding Aid
Volume III is extremely useful for locating names and places, but it does not replace the underlying Retour. An index entry may omit the relationship, property description, occupational designation or legal qualification that makes the substantive record genealogically valuable.
A Surname Hit Is Not Automatically an Heirship Event
During the audit, Guthrie-related search results were separated into distinct categories:
Why the Body Records Control
The William Guthrie 1447/1448 discrepancy and Margaret Guthrie 3062/5062 discrepancy demonstrate why the index references were checked against the actual records.
Likewise, the 1626 Margaret Guthrie date shows the importance of consulting the published Addenda & Corrigenda rather than reproducing the uncorrected body date without comment.
Audit Principle
Body entry → establish the evidence.
Corrigenda → correct the published text where the editors explicitly instruct us to do so.
Volume III — Index Reconciliation Complete
The Volume III Guthrie name and place indexes have now been reconciled against the substantive records in Volumes I and II. The resulting page therefore uses Volume III as the editors intended—as a route into the Retours—while allowing the actual Service entries to control the genealogical evidence.
With all three published volumes reconciled, the Guthrie material can be treated as a single research collection rather than as disconnected county entries and index references.
Guthrie Retours — Collection Summary
The completed three-volume audit identifies 44 direct Guthrie claimant Service records: 23 Special Services and 21 General Services.
One succession—the 4 April 1665 service of John Guthrie of that Ilk to his father Francis Guthrie of that Ilk—appears in both the Special and General series. After that duplication is collapsed, the published material represents 43 distinct direct Guthrie succession events.
What the Retours Add to Guthrie Research
The value of these records extends well beyond lists of inherited property. Across the three-volume set they provide explicit legal statements of:
Major Guthrie Territorial Contexts
The Retours connect documented succession with several important Guthrie locations and branches, including Guthrie of that Ilk, Hiltoun of Guthrie, Halkertoun, Memus, Wester-Gaigie, Carsbank, Inverlounan, Kinblethmont, Colliston and King-Edward, alongside urban Guthrie families in Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Leith and elsewhere.
For that reason, the detailed entries on this page preserve the original wording, provide a modern rendering, and distinguish what the record proves from what may require additional research.
Using the Retours as Genealogical Evidence
The Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum is most useful when each entry is read as a legal statement of succession rather than as a ready-made pedigree.
A Retour may prove that one person was the father, mother, grandfather, great-grandfather, sibling, uncle or other relative of an heir. It may also identify the particular lands, annualrents, offices, teinds, superiorities or other heritable rights involved in that succession.
Citing an Individual Retour
The detailed entries on this page preserve the information needed to return to the published source: the published volume, Service class, county where applicable, article number, date and original record reference.
Researchers should also consult the original Retour or later archival reproduction whenever a question depends on wording, handwriting, omitted detail, damaged text or a relationship not fully represented in the nineteenth-century abridgment.
Collection Status
Volume I and Volume II substantive records have been reviewed, Volume III’s indexes have been reconciled against them, surname variants have been checked, cross-references have been followed, duplicate succession events have been identified, and contextual appearances have been separated from direct Guthrie claimant Services.