Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses
Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild-Brethren, 1406-1700
Edited by Charles B. Boog Watson. Edinburgh : Printed for the Society by J. Skinner & Company, LTD., 1929.
Purpose of the Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses
The Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses (covering 1406–1700 in the provided source) is an official register documenting the admission of individuals as burgesses (freemen) of the royal burgh of Edinburgh, Scotland. Its primary purposes were:
- To record who gained the legal right to trade, conduct business, own property, and participate in civic governance within the burgh.
- To enforce hereditary and marital rights to burgess status (e.g., sons of burgesses, husbands of burgesses’ daughters).
- To track apprenticeships, sureties, fees (“dewty”), and special grants (gratis, by act of council).
- To serve as a historical and administrative record for taxation, military obligations (e.g., providing arms like hagbut, corslet), and burgh privileges under Scottish law.
It reflects social, economic, and family networks in Edinburgh over centuries.
Glossary of Key Terms (Brief Table)
Common abbreviations and phrases from the Guthrie entries and surrounding text:
| Term / Abbreviation | Meaning / Explanation |
|---|---|
| B. (Burgess) | Full burgess status granting trade and civic rights in Edinburgh. |
| G. (Guild / Gild) | Member of a trade guild (e.g., merchants, craftsmen); often paired with B. for full rights. |
| Umq. | “Umquhile” – deceased / late (referring to a deceased person). |
| By r. of | By right of (e.g., inheritance from father, marriage to daughter). |
| Mt. | Merchant. |
| P. to | Apprentice / presented to (serving under a master burgess). |
| Souertie / Surety | Guarantor responsible for fees, conduct, or obligations. |
| Gratis | Admitted without payment of standard fees (special privilege). |
| Hagbuit / Hagbut | Firearm (harquebus/musket) – military equipment requirement for burgesses. |
| Corslet / Corslitt | Body armor (cuirass) – another common military obligation. |
| Dewtie / Dewty | Fee or duty payable upon admission or office. |
| F.C. | Free of charge or similar fee waiver (context-dependent). |
| Litster | Dyer (trade occupation). |
| Tailyeor / Tailor | Tailor (craft occupation). |
| Candlemaker / Skynner | Candle-maker or skinner/furrier (specific trades). |
| Common Clerk | Official administrative position (e.g., Alexr. Guthrie frequently referenced). |
| Act of C. | Act of Council (burgh council decision granting admission). |
Direct Guthrie Named Individuals
These are entries where “Guthrie” (or variant spellings like G., Guthre) appears as the primary individual being admitted or referenced.
| Name | Provided Data | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., gratis, for services done and to be done to the town | 10 Jan. 1548-9 |
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., common clerk of this brugh, as eldest s. of umq. Alexr. G., common clerk… (and his son Alexr. was the third in succession) | 5 Oct. 1596 |
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., mt. (pick and corslet), as p. to Johne Rynd, mt., B. and G. | 20 Sept. 1626 (or 14 Sept. 1636?) |
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., common clerk… by r. of umq. Mr. Alexr. Guthre… gratis (third in sequence) | 28 Oct. 1640 |
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., elder (corslet), as eldest s. to umq. Samuel G., litster, B. and G. | 11 Nov. 1640 |
| Alexr. Guthrie | B. and G., tailyeor (corslitt) | 16 Aug. 1643 |
| Guthrie | tailyeor, B. | 29 Mar. 1648 |
| Mr. David Guthrie | B. and G., advocatt, by r. of w. Martha, dr. of umq. John Murray, mt., B. and G. | 1 Feb. 1604 |
| David Guthrie | B. and G., litster, eldest s. to umq. Samuel G., by r. of sd. fr., B. and G. | 26 Sept. 1655 |
| Hercules Guthrie | B., litster (hagbuit), as p. to James Gairdin, litster, B. (26 Mar. 1606) | 25 Aug. 1619 |
| Hercules Guthrie | G., litster, B. of befoir (corslet), as p. to James Gairdin… | 20 Oct. 1619 |
| James Guthrie | B. and G. | 24 Sept. 1563 |
| James Guthrie | B., skynner (hagbuit), as p. to umq. Robert Tennant, skynner… | 13 Oct. 1613 |
| James Guthrie | B. and G., mt., second s. to umq. Samuel G., by r. of sd. fr., B. and G. | 26 Sept. 1655 |
| James Guthrie | B. and G., feltmaker, as p. to James Brown, feltmaker… (hat maker) | 14 Sept. 1670 |
| James Guthrie | B. and G., mt., be r. of umq. fr. James G., B. and G. | 8 Jan. 1679 |
| James Guthrie | B. and G., wright, be r. of dec. fr. Alexr. G., tailyor… | 28 Dec. 1681 |
| Johne Guthrie | B., tailyeor (hagbuit), as p. to Johne Heriot…; James Guthrie, skynner, souertie… | 28 Oct. 1618 |
| Johne Guthrie | B., maissone, by r. of w. Jonet, dr. to Thomas Duncan, wolbster, B. | 14 Aug. 1644 |
| Johne Guthrie | G., massone, B. of befoir | 24 May 1648 |
| Major John Guthrie | B. and G., be r. of w. Jean, dr. to Andrew Young, W.S., B. and G., gratis… | 4 May 1692 |
| John Guthrie | B. and G., mt., by act of C. of this date | 19 June 1695 |
| Robert Guthrie | B., cuik (hagbuit) | 16 Nov. 1614 |
| Robert Guthrie | B. (muskit), as eldest s. to umq. Robert G., cuik, B. | 10 Mar. 1641 |
| Samuel Guthrie | B., litster (hagbuit), by r. of w. Issobell, dr. to David Gardin… | 13 Apr. 1608 |
| Samuel Guthrie | G., mt., B. of befoir (corslet), by r. of Issobell… | 2 Sept. 1612 |
| Samuel Guthrie | B. and G., mt., be r. of umq. fr. David G., litster… | 30 Oct. 1691 |
| Thomas Guthrie | B. and G., mt. (corslett), by r. of w. Kathreine, dr. to Francis Robertsone… | 7 Dec. 1614 |
| Thomas Guthrie | B. and G., litster, as p. to umq. Samuel Guithrie, litster… | 8 Aug. 1660 |
| Walter Guthrie | B., candlemaker, by r. of his w. Katherin… | 4 Jan. 1666 |
| Walter Guthrie | B., candlemaker, be r. of umq. fr. Walter G., candlemaker, B. | 27 Aug. 1684 |
Other Entries (Guthries as Sponsors, Sureties, Relatives, or References)
These entries reference Guthries in supportive, relational, or indirect roles (e.g., as sureties/souertie, deceased relatives granting rights, spouses’ connections, or prior rights holders).
| Referenced Guthrie | Role / Context | Associated Individual / Details | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Guthrie (skynner) | Souertie (surety) | For Johne Guthrie (tailyeor) | 28 Oct. 1618 |
| Samuel G. | Umq. father (deceased) | Alexr. Guthrie (elder, as eldest s.) | 11 Nov. 1640 |
| Samuel G. | Umq. father | David Guthrie (litster, eldest s.) | 26 Sept. 1655 |
| Samuel G. | Umq. father | James Guthrie (mt., second s.) | 26 Sept. 1655 |
| Alexr. G. (tailyor) | Dec. father | James Guthrie (wright) | 28 Dec. 1681 |
| Robert G. (cuik) | Umq. father | Robert Guthrie (muskit, eldest s.) | 10 Mar. 1641 |
| David G. (litster) | Umq. father | Samuel Guthrie (mt.) | 30 Oct. 1691 |
| Walter G. (candlemaker) | Umq. father | Walter Guthrie (candlemaker) | 27 Aug. 1684 |
| Samuel Guithrie (litster) | Umq. (deceased, prior burgess) | Thomas Guthrie (litster, as p. to) | 8 Aug. 1660 |
| Alexr. G. | Umq. (common clerk, prior) | Alexr. Guthrie (common clerk, by r. of) | 28 Oct. 1640 |
| James G. | Umq. fr. (brother?) | James Guthrie (mt.) | 8 Jan. 1679 |
| Martha (dr. of umq. John Murray) | Wife | Mr. David Guthrie (by r. of w.) | 1 Feb. 1604 |
| Issobell (dr. of David Gardin) | Wife | Samuel Guthrie (by r. of w.) | 13 Apr. 1608 & 2 Sept. 1612 |
| Kathreine (dr. of Francis Robertsone) | Wife | Thomas Guthrie (by r. of w.) | 7 Dec. 1614 |
| Jonet (dr. of Thomas Duncan) | Wife | Johne Guthrie (by r. of w.) | 14 Aug. 1644 |
| Jean (dr. of Andrew Young) | Wife | Major John Guthrie (by r. of w.) | 4 May 1692 |
| Katherin | Wife | Walter Guthrie (by r. of his w.) | 4 Jan. 1666 |