William Guthrie aka Willie

William Guthrie, the son of Rev. James Guthrie and his wife Jane Ramsey, a daughter of Ramsay of Shielhill, was born about 1656 – 1657. He was one of only two children, the other being his sister Sophia Guthrie, whose age or birth date is unknown compared to his own.

Fasti Ecclesiatae Scotina by Hew Scot, briefly touches on William’s short life. 

In the Life of Guthrie, one might think Rev. James Guthrie’s family life would be explored in detail, but the fact is there is not much detail to be gleaned from these early sources.

John Howie’s original work Biographia Scoticana, in 1775 was reprinted and renamed The Scots Worthies. In 1876, yet another printing of The Scot’s Worthies included “A Supplement Containing Memoirs and Historical Sketches of Ladies of the Covenant” 

From this we learn:

“At the time of his father’s death he was a child not more than four or five years old. Yearning over him with all the affection of a parent’s head, Guthrie, in a last interview, took him upon his knee, and gave him such religious advises as were suited to his infant mind. “Willie,” said he, among other things, “though your comrades should tell you, and cast it up to you, that your father was hanged, think not shame of it, for it is upon a good cause.” But William was so young as to not be aware of the tragic fate of his father, and scarcely to be restrained from playing in the streets on the very day of his father’s execution.

When, however, he grew to boyhood, he became thoughtful and serious. While other boys were enjoying youthful sports, William was to be seen at the Nether Bow Port, where the head of his dear father was fixed on a spike, a monument of the martyr’s heroism, and of the government’s injustice; and there looking up with riveted gaze to the manly countenance, the tragedy of his father’s execution was presented to his imagination, as if in all its living reality. Often, he would return to the spot an gaze upon the spectacle, as if he could never become weary of gazing upon it; and on returning home to his mother, when she inquired where he had been, his usual reply was, “I have been seeing my father’s head.”

William Guthrie grew up with a plan to follow in his father’s footsteps. He devoted himself to his studies and was a success at the preparatory studies, but he was “always of a delicate constitution.” He had been allowed to remain in Edinburgh even though in 1666 his mother and sister had been banished to the Shetland Islands when the discovery of a banned book was made in their home. In January of 1669, Mrs Guthrie received word of William’s illness, and petitioned the Privy Council for permission to come to Edinburgh in order to care for him. She was given permission to do so for a period of one month.

At this time, William Guthrie would have been an estimated 12 – 13 years old. It is documented in this edition that he was cut off when about to receive license as a preacher of the gospel. It may be that William died in 1669, but being on the “eve” of his licensure suggests that he was nearing adulthood.

The most likely Old Parish Record to be the account of his death is dated 14 April 1674 and is found among the Edinburgh deaths and burials. 

1674 GUTRIE, WILLIAM (Old Parish Registers Deaths 685/1 Edinburgh) page 100 of 199
Please verify the following transcription:
Mr William Guthrie son to right Mr James Guthrie late minister at Stirling