RMS – Guthrie Evidence Index

Guthrie Genealogy · Special Collections

RMS · Guthrie Evidence Index

Cross-Volume Research Tables · Volumes I–XI

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Volumes I–XI Audited · Cross-Volume Reconciliation Complete

The RMS · Guthrie Evidence Index brings together the Guthrie-related evidence identified during the complete survey of Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, Volumes I–XI. Rather than repeating the volumes in chronological order, this capstone index reorganizes the audited records by the questions genealogists most often need to answer: family relationships, territorial identities, property history, professional roles, documentary networks, and regional associations.

About This Index

This page is a research index, not a replacement for the individual RMS volume pages. Each volume remains the chronological source collection containing its Master Finding Aid, expanded charter records, source links, documentary context, and volume-specific research notes. The Evidence Index instead allows those same audited records to be read across all eleven volumes by subject.

Built from the Audited RMS Collection

Every entry used here was reconciled against the completed Guthrie survey of RMS Volumes I–XI. Exact charter numbers, dates, people, relationships, offices, properties, and territorial wording are taken from the audited volume pages rather than from the older cross-volume Specialty Tables.

One Charter May Supply Several Kinds of Evidence

A single charter may document a marriage, identify a parent or heir, preserve a territorial designation, record a professional role, and place the same person within a wider witness network. For that reason, some charters are intentionally cross-referenced in more than one research table.

Direct Evidence and Context Are Kept Separate

Records naming an identifiable Guthrie person are visually separated from supplementary records that preserve property history, boundaries, territorial names, or pre- and post-Guthrie context without naming a living Guthrie individual.

Territorial Identity Is Not Automatic Pedigree

The index uses the heading Territorial Families & Alignments rather than the older “Cadet Branches.” A person styled “of” a place is securely associated with that territorial designation, but the RMS evidence does not always prove how that individual fits into a larger Guthrie pedigree.

Property History Is Reconstructed Independently

Guthrie ownership, superiority, liferent, tenandry, occupation, boundary references, and later non-Guthrie ownership are not treated as equivalent. Earlier proprietors of lands later associated with a Guthrie family are preserved as property history rather than assumed ancestors.

Charter Wording Controls the Conclusion

Explicit statements such as “eldest lawful son,” “natural son,” “brother german,” “spouse,” or “heir apparent” are retained at their documented strength. Succession clauses, witnesses, shared surnames, nearby properties, and professional associations are not expanded into relationships the record does not actually state.

Governing Research Principle Evidence first. Interpretation second. Presentation third.

Evidence Color Key

Direct Guthrie evidence Alternating Direct Guthrie evidence Supplementary property / territorial context
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Chronological Evidence Overview

This overview follows the principal documentary milestones across RMS Volumes I–XI. It is intentionally selective: the purpose is to show how the evidence develops from early territorial references and pre-Guthrie property history into documented families, succession, estate transfers, marriages, and later seventeenth-century lineages.

Date rule: the date displayed in the first column is the date of the RMS charter, confirmation, or registered act whenever that date is established. Earlier contracts, resignations, sasines, bonds, or other incorporated instruments are noted separately rather than substituted for the RMS date. Undated Volume I records remain explicitly undated.
Direct Guthrie-person evidence Alternating Direct Guthrie evidence Property / territorial context

Foundations · Territorial Context to the Early Sixteenth Century

The earliest records separate the history of the lands from the later genealogy of the Guthrie families who became associated with them.
Date RMS Record Person / Place Evidence & Significance
Undated Robert III I · Ch. 87 Guthrie · Eassie Territorial Context Guthrie appears as a territorial place-name among lands erected into the barony of Downy. No Guthrie person is named. This is the earliest territorial Guthrie reference identified in the RMS survey.
16 Oct 1392/93 I · Ch. 870 Kincaldrum Pre-Guthrie Context Documents Wemyss tenure of Kincaldrum under an earlier Abernethy grant. It establishes the property’s history before documented Guthrie possession and is not evidence of Guthrie ancestry.
Undated RMS I I · Ch. 1956 John Guthrie · Errol Earliest surname-bearing Guthrie identified in the RMS survey. John is associated with half of the lands of Errol. The record does not establish his relationship to the later Guthries of that Ilk.
22 Jun 1465 II · Ch. 834 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Jonete Petkarne is granted jointly to David and his wife Jonete with destination to lawful issue, providing early direct marriage and succession evidence for the Kincaldrum family.
25 Mar 1466 II · Ch. 868 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum Royal grant of the lands of Guthrie following resignation by the Earl of Crawford. David is styled the King’s familiar squire and treasurer. This is a major transition from Kincaldrum to the historic Guthrie estate.
12 Feb 1470 II · Ch. 1011 Master David Guthrie · Barony of Guthrie Crown confirmation of the barony of Guthrie following David’s personal resignation. This is one of the foundational legal records for the territorial Guthries of Guthrie.
4 Feb 1472/73 II · Ch. 1104 Sir David Guthrie · Malcolm · Balnabreich Sir David grants Balnabreich to Malcolm, his natural son. Alexander is separately identified as David’s son and heir apparent, while another Malcolm of Kingennie appears independently. The two Malcolms must not be conflated.
26 May 1487 II · Ch. 1674 John Guthrie of Eassie · David Guthrie Directly identifies David as the son and heir apparent of John Guthrie of Eassie. This is a cornerstone record for the Eassie–Hiltoun family sequence.
19 Jan 1505/06 II · Ch. 2910 Sir Alexander Guthrie · Collegiate Church of Guthrie Major family and ecclesiastical charter naming David as Alexander’s eldest son and heir apparent while also preserving Alexander’s parents and a wider group of Guthrie participants. It is central to both succession and patronage research.

Sixteenth Century · Family Consolidation and Territorial Expansion

The sixteenth-century records increasingly state spouses, sons, heirs, territorial styles, clerical offices, and the legal structure of the Barony of Guthrie.
Date RMS Record Person / Place Evidence & Significance
18 Jan 1523/24 III · Ch. 250 Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Elizabeth Rait Regrant of Kincaldrum in conjunct infeftment explicitly naming Elizabeth Rait as Alexander’s spouse, with succession to heirs.
2 Sep 1529 III · Ch. 832 Ninian Guthrie of Kingany · Katherine Moncreiff Crown grant of Kingany and its mill to Ninian, with a liferent provision for Katherine Moncreiff his wife. A key Kingennie marriage-and-property record.
9 Mar 1538/39 III · Ch. 1932 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk The lands and barony are regranted to Andrew and newly incorporated as the free Barony of Guthrie. This is one of the principal legal milestones in the estate’s history.
13 Mar 1543/44 III · Ch. 2998 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk · Alexander Guthrie Explicitly identifies Alexander as son and apparent heir of Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk. The barony is regranted to Alexander while Andrew retains liferent.
3 Feb 1551 IV · Ch. 560 Hercules Guthrie · James & William Guthrie Royal legitimation explicitly identifies James and William as natural sons of Hercules Guthrie of Over-Dysart.
3 Nov 1551 IV · Ch. 647 John Guthrie of Colliston Direct Crown grant and quitclaim of Cukistoun to John and his heirs, providing early direct landed evidence for the Colliston family.
30 Nov 1583 V · Ch. 637 Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk · Alexander apparent Father-to-son succession involving the lands and Barony of Guthrie, with liferent reserved to the elder Alexander and terce rights preserved for Isobel Wood.
8 Dec 1586 V · Ch. 1105 Henry Guthrie of Colliston · John Guthrie John is explicitly Henry’s son and apparent heir and receives the hereditary offices of mair, coronator, and court clerk of the regality of Arbroath.

1594–1636 · Succession, Marriage Settlements and the Sale of Guthrie

These records bridge the late sixteenth-century lairds with the seventeenth-century restructuring of Kincaldrum, Balnabreich, Auchmuthie, and the historic Barony of Guthrie.
Date RMS Record Person / Place Evidence & Significance
24 Sep 1594 VI · Ch. 163 Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk The grantee Alexander is explicitly identified as the son of the late Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk. The charter also concerns Haltoun of Inverpeffer, which must not be confused automatically with Hiltoun of Guthrie.
10 Jan 1597/98 VI · Ch. 639 Alexander Guthrie senior & junior · Jean Leighton Settles the core barony on Alexander junior, son and apparent heir of Alexander senior, together with Jean Leighton. Hiltoun and Langlands are specifically excluded from the transfer.
30 Jun 1607 VI · Ch. 1935 Guthrie of Kincaldrum Marriage Settlement Identifies Alexander Guthrie and Helen Douglas, their son and apparent heir David Guthrie, David’s future wife Katherine Blair, and Patrick Guthrie as Alexander’s brother german.
3 Jul 1610 VII · Ch. 318 Patrick Gutherrie of Pitmowies · Alison Gutherrie Alison is expressly identified as daughter of Patrick Gutherrie of Pitmowies, providing one of Volume VII’s clearest direct parent-child statements.
17 Dec 1611 VII · Ch. 598 Patrick Guithrie of Auchmithie Secure territorial appearance beginning the later RMS sequence for the Guthries of Auchmuthie / Auchmithie.
24 Jul 1630 VIII · Ch. 1616 William Guthrie of that Ilk · David Guthrie of Kincaldrum Underlying charter: 10 Sep 1629 William, with consent of Isabella / Isobel Fenton, sells substantial portions of the historic Guthrie estate to David of Kincaldrum. Hiltoun and Langlands are expressly excepted, and one quarter-interest is described as a tenandry rather than property.
25 Mar 1632 VIII · Ch. 1956 David Guthrie of that Ilk · Alexander of Kincaldrum Explicitly identifies Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum as David’s eldest legitimate son and apparent heir. The principal property conveyed in the charter is Rossie, not Hiltoun.
31 Jul 1633 VIII · Ch. 2216 Kincaldrum Marriage Settlement Underlying charter: 17 Nov 1615 Establishes David Guthrie + Catherine Blair; their son and apparent heir Alexander; Alexander’s future wife Mariote Grahame; and Alise Douglas as David’s mother.
27 Jun 1635 IX · Ch. 323 Alexander & David Guthrie of Kincaldrum Alexander transfers the Barony of Kincaldrum while a liferent is reserved to David Guthrie, expressly identified as Alexander’s father.
28 Nov 1636 IX · Ch. 616 Peter Guthrie · Bishop John Guthrie · Barony of Guthrie After Peter Guthrie’s resignation, the Crown makes a new grant of Guthrie to Bishop John Guthrie and Nichola Wood, with succession through sons John, Patrick and Andrew. This is a legal transfer, not inheritance from Peter to the bishop.

1642–1668 · Later Territorial Families, Kinship and Succession

The final RMS volumes preserve especially strong evidence for Gagie, Pitforthie, Auchmuthie, Halkertoun, Colliston, and the later succession to the historic Barony of Guthrie.
Date RMS Record Person / Place Evidence & Significance
18 Jul 1642 IX · Ch. 1177 William & Francis Guthrie of Gagie · Jeanne Guthrie Explicitly identifies Francis as son of William Guthrie of Gagie. Separately, Jeanne Guthrie is identified as wife of Alexander Lindsay of Pittairlie. No additional kinship between Jeanne and the Gagie men is stated.
28 Jun 1655 X · Ch. 424 Patrick Guthrie of Auchmuthie · Janet Reid Bond of provision: 2 Dec 1646 Identifies Isabell and Margaret Guthrie as the only lawful daughters of Patrick Guthrie of Auchmuthie and Janet Reid.
27 Jul 1655 X · Ch. 450 James Guthrie of Pitforthie · David & William Guthrie David is a lawful son of the deceased James Guthrie of Pitforthie; William Guthrie, minister at the new kirk of Kilmarnock, is separately identified as another son. The charter does not establish their birth order.
2 Jul 1658 X · Ch. 658 Francis Guthrie of that Ilk · Gagie A boundary description connects Francis Guthrie of that Ilk with Easter and Wester Gagie while also naming John Finlaysone. The record does not establish Francis as sole proprietor of both Gagies.
3 Mar 1662 XI · Ch. 221 Henry Guthrie · Margaret Sybbald Henry is expressly the eldest lawful son of Gideon Guthrie of Halkertoun; Margaret is the only lawful daughter of Mr David Sybbald of Kair.
1 Jul 1662 XI · Ch. 269 Gideon of Kinnaries · Halkertoun Family Gideon is son of the late Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun. John Guthrie is Henry’s only son by Elizabeth Lindsay, his first wife, and husband of Isobella Philp. This does not mean John was Henry’s only son overall.
19 Jan 1663 XI · Ch. 354 Jonet Guthrie · Dowgald McPherson Jonet Guthrie is wife of Dowgald McPherson, sometime of Easter Powrie, and appears with their son John McPherson. The record supplies marriage and family evidence but does not establish a Kingennie/Pitforthie connection.
4 Mar 1664 XI · Ch. 565 Francis Guthrie of Gagie · Barony of Guthrie Francis and Betty Guthrie are husband and wife. A detailed male succession names Patrick, explicitly son of Mr John Guthrie of that Ilk, and James Guthrie, minister at Arbirlot. The succession order does not establish every implied relationship among the named Guthries.
13 Feb 1665 XI · Ch. 719 Sir Henry Guthrie of Colliestoun · Jean Lindsay Provides a direct three-generation sequence: Sir Henry → John, apparent of Colliestoun → Henry younger, John’s eldest lawful son. Jean Lindsay is identified as Sir Henry’s wife.
19 Jun 1668 XI · Ch. 1197 Sir Henry Guthrie of Colliestoun · Barbara Urquhart Marriage/property contract: 29 Apr 1664 Sir Henry and Barbara receive Fisherrie lands in conjunct fee. Read with Charter 719, the record establishes that Jean Lindsay had died and Sir Henry had remarried Barbara Urquhart by April 1664. Barbara’s parentage is not stated here.
Why the overview is selective: the complete RMS collection contains many additional Guthrie witnesses, notaries, occupiers, clerics, territorial references, and property records. Those entries remain available in the individual Volume I–XI finding aids and are reorganized by subject in the sections that follow. This chronology highlights only the records that materially advance the cross-volume territorial, genealogical, or succession story.
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Guthrie of that Ilk & the Barony of Guthrie

This section follows the documentary history of the principal lands and Barony of Guthrie and the people explicitly styled of that Ilk. It is intentionally narrower than the older “Main Line” table. A Guthrie person is included here when the RMS record directly concerns the chief territorial designation, the barony, its succession, its legal structure, or a major transfer of the estate.

What This Section Tracks

Crown grants, resignations, regrants, succession, liferents, patronage, castle and manor rights, component lands, exclusions, estate sales, and later legal succession to the historic barony.

What It Does Not Assume

A person does not become part of the chief genealogical line merely because he bears the Guthrie surname, witnesses a charter, owns nearby land, or appears in the same legal network as a Guthrie of that Ilk.

Estate history and pedigree are related, but they are not the same thing. A transfer of the Barony of Guthrie may document legal succession without proving biological descent between the outgoing and incoming holders.

Principal Barony & Chief-Line Evidence

Date RMS Person / Estate Legal Role Evidence & Significance
25 Mar 1466 II · 868 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum Lands of Guthrie Royal Grant The Crown grants the lands of Guthrie to Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum following resignation by the Earl of Crawford. David is also identified as the King’s familiar squire and treasurer.
12 Feb 1470 II · 1011 Master David Guthrie Barony of Guthrie Resignation / Regrant Confirmation of the barony following David’s own resignation, strengthening the legal foundation of the Guthrie estate under direct Crown title.
9 Feb Underlying charter: 12 Oct 1507 II · 3535 Sir Alexander Guthrie Knight and Baron of Guthrie Barony Administration Alexander, explicitly styled baron of Guthrie, confirms property within the barony involving portions of Kirkton and Eastertown of Guthrie and mill rights. This record concerns the Barony of Guthrie, not Kinblathmont.
4 Feb 1533/34 III · 1345 Guthrie of that Ilk Individual not named in the calendared wording Territorial / Feudal Preserves the territorial designation Guthrie of that Ilk in connection with an established feu-duty in the Brechin/Navar lordship. No personal forename should be supplied.
9 Mar 1538/39 III · 1932 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk Free Barony of Guthrie Regrant / Incorporation Following Andrew’s resignation, the lands are regranted and incorporated as the free Barony of Guthrie, with castle, fortalice, mill, tenants and ecclesiastical patronage.
13 Mar 1543/44 III · 2998 Andrew Guthrie → Alexander Guthrie Father / Heir / Regrant Alexander is explicitly the son and apparent heir of Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk. The barony is granted to Alexander while Andrew retains liferent, providing direct chief-line succession evidence.
20 Jul 1559 Underlying charter: 10 Jul 1559 IV · 1355 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk · David Guthrie Father / Son Directly identifies David Guthrie as a son of Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk, adding an explicit relationship to the principal-line evidence.
30 Nov 1583 V · 637 Alexander Guthrie senior → Alexander apparent Father / Son / Settlement Major father-to-son succession at Guthrie. The elder Alexander reserves liferent, while the legal interests of Isobel Wood are also preserved.
1 Aug 1589 V · 1682 Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk Homicide / Conflict Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk is identified as the victim of a killing in the wider Gardyn conflict. The record is significant to the chief-line chronology even though it is not itself a conveyance of the estate.
24 Sep 1594 VI · 163 Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk Father / Son Identification The grantee Alexander is explicitly identified as son of the late Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk. The property is Haltoun of Inverpeffer, which should not automatically be equated with Hiltoun of Guthrie.
10 Jan 1597/98 VI · 639 Alexander senior · Alexander junior · Jean Leighton Barony Settlement Alexander junior is explicitly son and apparent heir of Alexander senior and receives the core barony with Jean Leighton. Hiltoun and Langlands are expressly excluded from the settlement.
15 Jun 1601 VI · 1190 Alexander senior & junior Haltoun & Cottoun of Inverpeffer Sale / Reserved Liferent Continues the father-son property sequence and preserves a reserved liferent associated with Isobel Wood, mother of Alexander senior.
24 Jul 1630 Underlying charter: 10 Sep 1629 VIII · 1616 William Guthrie of that Ilk → David Guthrie of Kincaldrum Irredeemable Sale William, with consent of Isabella / Isobel Fenton, sells major portions of the historic estate to David of Kincaldrum, including the dominical lands, tower, manor-place, mill and collegiate-church patronage. Hiltoun and Langlands are expressly excepted.
25 Mar 1632 VIII · 1956 David Guthrie of that Ilk · Alexander of Kincaldrum Father / Eldest Son Explicitly identifies Alexander of Kincaldrum as David’s eldest legitimate son and apparent heir. The principal property conveyed in this charter is Rossie, not Hiltoun.
28 Nov 1636 Peter’s resignation: 13 Sep 1636 IX · 616 Peter Guthrie → Bishop John Guthrie Resignation / New Crown Grant Peter Guthrie, son and heir of the late Master Patrick Guthrie, minister of Logie-Buchan, resigns the estate. The Crown then grants Guthrie to Bishop John Guthrie and Nichola Wood, with succession to sons John, Patrick and Andrew. This is not inheritance from Peter to Bishop John.
2 Jul 1658 X · 658 Francis Guthrie of that Ilk Easter & Wester Gagie boundary Territorial Identification Francis is directly styled of that Ilk within a Gagie boundary description. John Finlaysone is also associated with Easter Gagie, so the charter should not be read as proving Francis alone owned both Gagies.
4 Mar 1664 XI · 565 Francis Guthrie of Gagie · Barony of Guthrie Conjunct Fee / Succession Francis and Betty Guthrie receive the lands and barony in conjunct fee. The substitution sequence later names Patrick Guthrie, explicitly son of Mr John Guthrie of that Ilk, and James Guthrie, minister at Arbirlot. The sequence does not state every genealogical relationship among the named Guthries.

The Seventeenth-Century Estate Transition

1629–1630 · RMS VIII #1616

William of that Ilk Sells to David of Kincaldrum

Major portions of the historic Guthrie estate pass by an irredeemable sale. William acts with the consent of Isabella Fenton. Hiltoun and Langlands remain expressly outside the conveyance.

1632 · RMS VIII #1956

David Is Styled “of that Ilk”

David Guthrie now appears under the principal territorial style. The same record identifies Alexander of Kincaldrum as his eldest legitimate son and apparent heir.

1636 · RMS IX #616

Bishop John Receives a New Crown Grant

Peter Guthrie resigns the barony, after which the Crown grants it anew to Bishop John Guthrie and Nichola Wood. The legal mechanism is a resignation followed by a new grant, not an inheritance from Peter.

Hiltoun and Langlands require separate treatment. Several chief-line transactions expressly distinguish or exclude them. RMS VI #639 excludes Hiltoun and Langlands from the core barony settlement; RMS VIII #1616 again excepts their property and superiority from William’s sale; and RMS IX #616 likewise preserves explicit exclusions when the estate passes to Bishop John. They should therefore never be silently absorbed into every description of the Barony of Guthrie.
“Of that Ilk” does not always mean the charter conveys Guthrie. RMS VIII #1956 styles David Guthrie “of that Ilk,” but the principal barony in that charter is Rossie. RMS X #658 styles Francis Guthrie “of that Ilk” inside a boundary description rather than as principal grantee. Territorial style and the property conveyed must be recorded separately.
Network evidence belongs elsewhere unless it changes the estate story. For example, RMS IX #1639 names David Guthrie of that Ilk as a consenter in a Carslogie matrimonial contract. That is valuable evidence for his social and legal network, but it is not a conveyance of the Guthrie estate. Its primary home in this index will therefore be Witnesses & Networks, with only a cross-reference from the chief-line material if needed.
The barony sequence is not a substitute for a pedigree. Explicit father-son evidence—such as Andrew → Alexander in RMS III #2998 or the Alexanders in RMS V #637 and VI #639—can be used genealogically. By contrast, a resignation followed by a Crown grant, a substitution clause, or later possession of the estate must not be converted into an unstated biological relationship.
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Territorial Families & Alignments

The RMS repeatedly identifies Guthries by territorial designation, but territorial identity is not automatically proof of descent from a particular branch. This section therefore replaces the older “Cadet Branches” structure with documentary groupings based on the places and family relationships the records actually establish.

Direct Territorial Evidence

Cream and lavender rows identify an actual Guthrie person styled by a place, receiving or resigning land there, or explicitly linked to another person in the same territorial family.

Supplementary Property Evidence

Pale-green rows preserve earlier or later property history, boundaries, baronies, or place-names where no Guthrie person is actually named in the relevant record.

Editorial rule: a territorial style such as “of Eassie,” “of Gagie,” or “of Carsbank” establishes a documented association with that place. It does not, by itself, establish where the person belongs in a reconstructed pedigree.
Kincaldrum From the fifteenth-century family to the seventeenth-century sale of the barony
Kincaldrum intersects repeatedly with the Guthries of Guthrie, but the Kincaldrum evidence is retained as its own territorial sequence. The later seventeenth-century records provide especially strong parent-child and marriage evidence.
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
II · 834 22 Jun 1465 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Jonete Petkarne grant to David and his wife Jonete with succession to lawful issue. Marriage / Succession
II · 868 25 Mar 1466 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum David receives the lands of Guthrie, creating the major documentary intersection between Kincaldrum and the principal estate.
III · 250 18 Jan 1523/24 Alexander Guthrie · Elizabeth Rait Conjunct infeftment at Kincaldrum explicitly identifying Elizabeth Rait as Alexander’s spouse.
VI · 1935 30 Jun 1607 Alexander · Helen Douglas · David · Katherine Blair Major marriage settlement identifying David as son and apparent heir, Katherine Blair as his intended wife, and Patrick Guthrie as Alexander’s brother german.
VII · 1071 8 Jul 1614 David Guthrie junior of Kincaldrum Direct appearance of David junior / feodatory within the continuing Kincaldrum sequence.
VIII · 1956 25 Mar 1632 David Guthrie of that Ilk · Alexander of Kincaldrum Alexander is explicitly David’s eldest legitimate son and apparent heir. The property conveyed in this charter is Rossie, not Hiltoun.
VIII · 2216 31 Jul 1633 David + Catherine Blair → Alexander + Mariote Grahame Rich marriage settlement identifying David’s spouse, their son and apparent heir Alexander, Alexander’s future wife, and Alise Douglas as David’s mother.
IX · 323 27 Jun 1635 Alexander Guthrie · David Guthrie his father Sale of the Barony of Kincaldrum with David explicitly identified as Alexander’s father and retaining liferent.
X · 597 8 Jul 1657 Barony of Kincaldrum Later Gordon-family provision preserving Kincaldrum, its manor-place and related lands. No Guthrie person is named. Post-Guthrie Property Context
Eassie & Hiltoun Direct family evidence separated from superiority, boundary and later property history
Eassie and Hiltoun are treated together as one family in the broader research reconstruction, but the RMS table preserves each charter at the level it actually proves. Later Hiltoun references are frequently property evidence rather than Guthrie-person records.
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
I · 1943–44 Robert III period Eassie Ogilvy property and ecclesiastical history before documented Guthrie tenure. Pre-Guthrie Context
II · 1493 16 Oct 1481 John Guthrie of Eassie Secure fifteenth-century territorial identification.
II · 1674 26 May 1487 John Guthrie of Eassie → David Guthrie David is explicitly the son and heir apparent of John Guthrie of Eassie.
II · 2152 30 May 1493 David Guthrie of Hiltoun Secure territorial style. The transaction is in an Aberdeenshire setting, but that does not make David an Aberdeenshire branch founder.
III · 1386 24 May 1534 David Guthrie of Eassie Heritable possession involving three-fourths of Hiltoun of Guthrie and one-fourth of Eastertoun of Guthrie.
IV · 1195 23 Jul 1557 John Guthrie of Hiltoun Direct sixteenth-century territorial identification.
V · 1591 13 Oct 1588 Hiltoun de Guthrie · Guthrie Boundary/place evidence only. No Guthrie person is named. Supplementary Context
X · 640 19 Feb 1658 “Hiltoune of Guthrie called Pikertoune” Charter-specific place-name wording. No Guthrie person is named, and the wording should not be imposed on every other Hiltoun/Picktoun reference.
XI · 444 6 Jul 1663 Hiltoun of Guthrie · Picktoun The two names are listed consecutively as lands. The charter does not state that Picktoun is simply another name for Hiltoun.
XI · 874 2 Feb 1666 Hiltoune · Guthrie · Langlands · Pykerstoun Exact wording describes Pykerstoun as a pendicle of Langlands. Preserve this charter’s formulation independently of #640 and #444.
Superiority is not possession: the wider evidence shows that superiority of Hiltoun could belong to the Guthries of Guthrie while the Eassie/Hiltoun family held heritable possession or feu rights. Those legal interests should not be collapsed into a single concept of ownership.
Kingennie & Pitforthie Territorial continuity, patronage and later father–son evidence
The RMS securely documents a Kingennie sequence and later direct Pitforthie family evidence. Records are not assigned to this family merely because they concern Powrie or nearby lands.
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
II · 1456 7 Dec 1480 Malcolm Guthrie of Kingennie Direct fifteenth-century territorial identification.
III · 653 5 Sep 1528 Ninian Guthrie of Kingany Records Ninian’s earlier holding of Kingany and its mill.
III · 832 2 Sep 1529 Ninian Guthrie · Katherine Moncreiff Crown grant of Kingany with liferent provision for Katherine Moncreiff, Ninian’s wife.
V · 1250 18 May 1587 Ninian Guthrie of Kingennie Continued direct territorial appearance.
VI · 165 30 Sep 1594 Henry Guthrie Son of the laird of Kingennie Direct parentage-by-territorial-office statement.
VI · 1060 15 Jul 1600 William Guthrie of Kingennie Territorial identification with chaplainry patronage.
X · 450 27 Jul 1655 James Guthrie of Pitforthie · sons David & William David is a lawful son of the deceased James Guthrie of Pitforthie; William, minister at the new kirk of Kilmarnock, is separately identified as another son. No birth order is stated.
Two exclusions matter: RMS II #1104 belongs primarily to Balnabreich; Malcolm, natural son of Sir David, is not the same identification as Malcolm of Kingennie appearing separately in that charter. RMS XI #354, concerning Jonet Guthrie and the McPhersons of Easter Powrie, also provides no charter evidence for a Kingennie/Pitforthie placement.
Colliston / Colliestoun Landed succession, hereditary offices and seventeenth-century marriage evidence
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
IV · 647 3 Nov 1551 John Guthrie of Colliston Direct Crown grant / quitclaim involving Cukistoun.
V · 1104 8 Dec 1586 John Guthrie in Colliston · Isobel Ogilvy Husband-and-wife evidence. Preserve the charter’s “in Colliston” wording rather than silently changing it to “of Colliston.”
V · 1105 8 Dec 1586 Henry Guthrie of Colliston → John Guthrie John is explicitly Henry’s son and apparent heir and receives hereditary offices within the regality of Arbroath.
VI · 514 30 Jan 1596/97 John · James · Alexander Guthrie Colliston family transaction. James is explicitly brother of the late John Guthrie of Colliston. Alexander “de eodem” is retained at the charter’s wording and is not expanded to “of that Ilk.”
XI · 209 21 Feb 1662 Henry Guthrie of Collistoun · Margaret Livingston Husband-and-wife conjunct-fee grant following apprising for debt. Destination to heirs of the marriage does not itself prove that children existed.
XI · 719 13 Feb 1665 Sir Henry → John → Henry younger Three-generation sequence: Sir Henry of Colliestoun → John apparent of Colliestoun → Henry younger, John’s eldest lawful son. Jean Lindsay is Sir Henry’s wife.
XI · 1197 19 Jun 1668 Sir Henry Guthrie · Dame Barbara Urquhart Incorporates the 29 Apr 1664 contract giving Fisherrie lands to Sir Henry and Barbara in conjunct fee. Read with #719, this establishes Sir Henry’s sequential marriages.
Gagie Territorial witnesses, father–son evidence and later association with the Barony of Guthrie
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
VI · 479 4 Nov 1596 James Guthrie of Gagie Territorial designation recorded during assize service.
IX · 355 18 Jul 1635 Alexander Guthrie of Gagie Territorially styled witness in a Ross transaction. Ross is the transaction location, not Alexander’s territorial designation.
IX · 1177 18 Jul 1642 William Guthrie of Gagie → Francis Guthrie Directly identifies Francis as William’s son. Jeanne Guthrie, wife of Alexander Lindsay, is separately named; the charter does not state her relationship to William or Francis.
X · 658 2 Jul 1658 Francis Guthrie of that Ilk · Gagie Francis is styled “of that Ilk” in a boundary description involving Easter and Wester Gagie. John Finlaysone is also named, so sole ownership of both Gagies should not be inferred.
XI · 565 4 Mar 1664 Francis Guthrie of Gagie · Betty Guthrie Husband-and-wife conjunct-fee evidence in the later succession to the lands and Barony of Guthrie. The substitution sequence does not establish every implied family relationship.
Auchmuthie / Auchmithie Territorial identification, heritable rights, spouse and daughters
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
VII · 598 17 Dec 1611 Patrick Guithrie of Auchmithie Earliest direct territorial appearance in this RMS sequence.
IX · 1004 8 Oct 1640 Patrick Guthrie of Auchmuthie Direct feu-farm grant documenting Patrick’s heritable rights in Auchmuthie.
X · 89 21 Feb 1653 Patrick Guthrie · Jonet Reid Patrick resigns Auchmuthie while his wife Jonet Reid retains liferent in the sunny half of the lands and houses.
X · 424 28 Jun 1655 Patrick + Janet Reid → Isabell & Margaret Guthrie Preserves Patrick’s 1646 bond of provision and explicitly identifies Isabell and Margaret as their only lawful daughters.
Balnabreich Natural-son grant, later family evidence and changing ownership
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
II · 1104 4 Feb 1472/73 Sir David Guthrie → Malcolm, his natural son Balnabreich is granted to Malcolm, natural son of Sir David Guthrie. Alexander, David’s son and heir apparent, and Malcolm of Kingennie are separately identified persons.
IV · 2523 1575/76 John Guthrie of Balnabreich · sons Master John & David Direct father-son evidence for the Balnabreich family; James Guthrie, burgess of Edinburgh, also appears in the transaction.
V · 730 28 Aug 1584 James Guthrie of Balnabreich Direct territorial identification.
V · 2118 1 Jul 1592 Andrew Guthrie of Balnabreich · Margaret · James Guthrie Family and property evidence including Andrew’s spouse Margaret and another named Guthrie participant.
VI · 1176 8 May 1601 James Guthrie of Easter Balnabreich Christina Barroun is James’s wife and Master James is his son and apparent heir. Euphamia Guthrie is separately wife of the late Robert Montgomery in Haltoun and should not be conflated with those relationships.
VII · 1914 9 Sep 1618 Wester Balnabreich Records that the west half had formerly belonged to James Guthrie. This is chain-of-title evidence, not proof that James still held the property in 1618.
Kinblathmont Direct Guthrie family evidence kept separate from later baronial property context
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
V · 868 6 Aug 1585 Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmont · Alexander · William Robert is identified as nephew and heir of the late Alexander Guthrie; the earlier title also identifies William as Alexander’s father.
V · 923 24 Feb 1585/86 Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmont Continued direct territorial evidence.
VI · 995 25 Dec 1599 Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmont Later direct appearance of Robert under the territorial style.
VIII · 841 26 Jul 1625 Barony of Kinblathmont Wood/Cockburn property transaction documenting Kinblathmont as a functioning barony. No Guthrie person is named. Later Property Context
Legacy correction: RMS II #3535 does not belong here. It concerns Kirkton and Eastertown within the Barony of Guthrie, with Sir Alexander Guthrie styled baron of Guthrie. It has been restored to the principal-barony section.
Other Documented Territorial Guthries Secure territorial styles retained without forcing branch placement
These records establish territorial or locational identities that deserve to remain visible in the cross-volume index even where the RMS evidence does not securely connect them to one of the larger reconstructed families.
RMS Date Person / Place Evidence
II · 1751 24 Jul 1488 Alexander Guthrie of Glenquharidy Direct territorial style in the sale of half of Wester Glenquharidy.
IV · 238 30 Jul 1548 Alexander Guthrie of Grandene Territorially styled assize member. Service in an Aberdeenshire proceeding does not establish an Aberdeenshire branch.
IV · 2443 Volume IV Master Hugh Guthrie · Christina Rattray · Patrick Guthrie Dalgaty / Dawgathy Christina is Hugh’s widow; Patrick is their son in the associated succession structure, with Christina receiving liferent and Patrick the heritable interest.
V · 1344 9 Aug 1587 Andrew Guthrie in Idvie → Alexander of Crawquhy-mylne Alexander is explicitly Andrew’s son and apparent heir.
VII · 318 3 Jul 1610 Patrick Gutherrie of Pitmowies → Alison Gutherrie Alison is explicitly Patrick’s daughter and wife of John Collace junior of Balnamoon.
VIII · 1678 1630 Richard Guthrie of Balfeich Secure territorial designation.
IX · 851 Volume IX John Guthrie · Kirktoun of Blair John is explicitly the lawful son of the late John Guthrie of Kirktoun of Blair.
XI · 1143 7 Feb 1668 Alexander Guthrie of Carsbank Secure territorial style, but the charter itself conveys Easter and Wester Craigheads and the tenandry/superiority of Carsgowane—not Carsbank itself.
Why these are “Territorial Families & Alignments,” not “Cadet Branches”: the RMS can prove that a Guthrie was styled of Kincaldrum, Eassie, Hiltoun, Kingennie, Colliston, Gagie, Balnabreich, Kinblathmont, Carsbank, or another place. It can sometimes also prove spouse, parent-child, sibling, or heir relationships within those groups. What it cannot always prove is the exact descent of every territorial Guthrie from the Guthries of that Ilk. The index therefore preserves the documentary structure without converting territorial proximity into genealogy.
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Marriage & Kinship Evidence

The RMS provides far more genealogical evidence than marriage alliances alone. Across Volumes I–XI, the charters identify spouses, parents, children, heirs, siblings, natural children, daughters, widows, and successive marriages. This section records those relationships at the exact strength stated by the document.

Relationship wording matters. “Son,” “eldest lawful son,” “natural son,” “only son by his first wife,” “brother german,” “apparent heir,” and a mere succession destination are not interchangeable forms of evidence.
Spouse Parent → Child Apparent Heir Sibling Natural Child Widow / Relict Sequential Marriage Succession Provision
Spouses & Marriage Settlements Explicit husbands, wives, conjunct fee, matrimonial contracts and liferent provisions
RMS Date People Relationship Evidence
II · 834 22 Jun 1465 Master David Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Jonete Spouses Joint grant of Petkarne with destination to heirs lawfully begotten between them.
II · 2682 9 Jan 1503 James Guthrie · Katrina / Katherine Lyne Husband / Wife Katherine resigns her share of Edinkip with the consent of her husband James Guthrie. The charter does not identify James’s territorial family.
III · 250 18 Jan 1523/24 Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Elizabeth Rait Spouses Conjunct infeftment explicitly naming Elizabeth Rait as Alexander’s spouse.
III · 832 2 Sep 1529 Ninian Guthrie of Kingany · Katherine Moncreiff Spouses Katherine receives liferent in the Kingany grant as Ninian’s wife.
IV · 349 11 Jul 1549 Agnes Guthrie · William Erskine Wife / Husband Agnes is explicitly identified as William Erskine’s wife.
IV · 793 18 Jun 1553 Janet Guthrie · George Crichton of Camnay Wife / Husband Direct marriage identification.
IV · 870 1553 Hercules Guthrie · Janet Anderson Husband / Wife Janet Anderson is explicitly identified as Hercules Guthrie’s wife.
IV · 1605 1565 Margaret Guthrie · Sir Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird Wife / Husband Direct Guthrie–Carnegie marriage evidence.
V · 872 6 Aug 1585 Elizabeth Guthrie · Alexander Burnet Wife / Husband Marriage and property-consent evidence.
V · 1371 13 Sep 1587 Mariot Guthrie · Master John Lindsay Spouses First of a multi-charter sequence documenting Mariot as wife of Master John Lindsay.
V · 1512 4 Apr 1588 Mariot Guthrie · Master John Lindsay Conjunct Fee Conjunct infeftment at Balmakin with survivorship and succession provisions.
V · 1545 21 May 1588 Christine Guthrie · Master George Abernethy Wife / Husband Direct marriage and property evidence.
VI · 1935 30 Jun 1607 Alexander Guthrie · Helen Douglas David Guthrie · Katherine Blair Marriage Settlement Alexander and Helen are the parental couple; their son David is contracted to Katherine Blair.
VII · 318 3 Jul 1610 Alison Gutherrie · John Collace junior Wife / Husband Alison is wife of John Collace junior of Balnamoon and is also explicitly daughter of Patrick Gutherrie of Pitmowies.
VII · 356 2 Aug 1610 Bethia Guthrie · William Maule Spouses Bethia appears explicitly as William Maule’s spouse.
VII · 1636 9 May 1617 Bathea / Bethia Guthrie · William Maule Marriage / Liferent Continues the Maule marriage and liferent sequence.
VIII · 715 6 Jul 1620 Master Alexander Guthrie · Marjoria Hay Alexander junior · Agnes Wardlaw Two Marriages Establishes the elder Alexander and Marjoria Hay as spouses, and Alexander junior with Agnes Wardlaw.
VIII · 2216 31 Jul 1633 David Guthrie · Catherine Blair Alexander Guthrie · Mariote Grahame Marriage Settlement Establishes both generations of the Kincaldrum marriage settlement and identifies Alise Douglas as David’s mother.
IX · 1429 7 Aug 1643 Margaret Guthrie · Francis Ogilvy of Newgrange Wife / Husband Marriage and property-consent evidence.
X · 89 21 Feb 1653 Patrick Guthrie of Auchmuthie · Jonet Reid Husband / Wife Jonet retains liferent in part of Auchmuthie when Patrick resigns the lands.
XI · 209 21 Feb 1662 Henry Guthrie of Collistoun · Margaret Livingston Conjunct Fee Husband-and-wife property settlement. The destination to heirs lawfully begotten between them does not itself prove that such children existed.
XI · 354 19 Jan 1663 Jonet Guthrie · Dowgald McPherson Wife / Husband Jonet appears with her husband and their son John McPherson. No Kingennie/Pitforthie relationship is stated.
XI · 565 4 Mar 1664 Francis Guthrie of Gagie · Betty Guthrie Husband / Wife Francis and Betty receive the historic lands and barony in conjunct fee.
Parents, Children & Heirs Explicit parentage, heirs apparent, eldest sons, daughters and multi-generation sequences
RMS Date People Relationship Evidence
II · 1674 26 May 1487 John Guthrie of Eassie → David Guthrie Son / Heir Apparent David is explicitly John’s son and heir apparent.
III · 1104 1531 Master James Guthrie → John Guthrie William, son of the late David Guthrie Parent / Son Direct sonship for John; separate remainder naming William as son of the late David Guthrie.
III · 2998 13 Mar 1543/44 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk → Alexander Guthrie Son / Apparent Heir Alexander is explicitly Andrew’s son and apparent heir.
IV · 1355 20 Jul 1559 Andrew Guthrie of that Ilk → David Guthrie Father / Son David is explicitly identified as Andrew’s son.
IV · 2523 1575/76 John Guthrie of Balnabreich → Master John & David Father / Sons Master John and David are expressly sons of John Guthrie of Balnabreich.
V · 868 6 Aug 1585 Robert Guthrie of Kinblathmont · late Alexander Guthrie Nephew / Heir Robert is nephew and heir of the late Alexander; William is identified in the earlier title context as Alexander’s father.
V · 1105 8 Dec 1586 Henry Guthrie of Colliston → John Guthrie Son / Apparent Heir John is explicitly Henry’s son and apparent heir.
V · 1344 9 Aug 1587 Andrew Guthrie in Idvie → Alexander of Crawquhy-mylne Son / Apparent Heir Alexander is explicitly Andrew’s son and apparent heir.
VI · 163 24 Sep 1594 Late Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk → Alexander Father / Son Direct chief-line parentage statement.
VI · 1176 8 May 1601 James Guthrie of Easter Balnabreich → Master James Son / Apparent Heir Master James is expressly the son and apparent heir of James.
VII · 318 3 Jul 1610 Patrick Gutherrie of Pitmowies → Alison Gutherrie Father / Daughter Alison is expressly Patrick’s daughter.
VII · 1205 9 Mar 1615 James Guthrie, clerk of Montrose → son James Father / Son Direct civic-family evidence for the Montrose clerk and his son.
VII · 1684 22 Aug 1617 Bethia Guthrie → Jonet Maule Mother / Daughter Matrimonial contract identifies Jonet Maule as Bethia’s daughter.
VIII · 715 6 Jul 1620 Master Alexander Guthrie → Alexander junior Father / Son & Heir Multi-generation Edinburgh family evidence also naming Marjoria Hay and Agnes Wardlaw.
VIII · 840 26 Jul 1625 Bishop John Guthrie · brother Master William Master William → son Master John Brother / Father / Son Exceptional explicit family identification surrounding Bishop John Guthrie.
VIII · 1956 25 Mar 1632 David Guthrie of that Ilk → Alexander of Kincaldrum Eldest Legitimate Son Alexander is explicitly David’s eldest legitimate son and apparent heir.
IX · 616 28 Nov 1636 Bishop John Guthrie → John · Patrick · Andrew Sons / Succession Order The new Crown grant to Bishop John and Nichola Wood gives succession through sons John, Patrick and Andrew in stated order.
IX · 1177 18 Jul 1642 William Guthrie of Gagie → Francis Guthrie Father / Son Direct father-son statement.
X · 424 28 Jun 1655 Patrick Guthrie + Janet Reid → Isabell & Margaret Only Lawful Daughters The daughters are explicitly described as the only lawful daughters of the couple.
X · 450 27 Jul 1655 James Guthrie of Pitforthie → David & William Lawful Sons Both men are sons of the deceased James. The charter does not establish which son was elder.
XI · 221 3 Mar 1662 Gideon Guthrie of Halkertoun → Henry Guthrie David Sybbald of Kair → Margaret Sybbald Eldest Son / Only Daughter Henry is Gideon’s eldest lawful son; Margaret is David Sybbald’s only lawful daughter.
XI · 719 13 Feb 1665 Sir Henry → John → Henry younger Three Generations John is Sir Henry’s son; younger Henry is explicitly John’s eldest lawful son.
Siblings, Natural Children & Other Explicit Kin Relationships that should not be lost inside general succession tables
RMS Date People Relationship Evidence
II · 1104 4 Feb 1472/73 Sir David Guthrie → Malcolm Natural Son Malcolm is explicitly Sir David’s natural son. He is distinct from Malcolm of Kingennie named separately in the record.
III · 2085 1539/40 Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Thomas Guthrie Brothers German Thomas is explicitly Alexander’s brother german, establishing full-sibling evidence.
IV · 560 3 Feb 1551 Hercules Guthrie → James & William Natural Sons Royal legitimation explicitly identifies James and William as natural sons of Hercules Guthrie of Over-Dysart.
IV · 1216 1558 Master James Guthrie → David Guthrie Natural Son David is explicitly identified as Master James Guthrie’s natural son.
VI · 514 30 Jan 1596/97 Late John Guthrie of Colliston · James Guthrie Brothers James is explicitly brother of the late John Guthrie of Colliston.
VI · 1935 30 Jun 1607 Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum · Patrick Guthrie Brothers German Patrick is explicitly Alexander’s brother german.
VIII · 840 26 Jul 1625 Bishop John Guthrie · Master William Guthrie Brothers Master William is explicitly Bishop John’s brother.
IX · 1430 1643 Henry Guthrie of Halkertoun · John Guthrie John → son of Master David Guthrie Brothers / Father-Son Henry and John are brothers; John is also identified as lawful son of Master David Guthrie, burgess of Arbroath.
Widowhood, Remarriage & Sequential Marriages Records where chronology changes the interpretation of the family structure
RMS Date People Status Evidence
IX · 344 11 Jul 1635 Nicola Guthrie · late John Watt · Jasper Home Remarriage Nicola is widow of John Watt and wife of Jasper Home. The charter identifies John Watt—not Nicola—as father of William Watt.
IX · 1533 1 Mar 1644 Jeanne Guthrie · late Robert Stirling of Letter Widow Jeanne, earlier documented as Robert’s wife, now appears as his widow and as principal grantee of Kirkcudbrightshire property.
IX · 1792 21 Jun 1647 Margaret Guthrie · late Gilbert Kirkwood Widow Margaret is explicitly wife of the late Gilbert Kirkwood. This Margaret should not be automatically merged with other same-named Guthrie women.
XI · 719 13 Feb 1665 Sir Henry Guthrie of Colliestoun · Jean Lindsay Late Wife Jean Lindsay is Sir Henry’s wife in the earlier matrimonial settlement and is described as deceased by this confirmation.
XI · 1197 19 Jun 1668 Sir Henry Guthrie · Dame Barbara Urquhart Contract: 29 Apr 1664 Later Wife Read with #719, this establishes that Sir Henry had remarried Barbara Urquhart by April 1664. Her relationship to Sir Alexander Urquhart is not stated.
Reading Kinship Language Correctly Why the precise legal wording cannot be simplified into a pedigree

Eldest Lawful Son

Establishes both sonship and relative birth status among lawful sons. Examples include Henry Guthrie in XI #221 and younger Henry of Colliestoun in XI #719.

Only Lawful Daughter

Stronger than simply “daughter.” XI #221 calls Margaret Sybbald the only lawful daughter of David Sybbald of Kair; X #424 calls Isabell and Margaret Guthrie the only lawful daughters of Patrick Guthrie and Janet Reid.

Natural Son

Must remain distinct from lawful issue. II #1104 expressly calls Malcolm the natural son of Sir David Guthrie; IV #560 and #1216 provide additional natural-child evidence.

Brother German

Indicates full brothers. III #2085 and VI #1935 therefore provide stronger sibling evidence than a mere shared surname or repeated appearance in the same charter.

Only Son by His First Wife

XI #269 identifies John Guthrie as Henry’s only son by Elizabeth Lindsay, his first wife. It does not say John was Henry’s only son from all marriages.

Heirs Lawfully Begotten

A destination clause describes who would succeed if qualifying issue existed. It is not, by itself, proof that the couple actually had children.

Apparent Heir

Identifies the person then expected to succeed, but should not be silently rewritten as “eldest son” unless the charter says so.

Substitution Order

A sequence of named substitutes establishes legal priority. Unless the charter explicitly states parentage or sibling status, it does not by itself establish the biological relationships among everyone in the sequence.

Volume XI #565 is the clearest warning. Patrick Guthrie is explicitly a son of the deceased Mr John Guthrie of that Ilk. Francis Guthrie of Gagie and Betty Guthrie are explicitly husband and wife. James Guthrie is explicitly minister at Arbirlot. The succession sequence does not state that Francis, Betty, or James were children of Mr John.
Same name does not equal same person. RMS IX #1429 calls Margaret Guthrie the wife of Francis Ogilvy of Newgrange, while IX #1949 calls Dame Margaret Guthrie the spouse of James Ogilvie of Newgrange. Those records remain separate unless independent evidence reconciles the identities or wording.
Editorial spelling is secondary to charter wording. Where an RMS index normalizes a name, the charter’s own form remains primary. For example, XI #354 gives Jonet Guthrie while the printed index renders her as Janet.
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Clerical, Civic & Professional Guthries

Many Guthries entered the Great Seal record because of their office or profession rather than landed status. Ministers, bishops, notaries, Writers to the Signet, common clerks, academics, bailies, burgesses, messengers, heraldic officers, scribes, and servitors form an important parallel documentary network across the RMS collection.

Professional appearance does not establish genealogy or ownership. A notary who writes a charter is not thereby a proprietor; a minister styled by his parish is not automatically “of” that place; and two men with the same surname and occupation are not the same individual unless the evidence supports the identification.
Minister Bishop Notary Public Writer to the Signet Common Clerk Bailie Burgess Messenger Academic Office Royal / Heraldic Service
Ecclesiastical Guthries Rectors, ministers, bishops and church-office evidence
RMS Date Person Office Evidence
III · 1104 6 Jan 1531/32 Underlying: 16 Dec 1531 Master James Guthrie Rector of Kirkbuddo James receives property in liferent while his son John receives the hereditary interest. The record combines clerical identity with direct father-son evidence.
VII · 755 9 Oct 1612 Master James Guthrie Minister at Urquhart Direct clerical-office identification in the Elgin / Urquhart area.
VII · 1094 1614 Master John Guthrie Minister at Arbirlot Parish ministry identifies John professionally; the office does not by itself place him in a territorial pedigree.
VIII · 840 26 Jul 1625 John Guthrie Bishop of Moray Ecclesiastical identity appears alongside unusually strong family evidence naming his brother Master William and William’s son Master John.
VIII · 1007 25 Oct 1626 John Guthrie Bishop of Moray Bishop John appears in a national ecclesiastical commission.
VIII · 1014 17 Jan 1627 John Guthrie Bishop / Commissioner Continuing national church-office evidence concerning erections, temporalities and royal-revocation matters.
X · 450 27 Jul 1655 William Guthrie Son of the deceased James Guthrie of Pitforthie Minister at New Kirk of Kilmarnock Clerical office appears within direct Pitforthie family evidence.
XI · 565 4 Mar 1664 James Guthrie Minister at Arbirlot James appears in the later succession provisions concerning the Barony of Guthrie. His ministry is explicit; his exact relationship to the other Guthries in that substitution sequence is not.
XI · 785 30 Jun 1665 Master Henry Guthrie Bishop of Dunkeld Henry, previously minister at Kilspindie, is appointed to the Bishopric of Dunkeld in liferent. Ecclesiastical possession is not hereditary landed ownership.
Civic, Burgh & Local Administrative Guthries Common clerks, bailies, burgesses, messengers and urban occupations
RMS Date Person Office / Occupation Evidence
IV · 843 1553 Gilbert Guthrie Burgess of Aberdeen Urban civic identity rather than landed territorial designation.
V–VIII 1588–1632 Master Alexander Guthrie Edinburgh Common Clerk / Civic Legal Officer Repeated records document a long Edinburgh civic and notarial career, later accompanied by wife, son and daughter-in-law evidence and a substantial royal land grant.
VII · 1205 1615 James Guthrie Clerk of Montrose Civic-office evidence combined with explicit identification of James’s son, also named James.
IX · 954 22 Jan 1640 Samuel Guthrie Dyer · Edinburgh Urban occupational and tenancy evidence.
X · 585 19 Jun 1657 James Guthrie Messenger James acts as messenger in an apprising proceeding in Forfarshire.
X · 605 24 Jul 1657 James Guthrie Messenger A second messenger appearance in an Arbroath transaction, forming a short professional sequence.
XI · 566 9 Mar 1664 Thomas Guthrie Bailie of Forfar Thomas appears as a civic officer and witness. His presence does not make him proprietor of the lands described in the charter.
Academic, Royal & Heraldic Service University office, sheriff service and Falkland Pursuivant
RMS Date Person Office Evidence
III · 1181–82 12 Jun 1532 Alexander Guthrie alias Falkland Pursuivant Sheriff / Appreciator Alexander conducts official appraisal proceedings as Falkland Pursuivant and sheriff in that part.
III · 1247 18 Dec 1532 Alexander Guthrie alias Falkland Pursuivant Royal Officer Bacharis lands are granted in connection with Alexander’s sheriff fee, linking royal service directly to property.
VII · 686 7 Jul 1612 Master Patrick Guthrie Regent · Aberdeen College Academic-office evidence preceding Patrick’s later promotion.
VII · 1078 14 Jul 1614 Master Patrick Guthrie Subprincipal · Aberdeen College Documents Patrick in the senior academic office of subprincipal.
VII · 1455 / 1505 1616 Master Patrick Guthrie Subprincipal Repeated senior-office appearances confirm continuity in the Aberdeen academic career.
Falkland Pursuivant is not Alexander of Kincaldrum. Volume III contains both men in overlapping years. Their differing styles and documentary roles must remain separate unless a record explicitly connects them.
Professional Identity Cautions How occupational records should—and should not—be used genealogically
Same surname + same profession ≠ same person. Volume XI separately records Master William Guthrie, Writer to the Signet; John Guthrie, notary public; and another John Guthrie connected with the Auld Montrose instruments. They remain separate identities unless additional evidence links them.
A professional role does not create a territorial branch. Richard Guthrie’s Signet work, Walter Guthrie’s Aberdeen notarial career, James Guthrie’s messenger service, and Samuel Guthrie’s work as an Edinburgh dyer belong here rather than under landed families.
Editorial identification should be disclosed. In RMS IX #377 the surname is not printed in the charter body; the Index Nominum identifies the notary as the James Guthrie also indexed at #130. The record remains useful, but the route by which the identity is known should not disappear.
Office does not equal kinship. Ministers, notaries, clerks, burgesses, bailies, academics, and servitors often occur beside landed Guthries in the same charter. Documentary association is valuable network evidence, but it does not establish a family relationship unless the charter says so.
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Witnesses & Networks

Witness lists, assizes, legal instruments, civic offices and professional service place Guthries inside a much wider documentary world. Repeated associations can identify the families, institutions and regions in which a Guthrie operated even where the charter provides no direct statement of kinship.

Witnessing does not prove kinship.

A witness may be a neighbour, officer, tenant, professional associate, political ally, creditor, servant or simply someone present for the transaction. Likewise, a servitor is not automatically a relative, a notary is not a proprietor, an assize member is not a family member, and geographic proximity does not establish lineage.

What Network Evidence Can Show

Repeated associations can identify social circles, professional careers, regional connections, institutional affiliations and useful research pathways for comparison with other records.

What It Cannot Show by Itself

Network evidence does not prove parentage, sibling relationships, branch membership, ownership, inheritance or descent unless the charter explicitly states those facts.

Angus Landed Network · Ogilvy, Lindsay, Crawford & Carnegie Early witnesses, assize service and repeated contact with neighbouring landed families
The early RMS records repeatedly place Guthries beside other prominent Angus and neighbouring families. These associations are historically useful, but the witness role must remain separate from genealogical relationship.
RMS Date Guthrie Participation Network What the Record Shows
II · 113 2 Aug 1427 Underlying charter: 8 Dec 1421 David de Guthre · Alexander de Guthre Witnesses Ogilvy Both men witness an Ogilvy annualrent transaction before the major mid-fifteenth-century Guthrie land grants. Their relationship to one another is not stated.
II · 3389 7 Dec 1509 Sir Alexander Guthrie of that Ilk Witness Crawford–Lindsay Sir Alexander appears within a transaction concerning lands in the lordship of Crawford-Lindsay, documenting participation in a wider noble network.
III · 1465 1535 David of Eassie · Alexander of Kinblathmont · Andrew of that Ilk · Hercules of Lunan Assize members Angus Landholders Four territorially styled Guthries serve together on an assize. Their joint service demonstrates association among established Angus landholders but does not prove their exact genealogical relationship.
IV · 238 30 Jul 1548 Alexander Guthrie of Grandene Assize member Landed / Legal Alexander participates in an assize valuing lands in an Aberdeenshire apprising. His service there does not make Grandene an Aberdeenshire Guthrie branch.
IV · 473 8 Jun 1550 Master John Guthrie Witness Carnegie–Wood Master John witnesses a Carnegie–Wood property settlement involving Fife and Forfarshire, placing him within another important landed-documentary circle.
Use as a research lead, not a pedigree. The repeated appearance of Guthries beside Ogilvys, Lindsays, Carnegies and other regional families can direct research toward marriage contracts, sasines, bonds and estate papers. It should not be converted into kinship without an explicit relationship statement.
Edinburgh Burgh & Legal Network Common clerks, scribes, commissions and professional documentary circles
Edinburgh produces one of the clearest professional Guthrie clusters. The recurring offices are useful for distinguishing civic careers from landed branches and for following the documentary environment in which Great Seal instruments were prepared and recorded.
RMS Date Guthrie Participation Network What the Record Shows
V · 1517 8 Apr 1588 Alexander Guthrie · Master David Guthrie · John Guthrie Edinburgh / Leith Multiple Guthries appear together in civic and professional roles. Their shared documentary setting does not, by itself, establish that they were close relatives.
VI · Multiple 1590s–1600s Master Alexander Guthrie Common Clerk / burgh-court scribe Edinburgh Burgh Repeated civic-office appearances form a strong professional cluster. Similar office descriptions support continuity but should still be checked chronologically before every appearance is treated as one man.
VIII · 715 6 Jul 1620 Master Alexander Guthrie & family Civic / Family The professional identity is joined by direct family evidence: Marjoria Hay, son Alexander junior and Agnes Wardlaw are named in the Wareistoun transaction.
VIII · 1655 12 Oct 1630 Master Alexander Guthrie Clerk of the burgh of Edinburgh National Legal Commission Alexander is appointed to the Crown’s Commission for the Visitation of the Laws, extending his documented activity beyond routine municipal recordkeeping into a national legal-administrative setting.
IX · 1792 21 Jun 1647 Master Alexander Guthrie, Common Clerk Edinburgh Legal Another professional appearance in a record that also names Margaret Guthrie, widow of Gilbert Kirkwood. Their joint appearance does not prove a family relationship.
Aberdeen Academic, Civic & Scribal Network College officers, burgesses, scribes and recurring notarial activity
Aberdeen records reveal different kinds of Guthrie activity: academic office, burgess status, scribal service and notarial work. These should be read as an institutional network, not collapsed into a single Aberdeen Guthrie family.
RMS Date Guthrie Participation Network What the Record Shows
IV · 843 1553 Gilbert Guthrie Burgess of Aberdeen Civic An urban civic identity rather than a landed territorial style.
VII · 686 7 Jul 1612 Master Patrick Guthrie Regent of Aberdeen College Academic First point in a sustained academic sequence later showing Patrick as subprincipal.
VIII · 458 29 May 1623 Master Patrick Guthrie Subprincipal · Old Aberdeen College Administration Patrick appears among senior college officers in an institutional charter, extending the earlier Volume VII career.
IX · 332 6 Jul 1635 Walter Guthrie Servant of Walter Robertson, burgh scribe Scribal Walter writes the underlying charter and enters the documentary network through professional scribal service.
IX · 422 / 949 / 1461 1635–1643 Walter Guthrie Notary public Aberdeen Legal Repeated independent notarial appearances establish a continuing professional role. They do not identify Walter’s landed family or parentage.
Ross & Northern Ecclesiastical Network Bishop’s household service and Guthries appearing in northern transactions
RMS Date Guthrie Participation Network What the Record Shows
VIII · 410 4 Feb 1623 Underlying charter: 11 Apr 1617 Gabriel Guthrie Servitor of the Bishop of Ross Episcopal Household Gabriel appears in professional household service to the Bishop of Ross. Servitor does not mean relative.
VIII · 1670 20 Nov 1630 Underlying charter: 3 Aug 1616 Gabriel Guthrie Bishop’s servitor Ross Episcopate A second securely documented appearance confirms Gabriel’s association with the episcopal household.
IX · 355 18 Jul 1635 Alexander Guthrie of Gagie Witness Bishop of Ross / Seaforth A territorially styled Angus Guthrie appears in a northern episcopal and noble transaction. The Ross setting does not transform Gagie into a Ross territorial family.
Legacy correction: Gabriel Guthrie’s 1623 and 1630 records were previously misfiled under RMS Volume VI. They belong to Volume VIII.
Forfar, Dundee & Montrose Civic Network Bailies, clerks, notaries, witnesses and burgh-connected Guthries
RMS Date Guthrie Participation Network What the Record Shows
II · 95 26 Jul 1427 Recites 20 May 1418 Robert Guthre Witness / bounding occupier Dundee Robert appears in a Dundee chaplainry charter and is associated with a bounding tenement, giving an early civic or urban-property context.
IV · 455 5 May 1550 John Guthrie · Master Richard Guthrie Bailie · Notary public Montrose Burgh Two Guthries participate in distinct civic and professional capacities in the same burgh land transaction. Shared participation does not establish their relationship.
VII · 1205 1615 James Guthrie, clerk of Montrose Appears with son James Montrose Civic Unlike most network evidence, this record also provides an explicit father-son relationship.
XI · 566 9 Mar 1664 Underlying instrument: 5 Oct 1663 Thomas Guthrie Bailie of Forfar · witness Forfar Burgh Thomas holds civic office and witnesses an Ogilvie transaction. He is not the grantee or proprietor of the Hiltoun/Longlands property described.
Marriage Alliances as Network Evidence How explicit marriages place Guthries within wider landed circles
These marriages are treated fully in the Marriage & Kinship section. Here their value is different: they demonstrate recurring connections between documented Guthries and neighbouring landed families without implying that every Guthrie appearing near those families belonged to the same branch.

Carnegie

Margaret Guthrie is documented as wife of Sir Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird in RMS IV #1605. Other Guthrie appearances in Carnegie transactions remain network evidence unless an explicit family relationship is stated.

Lindsay

Mariot Guthrie’s repeated marriage sequence with Master John Lindsay and Jeanne Guthrie’s marriage to Alexander Lindsay of Pittairlie place separate Guthrie women within Lindsay networks. The marriages do not establish that Mariot and Jeanne were related.

Ogilvy / Ogilvie

Ogilvy associations occur from early witness records through later marriages and property transactions. The recurrence makes the family an important research network, but every relationship must still be established independently.

Maule, Collace & Related Angus Families

Bethia Guthrie’s Maule marriage and Alison Guthrie’s Collace marriage show documented entry into other Angus landed circles. These alliances are evidence for the named women, not automatic proof of a shared Guthrie branch.

How to Use Network Evidence Productive research questions without over-interpreting the charter

Repeated Witnesses

Ask whether the same people recur in sasines, marriage contracts, bonds, testaments or burgh records. Repetition can help establish identity and social context.

Professional Clusters

Notaries, scribes, common clerks and servitors may lead to institutional or burgh archives containing additional records, but office alone does not identify parentage.

Marriage Networks

Explicit marriages can direct research into the records of the spouse’s family, where contracts, provisions and later inheritances may preserve otherwise missing Guthrie relationships.

Territorial Neighbours

Adjacent estates and repeated assize service can suggest a useful local search radius. They do not establish that neighbouring Guthries were brothers, cousins or members of one cadet branch.

Best practice: use the RMS network as a starting hypothesis generator. Then look for explicit relationship evidence in marriage contracts, sasines, testaments, retour records, bonds of provision, kirk records and other contemporary sources before adding a connection to a pedigree.
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Regional & Property Index

The RMS evidence extends far beyond the principal Guthrie estates in Angus. This index combines geography and property history so that a researcher can distinguish a Guthrie who actually held land from one who merely occupied it, witnessed an instrument there, used the place as a territorial designation, or appears only because a historic Guthrie-associated property survived in a later charter.

How Property Status Is Classified

Named Guthrie Person Proprietor / Grantee / Heritable Interest Occupier / Tenant / Resident Boundary / Place Context Liferent / Superiority / Tenandry / Other Legal Interest

The same charter may contain more than one of these categories. Classification follows the legal wording of the record rather than assuming that every person associated with a place owned it.

Direct Person Evidence

Cream and lavender rows contain an identifiable Guthrie person. Their role may still be limited to occupier, witness, consenter, officeholder or professional participant rather than proprietor.

Supplementary Property Evidence

Pale-green rows contain useful territorial, boundary, pre-Guthrie or post-Guthrie property history without naming a Guthrie individual in the relevant transaction.

Angus / Forfarshire Core Guthrie · Kincaldrum · Eassie · Hiltoun · Gagie · Colliston · Auchmuthie · Balnabreich · Kinblathmont
Angus contains the densest concentration of Guthrie evidence in the collection. The examples below emphasize the changing legal status of the land rather than repeating the complete territorial-family tables in Block 4.
RMS Date Person / Place Status Property Evidence
I · 87 Undated Guthrie · Eassie Place-Name Context Guthrie appears as a territorial place-name among lands erected into the Barony of Downy. No Guthrie person is named.
I · 870 16 Oct 1392/93 Kincaldrum Pre-Guthrie Property Documents Wemyss tenure before the later Guthrie association. Earlier ownership is property history, not Guthrie ancestry.
III · 1386 24 May 1534 David Guthrie of Eassie Hiltoun of Guthrie · Eastertoun of Guthrie Heritable Possession Direct evidence for David’s heritable interests in three quarters of Hiltoun of Guthrie and one quarter of Eastertoun of Guthrie.
VIII · 1616 24 Jul 1630 William Guthrie of that Ilk → David of Kincaldrum Irredeemable Sale Major portions of the historic Guthrie estate are sold to David. Hiltoun and Langlands are expressly excluded, and one interest is identified as tenandry rather than outright property.
X · 640 19 Feb 1658 “Hiltoune of Guthrie called Pikertoune” Later Place Context Preserves this exact charter-specific place-name wording. No Guthrie person is named.
XI · 489 3 Aug 1663 Hiltoun of Guthrie · Guthrie · Lunansyde Boundary Evidence Places Guthrie and Hiltoun within the recognizable Kinnell–Lunan–Montrewmonth landscape. The charter does not identify a current Guthrie proprietor.
XI · 874 2 Feb 1666 Hiltoune · Guthrie · Langlands · Pykerstoun Later Property Context Exact wording preserves Langlands with the pendicle called Pykerstoun. This formulation must remain distinct from the wording of X #640 and XI #444.
Perthshire Burnesyde · Kirktoun of Blair · occupation, portionership and family evidence
RMS Date Person / Place Status Property Evidence
VIII · 984 29 Jul 1626 Alexander Guthrie in Burnesyde Occupier Directly places Alexander within a Perthshire property complex. The evidence establishes occupation, not ownership or superiority.
IX · 851 31 Jul 1638 John Guthrie · Kirktoun of Blair Family / Portioner Context John is explicitly the lawful son of the late John Guthrie, portioner of Kirktoun of Blair.
XI · 524 7 Sep 1663 John Guthrie / Guthray · Jonet his wife One-third of Kirktoun of Blair · earlier evidence 1640 Former Occupiers The wording is explicit: John and Jonet formerly occupied the land. It does not call them proprietors or portioners.
Occupation and ownership must remain separate. Burnesyde and the later Kirktoun of Blair record are useful evidence for residence or local presence, but neither should be upgraded to ownership unless the legal wording supplies that status.
Fife Balcarhous · Balmakin · Carslogie · matrimonial and legal-network property evidence
RMS Date Person / Place Status Property Evidence
V · 1371 13 Sep 1587 Mariot Guthrie · Master John Lindsay Balcarhous, Fife Liferent / Annualrent Mariot is John’s wife and already holds a liferent interest in Balcarhous. The charter concerns an annualrent rather than simple ownership of the whole estate.
V · 1512 4 Apr 1588 Mariot Guthrie · John Lindsay Balmakin Conjunct Infeftment Joint property settlement with survivorship and succession provisions, extending the couple’s Fife property sequence.
IX · 1639 18 Mar 1646 David Guthrie of that Ilk · Carslogie Consenter David participates in a Fife matrimonial contract as a consenter. The precise reason for his participation is not stated and should not be converted into an unstated relationship or property claim.
Aberdeenshire Urban, academic and scribal Guthries rather than an assumed landed branch
RMS Date Person / Place Status Regional Evidence
IV · 843 1553 Gilbert Guthrie · Aberdeen Burgess Urban civic identity. The record does not create a landed “Aberdeen branch.”
VII–VIII 1612–1623 Master Patrick Guthrie · Aberdeen College Academic Office Patrick progresses from regent to subprincipal and remains documented in senior college administration.
IX · 332 etc. 1635–1643 Walter Guthrie · Aberdeen Scribe / Notary A continuing professional sequence beginning in scribal service and continuing through repeated notarial appearances.
False geographic matches matter. An indexed Essia in Aberdeen is not the Angus Eassie, and an Aberdeen Colliestoun should not be imported into the Angus Colliston lineage merely because the names look familiar.
Edinburgh / Lothians Burgh officers, legal professionals, urban property and civic family evidence
RMS Date Person / Place Status Regional Evidence
V–VIII 1588–1632 Master Alexander Guthrie · Edinburgh Common Clerk / Landholder Repeated civic and legal activity develops into a documented family and property sequence, including Wareistoun and later a substantial royal land grant outside Edinburgh.
IX · 954 22 Jan 1640 Samuel Guthrie · Edinburgh Urban Occupation / Trade Samuel is identified as a dyer, providing urban occupational evidence rather than landed-family evidence.
XI · 1135 31 Jan 1668 Master William Guthrie Writer to the Signet Professional legal participation within the national documentary system. Office does not prove a territorial Edinburgh family.
Moray / Elgin Urban occupation, episcopal office and later Bishop John evidence
RMS Date Person / Place Status Regional Evidence
V · 318 30 Jan 1581/82 Alexander Guthrie · Elgin Occupation / Tenure Two urban property references place an Alexander Guthrie clearly in the Elgin landscape. No spouse, office, territorial designation or parentage is supplied.
VIII · 840 26 Jul 1625 John Guthrie · Bishop of Moray Ecclesiastical Office Directly identifies Bishop John and provides family evidence for his brother Master William and nephew Master John.
VIII · 1007 / 1014 1626–1627 John Guthrie · Bishop of Moray Royal Commissioner The Moray office places John in wider national ecclesiastical administration; the records are not evidence that every property mentioned belonged personally to him.
Ross / Inverness & the Northern Highlands Episcopal service and northern documentary appearances
RMS Date Person / Place Status Regional Evidence
VIII · 410 4 Feb 1623 Underlying charter: 11 Apr 1617 Gabriel Guthrie · Ross Bishop’s Servitor Gabriel serves in the administrative household of the Bishop of Ross. Service establishes presence and occupation, not kinship with the bishop.
VIII · 1670 20 Nov 1630 Gabriel Guthrie · Ross Episcopal Service Second recorded appearance confirms the continuing northern episcopal association.
IX · 355 18 Jul 1635 Alexander Guthrie of Gagie Witness Alexander appears in a Ross transaction while retaining his Angus territorial style. The location of the transaction does not make him “of Ross.”
Dumfries / Kirkcudbright Direct royal grants and independent property evidence beyond the Angus core
RMS Date Person / Place Status Property Evidence
VIII · 1745 4 Mar 1631 Master Alexander Guthrie · Freircars Parish of Dunscoir Principal Royal Grantee The Common Clerk of Edinburgh receives lands, mill and fishing rights together with a heritable bailiary.
IX · 1533 1 Mar 1644 Jeanne Guthrie · Parish of Urr Meikle & Little Coklex · Waird-medow Principal Grantee Jeanne, widow of Robert Stirling of Letter, receives the Kirkcudbrightshire lands directly to herself, her heirs and assignees. This is independent property-holding evidence.
Roxburghshire & Other Outlying Evidence Guthrie households beyond the principal northeastern concentration
RMS Date Person / Place Status Regional Evidence
IX · 680 20 Mar 1637 Robert Guthrie in Stitchell Roxburghshire Occupier / Tenant Robert is named among occupiers in the property history of the Barony of Stitchell. The record establishes geographic presence without assigning him to an Angus territorial family.
XI · 1180 6 May 1668 John Guthrie · Auld Montrose instruments Professional Participant John holds instruments within a major landed conveyancing sequence. He is part of the legal machinery of the transfer, not the proprietor of Auld Montrose.
Geographic & Place-Name Cautions Similar names are not automatically the same Scottish property

Eassie / Essia

A similarly indexed Essia in Aberdeen is not the Angus Eassie associated with the Guthrie family.

Colliston / Colliestoun

Same- or similar-looking Colliestoun entries outside Angus should not be imported into the documented Colliston lineage without a geographic and documentary chain.

Pitforkie / Pitforthie

Pitforkie in Forfarshire and similarly indexed Pitforthies in Fife are not automatically the Angus Pitforthie of Guthrie research.

Gagie

A Gagie near Culross is not the Angus Gagie used by the documented Guthrie family merely because the spelling matches.

Memus / Memes

Similar-looking places such as Memsee in Aberdeen should not be treated as the Angus Memus without independent geographic evidence.

Gorthie

Where the printed RMS index treats Gorthie separately, the Evidence Index retains that distinction rather than silently normalizing it to Guthrie.

Hiltoun / Picktoun / Pikertoune / Pykerstoun

Each charter’s wording controls. X #640 calls Hiltoun of Guthrie “Pikertoune”; XI #444 lists Hiltoun and Picktoun separately; XI #874 calls Pykerstoun a pendicle of Langlands.

Property History ≠ Family History

A place may remain in the Great Seal register long after Guthrie ownership ended. Later references can be valuable for reconstructing the estate without becoming direct evidence for a living Guthrie family.

Index Locorum is a finding aid, not proof. A place-index match must still be checked against county, charter wording and legal context. Conversely, failure to recover a separate place-index heading does not erase positive evidence from a charter that directly names a Guthrie person.
Regional presence is not branch assignment. An Angus laird can witness a Ross charter, an Edinburgh clerk can acquire property in Dumfriesshire, and an unidentified Guthrie household can occupy land in Perthshire or Roxburghshire. The region tells us where the documentary event or property lies; only explicit evidence tells us what genealogical conclusion may safely follow.
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Evidence Notes & Research Cautions

The eleven-volume audit repeatedly demonstrated that small differences in wording can change the genealogical meaning of a record. This section summarizes the standards used throughout the Evidence Index so that readers can distinguish what a charter actually proves from what it may merely suggest.

Evidence first. Interpretation second. Presentation third.

Every entry in this index should remain traceable to the strongest wording available in the RMS record. A useful hypothesis may follow from the evidence, but it should never be presented as though it were part of the charter itself.

Charter Text ≠ Editorial Index

Indexes can identify or normalize a person or place, but editorial wording should remain visibly distinct from the charter abstract.

Confirmation Date ≠ Earlier Deed

The RMS date and the date of an incorporated contract, sasine, resignation or other deed may differ by years.

“Of” ≠ “In”

A territorial designation such as “of Kincaldrum” is not equivalent to residence or occupation expressed as “in” a place.

Occupier ≠ Proprietor

Residence or occupation proves presence. It does not automatically establish heritable ownership.

Superiority ≠ Possession

Feudal superiority may exist while another person or family holds the land in possession or fee.

Liferent ≠ Heritable Ownership

A liferent is a lifetime interest and should not be rewritten as permanent ownership or hereditary succession.

Heir ≠ Eldest Son

Birth order should be stated only when the document supplies it.

Heir Male ≠ Son

A male-heir destination can extend beyond a man’s immediate sons.

Witness ≠ Relative

Witnessing demonstrates presence or association, not kinship.

Notary ≠ Beneficial Party

A notary may record a transaction without holding any interest in the property.

Servitor ≠ Relative

Service in a household or administration is occupational evidence, not proof of family connection.

Place-Name ≠ Person

“Guthrie” inside a territorial description can survive long after no Guthrie individual is involved in the transaction.

How to Use This Evidence Index A practical reading sequence for every cross-volume entry
  • Start with the RMS volume and charter number. That is the primary locator for the published record.
  • Read the Great Seal date first. Then note separately any earlier charter, matrimonial contract, bond, resignation, sasine, apprising or other incorporated instrument.
  • Identify the person’s exact role. Grantee, proprietor, superior, spouse, heir, occupier, witness, servitor, notary and office-holder are different legal categories.
  • Separate direct wording from editorial identification. If an Index Nominum or Index Locorum supplies the identification, say so.
  • Preserve restrictive relationship language. “Eldest lawful son,” “natural son,” “only lawful daughter,” “brother german” and “only son by his first wife” should not be reduced to generic labels.
  • Check the geography. Similar-looking Scottish place-names can refer to entirely different localities.
  • Ask what the property language actually conveys. Ownership, liferent, superiority, tenandry, warrandice, annualrent and occupation are not interchangeable.
  • Use cross-listing intentionally. One charter may legitimately appear in several sections because it contains different kinds of evidence.
  • Carry uncertainty forward. If the charter leaves a relationship unresolved, the index should leave it unresolved too.
Source Hierarchy Charter wording, incorporated deeds, printed indexes and later interpretation
1 · Closest Evidence

Original Registered Record / Surviving Instrument

Where available, the manuscript register or surviving underlying charter, sasine, contract or other original record is closest to the legal act itself and may preserve detail omitted in the published calendar.

2 · Core Source

Published RMS Charter Abstract

The published RMS calendar is the principal source used by this collection for dates, legal actions, names, territorial styles and relationship wording.

3 · Embedded Evidence

Earlier Deed Incorporated into the RMS Entry

A later Crown confirmation may reproduce or summarize an earlier transaction. Its date and legal action are retained separately from the Great Seal date.

4 · Editorial Aid

Index Nominum / Index Locorum

The printed indexes are invaluable finding aids and occasionally supply an identification omitted or abbreviated in the charter. Their wording is editorial and should be identified as such.

5 · Corroboration

Related Contemporary Records

Sasines, testaments, retours, kirk records, burgh registers, bonds, marriage contracts and other primary sources can test, clarify or extend the evidence found in RMS.

6 · Interpretation

Later Histories & Pedigrees

Secondary works provide context and research leads, but they should not override contradictory contemporary evidence merely because a pedigree has been repeated for generations.

Index identification must remain visible. When a surname or personal identification comes from the printed index rather than the wording of the charter abstract, the Evidence Index should say so rather than silently converting editorial information into charter text.
Dates, Charter Numbers & Digital Images Three different numbering systems that should never be confused

RMS Charter Number

The numbered entry in the published RMS volume is the most stable reference for the charter across different physical and digital copies.

Printed Page Number

The printed page belongs to the published volume. It often differs from the number displayed by a digital repository.

Digital Image / Sequence Number

HathiTrust and similar repositories assign scan or sequence numbers. Those numbers are navigation aids and are not charter numbers.

Great Seal Date

The date heading the RMS entry usually belongs to the royal charter or confirmation represented in the register.

Earlier Legal Date

The RMS abstract may incorporate an older matrimonial contract, resignation, charter, sasine, bond, apprising or other legal act.

Both Dates Matter

The earlier date tells us when the underlying act occurred; the RMS date tells us when the Crown grant or confirmation was entered.

Audit lesson · RMS III #1932

A legacy reference to “#440” proved to be the HathiTrust image number. The actual record is Charter 1932, printed page 432. Image 440 is only the digital scan locator.

Audit lesson · RMS II #2910

The collegiate-church record appears on HathiTrust image 632. Therefore “632” cannot be carried forward as though it were the charter number. The correct reference is RMS II, Charter 2910.

Audit lesson · RMS IX #2036

The correct charter number is 2036. The entry follows Charter 2035, continues onto the next printed page and is followed by Charter 2037. Page or image placement should never override the numbered charter sequence.

Reading Property & Feudal Language Ownership, possession, superiority, liferent and other legal interests

Proprietor vs. Occupier

A proprietor holds a property interest; an occupier may simply reside on or use the land. VIII #984 and XI #524 are clear examples of occupation that must not be upgraded to ownership.

Superior vs. Possessor

Feudal superiority is a legal interest above land held by another. The superior need not physically occupy the estate.

Liferent vs. Fee

A liferenter holds rights for life. The fee or heritable estate may simultaneously belong to another person.

Tenandry

Rights over lands held by tenants may accompany superiority without proving that the grantee personally possessed each parcel.

Warrandice

Property supplied as security for another title should not automatically be treated as the grantee’s residence or principal estate.

Apprising

Property obtained in satisfaction of debt represents a debt-enforcement process, not necessarily an ordinary voluntary sale.

Resignation & Regrant

A new Crown grant following resignation is a legal conveyancing event. It should not automatically be rewritten as genealogical inheritance.

Sasine

Sasine is formal delivery of possession. The resulting instrument may preserve local witnesses and relationship details not repeated in the Great Seal abstract.

Property association ≠ sole ownership. A charter may describe rights in a mill, annualrent, fishing, superiority, tenandry, patronage, liferent or part of an estate. These should not be collapsed into the statement that the person simply “owned” the whole property.
Barony inclusion ≠ personal possession. A property can be listed within a barony even though a different person holds the fee, liferent or occupation of that particular parcel.
Reading Succession & Relationship Language Why legal destinations cannot automatically be converted into pedigrees

Son

Direct sonship is strong genealogical evidence, but it does not establish birth order unless the record states it.

Eldest Lawful Son

This is much stronger wording: it states sonship, legitimacy and relative birth order among lawful sons.

Natural Son

Natural-child wording must remain explicit and separate from lawful succession language.

Brother German

This is specific full-sibling evidence and carries more weight than surname, proximity or joint witnessing.

Apparent Heir

Identifies the person then expected or designated to succeed. It should not automatically be translated as “eldest son.”

Heir Male

Indicates qualification under a male-line destination, not necessarily a direct son of the preceding holder.

Only Son by a Named Wife

The restriction belongs to that marriage. XI #269 says John Guthrie was Henry’s only son by Elizabeth Lindsay, his first wife; it does not say Henry had no sons by another marriage.

Heirs of the Marriage

A destination to heirs lawfully begotten between a couple states how the property should descend if such heirs existed. It is not, by itself, proof that children were born.

Audit lesson · RMS X #450

William and David Guthrie are both explicitly sons of the deceased James Guthrie of Pitforthie. The charter does not establish which son was elder; an obligation involving William cannot safely be converted into birth order.

Audit lesson · RMS XI #565

Patrick Guthrie is explicitly a son of the deceased Mr John Guthrie of that Ilk. Francis Guthrie of Gagie and Betty Guthrie are explicitly spouses, and James Guthrie is minister at Arbirlot. The succession wording does not itself prove that Francis, Betty or James were also children of Mr John.

Audit lesson · RMS XI #209

The charter directs succession to heirs lawfully begotten between Henry Guthrie and Margaret Livingston, failing whom other heirs would succeed. That clause does not prove the couple actually had children.

Identity, Occupation & Network Cautions Same names, professions, witnesses and documentary associations

Same Name ≠ Same Person

Repeated names such as Alexander, John, James and William occur across multiple branches, regions and professions.

Same Profession ≠ Same Person

Two Guthrie notaries, ministers or clerks should not be merged merely because surname and occupation match.

Witness ≠ Relative

Witnessing can document association, status or presence without establishing any biological relationship.

Servitor ≠ Relative

A servitor belongs to another person’s household or administration. Gabriel Guthrie’s service to the Bishop of Ross is occupational evidence.

Notary ≠ Proprietor

Writing or authenticating a transaction does not give the notary a beneficial interest in the land.

Assize Member ≠ Family Member

Joint service by several territorially styled Guthries can show regional association without proving their exact relationship.

Regional Appearance ≠ Regional Branch

A Guthrie from Angus can witness a Ross charter, while an Edinburgh professional can acquire land in Dumfriesshire.

Unidentified Means Unidentified

Where the record gives no parentage, office or territorial style, the person should remain unassigned rather than being forced into the nearest familiar family.

Place-Names, Territorial Styles & Editorial Normalization Why similar names and normalized spellings require documentary control

“Of [Place]”

A territorial style identifies a person with a place but does not necessarily describe every property conveyed in the same charter.

Boundary Reference

Land named only because it bounds another property is geographic evidence, not evidence that it is being conveyed.

Guthrie Place-Name

A place containing the word Guthrie may be useful territorial evidence even when no Guthrie person appears in the charter.

Historic Association

A former Guthrie estate can continue to appear in later charters after ownership has passed to another family.

Similar Place ≠ Same Locality

Gagie, Colliestoun, Essia, Pitforkie and similar names may occur in more than one county.

Index Normalization

The printed index may standardize a surname or place. The charter spelling should still be preserved when discussing the document itself.

Hiltoun / Picktoun / Pikertoune / Pykerstoun

These forms cannot be globally collapsed into one interchangeable label. RMS X #640 says “Hiltoune of Guthrie called Pikertoune”. RMS XI #444 lists Hiltoun of Guthrie and Picktoun consecutively. RMS XI #874 describes Pykerstoun as a pendicle of Langlands. Each charter must therefore be read on its own wording.

Guthrie / Gothray / Gottray / Gorthie

Surname treatment also varies by volume. Where an RMS index groups a spelling with Guthrie, that editorial treatment may be reported. Where Gorthie is indexed separately, it should remain separate rather than being silently normalized.

Negative findings are useful. Rejecting an attractive but geographically false place-name match prevents unrelated estates from being imported into a Guthrie property history.
What the Eleven-Volume Audit Changed Examples of why the older Specialty Tables could not simply be reformatted
Malcolm of Balnabreich ≠ Malcolm of Kingennie

RMS II #1104 names both men separately. Sir David Guthrie’s Malcolm is explicitly his natural son and receives Balnabreich; Malcolm of Kingennie is a distinct individual.

John Guthrie “in Colliston”

RMS V #1104 uses in Colliston. That wording should not silently be modernized to “of Colliston” merely because later family members use a territorial style.

Hiltoun can be excluded from the Barony of Guthrie

RMS VI #639 and IX #616 show why baronial geography must be read legally rather than visually: Hiltoun and Langlands are expressly excepted from important Guthrie conveyances.

Jonet Guthrie · RMS XI #354

The legacy table placed this record under Kingennie/Pitforthie and dated it 1662. The audited record is dated 19 January 1663 and identifies Jonet as wife of Dowgald McPherson, sometime of Easter Powrie. The charter provides no basis for the former branch assignment.

Charter number ≠ digital image number

Several legacy references proved to be HathiTrust image numbers rather than RMS charter numbers. This audit therefore uses the charter number as the principal citation and treats the digital sequence only as a navigation aid.

A caution does not weaken a record. It defines the limits of what the record proves. An occupier is valuable evidence for residence. A witness is valuable evidence for association. A place-only charter is valuable property history. An editorial index can preserve an identification omitted from an abbreviated abstract. The goal is not to discard weaker forms of evidence, but to label each one accurately.
The safest genealogical conclusion is the narrowest conclusion fully supported by the evidence. Additional records can always strengthen or expand it later.
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Sources · RMS Volumes I–XI · Related Research

The Guthrie Evidence Index is the cross-volume companion to the eleven audited Guthrie Genealogy pages for the Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The individual volume pages remain the place to read the records chronologically and inspect the detailed evidence; this index brings their recurring people, properties, relationships and documentary patterns together.

Eleven Volumes · One Reconciled Evidence Collection

Each RMS volume was reviewed against its Guthrie surname evidence, relevant territorial references and available printed indexes before the material was reconciled across the full A.D. 1306–1668 series. This Evidence Index now serves as the cross-volume finding aid for that completed collection.

Published RMS & Archival Access

Published Register of the Great Seal

The Evidence Index is based on the published Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, the standard multi-volume calendar of Great Seal charters used throughout the Guthrie Genealogy RMS collection.

HathiTrust RMS Catalogue →

National Records of Scotland

The underlying Great Seal Registers form part of Scotland’s Chancery records. Surviving related charters, sasines, retours and other records may preserve evidence beyond the abbreviated published RMS text.

NRS Chancery Records Guide →

Using the Published Abstracts

An RMS entry may combine a Crown confirmation with an earlier private charter, contract, resignation, sasine or other instrument. The volume pages preserve those different dates and legal actions wherever the published record allows them to be distinguished.

Preferred citation: RMS volume · charter number · printed page.

Guthrie Genealogy · RMS Volumes I–XI

RMS · Volume I A.D. 1306–1424 Earliest surname and territorial evidence, with pre-Guthrie property history for Kincaldrum and Eassie. RMS · Volume II A.D. 1424–1513 Sir David Guthrie, the rise of the Barony of Guthrie, Balnabreich, Eassie, Kingennie, Kinblathmont and early territorial families. RMS · Volume III A.D. 1513–1546 Barony succession, Kincaldrum, Eassie, Kinblathmont, Lunan, professional Guthries and strong sibling and heir evidence. RMS · Volume IV A.D. 1546–1580 Legitimation, marriages, Colliston, Balnabreich, Lunan and expanding civic, professional and ecclesiastical evidence. RMS · Volume V A.D. 1580–1593 Guthrie succession, Colliston, Kinblathmont, Hiltoun, Balnabreich, marriage settlements and Edinburgh professional activity. RMS · Volume VI A.D. 1593–1608 Major Guthrie and Kincaldrum settlements, Colliston sibling evidence, Balnabreich, Kinblathmont and complex property-status distinctions. RMS · Volume VII A.D. 1609–1620 Academic and clerical Guthries, Kincaldrum, Auchmuthie, Balnabreich, marriage evidence and expanding civic networks. RMS · Volume VIII A.D. 1620–1633 Bishop John Guthrie, the 1629–1630 Guthrie estate sale, Kincaldrum, Balfeich, Edinburgh professionals and Ross service. RMS · Volume IX A.D. 1634–1651 Bishop John’s acquisition of the Barony of Guthrie, Gagie, Kincaldrum, Auchmuthie, notarial networks and widespread regional evidence. RMS · Volume X A.D. 1652–1659 Auchmuthie, Pitforthie, daughters’ provisions, Kincaldrum context, Hiltoun place evidence and Francis Guthrie of that Ilk. RMS · Volume XI A.D. 1660–1668 Colliestoun, Halkertoun, Gagie, Carsbank, later Hiltoun property evidence, bishops, notaries and Restoration-era succession.

Related Guthrie Family Research

Guthrie of Guthrie

Follow the principal territorial succession from Kincaldrum into the Barony of Guthrie and through the later seventeenth-century transfers.

Explore Guthrie of Guthrie →

Guthrie of Kincaldrum

Trace the separate Kincaldrum succession and the later point at which the Kincaldrum and Guthrie estate histories intersect again.

Explore Kincaldrum →

Guthrie of Eassie & Hiltoun

Compare the RMS evidence for Eassie, Hiltoun, Eastertoun and later Hiltoun interests with the larger family reconstruction.

Explore Eassie & Hiltoun →

Guthrie of Craigie

Follow the corrected Craigie pedigree and the documentary links among Hiltoun, St Andrews, the ministerial generations and Craigie.

Explore Guthrie of Craigie →

Guthrie of Colliston

Place the Great Seal records for Colliston, Ruives and associated lands within the longer documentary reconstruction of the family.

Explore Guthrie of Colliston →

Kingennie & Pitforthie

Compare the scattered RMS appearances of Kingennie and Pitforthie with the wider succession and marriage evidence for this family.

Explore Kingennie & Pitforthie →

Guthrie of Balnabreich

Follow the estate from Sir David Guthrie’s grant to his natural son Malcolm through its later eastern and western property history.

Explore Balnabreich →

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae

Extend the RMS evidence for Guthrie ministers, bishops, university figures and ecclesiastical families through the audited Fasti collection.

Explore the Fasti Collection →

Continue the Research Beyond RMS

The Great Seal is only one layer of the documentary record. Sasines, private charters, testaments, kirk records, manuscript collections and other contemporary sources can confirm, correct or extend relationships suggested by the RMS evidence.

Special Collections Research & Resources NRS · Chronological Collection National Library of Scotland Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae

The Evidence Index is a finding aid, not a substitute for the records. Its purpose is to make patterns visible across eleven volumes while preserving the distinction between what a charter states, what an editorial index contributes, what another contemporary source may add, and what remains a research interpretation.

Decorative Scottish thistle with purple bloom, green leaves, and ornamental flourishes

RMS · Guthrie Evidence Index · Volumes I–XI · A.D. 1306–1668

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