Patrick Guthrie (1577 - 1653)

Born 1577 in Inverkeilor, Angus

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1653 at about age 76 in St Vigeans, Forfarshire, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jack Blair [send private message]

Biography

Patrick was the son of Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont by his first and brief marriage to Isabel Ogilvy. She died in 1578 when Patrick was a child. On or soon after reaching his majority, Patrick was granted the feu of Kinblethmont and Auchmithie at the close of 1597.^[1]

A contract of 31 May 1595 between Alexander Lord Spynie and Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont made provision for Lord Spynie to take possession of the House of Kinblethmont for his home with Jean Lyon, the Countess of Angus. As Patrick Guthrie was a burgess of Arbroath he was aligned tothe Ogilvy family and thus he was involved with them when on 26th November 1602 the Master of Ogilvy and his brothers led a small army of horse and foot numbering about 100, wearing armour and armed with field-pieces, muskets, hagbuts, pistols and spears.^[2] They fell on Kinblethmont House where Alexander Lindsay, Lord of Spynie and his family, had been in residence until two hours before their attack. Patrick Guthrie fiar of Kinblethmont put up a bond of £1000 for surety of John Auchterlony in a case brought before the Lords of Council in 1606.^[3]

Patrick Guthrie was to marry twice. His first wife was Matilda Auchterlony, a daughter of John Auchterlony of Cairnie. They had issue:

• James who died young
• Janet born in 1617 married about 1642 to Major William Scrymgeour, son to the deceased John Scrymgeour of Kirkton. ^[4] After his death she married Dougal McPherson of Bellachroan.
• Jean who married to James Farquharson (1610c-1678c) in Pitlochrie later designed James Farquharson of Kinneries. ^[5]

Patrick incurred several debts and was pursued on several occasions in court actions in 1608 and 1613. ^[6] He may have been a flamboyant character as a Dundee Merchant, David Wedderburn records him in his accounts as "the young Duik of Kinblaythmont" when he had arranged for him to purchase two oxen at the Trinity Market near Brechin and to grass them at Crandart in Glen Isla.^[7]

Patrick Guthrie was a member of the Assize on 18 Mar 1618 for the trial of Robert son of the laird of Balzordie accused of murder of David Graham son of James Graham of Leuchland. ^[8] At Edinburgh on 18 June 1624, a Charter of Confirmation to transfer the shadow half lands of Auchmithie was granted by Patrick Guthrie of Auchmithie with the concent of his father Robert Guthrie in favour of Sir John Carnegy of Ethie.^[9]

It was probably in the 1620’s that Matilda Auchterlony died. Patrick Guthrie of Auchmithie married secondly to Janet Reid and had by her two further daughters ^[10]  :

• Isabell born about 1630 married late in life as second wife to Sir David Ogilvy of Clova (1617c-1686).
• Margaret born about 1632.

When John Carnegie of Ethie granted, on 1 June 1631, a charter of the shadow half lands of Auchmithie in favour of James Ogilvy fiar of Newgrange, Patrick Guthrie was a party to this. James then entered his wife Margaret Guthrie into these lands conjuctly. In October 1646, when James Ogilvy made a charter on these same lands the document was signed by Margaret Guthrie his spouse and Patrick Guthrie of Auchmithie but there is nothing therein to indicate any close relationship between Margaret and Patrick. ^[11]

At Arbroath on 13 December 1636, Patrick Guthrie made a Bond of Provision to provide Isabell and Margaret, his daughters by Janet Reid, of certain cattle and corns of the value of 2000 merks.^[12]

In 1641, Patrick resigned his lands into the King’s hands and received back a charter de novo to himself and his heirs and assignees whomsoever in the lands of Auchmithie the lands of Newton of Aberbrothock and half the toun & lands of Burnton with their teind sheaves included, all in the lordship and barony of Aberbrothock. It confirmed that these lands be held feuferm as registered under the Great Seal in Charter 1731 of the book 1593-1608. ^[13]

In the early 1640's his two daughters by Matilda Auchterlony married and Patrick entered into contracts with their spouses granting them considerable payments from his estate for the tochers.^[14]

Patrick also made grants to his two youger daughters.^[15]

These generous provisions for his family appear to have placed a heavy burden on Patrick's estate. Nearing the end of his life, Patrick Guthrie on 21 February 1653 resigned to John earl of Ethie his lands of Auchmithie, Newton of Aberbrothoc and Burnton making certain reservations.^[16] Patrick Guthrie of Auchmithie lived for a further two months and died in June 1653. It is recorded "That albeit Patrick Guthrie" when he died left "ane opulent estate" yet "it was evanished and passed the reach of any diligence" by the Earl of Ethie taking possession, and the widow Jean Reid had "sparfled and put away" the movables.^[17]

On 5 May 1675, Janet, Jean, Isabell and Margaret Guthries were retoured heirs portioner of Robert Guthrie of Kinblethmont their grandfather in an annual rent of 22 shillings - £3 and £3 of tenements within the burgh of Arbroath.^[18]

A much fuller account of the life of Patrick Guthrie and his forebears is available in the book "Guthrie of Kinblethmont and Auchmithie".^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ RMS Vol vi. 1731 Edinburgh 21 Apr 1606 see [1]
2. ↑ RSC Vol.vi
3. ↑ RSC Vol vii 23 Jan 1606
4. ↑ NRS GD137/888 see [2]
5. ↑ NRS RS34/2/92 and North Esk Muniments in Dundee City Archive
6. ↑ RSC Vol viii 2 Jan 1608 and RSC Vol viii 14 Jul 1608
7. ↑ Compt Book of David Wedderburn.
8. ↑ Pitcairn Criminal Trials Vol.iii p.437 see [3]
9. ↑ Dundee City Archives GD130 Box 3 Writs of Auchmithie. see [4]
10. ↑ NRS GD137/1608 see [5]
11. ↑ Dundee City Archives GD130 Box 3 see [6]
12. ↑ NRS GD137/1608 see [7]
13. ↑ RMS Vol. ix 1004 8 Oct 1641 and GD45/16/1163 see [8]
14. ↑ Forfar Sasines RS34/2/314 and RS34.2.92 see [9]
15. ↑ NRS GD137/3227 see [10]
16. ↑ RMS Vol.x. 89.
17. ↑ NRS GD137/1040 see [11]
18. ↑ Forfar Service of Heirs No 461 see [12]
19. ↑ Blair J; Guthrie of Kinblethmont and Auchmithie" see [13]