Clan Guthrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Guthrie |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gutraidh ("Windy place.") | |||
Crest: A dexter arm holding a drawn sword Proper.
|
|||
| Motto | "Sto pro veritate." ("I stand for the truth.") | ||
| Profile | |||
| District | Angus | ||
| Chief | |||
 |
|||
| Christian Guthrie of Guthrie, | |||
| 23rd Chief of Clan Guthrie | |||
| Seat | Via Margutta 51A, 00187 Rome (Italy). | ||
| Historic seat | Guthrie Castle. | ||
|
|||
|
|||
Clan Guthrie is a historic Scottish clan with a long and interesting past. Clans are like big families or groups of people who share a common ancestor and often lived in the same area of Scotland.
Contents
History of Clan Guthrie
Where Did the Guthrie Name Come From?
The Guthrie family got their name from the lands of Guthrie in the county of Angus. This name is one of the oldest in that area. We don't know exactly where the name Guthrie came from. However, there's a fun story that an early Scottish king named the lands "Guthrie" after a fisherman. The story says the fisherman "gut three" fish to feed the hungry king!
Around 1178, William the Lion, who was the King of Scots, gave the lands of Gutherin to Arbroath Abbey. The Guthrie family were royal falconers, meaning they trained falcons for the king. Later, they bought these lands for themselves.
The Guthries and Scottish Independence
In 1299, a member of the Guthrie family, the Laird of Guthrie, was sent on an important mission to France. His job was to ask William Wallace to come back to Scotland. Wallace was a famous Scottish knight who fought for Scotland's freedom. The mission worked, and Guthrie landed back in Scotland with Wallace at Montrose, Angus.
Many of the Guthrie family's old documents were lost over time. But it seems very likely that they received the Barony of Guthrie from David II of Scotland. A "barony" was a large area of land given by the king.
The Guthrie Family in the 1400s
In August 1442, Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie was an important witness to a special document. This document was signed by Alexander Seton, who was the lord of Gordon, and given to Lord Keith. In 1446, Alexander Guthrie bought more land called Kincaldrum, which was near Forfar. He also became the "Baillie of Forfar," which was like a local official.
Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie was a very important person in Scotland. He was the king's armour bearer and the captain of the guard. In 1461, he was made the Lord Treasurer of Scotland. This meant he was in charge of the country's money. In 1468, King James III gave him permission to build Guthrie Castle. By 1473, he was even appointed the Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. Sir David greatly expanded the Guthrie family's lands. He also started a special church at Guthrie, which was approved by the Pope in 1479.
Clan Conflicts in the 1500s
Sir Alexander Guthrie, David's son, sadly died in a big battle called the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Later, in 1567, the Guthries signed an agreement to support the young James VI of Scotland as king. This was against his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
Around this time, the Clan Guthrie had a long-running disagreement with their neighbors, the Clan Gardyne. This kind of conflict between clans was called a "feud." Alexander Guthrie was killed, and the Guthries fought back. This feud lasted a long time, until 1618. The Guthries were eventually forgiven for their actions by the king.
The Guthries in the 1600s and the Civil War
In the early 1600s, the Guthrie family's main estate passed through different cousins. In 1636, John Guthrie, who was the Bishop of Moray, became the eleventh chief of Clan Guthrie. He was a religious leader and lived at Spynie Palace.
During the Scottish Civil War, Bishop Guthrie had to give up his castle to the forces of Colonel Monroe. He then moved to his own lands in Guthrie. His third son, Andrew, fought for James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, a famous Scottish general. But Andrew was captured at the Battle of Philiphaugh. Sadly, Andrew was sentenced to death and was executed in January 1646.
Andrew's daughter, Bethia, married a relative named Francis Guthrie of Gagie. Because of this marriage, the Guthrie family kept their title and lands.
The Guthries were strong supporters of Presbyterianism, a type of Christian faith, during the time of Martin Luther. They were known for being ready to defend their beliefs, even with their lives. People said they had "a sword in one hand, a Bible in the other."
James Guthrie, who was also from the chief's family, was a Covenanter minister. Covenanters were a group of Scots who supported Presbyterianism. James became one of the first people to die for this movement. He preached openly against the king's religious rules. He continued to preach even after being told to stop by the Church of Scotland. In 1661, he was sentenced to death and executed.
The 1700s and 1800s
One branch of the Clan Guthrie was the Guthries of Halkerton. They held their lands because they were the royal falconers in Angus. However, they gave up this special role in 1747 due to a new law.
John Douglas Guthrie of Guthrie was a soldier who served in the cavalry during a military campaign in Egypt in 1882. He married Mary, whose father was Duncan Davidson of Tulloch.
Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Guthrie of Guthrie was the last chief of Clan Guthrie to live at Guthrie Castle. He was born in 1886 and was a brave soldier. He led the 4th Battalion of the Black Watch regiment and received the Military Cross for his bravery.
The Clan Today
Guthrie Castle was bought by the de la Peña family in 1984. There is also an active group called Clan Guthrie USA. This group helps to keep the Guthrie family history and traditions alive.
Clan Chief
The previous chief was Alexander Ivan Bedini Guthrie of Guthrie. He became the 22nd chief in 1990, inheriting the title from his grandmother. He passed away in London on March 23, 2020. He was succeeded by Christian Guthrie of Guthrie, who is now the 23rd Chief of Clan Guthrie.
Clan Tartans
| Tartan image | Notes |
|---|---|
 |
Ancient (Also known as Dress) Tartan. This tartan has dark blue and green patterns with red or orange stripes. |
 |
Battle (Also known as Weathered) Tartan. This tartan has the same pattern, but its main colors are brown and bluish-gray with red stripes. |
 |
Modern Tartan This tartan follows the same pattern, but its main colors are dark navy blue and dark green with red stripes. |
Clan Castles
The Guthrie clan has been connected to several important castles and homes over the centuries.
Guthrie Castle
Guthrie Castle is a very old and famous castle in Scotland. It is located near Forfar in Angus. The castle was built in 1468 by Sir David Guthrie, who was the king's treasurer. At first, it was just a square tower with very thick walls, about 14 feet thick! These strong walls helped protect against invaders before modern cannons were invented.
The Guthrie family stopped living in the tower around 1760 and built a house nearby. In 1848, John Guthrie, with the help of an architect, connected the old tower and the new house. Later, a railroad even ran over the main gate of the castle!
Guthrie Castle was sold in 1984 to the Peña family. After living there for 19 years, they opened the castle for public visits by appointment. Today, it's a popular place for weddings and special events. There's even a golf course on the property. The castle is also said to be haunted! One of the current Guthrie family members saw a ghost there when she was a little girl.
Gagie House
Gagie House, located near Dundee, was built in 1614. This house was often used as a "dower house." This meant that the eldest son of the Laird (chief) of Guthrie Castle would live here after he got married. He would stay at Gagie House until his father passed away. Then, he and his family would move into Guthrie Castle, and his own eldest son would move into Gagie House.
Gagie House has been changed a bit over the centuries, but it still has its old charm from the 1600s. The garden wall was originally a defensive wall. Inside the house, you can find many family portraits that used to hang in Guthrie Castle. These were bought by a group called "Friends of the Guthrie Castle" when the castle was sold. Gagie House is now owned by the Smoors, who welcome visiting Guthries.
Torosay Castle
Torosay Castle is located on the Isle of Mull. A wealthy London businessman named Arburthnot Charles Guthrie bought it in 1865. He used it as a getaway home. The castle has more than 60 rooms and is surrounded by a large estate of over 12,000 acres.
Torosay Castle was sold in 2012 and was closed to the public for a year. It reopened in December 2013 with a private family dinner. Christopher Guthrie-James, who used to own the estate, said he felt relieved when they sold the family home. The new owner, Kenneth Donald McLean, has spent a lot of money restoring the castle and its beautiful gardens.
Branches of Clan Guthrie
While the Guthries of Guthrie were the main family line, many other Guthrie families branched off over time. An old rhyme mentions some of these branches: "Guthrie o' Guthrie and Guthrie o' Gagie Guthrie o' Taybank an' Guthrie o' Craigie."
Clan Guthrie USA
Clan Guthrie USA is a group of over 400 Guthrie families. They work together to share and protect their common family history. This group takes part in Scottish Highland festivals, sells Guthrie items, and publishes a newsletter. They also organize special events like tours to Scotland and keep a database of Guthrie family trees.
See also
- Scottish clan
- Guthrie baronets
