GUTHRIE OF DRUMSMUDDEN FARM, OCHILTREE, AYRSHIRE
Unfortunately after years of research I found that this Guthrie family of Ochiltree was not my Guthrie family of Ochiltree!! I have left them on my web page in case I contact someone has found that the Guthrie family of Ochiltree that they have been researching is not theirs but is my Guthrie family of Ochiltree!
Thomas GUTHRIE was resident at Drumsmudden farm near Ochiltree in the early 1730s. His son David was running the farm in the 1760/1770s. His son David GUTHRIE married Jean SMITH and they had six children;
Janet born 1800
Robert born 1803
David born 1805
Jean born 1808
Agnes born 1810
William born 1812
Robert (1803) married Isabella STEEL in Ochiltree 1838. She was the daughter of John STEEL and Isabella COLVILLE of McQuieiston farm, Ochiltree. Robert�s sister Agnes married Charles STEEL who was possibly the Charles STEEL, a brother of Isabella.
Robert and Isabella had five children;
John Steel GUTHRIE born 1840. John came to New Zealand in 1862 with his brother Robert and settled in Christchurch. In 1867 he was appointed manager of the Christchurch Press newspaper and in 1878 became editor. He married Catherine FITZGIBBON and they had nine children. He was still at the Press when he died in 1900. John is buried at the Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch.
David GUTHRIE born 1843. He came to New Zealand in 1864 on the "British Empire" and was killed at the Maori Chief (Gold) Claim at Charleston, West Coast, South Island.
Robert GUTHRIE born 1845. Robert came to New Zealand in 1862 with his brother John. He was foreman of Provision Produce Co of Belfast, Canterbury. He died in 1915.
Isabella GUTHRIE born 1847. She came to New Zealand in 1864 on the "British Empire" with her brother David and sister Jane.
Jane GUTHRIE born 1849*. She came to New Zealand in 1864 on the "British Empire" with her brother David and sister Isabella.
After the GUTHRIE family left Drumsmudden Farm it was then taken over by George Douglas BROWN. Around 1869 he had a child with one his dairymaid�s Sarah GEMMELL. Sarah left the farm for a nearby cottage where on the 26 January 1869; their son was born. He was also named George Douglas BROWN, and was locally known as "Smudden's Bastard". Sarah and her son moved to nearby Coylton and a few years later young George attended school there. He left school at an early age to work at Trabboch Pit but his old schoolmaster had the foresight to send him to Ayr Academy, and from there he went to Glasgow University and then finally Balliol College, Oxford. George's book "The House with the Green Shutters" is still standard reading in Scottish schools. The house still stands in Ochiltree today as a monument to a local boy.
* My great-grandfather Henry GUTHRIE MILLAR was born at Tenshillingland, Coylton, Ayrshire on the 25 April 1865, the illegitimate son of Janet GUTHRIE (also known as Jessie). Henry's father was 19 year old James MILLAR of High Plyde, Ochiltree and Henry was brought up by the MILLAR family eventually changing his name to MILLAR. High Plyde is right next door to Drumsmudden where the above Jane GUTHRIE - then aged 16 was living. I put two and two together but unfortunately this did not work as I was later informed that while my great-grandfather was being born (usually close by to the mother) the above Jane was on a ship to New Zealand!!! So I am still looking for my Janet/Jessie GUTHRIE and what happened to her.
For further genealogical information on these families please go to
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