Colonel John Guthrie

Owner of Balnagelth in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

1. Memorial inscription at Cross Path, Westmoreland, to Colonel John Guthrie, Custos Rotulorum and Colonel of the Westmoreland militia, "who by his courage, conduct, and perseverene effected the reduction of the rebell negroes that for many years miserably harrass'd this island, and against whom all former attempts had been made in vain." Husband of Mary, daughter of George Williams of Old Hope. Died 13/06/1739.

2. John Guthrie of Westmoreland, Esquire. Estate probated in Jamaica in 1740. Slave-ownership at probate: 87 of whom 44 were listed as male and 43 as female. 0 were listed as boys, girls or children. Total value of estate at probate: £6334.34 Jamaican currency of which £2482.5 currency was the value of enslaved people. Estate valuation included £1817 currency cash, £388.88 currency debts and £4.25 currency plate.

3. The will of John Guthrie was proved in Jamaica in 1738[sic].

The image opposite is from 1803, depicting Guthrie negociating with Cudjoe in 1739. © British Library, public domain.

Note that John Guthrie is confused with James Guthrie (q.v., died 1728) in some secondary sources.

Miles Ogborn, 'Slavery, freedom and the Jamaican landscape', https://www.bl.uk/picturing-places/articles/slavery-freedom-and-the-jamaican-landscape [accessed 16/07/2018].

1. James Henry Lawrence-Archer, Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies (1875) p. 335 transcribed at http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/Barche17.htm.

2. Trevor Burnard, Database of Jamaican inventories, 1674-1784.

3. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919) vol. 2 p. 120.