CLAN & FAMILY CARRUTHERS: The Lineage of Theophilus Dunning: A Case for His Paternity by James Carruthers of Holmains.

It has always been our goal to ensure that what is published on here is checked and double checked for its validity. This is to ensure that our posts are as accurate as we can make them, based on the current evidence and information at hand. We do not join the dots simply to meet an agenda or cherry pick outcomes and for that reason we have a back-office team made up of highly competent researchers in the fields of genetics, genealogy and history to help facilitate and ensure the factuality of our posts.

This blog advances the research previously carried out regarding the links with the Dunning line of Theophilus Downing (1600’s in Salem, Massachusetts), who arrived in the US from Scotland in 1642. The current information links this line with George Carruthers, 6th of Holmains and 2nd Baron, through an illegitimate/natural grandson from his son James.

The work below was carried out by our DNA Project Research Director, Steve Colburn and supported and confirmed by our team of Genealogists, namely in this instance, Laurie Carruthers Caron, FSA Scot and Gary John Carruthers, FSA Scot.

Below is Steve’s research for your education and reading pleasure.

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Introducing George Carruthers 6th of Holmains, 2nd Baron

Background and Succession: George Carruthers inherited the Holmains estate after his elder brother John’s death at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542, a significant English victory over the Scots during the Rough Wooing. This battle, fought near the River Esk, was a pivotal moment, and John’s death elevated George to the chiefship at a relatively young age, likely in his mid-teens, given his estimated birth around 1526. The erection of Holmains into a free barony in 1542, as noted in the records, granted the family greater autonomy and legal privileges, cementing their status among Border lairds.

Marriages and Family: The records suggest George may have had two wives, though the identity of his first wife is not confirmed. His second wife, Margaret Irving, is explicitly mentioned as his widow, indicating she outlived him. This marriage likely strengthened ties with the Irving family, another prominent Border clan, which was common for consolidating alliances in the region. George’s death before May 22, 1592, is noted in charters and sasines (legal documents transferring property), which provide a timeline for his life and the transition of the estate to his heir.

Role in the Borders: As laird during a period of intense Border conflicts, George navigated a landscape of reiving (raiding), clan rivalries, and shifting Anglo-Scottish relations. The Carruthers were known for their loyalty to the Scottish crown, and George’s leadership likely involved managing estate defences and participating in local governance. The Holmains branch’s prosperity under his tenure is evident from the continued expansion of their landholdings and influence, despite the region’s volatility.

Legacy: George’s establishment of a stable chiefly line at Holmains was crucial, especially after the extinction of the Mouswald branch in 1548, which left Holmains as the senior line of the Carruthers clan. His children’s varied roles reflect the family’s multifaceted engagement in Border society, from land management to military service.

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Children of George Carruthers

The Records of the Carruthers Family provide specific details about George’s seven known children, highlighting their contributions to the clan’s legacy. Below is an expanded overview of each, based on the book’s information:

1. John Carruthers (7th Laird of Holmains):
   • Succession and Marriage: As the eldest son, John succeeded George as the 7th Laird upon his father’s death before 1592. His marriage to Nichola Jardine, from another influential Border family, likely reinforced clan alliances. John’s tenure as laird, lasting until his death in 1616, saw continued stability for the Holmains estate.
   • Role and Activities: John is documented in sasines and charters, indicating his active management of family lands. His leadership maintained the Carruthers’ position in Dumfriesshire, a region fraught with feuds, particularly with rival clans like the Johnstones and Maxwells. The records note his involvement in legal transactions, suggesting a role in local governance and estate administration.
   • Significance: John’s succession ensured the continuity of the Holmains line, which remained the chiefly branch of the Carruthers clan. His descendants further solidified the family’s prominence, as detailed in later sections of the book.
2. George Carruthers (Servitor to Sir Lewis Belleden):
   • Position and Service: Described as a “servitor” to Sir Lewis Belleden, George likely held a trusted administrative or household role. Sir Lewis Belleden (or Bellenden) was a significant figure, serving as a Scottish judge and Keeper of the Privy Seal, suggesting George operated in elite circles, possibly in Edinburgh or other administrative centers.
   • Context: The term “servitor” in the 16th century often denoted a personal aide or agent, indicating George’s involvement in legal or political affairs. This role highlights the Carruthers’ connections beyond Dumfriesshire, engaging with broader Scottish governance.
   • Legacy: While George did not inherit the lairdship, his position reflects the family’s strategy of placing younger sons in influential roles to extend clan influence.
3. Thomas Carruthers (in Trailtow):
   • Land Association: Thomas is identified as “in Trailtow,” a location near Dumfries, suggesting he held or managed lands there, possibly as a tacksman (leaseholder) or minor laird. Trailtrow was part of the Carruthers’ broader estate network.
   • Role: His presence in Trailtrow indicates the family’s efforts to expand their territorial control, a common practice among Border clans to secure resources and influence. Thomas likely participated in local affairs, including defense against reivers.
   • Significance: Thomas’s role underscores the Carruthers’ strategy of distributing family members across key locales to maintain regional dominance.
4. James Carruthers
   • Limited Documentation: The records provide fewer details about James compared to his siblings. He is acknowledged as a son of George, but specific roles or activities are not extensively documented.
   • Possible Role: As a younger son, James may have been involved in supporting family interests, possibly through land management or clan obligations, though the book does not specify his contributions.
   • Context: Younger sons in Border families often took on secondary roles, such as assisting the laird or managing smaller holdings, which James likely did.
5. Symon Carruthers (in the Isle):
   • Location and Role: Symon is noted as “in the Isle,” likely referring to a specific landholding or residence, possibly the Isle of Dumfries (it is ed.)or a nearby area. This designation suggests he managed or resided on a distinct portion of the family’s estates.
   • Activities: Symon’s role likely involved local land administration or defense, given the strategic importance of such locales in the Borders. The records do not detail specific actions, but his inclusion indicates active participation in family affairs.
   • Significance: Like Thomas, Symon’s presence in a specific locale reflects the Carruthers’ decentralized approach to maintaining control over their territories.
6. Charles Carruthers (Cornet at Threave Castle):
   • Military Role: Charles served as a cornet, a junior officer rank (equivalent to a second lieutenant in today’s military ed.), in the mounted garrison at Threave Castle, a key fortress in Galloway. This role involved leading a small unit of cavalry, critical for Border defense against English raids and internal clan conflicts.
   • Context: Threave Castle, historically associated with the Black Douglases, was a strategic stronghold. Charles’s position there highlights the Carruthers’ involvement in regional security during a period of frequent skirmishes, particularly in the late 16th century.
   • Significance: His military service underscores the clan’s martial tradition, with younger sons often taking on roles in defense to protect family interests and assert regional influence.
7. Janet Carruthers:
   • Marriage and Role: By 1578, Janet was the widow and executor of John Johnston in Lochmaben, a town near Dumfries. Her role as executor indicates she managed her late husband’s estate or legal affairs, a significant responsibility for a woman in 16th-century Scotland.
   • Context: The Johnstons were a powerful Border clan, and Janet’s marriage to John Johnston likely strengthened ties between the Carruthers and Johnstons, despite their occasional rivalries. Her status as a widow suggests she maintained influence in Lochmaben, possibly overseeing property or family interests.
   • Significance: Janet’s inclusion in the records highlights the active roles women in Border clans could play, particularly in legal and familial matters, contributing to the clan’s social and political network.

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Broader Context and Clan Dynamics

Border Life: The Carruthers family, under George and his children, operated in a volatile region where reiving, feuds, and alliances shaped daily life. The records emphasize the clan’s resilience, with George’s children taking on diverse roles to ensure the family’s survival and prominence. Their activities—ranging from land management (John, Thomas, Symon) to military service (Charles) and administrative roles (George) to legal responsibilities (Janet)—reflect a strategic division of labor typical of Border clans.

Clan Alliances: The marriages of John to Nichola Jardine and Janet to John Johnston illustrate the Carruthers’ efforts to forge alliances with neighboring clans, a critical strategy in the Borders to counter threats from rivals like the Maxwells or English incursions.

Documentary Evidence: The Records of the Carruthers Family rely heavily on charters, sasines, and other legal documents, which provide precise details about inheritance, land transactions, and family roles. These sources confirm George’s death date and the activities of his children, though some details (e.g., James’s role) remain sparse due to the limitations of surviving records.

Limitations and Notes: The book does not provide exhaustive personal details, such as birth or death dates for all children, due to the nature of 16th-century records. Much of the information is drawn from legal documents rather than narrative accounts.Some ambiguity exists regarding George’s first wife, as the records do not definitively name her, though Margaret Irving’s role as his widow is clear.The Records of the Carruthers Family focus on the Holmains line, so details about George’s children are primarily tied to their contributions to the clan’s chiefly branch.

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The Lineage of Theophilus Dunning:
A Case for His Paternity by James Carruthers of Holmains

Introduction

This paper presents an evidence-based argument that Theophilus Dunning (b. c.1618), an early settler of colonial Massachusetts, was the biological son of James Carruthers (apprentice tailor), natural son of James Carruthers, who was the younger son of George Carruthers, 6th Laird and 2nd Baron of Holmains. Theophilus was adopted and raised by Johnne Dunning, a master tailor and burgess of Edinburgh. Through a convergence of documentary records, occupational alignments, socio-religious context, and Y-DNA analysis, we propose that Theophilus represents a non-paternal event (NPE) linking the Carruthers of Holmains to a colonial American line previously known only as “Dunning.”

1. The Carruthers Line: George, James, and Illegitimate Descent

George Carruthers (c.1526–before 1592), 6th Laird and 2nd Baron of Holmains, was a notable figure in the Scottish Borders and had at least seven children. Among them was James Carruthers, a younger son with no known inheritance or estate representation. In accordance with Scottish primogeniture, James would have been expected to pursue a trade or military role.

In 1600, the Register of Edinburgh Apprentices records a “James Carruthers, natural son to James Carruthers,” apprenticed to John Carruthers, tailor. The term “natural son” implies illegitimacy. Given the lack of estate records for the elder James, this urban apprenticeship supports the idea that he lived apart from the family seat—likely in Edinburgh—and sired a son out of wedlock. (Register of Edinburgh Apprentices, 1583–1666, ed. James Scott, Scottish Record Society, 1929. Entry for 15 April 1600)

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Comment

Current legislative changes in Scots law, which would not have existed in 17th century Scotland, ensures that all children are treated equally. This is whether they are illegitimate or legitimate. However, even in today’s world, proof of parentage and in such historical cases as this, evidence of lineage is required. This is especially difficult if the child was not acknowledged by the parent during their lifetime ie a case of ‘hidden paternity’. In such cases and especially in dealing with centuries past, robust investigative research of proofs needs to be carried out along with and if viable, solid DNA testing.

There are of course many dubious claims on the internet which leave us extremely wary. These claims are easily spotted where the unscrupulous have attempted to link a multitude of surnames, to include royalty to our ancient Border stock. In many cases this is without any solid evidence to support them and is designed simply to fit their own obscure agenda. As such we have learnt to tread with great care.

However, any individual involved in any form of scientific or investigative analysis who is presented with evidence of this nature, based on such robust research, recognises that the proofs speak for themselves. As such there seems to be an extremely good case for this branch of Carruthers, located in the US and under the guise of the surname Dunning, being seen as an integral part of our history and more importantly, having ancestry linking back to 1700’s Scotland and the chiefly House of Holmains.

Congratulations and a big thank you must go to the sterling work carried by our geneticists and genealogists, who have helped formulate and confirm these findings and therefore made this exciting blog possible.

Well done all.

Promptus et Fidelis

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