Benjamin Guthrie b.1729-50VA – 1780VA
of Middlesex County, Virginia

BENJAMIN GUTHRIE
Parents: William Guthrie b. 1682-98 – d. 1781-82 VA m.2 Frances Wilbourn
Birth Date: Est. bet. 1729 – 1752
Birth Location: Christ Church, Middlesex County, Virginia
Baptism: Not Recorded in the CCPR
Marriage: Unmarried
Occupation: Unknown
Death Date: February 1780 between the 22nd and 28th.
Death Location: Christchurch, Middlesex County, Virginia
Burial: Unknown, probably in Middlesex County, Virginia

Notes: The proof of Benjamin Guthrie’s parentage must be found through the family connections documented at his death in February 1780. He wrote a will at that time naming among his siblings the children of William Guthrie and Lettice Burk/Frances Wilbourn. His occupation was unknown, but he was a man of property and money at his death. Although he signed his mark rather than his name for the will, his primary legacy was ensuring the future education of his nieces and nephews. Both of his parents were living at the time of his death. He may have been the eldest of William’s sons or the youngest. That information remains unknown until other documents are discovered to narrow his estimated birth date range.

READING & RESOURCES

DOCUMENT: Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Guthrie, FHL Film # 007645444, Middlesex Virginia Will Book F, p.179-180 (images 98 and 99 of 538). Digital Repository: Family Search.

DOCUMENT: Appraisment of the Estate of Benjamin Guthrie, FHL Film # 007645444, Middlesex Virginia Will Book F, p.194 (image 106 of 538). Digital Repository: Family Search.

Online Database: Virginia, US Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 > Middlesex > Wills, Vol D, 1775-1789. Last Will & Testament of Benjamin Guthrie of Christchurch, Middlesex, Virginia. Digital Repository: Ancestry.com.

In the name of God Amen

I BENJAMIN GUTHRIE of the Parish of Christ Church in the County of Middlesex Virginia being sick & weak in Body, but of sound & disposing Mind & Memory, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament, in manner of form following: That is to say, I will that my Debts & Funeral charges be paid & discharged by my Executor herein after named.

ITEM. I give & bequeath unto my sister FRANCES TUGGLE, my shoe buckles & sleeve buttons.

ITEM. I give & bequeath unto my brother JOHN GUTHRIE of the County of Gloucester, all my wearing apparel excepting my buckles provided nevertheless that should it appear that my said brother JOHN died before the making & writing of this, it is my Will & Desire that my wearing apparel already mentioned by equally divided amongst my remaining brothers SAMUEL GUTHRIE & WILLIAM GUTHRIE & WILLIAM BERRY & JOHN BERRY.

ITEM. I give unto JOHN BERRY, son of my sister FRANCES by JOHN BERRY my knee & shoe buckles.

ITEM. I give unto FRANCES GUTHRIE daughter of JOHN GUTHRIE, fifty pounds Virginia currency.

ITEM. I give unto SAMUEL DANIEL, son of WILLIAM & LUCY DANIEL one hundred & fifty pounds Virginia currency for his schooling.

ITEM. I give & bequeath unto CATY DANIEL, daughter of WILLIAM & LUCY DANIEL one hundred pounds Virginia currency for her schooling, but in case either of the heirs last mentioned should died before the legacies bequeathed should be spent upon his or her schooling, by my executors, then it is my Will that the Balance shall go to the surviving child to be bestowed on his or her education in such manner as to my Executor shall appear most advantageous to such Legatee.

ITEM. I give & desire that as much Money may remain in the Hands of my Executors as will pay for their schooling of JAMES STEVENS, son of JOHN STEVENS, one year & a half whenever he may be thought of sufficient age to be sent to school.

ITEM. I bestow as much on ANN CALLAHAN, daughter of JOHN CALLAHAN, as will pay for one year’s schooling.

ITEM. I bestow on LETTY CLOWDES, daughter of JOHN CLOWDES of the County of Essex, as much Money as will pay for one year’s schooling.

ITEM. I give & bequeath unto my sister MARGARET DANIEL, one hundred pounds Virginia currency.

ITEM. It is my Will & Desire that all my Estate be sold & the Money arising from such Sale to be applied toward the Payment of my Debts & Legacies herein before mentioned; whatever Balance or Remainder there may be after discharging my Debts of such Legacies, I do hereby lend all such Balance, Residue, or Remainder to my Father & Mother during the Term of their natural lives to have the use of the same, & that should any of it be left at their Death, such balance I desire may be divided equally amongst my Brothers WILLIAM & SAMUEL GUTHRIE & my sister ANN BRISTOW.

LASTLY, I do appoint ROBERT STAMPER & SAMUEL GUTHRIE executors of this my last Will & Testament herby revoking all other Wills & Testaments & in witness that this is my last Will & Testament I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this twenty second day of February 1780.

Sealed, Acknowledged & Declared to be his
the last Will & Testament of Benj. Guthrie in BENJAMIN X GUTHRIE
Presence of us — N.B. inscribed before subscribing mark
SAMUEL KLUGS. HARRY B YATES.
THOMAS ROANE

CODICIL:
I Benjamin Guthrie having on this 22d Day of February in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and eighty made my last Will & Testament & having committed something therein do hereby declare that it is my Will & Desire that as much Money as shall be thought sufficient to pay for one year’s schooling of LEONARD BRISTOW son of RICHARD & MARY BRISTOW shall be allowed by my Executors for that purpose whenever he may be sent to school.

Witness that the above his
was declared by the said BENJAMIN X GUTHRIE
BENJAMIN GUTHRIE as part mark
of his last Will & Testament
SAMUEL KLUG
HARRY B YATES
THOMAS ROANE

At a Court held for Middlesex County at the Courthouse in Urban on Monday the 28 Day of February 1780.

This last Will and Testament of BENJAMIN GUTHRIE deceased with the codicil thereto __ was presented in Court by SAMUEL GUTHRIE one of the Executors therein named __ he made oath according to law and the same was proved by the oaths of SAMUEL KLUG and THOMAS ROANE two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be Recorded, And on the motion of the said Executor certificate is granted him for obtaining a Probate in due form, he giving Security, whence upon he with BEVERLY DANIEL his security entered unto and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of six thousand pounds with condition according to Law.
Test. WILL CHURCHHILL
Truly Recorded Test. WILL CHURCHHILL

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