Betty Guthrie 1718VA-p1772VA & Robert Chowning
in Middlesex and Caroline Counties, Virginia, USA

BETTY GUTHRIE
Parents: William Guthrie b. 1682-98 – d. 1781-82 VA m.1 Lettice Burk
Birth Date: 20 March 1718
Birth Location: Christ Church, Middlesex County, Virginia
Baptism: 19 April 1719 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia
Marriage: 24 December 1735 to Robert Chowning in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia
Chowning Children: Ruth (1736), Charles (1739), Christopher (1740), Robert (1740), Easter (1743)
Death Date: Aft. 1772
Death Location: Caroline County, Virginia (presumably)
Burial: Unknown, presumably Caroline County, Virginia

ROBERT CHOWNING
Parents: Thomas Chowning and Sarah Davis
Birth Date: 20 March 1711
Birth Location: Christ Church, Middlesex County, Virginia
Occupation: Unknown
Death Date: Aft. 1783
Death Location: Caroline County, Virginia (presumably)
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Carolina County, Virginia

NOTES:
Betty Guthrie was the eldest daughter of William Guthrie and his first wife Lettice Burk. She was born and baptized in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia. She was 17 at her marriage to Robert Chowning on Christmas Eve 1735. They had 5 children whose births are documented in the Christ Church Parish records. The couple moved to Caroline County, Virginia where they presumably remained until their deaths. Betty died first sometime after 1772. When the Revolutionary War broke out, the Chowning boys joined the patriot cause, but that left Robert at home without the means to support himself. The Caroline County Court granted him a tax exemption. He died after 1783.

Caroline County Virginia is north of Richmond, VA. See Google Map. Its northern boundary is the Rappahannock River. The county was established in 1728 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William Counties.

CHOWNING CHILDREN:
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendants of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: Yes

CHILD 1: RUTH CHOWNING
Born 1736 VA – Died 17??

The birth/baptismal record for Robert and Betty Showing’s daughter Ruth is listed in the Christ Church Parish Register. It is the only entry there for Ruth. A number of online trees list a death date of 1737 in Virginia, but without any source data. Neither Ruth’s death nor burial are listed in the CCPR. No further data.

Ruth, Daughter of Robt. & Betty Chowning, born Octr. 17th Baptiz’d Oct: 21. 1736. (CCPR, p.143)

CHILD 2: CHARLES CHOWNING
Born 1739 VA – Died 1817 KY

Charles, Son of Robert & Betty Chowning born March 10th baptd March 25th 1739. (CCPR, p.149)

The Register of Christ Church Parish recorded Charles Chowning’s birth and baptism. He reportedly married on 7 August 1760 to Milly Stephens. This date is not recorded in the CCPR, and so the marriage may have taken place in Caroline County, Virginia rather than Middlesex. The couple had 2 sons and 5 daughters born between 1764 and 1781.

Religious freedom was still very much an issue during colonial times. In 1771, Charles Chewning, John Goodrich, Thomas Collins, Jr., Micajah Stevens, Edmound Beazley, and Elizabeth Beazley were charges with attending unauthorized worship, but the charges were dismissed. (Elliott, History of Caroline County)

Charles may have been a Patriot Soldier during the Revolutionary War as his father Robert petitioned the Caroline County Court in 1777 for aid because his sons had gone to war.

After his father Richard Chowning died, Charles Chowning was appointed as administrator of his estate. The court records of Caroline County, VA dated 11 Nov 1785 show him listed as the Plaintiff, Charles Chowning, administrator of Robert Chowning, decd. against John Broaddus, Junr. and John Houston, defendants in Debt. A year later, on 11 Aug 1786, a second complaint resulted in favor of Charles Chowning against the same defendants.

His first appearance in the records of Fayette County, Kentucky comes on the 1805 Tax List:
Charles Chowning; no land tax; 1 Voter; 1 White Tithe; 4 Black Tithe; 4 Total Blacks; 4 Horses

The 1806 Tax List of Fayette County, Kentucky:
Charles Chowning; no land tax; 1 Voter; 1 White Tithe; 4 Black Tithe; 4 Total Blacks; 5 Horses

The 1807 Tax List of Fayette County, Kentucky:
Charles Chowning; 75 acres 1st rate land watercourse David’s Fork; surveyed by Johnson; entered by Bradford; 1 White Males21; 0 White Males16; 4 Blacks16; 4 Total Blacks; 7 Horses; 1 carriage w/4 wheels

The 1808 Tax List of Fayette County, Kentucky:
Charles Chowning; 75 acres 1st rate land watercourse David’s Fork; surveyed by Johnson; entered by Bradford; 1 White Males21; 0 White Males16; 4 Blacks16; 4 Total Blacks; 10 Horses; 1 carriage w/4 wheels

The 1810 US Federal Census of Lexington, Lafayette, Kentucky:
Charles Chowning Household – 6 August 1810
1 M and 1F 45 and over
2 females under 10 (granddaughters?)
Number of Enslaved Persons: 4
Number of Household Members: 8

Charles Chowning wrote his will on 21 March 1817 and died before it was probated in May of 1817 in Fayette County, KY. He named his wife Milly, children: Charles, Robert, Milly Tap, Betsey Kemper; grandchildren Milly, Lucinda, Mahaly, and Thursey Stephens, children of his daughter Lucy Stephens; and Ann Vaughn and Sally Tass, his two daughters in Virginia. (KY Wills and Probate Records). His widow Milley (Stevens) Chowning died after 1821.
Children:
1.) Charles Chowning 1764VA – 1832KY
Charles was born on 15 April 1764 in Caroline County, Virginia married Tillitha Nicholson on 16 Apr 1796 in Jessamine, KY. They had a large family: Sally, William, Thomas, john, Charles, Robert B, Milly, James, Eliza, Lucy, Dennison, and Mary Ann. They lived in Jessamine, Kentucky. Charles died there in 1832 leaving a will and probate records. Tillitha died at 87 years of age on 17 Oct 1864 in Trimble, Kentucky. She is buried at Mount Tabor Cemetery in Trimble County, KY.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No

2.) Robert Chowning 1766VA – bet. 1840-50KY
Robert was born on 30 June 1766 in Middlesex County, Virginia. He was twice married. His first wife was Mildred Walker whom he married in Culpepper County, VA on 1 April 1790. They had 5 daughters and 4 sons: Louisa, Frances Marion, Lucy, Ezra Walker, Charles Guthrie, Amelia, Robert, Christopher C, and Amanda, all born between 1790 and 1815. The family had migrated from Virginia to Fayette County, Kentucky before the 1800 Tax List for the County. He continues to appear on Fayette, KY tax lists through 1808. A Robert Chowning household is listed for Lexington, KY in 1810 for the US Federal Census. Robert Chowning and family were living in Scott County, KY where he owned 150 acres of taxable property on the McClure River, and 5 horses. He was a farmer. He is also listed in Scott County, KY for 1820. His wife Mildred died after 1820. Robert sold property in Scott County on 11 August 1825. Afterward, he shows up on the US Federal Census of Owen County, KY for 1830. On 7 December 1835, at the age of 69, Robert remarried to Fanny Blackburn. Being of age, Fanny wrote her own letter of consent for the marriage. Robert Chowning died between 1840-1850 in Owen County, KY. The 1830 census lists a Fanny Blackburn 30-39 with 1 F 10-14 and 1 M 5-9, suggesting that she was a widow with two children by the time of her marriage to Robert Chowning.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: Yes

3.) Anne Chowning 1768VA – aft. 1817
Little is known of Anne Chowning. She was born on 12 February 1768 in Virginia. Her parents left that state and were residing in Kentucky by 1805, but Charles Showing’s 1817 will indicates that his daughter Anne Vaughan was residing in Virginia. This suggests her marriage to an unidentified Vaughan occurred prior to 1805. No further details.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No Verified Descendants Known

4.) Sarah Chowning 1772VA – 1834VA
Daughter Sarah Chowning was known as Sally by her family. She was born on 12 November 1772 or 1773 in Virginia. She married James Tapp on 5 January 1794, documented in Genealogy of the Cloyd, Basye, and Tapp Families, as a theorized son of Vincent and Mollie (Jett) Tapp. They resided in Culpepper County, Virginia and raised ten children: John (1795), Baylor (1796), Mildred (1798), William (1801), Charles (1802), Wyat (1804), Lucy (1806), Vincent (1808), Susan (1813), Harriet (1817). Sarah died in 1834 and James in 1860.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No

5.) Lucy Chowning 1774VA – bef. 1817
Lucy was born 27 October 1774 in Virginia. She died prior to her father sometime before 1817 leaving four daughters mentioned in his will: Milley, Lucinda, Mahaley, and Hussey Stephens. Unknown if the Stephens-Chowning marriage took place in Virginia or Kentucky, or where they resided afterward. No further details.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No

6.) Mildred Chowning 1779VA – 1852KY
Named for her mother, Millie Chowning was born 13 August 1776 or 1779 in Virginia. She married Fielding ‘Lewis’ Tapp II on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1800 in Culpepper County, Virginia. They are credited with eleven children born between 1801 and 1822: Nancy (1801), Elizabeth (1803), Mildred (1804), Mariah (1806), Charles William Lewis (1808), Lucy Jane (1810), Pendleton ‘Washington’ (1812), Preston Waller (1814), Francis Gregory (1817), Miranda Summerfield (1820), and Emily T (1822). Husband Lewis died in 1822. Millie’s death came at the age of 72 in Sycamore Grove, Jessamine County, Kentucky on 24 January 1852.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No

7.) Elizabeth Chowning 1781VA – 1843 KY
Elizabeth Chowning was born 9 or 12 Sep 1781 in Virginia. Betsy’s marriage license was dated 29 June 1805 with surety provided by the ‘personal consent’ of Charles Chowning. The marriage was recorded on June 30th in Fayette County, KY. Trees list the Kemper children as: Charles Henry (1806), John C (1807), Nathan (1811), Elizabeth (1815), Lucy S (1817), Mary Mildred (1820), and Sarah Ann (1826). Betsy’s husband Henry Kemper died in 1827. Trees list two different dates of death for Betsy, either 2 April 1842 or 4 Feb 1843.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No

CHILD 3: CHRISTOPHER CHOWNING
Born abt. 1740 VA – Died bef. 1787

Christopher Chowning appears to have been a Revolutionary War soldier who enlisted into the first regiment of Virginia cavalry in December of 1778 and January 1779 under Captain Robert Yancey. He and others enlisting at that time were promised a bounty of 400 and a treasury warrant for the sum of $57.14 each with 5% interest. On 28 Nov 1787, a Land Office Millitary Warrant No. 4344 was issued to the principal surveyor of lands set apart for the officers and soldiers of the Commonwealth of Virginia to survey 100 acres of land for Charles Chowning, heir at law to Christopher Chowning in consideration for 3 years of service as a soldier in the Virginia Continental Line. Since his eldest brother was his heir, it is presumed that Christopher was unmarried at the time of his death.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No Known Descendants

CHILD 4: ROBERT CHOWNING
Born 1740/1 VA – Died bef. 1777

Robert Chowning, son of Robert & Betty Chowning born March 2d bapt. March 29th 1740/1. (CCPR). Like his older brother Charles Chowning, Robert was a soldier in the Continental Army. His name is found in an Auditor’s Account for a Virginia regiment. His father received an allotment in 1777 for one son serving in the patriot cause during the Revolution, which may have been for Robert. No further details known.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No Known Descendants

CHILD 5: EASTER CHOWNING
Born 1743 VA – Died 17??

Easter (possibly Esther) Chowning was born in Christchurch, Middlesex County, Virginia on 25 March 1743 and baptized on the 4th of April. No further record has been found to indicate whether she lived beyond her infancy.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Test Participants: No Known Descendants

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS / PARTIAL TIMELINE

1744: John Page purchased 150 of land in Goochland County, Virginia from Robert Chowning of Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, VA.

1772: Betty Chewning and Samuel Daniel refused to testify against John Walker and Henry Goodloe for holding unauthorized worship – fined 350 lbs of tobacco each. (Campbell. ‘History of Caroline County Virginia’ p.457)

1777: Caroline County, VA – December Court. “On petition of Robert Chowning who is infirm and incapable of supporting his family by reason of his sons going into the service of the United States, the Court are of the opinion that the sum of L16 be paid.” (Sweeny. Virginia Military Records)

11 Nov 1785: Charles Chowning, adminstrator of Robert Chowning, decd, enters lawsuit against John Broaddus Jr and John Houston for debt.

READING & RESOURCES

BOOK: The Parish Register of Christ Church, Middlesex County, VA. from 1653 to 1812, published by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia. Richmond, VA. Wm. Ellis Jones, Steam Book and Job Printer, 1897. Digital Repository: Internet Archive.

BOOK: Campbell, T. E. (1954). Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia. United States: Dietz Press. Digital Repository: Family Search. Read pp. 222 and 457 for Betty entries, and 444 for a Map of Colonial Churches in Caroline Co, VA.

WIKITREE: Elizabeth (Betty) Guthrie aka Guttery managed by Peggy Chowning. See also the associated research attached to the tree My Ancestors and Their Descendants on Ancestry.com. The tree lists one additional child, William Chowning (c.1745 VA – 1827 KY).

FAMILY SEARCH PERSON PAGES: BETTY GUTHRIE and ROBERT CHOWNING

BOOK: Hayes, C. N. (1959). Chewning Family; The Mercer Family. United States: Witchita, Kansas. Digital Repository: Internet Archive.

BOOK: Whitely, E.R. (1980). Red River Settlers. Records of the Settlers of Northern Montgomery, Robertson, and Sumner Counties, Tennessee. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, MD. Digital Repository: Ancestry.com, Online Databases: Family Histories.
See Chowning Family History pp.17-18. Includes descendants of Robert and Betty (Guthrie) Chowning.

VIRGINIA MILITARY RECORDS: Some Colonial and Revolutionary Soldiers as Shown by the Order Books of Caroline County, Virginia. Contributed by Mrs William Montgomery Sweeny. Digital Repository: Ancestry.com.
Includes Court Held Dec 1777 – Petition of Richard Chowning.

BOOK: Sparacio, Ruth & Sam (19954). Caroline County, Virginia Order Book Abstracts 1778-1781. The Ancient Press. McLean, Virginia. This volume contains records from Caroline County Order Book, 1777–1780, beginning on page 104 and ending on page 243 for courts held 13 August 1778 through 15 October 1780. This volume also contains records from Caroline County Order Book, 1781–1785 beginning on page 1 and ending on page 20 for courts held 8 March 1781 through 9 August 1781. (Heritage Books)
Includes, p79: Petition of Robert Chewning
Includes, p81: Robert Chewning exerted from payment of County Levy’s, 11 May 1780.

BOOK: Sparacio, Ruth & Sam. (1995). Caroline County, Virginia Order Book Abstracts 1785-1786. The Ancient Press, McLean, Virginia. This volume contains rulings of the court of civil matters such as property disputes and slaves. Entries from Order Book 1785-1787 beginning on page 129 and ending on page 300 for courts held September 10, 1785 through August 11, 1786 appear in this volume. (Heritage Books)
Includes the Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Robert Chewning, deceased, returned and ordered to be recorded, 8 Dec 1785, Caroline County Court.

BOOK: Hopkins, William Lindsay (1989). Middlesex County, Virginia 1673-1812 Wills and Inventories and other Court Papers. Iberian Publishing Company. Athens, Georgia. (IBP Online Catalog) (Heritage Books)

FAMILY SEARCH CATALOG: Caroline County Virginia – Online Resources.
FHL Film #007644364 – Item 5 – Index of Willis, Inventories, and Administrations from Caroline County Order Books 1732 – 1800. IMG: 769 (Book Cover), 870. Chewning, Robt. I – 1785, p. 208
FHL Film #007644362 – Caroline County Virginia Order Book 1785-1787 Part 1. IMG: 257. An Inventory and Appraisement of the estate of Robert Chowning deceased was returned and ordered to be Recorded.

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