Catherine Guthrie b.1800-10VA & Campbell Franklin
of Amherst County, Virginia, USA

CATHERINE GUTHRIE
Parents: William Guthrie (b.bef.1752VA-d.abt.1824VA) and Elizabeth Wingfield
Birth Location: Amherst County, Virginia
Marriage: 5 January 1819 in Amherst County, Virginia to Campbell Franklin
Franklin Children:
Death: After 1830
Death Location: Unknown, last known residence Amherst County, VA
Burial: Unknown

CAMPBELL FRANKLIN
Parents: Thomas Franklin (1758-1841) and Margaret Campbell (1760-1796) [Unconfirmed]
Birth: Abt. 1792
Birth Location: Bedford County, Virginia
Occupation: Commerce, specifics unknown
Military Service: War of 1812
Death: After 1830
Death Location: Unknown, last known residence Amherst County, VA
Burial: Unknown

Franklin Children: Unverified
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

NOTES:

The 1810 census of Amherst County, Virginia
William Guthrie Household on 6 August 1810
1M 45 and Over (William)
1F 26-44 (Elizabeth)
1M 10-15 (Presumably son John William)
5M and 2F Under 10
Slaves: 9
Census Notes: Catherine would likely be one of the 2F under 10, est, birth year 1801-1810.

Campbell Franklin was a Private in the 53rd Regiment of Virginia Militia bet. August 1814 and August 1815 during the War of 1812.

The 1820 Census of Lynchburg, Campbell, Virginia
Campbell Franklin Household
1M 26-44 (born 1776-1794)
1F 16-25 (born 1795-1804)
3F under 10 (born 1811-1820)
Slaves: 7
1M 45 and over, 3M and 1F 26-44, 2F 14-25
Occupations – 6 engaged in commerce
Census Notes: This narrows Catherine’s likely DOB to 1801-1804. The other females are possibly Catherine’s younger sisters as Franklin was a designated guardian.

The 1830 Census of Amherst County, Virginia
Campbell Franklin Household
1M 30-39
2M and 1F 20-29
4F 15-19
2M and 1F 10-14
Total Slaves: 13
1M and 2F 36-54; 1M and 1F 24-35; 3 F 10-23; 3M and 2F under 10.
Census Notes: This appears to be a multi-family home. Campbell & Catherine with children under 10 and an unidentified married couple, possibly with children under 10, plus other teens potentially being Catherine’s orphaned siblings.

List of Letters Remaining in the Lychburg Post Office on the 1st Day of April 1832 (includes) Campbell Franklin.
Source: The Lynchburg Virginian, Thursday, 19 April 1832, page 4.

Primary Sources: Vital Records, Censuses, and Military Documents

These provide direct evidence from official records, offering raw data on family composition, locations, and events. They are foundational for genealogy but often require cross-referencing due to enumeration errors or incomplete survival of documents.

1. Marriage Record: Campbell Franklin and Catherine Guthrie. Citation: “Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989.” Database with images. FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CBQ-SF5S : 28 June 2022. Campbell Franklin and Catherine Guthrie, 5 January 1819; citing Marriage, Amherst County, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia.Description and Relevance: Official county record confirming the marriage date and location in Amherst County. This aligns with newspaper announcements and supports Catherine’s estimated birth (1801-1804) based on her age at marriage (likely 15-18, typical for the era). No bondsman or parental consent noted, implying possible family approval or independence. Edge Cases and Considerations: Amherst County borders Bedford and Campbell Counties, where related Franklins resided; potential for record migration or copies in adjacent jurisdictions. Implication: Suggests Catherine’s family ties in Amherst, possibly linking to Wingfield land holdings. No children listed, reflecting the era’s focus on unions rather than offspring.Access Notes: Free via FamilySearch; may require account. Alternate transcription available on RootsWeb compilations.
2. Marriage Announcement in Lynchburg Press. Citation: “Franklin – Guthrie.” Lynchburg Press (Lynchburg, Virginia), 11 January 1819.Description and Relevance: Newspaper notice: “Married last Thurs. Campbell Franklin & Catherine Guthrie of Amherst.” Confirms the wedding occurred on or around 7 January 1819 (accounting for publication lag), providing social context in a regional paper serving Amherst and nearby counties. Edge Cases and Considerations: “Last Thurs” implies 7 January, but official record lists 5 January—possible reporting error or post-event announcement. Newspapers often omitted details for women, emphasizing male partners; this underscores Catherine’s secondary role in records. Implication: Highlights mobility between Amherst and Lynchburg (Campbell County), where the couple later resided. Access Notes: Digitized excerpts on GenealogyTrails or Virginia Chronicle; full microfilm at Library of Virginia.
3. 1810 U.S. Federal Census: William Guthrie Household. Citation: 1810 U.S. Census, Amherst County, Virginia, population schedule, p. 290 (stamped); William Guthrie household; digital image, Ancestry.com(https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M252, roll 66. Description and Relevance: Household includes 1 male 45+, 1 female 26-44 (likely Elizabeth Wingfield), 1 male 10-15, 5 males under 10, 2 females under 10 (including Catherine, estimated birth 1801-1810), and 9 slaves. Places Catherine in her parental home pre-marriage. Edge Cases and Considerations: Tick-mark format lacks names, requiring inference from later records; large number of young males suggests siblings or extended family. Slavery notation implies economic status (possible tobacco farming). Implication: High child count may indicate orphan care post-William’s 1824 death, as seen in later censuses. Some Virginia 1810 pages missing, but Amherst survives intact. Access Notes: Ancestry (subscription) or FamilySearch (free); cross-reference with state tax lists for confirmation.
4. 1820 U.S. Federal Census: Campbell Franklin Household. Citation: 1820 U.S. Census, Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia, population schedule, p. 114; Campbell Franklin household; digital image, Ancestry.com(https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M33, roll 129.Description and Relevance: Household: 1 male 26-44 (Campbell), 1 female 16-25 (Catherine, narrowing birth to 1801-1804), 3 females under 10 (possible daughters or sisters), 7 slaves; 6 in commerce. First post-marriage record, showing move to Lynchburg. Edge Cases and Considerations: Extra females may be Catherine’s orphaned sisters, with Campbell as guardian—common in blended frontier families. Commerce occupation suggests mercantile work, explaining later post office mentions. Implication: Multi-generational living could obscure child counts; no verified offspring noted. Access Notes: Free transcription on USGenWeb Archives; full images on Ancestry or FamilySearch.
5. 1830 U.S. Federal Census: Campbell Franklin Household. Citation: 1830 U.S. Census, Amherst County, Virginia, population schedule, p. 362; Campbell Franklin household; digital image, Ancestry.com(https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M19, roll 194.Description and Relevance: Household: 1 male 30-39 (Campbell), 2 males 20-29, 1 female 20-29 (Catherine), 4 females 15-19, 2 males 10-14, 1 female 10-14, 13 slaves. Indicates return to Amherst, multi-family setup. Last known record for the couple. Edge Cases and Considerations: Suggests additional adults/children, possibly relatives or in-laws; teens could be orphaned Guthries. Slave increase implies economic growth or inheritance. Implication: Post-1830 absence may indicate migration, death, or record gaps—explore adjacent counties like Bedford. Access Notes: Ancestry or FamilySearch; compare with 1840 for possible descendants.
6. War of 1812 Service Record: Campbell Franklin. Citation: Paynter, Stuart L. Virginia Militia in the War of 1812. 2 vols. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2001. Vol. 1, p. 123 (Private, 53rd Regiment, Virginia Militia, August 1814-August 1815).Description and Relevance: Documents Campbell’s service as Private in the 53rd Regiment (Bedford/Amherst area), aligning with his pre-marriage life. No pension or bounty land noted. Edge Cases and Considerations: Short service (one year) typical for militia; no injury/death records. Implication: Military ties could explain family networks in Bedford County (Franklin origins). Cross-check for muster rolls. Access Notes: Available via Heritage Books or Library of Virginia; index on Fold3 (subscription).
7. Post Office Letters Remaining: Campbell Franklin. Citation: “Letters Remaining in the Post Office at Lynchburg.” The Lynchburg Virginian (Lynchburg, Virginia), 19 April 1832, p. 4 (listing for 1 April 1832); also issues 29 August 1831, 15 September 1831, 17 October 1831, and 27 October 1831. Description and Relevance: Multiple notices of unclaimed mail for Campbell Franklin, indicating ongoing residence or business in the area post-1830 census. Edge Cases and Considerations: Repeated listings suggest travel or oversight; could imply economic activity (commerce from 1820 census). Implication: Last traces before disappearance—possible westward migration amid economic shifts. Access Notes: Virginia Chronicle or Newspapers.com (subscription).

Secondary Sources: Periodicals and Compilations

These interpret primary data, offering transcribed excerpts but with potential errors.

8. Franklin Family Researchers United, Volume 56. Citation: “Marriage Records.” Franklin Family Researchers United 56 (February 2007): 5. Digital repository: RootsWeb. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ffru/genealogy/Docs/FFRU_back/vol56.pdf.Description and Relevance: Lists “Campbell Franklin to Catherine Guthrie, ______, 1819 Augusta Co VA.” Confirms marriage but with county discrepancy. Edge Cases and Considerations: Augusta vs. Amherst likely transcription error (adjacent counties); verify with primary record. Implication: Highlights common genealogy pitfalls in secondary sources. Access Notes: Free PDF download.
9. Virginia Appalachian Notes, Volume II, No. 1. Citation: Burton, Charles T. “Notes from the Lynchburg Press (Va).” Virginia Appalachian Notes 2, no. 1 (January 1978): 14. Southwestern Virginia Genealogical Society, Roanoke, VA. http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/50/4450/VANv2n1.pdf.Description and Relevance: Excerpt: “Jan 11, 1819: married last Thurs Campbell Franklin & Catherine Guthrie of Amherst.” Mirrors newspaper primary source. Edge Cases and Considerations: Compilation from press notes; reliable but secondhand. Implication: Useful for cross-verifying dates in rural areas with sparse records. Access Notes: Free PDF on Virginia Room digital archive.