Nicholas Guthrie (b.1804-11VA – d.p1840) & Esther M Franklin
of Amherst County, Virginia, USA

NICHOLAS GUTHRIE
Parents: William Guthrie (bef.1752VA-c1824VA) and Elizabeth Wingfield
Birth: Bet. 1804-1811
Birth Location: Virginia, probably in Amherst County
Occupation: Unknown
Marriage: [Unverified] Esther M. Franklin on 21 Nov 1836 in Campbell County, Virginia
Death: After 1840
Death Location: Unknown
Burial: Unknown

ESTHER M. FRANKLIN – ?
Parents: Unknown
Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Unknown
Guthrie Children: Unknown
Death: Unknown, but after 1836
Death Location: Unknown
Burial: Unknown

NOTES:

Nicholas Guthrie is named in court records as one of the children of William and Elizabeth (Wingfield) Guthrie in Amherst County, Virginia. His mother Elizabeth was originally assigned as their guardian on 19 Sep 1825.

On 21 March 1832, a few years after his mother had passed away, Nicholas Guthrie assumed legal guardianship over his younger siblings Sally, Laurence P, Oliver, and Elizabeth.

There is a marriage record for a Nicholas Guthrie to Esther M Franklin in Campbell County, VA dated 21 Nov 1836, but it is unknown whether the record belongs to this Nicholas Guthrie.

The 1840 Amherst County Virginia Census lists the household of Nicholas Guthrie:
1 female 40-49
2 males 30-39
1 male and 4 females 20-29
Slaves: 6
These are probably his siblings. If he was married in 1836, Nicholas doesn’t appear to have any young children.

Guthrie Children: None Known
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Known Descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A – No Known Descendants

1. Personal Notices: Pocket Book Lost “Pocket Book Lost” [personal notice for Nicholas Guthrie], Lynchburg Virginian, 13 December 1832 (Thursday), vol. 11, no. 34, p. 4; digital images, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com/ : [access date]). Context and Nuances: This notice likely pertains to a lost item belonging to Nicholas Guthrie, offering insight into his daily life and location in 1832. GenealogyBank requires a subscription; researchers should search for variants like “Guthrey” due to common spelling inconsistencies in 19th-century records. Implications: Could link to economic status or travel patterns; cross-reference with local directories for related Guthrie entries.
2. Chancery Court Notices: Guthrie vs. Guthrie and Kent “Chancery Court Notices: Guthrie vs. Guthrie and Kent” [legal announcements involving Nicholas Guthrie and related parties], Lynchburg Virginian, multiple issues: 31 December 1849 (Monday), p. [not specified]; 10 January 1850 (Thursday), p. [not specified]; 17 January 1850 (Thursday), p. [not specified]; and 11 February 1850 (Monday), p. [not specified]; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : [access date]). Context and Nuances: These notices document a chancery (equity) court case, possibly involving inheritance disputes or property divisions among Guthrie family members. As a series, they reflect ongoing legal proceedings; page numbers are omitted in the source but can be located via keyword searches. Edge Cases: Multiple publications suggest compliance with Virginia’s legal notification requirements (e.g., repeated ads for absent defendants). Implications: Valuable for tracing family conflicts; extend research to full chancery records at the Library of Virginia for depositions or outcomes.
3. Documents: Bonds re: Estate of William Guthrie and Orphans by Elizabeth Guthrie Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book No. 6 with Inventories & Accounts, 1818–1827, pp. 619–621, bonds for estate of William Guthrie and orphans by Elizabeth Guthrie, court held 19 September 1825; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-SCYH : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007643859, images 643–644. Context and Nuances: This record details guardianship bonds posted by Elizabeth Guthrie (née Wingfield) for her children, including Nicholas, following William Guthrie’s death. It highlights early 19th-century probate practices in Virginia. Edge Cases: Bonds often include sureties (co-signers), which could reveal extended family ties; check for handwriting variations. Implications: Essential for confirming parent-child relationships; researchers might compare with census data to track orphan migrations or remarriages.
4. Documents: Guardianship Bond by Elizabeth Guthrie Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book No. 7 with Inventories & Accounts, 1827–1830 [specific pages not fully detailed, but encompassing relevant entries], guardianship bond by Elizabeth Guthrie, court held 17 March 1828; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P7-S3YR?i=79 : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007643860, images 80–81. Context and Nuances: A continuation of guardianship arrangements for Nicholas and siblings, underscoring Elizabeth’s role as administrator. This bond reinforces family structure post-William’s death. Edge Cases: If Elizabeth remarried, later records might reflect name changes; digital images may require zooming for faded ink. Implications: Useful for timeline construction; link to tax lists for asset valuations, revealing socioeconomic implications.
5. Documents: Bond re: Estate of William Guthrie, Un-administered by Elizabeth Guthrie, Deceased Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book No. 7 with Inventories & Accounts, 1827–1830, pp. 187–190 [with specific reference to p. 187], bond for un-administered estate of William Guthrie by administrators following Elizabeth Guthrie’s death, court held 17 November 1828, signed by Campbell Franklin, Thomas Franklin, John Guthrie, and Nicholas Guthrie; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007643860, image 101. Context and Nuances: This bond transfers administration duties after Elizabeth’s passing, with Nicholas as a signatory, indicating his involvement in family affairs. The Franklin signatories suggest possible intermarriages (e.g., with Esther Franklin). Edge Cases: “Un-administered” portions imply incomplete prior settlements; verify against inventories for disputed assets. Implications: Highlights inheritance chains; explore deed records for property distributions, considering gender roles in 1820s Virginia probate.
6. Documents: Bonds re: Estate of Elizabeth Guthrie Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book No. 7 with Inventories & Accounts, 1827–1830, pp. 188–190, bonds for estate of Elizabeth Guthrie, court held 17 November 1828; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P7-S31Q : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007643860, images 102–103. Context and Nuances: Parallel to the previous item, these bonds address Elizabeth’s own estate, potentially including bequests to Nicholas. They provide closure to the William-Elizabeth lineage. Edge Cases: Overlapping dates with item 5 suggest a single court session; cross-check for appraisals. Implications: Key for heir identification; implications include tax burdens on orphans, with broader historical context on widowhood in antebellum South.
7. Documents: Guardianship Bond by Nicholas Guthrie, Thos. Dinglefield, Nathan Guthrie Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book No. 8 with Inventories & Accounts, 1830–1834, p. 187, guardianship bond by Nicholas Guthrie, Thomas Dinglefield, and Nathan Guthrie, court held 21 March 1832; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P7-SQDD : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007643860, image 295. Context and Nuances: Nicholas assumes guardianship here, possibly for younger siblings, marking his transition to family head. “Thos. Dinglefield” may be a variant of “Dingfield” or similar—check phonetic indexes. Edge Cases: Bonds required annual accounting; absent reports could indicate migration. Implications: Reflects Nicholas’s maturity and stability; tie to land records for surety collateral, exploring economic mobility.
8. Documents: Division of the Estate of John Wingfield, Decd, Including the Heirs of Elizabeth Guthrie Franklin County, Virginia, Will Book No. 5 with Inventories & Accounts, 1837–1845, p. 178, division of estate of John Wingfield deceased, including heirs of Elizabeth Guthrie, court held January 1840; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-944F : [access date]), Family History Library microfilm 007644996, image 101. Context and Nuances: This record connects the Guthries to the Wingfield maternal line, distributing assets to Elizabeth’s heirs like Nicholas. It broadens the family tree beyond Guthries. Edge Cases: “Decd” (deceased) heirs might involve sub-divisions; Franklin County’s jurisdiction suggests geographic shifts. Implications: Crucial for collateral kin research; implications include inheritance laws favoring primogeniture, with potential for disputes—extend to chancery suits for full narratives.