Let’s talk about the earliest colonial settlements in Tidewater Virginia and the Guthrie men and women who made that region their home. There are five geographic areas: The Tidewater Region, The Piedmont Region, The Blue Ridge Mountains, The Valley & Ridge Region, and the Appalachian Plateau. The Tidewater Region is named as such because its major rivers rise and fall with the ocean tide, and is also called the Coastal Plain Region.

Many of my paternal ancestors have colonial roots in Tidewater Virginia, so I’ve got a stake in this sojourn into Virginia history even if my own Guthrie line does not. I was born in Newport News, but my Guthrie family (GFG2A-Branch A) arrived in the Baltimore, MD area from Northern Ireland in the 1760s, settled in North Carolina, and later moved to Tennessee during the 1790s. Those of you whose Guthrie ancestors lived in the coastal regions of Virginia should add additional names, details, and discuss your take on on these Tidewater connections.

When researching our ancestors, it is always a good idea to understand a little bit about the area they settled. Clues may be found in multiple county records even if your ancestor settled in one spot and never moved again. The earliest colonists were all living in a small geographic area that first expanded along the river systems. Regional and county borders changed frequently as our country developed.

Key landmarks for Tidewater Virginia include:
1) Chesapeake Bay
2) The Rivers: James, York, Rappahannock, Potomac
3) The Eastern Shore of Virginia
4) The Northern Neck
(Counties: Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland, King George)
5) Middle Peninsula
(Counties: Mathews, Gloucester, Middlesex, King and Queen, King William, and Essex)
6) The Peninsula
(Counties/Cities: Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, York, Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, Charles City)

The Virginia Colony did not pop up overnight with a thriving population. There were some major setbacks during which the colonists struggled to gain a foothold at Jamestown and other settlements along the James River. Female settlers did not arrive in significant numbers for over a decade after the colony was first established. The once peaceful relationship with the native population degraded into conflict. Famine, disease, and war brought the Virginians to the point of abandoning the Jamestown settlement.

THE JAMESTOWN TIMELINE:
[SOURCE]

1606-1607
Nearly 20 years after the failure to create a permanent English settlements in Newfoundland and on Roanoke Island off the coast of what is now North Carolina (see The Lost Colony), the London Company sent an expedition to Virginia consisting of three ships carrying 105 men and boys, and 39 crew members. The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery reached the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in April 1607 after a journey of four months. Sealed orders from the Virginia Company of London named the governing Council: Bartholomew Gosnold, Christopher Newport, George Kendall, John Martin, George Percy, John Ratcliffe, John Smith, Edward Maria Wingfield.

1608
The settlers constructed their first fort, but there were few skilled laborers or farmers amongst them. Apparently, they never planned to become self sustaining by producing all of their own food. Instead, they counted upon trade with the local Indian tribes and a consistent resupply of goods from England. On 2 January 1608, the ‘First Supply’ arrived, but it contained an insufficient amount of provisions, plus an additional 70 colonists, all men.

The ‘Second Supply’ arrived on 1 October 1608, and with it came the first women known to settle in Jamestown. Mistress Forrest, the wife of Thomas Forrest, Esq., and her maid Anne Burras arrived aboard the Mary and Margaret. Also on this voyage were the first non-English settlers to the colony. These were ‘Dutchmen’, German-speaking Polish and Slavic craftsmen hired by the Virginia Company to produce exports.

1609-1610
After a drought that caused their already limited crops to fail, the delay of their resupply vessel, and a harsh winter only 60 of 500 English colonists survived what is known as ‘The Starving Time’.

1610
The Sea Venture, the new flagship of the Virginia Company, left England in 1609 on the ‘Third Supply’ mission leading nine ships toward Jamestown. A strong storm, possibly a hurricane, caused the ships to become separated, and the Sea Venture had to be deliberately driven onto the Bermuda reefs in order to prevent her from sinking. This stranded the 150 passengers. Some fitted a longboat with a mast and attempted to make their way to Virginia, but were never seen again. The others built two ships out of the wreckage, the Deliverance and Patience, and set sail for Jamestown only to arrive to find the colony in ruins and its population devastated. On 7 June 1610, the survivors of Jamestown and Bermuda boarded the ships and abandoned the colony. Two days later, they came across a ship carrying their new governor, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr, supplies, and more colonists. The governor ordered their return to Jamestown.

1611
Jamestown was not the only settlement along the James River. Thomas Dale sailed up to the area that is currently Chesterfield County. In 1611 he began a construction at Henricus, which was originally envisioned as a possible replacement for the capital’s location at Jamestown. However, Henricus was destroyed during the Indian Massacre of 1622, which killed 1/3 of the colonists.

1619
The first Africans arrived on a Dutch Man-of-War ship. These colonists were freemen and indentured servants. The first reference to slavery came in 1640 when one African indentured servant, John Punch, ran away with two white indentured servants. Punch was sentenced by the governing council to lifelong servitude.

1620
More non-English settlers arrived. These were German settlers from Hamburg recruited by the Virginia Company to set up a sawmill.

1621
Fifty-seven unmarried women and girls were brought to the colony by the Virginia Company in 1621 arriving on the Marmaduke, the Warwick, and the Tyger. Many of them were widows, others were single women who were traveling with family members, and some were young girls with their parents.

1622
On the morning of 22 March 1622, Chief Opechancanough led a coordinated attack along the James River settlements. Although previous chieftains had attempted to create a generally peaceful coexistence with English settlers, he was no longer interest in maintaining such an arrangement. The Indian Massacre of 1622 completely wiped out many of the settlements leaving few survivors in its wake. The Jamestown settlement received a warning just in time to avoid the attack. The conflict between the natives and the colonists would continue for a decade.

(My ancestor Robert West, an 8 year old servant of the Lady Dale, is believed to be a survivor of the attack. “People in the most dangerous parts of the Upper James River area were evacuated and resettled (after the massacre). Among these were Lady Dale’s tennants consisting of men & boys in Charles City borough. Along with her cattle, they were relocated near Old Plantation Creek” on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.)

1624
“In that year Virginia became a royal colony, and all land issued by the royal governor was made in the name of the Crown. A method of private land distribution quickly evolved, known as the headright system. Each person who entered Virginia to settle was given fifty acres, but in practice the land was awarded to the person who paid the cost of transportation of the emigrant. An annual quitrent was to be paid to the Crown for each fifty acres owned, and the land was to be settled and cultivated within three years.” [SOURCE]

THE ORIGINAL EIGHT SHIRES of VIRGINIA:

A political system of government slowly began to emerge in Virginia. In 1617, Governor Samuel Argyll identified 4 ‘incorporations and parishes’:
1) James City
2) Charles City
3) Henrico
4) Kikotan (Elizabeth City)

By 1624, monthly courts were formed for Charles City and Elizabeth City. During the next decade the colonial population expanded to about 5,000 inhabitants. The original four incorporations became eight new shires in 1634. Seven of these were in the James River estuary. The eighth was across Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at Accomack.

Accomack Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1643 – Renamed Northampton County
1663 – County Boundary Divided – Accomack County created

Charles City Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1703 – County Boundary Divided – Prince George County created
1720 – Divided – Brunswick County formed from Prince George
1735 – Divided – Amelia County formed from Prince George
1752 – Divided – Dinwiddle County formed from Prince George

Charles River Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1643 – Renamed York County
1648 – County Boundary Divided – Northumberland County created
1651 – Divided – Gloucester and Lancaster Counties created
1654 – Divided – New Kent County created
1691 – Divided – King and Queen County created from New Kent/Gloucester
1702 – Divided – King William County created from King and Queen

Elizabeth City Shire
1634 – Original Shire (now extinct)
1636 – County Boundary Divided – New Norfolk created
1952 – Elizabeth City County eliminated – formed Hampton independent city

Henrico Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1728 – County Boundary Divided – Goochland County created
1749 – Divided – Chesterfield County created

James City Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1652 – County Boundary Divided – Surry County created

Warrosquyoake Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1637 – Renamed Isle of Wight County
1723 – County Boundary Divided – Brunswick County created
1749 – Divided – Southampton County created

Warwick River Shire
1634 – Original Shire
1643 – Renamed Warwick County (now extinct)
1958 – Independent Cities of Warwick and Newport News consolidated to form Newport News.
[SOURCE]

GUTHRIES in ACCOMACK & NORTHAMPTON

HELEN GUTHRIE
Very little is known about Helen Guthrie who was reportedly born about 1636 in County Donegal, Northern Ireland. She married there to Robert Makemie with whom she had four children: Francis Makemie, Robert Makemie, John Makemie, and Anne Makemie. Their family is said to have immigrated to Accomack County Virginia at an unknown date. Helen’s exact DOD is unknown, but is estimated to be before 1708.

SEVERN GUTHRIE (Carpenter)
Severn is a name of English origin meaning boundary. Also a topographical name taken from the Severn River. This name is not found in the baptismal records of Scotland, which may suggest that Severn Guthrie was of English origin and not a Scotsman. The name Severn is found in several Accomack families during the 1700s.

Severn Guthrie was a carpenter responsible for building the New Church in 1767. He was also a vestryman and church warden. Despite his ties to the church, he was brought into court for ‘swearing four profane oaths’. Except for this offense, he seems to have been a man of good standing. He appears to have twice married. First to a Frances (MNU) and secondly to Atalanta (MNU). He had one son, Littleton, and at least one daughter, Sarah.

1754 – A new log Prison was to be built by Severn Guthrey.
1755 – Orphan boy Ephraim Pratt, son of John Pratt bound out to Severn Guthrey until he is 16 to learn the trade of a house carpenter.
1760 – Severn Guthrey was named as the plaintiff in a lawsuit against George Booth and others. Land originally owned by John West, gentleman of Accomack, deceased, had been willed to his daughters Catherine, Mary, Anne, and Scarburgh. Mary and her husband Robert Snead had conveyed Mary’s part to John Snead who then conveyed 1/4 to George Booth who conveyed 150 acres to Severn Guthrey. George then sold him an additional 50 acres (Accomack Patents A78)
1762 – Severn and Frances Guthrey sold 200 acres from the above land purchased from George Booth to Abner Burton.
1762 – Severn Guthrey & Smith Bunting provided securities for Charles Snead who was granted administration of the estate of Thomas Webb.t
1767 – Built the New Church – 86 by 40 feet brick – designated as the parish church for St. George’s Parish.
1768 – Time of the ‘profane oaths’. Severn and numerous others were called into court and charged with verbalizing profane oaths.
1769 – Severn and Attalanta Guthreidge sold 445 acres to Thomas Parramore (Accomack Patent Map A42)
1770 – Judith Welch, indentured servant to Severn Guthridge, delivered a bastard child within the time of her service. As compensation for the loss 1yr was added to her term of indenture unless, according to law, she was to pay 1000L of Tobacco.
1772 – Severn and Attalanta Gutteridge sold lots to James Scott and Edward Ker adjacent to the old prison (Northampton Patent Map N91)
1777 – Death of Severn Guthrie – His will directed that his land west of the Courthouse Branch was to be sold to pay his debts, and that the remainder was to go to his wife Attalanta for life and then to their infant son Littleton. George Corbin was appointed as Littleton’s guardian.
1808 – It is unknown whether Littleton Guttridge survived his mother Attalanta, but he died without heirs and the land passed to his sisters. The property was 172 acres, and purchased by John Wise and Thomas M Bayly who divided it into two major parts, plus a small triangle which was once the Guttridge home, as daughter Sarah was to retain it as long as she lived.

Despite the fact that it appears Severn Guthrie’s lineage probably ended with Littleton Guthrie, there are other men found with the name Severn Guthrie. One man is listed as the Head of Household in 1800 Mattapony Hundred, Worcester, Maryland. He apparently had a son of the same name who married Sarah Rowley in Worcester County, MD on 30 Jan 1808, and they were in the 1810 census there. So this line of Guthries could potentially be related in some way to Severn Guthrie of Accomack.

GUTHRIES in CHARLES CITY SHIRE

THOMAS GUTHRIE 1711-1786 (GFG8) & MARY CASON
Thomas Guthrie was a resident of Halifax County, Virginia during the latter half of the 18th century. I do not know the source of his birth and death dates. His parents’ identities remain unknown. Thomas and his wife Mary Cason are the earliest couple represented by several lineages in GFG8. All may descend from their direct line.

1768 – Thomas Guthrie beckoned by the court to work on the roads with Jacob Miller as the surveyor. (Halifax)
1777 – In the deeds of Halifax County, Thomas Guthrey bought 1/4 section (160 acres) on the Dan River from John Rowe on 16 OCT 1777. This land was described as adjoining lands of Thomas Caison, who would have been Thomas’s brother-in-law. (Halifax)
1782 – Personal Property Taxes – Guthrey, Thomas: Tithes – 1, Negroes – 0, Horses – 2, Mules – 0, Cattle – 6 (Halifax)
1782 – Heads of Families – Virginia Census of 1782 – Household of Thomas Guthrey: 7 white, 0 black. (Halifax)
1785 – Heads of Families – Thomas Guthrey Household: 7 whites, 3 other buildings (Halifax)
1786 – Personal Property Tax List – Thomas Guthrey is listed as a HOH with Caison Guthrey as a member and of a tithable age. (Halifax)

GUTHRIES in CHARLES RIVER SHIRE / YORK COUNTY

(1643 – Renamed York County)
(1648 – Northumberland formed from York)
(1651 – Lancaster formed from parts of Northumberland and York)
(1651 – Gloucester formed from York)
(1654 – New Kent formed from York > later formed King & Queen)
(1656 – Rappahannock formed from Lancaster)
(1674 – Middlesex formed from Lancaster)
(1702 – King William formed from King & Queen)
(1721 – Hanover County formed from New Kent)

THE CONUNDRUM THAT IS JOHN GUTHRIE
How many John Guthrie men are represented in the timeline below?

1658 – John Guthrey, age 22 or thereabouts (born c1636), gives a deposition (York)
1658 – John Guthrie served on a York County jury twice in 1658. (York)
1660 – Certificate is granted to Mary Ludlow as Adm’x of Col. Thomas Ludlow, dec’d, for 2050 acres land for importation of 41 persons into the colony, vizt; John More, Meredith Penry, John Games, Alice Cooke, Elizabeth Howerd, Roger Day, William Sterman, Robert Wosson, John Roper, John Shugsbrough, Jane Shugsbrough, Archibald Bromley, John Guthrey, Morrice Thomas, William Labor, William Edwards, William Edwards, Jr., Sam Carrington, Thomas Fabian, John Pouse, Anthony Grant, David Jones, Francis Goodman, James Forsith, Thomas Heyward, James Biddlecomb, William Iles, Morris Herbert, Sam Baily, Robert Williams, John Seire, John Davis, Andrew Duding, Richard Green, William Brookin, John Hillisden, John Blacksley, John Pawmer, Mary Taber, Mary Bladen and Anne Smith. (York)
1664 – Capt. Guttrees Account given: (includes) basketts, 3 otter skins, 3 foxes, 46 muskrat skins, 6 voltons. (Old Rappahannock) Deed Book 1656-1664 Part II. p. 329
1669 – Capt. Guttrey being arrested to this court at ye suite of Mr. Sam Partridge for two men servants and not appearing to ans. sde suite. (Lancaster)
1669 – It appearing to this Cort. by sufficient Oath that John Guttrey stands indebted unto Benoni Biship for 48 gall of tarr at 10 lb. p. gall It is ordered that ye same bee forthwith paide with costs. (Lancaster)
1674 -Thomas Loe, planter, to John Gutteridge & Nicholas Paine, planters. 500-600 acres patented by Loe dated 9 Apr 1674. (Middlesex)
1676 -William Edward, servt to David Allison x6 yrs, former Cabin Boy of Capt Guttery x7years who brought him to this country, sues for his freedom & granted. (Middlesex)
1683 – CCP Register: Henry Guthridge ye sone of John and Rebe. Guthridge baptiz. 5 of August. (Middlesex)
1685 – Deed bet Henery Davis and James Ingrham for 100a in Middlesex lists John Gufferidge and Nicholas Paine as Neighbors. (Middlesex)
1686 – CCP Register: “John Guthry & Elizth Basket both of this parish was marryed 6th ffeb. 1686.” Identifies him as “John Guttery of Scotland”. (Middlesex)
1687 – CCP Register: Ann Guttrey ye daughr. of Jno. and Eliza. Guttrey was baptz. 16th of Octob. 1687. (Middlesex)
1687 – John Gutteridge listed as one of men thought capable by the court to serve as footmen and to find themselves armes. (Middlesex)
1689 – CCP Register: John ye Sone of John & Eliza. Guthrey baptz. 28th July 1689. (Middlesex)
1691 – Land Grant issued to John Guthry for transportation of others into colony, 200 A in Gloucester County on S. side of King’s Creek, near the Poropotank (James City General Court of 20 Oct 1690) formerly granted Humphrey Dennis 1674 – VA State Land Office Patent Book 8, p.158. (Gloucester)
1691 – CCP Register: Richard the Sone of Jno. & Eliza. Guttrey was baptiz. the 3d of Aprill 1691. (Middlesex)
1692 – CCP Register: Masey the Sone of Jno. and Eliza. Guthery was baptz. 4th of Septemb. 1692. (Middlesex)
1700 – Virginia Colonial Records – 3 Feb 1700 – WB A p55: Inventory of Estate of Richard Willis, Gent. Debts owed include debt to John Gootery. (Middlesex)
1701/2 – CCP Register: Mary the Daughter of Jno. & Elizabeth Guthery baptiz. 23th of January 1701/2 (Middlesex)
1704 – Court Order – 5 Jun 1704 – Sheriff to summon the Surveyor of the Upper Precincts, John Gutteridge, to answer to the Grand Jury’s presentment against him. (Middlesex)
1706 – Death of John Guthrie [Sr] (Middlesex)
1714 – Patent issued to John Guthrie of King & Queen for transportation of others into colony, 277 acres, which includes the other half of the original patent by Humphrey Dennis, now described as being in Stratton Major Parish, King & Queen County on the SW side of King’s Creek. (King & Queen)
1733 – Death of John Guthrie [Jr] on 24 Oct 1733 (Middlesex)
1761 – Will Written 17 Oct 1761 – Death of John Guthrie (King & Queen)

Were there 4, 5, or 6 John Guthries?
1) John Guthrie, 22, gave a deposition in 1658 (York)
2) John Guthrey transported by Mary Ludlow about 1660 (York)
3) Captain John Guthrie in Rappahannock and Lancaster – 1664/1669/1676
4) John Guthrie Sr of Gloucester/King & Queen (King’s Creek) -1691
5) John Guthrie Jr died 1761 (King & Queen)
6) John Guthridge with wife Rebecca (MNU) had son Henry Guthridge in Christ Church Parish in 1683. (Middlesex)
7) John Guthrie Sr b. SCT m. Elizabeth Baskett in 1686 /d.1706 (Middlesex)
8) John Guthrie Jr born in Christ Church Parish 1689 (Middlesex)

When you examine the details of these records and look for more clues outside the regularly published genealogy books, such as the Privy Council Records of Scotland, it is possible to gain a better perspective on who these men were, when and how they came to Virginia, and where they ended up.

Charles River Shire had been renamed York in 1643. Northumberland was created in 1648, and Gloucester and Lancaster in 1651, and New Kent in 1654. The remaining portion of York was on the south side of the York River directly across from Gloucester County.

John Guthrey, aged 22 in 1658, provided a deposition to the York, VA Court. It is possible that he is the same John Guthry who was transported to the colonies along with 40 others by Col. Thomas Ludlow and his wife Mary Ludlow, who was granted 2050 acres in 1660. (York, VA)

Could he also be the same John Guthrie who, 31 years later, received his own patent for 200 acres of land in Gloucester county on the south side of King’s Creek near Poropotank previously granted to Humphrey Davis who had deserted the property? The Poropotank River became the boundary line between Gloucester and King & Queen County upon its formation in 1691.

This John Guthrie is reportedly the ancestor of Henry Pigg Guthrie, who wrote about the traditional origins of his ancestors in an 1867 letter to his daughter. HPG claims his Guthrie family is of English origin. The family story reveals that John lived to be 110 years old, an age that seems unlikely, but technically could work within the time frame of what we know or can estimate we know about his life and family.

If John Guthrie of York, born in 1636, did indeed live until he was 110 years old, his death would have occurred about 1746.

John Guthrie of Kings Creek also had a son of the same name, according to the documents associated with that property. He died in 1761 leaving a will which named his sons. The family is documented in a case by the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Sometime after 1861, King’s Creek was renamed. It appears in modern maps as Guthrie Creek.

Middlesex County is on the northern shore of the middle peninsula on the Rappahannock River. To the south is the Piankatank River, which creates the border between Middlesex and King & Queen Counties.

Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, Virginia is home to a second John Guthrie with an early foothold in the colony. The earliest record is his Virginia marriage to wife Elizabeth Baskett in 1686. This couple definitely had a son named John Guthrie according to the Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County records. Let’s refer to them as Sr and Jr for differentiation. (GFG1A)

There is no established birth date for John Guthrie Sr in the records. The CCP records indicate that he was born in Scotland, but not when he arrived in the colony.

This 1686 marriage date is the best reference to use for an estimated birth range. If he was no younger than 18 at the time, his DOB would be 1668. If he was no older than 50, his DOB would be 1638, giving us a range of 1638 – 1668. This is just outside the range for the John Guthrie of York County who gave a deposition in 1658 stating he was 22, which seems to make it unlikely that John of York is the same person as this John Guthrie, Sr. of Middlesex.

John Guthrie Sr of Middlesex and John Guthrie Sr of King’s Creek do not appear to be the same person. The former was already established in Middlesex before the latter obtained land on King’s Creek, and was still in Middlesex after that 1691 date.

It is unclear whether or not he is the same John Guthridge from CCP who with Rebecca (MNU) had son Henry Guthridge born in 1683. Since there is no other man of the same name (or variant) known to be in Christ Church Parish , Middlesex, VA at the time, it is certainly possible that they are one and the same.

The earliest entry that appears to belong to John Guthrie of Middlesex is his Middlesex property purchase on 9 Apr 1674: Thomas Loe, planter, to John Gutteridge & Nicholas Paine, planters. 500-600 acres patented by Loe. John ‘Guffridge’ noted to be a neighbor to Paine in 1685, which is the year before his marriage to Elizabeth Baskett. After their marriage, the family’s entries in the Christ Church Parish records are quite regular.

Next, we have the Old Rappahannock, Lancaster, and Middlesex entries that mention a Captain Guttrey. Is this man either John Guthrie of York or John Guthrie of Middlesex? Probably not. I believe that these entries belong to Capt. John Guthrie, master of the Ewe and Lamb, a ship owned by several merchants in Leith, Scotland, a port town north of Edinburgh. The ship made no less than 5 transatlantic voyages to Virginia & Barbados transporting passengers and convicts.

The records of the Privy Council of Scotland show the warrants (granted in 3-4 month segments) for the Ewe and Lamb to transport vagabonds and sundry unwanted or criminal elements to the colonies. Specific manifests listing the passengers might be found in Port Books, which are not available online. Capt. Guthrie is mentioned by William Edward, his former Cabin Boy. The service to the captain appears to have ended about 1670. The last Virginia entry for pertaining to Captain Guthrie appears to be in 1669. He could be the Captain John Guthrie, whose death is recorded in Brechin, Angus, Scotland records in 1687.

Based on this information, the captain was not a permanent settler, but someone traveling between England and Virginia on more than one occasion during the period between 1663 and 1676 when he shows up in the records. The Ewe and Lamb, from Leith, Scotland, is known to have made trips to Virginia and Barbados in Jan 1667 (VA), 1668 (VA), 1669 (VA), Feb 1670 (VA), May 1672 (VA), Feb 1679 (Barbados), and Aug 1683 (VA).

My take on the records is as follows:
Immigrant #1: John Guthrie of York/King’s Creek, and his son John Guthrie
Immigrant #2: John Guthrie of Middlesex, and his son John Guthrie
Non-Resident: Capt. John Guthrie of the Ewe and Lamb

Being in York for court, and therefore in the York River vicinity, it would make sense that John Guthrie of York (deposition of 1658) would be the same John Guthrie of Kings Creek settling on land off of the York River’s tributary, the Poropotank River. He is the best candidate to be the John Guthrey transported by the Ludlows who received a land grant in 1660 for importing 41 individuals to the colonies. John was likely an indentured servant, and is noted in the deposition to be settling up caske for a tobacco planter. Over the next 30 years, he established himself in Virginia, and took over the land grant of Humphrey Dennis in 1691 located along King’s Creek on the York and Poropotank Rivers.

John Guthrie of Middlesex first appears in the records in 1674 as a new land owner. I think he is very likely to have been twice married. First to Rebecca (MNU) by whom he had son Henry Gutteridge. John Gufferidge is noted to be on the same property as a neighbor to Nicholas Payne only 1 year before John Guthrie married Elizabeth Baskett.

Each of these men had a son by the name of John Guthrie. The King’s Creek son died in 1761 leaving a will, a court case, and a descendant who stated part of the original land was still in the family. The Christ Church Parish son died in 1733 and is found in the records of Middlesex.

Captain John Guthrie appears to show up only periodically, just as you might expect of a man who was going back and forth on a ship between Scotland and Virginia on an annual basis. The captain disappears from the Virginia records at about the same time his former cabin boy indentured himself with a new master. No further documentation on the Ewe and Lamb or its captain has been found after a 1683 voyage to Bermuda. The 1687 death of a Captain John Guthrie in Brechin could potentially be the same man, but there is no obvious evidence within his death records to prove it.

When the captain is removed from the above combined John Guthrie entries, and a closer examination is made of the details and traditional origins of each family, it seems clear (to me at least) that there were two original John Guthrie immigrants, whom I will continue to reference as John Guthrie of York and John Guthrie of Middlesex for differentiation. The former traditionally is an English emigrant and the latter Scottish.

EDWARD GUTHRIE of King & Queen / King William
One of the theorized sons of John Guthrie of Gloucester/King and Queen is Edward Guthrie who owned property along the Mattapony River where Gutteries Ferry was established. This man has been claimed to be father to a number of Guthrie men who are apparently genetically unrelated on their direct paternal lines. Edward Guthrie has been added to trees belonging to the following Guthrie Family Groups: GFG1A, GFG4, and GFG5, which means there are some incorrect theories in circulation, or some significant genetic mismatches caused by adoptions or Non-Paternal Events. If there are historical ties between these families, there is a different genetic story being revealed.

1695 – 21 April – “There was issued to one Edward Guthry, for the importation of twelve persons into the Colony of Virginia, a patent ‘to 600 acres of land in King and Queen County, formerly Gloucester County.'” (Patent Book p.425)
1695 – 25 October – 753 acres situated in K&Q at the mouth of the Mattapony R bounded by main swamp Pepetico Creek, land of Richard Gregory, Mattapony & York Rivers, including all marsh land.
1702 – Gutteries Ferry Established – Edward Guthry was owner of land whereon Gutteries ferry, which crossed the Mattapony & Pamunkey from upper side Mattapony R to Brickhouse below the Pamunkey R. Est by Act of the General Assembly 1702. This land is located in current King William County, formerly King and Queen.
1739 – Death of Edward Guthrie in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, VA
Middlesex County is across the river from Edward Guthrie’s property in King and Queen County, Virginia.

There is no genetic evidence to prove or disprove any theory about Edward because there is no consolidated paper trail or any living participants who can positively trace their ancestry to him. At least none involved in the Guthrie DNA Project.

Theory GFG1A: Is Edward Guthrie related to GFG1A?
There is a trend by early researchers and genealogists to connect everyone with Virginia roots to the Guthrie family of Middlesex. This is in part due to a lack of records from some key counties in the area. Courthouse fires have destroyed a lot of genealogical evidence. Edward has only 1 definitive connection documented in Middlesex– his death. It is possible that Christ Church Parish was the closest community church to his property. However, this is the least likely of the proposed groups for Edward Guthrie’s Virginia relations.

Theory: Is Edward Guthrie the son of John Guthrie of King’s Creek?
Another early option for identifying Edward Guthrie’s family is found on the York River. His estimated birth range between 1655-1675 would certainly work within the time frame for John Guthrie of York / Kings Creek in King and Queen (if indeed the same person). Edward received his patent in King and Queen County.

Theory GFG4: Is Edward the father of Thomas Guthrey of GFG4?
Without documentation, the only way to genetically prove this would be the identification of another Guthrie lineage matching the GFG4 genetic profile with a very likely or proven tie to Edward Guthrie. Based on the location Thomas lived in King William County prior to his move to Cumberland it makes sense. Thomas’ descendants do not match the genetic profile of any other Guthrie family group indicating a possible NPE or adoption at his generation. See Thomas Guthrey (below). A possible circumstance is that Edward Guthrie was the head of the family of which Thomas Guthrey belonged, but that Thomas himself was genetically not his son.

Theory GFG5: Is Edward the father of William Guthrie of GFG5?
This theory comes about because William Guthrie 1722-1798 is inferred to be born in Hanover County, VA, where he married and his son stated he was born. He lived there. The parent county for Hanover was New Kent which was formed from York, which places this man within the same geographic region as Edward. William’s father-in-law, Peter Harris, died in Cumberland County, VA, which is the same place that Thomas Guthrey (above) settled. Genetically, William’s descendants match other lineages within the GFG5 YDNA profile, and so are not related on their direct paternal line to Thomas Guthrey. William Guthrie and his wife Eleanor Harris Abbott are the earliest identified couple from GFG5. It is entirely possible that Edward Guthrie’s genetic origins match GFG5 as it appears to be a more expansive group than Thomas’ GFG4 above.

Another Theory: Is Edward the brother or father of Daniel Guthrie?
There is a 1702 General Assembly entry mentioning a Daniell Guthry who was accused of stopping Jane King’s ferry boat from landing passengers on the north side of the York River, presumably close to where Gutteries Ferry was established that year. King lived at Brickhouse, and Gutteries Ferry crossed the Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers from the upper side of the Mattapony to Brickhouse below the Pamunkey River. This puts Daniel Guthrie at the exact place and time to be a relative to Edward Guthrie.
One genetic clue may help us bust through the brick wall for this line. GFG5 matches James C Guthrie of Carteret County, NC who married Caroline Guthrie of Carteret County, NC. These Carteret lineages are theorized to trace back to Daniel Guthrie & Mary Little. We need some YDNA from the Carteret families to sort it all out because their Guthrie and other family lineages are so interrelated to one another that Autosomal DNA muddies the genetic picture.

GUTHRIES in ELIZABETH CITY

None found 1600s-1700s

GUTHRIES in HENRICO SHIRE

THOMAS GUTHREY c1717-1800 (GFG4) & SARAH OAKES
This man’s DOB appears to be an estimate. I have not seen a document with his birthdate or age listed. Thomas Guthrey’s father’s identity is unknown, but he is theorized to be the son of Edward Guthrie of King & Queen and King William. The 1750 property lease made in 1750 by Thomas Guthrey for 400 acres in Cumberland County Virginia (formed from Goochland in 1749, created from Henrico in 1728) identified Thomas Guthrey as being from King William County.

Genetically, Thomas Guthrey’s descendants do not match any of the other established Guthrie Family Groups. This could indicate that he was the result of a non-paternal event or an adoption. There is another possibility. Since his proposed father Edward Guthrie is theorized to descend from the John Guthrie who immigrated from England, unlike the group that settled in Middlesex, it is possible that the Y-DNA for GFG4 is simply unique to that specific line. There is 1 participant from GFG4 whose ancestry cannot be directly traced back to Thomas Guthrey. His furthest proven ancestor could easily be Thomas’ grandson, but he might come from a related line. This is important because finding other men who match GFG4 who do not descend from Thomas Guthrey would establish that the family line is not simply a genetic mismatch, but a more expansive Guthrie family.

1750 – On 20 Feb 1750 – Thos. Harvey and Elizabeth his wife of Cumberland Co, in Southam Parish, planter, for 5shillings, lease unto Thomas Guttery, of King Wm Co, in St John parish, planter, a tract in Cumberland Co Southam parish, containing 400acres. Deeds: Liber 1 Folio 292. (Cumberland)
1750 – For 100 pounds current money of Virginia, Thomas Guttery, purchased the 400 acres on Pidy branch which he had leased on the 20 Feb 1750. Deeds, Liber 1, folio 289. (Cumberland)
1751 – Later acquired a 260 acre plantation on “Flint Hill”, on a branch of the Willis River in Cumberland County. (Cumberland)
1759 – James Brown conveys by deed 86 acres on Pidy Creek to Thos. Guttey on 27 Aug 1759. Deeds, liber 2, folio 519. (Cumberland)
1766 – Robert Kent and wife Mary for 100 pounds sells to Thos Guttery a tract on both sides of Pidy Creek of Willis River containing 260 acres. 21 Jul 1766. Deeds, liber 4, folio 86. (Cumberland)
1766 – Thos. Guttrey sells to James Southall of James City Co. VA for 225 pods, 2 tracts of adj land on North fork of Pidy Creek of Willis river, 3000 acres, part of tract surveys to Daniel Terry 10 june 1737, whereon Thos Guttery now lives, and add’l 86 acres. (Cumberland)
1790 – Will Recorded in 6 Oct 1790 (Cumberland)
1800 – Will Proven 22 Sep 1800. Executors: Robert Anderson, Samuel Anderson and Alexander Guthrey Sr. (Cumberland)

GUTHRIES in JAMES CITY / SURRY

HENRY L GUTHRIE (1790-1833)
Parents unidentified. Henry L Guthrie married Sally E Smith on 2 Dec 1815 in Surry County, Virginia. A manufacturer of some sort, Henry was also a slave owner. He died May 1833 in Surry County, Virginia. It appears that Henry married a second time on 27 Feb 1819 to Mary Scammell, and a third time on 4 Dec 1827 to Willey T Adams. A Henry L Guthrie served during the War of 1812 in the 4th Regiment Artillery, Virginia Militia, first as a Private and attained the rank of Sergeant. This family is enumerated in Surry during the 1820 and 1830 censuses.

1820: Henry L Guthrie Household
1M 16 thru 25
2F under 10
1F 10 thru 15
1F 16 thru 25
1F 26 thru 44
1F 45 and over
4 Slaves: 1M 14-25, 1M 45andOver, 1F under 14, 1F 14-25
2 Persons in Agriculture (Likely the slaves)
1 Person in Manufactures (Likely Henry L Guthrie)

1830: Henry L Guthrey Household
1M under 5
2M 5 thru 9
1M 40 thru 49
1F under 5
2F 10 thru 14
1F 30 thru 39
1F 70 thru 79
5 Slaves: 1M 10-23, 1M 24-35, 1M 36-54, 1M 55-99, 1F 36-54

GUTHRIES in Warrosquyoake / ISLE OF WIGHT

Is this a Gutteridge/Gutheridge family or a Goodrich family? There seems to be some doubt as to whether these Isle of Wight settlers have a connection to the Guthrie surname at all. Gutteridge and Gutheridge are generally considered to be English variants of the Guthrie surname. The early Virginia records use some spin on the Gutteridge name, including the rare use of Goodrich. This particular family were Loyalists during the time of Bacon’s Rebellion and later in Lord Dunsmore’s War. They signed a petition to ensure that the powers that be knew they took no part in sending the King a list of grievances. Afterward, their use of the name Gutteridge/ Gutheridge ended as they apparently disassociated themselves with their Scottish born neighbors. They seem to have taken up the name Goodrich to anglicize it, although a sketch on their family claims that it was their original surname.

TIMELINE:
1651 – Christopher (C) Lewis sold to John Gutridge parcel of land bordering upon Francis England, east side of swamp. 5 Dec 1651. teste, Richard Egleston, James Jakins.
1654 – John Gutteridge 350 acres, 23 Mar 1654, adj Mr Flintons land. Granted to Henry Hurd 11 Nov 1642 and assigned by Water Hurd to Gutteridge.
1662 – Wm Lewer, 350 acres 18 Mar 1662. Bounding from Mr Flintons land granted to John Gutteridge 23 Mar 1654 and by him assigned to Peter Pagby who assigned to Lewer.
1676/7 – A petition of 26 Grievances of the People of Isle of Wight County were brought to the burgesses for their review and returned to his Majesty’s commissioners. In reply to the grievances, citizens of Isle of Wight who had been loyal to Governor Berkeley wrote to indicate that they, the petitioners, were not privy to the Grievances of the People to disassociate themselves from the responsible parties. The signatories included John Guuteridge, John Guttrige Jr, George Gutheridge who signed the petition as loyalists.
1670 – John Gulderidge, Sept 15, 1670, 200 acres escheat land formerly granted to John Stile, dec.
1676: Declaration of the People of Virginia (List of Grievances against Gov. Berkeley)
1676/1677: Bacon’s Rebellion
1680 – Captain John Gutteridge is listed as a county militia officer
1689 – Deposition of a John Goodrich, aged 37 in 1698 (born in 1652)
1690 – John Gulderidge, 15 Sep 1670, 200 acres escheat land formerly granted to John Stile, dec.
1692 – Death of John Guttridge
1695 – John Guttridge Sr appears to have died by this date. His widow, Anne, married Capt. Robert Kae, who is also listed in a number of entries with him. Anne and Robert had at least 1 son, also named Robert Kae. She later married a 3rd time to George Riddick.
1695 – John Jr was a Burgess in 1695, but died before the 2nd session of the assembly in 1696. His will mentions brother Robert Kae. He names sons George and John.
1697 – Deposition of a John Goodrich, aged 80 (born 1617), is probably the one who died in 1698
1698 – Death of John Goodrich Sr who is listed as the son of John Goodrich Jr. Names son Charles, and John, son of his wife Rebecca. [[WM & Mary Quarterly: “Will of John Goodrich, Sr., X his sign:  Sons Charles, John, whom he desired “my sd wife to put to schoole as soone as he shall be capable”; grandson John Goodrich son of Capt. John Goodrich, wife Rebeccah.  Dated 20 Aug., 1695; proved 9 June, 1698.]]
1724 – The Vestry Book (1724-1772) images show the spelling John Goodrich by this date.
1746 – Death of John Goodrich will dated 1746 had a son John born 1722. Won to the Loyalist side by Governor Lord Dunmore, his property sequestered and he, with several sons, went to England. (See family memorial in Devon, England)
[SOURCE: Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia]
[READING: Sprinkle, John Harold Jr., “Loyalists and Baconians: the participants in Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia, 1676-1677” (1992). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539623817.

GUTHRIES in WARWICK RIVER / WARWICK COUNTY

None found 1600s-1700s