The Family Focus is on . . .
Thomas Yoner Guthrie (1803 TN – bef. 1880AL),
Elizabeth Luttrell and Emeline Markham
of Tennessee and Madison County, Alabama, USA

ORIGIN THEORIES

Guthrie descendants are fortunate to have a few published resources gathering family legends about our earliest ancestors into an easily accessible form. Some provide verifiable facts, while others stem from the tales formed from foggy memories of earlier generations. Those stories are often rooted in truth providing a starting point for family research. Other don’t have a book conveniently waiting on the shelf to reveal their history. They have to dig for every clue while checking out nooks and crannies of other lineages hoping to find a connecting point where their ancestors belong.

Thomas Yoner Guthrie is the progenitor of a farming family from the American South who resided in Tennessee and Alabama during the 1800s. His parents are unidentified, his birthplace uncertain, marriages and early family life relatively undocumented. There does not appear to be a published historical account of his ancestry or any major digital footprints leading back to the previous generations. Any descendants out there clinging to family legends or old documents about Thomas Yoner Guthrie and his family, please consider sharing them with the Guthrie Genealogy community. Cousins need your insights and input.

Determining Thomas Yoner Guthrie’s identity is also a challenge. Even his middle name goes unverified being an amalgamation of data rather than coming from a known ancestral source. “Thomas Y.” and “T. Y.” on various records corroborate the middle initial as “Y”, but he is also listed as “Woner” during one census year. These now appear as “Yoner” in family trees, and he is listed here by the name Thomas Yoner Guthrie to distinguish him from the remainder of Thomas Guthrie men. Yoner and Yohner are legitimate surnames, so there may be a family member, friend, or public figure with that name to serve as a clue.

Due to the lack of records connecting Thomas Y. Guthrie back to his parents and to early residences, Y-DNA (direct paternal line) testing is vital for the identification of his family origins. Any descendants with a male Guthrie in the family should consider getting together to sponsor a test for this line. More participation from all descendants with Autosomal DNA tests is also recommended for comparison of your Guthrie matches because there is no clear picture at this point in time as to Thomas’ family origins.

There does appear to be a theory that Thomas Yoner Guthrie descends from one of the Guthrie families found in the area of Abbeville County, South Carolina. The given name Thomas is utilized by those families, and some of their descendant lineages also migrated to Tennessee. Is that a clue, or just coincidence? There are no known documents connecting Thomas Yoner Guthrie to Abbeville, South Carolina or the families in that region.

Guthrie Family Group 9 with progenitors Thomas Guthrie and Jean Duncan, and Guthrie Family Group 13 whose progenitors are Robert Guthrie and Jane Norwood are the two groups under consideration by those tree owners. Any verifiable connection to one of these groups requires Y-DNA testing, or the discovery of documentation to link Thomas Yoner Guthrie to one of those families. Be aware that these two groups are genetically unrelated on their Guthrie lines. Both may (or may not) have Norwood connections.

Note that many online trees have already attached Thomas to one or both families. (Tag theoretical connections as ‘unverified’ or ‘theoretical’.) Pursuing the possibility of a relationship with one of these families is important, but do so with the knowledge that it is not a verified connection. Family Trees for Groups 9 and 13 often suffer from copy/paste convenience resulting in many identification errors and mixed/matched/merged individuals.

While considering either Group 9 or Group 13, don’t forget to pursue other potential leads. They are certainly not the only Guthrie families in with possible Tennessee or Alabama connections, nor the only ones to name a son Thomas.

At this point, there are limited records discovered that identify Thomas’ two wives and children. Finding more on his origins requires an attempt at tracing Thomas’ early life prior to settlement in Madison County, Alabama. The 1850 and 1860 census both list his birthplace as Tennessee, but in 1870 it is listed as “MISS”, the old state abbreviation for Mississippi. His birth year is also a slightly moving target as in 1850, his estimated DOB is 1799, while the next two censuses estimate 1803. This is significant because it would potentially place him in different age categories in earlier records.

The family ended up in Madison County, Alabama, which was formed in 1808 by the governor of the Mississippi territory naming it after President James Madison. To raise money for its development, the U.S. government almost immediately ordered land sales in the northern part of Alabama Territory. It shares its northern border with Lincoln and Franklin Counties, Tennessee.

1820 Franklin TN: James Guthrie – Unidentified farmer of 45+ years. 15 household members. He is not in the county in 1830. No Guthrie households are listed there in 1830 or 1840.
1830 Lincoln TN: John Guthrie/Guthrey (1771VA-p.1850T) – Ungrouped Family. + Reuben Guthrie household (son of John). The 1840 census includes household of Sampson Guthrie (son of John).
1830 Covington MS: Francis Guthrie/Catherine Weems Household – Ungrouped Family headed by 30-39 year old parents with 7 children including 3 sons. Younger sons remain unidentified.

Additional genetic clues from Autosomal and Y-DNA testing could help direct your family research. Traditional research efforts should include the exploration of documents found in the counties mentioned above.

MISTAKEN IDENTITIES

Unclear at this point except that he has been linked to two genetically unrelated families. He may be related to one of them, or neither. Trees not only connect Thomas Yoner Guthrie to the families, but some have merged the names of individuals to create a single person instead of two. Browse cautiously!

There are a number of misidentified individuals or records associated with the children. These are listed below.

THE FAMILY
OF
THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE / ELIZABETH LUTTRELL / EMELINE MARKHAM

THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE
Parents: Unidentified
Birth: About. 1803 (possibly as early as 1799 per 1850 census)
Birthplace: Tennessee or Mississippi (unverified)
Occupation: House Carpenter and Farmer
Military Service: Unknown, eligible for the Mexican War or Civil War time periods
Marriage (1st): Elizabeth Luttrell
Marriage (2nd): Emeline Markham
Death: Before 1880 (bet. May 1875 – June 1880)
Death Location: Madison County, Alabama, USA (presumably)
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Madison County, Alabama, USA

ELIZABETH LUTTRELL
Parents: Unidentified
Birth: Unknown (Trees list ‘abt. 1805)
Birthplace: Unknown
Guthrie Children: 5
Death: 1845 – 1849
Death Location: Unidentified county, probably in Tennessee, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Tennessee, USA

EMELINE MARKHAM
Parents: Unverified – Lewis Markham (1803TN-1855TN) and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Senter (m.1830)
Birth: Census Est. 1827 – 1830
Birthplace: Tennessee or Mississippi
Guthrie Children: 8
Death: Aft. 8 Jun 1880
Death Location: Madison County, Alabama, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Madison County, Alabama, USA

GUTHRIE CHILDREN: 13
Y-DNA Project Participants: NONE – Needed to verify Guthrie Family Group origins.
Autosomal DNA Participants: YES

CHILD 1: JOHN B GUTHRIE
1836 TN – aft.1860
Spouse: Marinda K Markham

Thomas Yoner Guthrie’s first wife is given to us as Elizabeth Luttrell. No marriage record or documentation listing her name has been found so far. Sources anyone?

It may be important to note that Marinda K Markham was living in White County, TN during the 1850 census in the home of her father Lewis Markham and stepmother Sarah Nines since that county is one of our targets for research. ”John Guthry” and “Marinda Mackins” (Markum) married on 6 Aug 1853 by a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County, TN, which is a border county across the state line from Madison, AL.

Interestingly, Marinda appears to be the sister of Emeline Markahm (above), according to unverified trees, which makes Emeline both the sister-in-law and stepmother of John B Guthrie. Although Marinda’s family was living White County, TN, the family had connections in Marion County, Alabama, which also gives the Markhams a connection in that location. Potentially the reason that Thomas and Emeline ended up there.

John B Guthrie was listed in the 1850 census of Madison, AL as a 14 year old living with his parents and siblings. During the 1860 census, he and Marinda are listed with their children: Thomas 5, Sarah 4, Lewis 2, and Jackson 3/12, still living in Madison Alabama, with their post office being Hayes Store. Their household is listed next to That of his father, stepmother Emeline, and siblings. Working as a laborer, John’s birth location is given as Tennessee, with a personal estate of $25. This is the last census record listing John.

Southern men who disappear after the 1860 census are highly likely to have died during the Civil War. There are a number of John Guthrie and John B Guthrie military records to sort through, but it is presumed that John B Guthrie died bet. 1860 and 1870, location unknown.

The 1870 census shows Marinda Guthrie and her children: William 13, Andrew 11, George 9, and John 3, living in the same location next door to her father-in-law “Woner Guthrie” and his family. However, the head of her own household is listed as Harvey K Wilder, a 59 year old cooper. Also living there is 70 year old Tempe Wilder who is listed as keeping house while Marinda is listed as 36 and without occupation.

Marinda (Markham) Guthrie married Hezekiah Wilder on 9 Nov 1873 in Madison County, Alabama. She was 41 at the time. Marinda’s youngest son John assumed the Wilder surname suggesting that he was adopted by his stepfather, or was Wilder’s biological son. Wilder died in 1891 leaving Marinda widowed again. She is listed as living in Huntsville, Madison, AL during the 1900 census. She died 27 June 1902 and is buried at Ragsdale Cemetery in Greenfield, Madison, AL.

Guthrie Children: 5 – 6
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Thomas Guthrie 1855AL – aft. 1860 – Not listed with family in 1870, nor found in Madison, AL
2.) Sarah Guthrie 1856AL – aft. 1860 – Not listed with family in 1870, presumed to have died young
3.) William Lewis Guthrie 1856AL – 1914AL farmer (m.1883AL) Susan Evelyn Reed +children
4.) Andrew Jackson Guthrie 1859AL-1937AL blacksmith (m.1887AL) Ida Bell Reid +children
5.) George Washington Guthrie 1861AL-1929AR blacksmith (m.1882AL) Frances E Hammet +children
6.) John Adam (Guthrie) Wilder 1866AL – 1937TX blacksmith (m1.1893AL/divorced) Eddie Lee Smithey +children, (m2.bef.1920) Josephine (MNU)

CHILD 2: WILLIAM A GUTHRIE
1837-39 TN – Aft. 1860
Marital Status: Unknown

William Guthrie is listed as “William A. Guthry” in the 1850 census, aged 13. In 1860, he is listed as 21 and simply identified as “William Guthrie”. Being an adult at the time of the Civil War suggests a high likelihood that he served in it, but evidence is lacking.

Trees misidentify this man as William M Guthrie c1838-1928TN who lived in Huntsville. He was twice married. First to Ida Black and second to Isabella Wright. He was father to George and William Guthrie of Memphis, Sam Guthrie of Nashville, Mrs Mamie Anderson of Chicago, Mrs Ida Brock, Thomas Guthrie, and Clarence (Wright) Guthrie of Alabama. Tennessee Death Records indicate that his parents were John Guthrie and Sallie Gamble.

Guthrie Children: Unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

CHILD 3: GEORGE W GUTHRIE
1839 – Aft. 1850
Marital Status: Unknown

George W Guthry is listed with his family during the 1850 census as a 12 year old. He is no longer listed in the household during the 1860 census. Potentially died young or during the Civil War.

Caution! Some trees link this George W Guthrie as the man who married Frances E Hammett in Madison, AL, but that was his nephew, son of John B Guthrie and Marinda Markham.

Guthrie Children: Unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

CHILD 4: THOMAS JEFFERSON GUTHRIE
1842 TN – aft. 1880
Spouse: Rhoda Ann Campbell

This son is listed with the family during the 1850 census of Madison County, AL as 8 year old Thomas J Guthry. He is not with them 10 years later in 1860.

Alabama voter registration in 1867 lists a Thomas J Guthrie in Election District 38, Precinct 8 of Madison, AL, Oath in Book 4, Page 113. He is indexed near the entry for Thomas Y Guthrie whose Oath is in Book 4, Page 118.

Thomas J Guthrie married Rhoda Ann Campbell on 1 Oct 1876 in Jackson, AL. They were living in Madison, AL during the 1880 census. “T. Jefferson Guthrie” was listed as a 31yr old farm laborer. Some trees incorrectly link this couple to Thomas Jefferson Guthrie (1853KY-1918KY) who was a son of Asa Guthrie and Louisa Jane Turner. Their son married Mary Eliza Brandon and lived in Kentucky the entirety of their marriage.

No trace found for the family after the 1880 census until son Ervin G Guthrie married Della Clemons in Jackson, AL in 1913. Afterward, they show up in the Oklahoma census of 1920. They had 2 daughters. Della and Omie died before the 1930 census.

Guthrie Children: 2
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Sons
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Clara Rosalee ‘Sallie’ Guthrie 1916AL-1996TX (m.) Clifford W Long
2.) Omie Guthrie 1919-bef. 1930

CHILD 5: RICHARD GUTHRIE
1845 TN – aft. 1860
Marital Status: Unknown

Richard Guthrie is the last of the children credited to Thomas’ first wife, Elizabeth Luttrell. however, he is not listed on the 1850 census with the family. There is a Richard Guthrie, 15 years old, listed in 1860. Was he left off the earlier census by mistake, or come back into the family? Perhaps Thomas had sent his infant son to relatives after Elizabeth’s death, and he returned once the second marriage to Emeline stabilized the family.

Once again, this son also disappears from the census records after 1860.

Guthrie Children: Unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

CHILD 6: VIRGINIA ANN GUTHRIE
1850 AL – Aft. 1880
Spouse: James S Bonds

Listed as “Jenny A Guthry” on the 1850 census, Virginia Ann Guthrie was born in October or November of 1850. She was listed as 1/12 years at the time the census was taken on 3 December 1850. The 1860 census lists her by her middle name Ann, aged 10. Eight years later she married James S Bonds on 25 May 1869 in Madison, AL. They had several children born in Madison County, Alabama between 1869 and 1880. The family is found on the census records in Madison County through 1880.

The 20-year gap between the 1880 and 1900 censuses provides a long stretch of time where little is documented. Both James and Jenny seem to have disappeared from the census records. During the 1890s, the family appears to have been living in Arkansas. By 1900 the children have all relocated to Fannin County, Texas and are either living in the same household or nearby. Some continued west to California.

Trees list Jenny’s death as 27 Feb 1832 in Jacksonville, Calhoun, Alabama, but this date is associated with the record of an Anna Bonds (10 Jan 1851 – 27 Feb 1832) died single, 81 years old, parents: William Bonds and Susan Hollingsworth. This DOD does not belong to Virginia Ann Guthrie Bonds.

Bonds Children: 6
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: Yes

1.) Mary E Bonds 1870AL-1901TX (m1.1887AL) John Wesley Griffin +children; (m2.1900TX) Clem Wesley Luster
2.) Edward Zack Bonds 1873AL-1953CA farmer (m.1901TX) Pearl Teleda Luster +children
3.) Thomas Jefferson Bonds 1873AL-1941OK farmer (m1.1900TX) Rebecca Luster +children; (m2.1909AR) Mary M. Townsend +children
4.) Sarah Laura A Bonds 1876AL-1905TX (m.1894AR) William Albert Lester Crawford +children
5.) Ernest Bonds 1878AL – Aft.1880 – probably died young
6.) Rachel Louella Bonds 1880AL-1963CA (m1.1901TX) Summit Riddle Bell ‘Linn’ Crawford +children; (m2.1950) Thomas M Watson

CHILD 7: ELIZA GUTHRIE
1852 – Bef. 1880
Spouse: John T Owen

Eliza Guthrie was born about 1852. She was listed on the 1860 and 1870 censuses of Madison County, AL with her parents and siblings. She married at 22 years of age to John T Owen. There is an Eliza Owens, born about 1850, living in Jackson, AL in 1880 who is the only member of her household. She is listed as married rather than widowed. Random trees list her death before 1880 with John remarrying once or twice, but there is no definite connection to this couple.

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

CHILD 8:  JAMES ‘MATTHEW’ GUTHRIE
1854 AL – 1930 AL
Spouse: Alabama Sharp

James Matthew Guthrie was born about 1854 in Madison County, Alabama. He is listed with the family as “Mathew” aged 6 in 1860 and as “James” in 1870 when he was 15. He married Alabama Sharp, a daughter of Aaron and Lavinia (Tipton) Sharp, on 14 July 1876. The marriage record lists him as “James M Guthrie”.

Matthew worked as a farm laborer. The 1880 census lists his father’s birth location as Georgia. His wife is listed as Eliza. They had seven children, only four of whom have been identified. The others likely died at birth or early childhood. Matthew died sometime after their youngest daughter was conceived about 1887, but definitely prior to the 1900 census when his wife Alabama is listed as a widow. Some trees list a DOD in the 1930s in Limestone, AL, but that appears to be an error.

In 1900, widowed “Bam Guthrie” is the head of the household. She is listed as having 7 children born with 3 then living, Frank, Joseph, and Emma. Her father Aaron, also a widower, is also living with them, although the Sharp surname is not listed, so he is mistakenly transcribed in the record as Guthrie rather than Sharp.

Alabama Guthrie died in Gurley, Madison, Alabama on 23 Sep 1911 at the age of 54.

Guthrie Children: 7
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Emma Guthrie 1879AL – abt. 1885 – Died in childhood
2.) Thomas Frank Guthrie 1882AL – 1966AL farmer (m.1908AL) Savannah Winkles +children
3.) Joseph Aaron Guthrie 1885AL – 1933AL (m.1911AL) Lena Melton Simmons +children
4.) Emma Cordelia Guthrie 1887Al – 1972NC (m1.1902) William Armstrong +child; (m2.1920) Samuel Secrest
5.) Unidentified Child – unknown birth/death year – unknown birth order
6.) Unidentified Child – unknown birth/death year – unknown birth order
7.) Unidentified Child – unknown birth/death year – unknown birth order

CHILD 9: BYRON GUTHRIE
1856 AL – bef. 1880
Spouse: Mary Alice Markham

Trees list this son as “John Byron Guthrie”, but he is identified in the 1860 and 1870 census records only as Byram / Byron. The same trees associate him with a death record for a John B Guthrie in Adairsville, Bartow, GA in 1879, but that John B Guthrie was the unmarried son of Edwin and Drupina Guthrie who lived in Adairsville at that time.

Byram/Byron Guthrie is also associated in trees as having married Mary Alice Markham (1860-1929) and had a daughter Minnie born in 1877. Byron died before 1880.

The 1880 census of Madison, AL lists the household of Emeline Guthrie, which includes her sons Andrew, Wash, and Richard. It also includes a widowed daughter-in-law Mary Guthrie, 21, farm laborer, and step granddaughter Emma, aged 2.

Mary Alice remarried to James Albert “Willie” Anderson about 1885. they had 4 children: Thomas Albert, Rebecca Elizabeth, Maude, and William Edward.

Guthrie Children: 1
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Sons
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Emma ‘Minnie’ Guthrie 1877AL – 1959AL (m.abt.1899) Joe S Marsh +children

CHILD 10: ANDREW JACKSON GUTHRIE aka ‘JACK’
1858 AL – 1943 AL
Spouse 1: Mary Ann Markham
Spouse 2: Alice ‘Allie’ J Vann

Andrew Jackson Guthrie was born 12 Oct 1858 in Madison County, Alabama. He is listed at home on the census in 1860, 1870, and 1880. He married 2 December 1880 to Mary Ann Markham. No known children. Mary Ann presumably died soon afterward.

Jack worked as a farmer and carpenter. He remarried on 7 November 1883 in Madison County, AL to Alice Jane Vann. By 1900 Allie had given birth to 8 children and all remained living at that time. By 1910 she is listed as having 9 children with 9 living.

Allie died on 13 Jul 1925 at 60 years of age after an illness of two weeks complicated by paralysis. Her obituary mentions she was survived by seven daughters and one son. Their eldest daughter had died in 1916. Jack died of pneumonia on 8 Dec 1943. He was 85.

Guthrie Children: 9
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Emma Lou Guthrie – 9 Sep 1884 (“86”) – 28 Mar 1916 – died @ 30 yrs old – unmarried.
2.) William Edward Guthrie – 1884AL – 1953AL (m.1910TN) Martha Sue Sutton +children
3.) Annie Sherrill Guthrie 1885AL-1964AL (m.1907AL) Aster Augustus Luna farm operator +children
4.) Mary E Guthrie 1888AL – 1977MI (m.1918AL/div.) Dock Towery +child
5.) Phoebe Guthrie 1892Al-1933AL (m.1926TN) Henry Ellis -no known children
6.) Sarah Jane Guthrie 1894AL-1957AL (m.1920AL) James L Blanton +child
7.) Margaret Guthrie 1894AL – 1953AL (m.1915AL) Thomas Emmett Ledbetter +children
8.) Tommie Fannie Guthrie 1899 (“1901”)AL – 1959IN (m1.1918AL) Ed Johnson +child; (m2.1925) Ernest Higgins; (m3.1939AL) J E Warden; (m4.1948IN) Jesse McPherson
9.) Ethel May Guthrie 1903AL-1982AL (m.1925) James William Sharpe +child

CHILD 11: HENRY GUTHRIE
1860 – Bef. 1880
Marital Status: Presumably unmarried / died young

Born about 1860 after that year’s census return, this son does not appear in those records until 1870, listed as Henry Guthrie, aged 10. By the time of the 1880 census, his father Thomas Yoner Guthrie had died and Emeline (Markham) Guthrie was the Head of Household. The name Henry is not listed.

Once again there is some confusion about a child’s identity. This is not “Jim Henry Guthrie” who lived in Giles, TN and Limestone, AL. Another Guthrie family resides in that area. That line does have Y-DNA testing and is a match to GFG2E.

Guthrie Children: N/A – died young
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

CHILD 12: ROBERT HALL GUTHRIE
1862 AL – 1929 AL
Spouse: Sarah Caroline Nayman

Robert is listed with his parents and siblings in the 1870 census of Madison, AL indicating he was born about 1862. The new census lists no Robert Guthrie, but there is a Richard Guthrie listed, who is 2 years younger than brother “Wash” born about 1863. The Find-a-Grave site lists “Robert H Guthery” with a DOB of 29 Jun 1865, which corroborates the year listed for Richard, presumably the name being an original transcription error.

At 27 years of age, Robert Hall Guthrie married Sarah Caroline Hayman on 31 Jan 1889 in Madison County, AL. They had 4 sons and 4 daughters. Robert was a farmer. He died on 1 Mar 1929. Sarah survived him by 11 years. She died 28 Jul 1940.

Guthrie Children: 8
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

1.) Nancy Viola Guthrie 1893AL-1950AL (m.1913AL) William Henry Tipton +children
2.) Claudia Dean Guthrie 1895AL – 1940AL (m.1925AL) Marion ‘Thomas’ Potts -no children
3.) Ruby C Guthrie 1897AL – 1987AL (m.1917AL) John Henry Franklin +children
4.) Thomas Franklin Guthrie 1899AL-1965AL (m.1927AL) Cynthia Jane Allen +children
5.) James Wade Guthrie 1902AL-1903AL – died in his infancy
6.) John Wesley Guthrie 1904AL-1984AL (m.1925AL) Virginia Beatrice Potts +children
7.) Bob Guthrie 1906AL-1966AL – unmarried
8.) Emma Sue Guthrie 1910AL-2001AL (m.1934AL) Wheeler Howard Campbell +children

CHILD 13: WASHINGTON GUTHRIE
1863 – Aft. 1880
Spouse/Marital Status: Unverified

“Wash” should not be confused with his older half-brother, George W Guthrie, for whom he was potentially named. nor his cousin George W Guthrie who married Frances Hammett.

There is a George W Guthrie, born about July 1862, listed in the Denton, TX census who was born in Alabama. Married to a Missouri Guice. According to Find-a-Grave, he was born in Madison, AL. More clues may be required to confirm a connection.

Guthrie Children: Unverified
Y-DNA Project Participants: None
Autosomal DNA Participants: None

“

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1799 – 1803: EST. BIRTH of THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE
Census-based dates. His own census records list his birthplace as Tennessee, Alabama, or Mississippi. Locations listed in his children’s census records for their father’s birthplace include Georgia and South Carolina.

There are multiple Guthrie Family Groups living in these regions or moving to them around this time period.

1805: EST. BIRTH of ELIZABETH LUTTRELL
No original documentation found listing her name, age, or birthplace. Source info currently comes only from online trees.

1810: US FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS
At this point in time, Thomas Y. Guthrie would be a minor most likely living within his parents’ household.

Surviving records include census schedules for Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee (Rutherford County only), Vermont, and Virginia. 

There are no schedules for the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois Territory, Indiana Territory, Michigan Territory, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, and most of Tennessee. 

1820: US FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS

By 1820, Thomas Y. Guthrie would be about 17 – 21 years of age. Potentially still living at home with his parents, or pursuing work outside the home. He was probably too young to be involved in the War of 1812. Battle years were 1812-1815.

1830: US FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS

By 1830, Thomas Y. Guthrie is already about 27 – 31 years of age. Well within the time period men of this era were already married with a family. Since we don’t have the date of his first marriage, nor any documentation on the identity of his children prior to those named in the 1850 census, it is possible that he was already married and had a young family during this time period. He could also still be a bachelor working on the home farm or as a migrant worker.

There are 21 Thomas Gut* households in 1830, but some are closer to the TN/AL region.
Thomas Guthrie – North of the Road from Louisville to Frankfort, Shelby, KY
– age 50-59, but has sons in right age category (Linked to Thomas Guthrie s/o Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell)
Thomas Guthrie – South of Cumberland River, Cumberland, KY
– age 40-49, none in right age category (Linked to Thomas Guthrie s/o Adam Guthrie/Mary Anderson)
Thomas Gutting – Walker, AL
– age 20-29 (Linked to Thomas Guthrie s/o John Guttery/Mary Rylee, spouse: Elizabeth Cape)
Thomas Gatlers – McMinn, TN
– age 20-29 (Linked to Thomas Guthrey s/o Henry Guthrey/Patience MNU, spouse Catherine Cos)
Thomas Guthrie – Marion, TN
– age 30-39 (Not currently identified/linked, listed near a Samuel Norwood, Isaac Cooper, Mark Hendrin)
Thomas Guthrie – Wilson, TN
– age 20-29 (Linked to Thomas Guthrie s/o William C Guthrie/Obedience Muckleroy, spouse: Nancy Hunt
Thos. Guthrie – King and Queen, VA
– age 40-49 – Linked to Thomas Guthrie of K&Q

1830: EST. BIRTH of EMELINE MARKHAM
Online trees list Emeline as the eldest child of Lewis Markham and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Senter. This couple married on 21 Jan 1830 in Lawrence County, TN. They had 5 other children including Marinda K, Mary, Lucinda, James Russell, and Jane. Peggy died about 1844 after Jane’s birth. Lewis remarried to Sarah Nines on 9 May 1845. At the time they were living in White County, TN. This couple had 4 children: Tabitha, Melvina, Lewis, and Sarah. At no time is Emeline listed in the census records with her father. Her marriage to Thomas Yoner Guthrie apparently occurred prior to 1850.

The 1830 census of Marion County, Alabama includes the household of Lewis Markham:
1M 29-29, 1F 15-19, 2F 5-9, and 2M under 5.
Since there is an established DOM for Lewis Markham and Peggy Senter on 21 Jan 1830, this suggests that he was previously married and had 4 children with that wife. Daughter Emeline, who was est. to be born about 1830 does not appear to be listed on the census. She may have been born in the later months of the year, which also makes sense based on their January DOM.

1835: EST. MARRIAGE of THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE and ELIZABETH LUTTRELL
This date is solely based on the estimated DOB of their eldest known child, John B Guthrie. Since Thomas is estimate to be at least 32 at the time, it is possible that they were married earlier and had older children who were already living outside the household in 1850.

1836: EST. BIRTH of SON: JOHN B GUTHRIE
Born in Tennessee, John B Guthrie is listed in the 1850 census with the family at 14 years of age. He married at 17 years old to Marinda K Markham on 6 August 1853 in Franklin County, TN. Children: Thomas, Sarah, William Lewis, Andrew Jackson, George Washington, and John Adam Wilder.

1838: EST. BIRTH of SON: WILLIAM A GUTHRIE
Born in Tennessee, William was listed in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Madison County, AL. No further details.

1839: EST BIRTH of SON: GEORGE W GUTHRIE
Born in Tennessee, George was listed in the 1850 census with the family in Madison County, AL. No further details.

1840: US FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS

The 1840 census lists 5 Tennessee households for men named Thomas Gut*, but all but one of those are attributed to other known individuals.
Thomas Gutherie in Warren County, TN: This is GFG8 Thomas Guthrie/Mary Russell.
– 1M and 1F 30-39 (1801-1810), 1M 15-19, 1F 10-14, 2M 5-9. (Agriculture)
Thomas Guttery in McMinn County, TN: This is GFG4 Thomas Guthrey/Catherine Cox
– 1M 40-49 (1791-1800), 1F 30-39, 1M 15-19, 1M and 1F 10-14, 1F 5-9, 2F under 5 (Agriculture)
Thomas Gathy in Hamilton County, TN: This is GFG7 Thomas Guthrey/Mary Canterbury
– 1M 50-59 (1781-1790), 2F 40-49, 2M and 1F 20-29, 2M 15-19, 1M and 1F 10-14, 1F 5-9, Slaves: 1, (Agriculture)
Thos. Gathore in Wilson County, TN: Ungrouped. Thomas Guthrie/Nancy Hunt (s/o Wm C Guthrie)
– 1M 40-49 (1791-1800), 1F 30-39, 1M and 1F 10-14, 1M and 1F 5-9, 1F under 5, Slaves: 3 (Agriculture)
Thos. Gattery in DeKalb County, TN: Unidentified
– 1M 40-49 (1791-1800), 1F 30-39, 3M and 1F 5-9, 3M under 5. (Agriculture)

The one unidentified man is in DeKalb County, although he has more children born earlier than those known for Thomas Yoner Guthrie. That family is not found in DeKalb after 1840. Located in Middle Tennessee, the county was formed in 1837 from Cannon, Warren, and White counties.

No Guthrie households found in Cannon County in 1830/1840.
The 1830 census of Warren County, TN lists the Carter Guthrie/Barbara Beal household, which does include an unidentified son born around 1801-1810. Another household there is that of their son Luke Guthrie.
The 1840 census of Warren County, TN (see above), lists the household of Thomas Guthrie and Mary Russell.
The 1830 census of White County, TN lists the household of a Willoughby Guthrie 1F50-59, 1M 30-39, 1M and 1F 20-29.

The 1840 census of White County, TN includes the Lewis Markham household.
1M 40-49, 1F 30-39, 2F 15-19, 2M 10-14, 1F 5-9, 2F under 5
This census is consistent in showing the older children, plus the daughters born in the early years of Lewis and Peggy’s marriage. However, there should be 5 daughters born 1830-1838 and this shows only 3. Possible that Emeline is older and a daughter of a previous marriage, as would be one of the other unmarried daughters listed on the 1850 census with a younger age.

1842: EST. BIRTH of SON: THOMAS JEFFERSON GUTHRIE
Born in Tennessee, Thomas was listed on the 1850 census with the family in Madison County, AL as an 8 year old, but not with them in 1860.

1845: EST BIRTH of SON: RICHARD GUTHRIE
Born in Tennessee, Richard is not listed with the family in 1850, but he is there in 1860.

1845-1849: EST. DEATH of ELIZABETH (LUTTRELL) GUTHRIE
Probably in Tennessee

ABT. 1849: MARRIAGE of THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE and EMELINE MARKHAM
Emeline Markham’s family was living in White County, Tennessee, but she also had family connections in Madison County, Alabama. Marriage date and location unknown, but prior to the 1850 census.

1850: BIRTH of DAUGHTER: VIRGINIA ANN GUTHRIE
The family was recorded for the 1850 census on 3 Dec. 1850 in Madison County, AL at which time their daughter “Jenny A” was listed as 1 month of age. She was listed again in 1860 with the family and married at 18 to James S Bonds on 25 May 1869. They had children: Mary E, Edward Zack, Thomas Jefferson, Sarah Laura, Ernest, and Rachel Louella.

1850: US FEDERAL CENSUS of MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA
Guthry Household – District 35, Madison, Alabama, USA
Thomas Y Guthry 51, male, house carpenter, born: Tennessee
Emaline Guthry 23, female, born Tennessee, cannot read/write
John B Guthry 14, male, born: Tennessee, attended school
William A Guthry 13, male, born: Tennessee, attended school
George W Guthry 12, male, born: Tennessee, attended school
Thomas J Guthry 8, male, born: Tennessee, attended school
Jenny A Guthry 1/12, female, born: Alabama

1852: EST. BIRTH of DAUGHTER: ELIZA GUTHRIE
Eliza was 8 years old during the Madison County, AL 1860 census, and still 17 during the 1870 census. She married at age 23 to John T. Owen.

1854: EST. BIRTH of SON: JAMES MATTHEW GUTHRIE
Born in Madison County, Alabama, Mathew was 6 years old at the time of the 1860 census. He is listed as James during the 1870 census. He married Alabama Sharp on 15 July 1876. Children: Emma, Franklin Thomas, Joseph Aaron, and Emma Cordelia.

1856: EST. BIRTH of SON: BYRON GUTHRIE
Born in Madison County, Alabama, this son was listed in 1860 as Byrum and in 1870 as Byron. He married Mary Alice Markham and they had one daughter Emma who was called Minnie throughout her lifetime.

1858: BIRTH of SON: ANDREW JACKSON GUTHRIE
Known as Jack, this son was born in Madison County, AL on 12 Oct 1858. He was only 2 at the time of the 1860 census, and is listed with his family in 1870 and 1880. He married Mary Ann Markham on 2 December 1880 in Madison County. After her death he remarried to Alice Jane Vann. Their children: William Edward, Emma Lou, Annie Sherrill, Mary E, Phoebe, Margaret, Sarah Jane, Tommie Fannie, and Ethel May.

1860: US FEDERAL CENSUS of MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA
Guthrie Household – District 1 Madison, AL
#84 Dwelling, #84 Family
Jno. B Guthrie – 22, male, laborer, Real Estate (blank), Personal Estate 25, Born TN
Marinda Guthrie – 25, female, born TN
Thos. Guthrie – 5, male, born AL
Sarah Guthrie – 4, female, born AL
Lewis Guthrie – 2, male, born AL
Jackson Guthrie – 1/12, male, born AL

Guthrie Household – District 1, Madison, Alabama
#85 Dwelling, #85 Family
Thos. Y. Guthrie – 57, male, Carpenter, Real Estate (blank), Personal Estate 200, Born: TN, Cannot Read/Write
Emaline Guthrie – 30, female, born: TN, Cannot Read/Write
William Guthrie – 21, male, laborer, born TN
Richard Guthrie – 15, male, laborer, born TN
Ann Guthrie – 10, female, born TN
Eliza Guthrie – 8, female, born TN
Mathew Guthrie – 6, male, born AL
Byram Guthrie – 4, male, born AL
Jackson Guthrie – 2, male, born AL

1860: EST. BIRTH of SON: HENRY GUTHRIE
Born in Alabama about 1860 after the census was taken, Henry was 10 during the 1870 census, but not found afterward.

1862: EST. BIRTH of SON: ROBERT HALL GUTHRIE
Robert was born about 1862 in Madison County, Alabama. He was 8 during the 1870 census. No Robert is listed with the family in 1880, but there is a Richard instead. Presumably a documentation error by the census taker. He married Sarah Caroline Hayman on 31 Jan 1889 in Madison, AL. Children: Nancy Viola, Claudia Dean, Ruby C, Thomas Franklin, James Wade, John Wesley, Bob, and Emma Sue.

1862-1863: EST. BIRTH of SON: WASHINGTON GUTHRIE
Listed as “Wash” in the 1880 census record, this son is presumably fully named George Washington Guthrie, likely after his older brother by the same name, and of course the O.G.

1870: US FEDERAL CENSUS of MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA
#26 Dwelling, #26 Family – Township 2, Range 2, Subdivision 3
Wilder Household
Harvey K Wilder – 59, male, white, Cooper, born TN
Tempe Wilder – 70, female, white, keeping house, born AL
Marinda Guthrie – 36, female, white, without occupation, born MS
William Guthrie – 13, male, white, at home, born AL
Andrew Guthrie – 11, (marked as female), white, at home, born AL
George Guthrie – 8, male, white, born AL
John Guthrie – 3, male, white, born TN

#27 Dwelling, #27 Family – Township 2, Range 2, Subdivision 3
Guthrie Household
Woner Guthrie – 67, male, white, Farmer, Personal Estate 150, born MS
Emeline Guthrie – 40, female, white, born MS
Eliza Guthrie – 17, female, white, at home, born AL
James Guthrie – 15, male, white, at home, born AL
Byron Guthrie – 13, male, white, at home, born AL
(next census page)
Jackson Guthrie – 12, male, white, at home, born AL
Henry Guthrie – 10, male, white, at home AL
Robert Guthrie – 8, male, white, at home, AL

1875: OBTAINED a PROPERTY MORTGAGE – MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA
On 13 May 1875, T.Y. Guthrie and his wife Emeline obtained a mortgage of $450.00 for their 80 acre property in Section 28, Township 2, R2, East, on e lot of land 80 acres in section 24 Township 2, R 2, and one Bay Stallion, yoke of oxen, wagon
Deed Book D – Volume AAA – Page 86 – FHL 008586275 – IMG 49

1875-1880: DEATH of THOMAS YONER GUTHRIE
Thomas died sometime before the 1880 census.

1880: US FEDERAL CENSUS of MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, USA
Guthrie Household – District No. 218, Madison, Alabama – 8 June 1880
#79 Dwelling, #79 Family
Emeline Guthrie, white, female, 54, widowed, Keeping house, Sick: heart, TN/TN/TN
Andrew Guthrie, white, male, 21, son, single, farm laborer, AL/TN/TN
Wash Guthrie, white, male, 17, son, single, farm laborer, AL/TN/TN
Richard Guthrie, white, male, 15, son, single, farm laborer, AL/TN/TN
Mary Guthrie, white, female, 21, daughter-in-law, widowed, farm laborer, AL/AL/AL
Emma Guthrie, white, female, 2, step granddaughter, AL/AL/AL

Guthrie Household – District No. 218, Madison, Alabama< – 8 June 1880
#80 Dwelling, #80 Family
T. Jefferson Guthrie, white, male, 31, married, farm laborer, TN/TN/TN
R. Ann Guthrie, white, female, 25, wife, married, keeping house, AL/AL/AL
Ervin Guthrie, white, male, 3 son, AL/TN/AL
William Guthrie, white, male, 2/12, March, son, AL/TN/AL

AFT. 1880: DEATH of EMELINE (MARKHAM) GUTHRIE
Emeline died sometime after the 1880 census.
Emeline is listed on the 1890 Deed in Volume SSS – Page 462 (See Direct Index), but that volume is not available at the FHL online, so it is uncertain whether she is alive at that time or a deceased individual.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Y-DNA Kits: None

Autosomal DNA Kits:
364845: Thomas Yoner Guthrie/Emeline Markham > Jim Henry Guthrie/Mary M Butler > Joe Dauson Guthrie/Dorrie Gertrude Hames (GGP)

N105961: Thomas Yoner Guthrie/Emeline Markham > Virginia Anne Guthrie/James Bonds > Edward Zack Bonds/Pearl Teleda Luster > Luvernie Bonds/Henry W Johnson (GGP)

READING and RESOURCES

DOCUMENTS: Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985 – Madison County
Probate Record Index, 1819-1916, vol. 2-44 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 71 of 225
Guthrie, Bernard, dec’d, executor final settlement – Book 6 Page 159 – IMG 95 of 717
Guthrey’s heirs, inventory – Book 33, Page 516 – IMG 590 of 845
Guthrey, George W – petition for adoption of child Richard Guthrey – Book 42 Page 573 – IMG 630 of 864

DOCUMENTS: Madison County, AL Deed Records, 1810-1886; indexes to deed records, 1810-1919
Direct Index to Real Property E – G (part), H – M 1810 – 1919 – FHL Film 008121340
– Guthrie (and variant spellings) Index found on IMG 66 of 949
Reverse Index to Real Property E – G (part), H – M 1810 – 1919 – FHL Film 008571406
– Guthrie (and variant spellings) Index found on IMG 17 of 818

Note that there are Guthrie entries in Madison, AL during the 1830s. These are records for Bernard Guthrey, son of Henry Guthrie and Patience (MNU) from GFG4. Henry was the son of Thomas Guthrey and Sarah Oakes of King William and Cumberland Counties, VA.

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