ADAM GUTHRIE born 1714-33PA – died 1798PA & MERCY IRWIN
of Pennsylvania, USA

ADAM GUTHRIE
Parents: Robert Guthrie & Miss (FNU) Darlington (Theory)
Birth: Between 1714-1733
Birth Location: Pennsylvania
Marriage: About 1757 presumably in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Cordwainer, Farmer
Death: 1798 before 6 July
Death Location: Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Seceder Cemetery, near Brandywine Manor, Chester, Pennsylvania
Notes:
The family of Robert Guthrie is one created as the hypothesis of ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ author Lawrence R Guthrie based on his research and correspondence with descendants. It is believed that Robert was married to a Darlington, but there is no documented evidence to prove that connection. The identification of several sons including Adam is also theoretical. Direct paternal line Y-DNA tests conclusively prove that Adam’s line belongs to Guthrie Family Group 2A (GFG2A). Adam Guthrie was born sometime between 1714-1733, these dates calculated from tax records and the census-based age ranges of his eldest children. He is included on a list of men who settled between 1720-40 in the area of East Caln now included in West & East Brandywine, Chester, PA. Tax Records listing him in West Nantmeal as a Freeman begin in 1756. Adam Guthrie married Mercy Irwin about 1755 (definitely by 1759 when they were named as a married couple as heirs of John Irwin). Their children are documented through property records. Mercy died in 1793 and Adam about 1798 (before 6 July). They are believed to be buried at the Forks of the Brandywine Seceder Cemetery (aka Brandywine Manor Secession Church Graveyard, Old Seceder Burying Ground) likely in unmarked graves.

MERCY IRWIN
Parents: George Irwin & Jane Matlack
Birth: 1738
Birth Location: Chester County, Pennsylvania
Death: 1793
Death Location: Honey Brook, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Seceder Cemetery, near Brandywine Manor, Chester, Pennsylvania
Notes:

CHILDREN: 10

WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1756-74PA-aft.1830PA
We don’t have an exact DOB for Adam & Mercy’s son William Guthrie. Census based estimates indicate he was born between 1756-1774 (possibly narrowed to 1761-1770). He married Hannah MNU. They lived in Chester County, PA. There is another William Guthrie living in the county at approximately the same time, so it is unclear which household belongs to this man. Only one child has been positively identified at this point.
1) William Guthrie Jr c1780sPA-p1830PA married Ann Iddings +children

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No

HANNAH GUTHRIE
1756-74PA-Unknown
Hannah was born about 1760, with a census-based birth range being 1756-1774. She married Adam Campbell. In 1781 he paid Chester County, PA property taxes on 94 acres, 1 horse and 2 cattle. They were located in West Caln in 1800, Brandywine in 1810, and still in Chester County in 1820. In that census year it appears to be Adam and his wife that are enumerated. Based on the numbers listed, Adam & Hannah appear to have had at least 1 son and 3 daughters.
1) (Unidentified Son) Campbell born 1785-1790
2) (Unidentified Daughter) Campbell born 1791-1800
3) (Unidentified Daughter) Campbell born 1795-1800
4) (Unidentified Daughter) Campbell born 1801-1810

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendants of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No verifiable descendants

ADAM GUTHRIE
1756-74PA-18??PA or OH
Adam Guthrie was born about 1762. He lived and died on the old family homestead of his father, Adam Guthrie Sr. His marriage to Mary Elton took place at the 2nd Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia on 30 Nov 1792. The Elton family was in residence in Kennett, Chester, PA by 29 Apr 1777 when John & Mary Elton and family, including daughter Mary, were named in the Kennett Meeting House records: Martha, Anthony, John, Bathsheba, William, Susanne, Mary, Samuel, and Joseph. The Eltons were Quakers. Adam Guthrie is later mentioned in the Quaker Meeting Records of the New Garden Monthly Meeting in Chester, PA. Adam and Mary (Elton) Guthrie had 2 known children. According to author LRG, Adam is believed to have died about 1806, presumably in Chester, PA, however the bio of son Robert E Guthrie states that his parents had also lived in OH, which is where he married bet. 1813-15. Adam’s brother Robert was living in Moon, Allegheny, PA during the 1810 & 1820 censuses. There was also an Adam Guthrie household listed for 1810 with 1M & 1F 26-45 (1766-1784) and 2 sons 10-15 (1795-1800) that appears to be a good match for Adam’s family. The fact that they don’t appear on the 1820 Moon census corroborates the story that they may have moved to OH.
1) Robert Elton Guthrie 1795PA-1846IL married Eva Catherine Spawr +children
2) Adam Guthrie c1804PA-1872PA married Phoebe Mercer Jones +children

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: Yes

ROBERT GUTHRIE
1764PA-aft.1850PA
You have to do a little digging through the records to find information on Robert Guthrie. He was born about 1764 in Pennsylvania, presumably in Chester County. Between 1791 and 1799 in Peters Township, Washington, PA, Robert and his wife Margaret (MNU) appeared before James Mitchell JP for the purposes of signing documents associated with the family indenture related to Adam Guthrie’s estate. (Caution: This is not the Robert Guthrie who married Margaret Wilson and 2nd Ruth Wilson.) This Robert Guthrie was living in Washington County in the 1790s, and moved to Allegheny County by 1800 where he was living St Clair with his wife and 2 daughters. In 1810 and 1820 they were located in Moon, Allegheny, PA, and by 1830 had moved to Lackawannock in Mercer County, PA. The 1850 census lists Robert, 86, a farmer, and his wife Margaret, 71 living in Wilmington, Mercer, PA. Only one of their children is believed to have been identified to date, Sarah.
1) (Unidentified Daughter) 1795-1800
2) Sarah Guthrie abt.1802PA-1860-70PA (unverified daughter) married Sathelius Middleton Crail +children
3) (Unidentified Son) 1805-1810
4) (Unidentified Daughter) 1805-1810
5) (Unidentified Son) 1811-1820
6) (Unidentified Son) 1811-1820
7) (Unidentified Daughter) 1811-1820

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No

MARY GUTHRIE
1770PA-1849PA
Mary Guthrie was born on 15 March 1770 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and baptized on 14 April 1770. On 18 October 1791 in West Fallowfield, Chester, Pennsylvania, Mary Guthrie was married to James Love. He was the son of Thomas Love and Martha Ann Guthrie, the daughter of John Guthrie & Ann Hill (or Emmons) from GFG2A-Branch H. They raised a large family in Chester County, PA remaining there throughout their marriage. Mary died on 20 Sep 1849 and James a few years later on 20 Oct 1854. They are buried at Manor Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Chochranville, Chester, PA. The Loves and Allied Families has a subsection in ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families, pp557-561.
1) Martha Love 1702PA-1879PA married James Ross +children
2) Elizabeth Love 1794PA-1837 remained unmarried. No further details.
3) Thomas Love (Rev.) 1796PA-1879DE married Sarah Latta +children
4) Sarah Ann Love 1798PA-1858NJ remained unmarried.
5) John Adam Love 1800PA-1883IL married Anna Maria McClellan +children
6) James McClure Love 1804PA-1880IL married 1st Elizabeth Thompson +children, 2nd Martha McNair +children
7) Robert Love 1807PA-1838NJ married Ann Thompson Fair +children
8) Hannah Love 1809PA-1894PA remained unmarried
9) Mary Love 1811PA-1883PA remained unmarried
10) Rebecca Love 1814PA-1823PA died in childhood.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No

SARAH GUTHRIE
1772PA-1861PA
Sarah Guthrie was born on 22 August 1772 near Guthriesville, Chester, Pennsylvania. She married John Thompson about 1790 presumably in Pennsylvania. They lived in West Marlborough and Doe Run in Chester County. John died in 1816. Sarah lived until 18 Sep 1861 and is buried at the Coatesville Presbyterian Cemetery.
1) William H Thompson 1791PA-1823PA married Mary Ann Herb +children
2) John J Thompson 1796PA-1820PA married Mary (MNU). No children identified.
3) Joseph M Thompson 1800PA-1867PA married Sarah (MNU) +children
4) Samuel C Thompson (M.D.) 1807PA-1857PA remained unmarried.
5) (Unidentified Daughter) Thompson

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

MARTHA GUTHRIE
1774PA-Unknown
Martha Guthrie was born about 1774 probably in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She married Robert Elton Jr in Lancaster County, PA on 10 April 1794. No further data found.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No verifiable descendants

JANE GUTHRIE
1775PA-1848PA
Also known as Jean, this daughter was born about 1775 presumably in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She married John Hannah prior to 20 Oct 1798 when they were among those named as releasing their rights to property inherited at the time of Adam Guthrie’s death. The Historical Collections of Harrison County, in the State of Ohio lists a brief sketch about the Hanna family immigration from Ireland to America and mentions John Hanna & Jane Guthrie. She died on 28 March 1848 and he died on 23 September 1853 both in Bridgeville, Allegheny, PA.
1) Elizabeth Hanna 1799PA-1858PA married Thomas Alexander +children
2) William Hanna 1801PA-1876PA married Mary Ann McCreary +children

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No

JOHN GUTHRIE
Abt.1775PA-Bef.1829
John Guthrie was a house carpenter. He was born about 1775 probably in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He is the only person listed in his household in Brandywine in 1800. He married Mary Shughart between 1800-1808. They had 4 children. John was only about 39 at his death. He wrote his will on 12 April 1814. Probated in 1815. Mary remarried to Joseph Smith on 14 November 181 at the Forks of the Brandywine Church.
1) Phebe Guthrie born 1800-1814PA married Joseph Armstrong. No further details.
2) John Guthrie (blacksmith) born 1800-1814PA – died after 1833. No further details.
3) Adam C Guthrie (carpenter) 1809PA-1858MD married Margaret Wagoner +children
4) Mary Ann Guthrie born 1800-1814PA. No further details.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No

ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
1776PA – Unknown
Daughter Elizabeth Guthrie was born about 1776 presumably in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She remained unmarried.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Descendants

Adam Guthrie (estimated birth 1714–1733 in Pennsylvania; death before July 6, 1798, in Chester County, Pennsylvania) and Mercy Irwin (born about 1738 in Chester County, Pennsylvania; death 1793 in Honey Brook, Chester County, Pennsylvania) represent a key couple in early American genealogical research, particularly within Scottish-Irish (Ulster Scots) immigrant lineages. Their story is tied to colonial Pennsylvania settlements, involving themes of migration from Ulster, land ownership, religious affiliations (e.g., Seceder Presbyterianism), and family expansion across generations. Much of the known information stems from property records, tax lists, and wills, as direct vital records from the era are sparse. However, nuances arise due to hypothetical reconstructions in secondary sources—such as debates over Adam’s parentage (often linked theoretically to Robert Guthrie and a Miss Darlington)—and reliance on census-derived age estimates, which introduce uncertainties like overlapping names in records or unmarked graves.

This comprehensive list draws from primary historical documents (e.g., wills, tax records), secondary analyses (e.g., compiled genealogies), online databases, and archival materials. It explores multiple angles: historical context (e.g., Ulster migration patterns in the 1700s), evidential strengths and weaknesses (e.g., DNA projects confirming Guthrie Family Group 2A lineage), related implications (e.g., descendants’ movements to Ohio and Illinois), and edge cases (e.g., unverified children or name variations like “Guthrey” or “Guttery”). Sources are categorized for clarity, with descriptions including content summaries, reliability notes, access methods, and citations where applicable. Prioritize primary sources for verification, as secondary ones may contain interpretive errors. For completeness, cross-reference with Y-DNA testing via projects like the Guthrie DNA Project for modern corroboration.

Primary Sources: Original Records and Documents

These include direct historical artifacts like wills, tax records, and census data, offering the most reliable (though fragmentary) evidence. They provide context on residences, occupations (Adam as a cordwainer and farmer), and family ties, but nuances include incomplete survival of records due to colonial-era documentation gaps.

1. George Irwin’s Will (1759, Chester County, Pennsylvania)
   • Description: This probate document names Mercy Irwin and her husband Adam Guthrie as heirs, confirming their marriage by at least 1759. It lists Mercy’s parents (George Irwin and Jane Matlack) and siblings, providing familial context. The will implies Mercy’s inheritance rights and the couple’s early settlement in Chester County.
   • Context and Nuances: Highlights inheritance patterns in colonial Pennsylvania, where women’s rights were tied to marital status. Edge case: The will predates some children’s births, so it doesn’t list descendants but establishes the Irwin-Guthrie alliance.
   • Access: Available through Chester County Archives or digitized via Ancestry.com (under Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records, 1683–1993). Cited in WikiTree profile for George Irwin Sr. and the Guthrie Genealogy blog.
   • Reliability: High, as a legal primary document; implications for research include tracing Irwin land transfers to Guthrie descendants.
2. Chester County Tax Records (1756–1758)
   • Description: Lists Adam Guthrie as a “Freeman” (unmarried taxable male) in West Nantmeal Township until 1758, transitioning to married status by 1759. These records estimate Adam’s birth (1714–1733) and occupation.
   • Context and Nuances: Reflects colonial taxation on single men, aiding timeline reconstruction. Edge case: Name variations (e.g., “Adam Guthrey”) could confuse with unrelated Guthries; no direct mention of Mercy, but implies marriage timing.
   • Access: Pennsylvania State Archives (Series: Tax and Exoneration Lists, 1762–1794) or transcribed in “American Guthrie and Allied Families” (pp. 170–171).
   • Reliability: Strong for economic and residency insights; used to narrow birth ranges but limited by incomplete survival.
3. Adam Guthrie’s Will and Property Records (1798, Chester County, Pennsylvania)
   • Description: Probated July 6, 1798; names 10 children (William, Hannah, Adam Jr., Robert, Mary, Sarah, Martha, Jane/Jean, John, Elizabeth) and details land divisions in Brandywine and Honey Brook Townships. Confirms Mercy’s predecease (1793).
   • Context and Nuances: Illustrates patrilineal inheritance, with sons receiving land and daughters portions. Edge case: Some children unidentified or unverified (e.g., potential additional offspring); debates over Elizabeth’s marital status.
   • Access: Chester County Wills (Book 10, p. 4643) or summarized in the Guthrie Genealogy blog.
   • Reliability: Excellent primary evidence; implications include tracking descendant migrations (e.g., to Allegheny County).
4. 1790 U.S. Census (Chester County, Pennsylvania)
   • Description: Enumerates Adam Guthrie in Brandywine Township with household details (free white males/females), aligning with known children. No direct Mercy mention, but household size fits family.
   • Context and Nuances: Early censuses lack names beyond head-of-household, leading to interpretive challenges. Edge case: Overlaps with other Guthries in Chester County.
   • Access: National Archives (M637, Roll 8) or Ancestry.com/FamilySearch transcripts.
   • Reliability: Good for residency confirmation; use with tax records for fuller picture.

Secondary Sources: Compiled Genealogies and Histories

These interpret primary data, offering broader narratives but with potential biases or hypotheses (e.g., theoretical parentage).

1. “American Guthrie and Allied Families” by Lawrence R. Guthrie (1933)
   • Description: Pages 170–171 detail Adam’s life, marriage (ca. 1758), children, and burial (Seceder Cemetery). Hypothesizes Robert Guthrie as father; references Irwin allied family (p. 513). Lists descendants like William Guthrie (m. Hannah) and their migrations.
   • Context and Nuances: Frames the couple in Ulster Scots migration (Book II, pp. 167–194). Edge case: Author notes hypothetical elements (e.g., Darlington maiden name); Y-DNA corroborates Group 2A but not all links.
   • Access: Digitized at Internet Archive.
   • Reliability: Valuable but interpretive; cross-check with primaries for accuracy. Implications: Aids in exploring allied families (e.g., Loves, pp. 557–561).
2. “Historical Collections of Harrison County in the State of Ohio” by Charles A. Hanna (1900)
   • Description: Mentions Guthries in West Nantmeal context, potentially linking to descendant migrations to Ohio. Sparse on the couple but provides regional history.
   • Context and Nuances: Covers Pennsylvania-Ohio ties; edge case: Minimal direct references, but useful for broader settlement patterns.
   • Access: Google Books.
   • Reliability: Contextual rather than specific; good for implications like family relocations.

Online Resources and Databases

Digital platforms aggregate records, enabling multi-angle searches (e.g., DNA matches).

1. Guthrie Genealogy Blog
   • Description: Comprehensive profile with timelines, children, Y-DNA notes (Group 2A), and uncertainties (e.g., unmarked graves). References primaries like tax records and the 1798 will.
   • Context and Nuances: Modern synthesis; edge case: Hypothetical parentage flagged. Includes external links (e.g., Find a Grave cemetery).
   • Reliability: High-quality secondary; implications for DNA research.
2. Find a Grave Memorial for Mercy Irwin Guthrie (Memorial ID 270035889)
   • Description: Notes burial at Forks of the Brandywine Seceder Cemetery (unmarked); lists children and death (1793). No photo, but ties to blog details.
   • Context and Nuances: Community-contributed; edge case: No Adam memorial found, possibly due to unmarked status.
   • Access: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/270035889/mercy-guthrie.
   • Reliability: Moderate; verify with primaries.
3. WikiTree Profile for George Irwin Sr. (Irwin-1615)
   • Description: Confirms Mercy’s marriage via father’s will; lists siblings and death estimates.
   • Context and Nuances: Collaborative; edge case: User comments add unverified details.
   • Access: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Irwin-1615.
   • Reliability: Useful starting point; implications for Irwin genealogy extensions.
4. FamilySearch Profile for Adam Guthrie (ID M1DD-4NQ)
   • Description: Basic bio (birth ca. 1725, marriage 1758, death 1798); lists at least 3 sons; sources include user-submitted trees and “Find a Grave Index.”
   • Context and Nuances: Aggregates community data; edge case: Limited sources, potential duplicates.
   • Access: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/M1DD-4NQ/adam-guthrie-1725-1798.
   • Reliability: Variable; good for leads to records like Pennsylvania Marriages.

Additional Reading and Resources

• Guthrie DNA Project (FamilyTreeDNA): For Y-DNA confirmation of Group 2A; explore kits like 190173 (descendant line). Implications: Resolves parentage debates.
• Chester County Historical Society Archives: For original deeds/taxes; contact for scans.
• Related Books: “The Loves and Allied Families” (subsection in Guthrie book) for descendant branches; “History of Chester County, Pennsylvania” by Futhey and Cope (1881) for contextual settlement history.