JOHN GUTHRIE born 1724-43PA – died 1800-10PA & MARGARET BROWN
of Pennsylvania, USA

JOHN GUTHRIE
Parents: Robert Guthrie & Miss (FNU) Darlington (Theory)
Birth: Between 1724-1743
Birth Location: Pennsylvania
Marriage: Margaret Brown on 5 November 1764 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Occupation:
Death: 1800-10
Death Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Notes: John Guthrie is listed in the Chester County, PA Tax Records of 1764 as a Freeman, indicating that he was at least 21 years of age and the head of his own household. His ties to his parents are only theoretical based on John’s presence in Chester County, PA at approximately the same time as others believed to be members of the same family. There is no direct male descendant in the DNA Project with a Y-DNA to represent this Guthrie line at this time.

MARGARET BROWN
Parents: Robert Brown 1712MD – 1777PA and Martha Calder
Birth: 1747
Birth Location: Tredyffin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Death: 3 March 1777
Death Location: Perry County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial:
Notes:

CHILDREN: 3

ROBERT D GUTHRIE
13 Nov 1765PA – 25 Nov 1840PA

Robert D Guthrie was a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, but moved to Carlisle about 1772. He was a noted Clockmaker, Watchmaker, and Silversmith who advertised in local newspapers between 1787-1834. Tax Records from 1795-1817 list him as a Silversmith. The identity of his wife is unknown. The tax records indicate that he was married by 1789, but census records indicate that his eldest child was born between 1784-1790, so the marriage could have been 5 or 6 years earlier. Robert occupied (rented) property owned by Michael Miller, a 1 story wood house, lot, and a 1 story wood shop. Two of his sons, Robert R Guthrie and James Guthrie, carried on the family business.
Children:
1) Unidentified Daughter born 1784-1790 in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
2) Unidentified Daughter born 1790-1794 in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
3) John Guthrie born c1794PA – 11 Mar 1828 “died in the prime of his life of pulmonary affection”. Marital Status Unk.
4) Robert R Guthrie 1800PA – 24 May 1873PA m1.Margaret Thompson, m2.Elizabeth Lynch. No known children
5) Unidentified Son born 1800-1804 in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
6) Maria Guthrie 1801 – 19 Apr 1876PA died at 75 years of age. Unmarried.
7) James L Guthrie 6 Aug 1807 – 30 Mar 1857 m.Eliza Cunningham. No children

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

MARY GUTHRIE
1769PA-aft.1810PA

Little is known about Mary Guthrie. She was baptized by the Rev John Cuthbertson of the Rocky Spring Meeting House on 9 Aug 1769. She married a man by the Marshall surname. The 1810 census of Juniata, Cumberland, PA lists a Mary Marshall as a HOH, so she was presumably widowed by that time. The household included: 1F 45 and over, 1F 16 thru 25, 1 male and 1 female 10 thru 15, 1 male and 1 female under 10. By this calculation, Mr Marshall died between 1800-1810. The 1820 census of Juniata also lists a Mary Marshal as HOH, but the eldest female is 26-44, so this could be a daughter living with her younger siblings indicating that the mother Mary had died between 1810-1820.
Children:
1) Unidentified Daughter Marshall born 1785-1794 possibly named Mary
2) Unidentified Daughter Marshall born 1795-1800
3) Unidentified Son Marshall born 1795-1800
4) Unidentified Daughter Marshall born 1801-1810
5) Unidentified Son Marshall born 1801-1810

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

WILLIAM BROWN GUTHRIE
9 Jun 1772PA – 20 Jan 1822PA

William Brown Guthrie was born on 9 June 1772 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Franklin County was formed from Cumberland in 1784. William was settled in Mercersburg, Franklin County by the time he was 21. He served in the local militia in a company called “The Franklin Blues” and was elected its captain on 3 Dec 1798. William married Isabella Sterrett, the daughter of Cairns & Mary (Mayes) Sterrett, on 22 April 1800 in Mercersburg. They had 4 sons and 3 daughters between 1801 and 1816. William was appointed as the local postmaster on 22 Jan 1813 and held that position until his death on 22 January 1822. Additionally, he was a silversmith and clockmaker.
Children:
1) Maria Guthrie 24 Oct 1801PA – 22 Sep 1803 died during early childhood
2) William Sterrett Guthrie 9 Sep 1803PA – 14 Sep 1824PA was only 21 at his death. Unmarried.
3) Otho Darlington Guthrie 26 Aug 1805 – 12 Dec 1833 was struck by lightning in the Rocky Mtns at 28. Unmarried.
4) Sarah Maria Guthrie 13 Sep 1808PA – c1880 m. William W Beecher +children
5) John Mitchell Guthrie 13 Jan 1811PA – 21 Apr 1831PA died at 2o years of age. Unmarried
6) Newton Brown Guthrie 13 Apr 1813PA – 12 May 1885 m1.Elizabeth Hester French, m2.Mary Ellen Parker +children
7) Margaret Guthrie 7 Mar 1816PA – 22 Sep 1871MD m.1838MD John Hoge Gregg +children

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

Primary Sources: Official Records and Documents

Primary sources form the foundation of genealogical research for John Guthrie (c. 1724–1743 to c. 1800–1810) and Margaret Brown (c. 1747–1777), offering direct evidence from contemporary records. These include vital records, tax lists, censuses, wills, and church documents. However, nuances arise due to common names in colonial Pennsylvania, leading to potential misattributions (e.g., confusion with other John Guthries in Bedford or Cumberland Counties). Contextually, these records highlight their life in Chester, Lancaster, Cumberland (later Franklin and Perry), and Franklin Counties, reflecting migration patterns of Scots-Irish settlers amid frontier challenges like Indian conflicts and Revolutionary War service. Edge cases include unconfirmed military ties and theoretical family connections, which require cross-verification with DNA or additional probate evidence.

• Marriage Record (1764): John Guthrie and Margaret Brown were married on 5 November 1764 at St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This is a key vital record confirming their union, though the original parish register should be consulted for full details, as secondary transcriptions may omit witnesses or bondsmen. Implications: The marriage in Lancaster (near Chester County) suggests proximity to Margaret’s family origins in Tredyffrin Township, and it predates their children’s births, providing a timeline for family formation. Also cited in Egle, William Henry. Notes and Queries: Historical, Biographical and Genealogical Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Series 3, Vol. 1. Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1897, p. 11 (digital version available via Google Books).
• Tax Records (1764–1769, Chester County): John Guthrie appears as a “Freeman” in West Nantmeal Township, Chester County, in 1764, indicating he was at least 21, unmarried or recently married, and head of household (no land owned). By 1768–1769, he is listed as an “Inmate” (landless resident, possibly renting), taxed on minimal livestock. These provincial tax lists (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Vol. 11) underscore his modest economic status as a young adult, likely a laborer or artisan, before relocating westward. Nuances: Absence from later Chester lists post-1769 aligns with migration to Cumberland/Franklin areas; similar names in adjacent townships require careful differentiation.
• Will Witness (1771, Cumberland County): John Guthrie witnessed the will of Thomas Barnett in Hamilton Township (now Franklin County), dated 1771. This places him in the area during Margaret’s lifetime and supports ties to local Covenanter or Presbyterian communities. Original in Cumberland County probate records; implications include social networks, as witnesses were often kin or neighbors.
• Federal Census Records:
  • 1790 U.S. Census (Franklin County): John Guthrie household: 2 free white males 16+, 2 free white females. This post-Revolutionary enumeration (post-Margaret’s death) suggests he lived with adult sons (Robert and William) and possibly a daughter (Mary) or second wife. Nuances: Headcount-only format limits details; location in Franklin (formed 1784 from Cumberland) reflects boundary changes.
  • 1800 U.S. Census (Greene Township, Franklin County): John Guthrie household: 1 male and 1 female 45+, 1 male 26–44, 1 male and 1 female 16–25, 1 male and 1 female under 10. The younger members imply possible remarriage after Margaret’s death, with grandchildren or stepchildren. Edge case: No 1810 listing for John, aligning with his estimated death 1800–1810.
• Death and Funeral Record for Margaret Brown (1777): Margaret died 3 March 1777 in Perry County (then part of Cumberland), with a funeral noted around 14 March. Sourced from family traditions and secondary compilations; no burial site confirmed, possibly a local Presbyterian or Covenanter graveyard. Context: Post-childbirth or illness common in frontier settings; her death left John with young children, explaining sons’ apprenticeships.
• Wills and Probate Related to Margaret’s Family:
  • Robert Brown Will (1777, Cumberland County): Margaret’s father, Robert Brown (1712–1777), named her siblings (Martha Mitchell, Roger, John, Matthew, Mary Hately, Elizabeth Boggs, Grace Bull) but not Margaret (deceased). Original in Cumberland County Orphans’ Court; provides context for her English immigrant roots and Darlington connections via aunts.
  • Roger Brown Will (1810): Margaret’s uncle named a “Margaret Guthrie alias now Margaret Marshall” as granddaughter, possibly a misnomer for daughter Mary Guthrie (who married a Marshall). Nuances: Scribal errors common; implies inheritance disputes or blended names (e.g., Mary Margaret).
• Baptismal Records (Rev. John Cuthbertson Diary): Daughter Mary Guthrie baptized 9 August 1769 at Rocky Spring Meeting House, Cumberland County. This Covenanter minister’s diary (published as Diary of Rev. John Cuthbertson, 1751–1791) confirms religious affiliation and timeline. Implications: Ties to Reformed Presbyterian networks; other children may lack records due to itinerant ministry.
• Military Records (Potential Revolutionary War Service): John Guthrie listed as a private in Bedford County militia (1783), but likely misattributed to another John. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Vol. 4; The Wilderness Trail (Hanna, 1911) mentions a 1761 Indian prisoner release at Lower Shawneetown, possibly linked but unconfirmed. Edge cases: Family tradition of captivity; no pension file found, suggesting non-veteran status or lost records.

Secondary Sources: Books and Published Histories

Secondary sources interpret primary data, often with theories on parentage (e.g., John as son of Robert Guthrie and a Darlington). These provide context on Scots-Irish immigration, frontier life, and family trades (e.g., silversmithing). Nuances: Discrepancies arise from unverified assumptions, like Laurence R. Guthrie’s (LRG) linkages to Bedford County, debunked by modern research. Implications: Useful for narratives but require primary corroboration; explore multiple editions for updates.

• Guthrie, Laurence Rawlin. American Guthrie and Allied Families: Lineal Representations of the Colonial Guthries of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Some Post-Revolutionary Emigrants and of Some Allied Families. Kerr Printing Co., 1933. Detailed on John (pp. 188–194) as Revolutionary soldier, probable spouse Margaret Brown, children (Mary, Robert, William Brown). Sources include family traditions, censuses, and Pennsylvania Archives (Series 3,5,6,9). Context: LRG’s theoretical parentage (Robert Guthrie & Miss Darlington) based on proximity; includes Indian captivity lore. Digital PDF available via Internet Archive.
• Dunn, Harriet N. and Eveline Guthrie. Records of the Guthrie Family of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Virginia, with Ancestry of Those Who Have Intermarried with the Family. H.N. and S.W. Gunn, 1898. Covers multiple John Guthries but no direct Margaret Brown; useful for broader clan context, including Revolutionary service. Digital PDF via Electric Scotland.
• Hungerford, Austin N. and Franklin Ellis. History of That Part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886. Details Margaret’s Brown family, including siblings and immigrant origins. Context: Ties to Darlington/McCown lines; nuances in “Mixed Up Margarets” theory (confusion with another Margaret).
• Warner, Beers & Co. History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 1887. Covers son William Brown Guthrie’s life in Mercersburg, implying John’s regional influence.
• Cope, Gilbert. Genealogy of the Darlington Family: A Record of the Descendants of Abraham Darlington of Birmingham, Chester Co., Penna., and of Some Other Families of the Name. Committee for the Family, 1900. Explores potential Darlington ties via Margaret’s aunt (married Meredith Darlington), though unproven for Guthrie middle names.

Resources for Further Research: Online Databases, Trees, and Tools

Online resources enable deeper exploration, including DNA for resolving theories (e.g., Guthrie Family Group 2A-Branch B, haplogroup R-M269). Nuances: User-generated trees often perpetuate errors; prioritize sourced entries. Implications: Real-time updates from blogs or wikis capture evolving research, like Y-DNA mismatches.

• Guthrie Genealogy Blog: Comprehensive posts on John & Margaret, including timelines, documents, and debunked theories (e.g., no Bedford residency). Entries: “John Guthrie & Margaret Brown” (2020) and “2A-B: John Guthrie.” Sources include censuses, taxes, and LRG critiques. URL: https://guthriegenealogy.blog/2020/02/24/john-guthrie-margaret-brown
• WikiTree Profiles: Margaret (Brown) Guthrie (Brown-191006): Biography, sources (Egle’s Notes), linked to children. John lacks a dedicated profile but connects via family. Collaborative; check revisions for disputes.
• Ancestry.com Family Tree: Guthrie tree (person/-1738615001) with basic facts, tax records. Subscription required; user trees vary in accuracy but link to digitized records (e.g., censuses).
• FamilySearch.org: Search for “John Guthrie” (b. 1724 PA, m. Margaret Brown); includes censuses, Pennsylvania Archives. Free; DNA integration via affiliate tools.
• Geni.com: Robert Guthrie Sr. profile mentions related Guthries, but Margaret Brown listed erroneously as sibling—highlighting common merge errors.
• DNA Resources: Guthrie DNA Project (via blog): Inferred Group 2A-Branch B; no direct Y-DNA from descendants. Use FamilyTreeDNA or AncestryDNA for autosomal matches; nuances include non-paternity events or untested lines.