ROBERT GUTHRIE born abt. 1729DE – 1750DE

New Castle County, Delaware

ROBERT GUTHRIE
Parents: Samuel Guthrie c1680-1700-1746DE & Mary (MNU)
Birth: Est. 1712-1724, Before 1729 (Definite)
Birth Location: Pennsylvania or Delaware, probably
Marriage: Unmarried
Occupation: Unknown
Death: Bet. 4 Sep and 13 Oct 1750
Death Location: St Georges Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware
Notes:
Robert Guthrie was born sometime before 1729. This estimated DOB is based on him being identified on the 1749/50 Tax List for East Nottingham, Chester, PA. He would have to be at least 21 years of age at that time.

Narrowing that to 1712-24 is really a shot in the dark based on what we think we know about the birth order of the children, with Robert Guthrie being the second of seven, and his younger siblings marrying in 1745 and 1747.

The 1746 Last Will and Testament of his father, Samuel Guthrie, named Robert. He and his brother Samuel were to receive property after the death of their mother, Mary. However, Robert predeceased his mother. He wrote his own will on 4 September 1750 in St Georges, New Castle, Delaware

“I give all I have to my mother Mary Guthrey, who is to be executrix.: Test: John Guthrey, John McCabe. Proved 13 Oct 1750. New Castle County, Del. Wills, liber G, folio 427)

Robert Guthrie did own some property at the time of his death. On 16 Nov 1750, he was listed as owning neighboring land in New Castle, DE purchased by Thomas Hyatt, yeoman from Hon. James Hamilton of the City of Philadelphia, John Moland & John Inglis of same. Q1:436.

On 15 October 1751: Came into court Mary Guthery, executrix of lwt of Robert Guthery, yeoman, dec’d, and provided the account of her administration. Overpaid the estate: 5.7.4

Upon his mother Mary Guthrie’s death, a petition for the division of her estate was filed by Robert’s sister, Jane Vail dated 16 August 1775 indicating that her brother had died without issue “unmarried and childless.”

Primary Sources

These are original, contemporaneous records that offer firsthand evidence. The blog uses them to establish Robert’s birth, death, property, and family ties, painting a picture of a short-lived individual in a colonial frontier family.

1. 1749/50 Tax List for East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania
   • Citation Format: “Tax List, East Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1749/50,” Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA (or equivalent archival repository).
   • Description and Context: The blog references this list to confirm Robert Guthrie’s presence as a taxable adult male, implying he was at least 21 years old by 1749/50, thus born before 1729. It places him in the same township as his presumed family, supporting his identity as Samuel Guthrie’s son. This is key for establishing his approximate birth year in the absence of baptismal records.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Tax lists from this era often excluded minors, women, or non-landowners, so Robert’s inclusion suggests independence or head-of-household status. However, names could be duplicated in records (e.g., multiple Guthries in the area), requiring cross-referencing with other documents. Colonial dating conventions (Julian vs. Gregorian) might affect the “1749/50” notation.
   • Implications: This source highlights migration patterns of Scots-Irish families like the Guthries from Ulster to Pennsylvania/Delaware borders, contributing to broader studies of colonial settlement and economic life.
2. 1746 Last Will and Testament of Samuel Guthrie
   • Citation Format: Guthrie, Samuel. Last Will and Testament, dated [specific date in 1746], proved [date in 1746 or later]. New Castle County, Delaware, Wills, [volume and folio if available]. Delaware Public Archives, Dover, DE.
   • Description and Context: Cited in the blog as naming Robert and his brother Samuel as beneficiaries to inherit property after their mother Mary’s death. It establishes paternal lineage and family structure, noting that Robert predeceased his mother and thus did not inherit. The will’s probate in New Castle County underscores the family’s residence shift from Pennsylvania.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Wills from this period might omit illegitimate or estranged children, but the blog assumes completeness. Probate delays (common in colonial courts) could affect timelines; researchers should check for codicils or disputes. Spelling variations (e.g., “Guthrey” vs. “Guthrie”) are noted in related records.
   • Implications: Illustrates inheritance customs in colonial Delaware, where widows often received life estates, delaying transfers to sons. This connects to themes of family continuity and the impact of early deaths on generational wealth.
3. Robert Guthrie’s Will, Dated 4 September 1750
   • Citation Format: Guthrie, Robert. Last Will and Testament, dated 4 September 1750, proved 13 October 1750. New Castle County, Delaware, Wills, Liber G, Folio 427. Witnesses: John Guthrey, John McCabe. Executrix: Mary Guthrie. Delaware Public Archives, Dover, DE.
   • Description and Context: The blog quotes this will directly, where Robert bequeaths all his property to his mother Mary, indicating he died unmarried and without children. It’s central to proving his death date (around October 1750) and lack of issue, resolving any speculation about descendants.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Short wills like this might reflect urgency (e.g., illness), and the quick probate suggests no contests. Witness John Guthrey could be a relative (possibly an uncle or cousin), adding layers to family networks. Access to full transcripts is essential, as abstracts might omit details.
   • Implications: Reinforces the blog’s narrative of a truncated lineage branch, useful for DNA genealogy (e.g., no Y-DNA from this line) and studies of mortality in colonial America, where young adult deaths were common due to disease or frontier hazards.
4. Property Ownership Record, 16 November 1750
   • Citation Format: Deed Record: Thomas Hyatt Purchase from Hon. James Hamilton, John Moland, and John Inglis, dated 16 November 1750. New Castle County, Delaware, Deed Book Q1, Page 436. Delaware Public Archives, Dover, DE.
   • Description and Context: Referenced in the blog as listing Robert Guthrie as a neighboring landowner in St. Georges Hundred, New Castle County. This record postdates his will but predates full estate settlement, confirming his property holdings at death and their adjacency to prominent figures.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Deed records often reference deceased owners without noting status, so this implies the property was still in his name briefly after death. Boundary disputes were common in colonial surveys, potentially affecting accuracy. Cross-check with land warrants for full ownership history.
   • Implications: Provides spatial context to the Guthrie family’s land-based economy, linking to broader colonial land distribution policies under proprietors like the Penn family and their impact on Scots-Irish settlers.
5. Estate Administration Account, 15 October 1751
   • Citation Format: Guthrie, Robert. Estate Account by Executrix Mary Guthrie, dated 15 October 1751. New Castle County, Delaware, Probate Records. Delaware Public Archives, Dover, DE.
   • Description and Context: The blog cites this account showing Mary Guthrie overpaid by £5.7.4, detailing the final settlement of Robert’s modest estate. It underscores his limited assets and the administrative closure of his affairs.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Overpayments in accounts could stem from creditor claims or errors; full ledgers might reveal debts or assets not mentioned. Currency fluctuations (pounds vs. dollars post-Revolution) require conversion for modern analysis.
   • Implications: Highlights the bureaucratic side of colonial estates, offering insights into economic scales for young, unmarried men and the role of widows in administration, which was progressive for the era.
6. Petition for Division of Mary Guthrie’s Estate, 16 August 1775
   • Citation Format: Vail, Jane (née Guthrie). Petition for Division of Estate of Mary Guthrie, dated 16 August 1775. New Castle County, Delaware, Orphans’ Court Records. Delaware Public Archives, Dover, DE.
   • Description and Context: Filed by Robert’s sister Jane, this petition explicitly states Robert died “unmarried and childless” without issue, supporting the blog’s conclusion of no descendants. It’s used to trace sibling inheritances after Mary’s death.
   • Edge Cases and Considerations: Petitions might exclude unclaimed heirs, but the blog treats this as definitive. Post-Revolutionary War disruptions could have affected record preservation. Verify against sibling records for consistency.
   • Implications: Connects to Revolutionary-era family dispersals, illustrating how intestate laws divided estates among siblings and the long-term effects of early sibling deaths on inheritance patterns.

Secondary Sources

No secondary sources are explicitly mentioned, cited, or referenced in the blog post. This could imply the author’s reliance on direct archival research, potentially limiting interpretive depth (e.g., no comparisons to regional histories or published genealogies).