FRANCIS GUTHERY 1778-1778

FRANCIS GUTHERY
Parents: John Guthery 1744PA – 1823OH & Lydia Baldwin
Birth: About 1778
Birth Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Death: About 1778
Death Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Uncertain
Notes: According to “The Tenmile County” by Howard L Leckey, p612, Francis Guthery died in infancy. At the time of his birth the area the family lived was in a disputed region between Virginia and Pennsylvania. It was eventually officially claimed by Pennsylvania as part of Westmoreland, then Washington, and finally Greene County.

Primary Sources

Primary sources for Francis Guthery (born January 1, 1778; died in infancy circa 1778) are limited due to the era and his short life. Genealogical research for 18th-century infants in frontier regions like western Pennsylvania often relies on family records rather than official vital statistics, as formalized birth and death registrations were not widespread until the 19th century. No official birth certificate, death record, or baptismal entry has been identified for Francis, which is typical for the time—many records were lost, destroyed during conflicts (e.g., Revolutionary War skirmishes in the region), or never created. Instead, primary evidence comes from contemporaneous family documents and personal accounts.

1. Family Bible Record of John and Lydia (Baldwin) Guthery (1768 edition, printed in Oxford, England; currently held at the Chattanooga Public Library, Tennessee). This Bible lists the birth dates of John and Lydia’s children, including: “Francis Guthery was born Jan 1th 1778.” It serves as a primary, contemporaneous record kept by the family, offering direct evidence of his birth. No death date is recorded, which is common for infants in family bibles if the entry was made pre-decease or not updated. Context: Family bibles from this period were often used as legal proof in pension applications or inheritance disputes, highlighting their reliability despite potential for later alterations. Implications: This supports Francis’s placement in the family chronology between siblings John Jr. (1776) and George (1779), but nuances include possible calendar discrepancies (Julian vs. Gregorian, though post-1752 adoption minimizes this).
2. Personal Account of Lydia (Guthery) Peters (daughter of John and Lydia Guthery, written circa mid-19th century). In her migration narrative, Lydia states: “my parents with all their children except Francis, who died in infancy, took their flat boat from Greensboro down the Monongahela to Pittsburgh…” This provides primary eyewitness testimony to Francis’s early death, likely before the family’s 1797–1798 move to Ohio. Context: As a sibling (born 1794), Lydia would have heard family oral history, though not direct memory of events 16 years prior. Nuances: Personal accounts can introduce bias or memory errors, but this aligns with other records. Implications: It implies no burial marker survived or was known, possibly due to frontier conditions or a simple family plot in Greene County, Pennsylvania. This account is preserved in secondary compilations but originates as a primary family document.
3. Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Guthery (File #S-41594, National Archives, applied 1820 in Ohio; awarded 1823). While primarily focused on John Guthery’s military service (enlisted 1776 in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line), the file includes affidavits and family context that indirectly support the household composition around 1778. It does not explicitly list children, which is typical for survivor pensions unless dependents were claimed (Francis, deceased, would not be). However, it confirms John’s residence in the disputed Virginia-Pennsylvania border region during Francis’s birth year, providing temporal and locational context. Edge cases: Some pensions include family certificates, but this one emphasizes service records. Implications: Cross-referencing with the family bible strengthens the timeline, though researchers should note two John Gutherys/Guthreys served in the Revolution (one Virginia, one Pennsylvania—ours is the latter). Digital access via Ancestry or Fold3.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources interpret primary data, offering compiled biographies, analyses, and genealogical reconstructions. For Francis Guthery, these dominate due to scant primaries, drawing from family bibles, oral histories, and local records. They provide broader context on the Guthery family’s Scotch-Irish origins, frontier life amid Native American conflicts and the Revolutionary War, and migration patterns. Nuances include date variations (e.g., birth as January 1 or 11, possibly transcription errors) and assumptions about infancy death without cause (e.g., disease common in the era like smallpox or whooping cough). Implications: These sources enable multi-angle exploration—social (Baptist church ties), economic (land ownership via Lydia’s warrant), and historical (border disputes). Edge cases: Online trees may propagate errors if unsourced; always verify against primaries. Completeness: While thorough for family overviews, they rarely delve into Francis specifically beyond basics, reflecting his brief life.

1. Leckey, Howard L. The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families: A Genealogical History of the Upper Monongahela Valley. Waynesburg, PA: Greene County Historical Society, 1950 (reprinted Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2001). Page 612. Mentions Francis Guthery as a child of John and Lydia, noting his death in infancy. This local history compiles deeds, tax lists, and church records from the Tenmile region (encompassing Greene and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania). Context: Leckey’s work is a cornerstone for Monongahela Valley genealogy, using primary sources like land warrants (e.g., Lydia’s 1770 “Lydia’s Bottom” tract). Nuances: It focuses on pioneer families, so Francis’s entry is brief but ties to broader Guthery migrations. Implications: Highlights the family’s role in border disputes (Virginia vs. Pennsylvania claims post-1776 Mason-Dixon resolution). Available digitally via Google Books or libraries.
2. May, Mary Gray. The History of Lieutenant-Colonel John Guthery of Greene County, Pennsylvania and of Allied Families. Middletown, CT: Godfrey Memorial Library, 1956. Details Francis as born January 1, 1778, and died in infancy, within a full family genealogy. Compiles from the family bible, pension files, and descendant interviews (e.g., Lydia Peters). Context: Written by a descendant, it explores allied lines (Baldwin, Howard) and includes migration stories, providing nuanced views on frontier hardships. Implications: Discusses John’s military promotions (to Lieutenant-Colonel in militia) and land sales pre-Ohio move, implying Francis’s death predated relocation. Edge cases: As a family history, it may favor positive narratives, but cross-verification with pensions confirms accuracy. Available via Archive.org PDF.
3. Baldwin, Charles Candee. The Baldwin Genealogy from 1500 to 1881. Cleveland, OH: Leader Printing Company, 1881. References Lydia Baldwin’s marriage to John Guthery and their children, including Francis, in the context of the Baldwin family’s Quaker and Baptist roots. Context: Focuses on Charity (Harlan-Hackney) Baldwin’s line, offering genealogical depth on maternal ancestry. Nuances: As a 19th-century compilation, it relies on contributor submissions, potentially introducing errors, but aligns with bible records. Implications: Connects to broader colonial migrations, with edge cases like interfaith marriages (Baldwins’ Quaker ties vs. Gutherys’ Baptist). Digital via Ancestry or Google Books.
4. Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Ohio. Compiled by Jane Dowd Dailey. Washington, DC: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1929. Page 167.** Profiles John Guthery, noting his Scotch-Irish parentage, 1744 birth, and family, including Francis’s infancy death. Context: A DAR compilation from pensions and local histories, it emphasizes burial in Mound Cemetery, Piketon, Ohio. Nuances: Birth date listed as January 11, 1778—a possible variant worth cross-checking with the bible. Implications: Ties to patriotic societies’ efforts to preserve veteran lineages, with considerations for incomplete child lists if not all were living. Available in libraries or online archives.
5. Online Genealogical Databases and Trees (e.g., WikiTree, FamilySearch, Ancestry, Geni.com).
   • WikiTree Profile: Guthery-35 (Francis Guthery). Born January 1, 1778; died circa 1778. Cites May’s book.
   • FamilySearch: Ancestral profiles for John (L75M-5J8) and siblings, linking to user-submitted trees.
   • Ancestry Tree: Example at tree/3406955/person/-563904966/facts (John Guthery), listing Francis.
   • Geni.com: Lt. Col. John Guthery profile, including Francis among children. Context: These aggregate usercontributions, often citing primaries like bibles or pensions. Nuances: Prone to errors from unsourced merges,but verified entries (e.g., WikiTree’s source requirements) add value. Implications: Enable globalcollaboration but require scrutiny—e.g., conflicting dates highlight research gaps. Access free (FamilySearch,WikiTree) or paid (Ancestry).