MARGARET GUTHRIE 1753PA – 1795PA and GEORGE BROWN
of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA

MARGARET GUTHRIE
Parents: Robert Guthrie c1700IRE – 1782PA and Bridget Dougherty 1711IRE – 1794PA
Birth: 6 May 1753
Birth Location: Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Marriage: Abt. 1774 to George Brown (Unsourced Data)
Children: Unknown / Unidentified
Death: 1795
Death Location: Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Burial Location: Unknown, presumably in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

GEORGE BROWN
Parents: Unknown
Birth: Abt. 1750
Birth Location: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Death: Unknown
Death Location: Unknown, presumably in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Burial Location: Unknown, presumably in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

NOTES:
The only thing documented about Margaret Guthrie seems to be her birth, and that with a secondary source. Mayor George Wilkins Guthrie wrote to a cousin about a family document listing their Guthrie ancestry. It included the statement, “When John (son of Robert and Bridget) was a year old they moved to Carlisle, PA, and there they had a daughter, Margaret, who was born May 6, 1753.”

I am uncertain about the source for Margaret’s marriage to a George Brown, who is presumably the man from the 1790 census of Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn, and Westpennsboro, Cumberland, PA.

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

Primary Sources

Primary sources for Margaret are indirect, often tied to her family rather than her individually, as women in colonial Pennsylvania were rarely listed independently in records unless widowed or inheriting.

1. Family Bible Record (Copied 1807): A transcribed Bible entry, originally from the Guthrie family and copied by Robert Guthrie (likely Margaret’s brother) in 1807, with endorsement by descendant John Verner Guthrie. It records Margaret’s birth as May 6, 1753 (or possibly 1763 in some interpretations, highlighting a common transcription edge case). This Bible notes the family’s emigration from Ireland around 1744 and lists siblings, implying Margaret’s place in the household. No direct mention of her marriage or death, but it substantiates her parentage and birth location in Carlisle. Implications: Bibles were primary for vital events in eras without civil registration; this one links to broader Ulster migration patterns. Source: Cited in American Guthrie and Allied Families (1930s compilation). Related consideration: Discrepancies in birth year (1753 vs. 1763) may stem from faded ink or copier error, common in multi-generational transcripts.
2. Cumberland County Land Records (1760 Grant): Robert Guthrie received a land grant in Carlisle on Pomfret Street in 1760, during the family’s settlement period. This indirectly places Margaret (aged ~7) in the household, as family units were granted land collectively. No explicit mention of Margaret, but it confirms the family’s residence where she was born and died. Implications: Land grants reflect post-French and Indian War stability; edge case: Women’s names appear only if they inherited, which Margaret did not. Source: Cumberland County historical records, referenced in genealogical blogs and books.
3. Middletown Township Tax Lists (1751): Robert Guthrie appears as taxable in Middletown Township (including Carlisle area) in 1751, with property holdings. This predates Margaret’s birth but establishes the family’s early presence in Pennsylvania, supporting her 1753 birth there. Bridget Dougherty is implied as spouse. No direct reference to children, but tax records often indicate household size indirectly. Implications: Taxes were levied on heads of household, excluding women/children; nuances include exemptions for war service (Robert served in the French and Indian War). Source: Pennsylvania tax archives, cited in WikiTree and Geni profiles.
4. First Presbyterian Church Records, Carlisle (Indirect, 1789 Marriage of Sibling): Church records note the 1789 marriage of possible sibling Polly Guthrie to Thomas Dodds, confirming Presbyterian affiliations in Carlisle. While not for Margaret, this church likely held baptism/marriage entries for the family, including her 1774 wedding to George Brown (though no surviving record found). Death records from 1795 might have been logged here, but many pre-1800 entries are lost. Implications: Scotch-Irish families like the Guthries favored Presbyterian churches; edge case: Fires or relocations destroyed many 18th-century logs. Source: Church archives, referenced in American Guthrie and Allied Families.

No primary marriage record for 1774 or death record for 1795 was located; searches yielded proxies like church abstracts but no originals. Probate for Robert Guthrie (1782) lacks a surviving will naming heirs, possibly due to insolvency noted in 1771 records. For Bridget’s 1794 death, no record exists, but family tradition assumes burial in Carlisle’s old cemetery.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources dominate, compiling family lore, church extracts, and local histories into narratives.

1. Records of the Guthrie Family of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Virginia (1898, by Harriet N. and Eveline Guthrie Dunn): This book details Margaret’s birth (May 6, 1753, Carlisle), marriage (1774 to George Brown), son (George, 1775), and death (1795, Carlisle). It traces the family’s Irish origins, 1744 emigration, and settlements, classifying it as a Scotch-Irish lineage. Sources: Family records and traditions; no explicit primaries beyond implied Bibles. Implications: Explores nuances like child mortality (sibling Jane died young) and war disruptions; edge case: Omits economic details like Robert’s insolvency. Full text available online.
2. American Guthrie and Allied Families (c. 1930s, author unspecified in extracts): Comprehensive on Robert’s life (carpenter, war service, land grant), Bridget’s origins, and Margaret’s birth (noted as 1763, a potential discrepancy). Mentions emigration alternatives (1700–1710 or 1744) and Carlisle burial assumptions. Sources: Family Bible (1807 copy), land/tax records. Implications: Multi-angle view of allied families (e.g., Browns); related consideration: Links to broader Guthrie DNA groups for verification.
3. WikiTree Profile for Margaret (Guthrie) Brown (Collaborative, last updated 2025): User-generated tree listing birth (1753), marriage (1774), son, and death (1795, Carlisle). Cites family sources and links to siblings. Implications: Explores community edits for nuances (e.g., date debates); edge case: Potential inaccuracies from unsourced contributions.
4. Geni.com Profile for Robert Guthrie Sr. (Collaborative, updated 2023): Details family tree, including Margaret (1753–1795, m. George Brown). Notes Carlisle burial and organizer of Carpenters’ Guild. Implications: Visual tree aids multi-generational views; related: Ties to Irish martyrdom lore.
5. WeRelate.org Family Page for Robert Guthrie and Bridget Dougherty (2009): Lists Margaret’s birth (May 6, 1753), marriage (1774), son (1775), and death (1795, Carlisle). Sources: Compiled genealogies. Implications: Open-source format allows nuance additions; edge case: Static since 2009.
6. Guthrie Genealogy Blog (Various Posts, 2020–2025): Entries on Cumberland County records mention Margaret in family contexts, with abstracts of related wills (e.g., Robert Brown’s 1777 will naming a different Margaret Guthrey, illustrating name overlaps). Explores PA migrations. Implications: Blog format for real-time updates; related: DNA project links for confirmation.