2A-G: William Guthrie
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Parents: James Guthrie 1720IRE – 1801PA and Jeanette (Wilson) Moore abt. 1720 – aft. 1787PA
Birth: 9 July 1751
Birth Location: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Military Service: Revolutionary War Soldier
Occupation: Soldier / Frontier Ranger (Captain)
Marriage: Mrs Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee on 7 July 1784 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania
Death: 10 March 1828 (age 76)
Death Location: Redbank, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA (Armstrong formed from Westmoreland in 1800)
Burial: Unconfirmed – Old Salem Church Cemetery, Derry, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
Parents: John Guthrie 1725IRE – 1797PA and Jane Reed 1726IRE – 1780PA
Birth: 1755
Birth Location: Londonderry, Londonderry, Ireland
American Immigration: 1771 (abt. 16 years old)
Marriage (1st): Abt. 1776 to Joseph Brownlee
Marriage (2nd): William Guthrie on 7 July 1784 (per Guthrie family records), but possibly not until 1786.
Brownlee Children: John (1779), Jane (1782)
Guthrie Sons: William (1785), James (1786), Joseph Brownlee (1798)
Guthrie Daughters: Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ (c1788), twins Jane and Mary (c1789), Jane ‘Jennie’ (c1791), Nancy (c1794), and Joanna (c1796)
Other: One Guthrie child of unknown gender born in 1793
Death: 11 February 1842
Death Location: Redbank, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: 12 February 1842
NOTES:
Laurence R Guthrie, author of American Guthrie and Allied Families misidentified the mother of William Guthrie. See p.183. There were apparently too many Jeanette/Jennet/Jean spouses within a three generation span.
William Guthrie was the second of two sons of James Guthrie Sr and Jeanette (Wilson) Moore. He also had a half brother John Moore from his mother’s first marriage to William Moore. John Moore became presiding judge for Westmoreland County. His brother James Guthrie served as a Justice of the Peace and was appointed a Wood Ranger for Westmoreland. William Guthrie served as a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary War with the initial rank of private, and later commanded a company of frontier rangers as their captain. He was at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, among others.
The soldiering life seems to have been William Guthrie’s main focus. When he married it was not until his early thirties choosing his widowed first cousin, Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee who had survived a harrowing ordeal as a captive of Seneca natives. Her husband, Capt. Joseph Brownlee, son John, and many others died in the massacre and burning of Hannastown on 13 July 1782 by a group of Seneca and their British allies. My personal feeling is that this 2nd marriage was not a love match, but one of necessity on Elizabeth’s part. She tells that she returned to Westmoreland County “emaciated, sickly, without consolation of her husband, without money, without friends who could afford her any relief, her house and furniture burned by the savages with all her husband’s papers and accounts.” Elizabeth states that she supported herself for two years by her own industry at the end of which time she married Capt. William Guthrie who commanded a company of frontier rangers. Considering her situation, the offer of marriage by her cousin may have been Elizabeth’s only viable option in those times.
William Guthrie was apparently ill-suited for the settled lifestyle of a farmer and was unable to commence any other business. The only substantial monetary help they received was his military pension. Yet the couple had no difficulty producing children. William Guthrie met a tragic end when he accidentally fell off of a wagon while crossing a high bridge. After petitioning the state legislature, the state treasurer was authorized to pay Elizabeth Guthrie an immediate sum of $60 for 1829 and scheduling an annuity of the same payable half yearly during the remainder of her life.
One might think the genetics might be complicated with two Guthrie lineages represented in one family, but both William Guthrie and Elizabeth Guthrie descend from the same “Branch G” lineages headed by their fathers James and John. All male Guthries who descend directly from this couple are eligible for Y-DNA testing, and represent the line of James Guthrie. All descendants of the couple are eligible to participate in Autosomal DNA testing, such as AncestryDNA or FTDNA’s Family Finder test, which would include any inherited DNA from both sides of the family.
WILLIAM’S CHILDREN: 10
ELIZABETH’S CHILDREN: 12
JOHN BROWNLEE
Abt. 1779PA – 1782PA
The eldest child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee. John was born about 1779. He was only around 3 years old when the Seneca and their British allies attacked Hanna’s Town on 13 July 1782. He was killed that day along with his father and many others, while his mother and infant sister were taken as captives.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A
JANE BROWNLEE
1782PA – 18??OH
Jane ‘Jennie’ Brownlee, the only daughter of Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee was likely born in Hanna’s Town, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth and Jane, then about 4 months old, were among the captives taken by the Seneca and marched north to Buffalo and Niagara. When the journey made it too difficult to hold an infant Jane was strapped to her mother’s back. Both mother and daughter survived the ordeal. A British officer purchased Elizabeth for $20, Jane for $10, and two gallons of rum, after which they were held in Montreal until they were released through a prisoner exchange and returned to Hannastown. Jane grew to womanhood likely with no memory of the experience, but certainly with the story of what had happened. She married James or Jesse Hugle (or Hike or Hughes). They moved to Muskingum County, Ohio and had 4 sons and 3 daughters. The 1820 Muskingum Census lists a James Hughs, age 26-44, in Brush Creek and a James Huckle in Springfield, also 26-44.
CHILDREN:
1) Unidentified Son, birth order unknown
2) Unidentified Son, birth order unknown
3) Unidentified Son, birth order unknown
4) Unidentified Son, birth order unknown
5) Unidentified Daughter, birth order unknown
6) Unidentified Daughter, birth order unknown
7) Unidentified Daughter, birth order unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1785PA – 1867PA
The eldest son of William and Elizabeth Guthrie was named for his father, William. He was born on 21 April 1785 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He became a farmer. His wife’s name was Jane, but her maiden name is unknown. They had two daughters. William and Jane were living in Porter, Clarion, Pennsylvania. William’s will was written in 1860. He died at Smithland in 1867. His will was registered 9 April 1867.
CHILDREN:
1) Elizabeth ‘Betsey’ Guthrie abt 1819PA – at.1880PA m. Thomas F Elder (farmer) +children
2) Nancy Guthrie 1823PA-1898PA m.Joseph Downs (farmer) +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
JAMES GUTHRIE
1786PA – 1851
Due to his mother’s tale of suffering at the hands of the Seneca, James Guthrie developed a great hatred for the Indians. James was born the 6th of either January or June of 1786 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is said that he had a natural son (born out of wedlock / illegitimate) named for James who was raised by his maternal grandmother James settled on a large farm near Summerville in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania and married 22 Feb 1814 to Margaret McRae (18 Jan 1793-15 Sep 1836). They had 7 children. The 1850 census lists him with “Anna Guthrie” presumably a new wife. James died 29 June 1851.
CHILDREN:
1) James B. Guthrie (farmer/laborer) 30 Mar 1811PA – 13 Jun 1890PA m. Elizabeth Bish +children
2) William Guthrie (farmer/laborer) 27 Jun 1816PA – 14 Oct 1902PA m. Harriette Fuller +children
3) Alexander Guthrie (farmer) 4 Jun 1818PA – 9 Aug 1894WI m. Almira J Fairweather +children
4) James Guthrie (carpenter) 1 Dec 1820PA – 28 May 1899 m1 Docas Jones, m2. Susan Alexander +children
5) Joseph Guthrie (farmer) 31 Mar 1823PA – 11 Nov 1907PA m. Elizabeth Brown +children
6) Thomas Guthrie (laborer) 19 Dec 1824PA – 6 May 1889 m1.Anise Huffman, m2.Mary Morgan +children
7) Elisabeth Guthrie 5 Sep 1826PA – 25 May 1829PA died in early childhood.
8) John Guthrie 31 May 1829PA – 24 Oct 1856WI – marital status and issue uncertain
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
ELIZABETH ‘BETSY’ GUTHRIE
1788PA – 18??OH
Betsy “married a Mr Boles and moved to Ohio. They had five sons and five daughters.” (LRG, pp416-417) Online trees identify the couple as Walter Boles and wife Elizabeth from Pleasant, Brown County, Ohio and assign them 3 sons: Allen, Walter, and Shaffer Boles who are living with a widowed Elizabeth during the 1850 and 1860 censuses. Other trees credit Shaffer as the sons of John Allen Boles and Elizabeth Shaffer.
CHILDREN:
1) Unidentified Son Boles, birth order unknown
2) Unidentified Son Boles, birth order unknown
3) Unidentified Son Boles, birth order unknown
4) Unidentified Son Boles, birth order unknown
5) Unidentified Son Boles, birth order unknown
6) Unidentified Daughter Boles, birth order unknown
7) Unidentified Daughter Boles, birth order unknown
8) Unidentified Daughter Boles, birth order unknown
9) Unidentified Daughter Boles, birth order unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
MARY GUTHRIE
1789PA – abt. 1809PA
Mary Guthrie was one half of a set of twins. Her sister Jane died either at birth or in infancy. Mary reportedly lived until she was nearly twenty, but died unmarried. No further data.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A
JANE GUTHRIE
1789PA – 1789PA
Jane Guthrie was a twin to Mary Guthrie, but died either at birth or in her infancy.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A
JANE ‘JENNIE’ GUTHRIE
1791PA –
Born in 1791, Jennie was presumably named after the twin that died, but her grandmothers Jeanette and Jane.
“William Matthews was born in Armstrong County, PA, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a carpenter. For his wife, among the maidens of Armstrong County he chose Miss Jane Guthrie, who was also a native of that county. Soon after marriage they proceeded to Montgomery County, IN, and settled among the early pioneers of that region, where William Matthews followed farming until 1854. (They) came to Illinois with their family, and located on section 29, in Tolono Township. At that time there were only nine families in this locality, who lived amidst timber in the southwestern part of the township. On the north, the nearest settlement was where the city of Urban now stands. (William and Jane) died the following year.”
CHILDREN:
1) Ezekial Matthews (farmer) 1808PA-1875IL m. Clarissa Ann Philips +children
2) Lydia Matthews 1813PA-1885IL m. William Gibson +children
3) Sarah Jane Matthews 1816PA-1891IL m. Joseph McKelvey (farmer) +children
4) Nancy Matthews 1818PA-1882IL m. David Amos Allen (farmer) +children
5) Unidentified Child, probably b. 1820-1824 – d. before 1887
6) Unidentified Child, probably born 1824 – 1828 – d. before 1887
7) John Marion Matthews (farmer) 1830IN-1907IL m.1856 Lovisa Ann Monroe +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
UNIDENTIFIED GUTHRIE
1793PA – ????PA
William and Elizabeth reportedly had 10 children. One child of unknown gender was born about 1793 and presumably died during infancy.
NANCY GUTHRIE
1794PA – 1826PA
“Nancy Guthrie was born in 1794. She married a Mr. Coon and died on 15 March 1826 of consumption leaving a little daughter, Mary Coon, who was born 1 May 1824. She was adopted and raised by her grandmother Guthrie. She married Robert Brown.” If I have the right family from Redbank, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Robert Brown was first married to a Margaret, who was the mother of his children, and later to Mary. They are buried in Frazier Cemetery in Mayport, Clarion, PA.
CHILDREN:
1) Mary Coon 1824PA-1894PA m. Robert Brown. His 2nd marriage. No known children.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A
JOANNA GUTHRIE
1796PA –
Joanna Guthrie was born in 1794. She married Alexander Brown who died 27 May 1860 aged 86 years __ months and 18 days. Buried in Frazier Cemetery in Mayport, Clarion, Pennsylvania. It is unclear whether Alexander and Joanna had children of their own. Alexander’s will includes several small bequests to people with the Brown surname, none identified with a relationship, but the bulk of his estate went to Mary Coon (see above), his wife’s niece, who apparently cared for the couple. Mary was living with them during the 1860 census, which was prior to her marriage to Robert Brown. Joanna presumably predeceased her husband by a matter of months.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: No
JOSEPH BROWNLEE GUTHRIE
1798PA – 1883PA
Born on 29 Dec 1798, Joseph Brownlee Guthrie was the 10th child of William and Elizabeth Guthrie. He married Mary Ann Fleming (1811-1883) on 16 March 1837. They lived in Licking, Porter Township, Clarion, Pennsylvania. He died on 23 September 1833.
CHILDREN:
1) Sarah Everetta Guthrie (dressmaker) 29 Jan 1839PA – 28 Feb 1919 m. Mr Henderson. No children.
2) William Fleming Guthrie 5 Nov 1840PA – 16 Jun 1899PA m1888PA. Jennie Beatty. No children.
3) Joseph Brownlee Guthrie Jr born 25 March 1843 – died 13 Jan 1862 of diphtheria, aged 18.
4) Elizabeth Ann Guthrie born 16 Oct 1849 – died 13 Jan 1862 of diphtheria, aged 13.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No known surviving descendants
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A – No known surviving descendants
Primary Sources
1. Eyewitness Narrative / Legislative Petition
- Petition of Elizabeth Guthrie (formerly Brownlee) to the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated 5 February 1829 (or presented shortly thereafter). Full autobiographical account: emigration with father John Guthrie (1771), settlement near Poke Run, marriage to Joseph Brownlee (1775), his service and injury, Hannastown attack (13 July 1782), captivity details (Buffalo, Niagara sale for rum, Montreal imprisonment), return (July 1783), remarriage to Capt. William Guthrie (July 1784), his ranger command and poverty, and his 1828 wagon death. Successfully resulted in $60 immediate payment + $60 semi-annual annuity.
- Location: Pennsylvania State Archives, RG-7, Records of the General Assembly, Petitions and Miscellaneous Records, 1776–1790 (file reference PP410 or associated with #3245 PA series).
- Published verbatim: Westmoreland Democrat, 24 or 29 May 1899 (widely excerpted/reprinted in histories and online transcriptions).
- Context & access: Richest firsthand primary; core evidence for captivity and family timeline. Digitized excerpts appear in multiple historical society publications; original at Harrisburg archives.
2. Revolutionary War Pension & Affidavit Files
- Pension Claim File W.3245 (Joseph Brownlee, PA). Includes Elizabeth’s widow statements, 1847 application by son Joseph Brownlee Guthrie (for surviving children’s benefits), and affidavits from Elizabeth’s sisters (Sarah Beatty, aged 84 in 1847, North Buffalo Twp., Armstrong Co.; and Jane Beatty). Confirms: Brownlee marriage (~1775–77), his service (Capt. Irwin’s riflemen, prisoner at Long Island, Brodhead/Stewart regiments, Forts Pitt/Laurens), death at Miller’s Fort (1782), Elizabeth & Jane’s capture/sale/return, remarriage to William Guthrie (July 1784), William’s service (May 1776 Capt. James McConnel’s Flying Camp—Trenton & Princeton; 1780 Lt./Capt. in Mathew Jack’s Rangers), move to Armstrong Co., and William’s death (10 Mar. 1828, age 73). Embedded 1786 Orphans’ Court order: William Guthry compensated £8/year for boarding Jane Brownlee (child of deceased).
- Location: National Archives (federal elements) or Pennsylvania State Archives; full file on Fold3/Ancestry (state pension summaries); 1937 typed summary letter from A.D. Hiller widely reproduced.
- Context & access: Central file linking both husbands’ service, Elizabeth’s two marriages, and children. 1847 affidavits provide late-life corroboration from siblings.
3. Military Service Records
- Pennsylvania Archives records for William Guthrie: Enlistment May 1776 (Cumberland Co.) in Capt. James McConnel’s Pennsylvania Company of the Flying Camp (battles of Trenton and Princeton; discharged Jan. 1777). Additional 1780–83 service as lieutenant then captain of frontier rangers (Mathew Jack’s company and independent companies protecting Westmoreland/Armstrong frontiers). State pension referenced in Elizabeth’s 1829 petition.
- Location: Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. XIII, p. 89 (and related muster rolls/volumes); Pennsylvania State Archives military files.
- Context & access: Establishes William’s patriot status (DAR/SAR eligible via this line).
4. Probate, Orphans’ Court & Estate Administration
- Armstrong County Orphans’ Court Records, Vol. 0, p. 140: Petition of (son) William Guthrie as administrator of Capt. William Guthrie’s estate (post-1828). Confirms intestate death and family survivors.
- Location: Armstrong County Courthouse (Kittanning) or microfilm.
- Westmoreland County Orphans’ Court, 7 Nov. 1786: Order for William Guthry to receive compensation for boarding Jane Brownlee (embedded in W.3245 file).
- Note on 1829 Will Index: Westmoreland County Wills Index 1773–1896 lists “Guthrie, William Vol. 2 – p.213 – 1829” (and Vol. 3 references for Salem Twp. William Guthrie will pp.571–573 in some abstracts). Researchers note this is likely the son or another relative, not Capt. William (who died in Armstrong Co. and appears intestate).
5. Land & Deed Records
- Westmoreland County Deeds, Vol. 9, p. 262 (recorded 15 Apr. 1811; executed 10 Apr. 1797): Quit-claim by John Guthrie (Washington Twp.), William Guthrie of Salem Twp. (explicitly “the husband of Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee”), William & James Beatty, and James Porterfield to James & William Guthrie re: estate of John Guthrie Esq. (deceased, Salem Twp.). Consideration: 5 shillings each.
- Location: Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds or microfilm/FamilySearch.
- Additional Westmoreland deeds (Vols. 5, 12, etc.) reference related Guthrie/Brownlee land partitions, patents (e.g., 1791 Crab Tree Run patent), and sales involving executors of James Guthrie (William’s father-in-law/kinsman).
6. Contemporary Newspaper Obituary
- “Distressing Casualty,” The Gazette (Kittanning/ Armstrong Co.), Saturday, 15 March 1828 (also reprinted Susquehanna Democrat and Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, 2 Apr. 1828). Details: William (Redbank Twp.) and son driving wagon at night; fell from high narrow bridge ~5 miles from Kittanning; killed instantly (body/head/limbs “terribly bruised”); age ~73; Revolutionary soldier (Paoli survivor noted); pensioner; “aged widow and numerous relatives” survive.
- Location: Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive, Chronicling America, or local historical society microfilm.
- Context: Confirms exact death date, cause, residence, military service, and family status.
Secondary Sources
WEBSITE: Westmoreland Historical Society – “People Behaved Brave: The Burning of Hanna’s Town.” westmorelandhistory.org (summarizes 1782 events; links to Elizabeth’s story).
WEBSITE: Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project – The Destruction of Hannastown
REPORT: Warren, Anna L., A Captive’s Tale: Story of Elizabeth etc Brownlee Guthrie, a 15 page report by the Westmoreland County Historical Society Research Committee, 1977, reprinted 2002. Available for purchase at the Westmoreland Historical Society.
BOOK: Curtis, Gail A., Woman on Fire: Based on True Events: A Story about Elizabeth Guthrie Brownlee Guthrie, 2019. Available for purchase and/or download at Amazon.
JOURNALS: (downloadable PDF)
BOOK: Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois, Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL, 1887. See sketch of John M. Matthews, son of William and Jane (Guthrie) Matthews, pp.41
Additional Secondary Works Citing Primaries
- Albert, George Dallas (ed.). History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1882 (and later editions). Hannastown chapter draws on petition and Pennsylvania Archives.
- Boucher, John Newton (and others). History of Westmoreland County (multiple vols., 1906–1918). Detailed frontier narratives referencing Elizabeth’s petition and W.3245.
- Hassler, Edgar W. Old Westmoreland: A History of Western Pennsylvania During the Revolution. Pittsburgh: 1900. Chapter on Hannastown destruction cites pension petition.
- Sipe, C. Hale. The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Telegraph Press, 1929 (reprints). Mentions Elizabeth Guthrie (pp. 667, etc.) and captivity.
- Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania (vol. II, pp. 308, 324) and Washington-Irvine Correspondence (pp. 251, etc.). Compiled documentary editions quoting petition and military reports.
- Armstrong County Genealogy Club (acgclub.info). “G” and “B” surname pages. Extensive transcriptions from W.3245, PA Archives Vol. XIII, and blog-sourced deeds/obituary.
- Guthrie, Laurence R. American Guthrie and Allied Families. Privately published, ~1933. Pp. 183 (parentage correction needed), 416–417 (children). Blog explicitly corrects errors on Jeanette/Jennet spouses and descendant moves.
Other Compiled or Interpretive Works
- Various Westmoreland/Armstrong county cyclopedias and biographical albums (late 19th/early 20th c.) that sketch descendants.
- Miller, Kerby A. et al. Irish Immigrants in the Land of Canaan (contextual background on Londonderry Guthries, though not specific to this line).
