2A-G: William Guthrie
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Parents: John Guthrie 1725 IRE – 1797 PA and Jane Reed 1726 IRE – 1780 PA
Birth: July 1777
Birth Location: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA (County formed in 1773 from Bedford.)
Occupation: Farmer
Marriage (1st): Agnes ‘Nancy’ Dixon about 1802-1803 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Marriage (2nd): Mary Hill about 1808 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 2 April 1865 (Age 87)
Death Location: Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial Location: Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery, Delmont, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
AGNES ‘NANCY’ DIXON
Parents: Samuel Dixon 1745 – 1813 PA and Agnes Simpson 1755 PA – 1839OH
Birth: 1777
Birth Location: Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA (This county was created from Bedford in 1795)
Guthrie Children: John (1803), Samuel Dixon (1805), James (1806)
Death: 31 July 1808
Death Location: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial Location: Poke Run Cemetery, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
MARY HILL
Parents: Unidentified
Birth: About 1788-89
Birth Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Guthrie Children: Nancy (1809), Martha Hill (1811), Jane (1813), Elizabeth (1816), Mary (1818), Jane H (1823), Sarah Ann (1826)
Death: 1860
Death Location: Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial Location: Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery, Delmont, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
NOTES:
William Guthrie was the youngest surviving child of John Guthrie and Jane Reed. His little brother had died during the raid at Hannastown. He was born about July of 1777. After his father’s death he bought the interests of the other heirs in his father’s homestead and lived on it the remainder of his life. He was twice married. His first wife was Agnes Dixon aka ‘Nancy’ who was the sister of his brother James’ wife, Margaret Dixon, the daughters of Samuel and Agnes (Simpson) Dixon. They had three children together, all sons. Nancy died on 31 July 1808 at about 31 years of age. She is buried in Poke Run Cemetery. Having three young boys, William took another wife within a year, Mary Hill. She was born in Pennsylvania about 1788-89. She had seven children with William, all daughters. William and Mary are buried at Delmont Presbyterian Church.
CHILDREN: 10
JOHN GUTHRIE
1803PA – 1863PA
John Guthrie was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on 12 December 1803. He married on 3 May 1827 at the age of 23 to Margaret McQuaide, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (McIlvaine) McQuaide. They settled in Saltsburg, Indiana, Pennsylvania and remained there throughout their married life. John died at 59 years of age on 11 Sep 1863 and is buried at the Old Saltsburg Cemetery. Margaret lived until she was 81 dying on 15 July 1890. Her burial location is unknown.
CHILDREN:
1) Thomas McQuaide Guthrie 1828PA-1902PA (well driller / laborer) m.1852PA Mary Carson +children
2) William Reed Guthrie 1829PA-1920KS (oil laborer / farmer) m1.1856 Mary Laird, m2.1868 Carrie Bertha Miller +children
3) Sterrett John Guthrie 1831PA-1917NE (laborer / farmer) m.1868 Susan Virginia Rader +children
4) Watson “Watt” H Guthrie 1839PA-1875PA (carpenter) m. Margaret Eliza etc McQuown +children
5) Mary Catherine “Kate” Guthrie 1840PA-1909MI m. Edward Payson Strong +children
6) Margaret “Maggie” Dickson Guthrie 1843PA-1924PA – Unmarried.
7) Rebecca Jane “Jennie” Guthrie 1851PA-Aft.1870 – No further info.
8) Ella Guthrie 1852PA-1929 m11876PA John Oscar Alcorn, m2. Alexander Gilmour +children
9) James Page Guthrie 1855PA-1924ID (well driller / engineer) m. Nina Maria Scoville +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No
SAMUEL DIXON GUTHRIE
1805 – 1886
Samuel Dixon Guthrie was born on 5 March 1805. He never married and lived his entire life on the old family homestead in Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. A farmer. He died 15 the age of 81 on 4 April 1886. His remains are buried with his parents at Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery.
Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No Known Descendants
JAMES GUTHRIE
1806 – 1882
James Guthrie moved to Apollo, Pennsylvania and purchased a farm, but engaged in a number of successful businesses. He was a stockholder in the old Warren Bridge. Politically, he was a Whig. He was also one of the founders of the Apollo Methodist Episcopal Church. James was twice married. First to his cousin Sara Beatty, the daughter of John and Jane (Guthrie) Beatty, by whom he had his only child, John Beatty Guthrie. Sarah died at only 21 year of age. Later, James remarried to Mrs Margaret (Beatty) Hall, a widow and sister to Sarah. They had no children. James died in Apollo on 23 Sep 1882 at 76 years of age.
CHILDREN:
1) John Beatty Guthrie 1835PA-1875PA m.1859PA Mary Jane Freetly +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: Yes
AGNESS ‘NANCY’ GUTHRIE
1809 – ????
Nancy Guthrie, born on 1 Nov 1809, was the eldest daughter of William Guthrie and his second wife, Mary Hill. She married David McConnell with whom she had a large family. He was a farmer. David died on 21 Nov 1868 at the age of 66. Nancy survived him by nearly 30 years. She died on 3 Sep 1896.
CHILDREN:
1) William Guthrie McConnell 1830PA-1901PA (carpenter / J.P.) m. Dorcas Margaret Reed +children
2) Martha W McConnell 1834PA-1898PA (aged 65) – Unmarried.
3) Mary Jane McConnell 1835PA-1909 (aged 74) – Unmarried.
4) Margaret Kincaid McConnell 1838PA-1925PA m. John Cannon Steele +children
5) Eliza Agness McConnell 1841PA-1868
6) Samuel D C McConnell 1843PA-1939
7) Sarah Samantha McConnell 1848PA-1911
8) Lucinda Hannah McConnell 1852PA-1926
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No
MARTHA HILL GUTHRIE
1811PA – 1892PA
Martha Hill Guthrie was born on 7 August 1811 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was 25 at the time of her marriage to John Bavard Chambers on 6 May 1837. They lived in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and became parents to three sons and a daughter. Census and other records show that John B Chambers was a Farmer and a Boat Captain, a Railroad Ticket Agent, Dry Goods Merchant, and Postmaster. He was elected as a Democrat to serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1864. In 1870, his personal estate was valued at 1500 and his real estate at 24,000. He was president of the Apollo Savings Bank from 1871-1886. John died 21 Oct 1886 in Apollo and his remains are interred at Riverview Cemetery. Martha survived him by 6 years. “In this place (Butler, PA) at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. D.A. Heck, on Saturday night, January 23, 1892, Mrs Martha Chambers, widow of Mr John B. Chambers of Armstrong county, PA, aged 81 years. The remains of Mrs Chambers were taken on last Tuesday morning to Apollo, Armstrong county for interment.” (Butler Citizen, 29 Jan 1892, Fri., page 2)
CHILDREN:
1) James Hutchinson Chambers 1838PA-1916PA (Real Estate / Store Keeper) m. Kate R Brenner +children
2) Samuel H Chambers 1840PA-1889PA (R R Clerk) m. Mary Jane Richards +children
3) William Guthrie Chambers 1842PA-1920PA (R R Clerk/Merchant) m. Nancy Elizabeth Brenner. No children.
4) Mary Jane Chambers 1844PA-1919A m. Daniel Allen Heck +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No
JANE H GUTHRIE
1813PA – 1813PA
Jane was born on 1 Sep 1813 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She died in her infancy either in 1813 or 1814.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Descendants
ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
1816PA – Bef. 1820PA
Elizabeth Guthrie was born on 3 April 1816 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She died prior to 1820.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Descendants
MARY GUTHRIE
1818PA – 1899PA
Mary Guthrie was born 24 Nov 1818 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Her marriage to Thomas Kirkwood McQuaide at Congruity Presbyterian Church on 9 March 1843. She was 24. Thomas was a farmer. They settled in Salem, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They raised a large family there. Mary died on 17 January 1899 and Thomas later that year. They are buried at Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery.
CHILDREN:
1) Mary Elizabeth McQuaide 1844PA-1932PA m. James Ogden Larimer +children
2) Sarah Jane McQuaide 1846PA-1905PA m.1873PA Robert Harvey Cunningham +children
3) William John McQuaide 1849PA-1889PA m. Martha K Barnes. No children.
4) Agnes Catherine McQuaide 1851PA-1940PA m. John S Barnes +children.
5) Samuel D. Guthrie McQuaide 1854PA-1924PA. Unmarried.
6) James L McQuaide 1857PA-1898PA m. Emma E Dodge. No children.
7) Joseph Reed McQuaide 1858PA-aft. 1889PA m. S.A. (MNU) +children
8) Thomas Andrew McQuaide 1861/62PA-1923PA m. Annie Teresa Claire +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No
JANE HILL GUTHRIE
1823PA- 1904PA
Jane Hill Guthrie, the second of her name in the family, was born on 20 December 1823 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Having been single, she married Archibald Adair within a couple years of her father’s death to Archibald ‘Archie’ Adair. He had been previously married to Margaret (MNU) and had several children from that first marriage.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No Known Descendants
SARAH ANN GUTHRIE
1826PA – 1893PA
Sarah Ann Guthrie was born 10 August 1826 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She married William H Kelly on 17 Jan 1850 in Salem Township. Afterward, they settled in Saltsburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He died on 4 Nov 1867 at only 43 years, 8 months, 26 days of age and is buried at Edgewood Cemetery in Saltsburg. Sarah Ann was 67 at her death on 9 Sep 1893.
CHILDREN:
1) Mary C Kelly 1851PA-Aft. 1866 – No further details
2) Jane Eliza Kelly 1853PA-Aft. 1860 – No further details (possible marriage to William H McQuiston?)
3) Bella Sarah Kelly 1855PA-1930PA m. George L Walter +children
4) Myrtilla Agnes Kelly 1858PA-1941PA – Unmarried.
5) William Guthrie Kelly 1862PA-1943IA m. Ida M Gray +children
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: No
Primary Sources
(Original records created near the time of events by participants or officials; these provide direct evidence of birth/death dates, residences, family relationships, land ownership, and household composition.)
Cemetery and Gravestone Records (tombstone inscriptions and burial registers offer death dates, ages, and spouse links; often the only surviving “vital” marker for this era):
- William Guthrie (b. Jul 1777 Westmoreland Co., PA; d. 2 Apr 1865 Salem Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA), buried Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery, Delmont, Westmoreland Co., PA. Find A Grave Memorial #51110431 (includes basic bio confirming dates and county; one photo attached but no legible gravestone image in public view; maintained/created by contributors).
- Agnes “Nancy” Dixon Guthrie (d. 31 Jul 1808 Westmoreland Co., PA), buried Poke Run Church Cemetery, Poke Run, Westmoreland Co., PA. Find A Grave Memorial #35413975 (explicitly names her as consort/wife of William Guthrie, son of John Guthrie Esq.; one photo attached; created by Burke Stoughton, maintained by Margaret Krecota).
- Mary Hill Guthrie (b. ~1788–89 PA; d. 1860 Salem Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA), buried Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery (same plot as William; confirmed via family compiled records and children’s memorials; no separate Find A Grave memorial located in public searches, but consistent with cemetery association in secondary accounts). Implications: Presbyterian church affiliation ties the family to local congregations (Delmont and Poke Run), useful for potential session/minute books.
Probate and Will Records (key for confirming death date, heirs, property distribution, and spousal status; William’s will directly names or implies children and second wife Mary):
- Last Will and Testament of William Guthrie of Salem Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, dated circa 1864–65 and proved 1865. Westmoreland County Will Book 3, pp. 571–573 (also indexed as Vol. 4 p. 571 in some county will indexes, 1773–1896). Original at Westmoreland County Courthouse or digitized on Ancestry (Pennsylvania Wills & Probate Records collection). Context: Farmer’s estate likely distributes the homestead (inherited from father John) among sons like Samuel Dixon Guthrie (unmarried, lived on farm) and daughters. Edge case: Pre-1850s wills often omit full birth dates but list relationships explicitly.
Land/Deed Records (critical for proving inheritance, residence in Salem Twp., and family connections; William appears as grantee/heir in father’s estate settlements):
- Westmoreland County Deeds, Vol. 3, p. 168 (10 Apr 1797; recorded Nov 1797): James Guthrie and William Guthrie of Salem Township bind themselves regarding Mary Guthrie (widow of John Guthrie Esq.) enjoying personal estate/provisions while unmarried. Witnesses include Samuel Porter.
- Westmoreland County Deeds, Vol. 9, p. 262 (10 Apr 1797; recorded 15 Apr 1811): Quitclaim by John Guthrie (Washington Twp.), William Guthrie of Salem Twp., William Beatty, James Beatty, and James Porterfield to James and William Guthrie for estate of John Guthrie Esq. Witness: Samuel Porter, James Hill.
- Westmoreland County Deeds, Vol. 2 Part 2, p. 562 (Mar 1797): John Guthrie sells 242-acre tract (homestead) to James and William Guthrie (provisions for widow Mary). These deeds confirm William’s lifelong residence on the paternal farm and tie him to siblings (e.g., James). Digitized in county records or Ancestry Pennsylvania Land Records. Nuance: Early deeds use “Guthry/Guthery” spelling variants common in Scots-Irish families.
U.S. Federal Census Records (household composition, occupations as “farmer,” ages, and presence of wives/children; Salem Twp. enumerations place him consistently):
- 1830 U.S. Census, Salem Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (transcribed online at RootsWeb/PAGenWeb; William Guthrie household: males/females matching family sizes post-second marriage).
- 1810, 1820, 1840, 1850, and 1860 U.S. Census, Salem Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (images available on FamilySearch and Ancestry; 1850/1860 likely list William with Mary or widowed, plus children like Samuel Dixon Guthrie on homestead; occupations “farmer”; ages align with 1777 birth). Implications: Pre-1850 censuses are head-of-household only, requiring cross-check with children’s later records; 1860 confirms widowhood after Mary’s ~1860 death.
Church, Marriage, and Other Vital Records (sparse for early 1800s but confirmatory for children’s events tying back to parents):
- Approximate marriages: William to Agnes “Nancy” Dixon (~1802–1803 Westmoreland Co.; inferred from first three sons’ births); to Mary Hill (~1808 Westmoreland Co.; inferred from 1809 daughter birth). No digitized county license found; likely in Westmoreland marriage indexes or Presbyterian session records (Poke Run/Delmont churches).
- Example child event: Marriage of daughter Mary Guthrie to Thomas Kirkwood McQuaide, 9 Mar 1843 (possibly Congruity Presbyterian Church, Westmoreland Co.; referenced in compiled records). Samuel Dixon Guthrie’s unmarried status confirmed via probate/census. Context: Scots-Irish Presbyterian communities kept session books for baptisms/marriages/burials.
Newspaper and Obituary Records (contemporary death notices or family mentions):
- Butler Citizen (Butler, PA), 29 Jan 1892, p. 2: Obituary of daughter Martha Hill Guthrie Chambers (b. 1811; d. 23 Jan 1892), naming parents implicitly via Armstrong Co. residence and quoting interment in Apollo (ties back to William’s family).
Secondary Sources
(Compiled or published works interpreting primaries; useful for context, hypotheses on parents of Mary Hill (unidentified), and descendant lines. Caution: Older books may contain errors or un-sourced assertions; always verify against primaries. The Guthrie Genealogy blog is the most detailed modern synthesis.)
- Guthrie Genealogy Blog: “2A-G: William Guthrie – Guthrie Genealogy”. Comprehensive biographical sketch with exact birth/death dates/places, children’s details, and locations; draws on censuses, will, and deeds (though not footnoted inline). Includes 1892 obituary quote and links to related PA House bio for son-in-law John B. Chambers. Excellent starting point for this specific line.
- Smith, Robert Walter. History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883). Pp. 280–282 illustrations and text on descendants (e.g., James Guthrie of Apollo, son of William; Warren Bridge Co. stockholder; founder of Apollo Methodist Episcopal Church). Full PDF on Internet Archive. Covers family business and civic roles.
- J.H. Beers & Co. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania: Her People Past and Present, Embracing a History of the County and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families · Volume 1, p. 147 (Warren Bridge reference). Google Books digitized edition. Biographical sketches of representative families.
- Guthrie, Laurence Rawlin. American Guthrie and Allied Families (1933). Pp. 416–417 and related sections on Westmoreland Guthries (John Guthrie & Jane Reed line; notes William’s marriages and homestead). Compiled from deeds/wills/censuses; available on Internet Archive. Standard reference for colonial PA Guthries but requires verification (notes spelling variants and allied Dixons).
- WikiTree: William Guthrie (1777–1865) profile. Cites Find A Grave #51110431 and basic parent/spouse links; collaborative but lightly sourced.
- FamilySearch Ancestral Files (e.g., pages for children like James Guthrie L7YY-KT7 or Jane Hill Guthrie KH4C-2MK): Link parents William & Agnes “Nancy” Dixon or Mary Hill; cite some census/will extracts. Free indexed trees with attached records.
- Additional county histories or indexes: Index to Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Wills 1773–1896; Westmoreland deed abstracts (TLC Genealogy or courthouse). Samuel Dixon’s 1813 probate (Agnes’s father) indirectly supports her parentage.
- WEBSITE: Pennsylvania House of Representatives – John B. Chambers. includes bio and photo.
