John Guthrie 1753PA – 1820VA and Margaret “Peggy” Homes 1769IRE – 1829VA

JOHN GUTHRIE
Parents: John Guthrie 1708IRE – 1790PA and Ann Hill (or Emmons) 1715IRE – 1814PA
Birth: 1753
Birth Location: Chester County, Pennsylvania
Marriage: Margaret ‘Peggy’ Holmes
Occupation:
Military Service: Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier, Enlisted 1777 – Discharged 1783
Death: 24 Nov 1820
Death Location: Augusta County, Virginia, USA
Burial: Unknown

MARGARET “PEGGY” HOLMES
Parents: Samuel Holmes and Elizabeth MNU
Birth: 1768
Birth Location: Ireland
Guthrie Children: James, Betsy, Ann, Jane
Death: Before 1820 (Alt: 1829)
Death Location: Augusta County, Virginia, USA
Burial: Unknown

NOTES:
John Guthrie, son of John and Ann Guthrie, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in Maryland in March of 1777 serving as a Private in Captain O’Mara’s Company, Maryland Troops until 1780. He transferred to Captain Benjamin Brigg’s Company in Colonel John Gibson’s Regiment, Virginia Troops. He was discharged from military service on 26 July 1783.

After the war, John Guthrie moved to Augusta County, Virginia, and settled upon lands adjoining his brother, William. John was extremely eccentric, claimed that his brother’s lands infringed upon his and was sued by William. The case was decided against John and it is probable that he was deeply aggrieved by what he considered an injustice done him by the court for he railed out against it. This got him into trouble. Order Book No.22, p.149 “May 18, 1797. John Guthrie for a scurrilous libel to the Court and acknowledged by him, is to be put in the pillory from 11 to 12 o’clock tomorrow.” (Records of Augusta County, VA). (LRG, p.168 and p.695)

John Guthrie is noted to have married a Miss Holmes, whose name we find in trees as Margaret or Peggy Holmes, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Holmes. No details found on the exact date or location of their marriage. The couple is credited with four children of whom very little is known.

The 1810 Census of Augusta Virginia lists the John Guthrie household with 1 male of 26-44 and 2 females 45 and over.

The 28 Apr 1800 sale of 400 acres of land in Augusta County, Virginia to Henry Imboden names them as John Guthrie Jr and wife Peggy.

According to Imboden family research gathered by Mr T. G. Hobbs, this land is mentioned again in the following entries:

From deed book 32, page 73, December 27, 1802, Jane “Impoten”, widow of Henry “Impoten”, deceased, to Frederick “Impoten”, part of tract of 400 acres said Henry, late of Pennsylvania, purchased from John Guthrie Jr. and Peggy, April 28, 1800.

From deed book 32, page 174, March 17, 1803, John Imboden of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, father and heir at law of Henry Imboden, deceased, to Frederick Imboden, one half moiety of a whole tract of 459 acres in Augusta County, Virginia, which said Henry purchased in 1800 from John Guthrie Jr.

From deed book 35, page 17, May 6, 1808, John Sweigart Imboden and Eleanor of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, heirs of Henry Imboden, deceased, to Frederick Imboden of Augusta County, 229 acres: lines and corners: James Steel’s line, Peter Fawver, Stuart. Land bought by Henry Imboden from John Gurhrie Jr and Peggy April 28, 1800, and of record in Augusta County.

The 1820 census of Waynesboro, Augusta, Virginia lists the John Guthrie Senior household with 1M 45 and over, 1M and 2F 26-44, 1F 16-25, and 1M Slave 14-25.

John Guthrie died at the home of his son James on 24 Nov 1820. Margaret’s DOD is a little less certain. She does not appear to be enumerated in the 1820 census, above, if that is indeed the right John Guthrie Senior household. Her DOD has been listed as 1829, source unknown. She has also been incorrectly listed with the 27 Dec 1815 DOD of Margaret (Gilkeson) Guthrie, the wife of John’s nephew, John Guthrie.

CHILDREN: 4

JAMES GUTHRIE
James Guthrie’s name is recorded by Waddell in the History of Augusta County, Virginia, as a soldier in the War of 1812, one of the privates in Capt. Abraham Lange’s Company, Fifth Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. James McDowell. This regiment was out only between 1 Sep 1814 and 30 Nov 1814 and its Augusta County Soldiers were never called upon to face the enemy. They remained encamped on the coast near Williamsburg, Virginia where they complained bitterly of the damp climate, inaction, and restrictions of camp life. (LRG, p.168)
Unknown whether James Guthrie married or had issue.

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Autosomal DNA Participants: No

BETSY GUTHRIE
Over age 20 in 1820. No further information.

ANN GUTHRIE
Over age 20 in 1820. No further information.

JANE GUTHRIE
Over age 20 in 1820. No further information.

Primary Sources

These establish service, residence, land ownership, household composition, legal events, death, and family structure. They are the strongest evidence for lineage proof (e.g., DAR/SAR applications).

Military and Pension Records (NARA RG 15)

• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application File S37968 (John Guthrey/Guthrie/Guthery). National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (images on Fold3 or Ancestry; partial summaries/transcriptions referenced in Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters site and Wardell abstracts). Application executed 8 May 1818 (West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, age 65); pension granted; 1820 statement confirms wife deceased (unnamed), four children (James, Anne/Anna, Betsy, Jane—all over age 20), and residence with son James in Augusta County, Virginia at death on 24 November 1820. Service details: enlisted March 1777 Capt. O’Mara’s Company, Maryland Troops; transferred 1780 to Capt. Benjamin Briggs’ Company, Col. John Gibson’s Virginia Regiment; discharged 26 July 1783. Bounty Land Warrant #691 issued 21 April 1818. Proves military service, death date/place, spouse’s prior death, and children. (Query letter in file distinguishes this John from another Revolutionary War veteran John Guthrie who married Nancy Crump.)
• Pension Roll of 1835 (U.S. Senate document). Lists John Guthry, Private, Virginia line, enrolled 8 May 1818, Augusta County, Virginia; age 69; death 24 November 1820. Confirms pension enrollment and death.

Land and Deed Records (Augusta County, Virginia Courthouse or FamilySearch microfilm/digitized Deed Books)

• Augusta County Deed references to sale of 400 acres by “John Guthrie Jr. and wife Peggy” to Henry Imboden on 28 April 1800 (noted in later transfers: Deed Book 32, p. 73 [December 1802 reference by Jane Imboden widow]; Deed Book 32, p. 174 [March 1803 by John Imboden of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania]; Deed Book 35, p. 17 [May 1808 by heirs John Sweigart Imboden and Eleanor]). Proves marriage to Peggy (wife named), land ownership/sale in Augusta County, and “Jr.” designation (to distinguish from father or brother). Later Imboden family deeds corroborate the original transaction.
• Related land patents or tax assessments (Chester County, Pennsylvania Oxford Township rate books pre- and post-war; Augusta County, Virginia land/personal property tax lists 1790s–1820s). Confirm residency and property.

Court and Legal Records (Augusta County, Virginia Order Books or Lyman Chalkley abstracts)

• Augusta County Order Book No. 22, p. 149 (18 May 1797): John Guthrie acknowledged “scurrilous libel to the Court” and sentenced to the pillory (11 a.m.–noon the next day). Proves residency, personality/land dispute (related ejectment suit with brother William Guthrie as tenant, c. 1792–1795). Abstracted in Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia (relevant volumes).
• Associated circuit court causes or ejectment files (William vs. John Guthery land dispute). Illustrates contentious land issues post-migration.

Census Records (U.S. Federal, digitized on FamilySearch/Ancestry)

• 1810 U.S. Census, Augusta County, Virginia: Household of John Guthrie (1 male 26–44; 2 females 45+; total 3). Supports post-war household (note: Peggy would have been ~41; the older females may indicate a relative, mother-in-law, or indexing/age estimation nuance).
• 1820 U.S. Census, Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia: John Guthrie Senior household (1 male 45+; 1 male + 2 females 26–44; 1 female 16–25; 1 male slave 14–25; 2 engaged in agriculture; total 6). Confirms residency near death, household composition (aligns with children and possible slave ownership), and “Senior” designation.

Other Potential Primary Records (not yet located but recommended to search)

• War of 1812 service for son James (Capt. Abraham Lange’s Company, Fifth Virginia Regiment, September–November 1814; muster rolls or pension if any).
• Augusta County tax lists, church records (Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church membership/baptisms), or Holmes family probate/tax records in Chester County, Pennsylvania or Augusta County, Virginia (for Margaret’s parents).
• No probate/will or administration found for John (1820–1821) or Margaret (pre-1820) in Augusta Will/Probate Books—suggests intestate or unindexed administration under son James. Search FamilySearch “Virginia, Wills and Probate Records” or courthouse.

Secondary Sources

These compile, abstract, or interpret primaries; useful for context but verify against originals.

• Guthrie, Laurence Rawlin. American Guthrie and Allied Families: Lineal Representations of the Colonial Guthries…. Chambersburg, PA: Kerr Print Co., 1933. Pages 167–168 (John m. Margaret “Miss” Holmes; post-war settlement, land dispute, eccentricity), p. 695. Digitized on Internet Archive. Core compiled biography citing original records; notes marriage and family.
• Wardell, Patrick G. Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records, Vol. 2. Summarizes S37968 details (service, 1818 Pennsylvania residence, 1820 Virginia death at son James’s, children names, wife deceased). Reliable pension abstract.
• Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia (3 vols., 1912; reprints available). Abstracts Augusta court orders, deeds, and the 1797 pillory/libel entry. Free online via USGenWeb Archives or HathiTrust.
• Waddell, Joseph A. History of Augusta County, Virginia (or Annals). References son James’s War of 1812 service (private, Capt. Abraham Lange’s Company, Fifth Virginia Regiment under Col. James McDowell, September–November 1814). Provides county context.
• Imboden family research compilations (e.g., by T.G. Hobbs). Detail the 1800 Guthrie-Imboden land sale and subsequent deeds.
• WikiTree profile: Guthrie-6793. Cites S37968 pension, Order Book, deeds, censuses, and 1933 Guthrie book. User-edited but well-sourced with footnotes.