2A-L: Evas Caroline Guthrie
EVAS CAROLINE GUTHRIE
Parents: George Guthrie 1830IRE-1873NY and Margaret Walker 1840ENG-1910NY
Birth: 12 May 1861
Birth Location: Alburgh, Grand Isle, Vermont
Marriage: None – Remained Single
Occupation: Seamstress
Death: 8 June 1916
Death Location: St. Regis Falls, Franklin, New York
Notes:
Evas Caroline Guthrie was the eldest daughter of George and Margaret (Walker) Guthrie, of Scot-Irish origins on her father’s side and Anglo-African origins on her mother’s. She was apparently named for her paternal aunt (if I found the right immigration record) as George, 17, and his sister Evas, 13, arrived in St John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1847 from Clomany on the Charles Napier. That was a particularly devastating year in that region of Ireland during the Potato Famine. Her mother, Margaret Walker, arrived about a year later at only 9 years of age, classified as a servant, and by 1851 living in Rouville, Canada East (Quebec), Canada with the family of Walter Billings, a shoemaker, born in the USA, which probably means that the Billings family did not accompany her on her trip across the Atlantic. By 1860, Margaret Walker had left the Billings family and was working as a domestic servant in Alburgh, Grand Isle, Vermont in the household of David Marvin, a Methodist Clergyman. The town of Alburgh is just across the US-Canadian border from where Margaret had previously been living, which seems like the most likely location for George and Margaret to have met.
Our first record of Evas is her Birth Record:
Evas was the only child born in Vermont. The family moved to Saint Lawrence County, New York prior to 1863 when her sister Mary Ann’s birth is listed there. They were definitely settled in Hopkinton by the 1870 census.
1870 Census of Hopkinson, Saint Lawrence, New York:
George K Guthery, 40, white, Ireland, laborer, both parents of foreign birth, cannot read/write
Margaret Guthery, 31, black, England, keeping house, both parents of foreign birth
Eva Guthery, 9, mulatto, Vermont, both parents of foreign birth, attending school
Mary A Guthery, 7, mulatto, New York, both parents of foreign birth, attending school
Wealtha J Guthery, 4, mulatto, New York, both parents of foreign birth
Calista Guthery, 2, mulatto, New York, both parents of foreign birth
Evas’ father, George Guthrie, died about 1873. The NY State census of 1875 shows the family as follows:
Dickinson, Franklin County, NY
Log House (versus a Frame House)
Margaret Guthrie, 34, F, Black, England, (Listed as “now married” rather than “now widowed”) Day Laborer, Alien, Over 21 and not able to read/write
Evas C Guthrie, 14, F, Black, Daughter, Vermont, Single
Mary Ann Guthrie, 12, F, Black, Daughter, St Lawrence, Single
Wealthy J Guthrie, 9, F, Black, Daughter, St Lawrence, Single
Calista R Guthrie, 7, F, Black, Daughter, St Lawrence, Single
Martha L Guthrie 4, F, (Blank), Daughter, St Lawrence, Single
John Francis Guthrie, 1-8/12, M, (Blank), Son, Franklin, Single
Evas’ mother, Margaret Guthrie, remarried soon afterward. Her youngest sibling, John Francis Guthrie took the name of his stepfather, John B Ford, (even though he is biologically / genetically George’s son), since he was raised from a very young age by him, and his descendants are known by the Ford surname.
The 1880 census in Dickinson, Franklin, New York shows a combined household:
FOARD, John B, white, male, 38, married, farmer, Self: Canada, Father: Ireland, Mother: Canada
———Margret, black, female, 39, wife, married, keeping house, Self: England, Father: Africa, Mother: England
———John F, mulatto, male, 6, son, single, Self: New York, (Step)Father: Canada, Mother: England
GUTHRIE, Evas C, mulatto, female, 19, boarder, single, Self: Vermont, Father: Ireland, Mother: England
———-Mary A, mulatto, female, 17, boarder, single, Self: New York, Father: Ireland, Mother: England
———-Wealtha J, mulatto, female, 15, boarder, single, Self: New York, Father: Ireland, Mother: England
———-Clista, mulatto, female, 12, boarder, single, at school, Self: New York, Father: Ireland, Mother: England
———-Lillie, mulatto, female, 9, boarder, single, at school, Self: New York, Father: Ireland, Mother: England
CLARK, Hiram, white, male, 22, single, laborer, Self: New York, Father: Vermont, Mother: Vermont
HANLY, John, white, male, 24, single, laborer, cannot read/write, Self: Ireland, Father: Ireland, Mother: Ireland
On 1 Nov. 1898, Evas C Guthrie of St Regis, New York applied for membership to the Tribune Sunshine Society.
Cynthia May Alden, an American journalist, author, and inventor, entered journalist as the editor of the women’s department at the New York Recorder. In 1897, she moved to the New York Tribune where she held the same position. During her years at the Tribune, she planned and founded the International Sunshine Society. It began with Alden’s practice of sending Christmas cards and gifts to shut-ins, and she slowly expanded it, first to her circle of writers, and later to a membership that peaked at half a million. The focus also shifted to establishing institutions to serve the blind, funded mainly by donations from members as there were no membership dues. {Wikipedia}
Evas’ stepfather, John B Ford, died on 27 Sep 1897 in St Regis Falls, Franklin, New York at 56 years of age. Her mother did not remarry. Evas also remained single. In 1900, her brother is now 26 years old and officially the head of the family.
The 1900 US Census of Waverly, Franklin, New York:
FORD, John, head, white male, Nov 1873, 26, married x1 yr, Self: New York, (Step)Father: Nova Scotia, Mother: England, farmer, owns house, farms
———-Dora, wife, white, female, Jan 1883, 17, married x1yr, 0 children, 0 living, Self/Father/Mother: New York
———-Margaret, mother, white, female, Apr 1839, 61, widowed, 8 children, 5 living, Self: England, Father: Africa, Mother: England, Year of Immigration to US: 1848, Number of Years in US: 52, housework, can read, cannot write
———-Evas, sister, white, female, May 1861, 39, single, S: Vermont, F:New York, M: England, Seamstress
———-Lillie, sister, white, female, Sept 1871, 29, single, S: Nw York, F: New York, M: England, housework
SCHUYLER, Phillip, nephew, white, male, June 1889, 10, S: New York, F: New York, M: New York, at school
FORD, Julian, nephew, white, male, Mar 1894, 6, S: New York, F: New York, M: New York
The 1905 New York State Census of Waverly, Franklin, New York finds Evas still living in the same household.
FORD, John, head, black (white crossed out), male, 31, Nativity: United States, Farmer
—–Dora, wife, white, female, 22, Nativity: United States, house work
—–Frank, son, black, male, 5, Nativity: United States
—–Margaret, daughter, black, female, 2, Nativity: United States
—–Lawrence, son, black, male, 1, Nativity: United States
GUTHRIE, Eva, sister, black, female, 44, Nativity: United States, at home
SCHUYLER, Phillip, nephew, black, male, 15, Nativity: United States, laborer saw mill
FORD, Margaret, mother, black, female, 66, Nativity: England, 50 years in the US
Guthrie, Julian, nephew, black, male, 11, Nativity: United States, at school
Sometime between 1905 and 1910, the household separated into two dwellings, but were still located very close to each other on Dickinson Central Road. John’s family was on there own in one house, while his mother and the other relatives were in the other.
The 1910 Census of Waverly, Franklin, New York lists Evas living in the latter:
FORD, Margaret, head, female, black, 72, widowed, 8 children, 6 living, S: England, F: Africa, M: England, Immigration Year: 1849, cannot read/write, BLIND
GUTHRIE, Evas, daughter, female, mulatto, 48, single, S: Vermont, F: Ireland, M: England, no occupation
—–Julian, grandson, male, mulatto, 16, single, S: New York, F: New York, M: New York, laborer, stone mill
SCHUYLER, Phillip, grandson, male, mulatto, 20, single, S: New York, F: New York, M: New York, culler, lumber yard
Margaret Walker, Evas’ mother, died on 6 October 1910 at St Regis Falls, Franklin, New York.
Evas Guthrie published the following in The Adirondack News from St Regis Falls, Franklin, New York on 1 August 1914:
“I wish to thank the ladies and gentlemen of Mrs MA Rowell’s Sunday school class for the proceeds from their ice cream social, which amounted to $9.00, and also Rev NA Darling and Mrs Fletcher for their silver offerings. God is merciful to his own.“
After the death of her mother, Evas moved in with her sister Lillian (Guthrie) Palmer and husband Alfred.
The 1915 New York State Census:
PALMER, Alfred, head, white, male, 57, Nativity: US, fireman, stone mill
—–Lillian, wife, white, female, 44, Nativity: US, housework
GUTHRIE, Eva C, sister, white, female, 54, Nativity: US, no occupation
The Adirondack News published a thank you from Evas C Guthrie of St Regis Falls on 1 Jan 1916:
“Miss Evas C. Guthrie, who has been an invalid for many years desires to extend her thanks to the Epworth League for the Christmas box presented to her the night before Christmas. She was more than delighted and feels very grateful for their thoughtfulness.”
Evas Caroline Guthrie died at St Regis Falls, Franklin, New York on 8 June 1916 at 55 years of age.
Y-DNA Project Participant: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A – No Descendants
Primary Sources
- Vermont Birth Record (12 May 1861) Alburgh, Grand Isle County, Vermont Vital Records/Town Records. Parents listed as George C. Guthrey (farmer, born Ireland) and Margaret (no surname, born England, resident of Alburgh). Race noted as “white” in the clerk’s entry (contrasting later census racial designations, highlighting 19th-century inconsistencies in racial recording for mixed-heritage families). This is the earliest record of Evas and confirms the family’s brief Vermont residence before moving to New York. Available via Vermont State Archives or microfilm at FamilySearch (Vermont Vital Records, 1760–1954).
- 1870 U.S. Federal Census Hopkinton, Saint Lawrence County, New York, population schedule, p. 346B (Ancestry image via NARA M593, roll 1097). Lists “Eva Guthery,” age 9, born Vermont, “mulatto,” attending school, in the household of George K. Guthery (laborer, Ireland) and Margaret (England, “black”). Siblings and parental foreign birth noted. Illustrates early family migration and racial classification. Digitized on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.
- 1875 New York State Census Dickinson, Franklin County, New York (log house). Lists “Evas C. Guthrie,” age 14, born Vermont, “black,” single, daughter of Margaret Guthrie (day laborer, England, “black,” now married). Includes siblings and step-siblings. Shows post-father’s-death household changes (George died ~1873). Available on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch (New York State Census, 1875).
- 1880 U.S. Federal Census Dickinson, Franklin County, New York, enumeration district 083, p. 571B (Ancestry image via NARA T9, roll 834). Lists “Evas C. Guthrie,” age 19, born Vermont, “mulatto,” single, boarder in the John B. Foard (stepfather) household with mother Margaret and siblings. Occupation implied in household context. Digitized on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.
- 1900 U.S. Federal Census Waverly, Franklin County, New York. Lists “Evas” (sister, age 39, single, born Vermont, seamstress) in the John Ford household with mother Margaret (England, “black”) and sister Lillie. Confirms occupation and ongoing family co-residence.
- 1905 New York State Census Waverly, Franklin County, New York. Lists “Eva” (age 44, “at home”) with mother Margaret and extended family.
- 1910 U.S. Federal Census Waverly, Franklin County, New York (Dickinson Central Road). Lists “Evas” (daughter, age 48, single, born Vermont, “mulatto”) living with widowed mother Margaret (age 72, “black,” blind) and relatives. Highlights her role as caregiver/support in later years.
- 1915 New York State Census Palmer household (sister Lillian and husband Alfred), St. Regis Falls area, Franklin County. Lists “Eva C. Guthrie,” age 54, sister. Final pre-death state census snapshot.
- Tribune Sunshine Society Membership Application (1 November 1898) Evas C. Guthrie of St. Regis, New York. Application to the society founded by Cynthia May Alden for support of shut-ins (expanded to aid for the blind/invalid). Reflects her health challenges and community involvement. Context: Society records or mentions appear in contemporary newspapers; cross-referenced with Alden’s Wikipedia entry for organizational background.
- Newspaper Articles in The Adirondack News (St. Regis Falls, Franklin County, New York)
- 1 August 1914: Thank-you note from Evas for ice cream social proceeds and donations (“God is merciful to his own”).
- 1 January 1916: Thank-you for Christmas box from Epworth League (“who has been an invalid for many years… more than delighted”). These are direct primary quotes showing her voice, gratitude, and invalid status months before death. Likely available via New York State Historic Newspapers (NYS Library) or local microfilm; exact issues not fully digitized in major free collections but quoted verbatim in secondary compilations. No death notice/obituary located in searches of the same paper.
Immigration/Arrival Context Records (Indirect Primary for Family Background) Parents’ arrivals (George and sister ~1847 from Ireland on Charles Napier; Margaret ~1851) appear in Canadian/ship records and 1851 Canadian census (Margaret in Rouville, Quebec). These contextualize Evas’s heritage but are not directly about her.
Secondary Sources
- Wikipedia: Cynthia May Alden Entry on the founder of the International Sunshine Society (Tribune Sunshine Society precursor). Provides organizational context for Evas’s 1898 membership application and her later invalid support (society peaked at 500,000 members, focused on shut-ins and blind aid). No direct mention of Evas but essential for understanding the 1898 application.
Additional Considerations, Nuances, and Research Implications
- Spelling and Racial Variations: Name appears as “Eva/Evas,” “Guthery/Guthrie”; racial descriptors shift (white in birth, mulatto/black in censuses), reflecting era-specific recording biases in mixed-heritage families post-Civil War.
