Guthrie Family Group 3A – Branch A
FRANCIS GUTHRIE SR. (b.1697-1709 – d. abt. 1755PA)
and UNIDENTIFIED SPOUSE
of Coleraine Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of Francis Guthrie Sr
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project: GFG3A – Cluster 1
Reading and Resources

ORIGIN THEORIES

Two major branches exist within Guthrie Family Group 3A:
1 – Francis Guthrie Sr and his American descendants starting out in PA, MD, VA, and TN.
2 – William Guthrie of Harperland, Ayrshire, Scotland with descendants in New Zealand and Canada.
The Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of the two clusters likely lived in Scotland during the 1400s. See the GFG3A main page Guthrie DNA Project section for the latest Big-Y study results.

Previously published family histories have left a few holes in Francis Guthrie’s family story that recent research is finally beginning to fill in. Guthrie Genealogy, in collaboration with GFG3A descendants, blogged the following:
GFG3 Theories: Part 1 (Oct 2019)
GFG3 Theories: Part 2 (Nov 2019)
The Forgotten Sons (Nov 2021)

The research has revealed the identity of Francis Guthrie’s sons: Francis Jr, John, and Robert, plus shown that one son previously attached to the line does not belong there. Unplaced Guthrie lineages genetically related to GFG3A have now become associated with a designated father, as they are found together in various records along this family’s migration track. This also includes some additional lineages needing Y-DNA representation.

THE FAMILY of FRANCIS GUTHRIE SR.

FRANCIS GUTHRIE SR
Parents: Remain Unidentified
Birth: 1697-1709
Birth Location: Unknown, presumably Scotland or Northern Ireland
Occupation: Unknown
Marital Status: Presumably married, Spouse’s identity unknown
Death: About 1755
Death Location: Coleraine, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Burial: Unknown, Presumably in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

MRS. FRANCIS GUTHRIE / IDENTITY UNKNOWN
Parents: Remain Unidentified
Birth: Est. 1700-1710
Birth Location: Unknown
Guthrie Children: Francis Jr, Robert, John
Death: Unknown
Death Location: Unknown
Burial: Unknown

NOTES:
Laurence R Guthrie’s ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ provides the briefest glimpse of Francis Guthrie of Coleraine Twp indicating only that he settled near Middle Octorara Church where the Covenants were renewed in 1743, stating that he was also a Covenanter. There does not appear to be any evidence of Francis attending this church in the Diary of Rev John Cuthbertson, Covenanter Minister of Middle Octorara Church 1751-1791, which included a register of marriages and baptisms, and visitation of parishioners. The only Guthries mentioned therein are from the genetically unrelated GFG2A-Branch H family of John Guthrie and Ann Hill.in Chester, PA.

The earliest record for Francis Guthrie is found in 1751 Coleraine Township, Lancaster, PA on an Assessment of Taxable Inhabitants, which lists Francis Guthry (being taxed as an inmate or landholder) and a Francis Guthry, who is listed as a Freeman (single free man at least 21 years old).

A land warrant was entered 5 April 1753 in Lancaster for Francis Guthry, twenty acres more or less, adjacent his other land on the west of north side thereof Robert Allison & John Gilmore in Colerain Twp, Lancaster County.

On 9 Apr 1754, a survey: tract containing 184 acres surveyed for Francis Guthry (or Gutrah) including 100 acres of a survey formerly made by Saml. Lightfoot for Samuel Stuart by warrant of 8 Aug 1738, wch. was purchased by sd. Guthry who alwo obtained warrant for additions.

Francis Guthrie Sr. is presumed dead by about 1755 in Coleraine, Lancaster, PA. He disappears from the Coleraine Township tax records, and his presumed son, Robert Guthrie, makes his first appearance as a taxable landholder.

Guthrie Children: 3 Known
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Autosomal DNA Participants: Yes

CHILD 1: ROBERT GUTHRIE
Birth 1727 PA – 1789VA
Spouse: Esther Giles
Children:
1.) Ann Guthrie b.1755 – d.bef.1788 m. (FNU) King _children
2.) John Guthrie b.abt.1756 – d.abt.1830OH m. Mary Fuller +children
3.) Phebe Guthrie b.1758MD m. John Gadberry
4.) Mary Guthrie b.1760MD – d.1842 m1.Ephraim Skiles Jr +children; m2. John Scott +children
5.) James Guthrie b.1762 – d.bef.1788
6.) Sarah Guthrie b.1765MD m.1 Isaac Davis; m2. John Van Lear Sr
7.) Richard Guthrie b.1767MD – d.1850VA m. Elizabeth Esther McIntosh +children

CHILD 2: FRANCIS GUTHRIE JR
Birth 1720-1730 – Death 1799-1800 East TN
Spouse: Susannah (MNU)
Theorized Children:
1.) Alexander Guthrie b.1760-66VA m. Jean McFerran +children
2.) Francis Guthrie b.1760-80VA
3.) Nancy Guthrie b.1767-70VA m. Thomas Cribbins +children
4.) James W Guthrie b.abt.1769 – d.abt.1829 East TN m. Isabella Carmichael +children
5.) William Guthrie b.abt.1779 m. Hannah Smiley

CHILD 3: JOHN GUTHRIE
Birth 1730-50 – Death 1819 VA
Spouse: Unidentified
Children:
1.) James Guthrie b.abt.1774MD or VA – d.1850VA m. Elizabeth Casdorph +children
2.) Elizabeth or Susan Guthrie b.1776-80 – d.aft.1830 m. Henry Casdorph +chidren
3.) Alexander Guthrie b.1777PA – d.1850IN m. Eleanor Amis +children
4.) Robert Guthrie b.1778VA – d.1855OH m. Frances Fowler +children
5.) Anne Guthrie b.1778-79VA – d.bef.1809VA m. Elijah Fowler
6.) Mary ‘Polly’ Guthrie b.1780 – d.1831IN m. James Kitchen +children

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1751: PA, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. Tax Collector: Charles McCallister.
This is the first tax year available. There are 2 men named Francis Guthrie on this list. One on the main list of landholders/inmates, and one designated as a freeman. Note that the other freemen are not duplicated on the list indicating that the same Francis Guthrie is not simply listed twice. The very first record provides proof of two men of that name. One Francis Guthrie is presumably a landholder or inmate. The other is single, over 21, and not living with his parent. The two other sons we are watching for, Robert (about 24) and John (probably younger), are most likely still living in their father’s household and are therefore not taxed even though at least one of them is over 21. Next tax year available is 1756. See: FHL 008353956 – Coleraine Twp – Image 14 of 738.

1753: PA, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. Land Warrant.
Francis Guthry is listed for an original warrant of 20 acres. The 1754 survey shows that he purchased the land, but the records don’t list him as the patentee.

1754: PA, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. Property Survey.
A tract of land containing 184 acres and allowance was surveyed 9 Apr 1754 for Francis Guthry (or Gutrah) including 100a of a survey formerly made by Samuel Lightfoot for one Samuel Stuart by warrant of the 8th Aug 1735 which was purchased by said Guthry who also obtained a warrant for addition dated the 5th April 1753… Situate on the Branches of Octoraro in Colerain Township, Lancaster County. This document shows that he was already a land owner by the previously taxed year of 1751, which is why he was listed there. 
See Records of the Land Office, Warrantee township Maps, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. You can see the location of Francis Guthrie’s land on the map.

1755: PA, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. Francis Guthrie, Sr’s Presumed Death.
No probate information has been found to prove that Francis Guthrie died in Lancaster County, PA in 1755 or in any year thereafter. The only clue we have at the moment is his disappearance from the Tax Records and the simultaneous appearance of his son Robert as a taxable landholder. There is no corresponding Lancaster, PA deed to indicate Robert Guthrie purchased the property from another source, so it seems probable that he inherited it from his father.

1756: PA, Lancaster County, Colerain Township. Tax Collector: Gabriel Morrison.
The Return of Taxables lists landholders/inmates: Robert Guttery 5 – 0 and includes a list of freemen: Francis Guttery 50 – 0
The detailed assessment lists Robert Guthrie – Land 40, Grain 3, Horses 2, Cows 2, Sheep 6, Sows 0, Negros 0; and the list of Freemen: Francis Guthrie
Despite there being no Lancaster, PA deeds listing Robert Guthrie as a purchaser of land, by 1756 he is now in possession of property in Coleraine Township. There is also no sign of his father, Francis Guthrie, Sr. The other Francis Guthrie is still there and listed as a freeman indicating that he is still single, over 21, and landless.

Other Notes:
Estimating Francis Guthrie Sr’s DOB…

Since there are 2 men of the same name listed in 1751, both of which would be 21 years of age or older, it is probable that Francis Guthrie Sr was at least 39 years of age (born no later than 1712) in 1751 with his presumed son Francis Guthrie Jr being at least 21 years of age (born no later than 1730). Since presumed son Robert Guthrie’s known age in 1776 is 49, that indicates his approximate birth year was 1727, that would push Francis Sr’s DOB back to no later than 1709 if he was at least 18 years of age at the time of Robert’s birth. We have no other indication of Francis Sr’s estimate birth year, but he was most likely somewhere between 18 and 30 in 1727 creating an estimated birth range of 1697-1709. 

There is no record directly associated with Francis Guthrie Sr that identifies his wife. The only potential clue is found in the 1776 Census of Elizabeth Hundred, Frederick County, Maryland. This census is grouped by gender and age rather than by family, so there is no way to determine if Mary Gutry, aged 61 (born 1715) is associated with the family of Robert & Esther (Giles) Guthrie who was living there at the time. She is too young to be Robert’s mother, who was then 49. Mary would have been 12 at the time of his birth. She could potentially be a second wife for Francis Guthrie, and therefore his widow, a spinster sister living with her nephew Robert, or one of Francis’ other children.

There is one other Guthrie listed in the early land warrants for Lancaster County. John Guthry entered a warrant just 2 months after Francis Guthery’s 1753 entry, putting them both in Coleraine Township at the same time. There are a few other entries under the name John Guthry creating a property on Octorara Creek and crosses the Chester-Lancaster County line. These entries have been attributed to GFG2A-Branch H’s John Guthrie who m. Ann Hill. This family arrived from Ireland about 1730 on the same ship as the Gilkesons. His primary residence became Chester County, PA. The records of Middle Octorara Church’s Rev. John Cuthbertson show that John Guthrie’s family were associated with his church.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG3A
Group Designation: GFG3A – Cluster 1

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-BY64289 / R-BY12121

Y-DNA Matches
Kit 8393 +FF + Big-Y
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Esther Giles > John Guthrie / Mary Fuller > William Guthrie / Elizabeth Rigney > Isaac Guthrie / Rebecca F Kirk (GGP)

Kit 44350
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Esther Giles > John Guthrie / Mary Fuller > William Guthrie / Elizabeth Rigney > William Guthrie / Mary Jane Coulter > John Livingston Guthrie / Susan Emmerline Crane (GGP)

Kit 129769 +FF + Big-Y
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Frances Fowler > Preston Guthrie / Eleanor Sprouse > Charles Guthrie / Mary Jane Brammer (GGP)

Kit 206677
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie / Elizabeth McIntosh > William Guthrie / Jane Rayburn (GGP)

Kit 208725 + FF + Big-Y
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Alexander Guthrie / Eleanor Amis > John Guthrie / Amanda J Talbert (GGP)

Kit 645225 (+FF)
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie / Elizabeth Casdorph > Henson Guthrie / Elizabeth Cavender > James Lewis Guthrie / Henrietta Casdorph > Orlando C Guthrie / Emma Beheler (GGP)

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits

Kit 180186
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Frances Fowler > (No Further Lineage Provided)

Kit 194979
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Alexander Guthrie/Eleanor Amis > John Guthrie/Lucinda MNU > Marion Peter Guthrie/Elvina Lewellen > Maude Leona Guthrie/Edward Herman Gottlieb Johann Niewald (GGP)

Kit 272896
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > William Guthrie/Jane MacLaren Rayburn > Lucinda Guthrie/Edward Clarke Hale > Mary Gertrude Hale/John Edward Hammer > Clarence Edward Hammer/Mable Ruth Steele (GGP)

Kit 274401
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Mary Polly Guthrie/James Kitchen > Mary Polly Kitchen/Samuel Newhouse > George W Newhouse/Nancy G Kirkpatrick > Amanda J Newhouse/George Ivor Sears (GGP)

Kit 284995
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > William Guthrie/Jane MacLaren Rayburn > Lucinda Guthrie/Edward Clarke Hale > Mary Gertrude Hale/John Edward Hammer > Clarence Edward Hammer/Mable Ruth Steele (GGP)

Kit 308969
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > William Guthrie/Jane MacLaren Rayburn > Lucinda Guthrie/Edward Clarke Hale > Mary Gertrude Hale/John Edward Hammer

Kit 348599
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > William Guthrie/Jane MacLaren Rayburn > Lucinda Guthrie/Edward Clarke Hale > Mary Gertrude Hale/John Edward Hammer (GGP)

Kit 329263
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Alexander Guthrie/Eleanor Amis > Matilda Guthrie/Thomas Carr > Andrew Carr/Mary Ann Irwin (GGP)

Kit 387765
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Frances Fowler > Preston Guthrie / Eleanor Sprouse (GGP) +more

Kit 484975 (Male Guthrie with a FF Kit)
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Casdorph > Henson Guthrie/Elizabeth Cavender > Mason Calvin Guthrie Sr/Eliza Catherine Asbury (GGP)

Kit B91888
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Casdorph > Henson Guthrie/Elizabeth Cavender > John Guthrie/Drucilla Hensley > Edgar Sherman Guthrie/Julia Ann Haynes (GGP)

Kit B108151
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Robert Guthrie / Frances Fowler > Preston Guthrie/Eleanor Spouse > Charles Guthrie/Mary Jane Brammer (GGP)

Kit B166603
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Alexander Guthrie/Eleanor Amis > Gradison Austin Guthrie/Eliza Hollingsworth > Rebecca J Guthrie/George Fitzsimmons > George Thomas Fitzsimmons/Sophia Alice Michael (GGP)

Kit B194979
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > Alexander Guthrie/Eleanor Amis > John Guthrie/Lucinda MNU > Marion Peter Guthrie/Elvina Lewellen > Maude Leona Guthrie/Edward Herman Gottlieb Johann Niewald (GGP)

Kit B260602
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > Cassandra Guthrie/John Jaheil Graham > David Floyd Graham/Sarah Ann Fuller > Mary Olive Graham/Ira Westbrook Kenward (GGP)

Kit B557178
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Casdorph > John Guthrie/Mary Wallace > Harriet Guthrie/Jasper Hamilton Anderson Bonham > Albert Wagner Bonham/Martha Bond > Mabel Octus Bonham/Jonathan Wright Child (GGP)

Kit B572523
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Casdorph > John Guthrie/Mary Wallace > Harriet Guthrie/Jasper Hamilton Anderson Bonham > Albert Wagner Bonham/Martha Bond > Mabel Octus Bonham/Jonathan Wright Child

Kit B577411
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > Robert Guthrie/Esther Giles > Richard Guthrie/Elizabeth Esther McIntosh > William Guthrie/Jane MacLaren Raburn > James Rayburn Guthrie/Mary Burke Snidow > John Christian Snidow Guthrie/Luna Virginia Slusser (GGP)

Kit B628397
Francis Guthrie Sr / Unk > John Guthrie / Unk > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Casdorph > John Guthrie/Mary Wallace > Harriet Guthrie/Jasper Hamilton Anderson Bonham > Albert Wagner Bonham/Martha Bond (GGP)

This list does not yet include lineages of participant kits accessed only at AncestryDNA.

New genetic genealogy tools for Big-Y testing now provide visual results showing the points in the timeline where individual branches within each group diverged. The most recent common ancestor between GFG3A – Branch A and Branch B lived around 1450-1500. If you are a Guthrie DNA Project member at FTDNA sign in to view the Group Time Tree for GFG3A.

READING and RESOURCES

GUTHRIE GENEALOGY: BLOG ENTRIES
GFG3 Theories: Part 1 (Oct 2019)
GFG3 Theories: Part 2 (Nov 2019)
The Forgotten Sons (Nov 2021)

MAP: COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, LANSTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA WARANTEE MAP

BOOK: Ellis, F., Evans, S. (1883). History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. United States: Everts & Peck.

DOCUMENTS: Warrant Registers, 1733-1957, Records of the Land Office, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum commission, Pennsylvania State Archives.

DOCUMENTS: Land Survey Images, Records of the Land Office, Copied Surveys, 1681-1912, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives

DOCUMENTS: Patent Indexes, 1684-c1957, Records of the Land Office, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum commission, Pennsylvania State Archives.

WEBSITE: Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church

DOCUMENTS: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania tax records, 1748-1855 : arranged alphabetically by political subdivision, Digital Repository: FamilySearch.

DOCUMENTS: Tax Records are available for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on FHL Film #008353956 for the following years:
1751, 1756-1759, 1763, 1769-1773, 1775, 1777-1783, 1785-1788, 1790-1793, 1797-1798, 1800-1803, 1805-1814, 1817-1822, 1824-1827, 1829-1833, 1835, 1837, 1839-1846, plus additional undated and/or partial tax records.

Types of Tax Records:
1) Return of Taxables: a list of names with taxable property, no value assigned
2) Assessment: a list of names with taxable property values
3) Rates: a list of names with the amount of tax

Categories of Taxables:
1) Landholder – held land by lease or deed (PA taxed the primary occupant)
2) Inmate – married or widowed, landless (contract labor)
3) Freeman – single, free men at least 21 years of age (as of 1718) out of servitude or apprenticeship at least 6 months. Before 1755 single men living with their parents were not taxed. 
4) Nonresident landowner – owner of unseated (unoccupied) land
Source: 18th Century Tax (General Information)

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