Guthrie Family Group 3A
JAMES W GUTHRIE c1769 PA or VA – c1829TN and ISABELLA CARMICHAEL
of Greene County, NC, The Southwest Territory, Green County, TN

JAMES W GUTHRIE
Parents: Francis Guthrie Jr 1720-30 – 1799-1899TN and Susannah (MNU)
Birth: About 1769
Birth Location: Virginia, probably in Augusta or Botetourt County, Virginia
Marriage: Mrs. Isabella (Carmichael) Trotter on 15 Feb 1798 in Jefferson County, TN
Occupation: Ferry Operator / Ordinary Keeper
Death: About 1829
Death Location: Greene County, Tennessee, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Greene County, Tennessee, USA

ISABELLA CARMICHAEL
Parents: James Carmichael (c1733PA) and Susannah McBrayer (c1749)
Birth: About 1769 (unverified)
Birth Location: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (unverified)
Marriage #1: Alexander Trotter (a millwright) about 1787 (he died before 16 Nov 1795)
Trotter Children: Susannah Trotter (1789), David Trotter, Joseph Trotter
Guthrie Children: Andrew S Guthrie (Adopted/1801), James G Guthrie (1809)
Death:
Death Location: Unknown, presumably in Greene County, Tennessee, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Greene County, Tennessee, USA

NOTES: Prior to the discovery of “The Forgotten Sons” (Guthrie Genealogy Blog), James W. Guthrie’s line was directly linked by ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ author, Lawrence R Guthrie, as a “supposed” son of Francis Guthrie Sr, who could have been born as early as the 1690s, and would have had to be a hundred or so by the time he reached the end of his life in Eastern Tennessee. The discovery that Francis Guthrie Jr was indeed a real person documented with his father in the early tax records of Pennsylvania provides us with the missing link.

Francis Guthrie Jr had come from Coleraine Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and settled in what was at the time part of Augusta County, Virginia. Presumably, about the 1760s, he married there. One document for James W Guthrie identifies his mother as “Susannah”, but there is an abundance of women by that given name in this line. James’ mother-in-law, Susannah (McBrayer) Carmichael, was also of the same name. So, there could still be some uncertainty about the identity of Francis Guthrie Jr’s wife. Records below show that she may also have a tie to the King family from Virginia.

The area where the Guthries were living became Botetourt County, Virginia in 1769, which is the year James W Guthrie is believed to have been born. The 1785 Census of Botetourt County, Virginia shows the Francis Guthrie household with 10 white persons, 1 dwelling house, and no other buildings. The 1787 Personal Property Tax Lists for Botetourt had previously listed Francis Guthrie and eldest son Alexander, but this was the first year James Guttry showed up as “1 white male tithable over 16 and under 21, with 1 horse.” James shows up again in Botetourt Tax records for 11 May 1790 as “1 white male tithable over 16, 3 horses.”

His sister Nancy Guthrie married Thomas Cribbins in Botetourt County, Virginia on 9 Oct 1787, and his brother Alexander married Jean McFerran there on 24 Nov 1791. The former couple moved to Sumner, TN, while the latter moved to Jefferson County, TN.

Francis Guthrie Jr, James, and other family, lived in Botetourt at least through 1793, after which Francis shows up in the records of Hawkins County, an area of Tennessee that was once part of North Carolina, and later known as the Territory South of the Ohio River and/or the Southwest Territory.

In January of 1795, James Guthery and Archibald Simpson secured a 200 acre NC Patent Grant No. 645. The Greene County, Tennessee Deed Book 2, p.455 shows that James Guthrey of Greene, Territory South of the Ohio River, purchased 300 acres on Lick Creek in Greene County from Robert Stevenson of Woodford, KY. In the early days, he appears to be a single man building up his property and community. He was assigned as overseer of the road near Lick Creek and from Blue Springs to Bulls Gap. In 1797 the court permitted him to keep a Ferry over Lick Creek near his house in order to provide boats and crafts to convey travelers over the creek, including horses and carriages.

James Guthrie married a widow, Isabella (Carmichael) Trotter, who had 3 children. Their marriage took place on 15 Feb 1798 in Jefferson County, TN, which is where his brother Alexander had settled. James and Isabella went several years without any children of their own. Their son, Andrew S Guthrie, born 28 Dec 1801, is known to be adopted. His birth father moved to Mississippi when he was just a boy and left him in the care of relatives, presumably James and Isabella. Andrew S Guthrie’s direct male descendants do not possess GFG3A Y-DNA, indicating that the relationship was not via a Guthrie father. See Guthrie Family Group 10. Finally, the couple had a son born on 8 July 1809, James G Guthrie.

James W Guthrie continued to be active in the community. He served as a Justice of the Peace for Greene, TN. He was a trustee of the Friendship Meeting House. At 53, James Guthrie wrote his will on 2 Feb 1822 naming his wife Isabella, son James G., Guthrie, stepchildren Susannah Patterson and Joseph Trotter, and his mother, Susannah Guthrie. He did not name Andrew Guthrie. James died in Greene County, Tennessee sometime between the 1822 writing of his will and 26 Oct 1829 when the will was executed, likely in 1829.

Step-Children: 3
Adopted Children: 1
Biological Children: 1
Y-DNA Project Participants: Only Andrew’s Children (GFG10) / None from James G’s Children
Autosomal DNA Participants: Only Andrew’s Children (GFG10) / None from James G’s Children

READING and RESOURCES

BOOK: Guthrie, Laurence R (1933). ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’, pp.379-383. The Kerr Printing Company, Chambersburg, PA.
Note: Additional information and corrections have been discovered for this family.

ARTICLE: ‘The Forgotten Sons‘, by Ann Guthrie, 16 Nov 2021, Blog Article, Guthrie Genealogy: Guthrie Ancestry and Genetic Genealogy.
Note: Discussion and documentation for the correct sons of Francis Guthrie Sr.

DOCUMENTS: NC Patent Grant No. 645 issued to James Guthery and Archebald Simpson for 200 Acres. Jan 1795.
Hawkins County, Tennessee Circuit Court Minutes 1810-1821, p.64, Ref. P-124. W.P.A. Records; The Tennessee Historical Records Survey Division of Community Service Programs Work Progress Administration, Mountain Press, Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

DOCUMENTS: General Index to Real Estate Conveyances – Greene County, TN – REVERSE (Grantees)
FHL Film #007896705 Images 367 – 370 of 536
Guthrey, James from James Stevenson (Atty) for Robert Stevenson, 300, Book 2, Page 455
Guthrie, Adam from North Carolina Grant – 123, Book 3, Page 454
Guthrie, James from James Ashmore – 13 Aug 1796 – 230, Book 6, Page 5
Guthrie, John et al from Elizabeth Morgan (Rufus Morgan Est) – 450, Book 16, Page 374
Guthrie, John from Peter Brown – Land – Book 16, Page 423
Guthrie, James from James Hays – 2 Trs – Book 24, Page 81
Guthrie, James G from Tennessee Grant – 3200 – Book 25 – Page 460
Guthries, Lewis & James from Andrew G Rader – 102, Book 29, Page 477
Guthery, William from John H Craig (By Shff) 130, Book 36, Page 394
Guthrie, William from Nancy Craig, INT, Book 36, Page 609

DOCUMENTS: General Index to Real Estate Conveyances – Greene County, TN – DIRECT (Grantors)
FHL Film # 007896705 Images 96 – 99 of 536
Guttery, William to Robert Smiley, 105, Book 4 – Page 319
Guthrie, James (By Shff) to James Hays – 580, Book 4 – Page 374
Gutherie, John to Charles Miller – 4 Trs, Book 17 – Page 273
Guthrie, John et al to George Gordon 17 July 1829 – 1500, Book 19 – Page 20
Guthree, John to John Henderson, Land, Book 20, Page 228
Guthrie, James G. et al (By C & M) to Caroline & James Lee – Decree, Book 22, Page 412
Guthrie, James G. to John C Martin – 500, Book 25, Page 432
Guthrie, William to D.R. Gass TR, T.D., Book 36, Page 280
Guthrie, Andrew to Henry Dean – 11 Mar 1867 – Land – Book 37 – Page 43

DOCUMENTS: Surveyor’s Books, v. 1-5, 1824-1905 – Greene County, TN, FHL Film # 008658625
Index – IMG 13 of 773 – Guthrie, James G.,Book 3, No. 104
Surveyor’s Book 3 – No. 104 – Survey for James G. Guthrie

DOCUMENTS: Frederick County, Virginia, Deed Books, v. 27-28, 1800-1804, FHL Film #008190168
Property Sale – IMG 362 – 363 of 644
30 Oct 1802 – James Guthrie and Isabella his wife, of the county of Greene and state of Tennessee, and George Wright and Mary his wife of the county of Hawkins and state aforesaid of the one part, and Anthony Rittenour of the county of Frederick and state of Virginia of the other part… Guthrie and Wright for consideration of $2000 sell a parcel of land in Frederick County containing 202 acres being the tract granted by the late Lord Fairfax to James King late of the said county, deceased by patent bearing the date 5 Jan 1768. Signed by James Guthrie, Isabella Guthrie, George Wright, and Mary Wright. At a court held for Frederick County the 6th day of December 1802, this indenture was proved by the oath of Samuel Kerchewal, David Carlisle, and Samuel Kerchewal Jr and ordered to be recorded.

DOCUMENTS: Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927 – Greene County, TN
Wills, 1828-1854 – Index: Guthrie, James – Page 26
Will of James Guthrie, Deceased – Monday 26th October 1829. (p26) (119)

DOCUMENTS: Greene County Tennessee Wills, 1828-1931 – Last Will and Testament of James Guthrie 26 Oct 1829 – Wills, Vol. 1-2, 1828-1897. Volume 1, Page 26, FHL Film #004776296, IMG 49 of 710.

DOCUMENTS: General Index to Deeds, v.1-2 1787-1906 – Hawkins County, TN, FHL Film # 00789631
Letter “G” Index of Conveyors (Grantors) starting on IMG 90 of 592 (Left Side) to IMG 102
1794 – Francis Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 159 to John Morrison
1794 – Francis Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 200 to Daniel Ross
1798 – Francis Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 366 to David Kinkead
1796 – Francis Guthrey – Book 3 – Page 128 to David Kinkead
1797 – Francis Gaithery – Book 3 – Page 175 to Samuel Curry
IMG 91
1808 – James Guthrie – Book 6 – Page 41 to Simpson & Maxwell
IMG 92
1817 – Guthries & Simpson – Book 7 – Page 79 – Grant

Letter “G” Index of Conveyees (Grantees) starting on IMG 90 of 592 (Right Side) to IMG 102
1793 – Francis Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 126 from Francis Mayberry
1794 – Francis Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 141 from James Blair
1799 – James Guthrey – Book 2 – Page 458 from Thomas King
IMG 91
1797 – Francis Guthery – Book 3 – Page 168 – from John Marriette
1816 – Lewis Guthrie – Book 30 – Page 359 – from Wm Keele & wife
1881 – L. W. Guthrie – Book 32 – Page 15 – from J J Keeler

DOCUMENTS: Hawkins County, Tennessee Wills 1779-1975,
Probate Court, Index to Wills – A-Z
Wills – FHL Film # 004750386 – 3095 Images
1963, Dec 13 – Gutherie, Birdie A (Gutherie, Harlen & Guthrie, Willard) – 1970 July 7 [IMG 899-903]
1853, Feb 12 – Guthrie, James G. (Guthrie, Mary Ann, Simpson, James K & Robert) – 1853 Term [IMG 904-909]
1913, Jul 19 – Guthrie, Lewis W. (Guthrie, Floyd A & Long, Newton) – 1914 Jul 17 [IMG 910-911]

FIND-A-GRAVE MEMORIALS:
James G. Guthrie 8 Jul 1809-16 Mar 1853, Burial Old Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rogersville, Hawkins, TN
Mary Ann Simpson Dec 1814 – Jan 1857, Burial Old Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rogersville, Hawkins, TN

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