Guthrie Family Group 5 – Branch H
Mary ‘Polly’ Guthrie (c1773VA – aft.1830KY) and John Frawner
of Fauquier County, VA and Woodford County, KY

MARY GUTHRIE aka ‘POLLY’
Parents: Thomas Guthrie Sr 1744 – 1837KY and Mildred Howell 1748 VA – 1824KY
Birth: about 1773
Birth Location: Unverified, probably Virginia
Marriage: John Frawner m. 23 Nov 1797 in Woodford, Kentucky, USA
Frawner Children: Yes
Death: aft. 1830 (One unsourced tree lists 5 Apr 1854)
Death Location: Unknown, presumably in Woodford County, Kentucky, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Woodford County, Kentucky, USA

JOHN FRAWNER or FRAUNER
Parents: Unknown
Birth: about 1772
Birth Location: Unvknown
Occupation: Unknown, probably a Farmer
Military Service: Unknown, eligible for War of 1812
Death: Bet. 1810 – 1820
Death Location: Unknown, presumably in Woodford County, Kentucky, USA
Burial: Unknown, presumably in Woodford County, Kentucky, USa

NOTES:

Mary Guthrie, known as Polly, is listed with a birth year of about 1773. The 1810 census lists the inferred spouse of John Frawner as being 26-44 (born 1766-1784). The 1820 census lists Mary Frawner as 45 and over (born before 1765). The 1830 census lists her as being 50-59 (born 1771-1780). With her parents’ marriage date unknown, her own birth date is somewhat fluid.

With the shift in her father, Thomas Guthrie’s origin story, it seems likely that Polly was born in Virginia rather than Pennsylvania, although that too is open for future revelations. The family leased an apple farm in 1792 in Fauquier County, Virginia, but apparently only remained there for a year or so. The family story indicates they moved to Woodford, KY by 1793, while tax records confirm their presence by 1797. That was also the year of Polly’s marriage to John Frawner.

We know of three children born to this couple, but census records suggest there may have been more. It is also possible that this was a mixed-generation household. as there is 1M of 45+ and 1M 26-44 living there. By 1810, John and Polly had already been married for 13 years, so all of the children are probably theirs.
John Frawner – 1810: 1M 45+, 1F 26-44, 1M 26-44, 1M and 1F 10-15, 3M and 1F under 10. Total Persons: 9
Mary Frawnen – 1820: 1F 45+, 1M and 1F 16-25, 3M 10-15, 1M under 10. Engaged in Agriculture: 2. All other persons except Indians not Taxed: 6. Total Persons: 13
Mary Fraaner – 1830: 1F 50-59, 3M 20-29, 1M 15-19. Total Persons: 5

John and Polly were members of Forks of the Elkhorn Church.

“The will of Francis Peart, in Woodford County, 1815, directed that much of his property should be given to the County of Woodford for a free school, to be maintained by the rent of the land. The school or college was to be called after his name, and to be built on land on South Elkhorn in Woodford and Scott where John Frauner was living at that time. What disposition was made of this bequest is not known.” (Forks of Elkhorn Church, p.10)

John Frawner died sometime between 1810 – 1820. It is unknown whether he is the John Frawner who was a private soldier during the War of 1812 serving in the 5th Virginia Militia. 25,010 Kentuckians served the US during the war of 1812. Over half of Americans killed in the war – about 1,200 men – were Kentuckians. (PBS: War of 1812. Kentucky Studies) If John Frawner was a soldier of this war, no record has been found that positively links this man to a specific record of service.

Mary is listed as the HOH during the 1820 and 1830 censuses.
Children Under 13 in 1810 Census: 1M and 1F 10-15, 1F under 10.
Children Under 23 in 1820 Census: 1M and 1F 16-25, 3M 10-15, 1M under 10.
Children Under 33 in 1830 Census: 3M 20-29, 1M 15-19
Note that eldest daughter Elizabeth married in 1817, so she would have been out of the household, which leaves the expected numbers of children at home in 1820.

The burial place for John and Polly (Guthrie) Frawner has not been found.

Frawner Children: 7
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

CHILD 1: ELIZABETH FRAWNER
Born: 9 Sep 1798 KY – Died: 16 Apr 1834 KY @ Age: 35
Spouse: Gabriel Smith m. 10 June 1817 in Woodford, KY
Smith Children: Yes
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

Notes:
Elizabeth Frawner was born in Kentucky on 9 Sep 1798 about 10 months after her parents’ marriage. She is very likely the eldest of the children. She would be the daughter of 10-15 in 1810. Elizabeth was no longer in her parents’ household by 1820. She had married on 10 June 1817 to Gabriel Smith (1795-1853). Elizabeth was the mother of 1 son, George W Smith, and 5 daughters, Mary Mildred Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Catharine Frances Smith, Gabriella Smith, and Agnes Smith. The younger lived only a year. The year following daughter Agnes’ death in 1833, Elizabeth also died. She was only 35 years old, her death coming on 16 April 1834.

Within a year of her death, Gabriel Smith married one of Elizabeth’s cousins, Agnes Guthrie (1803-1884), the daughter of James Guthrie (1779-1840) and Elizabeth Gibbs (1780-1859). This couple had no known children. Between 1850 and 1860, the family moved from Woodford to Shelby County, Kentucky. Gabriel Smith died 7 April 1853 and Agnes Guthrie thirty years later on 14 June 1884. Agnes is buried at Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky.

1.) Mary Mildred Smith: 2 Jun 1818 KY – 18 Apr 1915 MO m. Thomas Smith Ragland +children
2.) George W Smith: 28 Nov 1818 KY – 10 Mar 1881 MO m1. Susan A Smith +child; m2.1861MO Mrs Maria Barns (Adams) Vanauglen
3.) Elizabeth Smith: abt.1825 KY – 1866 MO m.1842KY Josephus McGrew +children
4.) Catharine Frances Smith: 27 Dec 1826 KY – 14 Mar 1899 MO m.1845MO James Morrison McGrew +child
2.) Gabriella Smith: 19 Apr 1830KY – 18 Aug 1911MO m.1849KY Robert Wilmot +children
3.) Agnes Smith: 3 Jun 1832KY – 9 Jul 1833 KY @ 1 year of age

CHILD 2: GEORGE FRAWNER
Born: 1801 KY – Died: Before 1850 IL @ Age: Unknown
Spouse: Caroline Rodgers m. abt. 1825-1830 probably in Woodford County, Kentucky
Frawner Children: Yes
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

Notes:

One of the challenges with the Frawner surname is transcription error. The “F” is frequently misinterpreted as a “T” or the name is altered, as with the military headstone for his son, Marcus, whose surname is listed as “Framer” rather than “Frawner”. (See Find-a-Grave ID 3209425).

George Frawner was born in Kentucky in or about 1801. He was likely the eldest son of the family, and would have been the boy of 10-15 in 1810 and single young man of 16-25 in 1820 listed in his parents’ households during those census years.

By 1830, George Frawner had already established a household of his own. He was 30-39 years of age, his spouse 20-29, with one daughter under the age of 5. This suggests their marriage date was between. 1825-1829. They set up their home in the Northern District of Woodford County, Kentucky where they remained until after the 1840 census. At that time they were listed as: 1M and 1F 30-39, 2M 5-9 and 1F under 5. George was employed in Manufacture and Trade. These numbers also reveal that the daughter who was previously listed in 1830, was no longer with the family in 1840, suggesting that she had died prior to that date.

Bet. 1840-1845, the family moved to Pike County, Illinois where their youngest son. John Francis Frawner was born in January 1846. All of them make an appearance on the 1850 census, which is difficult to track down as Family Search transcribes the name as Frammer and Ancestry as Francone. They were listed at Township 6 S 5 W in Pike County. The Pike County, IL Section Township and Range Map identifies this as the area of Atlas, Pike, IL.

George Frawner Sr is presumed to have died sometime between 1850 and 1860. Caroline is found in 1860 living in the home of her daughter, Mary Ellen (Frawner) Whorley and family. By 1870, her daughter was widowed and remarried to Alexander Bell, and Caroline is presumably still with her, although in a bizarre original transcription error Caroline Frawner is listed as Charles Trauner, a male aged 63. She is still living with the Bell family in 1880, although they moved to Milford, Barton, Missouri. This time she is actually indexed under the correct name, Caroline Frawner, 74, homeworker and mother-in-law. That census is the last record found for Caroline. She died sometime after 1880 probably in Missouri.

1.) (FNU Daughter) Frawner: 1826-1830 KY – 1830-1840 KY
2.) Marcus D Frawner: 1832 KY – 20 (or 26) Sep 1865 TX (Civil War – bur. LA) m1.1855 Lucy Billings -no children; m2.1864IL Mrs Mary Ann (Snyder) Arterbury -no children
3.) George Frawner: 1801 KY – bet.1850-60 IL m.1825-9KY Caroline Rodgers +children
4.) Mary Ellen Frawner: 1838KY – aft.1880MO m1.1859 Elihu Worley +child; m2.1865IL Alexander Bell +children
5.) Maria Della Frawner: 1840KY – 1889MO m.1857 William Brasier +children
6.) John Francis Frawner: 28 Jan 1846KY – 15 Apr 1926KS m1.1869IL Mary Catherine Ogle +children; m2.1881KS Martha Jane Sawyer +children

CHILD 3: (FNU FEMALE) FRAWNER
Born: 1801-1810 KY – Died: Unknown @ Age: Unknown
Spouse/Marital Status: Unknown

CHILD 4: JOHN FRAWNER
Born: 1801-1810 KY (Alt. 1803) – Died: Unknown @ Age: Unknown
Spouse/Marital Status: Unknown
Frawner Children: Unknown
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Descendant of a Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Participants: NONE

Notes:

John Frawner’s birth order amongst the other children is unknown. There appear to be 3 other siblings born between 1801 and 1810 according to the census records. Those same records suggest that John was still living at home in Woodford County, KY with his widowed mother and siblings in 1830 at the age of 20-29 years old. That is the last census year found for Mary ‘Polly’ (Guthrie) Frawner. His sister Elizabeth (Frawner) Smith died in 1834. Her husband, Gabriel Smith, married an Agnes Guthrie four months later. They remained in Kentucky. His brother, George Frawner, moved to Pike County, Illinois bet. 1840-1850. The Pike, IL records for men named John Frawner (or variants) appear to belong to nephew John Francis Frawner Sr and Jr. No further confirmed data found.

CHILD 5: (FNU MALE) FRAWNER
Born: 1801-1810 KY – Died: Unknown @ Age: Unknown
Spouse/Marital Status: Unknown

CHILD 6: (FNU MALE) FRAWNER
Born: 1801-1810 KY – Died: Unknown @ Age: Unknown
Spouse/Marital Status: Unknown

CHILD 7: (FNU MALE) FRAWNER
Born: 1811-1815 KY – Died: Unknown @ Age: Unknown
Spouse/Marital Status: Unknown

READING and RESOURCES

DATABASE: Ancestry.com. Forks of Elkhorn Church [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Darnell, Ermina Jett. Forks of Elkhorn Church. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2002.
p.149 – Julius Gibbs (1753-1834) and family – including Guthrie connections
p.159 – John Guthrie and others
p.160 – Thomas and Mildred (Howell) Guthrie and family
p.261 – Joel and Catherine Smith and family – mentions John and Mary (Guthrie) Frawner and daughter Elizabeth Frawner who married Gabriel Smith.
Search the database for other Guthrie entries in the book.

DOCUMENTS: Deeds, 1789-1914, Woodford County, Kentucky. FHL 007844448. Digital Repository: Family Search.
General Indexes: Grantor/Grantee
Volume 1: 1789-1845: Letter F Index begins IMG 97 of 1133.
No Frawner / Frauner or close variant entries found.
Volume 2: 1845-1870: Letter F Index begins IMG 400 of 1133

General Indexes: Grantor/Grantee
Entries here are limited to Joel Smith, Catherine Smith, Gabriel Smith, Elizabeth Smith, and Agnes Smith.
Volume 1: 1789-1845 – Letter S Index begins IMG 244 of 1133
Smith, Joel from Samuel Lewis – Book D, p.447 – 17 Feb 1809
Smith, Joel from Samuel Lewis – Book E, p.125 – 29 Mar 1810
Smith, Joel from William Taylor – Book F, p.383 – 3 Nov 1814
Smith, Joel Exrs. to John Guinn – Book Q, p. 270 – Caleb & James Guthrie exrs. – 23 Sep 1840
Smith, Joel Exrs. from Catharine Smith – Book Q, p.216 – Caleb & James Guthrie exrs. – 27 June 1840
Smith, Gabriel from Wm. H Martin – Book R, p.11 – 4 May 1842
Volume 2: 1845-1870
Smith, Gabriel and wife Agnes from Joel Scott – Book U, p.13 – 10 Dec 1849
Smith, Gabriel decd heirs (Agnes Smith) to Gabriel Smith decd Heirs – Book V, p.36 – 11 Oct 1853
Smith, GW & c to Thomas J Hicklin – Book V, p.45 – 25 Oct 1853
Smith, Gabriel decd heirs to Thomas J Hicklin – Book V, p.45 – 25 Oct 1853
Smith, Gabriel decd heirs from Gabriel Smith decd Heirs – Book V, p.36 – 11 Oct 1853
Smith, Catherine & c from Betsy Leroy S Exr. – Book W, p.161 – 18 Sep 1857

Gabriel Smith Heirs:
Agnes Smith, widow of Gabriel Smith, decd.
George W Smith and wife Susan A. Smith
Thomas S Ragland and Mary M his wife, late Mary M Smith
Josephus McGrew and his wife Elizabeth, late Elizabeth Smith
James M McGrew and his wife Catharine, late Catharine Smith
Robert Wilmot and his wife Gabriella Wilmot, late Gabriela Smith
In lieu of dower, Agnes to receive slaves Milly Ann & Amanda, 2 bedsteads and the necessary bedding, 1 bureau, and six thousand dollars in cash.

DOCUMENTS: Deeds (Shelby County, Kentucky), 1792-1903. Clerk of the County Court. Digital Repository: Family Search.
Grantee Index 1792-1878: FHL 007900684
Grantee 1 – 1792-1818: Letter S Index begins IMG 76 of 599 – No Gabriel Smith Entries
Grantee 2 – 1818-1828: Letter S Index begins IMG ? QRS – missing?
Grantee 3 – 1829-1838: Letter S Index begins IMG 258 of 599 – No Gabriel Smith entries
Grantee 4 – 1838-1858: Letter S Index begins IMG 395 of 599
IMG 400: 16 Nov 1850 – Agreement – Gabriel Smith & c from Elizabeth Guthrie – Book P No.2, p.112
IMG 404: 28 Jan 1859 – Agnes Smith from Henry F Middleton – Book U No.2, p.165
Grantee 5 – 1857-1878: Letter S Index begins IMG 560 of 599
IMG 563: 6 Apr 1863 – Agnes Smith from John Robinson – Book X No.2, p.406

Grantor Index 1792-1871: FHL 007900683
Grantor 1 – 1789-1838: Letter S Index begins IMG 153 of 412 – No Gabriel Smith Entries
Grantor 2 – 1839-1867: Letter S Index begins IMG 364 of 412 –
IMG 377 – 13 Oct 1865 – Agnes Smith to Thomas B Posey – 104A – Book Y No.2, p.526

OBITUARIES, DEATH NOTICES and OTHER ARTICLES: