Guthrie Family Group 1A – Branch C
WILLIAM GUTHRIE 1811-20IRE-1850CA and JANE STEELE
of Ireland & Pennsylvania

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of William Guthrie & Jane Steele
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG1A BRANCH C

With a birth location in Ireland and residence in Pennsylvania, it would be an easy guess to conclude that William Guthrie might belong to GFG2A or GFG6, which are commonly found in those locations. Y-DNA testing has proven this line belongs to GFG1A.

William Guthrie’s DOB is disputed between descendants. Find-a-Grave claims an 1840 census record shows his DOB would be 1785, but this would likely also indicate he was married and had another family prior to his marriage to Jane Steele. No evidence of that so far.

The death certificates for several children provide data on where William Guthrie was born. Three records list Ireland, and another other Scotland. One lists County Derry, Northern Ireland. Descendants may know more. If you do, please share.

The Guthrie surname has been found listed in colonial documents using a number of creative spelling variants. Many times these are simply the phonetic attempts of those documenting the name at a time when there was no consistent way of spelling it, or when many subjects remained illiterate. This branch is most frequently found listed as GUTHRIE or GUTHERIE, including that use at the family’s Steel-Guthrie Cemetery. Note that it is Steel and not Steele in this instance. Most of the descendants seem to have settled upon the GUTHRIE spelling for official use, except for son Samuel Steele Gutherie’s line which continues the use of GUTHERIE even into the next generation and with personal signatures.

Exactly how this GFG1A branch connects with earlier generations of men from the historical Guthrie family line is unknown.

THE FAMILY of WILLIAM GUTHRIE & JANE STEELE

WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: Unknown
Location: Ireland
Marriage: Jane Steele c1840 in Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Laborer
Death: October 1850
Location: California
Buried: Unknown, presumably in California

JANE STEELE
Parents: Samuel Steel & Nancy Story
Born: 16 Jul 1822
Location: Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA
Guthrie Sons: John Steele, Hugh, Samuel Steele, William C
Guthrie Daughters: Ann Eliza, Nancy
Marriage 2: George Knox c1855 in Pennsylvania
Knox Sons: James Montgomery, Abraham Lincoln
Knox Daughters: Rebecca R, Mary Araminta, Nancy, Eleanor May ‘Lena’, Josephine Alda
Death: 25 Apr 1903
Location: Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA
Buried: Bear Creek Cemetery, Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA

GUTHRIE CHILDREN: 6
KNOX CHILDREN: 7

ANN ELIZA GUTHRIE
1842PA – 1912PA

Ann Eliza Guthrie was born on 5 Nov 1842 in Perry, Armstrong, PA. Her father died during the California Gold Rush when he was working out west. She married Daniel Walker in March 1860 and they lived in Parker, Butler County, Pennsylvania, parents to a large family. Daniel died on 14 Mar 1912. Ann died only a few months later on 19 Dec 1912 at age 70.

Walker Sons: William Guthrie, George Elmer, Samuel Robert, John Story, James M.
Walker Daughters: Margaret Jane, Nancy, Anna May, Lulu M, Lillian

Family Finder Participants: No

JOHN STEELE GUTHRIE
1844PA – 1911CA

John Guthrie was born 15 November 1844 in Perry, Armstrong, PA. He was only 7 when his father died in CA. The family was enumerated in Perry in 1860 and John continued to live there with his wife Joanna Bartley. They were parents to 11 children. John moved to Mendocino County, California where he worked as a Night Watchman in a Lumber Yard. He is listed as widowed in the 1910 census there. According to his obituary, John had gone to California for his health. He died in California on 24 Nov 1911. Son Edward brought his remains to the old home in Perry township where the funeral occurred and he was interred in the Guthrie cemetery.

Sons: William F, Charles Wesley, Edward J, George W, John
Daughters: Flora, Anna, Minnie, Josephine, Violet, Lillie

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

NANCY GUTHRIE
1845PA – 1846PA

Daughter Nancy was born on 6 September 1845 and died 12 Sep 1846 of unknown causes.

HUGH GUTHRIE
1847PA – 1931PA

Hugh Guthrie was born on 26 Feb 1847 in Armstrong County, PA. He was only 3 at the time of his father’s death. He lived in Perry, Armstrong, PA all of his life. Hugh was a farmer. His first wife was Fanny Shakeley by whom he had 10 children. Fanny died in 1905. He remarried about 10 years after Fanny’s death to Rosannah Sybert. No children from this marriage. He died 10 April 1931 at the age of 84 of complications secondary to a fractured femur. Rosie died in 1937.

Sons: William Grant, Elmer, Daniel W, (Male Infant), Millard G, Samuel N
Daughters: Anna M, Ida May, Etta, Eva W

Y-DNA Project Particiapants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

SAMUEL STEELE GUTHRIE
1848PA – 1930MI

Samuel Guthrie was only 2 in 1850 when he was listed with his widowed mother and siblings in the 1850 Perry, Armstrong, PA census. He had been born on 15 Oct 1848. He married Mary Ann Williams. They had 4 children. The family moved to Butler, PA briefly around 1880, but were back in Armstrong, PA during the 1900 and 1910 censuses. Samuel worked as a general laborer and later got involved in drilling oil. By 1930, Samuel was a widower living in Canton, Wayne, Michigan with his grandson, Samuel F Guthrie and family. He died in Canton on 29 Nov 1930.

Sons: John W, Delbert Llewellyn, Samuel A
Daughters: Anna Eliza

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

WILLIAM C GUTHRIE
1850PA – 1926PA

William C Guthrie was the youngest child of William Guthrie and Jane Steele. He was born on 20 April 1850. It is unknown how long his father had been working in California, so it is possible that William never saw his son since he died that year. William C Guthrie was a farmer. He married Lavina Alice Crawford about 1875. They settled at Sugar Creek, Armstrong, PA where they raised their family of 10 children. William died there on 14 May 1926 and Lavina on 10 Feb 1934. They are buried at Brady’s Bend cemetery in Armstrong, PA.

Sons: William Crawford, James Samuel, Sidney Easton, Daniel Walker, Hugh Loraine, John Earl
Daughters: Anna Eliza, Jane May, Jemina Alice, Mary Caroline

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: Yes

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1811-1820: BIRTH of WILLIAM GUTHRIE (The Immigrant)
There is no indication in any of the records found so far of William Guthrie’s DOB or estimated age at his death. Since his marriage occurred about 1840, we can estimate that he was most likely 20-40 years old at the time, creating a rough range of 1800-1820.

If the 1840 census data applies to this man, his birth range can be narrowed to 1811-1820. See 1840 below.

The only records providing data on his birth location are the death records of his children found in Pennsylvania and Michigan. The latter one lists Scotland, but all of the others indicate Ireland. One specifically indicates County Derry.

1811-1840: AMERICAN IMMIGRATION

We don’t know if William Guthrie came to Pennsylvania as a child with his parents, or as an adult. Based on the DOB range and his known residence in 1840, he would have come to America between 1811-1840.

1822: BIRTH of JANE STEELE
Sugar Creek, Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania on 16 July 1822

Jane Steele was born on 16 July 1822 in Perry County, Armstrong, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Samuel Steele (1794-1876) and Nancy Storey (1795-1889). Their family lived at Sugar Creek.

1840: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA

William Guthrie reportedly married Jane Steele in Armstrong County, PA about 1840. The family was living in Perry during the 1850 census, so it is possible that William Guthrie might be found in 1840. However, as a presumably single man at the time, he might not be listed as a Head of Household.

There are no Guthrie entries in Perry, Armstrong, PA. The most likely candidate is William Gutherey, aged 20-29 living in Wayne, Armstrong, PA employed in trade and manufacturing. He is the only member of his household.

1840: MARRIAGE of WILLIAM GUTHRIE & JANE STEELE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA (Presumably)

This appears to be an estimated DOM. The couple’s first child was born in 1842.

1842: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ANNA ELIZA GUTHRIE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

Anna Eliza Guthrie was born on 5 Nov 1842 in Perry. She married Daniel Walker. They raised their family in Butler County, PA. Children: William Guthrie Walker, Margaret Walker, George Elmer Walker, Samuel Robert Walker, Nancy E Walker, Anna May Walker, Daniel Walker, John Story Walker.

1844: BIRTH of SON – JOHN STEELE GUTHRIE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

John Steele Guthrie was born on 15 Nov 1844 in Perry. He married Joanna Bartley about 1863. They raised their family in Perry County. Just before the 1910 census, John moved to California on his own due to health reasons. The census indicates that he was working as a Night Watchman at a Lumber Yard. He died in 1911 and his body was returned to Pennsylvania by his son Edward. Children: Flora Guthrie, Anna Guthrie, William Fleming Guthrie, Charles Wesley Guthrie, Edward J Guthrie, George W Guthrie, Minnie Guthrie, John Guthrie, Josephine M Guthrie, Violet Guthrie, Lillie M Guthrie.

1845 – 1846: BIRTH & DEATH of DAUGHTER – NANCY GUTHRIE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

Nancy was born on 6 Sep 1845 and died 12 Sep 1846.

1847: BIRTH of SON – HUGH GUTHRIE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

Hugh Guthrie was born 26 Feb 1847. He married Fanny Shakeley about 1866. They raised a large family in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Children: William Grant Guthrie, Anna Guthrie, Elmer Guthrie, Daniel W Guthrie, Ida May Guthrie, (Male Infant Guthrie), Etta Guthrie, Millard Guthrie, Samuel N Guthrie, Eva W Guthrie. He was twice married. His second wife was Rosannah ‘Rosie’ Sybert. No children. He died 10 April 1931.

1848: BIRTH of SAMUEL STEELE GUTHRIE
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

Samuel Steele Guthrie was born on 15 Oct 1848. He married Mary Ann Williams about 1870. They lived in Perry, Armstrong County, PA. Children: John W Guthrie, Delbert Llewellyn Guthrie, Samuel A Guthrie, and Anna Eliza Guthrie. His wife Mary predeceased him. Samuel moved to Canton, Michigan where he lived with a grandson until his death of pneumonia on 29 Nov 1930.

1848-1855: CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. (Wikipedia)

Was William a “Miner Forty-Niner”?

Son William Guthrie was born in April of 1850. If fully term, his estimated date of conception would be about August 1849. Looks like William could have squeaked into California by 1849, but most likely arrived in 1850.

1850: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE (II)
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

William Guthrie was born 20 April 1850. His father died in California when he was an infant. He lived in Armstrong County until his marriage to Lavina Alice Crawford about 1875. Afterward, they located in Sugar Creek. Children: William Crawford Guthrie, James Samuel Guthrie, Anna Eliza Guthrie, Sidney Easton Guthrie, Jane May Guthrie, Jemima Alice Guthrie, Daniel Walker Guthrie, Hugh Loraine Guthrie, John Earl Guthrie, Mary Caroline Guthrie.

1850: DEATH of WILLIAM GUTHRIE (The Immigrant)
California

JH Beers’ work on Armstrong County, Pennsylvania: her people past & present indicates that William Guthrie “drowned in a river in California while engaged in contracting there.” It does not specify that he was gold mining, so that supposition may be incorrect, but considering the number of people who headed west at the same time in search of their fortune, it is certainly tempting to guess that is the reason he was there.

1856: MARRIAGE of JANE (STEELE) GUTHRIE & GEORGE KNOX
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA on 24 March 1856

1856: BIRTH of JAMES MONTGOMERY KNOX
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

James Guthrie was born on 20 Dec 1856 in Perry. He married Mary Bartow, daughter of Daniel Bartow and Meneire Vasbinder. They had one son: George. James died 5 March 1917 of pneumonia. She died on 3 Feb 1937 of Cerebral Hemorrhage.

1858: BIRTH of REBECCA JANE ‘JENNIE’ KNOX
Perry, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, USA

Rebecca Jane aka Jennie was born on 3 June 1858 in Perry. She married James E Sammuel on 10 Nov 1877 in Fairview, Pennsylvania. They had one son: Lee Sammuel. Jennie died on 19 May 1928 in Parker, Butler, PA.

1860: BIRTH of NANCY NAMAH DELLA KNOX
Parker, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA

Nancy Knox was born 12 Feb 1860 in Butler County, Pennsylvania. She married Edgar Fleming Say. They had 2 sons: Harry Lee Say and John Butler Say. Nancy died in Bruin, Butler, PA on 2 May 1923.

1860: BIRTH of MARY ARAMINTA KNOX
Parker, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA about 1860

Araminta is listed in the 1860 census as an infant of about 6 months of age. No sign of sister Nancy who was supposedly born in Feb 1860. The 1870 census lists Nancy N as born c1861 and then Mary A as c1862.

1862: BIRTH of ELEANOR MAY ‘LENA’ KNOX
Parker, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA

Lena was born in 17 May 1862 in Parker, Butler, PA. She married George Say. They were parents to 1 son and 1 daughter: George Knox Say and Jennie Say. Lena died on 21 Jun 1948 in Parker’s Landing, Armstrong, PA of a cerebral hemorrhage.

1863: BIRTH of ABRAHAM LINCOLN KNOX
Parker, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA

Abraham was born 14 April 1863. He married Lucy Belle Walsmith about 1885. Children: James Montgomery Knox, George Lincoln Knox, Charles Edward Knox, Bessie Blanche Knox, Dewey Merle Knox, Hugh Clarence Knox, John Ross Knox, Albert Lawrence Knox. Abraham died in Parker, Butler, PA on 29 Sep 1926 of cancer and related complications. His wife Lucy passed away in 1955.

1865: BIRTH of JOSEPHINE ALDA KNOX
Parker, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA

Josephine ws born on 23 Jan 1865 in Parker. She died 2 May 1923 in Bruin, Butler, PA. No further data.

1892: DEATH of GEORGE KNOX
Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA on 26 Mar 1892

1903: DEATH of JANE STEELE GUTHRIE KNOX
Fairview, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA on 24 Apr 1903

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG1A
Group Designation: Branch C – (The Guthries of Armstrong, PA)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Y62042

YDNA Matches:
Kit 563776 (+FF)
William Guthrie/Jane Steele > William C Guthrie Sr/Lavina Alice Crawford (GGP) +more

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:
Kit B75156
William Guthrie/Jane Steele > William C Guthrie Sr/Lavina Alice Crawford (GGP) +more

Findings:

The Y-DNA of our participant matches the GFG1A genetic profile. Currently tested at 37-markers. He has 3 variances compared to the Group Mode results. One is unique to himself. The other two results are along fast moving markers and probably do not reflect a pattern of inherited change. So there are no clues within his current results to pinpoint whether Branch C shares closer family ties with another specific branch.

Is This Your Piece of the Puzzle?
COLLABORATION REMINDER

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