Guthrie Family Group 2A – Branch C
SAMUEL GUTHRIE 1680-1700 SCT or IRE – 1746 DE and MARY (Maiden Name Unknown)
of New Castle County, Delaware

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of Samuel Guthrie & Mary MNU
Historical Highlights
Mistaken Identities
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG2A BRANCH C

Samuel Guthrie’s origins are barely touched upon in ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ by its author, Lawrence R. Guthrie by theorizing that Samuel was a brother to John Guthrie of Oxford Two., Chester County, PA. “Both families were connected with the Stuarts and intercourse between them is revealed by John appearing as a witness to the will of Samuel’s son, Robert, in 1750.” However, Y-DNA testing has revealed that while Samuel Guthrie and John Guthrie shared the same overall genetic profile of Guthrie Family Group 2A, their descendants have unique genetic markers indicating they were cousins rather than brothers.

Samuel Guthrie was born about 1680-1700, presumably in Northern Ireland. The earliest American record credited to him is found in London Britain, Chester, Pennsylvania where “Sam’l Guttery” is named on a Tax List. Samuel settled in New Castle County, Delaware. A property warrant was signed for 100 acres on 8 April 1737. (PA Arch Sen 3, Vol 1, p. 90, Minute Book K). He and his family lived in St. George’s Hundred of New Castle County.

Living in the same county in Mill Creek Hundred, Delaware is the genetically unrelated Guthrie family of William Guthrie, who also immigrated from Northern Ireland. That line is one of the branches of GFG6. The close vicinity of their Guthrie family with those from GFG2A have created some tree documentation errors, especially as future generations moved out of Delaware and back into Pennsylvania.

THE FAMILY of SAMUEL GUTHRIE & MARY (MNU)

SAMUEL GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: c1680-1700
Location: Scotland or Northern Ireland (reportedly Northern Ireland)
Marriage: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Death: September 1746
Location: New Castle County, Delaware
Burial: Unknown, probably in New Castle County, Delaware

MARY (MNU)
Parents: Unknown
Born: Unknown, probably 1690-1710
Location: Unknown
Guthrie Children: 7
Death: 1773, probably January or February
Location: New Castle County, Delaware
Burial: Unknown, probably in New Castle County, Delaware

CHILDREN: 7
Y-DNA PRoject Participants: YES
Autosomal DNA Participants: YES

LINKED CHILD PAGES:
1.) Adam Guthrie c1720-25 – d.1746-75 – Spouse: Unidentified – +child
2.) Robert Guthrie c1712-24 – d.1750DE – unmarried – no issue
3.) Jane Guthrie c1712-24 – d.1780DE (m.17??) John Vail Sr +children
4.) Mary Guthrie c1716-30 – d.aft.1747 (m.1747DE) Thomas Vail +children
5.) Elizabeth Guthrie c1718-25 (m.17??) John McCabe – uncertain about children
6.) Samuel Guthrie Jr c1720-25 – 1765-73DE (m.1745DE) Margaret Knox +children
7.) Rachel Guthrie c1722-30 – ???? (m.17??) Robert Stewart/Stuart +children

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

About 1680-1700: BIRTH of SAMUEL GUTHRIE & MARY (MNU)
There is no known documentation of Samuel Guthrie Sr’s birth or death date or age at death. Therefore, this date range is an estimate based on estimated DOB for his children and the earliest documentation as an adult. Two of his children had known DOM in 1745 and 1747. Assuming they were also around 20 at the time of their marriages, that would make their DOB in the 1720s, which again would estimate Samuel’s DOB around 1700. If he was about 20-40 at the time of their births, his age range would be 1680-1700. If the family legend is correct, Samuel Guthrie would have been born in County Derry, Northern Ireland. His future wife was most likely about the same age.

Mary’s maiden name is unknown. It has not been found documented in any of the Pennsylvania or Delaware records associated with the family. Various online trees list a number of surnames, but none are found to include documentation with any link to this family.

1710 – 1730: BIRTHS of SAMUEL & MARY’S CHILDREN
The birth order of the children is based on what is documented in the family records when daughter Jane (Guthrie) Vail filed a petition for division of her father’s estate. Adam Guthrie was the eldest son. He married an unidentified woman and had one daughter, Mary. Adam was named in Samuel’s 1746 will, but died before 16 Aug 1775 when sister Jane Vail filed a petition for the division of the estate. Son Robert probably came next. He owned land in St George’s Hundred. He wrote his own will on 4 Sep 1750. Being unmarried and childless, he left everything to his mother, Mary. Daughter Jane was the eldest girl. She seems to have ended up in charge of the family after her mother’s death in 1773. Jane was already a widow herself by 1775 having married John Vail Sr and producing several children. Her sister Mary Guthrie married Thomas Vail on 26 Feb 1747 and they had 2 daughters. The youngest son of the family was named for his father, Samuel Guthrie. He married Margaret Knox in 1745 and they had 4 sons: William, Samuel, Robert, and James. He died in the lifetime of his mother sometime between 1765 and 1773. Daughter Elizabeth Guthrie was the fifth of the seven children. She married John McCabe, but no data was listed on her family. The youngest daughter was Rachel Guthrie who married a Robert Stewart (or Stuart). Family tradition related by LRG reports that General J.E.B. Stewart, commander of the cavalry under General Robert E. Lee, was a descendant, so the couple presumably settled in Virginia.

1725: TAX RECORDS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
“Sam’l Guttery, London Britain township, 1725” (From Chester Co PA tax lists, 1725-1765, unpublished, LRG,p691 footnote 95)

This is the first record in the area credited to Samuel Guthrie. 1725 was also the first year of the recorded tax lists, so it is possible that Samuel was in the county before that date. Chester County is also home to Guthries from GFG2A – Branch B and I.

1737: Property Warrant
New Castle County, Delaware on 8 April 1737
“Signed the warrant to Samuel Guthry for 100 acres in New Castle Co. (PA Arch Ser 3, Vol 1, p.90, Minute Book K).

1737: Property
New Castle County, Delaware (Pennsylvania) on 1 Jun 1737
“Samuel Guthrie, 100 acres in New Castle Co,” (PA Arch Ser 3, Vol 1, p.90.) Note: New Castle was included in Pennsylvania at that time.

1746: DEATH of SAMUEL GUTHRIE
Samuel Guthrie died sometime on or after 1 Sep 1746 when he wrote his last will and testament. He named Sons Adam, Robert, Samuel; daus Jane, Mary, Elizabeth and Rachel; wife Mary. Exc. wife Mary and son Robert. The will was probated on 5 September 17. Proved 13 Sept 1746.

1749: TAX RECORDS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
LRG, p.159, states that the “Widow Gulterie” is probably the widow of Samuel Guthrie of St George’s, New Castle, DE.

1750: DEATH of SON, ROBERT GUTHRIE
Robert Guthrie died in 1750 leaving a will that named his mother as his sole heir and executor. “I give all I have to my mother Mary Guthrey, who is to be executrix.” Test: John Guthrey, John McCabe. Proved Oct 13, 1750. (New Castle Co., Del. Wills, liber G, folio 427).

1773: DEATH of MARY (MNU) GUTHRIE
New Castle County, Delaware on 17 Feb 1773
Letters of Admin on estate of Mary Guthry granted in due form to John Neal and inventory to be exhibited on or before the 17th of August next and to render an account before the court on or before the 17th of Feb 1774.

MISTAKEN IDENTITIES

None found at the moment, but use caution when linking Guthrie men and women in this area as there is more than one genetic line within New Castle County.

GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

GUTHRIE FAMILY GROUP: GFG2A
GROUP DESIGNATION: Branch C – Cluster 3 (Colonial Delaware)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Z30233

Y-DNA Matches: 5
Kit 22098
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > John Amos Guthrie/Elizabeth Ann Ashby (GGF) +more

Kit 113050
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Lewis G Guthrie/Lucy H Tomlinson (GGP) +more

Kit 146782
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > James Guthrie/Harriett Furbee (GGP) +more

Kit 152427
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Edmund Guthrie/Elizabeth Sapp > Benjamin Franklin Guthrie/Katherine Sapphire Walls (GGP) +more

Kit 828792
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Commodore Guthrie/Phoebe Payne > Henry Ellis Guthrie/Susie Viola Wade > Ezra Earl Guthrie/Amy Phillips (GGP) +more

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:  16

Kit 98377
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Catherine Guthrie/Barrick Murphey > William R Murphey/Hettie Ann McCreary > John Murphey/Sarah M Huntsinger (2xGGP)

Kit 223601
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Sarah Guthrie/Benjamin Franklin Sapp> Rebecca Sapp/Joshua Shuttlesworth > Eliza LaUna Shuttlesworth/Thomas J Watson (2xGGP)

Kit 227929
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Sarah Guthrie/Benjamin Franklin Sapp> Rebecca Sapp/Joshua Shuttlesworth > Eliza LaUna Shuttlesworth/Thomas J Watson (2xGGP)

Kit 245662
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Hannah Guthrie/Jacob E Kerns > Elisha Kerns/Elizabeth J Harris (2xGGP)

Kit 350253
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > James Guthrie/Louisa Rebecca Naylor > Rebecca Louisa Guthrie/Edward B Cox (2xGGP)

Kit 351582
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Eliab Guthrie/Hannah Hickman (2xGGP) +more

Kit 351583
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Eliab Guthrie/Hannah Hickman (2xGGP) +more

Kit 351584
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Eliab Guthrie/Hannah Hickman (2xGGP) +more

Kit 351585
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Robert Guthrie/Castilla Simpson > Eliab Guthrie/Hannah Hickman (2xGGP) +more

Kit 483673
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Sarah Guthrie/Benjamin Franklin Sapp > Rebecca Sapp/Joshua Shuttlesworth (2xGGP)

Kit 491064 (Male Guthrie – FF Only)
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Edmund Guthrie/Elizabeth Sapp > Benjamin Franklin Guthrie/Katherine Sapphire Walls (2xGGP) +more

Kit 582727
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Margaret Guthrie/Robert Lyons > Marinda Lyons/Richard T Coppage > Mary Elizabeth Coppage/David M Hickman (GGP)

Kit 654481
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Margaret Guthrie/Robert Lyons > Marinda Lyons/Richard T Coppage > Marinda Jane Coppage/George H Marshall (GGP)

Kit 797833
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Catherine Guthrie/Barrick Murphey > William R Murphey/Hettie Ann McCreary > John Murphey/Sarah M Huntsinger (2xGGP)

Kit B328759
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Edmund Guthrie/Elizabeth Sapp > Joseph Guthrie/Clemensey Dusenberry > Elmina Guthrie/Robert Powell (2xGGP)

Kit N115888
Samuel Guthrie/Mary MNU > Samuel Guthrie/Margaret Knox > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Eilor > Margaret Guthrie/Robert Lyons > Marinda Lyons/Richard T Coppage > Katherine A Coppage/William Henry Bigler > Reuben Jerome Bigler/Hazel Ruth Holmes (GGP)

FINDINGS:
There are only a few traceable lineages that descend from Samuel & Mary Guthrie, and only 1 with YDNA descending through the lineage of their youngest son, Samuel Guthrie Jr who married Margaret Knox. Currently, only the line of James Guthrie c1766-c1815 & Elizabeth Eilor has been confirmed through YDNA testing to belong to GFG2A. A breadcrumb trail of historical evidence leads the line back to Samuel & Mary Guthrie, so it would be very beneficial to have a second line of genetic data for confirmation.

All direct male descendants of Robert Guthrie & Castilla Simpson’s line share a genetic marker. DYS561 = 17. Participant 152427, a descendant of Edmund Guthrie & Elizabeth Sapp, also shared this same genetic mutation, which confirms Robert & Edmund were brothers having inherited that genetic change from a recent common ancestor.

Author, Laurence R. Guthrie in his book ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ implied that John Guthrie of Oxford (Branch H) was a likely brother to Samuel Guthrie (Branch C). Descendants of the two men definitely match the Guthrie Family Group 2A profile, meaning that they share a common direct paternal ancestor at some point in their tree, either a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.

However, John Guthrie’s Branch H descendants inherited a genetic marker DYS534 = 14 that differs from most of the group with a 15. Branch H shares that inherited marker with Branches A and E, meaning that all three (A, E, and H) inherited that genetic mutation from their Most Recent Common Ancestor, probably John’s father, John Guthrie Sr who was married to Jane Stuart.

Samuel’s descendants did not inherit that genetic mutation at DYS534. They match the rest of the group at DYS534 = 15, which means that the Most Recent Common Ancestor between Samuel and John cannot be John Sr. The earliest generation that Samuel and John could share would potentially be a grandfather.

Descendants of daughters Jane (Guthrie) Vail and Mary (Guthrie) Vail have been seen as matches to other Guthrie project members, but they have not yet joined the Guthrie DNA Project for a direct comparison of their Autosomal DNA Results. Sign up, ladies and gents!

We’re also interested to find the descendants of Elizabeth Guthrie and John McCabe, as well as any descendants of Rachel Guthrie and Robert Stewart for the project.