Guthrie Family Group 2A – Branch G
JOHN GUTHRIE 1725IRE-1797PA and JANE REED
of Londonderry, Northern Ireland and Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of John Guthrie & Jane Reed
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG2A BRANCH G

According to the tradition of descendants, John Guthrie’s ancestry goes back to James Guthrie, the Laird of Pitforthie, a family of landed gentry with ties to the Guthries of Guthrie. The laird’s eldest son was Rev. William Guthrie, Minister of Fenwick, author of ‘The Christian’s Great Interest’ written 1659. He and his wife Agnes Campbell had several children, but only 2 daughters survived. Due to his religious pursuits, William turned the care of the estate over to his brother. All of William’s sons died young, which meant the title of laird went to the next heir. His brother Andrew fell sick and died just before William in 1665. Andrew must not have had any male heirs because the title of Laird of Pitforthie was inherited by the next brother in line, David Guthrie, who was granted the title and lands of Pitforthie on 27 July 1665. David’s wife was Margaret Livingstone. The couple had 5 sons and 1 daughter. The only lineage traced to the next generation is that of son James Guthrie & Margaret Skinner. Little is known of the families of William, Andrew, and David’s younger brothers Robert, Alexander, and John. These men were Covenanters and frequently fell into contention with the crown. John Guthrie, Minister of Tarbolton, was accused of turbulent and seditious conduct and was at one time condemned to death. He received a royal pardon. Most of these men and their families disappear from the records of Scotland. Did they seek refuge in Northern Ireland as the origin story says, and could they be the ancestors of Guthrie Family Group 2A?

THE FAMILY of JOHN GUTHRIE & JANE REED

JOHN GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: 1725
Location: Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Marriage 1: Jane Reed, 1745
Marriage 2: Mary Simpson Wallace, 1780s
Occupation: Esquire (Lawyer)
Death: 1797
Location: Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Poke Run Cemetery, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA

JANE REED
Parents: John Reed (Online Trees – No Sources)
Born: 1726
Location: Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Sons: John ‘Jack’, James, William, FNU Son
Daughters: Elizabeth, Jane, Sarah, Nancy
Death: 1780
Location: Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: Unknown, Probably in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA

MARY (SIMPSON) WALLACE
Born: c1740
Location: Pennsylvania, probably Franklin County
Married 1st: Richard Wallace
Wallace Sons: Peter, James, William
Wallace Daughters: Nancy, Rachel
Guthrie Children: None
Death: After 1808
Location: Pennsylvania, probably
Burial: Unknown, probably Pennsylvania

CHILDREN:

JOHN ‘JACK’ GUTHRIE
1752IRE-1805KY

Jack was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1752. He immigrated with the family when he was about 19 years of age. Served as an adjutant with the rank of captain during the American Revolution, 2nd Battalion, 7th Company, Court Martial Men (Officers appointed to conduct court martials). He became a famous Indian scout, astute woodsman, and frontier ranger. Jack married Mary (Erwin) Lochry, the widow of Col Archibald Lochry, on 6 May 1789. She had 2 daughters with Lochry documented in a petition of his heirs, Jean and Elizabeth. In the Spring of 1795, Capt. Jack Guthrie and his very pregnant wife were present during an Indian attack on Capt. Sharp and his men on the Kiskiminetas River. The men were either killed or wounded, according to the narrative testimony of Mrs Massy Harbison. Their boat floated for two days down the Allegheny just past the Duck Creek area to the northeast of Pittsburgh when it was pulled ashore. Mary “was delivered of her ninth child shortly after arriving in Pittsburgh.” Although the narrative is unclear, Jack must have survived the ordeal and within the next few years decided to seek out a new home for his family. The family’s narrative is that Jack travelled to Kentucky about 1805 under the prospect of moving his family there, but became ill and died within a few days. There are 8 children referenced in his estate paper, but he died without leaving a will. His fourteen year old son, John, petitioned the courts for a guardian, while William Guthrie petitioned the courts for guardians of the remaining four children who remained under age.

Children: 9
Lochry Step-Children: Jean , Elizabeth ‘Betsy’
Guthrie Sons: John, James, Samuel
Guthrie Daughters: Margaret, Jenny
Unknown: 2 – 4

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

ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
1755IRE-1842PA

Elizabeth’s story is complex and fascinating. She was born in 1755 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and immigrated to America with her parents and siblings in 1771. Elizabeth was married to Captain Joseph Brownlee. Her sister believed she was only 14 at the time, but her son believes that she was 21. Two children were born to this marriage: John and Jane. On 13 July 1782 Elizabeth and her family were at Hannastown, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. A large raiding party of Indians and British Loyalists left the town in ruins. Elizabeth’s husband and son were killed, along with nine others, while she and her infant daughter, Jane, were taken captive and led north to Canada. After a long march and deprivations, they were taken to Niagara where a British officer purchased Elizabeth for 20 dollars and 2 gallons of rum, and an extra 10 dollars for Jane. They were then imprisoned for several months at Montreal, and later released with other prisoners to an American officer. After her return home, she married her cousin, Capt. William Guthrie, son of James Guthrie & Jeanette Wilson. They settled in Redbank, Armstrong, Pennsylvania. She was mother to his 9 children, the youngest of whom was named Joseph Brownlee Guthrie in honor of her first husband. William died in 1828, and Elizabeth in 1842.

Her story is revealed in ‘A Captive’s Tale’ by Anna L Warren. A transcript of Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee Guthrie’s petition for a Revolutionary War widow’s pension was printed in the 24 May 1899 issue of ‘The Westmoreland Democrat’.

Children: 11
Brownlee Sons: John
Brownlee Daughters: Jane
Guthrie Sons: William, James, Joseph Brownlee
Guthrie Daughters: Elizabeth, Jane ‘Jennie’, Mary, Jane, Nancy, Joanna

Family Finder Participants: Yes
Note: The participant is a Y-DNA descendant of her husband William, so the Family Finder test would potentially include Elizabeth’s atDNA.

SARAH GUTHRIE
1763IRE-1849PA

Sarah Guthrie was born on 12 August 1763 in Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She arrived in America about 1771 with her parents and siblings. She married William Beatty on 8 July 1783 in Washington, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. They had 4 children. William died in 1827, and Sarah on 11 August 1849 in Armstrong County, PA.

Children: 4
Beatty Sons: John, James, David
Beatty Daughters: Jane ‘Jennie’

Family Finder Participants: No

JANE GUTHRIE
1767IRE-1853PA

Jane Guthrie was born about 1767 (based on age in 1850 census) in Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She arrived in America with her parents and siblings around 1771. Her marriage to John Beatty took place on 31 Dec 1789 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They were parents to 8 children. John died on 22 Feb 1814 in Oakland, Butler, PA. Jane outlived him by almost 40 years. She was living with her youngest son William Beatty and family during the 1850 census in Perry, Armstrong, PA. She died in Butler, Butler, PA in 1853.

Children: 8
Beatty Sons: John, Samuel, William
Beatty Daughters: Nancy, Elizabeth, Jane, Margaret, Sarah

Family Finder Participants: Yes

JAMES GUTHRIE
1771IRE-1848PA

James Guthrie was born in 1771 in Londonderry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. His family made the trip to America about that year, so the location may be in question. He married Margaret Dixon on 15 Jan 1796. He bought a 300 acre farm in Armstrong County, PA about 1796 where he built a log cabin and cleared land for the farm. He was ‘an influential member of the Salzburg Presbyteryian Church’. James died on 16 Dec 1848 in Kiskiminetas, Armstrong, PA. His widow Margaret died a few months later in April 1849.

Children: 10
Sons: Samuel Dixon, John, James, William, Andrew Dixon, Joseph R, James S
Daughters: Jane, Nancy, Mary ‘Polly’

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

NANCY GUTHRIE
1771PA-1862

Nancy Guthrie is the first confirmed American-born child of this line. She was born in Westmoreland, PA in 1771. Her marriage to James C Porterfield took place on 20 Feb 1794 in Kittanning, Armstrong, PA. They had a large family of 11 children. James died in 1837. Nancy lived until 31 May 1862.

Children: 11
Porterfield Sons: John, William, William, James, Samuel, Robert Guthrie, David Clarence
Porterfield Daughters: Jennie, Sarah, Nancy, Elizabeth

Family Finder Participants: Yes

WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1777PA-1865PA

William Guthrie was the youngest son of the family. He was born in July 1777 in Westmoreland County, PA. He was married twice. His first occurred in 1803 to Agnes ‘Nancy’ Dixon by whom he had 3 sons: John, Samuel Dixon, and James. His wife died on 31 July 1808 and is buried at Westmoreland County’s Poke Run Cemetery. William remarried that same year to Mary Hill by whom he had 7 daughters: Nancy, Martha Hill, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane H, and Sarah Ann. His wife Mary also predeceased him in 1860. William died in April 1865 and is buried at Belmont Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Children: 10
Sons: John, Samuel Dixon, James
Daughters: Nancy, Martha Hill, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Jane H, Sarah Ann

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

(FNU – SON) GUTHRIE
1778-80PA – 1782PA

The youngest son of the family was born between 1778 and 1780. His mother Jane died in 1780, either as a result of his birth, or soon afterward. He was little more than a toddler in 1782 when an attack by a party of Seneca and Tories destroyed Hannastown. His father John Guthrie was ill at home that day and did not join his family in the corn field that day. The little boy had remained with him, but wandered off at some point to join the others. His sisters recalled seeing him, but were forced to flee. The boy was either captured or killed.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

c1725: BIRTH of JOHN GUTHRIE

The year of John Guthrie’s birth is an estimate. He was likely born in the 1720s in or near the city of Londonderry, Ireland. His parents remain unidentified, but he is possibly a brother to the Robert Guthrie who married Bridget Dougherty, also unproven.

c1726: BIRTH of JANE REED
The year of birth is an estimate likely based upon her husband’s estimated DOB in the 1720s. Jane’s name appears to be a matter of some controversy. There are many online trees which list her as “Mary Jane” rather than simply “Jane”. American Guthrie author, LRG, is likely the source of this confusion. Documents from the 1790s which name John Guthrie’s wife all refer to her as “Mary”. Rather than conclude that Jane had died and that John subsequently remarried, LRG decided to eliminate the issue by merging the two names into a single one of “Mary Jane”, which he admitted was done to satisfy conflicting reports. See LRG p715, ref 415.

The author of ‘A Captive’s Tale’, the story of John & Jane’s daughter, Elizabeth Guthrie Brownlee Guthrie, indicates that unpublished Guthrie family papers list her name as “Jane Reed” and indicate that she was born in the city of Londonderry, Ireland.

‘The Beatty Book’ by Lu Ann Kennedy Cherry indicates that John’s first wife died in the early 1780s, and that he remarried with Mary Simpson Wallace. It is Mary’s name that shows up in subsequent documents, including a deed that proves he married the widow of Richard Wallace. (Westmoreland Deeds, Liber D, Folio 210). This data seems to confirm that John Guthrie had two wives, the first of whom was named Jane Reed.

c1740: BIRTH of MARY SIMPSON

Unknown parents. Some online trees list her DOB as 1744. Mary’s family might have come from Antrim, Franklin County, Pennsylvania where she reportedly married Richard Wallace. They had several children including the following named in an Orphan’s Court Docket (Vol 3A, p208): Peter, James, Agnes, Rachel, and William. Her husband Richard Wallace was the Quartermaster during the Lochry Expedition in 1781. According to this source on Lochry’s Disaster, Wallace was only one of five men to survive the expedition. At Richard Wallace’s death in 1785 he owned a grist mill, saw mill, two adjacent plantations, and a third on Sewickley. Mary remarried to John Guthrie.

c1745: MARRIAGE of JOHN GUTHRIE & JANE REED
This year appears to be an estimate of their marriage date as listed in the Family Search ‘Pedigree Resource File’, which is user-submitted information. The date is 7 years before the birth of the eldest known child, and so is probably and early estimate. 

1752: BIRTH of SON – JOHN “JACK” GUTHRIE
Nicknamed ‘Jack’ in order to distinguish himself from his father. Born in Londonderry, Ireland about 1752. He immigrated to America with his parents & siblings. He married Mary Irwin Lochry, the widow of Col. Archibald Lochry. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Jack & Mary are the ancestors of DNA Project participant, Ron Guthrie. Jack was “an astute woodsman, skilled in Indian warfare, a patriot in the Revolution and a frontier ranger.” (LRG,p.409) Mary died in 1791. Jack went to Kentucky in 1805 with the intention of locating land to settle his family there. During the trip, he became sick and died. Probable burial location is in Kentucky. His children remained in Pennsylvania.

1755: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
Elizabeth’s life story is fascinating and well-documented. Born in 1755 in Londonderry, Ireland, she immigrated to America with her parents & siblings. According to the deposition of her sister Jane Beatty, Elizabeth was only 14 years old when she married Joseph Brownlee. One of Elizabeth’s sons stated his uncertainty about the marriage date, but thought it might be closer to 1776. There are several online sources which tell about the Indian attack at Hanna’s Town which resulted in the death of Joseph Brownlee and son John. Both Elizabeth and her infant daughter Jane Brownlee were captured by the Indians and taken north to Canada. They survived the ordeal and were sold to the British. Eventually, Elizabeth was released and made it back to Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. One published resource is ‘A Captive’s Tale‘, by Anna L. Warren, which includes a transcription of Elizabeth’s petition to receive her husband’s pension. The widowed Elizabeth married her cousin, William Guthrie (Branch B). William was a military man, and a poor farmer. The couple had 3 sons and 6 daughters. William Guthrie died in 1828 after a fall off a wagon from a bridge. Elizabeth died on 11 Feb 1842 in Redbank, Armstrong, Pennsylvania.

1763: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – SARAH “SALLY” GUTHRIE
Sally Guthrie was born on 12 August 1763 in Londonderry, Ireland. She immigrated to America with her parents & siblings. Sally married William Beatty on 8 July 1783 in Washington, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, the first of the Guthrie-Beatty marriages. (The Beatty family is described in more detail in the “Allied Families” section of Laurence R. Guthrie’s book, pp.483-486.) They settled on a tract in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania about 10 miles north of Freeport. William “built a stone house on it which is still a landmark in that locality.” A granddaughter of William & Sally informed LRG that, “My grandfather, at the request of grandmother, went to the North of Ireland to see her Guthrie grandparents. They were still living in or near Londonderry and were glad to see him. I have forgotten their names.” Although there are no names in the report, we can conclude that John Guthrie’s parents were alive and still living in or near Londonderry after 1783. William Beatty died 17 Mar 1827, so the trip to Ireland would have taken place before that date. Sarah Guthrie Beatty died 11 Aug 1849. Both William & Sally are buried in the old Salt Lick Cemetery in Armstrong, PA. They had 11 children. 

About 1767: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – JANE GUTHRIE
Jane Guthrie was born in Londonderry, Ireland in or about 1767. She immigrated along with the family to America, and on 31 Dec 1789 married John Beatty, the brother to her sister’s husband William Beatty. They were the parents of 8 children, including youngest daughter Sarah Beatty who married her cousin James Guthrie, of Apollo, Armstrong, PA, the son of William & Agnes (Dixon) Guthrie. Jane Guthrie Beatty died in 1853 in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

1771: BIRTH of SON: JAMES GUTHRIE
James was born about 1770, a short time before the family immigrated to America from Londonderry, Ireland. About 1796 he settled in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, then part of Westmoreland, and bought a 300 acre property from the heirs of William Penn. He served in the War of 1812, and later received a life pension. Politically, he was a whig. He also served as an influential and ruling member of the old Saltsburg Presbyterian Church and as a County Commissioner He married Margaret Dixon on 15 Jan 1796. They were the parents of 7 sons and 3 daughters. James died on 16 Dec 1848, and Margaret in April of 1849. They are buried in the Beulah Church Cemetery in Apollo, Armstrong, PA.

1771: IMMIGRATION from IRELAND to PENNYSLVANIA 
In November of 1768 the Iroquois Confederacy ceded lands to the British which permitted white settlements west of the Alleghenies. The region was formally opened up in April of 1769. When John & Jane settled with their children their lands were in the area that would become Westmoreland County, but were at the time “beyond the frontiers”. Westmoreland County (1773) was the first county established in the Colony of Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains. As such, it was all or parts of ten Southwestern Pennsylvania counties. This includes Washington County in 1781. Also Armstrong county in 1800, an area where several of John & Jane’s children settled.

“Like all the earliest settlers in Westmoreland, John Guthrie “squatted” on the lands he held and it was several years before he obtained the title to them from the Propretaries. {LRG}

c1771-1775: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – NANCY GUTHRIE
Nancy was the first of John & Jane’s children born in America. Birth dates from online trees vary between 1771 and 1775 without source data. Nancy married James C. Porterfield in Kittainning, Armstrong, PA on 20 Feb 1794. Sons include Robert Guthrie Porterfield.  

1777: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Born in July of 1777 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He bought the interests of the other heirs in his fathers homestead and lived on it all his life. He married twice. First to Agnes Dixon in 1803 with whom he had 3 sons. Agnes died in 1806. William remarried to Mary Hill in 1808. They were the parents of 7 daughters.

1777: JUSTICE of the PEACE for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
This county was home to more than one branch of MD/PA Guthries. Branch B and Branch D also have some ties there. And it seems that more than one of them held the role of Justice of the Peace. John Guthrie, Esq. was from Salem Twp. James Guthrie, Esq. was from Greensburg Twp.

1780s: DEATH of WIFE – JANE REED GUTHRIE
There is no definite known date for Jane’s death. She died sometime after her youngest son’s birth bet. 1778 and 1780 and before John signed a deed naming Mary Guthrie, widow of Richard Wallace, as his wife in January of 1790. 

1782: THE ATTACK on HANNASTOWN
Joseph Brownlee left the management of his farm in the care of his father-in-law, John Guthrie, while he was away during the American Revolution. By 1782, he had returned. Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown only a matter of months before, but that did not stop Seneca Chief Sayengaraghta and associated Tories from planning another attack. Col. John Butler, commander of Butler’s Rangers, ordered Robert Lottridge, a captain in the British Indian Dept. to accompany the Indian raiding party that consisted of about 250 warriors as they set off from Niagara to attack Hannas Town.

Butler’s letter of 5 Aug 1782 addressed to Capt. Matthews, secretary to General Haldimand at Quebec, revealed the outcome:

Sayengaraghta and his party are returned from War, after burning and destroying Hannah’s Town and the country for seven or eight Miles round it. This Settlement were about 30 miles below Fort Pitt, on the Road to Philadelphia, they killed between three and four hundred head of horned cattle, 70 horses, sheep, and hogs innumerable, and brought away to their Villages 70 horses and two cows. Also killed 15 of the Enemy and took 10 Prisoners.

John Guthrie’s youngest son died or disappeared during the attack having wandered away from the house to play. Joseph Brownlee, his son-in-law, and John Brownlee, his 3-4 year old grandson, were hatcheted to death. His daughter, Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee, and her 4 month old daughter, Jane, were taken as captives and marched to Buffalo and Niagara, sold to the British, held prisoner, and after a year were released and returned home.

1783: OFFICIAL END of AMERICA’S WAR of INDEPENDENCE
The Treaty of Paris, on 3 Sep 1783, officially ratified the independence of the 13 North American states. Canada remained in British hands. About 100,000 American Loyalists left the United States to settle in Britain, Canada, and British Colonies in the West Indies.

1784: ORGANIZATION of POKE RUN CHURCH 
“John was a Covenanter of the strictest kind and reared his family in faith. He brought with him to America a copy of Rev William Guthrie’s treatise, ‘The Christian’s Great Interest‘ (first published in 1668), and several of his other writings and other religious books.” {LRG}

John Guthrie was one of the early members of the Poke Run Presbyterian Church. He contributed or paid for supplies for services held at a local home until such a time as members of the church built a log edifice 30×70 feet in size. Both John Guthry Sr and John Guthry Jr signed a paper in March 1790 stating that they were members of the church and promised to help pay for the services of Rev. Samuel Porter in both money and produce. 

1785: DEATH of RICHARD WALLACE
Mary’s husband Richard Wallace had been the Quartermaster during the Lochry Expedition in 1781. Wallace was only one of five men to survive the expedition. At Richard Wallace’s death in 1785 he owned a grist mill, saw mill, two adjacent plantations, and a third on Sewickley. Mary remarried to John Guthrie. 

After 1785: MARRIAGE of JOHN GUTHRIE & MARY SIMPSON WALLACE Sometime after 1785, but before January 1790, John Guthrie married Richard Wallace’s widow, Mary. 

1787: PROPERTY PATENT – SALEM, WESTMORELAND, PENNSYLVANIA
Initially surveyed on 13 April 1786, a patent was issued to John Guthrie on 21 Mar 1787 for a tract named “Guthrie’s Fancy” containing 382 acres, 20 perches. Survey Book A50-118;I-240B. Patent Book: P10-72. Tract #5. Map Grid 54, 64. 

1788: PROPERTY SALE – SALEM, WESTMORELAND, PENNSYLVANIA (NEIGHBOR)
On 3 April 1788, John Guthrie sold to Michael Ringer, a tract of 140 perches, adj John Guthrie senior for 150 pounds gold or silver. 

1788: WILL of WALTER ANTHONY (NEIGHBOR)
John Guthrie was listed as owning property next to Walter Anthony. Will written 13 July 1788. 

1790: CENSUS for SALEM, WESTMORELAND, PENNSYLVANIA
JOHN GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: 2FWM <16, 2FWM >16. 2 FWF. 

1790: DEED in LIEU of WILL for RICHARD WALLACE
“I John Guthrie, of Westmoreland County, for natural affection and other good causes and considerations, have granted unto my wife, Mary Guthrie, one feather bed, furniture, one cherry tree chest, etc., with all benefits arising from the estate of Richard Wallace, to which I am entitled, to be disposed of at her pleasure after my decease.” Signed the 12th day of January, 1790. John Guthrie. (Westmoreland Co., Pa., Deeds, Liber D, folio 210) 

1791: PROPERTY SALE – SALEM, WESTMORELAND, PENNSYLVANIA
John Guthrie, senior, and Mary, his wife, both of Salem…Whereas the Commonwealth granted 1 March 1787 a tract of land called ‘Guthrie’s Fancy’ unto the said John, said John now sells to Michael Ringer containing 142 acres, 112 perches, being part of above. 

1795: PROPERTY SALE – SALEM, WESTMORELAND, PENNSYLVANIA
“John Guthrie, of Westmoreland County, for 20 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of rye, 6 bushels of corn, 6 bushels of buckwheat, 10 bushels of oats, 200 pounds of pork, 200 pounds of beef, 2 cows foddered, 6 sheep kept, 2 horses kept and when not at my command to work in moderation, etc. from James and William Guthrie, in consideration whereof the said John Guthrie sells to them a certain tract of land containing 242 acres, my dwelling house excepted and they are not to sell the land until after my death and if it please God to call me off before my wife, she is to enjoy two thirds of the income, except the horses of which she is to have one half if unmarried. But if she marries she is to go with her husband and enjoy no more of said income. Said land adjoins Michael Ringle, Joseph Thorn, Dewall Maclin, Phillip Walter. Dated Oct 9, 1795. 

(Signed)
John Guthrie
M.G. (her mark)
James Guthrie
William Guthrie 
In the presence of William Hill. Recorded  March 10, 1797. (Westmoreland County PA Deeds, Vol 2, Part 2, p562) 

1797: DEATH of JOHN GUTHRIE
John Guthrie died in 1797. He was buried at Poke Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

“James Guthrie and William Guthrie of Salem Township, Westmoreland County, Pa in consideration of having received a release from Mary Guthrie, Relict of John Guthrie Esq, deceased, late of Salem Township, giving up all claim to the real estate of the said John Guthrie, do bind ourselves to permit her to enjoy all the personal estate of John Guthrie, aforesaid, after the funeral expenses are discharged, and to permit her to have whole use and possession of the house in which she now lives, one third of the “Shugar Camp” while she remains unmarried and to furnishing to said Mary Guthrie while she remains unmarried–20 bushels of wheat, 7 bushels of rye, 4 bushels of Indian corn, 4 bushels of buckwheat, 7 bushels of oats, 133 pounds of beef, 133 pounds of pork, 1/2 acre of turnip, potatoes, etc. 10th day of April, 1797.  

Jas. Guthrie
William Guthrie
Signed in the presence of Samuel Porter. Recorded Nov 1797. (Westmoreland Co., Pa Deeds, Vol 3, p168)

As to the estate–

“John Guthrie of Washington Township, William Guthrie of Salem Township (this was William Guthrie, the husband of Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee), William Beatty, and James Beatty, both of Washington Township, and James Porterfield, of Salem Township, in consideration of the sum of five shillings to each of us in hand paid by James Guthrie and William Guthrie, both of Salem Township, do hereby give up and quit-claim our interest in the estate of John Guthrie Esq, deceased, late of Salem Township, to the said James Guthrie and William Guthrie. 10th April 1797.

(Signed)
John Guthrie
William Guthrie
William Beatty
John Beatty
James Porterfield.
In the presence of Samuel Porter, James Hill. Recorded 15th day of April, 1811. (Westmoreland Co Pa Deeds Vol 9, p262) 

1808: DEATH of MARY SIMPSON WALLACE GUTHRIE 
John Guthrie’s widow, Mary, died sometime after 1808.

THEIR STORY

Documentation of John Guthrie’s ancestral history is lacking any primary evidence. What we have is an oral tradition claiming descend from the Laird of Pitforthie. Whether or not that is true is up for debate, although there appears to be a number of potential descedant lines to explore. John Guthrie was a staunch Covenanter. If he was not related to Rev. William Guthrie, son of the laird, and later holder of both title and lands, he was certainly a follower of his beliefs. Upon his arrival in America, John brought with him the family Bible, a copy of William’s treatise ‘The Christian’s Great Interest, and several of his other writings, and other religious books. {LRG, p715 – footnote 414.}

John Guthrie and his family settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania about 1771. He served as Justice of the Peace and as a local attorney for many years.

In 1777, his brother James Guthrie, who had been living in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania for a number of years near other Guthrie cousins, sold his property and moved to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. With him came his wife Jeanette and at least one or two of their children.

Life on the Pennsylvania frontier was not without its dangers as the family discovered. Elizabeth, daughter of John & Jane (Reed) Guthrie was captured by indians during the raid at Hannastown, her husband and son killed. She and her infant daughter were brought to Canada, imprisoned by the British, and freed after a long ordeal. Upon her return home, Elizabeth (Guthrie) Brownlee married her cousin, Capt. William Guthrie, the son of James & Jeanette (Wilson) Guthrie, merging the two family lines.

GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG2A
Group Designation: Branch G – Cluster 2 (Guthries of Pitforthie)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Z30233

YDNA Matches:  3
Kit 199390
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > John Jack Guthrie/Mary Erwin > James Guthrie/Mary Miller > Samuel Smith Guthrie/Nancy Jane Grieve (GGP) +more

Kit 252298
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > William Guthrie/Agnes Nancy Dixon > James Guthrie/Sarah Beatty > John Beatty Guthrie/Mary Jane Freetly (GGP) +more

Kit 315905 (+FF)
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > James Guthrie/Margaret Dixon > William Guthrie/Margaret E Chambers > James Dixon Guthrie/Anna Mary Goss (GGP) +more

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits: 8
* Also listed under G: James Guthrie/Jeanette Wilson (FF Kits Only)

Kit 173677
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Nancy Guthrie/James Porterfield > Nancy Porterfield/Thomas Jackson > Alvira Angeline Jackson/Jonathan M Douglas (GGP)

Kit 292202
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Nancy Guthrie/James Porterfield > Robert Guthrie Porterfield/Hannah Campbell > Robert Milton Porterfield/Margaret Elvira Hunter > Paul Russell Porterfield/Nellie Malicote > Juanita Marie Porterfield/Lester Floyd Lenover (GGP)

Kit 297621*
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Elizabeth Guthrie/William Guthrie (son of G: James Guthrie/Jeanette Wilson) > James Guthrie/Unidentified MNU > James B Guthrie/Elizabeth Bish > Phillip David Guthrie/Rachel Susan Milliron > Simeon Augustus Guthrie/Mary C Wolfe (GGP) +more

Kit B144465
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Jane Guthrie/John Beatty > William Beatty/Elizabeth Ann Sedwick > Thomas Sedwick Beatty/Jemima Sutton > John Franklin Beatty/Olive Adeline Graham (GGP)

Kit B160182
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Jane Guthrie/John Beatty > William Beatty/Elizabeth Ann Sedwick > Thomas Sedwick Beatty/Jemima Sutton (GGP)

Kit B165610
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Nancy Guthrie/James Porterfield > Robert Guthrie Porterfield/Hannah Campbell > Robert Milton Porterfield/Margaret Elvira Hunter > Paul Russell Porterfield/Nellie Malicote (GGP)

Kit B515095*
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Elizabeth Guthrie/William Guthrie (son of G: James Guthrie/Jeanette Wilson) > James Guthrie/Unidentified MNU > James B Guthrie/Elizabeth Bish > Ira Jackson Guthrie/Susanna Motter > Van Buren Guthrie/Susanna Hinderliter (GGP) +more

Kit B842932
John Guthrie/Jane Reed > Nancy Guthrie/James Porterfield > James Porterfield/Jane McClatchey > John Guthrie Porterfield/Fanny D Crawford > Jennie Lind Porterfield/James Johnson (GGP)

Findings:
John Guthrie has 3 sons, all of whom are represented in the Y-DNA Project.

GFG2A – Branch G includes two key genetic markers found in Y-DNA tests:
DYS442 = 11 (Group Mode = 12)
DYS712 = 20 (Group Mode = 19)

These two genetic mutations compared to the most common result in the group show a pattern of inherited genetic change.

The two major lines for Branch G are descendants of John Guthrie & Jane Reed and James Guthrie & Jeanette Wilson. They all share these markers.

A third line, a descendant of Andrew Milton Guthrie 1830-1905PA & Susan Frain, has only tested at the Y67 level, which includes only 1 of the 2 markers. He is also DYS442 = 11. An upgrade of his test to Y111 would reveal if the other marker matches. His ancestor’s parents remain unidentified, so it is quite possible that he descends from either John or James.