Jane Reed: Anna L. Warren’s A Captive’s Tale (1977), p. 17, note 1, cites the Guthrie Family Papers, passed through Bessie Theetge. This is the provenance of the identification, not a contemporary marriage register. AGAF’s note 415 explicitly constructs “Mary Jane” from descendants’ use of Jane and records naming Mary.

Mary Simpson: John’s later wife was the widow of Richard Wallace. The 1790 instrument connects her benefits with Richard Wallace’s estate, and the 1797 instruments call her John’s relict. Jane Reed and Mary Simpson are separate women.

Published evidence for Simpson: The History of Indiana County, Penn’a (J. A. Caldwell, 1880), p. 359, identifies Peter Wallace as the son of Richard Wallace and Mary Simpson. The scanned page has been inspected. It explicitly supports the surname used here, although this later historical account does not identify Mary’s parents or supply a contemporary marriage record. Read the county history, p. 359 →

The 1800 Simpson inheritance deed: On 8 May 1800, a Mary Guthrie released an interest in Andrew Simpson’s land to James Simpson, described as one of the heirs. The recital says the intestate Andrew’s rights descended to his children, but it does not expressly call Mary his daughter or identify her as the widow of John Guthrie or Richard Wallace. How she acquired her interest and whether she is the same Mary still require corroboration. Westmoreland Deeds 5:373 →

D:210: The best reading of the irregular execution day is 20 January 1790; AGAF and the typed extract give 12 January. Recording was 2 February. Preserve that paleographic qualification.

2, part 2:562: The instrument is dated 9 October 1795, acknowledged 6 February 1796, and recorded 10 March 1797. Its grain wording includes “10 of rye”, not 100. Housing, food, livestock, and conditions on Mary’s support should be read from the instrument itself.

3:168 and 9:261–262: The agreements and releases of 10 April 1797 address Mary’s residence, personal property after funeral expenses, support, and security. Her reciprocal release acknowledges the annuity secured by James and William’s joint bond. Its 1811 recording is not proof that Mary was then living.

9:276–277: On 5 March 1811, James names John Esq. as “my father” and William as “my brother.” Margaret’s release identifies her as James’s wife. The $540 conveyance was recorded 4 May 1811. Its recital gives 19 October 1795 and explicitly cites Book 2:562; the earlier instrument itself gives 9 October. Both readings belong in the source notes. Opening page → · Continuation and recording →

The Beatty discrepancy in 9:262: The family quitclaim opens with James Beatty but uses John Beatty in its later operative clause, copied signature list, and witness proof. John is the better-supported executing name; the initial James is retained as a discrepancy. The record does not call the men sons or sons-in-law or name their wives. Its four copied signatures and proof should not be expanded to five merely because William Guthrie also appears in the body. Read the two recorded releases →

The family quitclaim was executed in 1797 and proved in 1811 by witness Samuel Porter. It does not place Captain Jack alive in 1811. These are images of county record-book copies, not the original signed papers.

The working reconstruction includes John, James, Margaret, Jenny, and Samuel. A later narrative asserts eight children while describing fourteen-year-old John and four other minors. Laurence’s 1946 revision instead presents four entries, including one expressly called a “presumptive son.” Neither list establishes the full set of wards. Five minors and a larger lifetime family remain possible; the original proceedings must identify the children.

The lead for Jenny is Westmoreland Orphans’ Court volume A, p. 166, No. J, 1805, with James Guthrie reported as guardian. The index’s abbreviations and filing references remain to be checked against the orders. Index leads also exist for John, James, and Samuel; the John entry points to A, p. 183 and names Samuel Paul as guardian. These are index-level leads, not a completed transcription of the proceedings.

Jenny’s guardianship is not evidence of her death. Retain after 1805. Laurence’s 1946 notes report that she married an unnamed Mr. King, a widower with children, and had no children herself. This identifies a source for the marriage story, but no marriage record has been established; a husband remains unassigned.

Samuel’s parentage and the attachment of his guardianship require verification. A separate 1809 deed identifies a Samuel Guthrie of Washington County, New York; it does not identify him as Jack’s child.

Robert Orr’s 1851 letter, reproduced in AGAF, reports Jack’s son’s recollection that his father went to Kentucky to buy land and died after a short illness. Its tentative “about 1810 or 15” conflicts with the 1805 estate leads. This supports an attributed account of the circumstances, not a proved exact death date or location.

James Guthrie and Sally/Lilly Cochran: In his revision dated 18 July 1946, Laurence withdrew this James from the family of the Washington Township Revolutionary soldier William Guthrie and proposed Jack as his father. He expressly called James a “presumptive son.” His objection to William’s parentage and his proposed replacement are separate arguments; neither the new will nor the census records names James’s father.

This James is distinct in the working research from James and Mary Miller, the couple in kit 199390’s reported route, and from John’s son James and Margaret Dixon. The Cochran family’s placement under Jack remains a proposed connection.

The recorded Cochran-family will, Armstrong Wills 2:282–283: It names wife Salley; sons William, James, Alexander, and John; daughters Margaret White and Jane Henderson; and grandson Daniel McCausland. The recorded copy reads 17 April 1831, while the abstracts report 17 April 1851. The date conflict remains open. The abstracts’ David differs from the recorded Daniel, whose parents are not named. Nancy’s omission establishes no death date.

James’s will was registered on 2 June 1863, following witness proofs on 1–2 June. The 7 May registration above it belongs to the preceding Samuel George estate. Jane Henderson’s death certificate of 26 November 1910 names her parents as James Guthrie and Lillie Cochran, supplying a separate record to compare with the will.

The 1850 Cowanshannock household of James Guthrey, 60, and Lydia, 62, with Alexander, John, David, and James A., and William in the following household, is a strong comparison candidate. The ages and Lydia name differ from the later family records. The census gives no relationships, so the younger members cannot all be assumed to be sons. This candidate also does not resolve the poorly fitting 1830 Redbank attachment.

Samuel of Versailles and Braddock: Laurence reassigned the Samuel on AGAF p. 186 from Samuel and Jane Wilson’s family to Jack. The later household with Mary is supported by the reviewed 1850 and 1870 schedules and the 1860 index. Samuel’s ages of 47, 58, and 69 point to birth about 1801–1803, rather than the about-1785 estimate in the revision. His identification with Jack’s son or the 1805 ward remains unproved.

The abstract of Samuel’s will, Allegheny Wills 35:235, signed 29 March 1886 and proved 9 March 1889, calls Samuel T. his son and Mary Jane his granddaughter. Laurence’s associated death note gives 19 February 1889. This supports keeping father and son separate and checking the death against the actual probate papers. John P. of the Braddock family likewise remains distinct from John Paul, son of John and Catherine Buchanan.

Jane and John Beatty: Jane’s original affidavit of 24 May 1847 states 31 December 1789 for her marriage. Laurence’s later typed copy gives 30 September 1789; the manuscript-supported December date is retained. Jane is John and Jane Reed’s daughter, distinct from Jack’s daughter Jenny.

Sarah and William Beatty: Sarah’s 26 May 1847 affidavit gives 8 July 1783 for her wedding, referring to her family record. AGAF’s allied-family section, printed p. 483, also preserves an unnamed granddaughter’s account of William visiting her Guthrie grandparents near Londonderry. The visit is undated; if correctly attributed to Sarah’s husband, it must precede his reported death on 17 March 1827. The grandparents’ identities should not be supplied beyond the source’s wording.

The reviewed 1811 manifest of the Mary, Londonderry to Philadelphia, places Wm., Jane, and Geo. Beatty together among cabin passengers. It gives no ages or relationships. This is a candidate voyage, not an identification of Sarah’s husband or a date for the visit. The conflicting 17/19 June arrival readings also remain open. Follow Sarah’s family and record trail →

Laurence’s county-notes abstract of James’s will, dated 5 December 1848, has now been examined. It makes Andrew D. Guthrie the beneficiary of the home farm and an interest in 221 acres, describing the latter through an earlier deed from Wm. C. McKnight to son Joseph. Joseph appears in that land history, rather than as the recipient of this bequest.

This provides a plausible explanation for the research-tree summary’s apparent conflict with Joseph R.’s reported death on 29 March 1845. The abstract does not expressly call Joseph living or deceased. The actual will, estate 80, McKnight deed, and source for Joseph’s death remain necessary to resolve his history. James’s reported death on 16 December 1848 is a separate fact, not established by the will’s execution date.

AGAF describes Joseph as having drowned with his horse while a young man; it does not supply the disputed death date. Mention in a will does not by itself establish survival, and omission does not establish death.

The two Samuel Dixon Guthries must also remain separate: James and Margaret’s son, associated with Hannah Speer, Mary Russell, and Illinois; and William and Agnes’s unmarried son, associated with the Pennsylvania homestead. Their shared name is not an identity bridge.

AGAF appendix note 416 cites a justice appointment on 11 June 1777 to the Pennsylvania Archives, second series, p. 775, without a volume, and an oath on 11 December 1794 to sixth series, volume 5, p. 787. These are useful retrieval leads; each official act still needs to be matched to the correct John.

Captain John of this family must not receive the service or vital dates of the Carlisle/Pittsburgh John from Robert Guthrie and Bridget Dougherty’s family. Nor should John’s service be merged with that of Elizabeth’s husband Captain William.

The 11 December 1797 Brownlee land conveyance at Westmoreland 4:151–152 names an administrator John Guthrie. Since John Sr. was already dead by April, Captain Jack is a candidate, but the deed alone does not expressly identify him as Jack or Junior. Paul Morrow proved the deed in November 1798; that date is not John’s personal appearance.