GUTHRIES OF KING WILLIAM & CUMBERLAND VA / KY / TN

GUTHRIE RESEARCH TREE: GFG4

Guthrie Family Group 4 (GFG4): Overview

Genetic Profile: Haplogroup I-M253

Common Progenitor: Thomas Guthrey (c1717–1800)

GFG4 is a small, distinct genetic cluster. Unlike the more expansive GFG5 or the Middlesex-based GFG1A, this group traces its roots to a specific pocket of Colonial Virginia. While historically linked to other Guthrie families by genealogists, DNA evidence has proven GFG4 is a genetically independent lineage.

Y-DNA Verified Lineages Chart

Additional Context and Notes

This chart reflects Y-DNA-verified branches within Guthrie Family Group 4 (GFG4), where genetic evidence ties tested male-line descendants back to colonial Virginia origins.

• Branch A centers on Thomas Guthrey (c.1717–1800) and Sarah Oakes of King William and Cumberland Counties, VA. This is the primary, well-documented core of GFG4, with multiple descendant lines confirmed through Y-DNA matches.
• Branch B links to William Guthrey (b. ~1772 VA – d. 1854 GA) and Mary (Warren) Musgrove. Y-DNA places this line firmly in GFG4 (sharing the same genetic signature as Branch A), but William’s exact connection to Thomas Guthrey remains unidentified — likely a grandson or similar close relation, though the paper trail is missing. This is sometimes referred to as a “missing link” in genealogical discussions.

Key Locations

• Virginia: King William County (St. John’s Parish), King & Queen County, Cumberland County (Southam/Littleton Parish), Halifax County, and Buckingham County.
• Georgia: Greene County, Oglethorpe County, and Walker County (Cassandra/Pond Springs).
• Kentucky: Green County and Woodford County.
• Other Areas: Montgomery County, AR; Union County, OR; Missouri and Texas.

Research Challenges

1. Missing Link for Branch B: While Y-DNA confirms William Guthrey (b. 1772) of Georgia belongs to GFG4, his exact father is unidentified. He is chronologically a grandson of Thomas Guthrey & Sarah Oakes, potentially descending from an older son or a collateral relative.
2. The “Burned County” Obstacle: Records for King William and King & Queen Counties—where the family originated—are largely lost, making it difficult to prove the connection to theorized patriarch Edward Guthrie.
3. The GFG4-B Mismatch: Two descendants of John Guthrey (son of Thomas) do not match the GFG4 profile, indicating a secondary Non-Paternity Event (NPE) or adoption later in that specific line.
4. Sarah Oakes Identity: Whether Thomas had one wife (Sarah Oakes) or two (a Miss King followed by Sarah Oakes) remains a point of debate due to the use of “King” as a middle name in the family.

Historical Conflict: The NPE Theory & The Edward Guthrie Puzzle

The most significant challenge for GFG4 is its genetic isolation despite historical records placing them in the heart of GFG5 and GFG1A territory.

The Theory vs. The DNA

Early genealogical publications (such as American Guthrie and Allied Families) theorized that Thomas Guthrey (GFG4)and William Guthrie (GFG5) were brothers—sons of Edward Guthrie (d. 1739). Edward was a resident of New Kent and King & Queen Counties and died in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, VA.

• The Conflict: The Guthrie DNA Project has determined through Autosomal DNA matching that the descendants of Edward Guthrie’s broader family (via his theorized father, John the Immigrant) likely belong to GFG5. Y-DNA confirmation remains pending.
• The GFG4 Discrepancy: Thomas Guthrey’s Y-DNA (GFG4) does not match GFG5. This suggests that Thomas may not have been the biological son of Edward Guthrie, but rather the result of a Non-Paternity Event (NPE), an informal adoption, or a step-child relationship where the Guthrie name was taken.

The “Two Johns” Conflation

A major source of confusion in online trees is the conflation of two distinct John Guthries:

1. John Guthrie (The Immigrant – GFG5/GFG4 context): An Englishman who received a land grant in York County (later Gloucester/King & Queen). He is believed to be the father of Edward Guthrie.
2. John Guthrie of Middlesex (GFG1A context): A separate individual associated with the Christ Church Parish records.

Because Edward Guthrie (the theorized father of GFG4’s Thomas) died in Middlesex—a stronghold for the GFG1A descendants of John of Middlesex—researchers frequently “merge” these families. DNA proves they are three distinct groups:

• GFG1A: The Middlesex “Scottish” line.
• GFG5: The “English” line of John the Immigrant.
• GFG4: The genetic anomaly appearing within the Edward Guthrie household.

Conclusion: GFG4 represents a unique genetic signature that emerged in the early 1700s in Virginia. Whether through an unrecorded adoption into Edward Guthrie’s family or a biological NPE, the descendants of Thomas Guthrey and William Guthrey remain a distinct and fascinating chapter of the Guthrie diaspora.

🧩 Is This Your Piece of the Puzzle?

Your family story is a thread in a global tapestry.

While you may only know your immediate relatives, you are genetically linked to thousands of Guthrie cousins across the globe. That “minor” detail in your grandmother’s journal or that obscure Bible record in your attic could be the missing link a fellow researcher has been hunting for decades.

How You Can Help:

• Share Your Knowledge: Have you found a record that clarifies an ancestor’s location?
• Contribute a Story: Do you have a family legend or a photo that brings a branch to life?
• Write with Us: Want to feature your branch in an article? We can help you draft it!
• Solve a Mystery: Are you a DNA enthusiast? Help us analyze pattern markers.

Don’t let your branch of the tree remain a secret. [Contact Ann] today to share info, suggest an article, or start a collaboration.

Let’s write the next chapter of the GFG4A story together.