GFG5
GUTHRIES of HANOVER VA / KY / NC / SC / GA
Guthrie Family Group 5: The Southern Powerhouse
Deep Virginia Roots & The Expansion of the Southern Guthries
Guthrie Family Group 5 (GFG5) represents one of the most significant Guthrie populations in the Southern United States. Characterized by a sprawling migration pattern from the Tidewater region of Virginia into the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, this group is a testament to the resilience of frontier families—and the challenges of “burnt county” research.
While many of these branches were once thought to be part of a singular Guthrie lineage, Y-DNA testing has proven they share a different common paternal ancestor than others with Virginia roots, untangling centuries of guesswork and providing a roadmap for future research.
🧭 Origin Theories: Searching for the Immigrant Ancestor
The current consensus in Guthrie Genealogy research points to a single immigrant progenitor for GFG5: John Guthrie of York, Gloucester, and King & Queen Counties, Virginia.
The Virginian Foundation
John Guthrie’s presence in the Tidewater region established the foundation for several major Southern lines. His theorized sons include:
- Daniel Guthrie: Married to Mary Little; settled in North Carolina. They are the theorized ancestors of the Carteret, NC Guthrie families. Y-DNA is necessary to provide confirm shared paternal ancestry.
- Edward Guthrie: Documented as the father of Thomas Guthrey (GFG4) and William Guthrie (GFG5-Branch A). This link is a critical bridge between GFG4 and GFG5.
- James Guthrie: Mentioned in early records, though no further descendants have been definitively identified.
- John Guthrie Jr.: Produced male descendants, but the line currently lacks Y-DNA representation to confirm the match.
The Thickety Creek Connection
Another pivotal theorized branch of GFG5 involves the family of Matthew Guthrie and Elizabeth (MNU) of the Thickety Creek area in South Carolina. They are the highly probable parents of:
- Frederick Guthrie (m. Mollie Louallen)
- Ann Guthrie (m. Joseph Price)
- Shadrack Guthrie (Probably the same man as the progenitor of Branch C). Shadrack and its variant spellings are exclusively found in GFG5 Guthrie lineages.
The combination of these Virginia and Carolina families accounts for a massive portion of the Guthrie population across the South today.
📊 GFG5 Branch Directory
🔍 Research Tips for GFG5
- The “Burnt County” Factor: Many GFG5 families lived in King & Queen, Buckingham, and other Virginia counties where records were destroyed. Research often requires “cluster genealogy”—studying neighbors, in-laws, and land witnesses to find clues.
- The GFG4 Link: Because Branch A’s Edward Guthrie is also linked to Thomas Guthrey of GFG4, researchers should keep a close eye on GFG4 updates for potential breakthroughs in Tidewater Virginia records.
- Join the DNA Project: If you are a male Guthrie descendant of any branch not yet represented by Y-DNA, your test could be the key to linking these “floating” branches back to the K&Q immigrant.
Woody Guthrie. Musician Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie is a descendant of GFG5 via the line of Shadrick Guthry 1722SC-1850MS & Malinda Badley.
🧩 Is This Your Piece of the Puzzle?
Your family story is a thread in a global tapestry.
Are you a descendant of GFG5? We are always looking for more documentation, family bibles, and DNA participants. Visit our DNA Project Page to see how you can help bridge the gaps in the Southern Guthrie story.
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 GFG5 story together.