Guthrie Family Group 5 – Branch D
JAMES C GUTHRIE 1795GA-1862IA and NANCY CORN
of Georgia and Jasper County, Iowa, USA

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of James C Guthrie & Nancy Corn
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project
Reading and Resources

According to the US Census records, James C Guthrie was born in Georgia about 1795. The biographical sketch of his son-in-law, William M Blankenship, includes family data on the previous Guthrie generation. James C Guthrie’s father was named John Guthrie. “He was a native of Scotland and a pioneer of Georgia. During the course of his service in the Revolutionary war he received a severe wound through the body, but recovered and resumed the work of a planter in Georgia.”

YDNA reveals that the descendants of James and Nancy belong to GFG5, so the answer as to the identity of his parents may show up in other lineages connected to that group. According to the 1850 and 1860 census, James C Guthrie was born in Georgia. GFG5-Branch G’s Henry Guthrie was born in GA about 1812 and remained in Georgia marrying Manerva Lyon in Newton County in 1834. Henry could potentially be a younger brother of James C Guthrie, or a cousin from a related branch of the family.

It sounds as though this branch of GFG5 may have come to America during a separate immigration from the branches in Virginia.

The verified parts of James C Guthrie’s family story are found in Ohio where he married Nancy Corn. This couple brought their family west and were “among the first pioneers to settle in the area when Des Moines consisted of a fort and a trading post, and Tool’s Point was the only stopping place between Des Moines and Oskaloosa.” (Source: Obituary of daughter, Lexa Guthrie Williams, Monroe Mirror, 1918)

Name Alert! – There is a James C Guthrie and wife Nancy (possibly Rylee) of Tennessee and Mississippi whose records appear entangled in trees with this James C Guthrie and wife Nancy Corn. Proceed with caution, especially in the selection / identification of parents for the couple.

JAMES C GUTHRIE
Parents: John Guthrie, a native of Scotland, pioneer of Georgia, and Rev. War soldier.
Born: 1795
Location: Georgia, USA
Marriage: Nancy Corn on 17 Dec 1817 in Jackson County, Ohio
Occupation: Farmer
Died: 20 Jan 1862
Location: Unverified, presumably in Des Moines, Jasper, Iowa, USA
Buried: Unknown, presumably Jasper County, Iowa, USA

NANCY CORN
Parents: George Corn 1740VA – 1834OH and Dolly Luttrell 1768VA – 1844 OH
Born: 8 April 1798
Location: Virginia, USA
Guthrie Children: 11
Died: 25 Oct 1857
Location: Monroe, Jasper, Iowa, USA
Buried: Griffis Cemetery, Prairie City, Jasper, Iowa, USA (Find-a-Grave)

CHILDREN: 14
Y-DNA Project Participants: YES
Autosomal DNA Participants: YES

Linked Pages:
1.) Anna Inez Guthrie 1818OH-1887IA (m1.1835) John Harvey, (m2.1849) Solomon Frey +children
2.) (FNU Infant Son) Guthrie 1820OH-1820OH
3.) Faulkner Guthrie 1821OH-c1850NE – unmarried?
4.) Alexa Guthrie 1822OH – 1918IA (m.1856IA) James Madison Williams +children
5.) Leroy Guthrie 1823OH – 1862TN (m.1854IL) Harriet Pruden +children
6.) Eveline Guthrie c1825OH – 1850-56 (m.1847IA) Francis H Hughes +children
7.) Permelia J Guthrie 1827OH – 1891CA (m.1849IA) George Gilbert +children
8.) Clarissa Guthrie 1832OH – 1872IA (m.) William Preston Cowman +children
9.) Melissa Edwina Guthrie 1834OH – 1915CA (m.1857IA) William M Blankenship +children
10.) Harvey Washington Guthrie 1837IN – 1906CA
11.) Rev. James D Guthrie 1840IN – 1916IA (m.1859IA) Catherine Davis +children
12.) Child of Unknown Gender and Birth Order – Died in Infancy or Early Childhood
13.) Child of Unknown Gender and Birth Order – Died in Infancy or Early Childhood
14.) Child of Unknown Gender and Birth Order – Died in Infancy or Early Childhood

1795: BIRTH of JAMES C GUTHRIE

James Guthrie was born about 1795 in Georgia based on US Census records. I do not know the origin of the middle initial C. The marriage and census data does not include a middle name. As mentioned above, James C Guthrie’s parents remain officially unidentified. A number of trees list John Guthrie of Lincoln TN as his parent, however this James has no known connection to TN and there is another name of the same name, James C Guthrie, with residence in TN who is a more likely candidate.

This James C Guthrie has direct paternal line genetic ties to Guthrie Family Group 5, which does have a branch in colonial Georgia. Branch G’s Henry Guthrie was born in GA about 1812 and lived in Newton, GA.

1798: BIRTH of NANCY CORN

Nancy Corn was born on 8 April 1798. Online trees list her parents as George Corn & Dolly Luttrell. This couple lived in Albemarle County, Virginia. George was a Revolutionary War soldier. He was reportedly the father of 20 children, half of whom moved with him to Hamilton and later Jackson County, Ohio.

1795-1817: MOVED to JACKSON COUNTY, OHIO

James Guthrie was only 22 at the time of his 1817 marriage to Nancy Corn. Did he arrive in Ohio as an adult, or did he come with his parents? In 1820, James Guthry is the only one of the surname listed in the Jackson County census. Guthries in the surrounding counties all belong to GFG2A families.

1817: MARRIAGE of JAMES GUTHRIE & NANCY CORN
Jackson County, Ohio on 7 December 1817

James and Nancy reportedly had 14 children the identities of which only 10 are known. The other 4 likely died during childbirth, infancy, or early childhood. Source of the number of children is the biographical sketch of William Blankenship, husband of their daughter Melissa Edwina Guthrie.

1820: US CENSUS of OHIO
Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, USA

James Guthry Household:
1M / 1F 16 – 25 (1795-1804)
1M / 1F under 10 (1811-1820)
1 Person Engaged in Agriculture

1830: US CENSUS of OHIO
Franklin, Jackson, Ohio

James Guthrie Household:
1M / 1F 30-39 (1791-1800)
1M / 1F 10-14 (1814-1820)
2M / 1F 5-9 (1821-1825)
1M / 2F Under 5 (1826-1830)

Abt. 1837: RESIDENCE in INDIANA
Wells County, Indiana, USA

The two youngest sons of the family were born in Wells County, Indiana about 1837 and 1840.

1840: US CENSUS
Location Unknown, presumably in Indiana

I cannot find this family listed in the 1840 census.

Abt. 1844: REMOVED to IOWA

According to the biography of son Rev James D Guthrie, the family removed to Iowa about 1844 and settling in Jackson County when DesMoines was just a fort and trading post.

1849: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – PERMELIA J GUTHRIE
Jefferson County, Iowa, USA on 15 July 1849

Permelia married George Gilbert. They lived in Fairfield and Buchanan, Jefferson, Iowa. Nine children. After George’s death in 1910, Permelia moved to San Joaquin, California.

1850: US CENSUS of IOWA
District 16, Jasper County, Iowa, USA

Guthrie Household:
James Guthrie 54 Famer Real Estate: 960 GA
Nancy Guthrie 32 VA
Lexy Guthrie 28 OH
Clarissa Guthrie 18 OH
Malissa Guthrie 16 OH
Harvey Guthrie 13 IN
James Guthrie 9 IN
Permelia J Guthrie 23 OH
George Guthrie 1/12 Iowa

Note: Daughter Permelia Guthrie had married George Gilbert in 1849. She is listed out of order of James & Nancy’s children to demonstrate that the child named George belongs to her. The surname for both should be Gilbert. The child probably died before 1860.

1856: IOWA STATE CENSUS COLLECTION
Des Moines, Jasper, Iowa, USA

Guthrie Household:
James Guthrie, 61, M, Married, Years Resident in Iowa 11, Georgia, Voter
Nancy Guthrie, 58, F, Married, Virginia
Lexa Guthrie, 32, F, Ohio
Melissa Guthrie 21 F, Ohio
Harvey Guthrie, 19 M, Indiana, Militia 0
James D Guthrie, 16, M, Indiana
Lisa A Hughes, 8, F, Iowa

Abt. 1856: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – LEXA GUTHRIE
Jasper County, Iowa, USA

Lexa married James Madison Williams when she was about 34 years old. They had 2 sons: James Guthrie Williams and LeRoy Madison Williams.

1857: DEATH of NANCY CORN GUTHRIE
Monroe, Jasper, Iowa, USA on 25 Oct 1857

Nancy (Corn) Guthrie was buried at Prairie City at Griffis Cemetery.

1860: US CENSUS of IOWA, USA
Des Moines, Jasper, Iowa, USA

The Williams Household:
James Williams 45, Farmer, RE:1900, PE:920, North Carolina
Lexa Williams 38, Domestic, Ohio
James G Williams 2, Iowa
Lexa A Kings 12, Iowa
James Guthrie 64, Retired Farmer RE:6000, PE:1000, Georgia

1862: DEATH of JAMES C GUTHRIE
Des Moines, Jasper, Iowa, USA on 20 January 1862

Guthrie Family Group: GFG5
Group Designation: Branch D – (The Guthries of Jasper County, Iowa)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-M269

YDNA Matches:  1
Kit 47155
James C Guthrie/Nancy Corn > Leroy Guthrie/Harriet Pruden > John Wesley Guthrie/Mary Elizabeth Smith (GGP) +more

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:
Kit B743983
James C Guthrie/Nancy Corn > Rev James D Guthrie/Catherine Davis > Leonard C Guthrie/Anna Atcheson > Ray Iverson Guthrie/Florence M Draper > Mabel Marie Guthrie/ Ebenezer D Pope (GGP)

Findings:

Our YDNA Participant has a Y37 marker test with one genetic variation compared to the Group Mode DNA. It is unique to his own results. Not enough data to determine additional Patterns of Inheritance.

We need some Autosomal DNA results for comparison to other GFG5 kits in order to determine if there are any hints about which GFG5 is a closer relation.

Research Locations:
Georgia (James C Guthrie born in GA about 1795)
Jackson County, Ohio (moved to Jackson, OH before 1817)
Jasper County, Iowa (removed to IA about 1844)

NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
Named for Sergeant John Newton, a Revolutionary War (1775-83) hero, the County was formed on Dec. 24, 1821 from parts of Henry, Jasper, and Walton counties. In 1821 the center of the area’s activity was a settlement called Winton at the Brick Store, a general store and stagecoach stop.

DOCUMENTS: Newton County, GA – Deeds and Mortgages
FHL 007894553 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 79 of 487
Book A – 76: 1822 – Grantor: William Guthry of Chatham GA / Grantee: Edward Hunt land was in Henry County, GA now in Newton County, GA
Book D – 211: 1832 – Grantor: John Gutrey of Newton GA / Grantee: Samuel Catlin
Book D – 645: 1833 – Grantor: Henry Gutrey of Newton GA / Grantee: Jesse L Baker
Book F – 692: 1837 – Grantor: Henry Guthrey of Newton GA / Grantee: Sarah Bearden
Book I – 286: 1840 – Grantor: Henry Guthrey of Newton GA / Grantee: Robert H Farmer
etc. – see additional entries > 1840.

DOCUMENTS: Chatham County, GA – Deeds, 1785-1900
FHL 008153564 – Index to Deeds, v. 1 – 4 1784-1837
Volume 1: 1784 – 1806 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 48 of 459
No Guthrie Entries
Volume 2: 1806 – 1818 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 185 of 459
No Guthrie Entries
Volume 3: 1818 – 1825 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 302 pf 459
No Guthrie Entries
Volume 4: 1825 – 1837 – Letter G Index Begins IMG 392 of 459
No Guthrie Entries

DOCUMENTS: Henry County, GA – Deeds and Mortgages, 1822 – 1934
Deeds, v. A 1822 – 1829 – No Guthrie Entries
Deeds, v. B 1826 – 1828 – No Guthrie Entries

DOCUMENTS: Jackson County, Ohio – Deeds 1816 – 1877
FHL 007900598 – Index, v. A – B (to v. A – T)
General Index to Deeds – Volume A – Letter C Begins IMG 34 of 341
Book B – E.34 – Grantor: James Corn / Grantee: George Corn & wife Dolly Corn
Book B – 469 – Grantee: James Corn / Grantor: Jonathan Vernon & wife Mary Vernon
Book F – 153 – Grantee: William Corn / Grantor: United States
Book F – 270 – Grantee: Nancy (Childers) Corn / Grantor: Shadrack Childers
Book H – 421 – Grantor: James Corn / Grantee: David M Exline
Book J – 14 – Grantee: James Corn / Grantor: Banister Brown admr.
Book J – 15 – Grantor: James Corn / Grantee: Banister Brown admr.
Book J – 246 – Grantor: James Corn / Grantee: School Directors
Book J – 514 – Grantee: James Corn / Grantor: Nelson Cavatt
Book K – 360 – Grantee: Riley Corn / Grantor: James Corn and wife Milley Corn
Book L – 86 – Grantee: Riley Corn / Grantor: James Peterson and wife Mary Peterson
Book M – 451 – Grantor: Riley Corn / Grantee: Stephen & John Tosse
Book M – 480 – Grantee: Riley Corn / Grantor: James S McGinnis and wife Margaret G McGinnis

General Index to Deeds – Volume A – Letter G Begins IMG 78 of 341
Book B – 93: 1829 – Grantee: James Guthrie / Grantor: Benjamin Masters & others
Book B – 94: 1830 – Grantor: James Guthrie & wife Nancy / Grantee: Benjamin Spriggs

DOCUMENTS: Jackson County, Iowa – Land Deeds, 1836 – 1916
General Index and Deed Books at Family Search are ‘locked’ to online viewing.

WEBSITE: Jackson County IA Gen Web
The Jackson County IAGenWeb is a volunteer effort to promote genealogical research and to promote records preservation and availability by providing online access to records and information for free. 

WEBSITE: Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy contains information and records for Iowa ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Specifically, it provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, court records, and military records. It also provides some historical details about different times and people in Iowa history.

BOOK: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa, Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers Publishing, 1889. Digital Repository: Family Search.
No Guthrie Entries / Bios.

WEBSITE: Jasper County, Iowa – IAGenWeb Project
The Jasper County IAGenWeb is a volunteer effort to promote genealogical research and to promote records preservation and availability by providing online access to records and information for free. 

WEBSITE: History and Genealogy of Jasper County, Iowa – Digital Repository: Genealogy Trails

BOOK: The History of Jasper County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c: A Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics … History of the Northwest, History of Iowa …. (1878). United States: Western Historical.
Digital Repository: Google Books

p.318 – The County Filling Up – The increase of settlement during 1845 was as follows: (includes) James Guthrie, Sec. 2, T.79, R20.

Note that Jasper County also had some other Guthrie settlers:
p.517 – Newton Township – Bios on George W Guthrie, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Diller) Guthrie of GFG2A-Branch F. George’s brother, Amos Guthrie, born in Lancaster, PA. The father, Jacob Guthrie, died in Newton in 1882.

DOCUMENTS: Jasper County, Iowa – Deed Records, 1848 – 1961.
The General Index and Deed Books at Family Search are ‘locked’ to online viewing.

BOOK:  Guinn, James Miller (1905) History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California – an Historical story of the state’s marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. The Chapman Publishing, Co., Chicago, Illinois, United States. Digital Repository: Google Books.
p.783-784 – Biographical Sketch of William M Blankenship