GFG6
GUTHRIES of SCT / N.IRE / ENG / CAN / USA: DE / PA / NY / RI
Overview of GFG6
GFG6 includes diverse Guthrie lineages with roots in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Canada, and the Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic USA (especially Delaware’s Mill Creek Hundred, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and Rhode Island). Unlike groups with a single documented origin, GFG6 represents separate paternal lines from an ancient Guthrie Y-DNA cluster. Big Y-700 and other tests show distant common ancestors, with notable genetic variance—suggesting a likely Scottish progenitor line that branched via migrations to Ireland, then to North America or stayed in Britain.
Key themes:
- Many branches trace to 1700s–1800s immigrants or locals.
- Clusters appear around Mill Creek Hundred (DE) and Pennsylvania.
- DNA indicates relatedness on direct paternal lines, but SNP testing is needed for precise placement.
Submit records, stories, or DNA results to collaborate and refine these lineages!
Lineages Chart: Branch, Progenitors, Key Locations, Research Challenges
This table summarizes the 12 branches (A–L) with progenitors, primary locations, and open questions.
| Branch | Progenitors | Key Locations | Research Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | George Guthrie & Janet Mennion | Berwickshire, Scotland; later migration to Rhode Island (1900s) | Family stayed in Scotland for generations; migration timing/details unclear. |
| B | Adam Guthrie & Elizabeth Nesbit | Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, England; Lancashire, England | Entire lineage remains in England; no known US/Canada ties. |
| C | James Guthrie & Martha Fansey | Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (possible tie to Thomas Guthrie in Muncy Creek) | Runaway indenture record (1811); parentage unconfirmed; early generations sparse. |
| D | John Guthrie & Isabella Stinton (Stinson) | County Tyrone?, Ireland; York/Whitby Township, Ontario, Canada | Immigration path (direct from Ireland or via US?); pre-1822 details missing. |
| E | William Guthrie & Ann Hudson | Unknown or undocumented early locations | Limited records; spouse and origins unidentified; needs basic documentation. |
| F | Benjamin Guthrie & Sarah Robinson | Maryland; White Clay Creek/Mill Creek Hundred, Delaware; later Pennsylvania | Civil War death (1864); widow remarriage; DE-PA cluster ties unproven. |
| G | Justice (Thomas J.) Guthrie & Nellie Bordreau | Pennsylvania (Clearfield/Center County area) | Adopted status in 1880 census; birth details vague; limited descendants. |
| H | James Guthrie & Mary Shelps | County Tyrone, Northern Ireland; Monongalia/Preston County, Virginia | Part of “Widow Guthrie” with 5 sons; early US arrival undocumented. |
| I | George Guthrie & Margaret Keys | Ireland; Washington County, Pennsylvania; Vermilion County, Illinois | Progenitor William (1738 IRE-1828 PA) needs research; immigration window broad (1783–1814). |
| J | William Guthrie & Editha Munson (Note: records often list James Guthrie 1775 CT–1850 NY) | Connecticut (listed as Scotland origin?); Hebron/York, New York | Parentage unconfirmed (possible John & Phebe); birth location conflict. |
| K | William Guthrie & Unidentified Spouse | Northern Ireland (~1710); Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware | Wife unknown; immigration year unclear; multiple MCH participants. |
| L | John Guthrie & Ellen Demster | Unknown early; possible Delaware/Pennsylvania ties | Limited documentation; spouse/origins unidentified; needs records. |
Grouping by Earliest Origin Locations
This chart clusters branches by primary earliest known origin, revealing migration patterns (e.g., Scotland → Ireland → USA/Canada).
Scotland-Origin Branches (direct or listed SCT roots; farmers/artisans staying or migrating late):
- A (George & Janet Mennion)
- J (possible SCT tie via James/William & Editha)
- (Potential: E if William & Ann Hudson ties to SCT)
Northern Ireland-Origin Branches (common 1700s–early 1800s emigration hub):
- K (William c1710 & unknown; MCH-DE focus)
- H (James & Mary Shelps; “Widow Guthrie” group)
- I (William 1738 & Margaret; George & Margaret Keys line)
- D (John & Isabella Stinton)
England-Origin Branches (isolated British Isles line):
- B (Adam & Elizabeth Nesbit; stays in Northumberland/Lancashire)
Early USA-Born or Northeastern Clusters (1700s–1800s PA/DE/MD/NY; often with Irish/unknown upstream):
- C (James & Martha Fansey; PA)
- F (Benjamin & Sarah Robinson; MD/DE/PA)
- G (Justice/Thomas J. & Nellie Bordreau; PA)
- L (John & Ellen Demster; possible DE/PA)
Canada Ties (secondary migrations):
- D (John & Isabella; Ireland → Ontario)
DNA Insights and Research Challenges
Limited Big Y-700 results for Branches J (James/William & Editha Munson line) and K (William MCH-DE) show they share terminal SNPs (R-FTD84152 ~1500 CE era, then R-FT330040). This indicates a common paternal ancestor in the last ~500 years—likely tying into Mill Creek Hundred (DE) or broader Northeastern clusters. Other branches lack deep SNP testing, so connections remain distant/ancient.
Common Challenges:
- Unknown spouses (A, K, E, L).
- Unconfirmed parentage/migrations (C, D, F, I, J).
- Adoption/runaway records (C, G).
- Broad immigration windows and “MNU” (maiden name unknown) gaps.
Likely GFG6 Origins: Data points to a deep Scottish Guthrie paternal line (pre-1700s), with branches splitting in Scotland/Ireland before 18th-century dispersals. DE/PA (Mill Creek Hundred) acts as a US “hub” for several (K, F, L), suggesting related arrivals. England (B) and pure Scotland (A) stand apart but share the old haplogroup. More Big Y-700 and autosomal matching could confirm subclusters (e.g., MCH-DE group). This “hodgepodge” likely reflects Guthrie mobility post-1600s—invite DNA testers to refine!
🧩 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 GFG6 story together.
What members does FTDNA say are related?? I have alot of records from hired reseachers in Scotland. Traces way back.
Each Guthrie Family Group is genetically unique, so no group is biologically related to any other group. If you’re asking specifically about these GFG6 families, they are all technically related to one another on their direct paternal lines. We simply don’t know exactly where they fit on their shared tree. It is likely to be a very old Guthrie line. Some of these branches will be more closely related than others. If you want to share records we can always post them in the Research section for Scotland.