Guthrie Family Group 6 – Branch H
JAMES GUTHRIE 1761 IRE – 1833 VA (WV) and MARY SHELPS
of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Preston County, Virginia (WV)

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of James Guthrie & Mary Shelps
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG6 – BRANCH H

After the death of her husband, the “Widow Guthrie” decided to come to America from County Tyrone, N. Ireland bringing her 5 sons with her: James Guthrie, Truman Guthrie, Robert Guthrie, Stephen Guthrie, and John Guthrie. Unfortunately, she died during the journey, as did her son Truman. Her identity and that of her Guthrie husband remain unknown.

According to random sources the trek was County Tyrone > Cumberland County, Maryland > Pennsylvania > Monongalia & Preston Counties, VA (later WV).

When researching Guthries in West Virginia keep in mind that there is also an unrelated branch in the Monongalia/Tyler VA/WV area that belongs to GFG2A.

THE FAMILY of JAMES GUTHRIE & MARY SHELPS

JAMES GUTHRIE
Born: 1761
Location: County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Married: Mary Shelps about 1792 at Dunkard Creek, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Farmer
Died: 1833
Location: Preston County, Virginia (now WV)
Buried: Shady Grove Cemetery, Brandonville, Grant, Preston, WV

MARY SHELPS
Born: 1764
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Sons: John Guthrie (1792), William Guthrie (1794), George Guthrie (1796), Stephen Guthrie (1801), James Guthrie (1806), Absalom Guthrie (1810), Jacob Guthrie (1812), Alexander B Guthrie (1815)
Daughters: Isabel Guthrie (1798), Rachel Guthrie (1804)
Died: 1839
Location: Preston County, Virginia (now WV)
Buried: Shady Grove Cemetery, Brandonville, Grant, Preston, WV13

CHILDREN:

JOHN GUTHRIE
1792PA-1870WV

John Guthrie was born in Pennsylvania on 31 August 1792. Find-a-Grave lists him with the middle initial C. He married Elizabeth Boger on 4 May 1817. Their children were born in Preston County Virginia (now WV). John died there on 10 December 1870. Elizabeth lived another five years passing away on 15 Feb 1875.

Children: 9
Sons: William M Guthrie (1819), Christian Guthrie (1824), James B Guthrie (1826), John M Guthrie (1839), Peter Guthrie (1842)
Daughters: Nancy Guthrie (1821), Sarah Guthrie (1829), Elizabeth Guthrie (1832), Susanna Guthrie (1835)

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: No

WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1794VA-1873WV

William Guthrie was born 10 April 1794. He married Rebecca Jefferys, born 9 Mar 1801. Their children were all born in Preston County, Virginia. Shady Grove Cemetery records show William Guthrie died July 12, 1873, aged 78 ys. 10 mo. 2d. and Rebecca wife of William Guthrie died Apr 15, 1869 aged 58 ys. 1 mo. 6ds.

Children: 3
Sons: Eugenus J Guthrie
Daughters: Ruth Guthrie, Eleanor Jane Guthrie

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

GEORGE GUTHRIE
1796-1832VA

Everything I know about George is from his tombstone. He was born in 1796 and died in 1832. He is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery. No further details.

ISABEL GUTHRIE
1798VA-1870WV

Isabel Guthrie was born 28 Nov 1798 and died 22 April 1870 at 71y 4m 24d of age. She married Henry Sliger. He was a farmer born in Pennsylvania and about 12 years younger than Isabel. I don’t t think they had any children of their own. The 1850 and 1860 censuses show Preston Guthrie (1843) and Purses A Guthrie (1845) living with them. They are children of Alexander B Guthrie whose wife Mary Jeffreys died in 1848.

Children: 0

STEPHEN GUTHRIE
1801VA-1888WV

Stephen Guthrie was born in Virginia on 26 March 1801. A carpenter by trade, he “became the father to a child born out of wedlock to Barbara Dennis, who named her son, Stephen Guthrie.”

About 1829-1830 he married Fannie Hazlett, the daughter of Samuel Hazlett of Allegheny County, Maryland, with whom he had two children: Harrison Hazlett Guthrie and Elizabeth Guthrie. Fannie died on 26 April 1832. Both children were named in the Last Will and Testament of their grandfather, Samuel Hazlett. “I give and bequeath unto my two grandchildren Elizabeth & Harrison Gutterey on full and proportionable share of my real and personal property which share my daughter Frances who intermarried with Stephen Guttery would have been entitled had she lived.” The will also requires that a guardian be appointed by the court on behalf of Elizabeth and Harrison Guthrey. The court appointed their uncle, Jacob Hazlett, administrator of Samuel’s estate, to be their guardian on 24 Apr 1847. See Maryland Guardianship Files: Harrison Guthrey (also 2nd file) and Elizabeth Guthrey.

After his wife Fannie’s death, Stephen Guthrie married Barbara Dennis. No marriage record found, but it would likely have been in 1832 or 1833 if the marriage occurred before the birth of their next child in Nov 1833. Barbara died in 1873 and Stephen in 1888 in Preston County, West Virginia.

Children: 9
Sons: Stephen Spencer Guthrie (1827), Harrison Hazlett Guthrie (1832), Absalom Guthrie (1833), Israel Willet Guthrie (1846)
Daughters: Elizabeth Guthrie (1831), Mary A ‘Maria’ Guthrie (1835), Catherine Guthrie (1837), Emma Ann ‘Amy’ Guthrie (1840), Isabella Guthrie (1843).

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

RACHEL GUTHRIE
1804VA-1874WV

Rachel Guthrie was born on 16 April 1804. She married James G Crawford about 1840. They lived in or near Brandonville. Rachel died on 28 September 1874 and James on 22 Feb 1902. They are buried at Shady Grove Cemetery.

Children: 5
Crawford Sons: William Harrison Crawford (1850)
Crawford Daughters: Isabel Crawford (1839), Mary Ann Crawford (1843), Virginia Crawford (1840), Rachel Jane Crawford (1846)

Family Finder Participants: No

JAMES GUTHRIE
1806VA-1879WV

James Guthrie was born on 7 Sep 1806. He was a farmer living near Brandonville. James married Barbara Boger on 28 July 1844. They were parents to 7 children. James died in 1879 and Barbara in 1888. They are buried at Shady Grove Cemetery.

Children: 7
Sons: Ephraim Guthrie (1850), Jeremiah Guthrie (1852), Harrison Guthrie (1858), Lucretia Guthrie (1860)
Daughters: Alcinda J Guthrie (1845), Sarah Ann Guthrie (1847), Mary Guthrie (1854)

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

ABSALOM GUTHRIE
1810VA-1869WV

Absalom Guthrie was born on 20 February 1810. He married Sarah Armstrong on 6 May 1837, the daughter of Isaac and Frances (Chidester) Armstrong. During the mid-1850s they moved from Preston County, VA to Fayette County, PA and were living in Wharton during the 1860 census. In 1865 they returned to Preston County, WV, and the following year moved to Starr Twp, Hocking, Ohio where Absalom died 9 Feb 1869.

Children: 11
Sons: Isaac Armstrong Guthrie (1838), James Marshall Guthrie (1845), Infant Son (1847), John Forman Guthrie (1851), William Nolan Guthrie (1861)
Daughters: Mary Frances Guthrie (1840), Rachel Ann Guthrie (1843), Isabella Guthrie (1849), Martha Bell Guthrie (1854), Virginia Alice Guthrie (1856), Sarah Louise Guthrie (1859)

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

JACOB GUTHRIE
1812VA-1821VA

Jacob Guthrie, born in 1812, died at the age of nine years. No further data.

ALEXANDER B GUTHRIE
1815VA-1877WV

Alexander Guthrie was born 1 May 1815 in Monongalia County, Virginia. He was the last of James & Mary (Shelps) Guthrie’s children. Alexander was a farmer, and twice married. His first wife was Mary Jeffreys by whom he had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Mary died in 1848. He married next to Anne Smith by whom he had 2 sons and 3 daughters. Alexander proceeded Anne in death by 20 years. He died on 2 June 1877 and she died 12 June 1897.

Children: 10
Sons: Edgar W Guthrie (1835), Abner F Guthrie (1840), Preston T Guthrie (1842), Allen Crane Guthrie (1852), Leander Kidwell Guthrie (1856)
Daughters: Louisa A ‘Eliza’ Guthrie (1846), Mary Caroline Guthrie (1848), Melissa Jane Guthrie (1848), Clarissa Ann Guthrie (1853), Demeris E Guthrie (1859)

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1761: BIRTH of JAMES GUTHRIE
County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

The identities of James Guthrie’s parents are unknown. His father was already deceased before he immigrated to America, and his mother, known to us only as the ‘Widow Guthrie’ died on the journey at sea.

1764: BIRTH of MARY SHELPS
Pennsylvania, USA, possibly Cumberland County

Family Trees list Mary Shelps’ parents as John Shelps (1740-1806) and Mary Ann Kennedy (1745-1824). John Shelps was reportedly killed by Indians in Kentucky.

About 1784: ARRIVAL in AMERICA
Maryland, USA

After the death of her husband, the Widow Guthrie reportedly made the decision to move to America, bringing her 5 sons with her. James Guthrie was in his early twenties at the time. The widow and her son Truman died on the journey. James remained in Cumberland County, Maryland for about 8 years before moving to Monongalia County, Virginia. Samuel and Robert reportedly headed further west.

1791-1792: MARRIAGE of JAMES GUTHRIE & MARY SHELPS
Dunkard Creek, Pennsylvania, USA

Dunkard Creek is a stream that flows 36.9 miles through Greene County, PA and Monongalia County, WV flowing into the Monongalia River. The creek is named for the members of the Dunkard Brethren, pacifist, nonconformist Christians who settled in the region during the 18th century and practiced baptism by immersion. (Source)

Unknown if the Shelps family were members of the Dunkard Brethren or if they were just living in the area. The same applies to James Guthrie. They had to have the opportunity to meet and marry, and that is frequently done through residence in the same community or by attending the same church.

1792: BIRTH of SON – JOHN GUTHRIE
Pennsylvania, USA on 31 August 1792

John Guthrie was presumably named after his Shelps grandfather. He was born 31 August 1792.

1792-1793: SETTLEMENT in VIRGINIA
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

The General Assembly of Virginia defined the boundaries between the County of Augusta and the District of West Augusta in October 1776. They divided West Augusta into three counties: Ohio, Monongalia, and Yohogania. James Guthrie settled into that area of Virginia that was at the time Monongalia County. This county would later be divided. In 1818, the area where GFG6-Branch H lived would become Preston County, Virginia. In 1864, the county was incorporated into the new state of West Virginia.

1794: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 10 April 1794

Census records list Virginia as William Guthrie’s birthplace, which would indicate the family had moved there sometime before that.

1796: BIRTH of SON – GEORGE GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

We don’t know a lot about George Guthrie. According to the Shady Grove Cemetery records, he was born about 1796.

1796: PROPERTY PURCHASE
Little Sandy Creek, Monongalia, Virginia, USA on 14 March 1796

James & Mary Stinson to James Guthrie 126A on Little Sandy Creek, in Sandy Creek Glades. Surveyed 26 March 1784. Consideration 100L.

1797: COURT RECORDS
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

Promisory note due 1 Apr 1797 from Robert Woods & James Guthrie to Martin Judah for 13L 3sh 8p dated 1 Apr 1796, summoned to answer plea for 6L due on note, 19 Sep 1797

1798: PROPERTY SALE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 10 Feb 1798

James & MARY Guthrie to Nicholas Grove. 200 acres., adj Absolem Sovereign, James Guthrie. Consideration of 200L.

1798: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ISABEL GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 28 Nov 1798

1799: COURT RECORDS
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

Notice to James Guthrie & others from Joseph Downing of forthcoming bond dated 23 July 1799, due 17 Aug 1799 for 3L 2sh 4p. Oct 1799 Term of Court.

1800: PROPERTY PURCHASE
Sandy Creek Glade, Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 23 July 1800

JAMES GUTREE, 150 acres adjoining George May and John Willitts in the Sandy Creek Glade

1801: BIRTH of SON – STEPHEN GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 26 March 1801

1804: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – RACHEL GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 16 April 1804

1806: PROPERTY PURCHASE
Piny Run, Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 6 June 1806

Samuel Haslet to JAMES GUTHRIE 180A on Piny Run $8, Ack in court June 1806. del to grantee 8 Aug 1821.

Note that Samuel Haslet is the father to Frances ‘Fannie’ Hazlet, who is the future wife of James Guthrie’s son Stephen Guthrie.

1806: BIRTH of SON – JAMES GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 7 September 1806

1808: PROPERTY PURCHASE
Little Sandy Creek, Monongalia, Virginia, USA on 2 May 1808

JAMES & MARY GUTHRIE to Henry Rumbly, 200 A on Little Sandy Creek

1810: BIRTH of SON – ABSALOM GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 20 February 1810

1810: US CENSUS of VIRGINIA
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

Jas Guthrie Household: 1M & 1F 45+(1765 or before), 1M 16-25 (1785-1794), 3M & 1F10-15 (1795-1800), 3M & 2F <10 (1801-1810)

In 1810, there are 2 Guthrie Households in Monongalia, both of them headed by men named James Guthrie. The second belongs to James Guthrie of GFG2A-Branch C (listed on the census as Jas Gutery).

About 1812: BIRTH of JACOB GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

Jacob Guthrie was born about 1812. He died at 9 years of age of unknown causes.

1815: BIRTH of SON – ALEXANDER B GUTHRIE
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA on 1 May 1815

1817: MARRIAGE of SON – JOHN GUTHRIE
Pennsylvania (reportedly) or Virginia (presumably), USA on 4 May 1817

John Guthrie was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Boger and they settled in Preston County, Virginia where they raised their children: William (1819), Nancy (1821), Christian (1824), James (1826), Sarah (1829), Elizabeth (1832), Susannah (1835), John (1839), and Peter (1842).

1818: FORMATION of PRESTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Monongalia County, Virginia, USA

The area of Monongalia where the Guthrie family was living became part of Preston County, Virginia when it was formed in 1818.

1820: US CENSUS of VIRGINIA
Preston County, Virginia, USA

James Guttrey Household: 1M & 1F 45+, 3M & 1F 16-25 (3M 16-18), 2M & 1F 10-15, 1M under 10. 6 engaged in agriculture. 4 persons under 16. 2 persons over 25. Total Free White Persons = 10. Total Persons = 10.

John Guttrey Household: 1M & 1F 16-25, 1M under 10. 1 engaged in agriculture. 1 under 16. Total Free White Persons = 3. Total Persons = 3.

About 1821: DEATH of SON – JACOB GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA

Jacob Guthrie died about 1821 at nine years of age. Cause of death unknown.

1829-1830: MARRIAGE of SON – STEPHEN GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia

Stephen Guthrie married Frances ‘Fannie’ Hazlett prior to the 1830 census. She was the daughter of Samuel Hazlett. Samuel was a farmer. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Guthrie (1831), and a son, Harrison Hazlett Guthrie (1832).

1830: US CENSUS of VIRGINIA
Preston County, Virginia, USA

James Guthery Household: 1M 60-69, 1F 50-59, 1M 30-39, 2M & 2F 20-29, 1M 15-19, 1F 5-9.

John Guthery Household: 1M & 1F 30-39, 1M 10-14, 1M & 1F 5-9, 1M & 1F under 5.

Stephen Guthery Household: 1M & 1F 20-29, 1M 15-19.

About 1832: MARRIAGE of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA, presumably

William Guthrie married Rebecca Jeffreys presumably a year or two before the birth of their first child in 1833. William was a farmer. Their only son, Eugenus J Guthrie (1835) died in 1844 at only 8 years of age. They had two daughters: Ruth (1838) and Eleanor Jane (1840). The 1850 census lists the family with 2 other children, Edgar and Mary. They belong to William’s brother, Alexander Guthrie, whose farm was nearby.

1832: DEATH of DAUGHTER-IN-LAW – FANNIE (HAZLETT) GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA on 26 Apr 1832

1832: DEATH of SON – GEORGE GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA

George Guthrie is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery near Brandonville.

1832-1833: MARRIAGE (2nd) of SON – STEPHEN GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA

Stephen Guthrie married Barbara Dennis about 1832-1833. They had 1 child out of wedlock in 1827 prior to his marriage to Fannie Hazlett. Stephen Guthrie (1827) was the eldest child in their family. After the marriage, Stephen and Barbara had 6 more children: Absalom (1833), Mary A ‘Maria’ (1835), Catherine (1837), Emma Ann ‘Amy’ (1840), Isabella (1843), and Israel Willet (1846).

1833: DEATH of JAMES GUTHRIE (THE IMMIGRANT)
Preston County, Virginia, USA

James Guthrie died in 1833 and is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery near Brandonville, Preston County, West Virginia. A monument erected by one of his grandsons bears this inscription:

HERE LIES
A pioneer who crossed the sea,
And carved a home for you and me;
To all who were in want or need,
Grandfather was a friend indeed.

About 1834: MARRIAGE of SON – ALEXANDER B GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA, presumably

Alexander B Guthrie married Mary Jeffreys about 1834 presumably prior to the birth of their eldest child in 1835. They were parents to 5 children: Edgar W (1835), Abner F (1840), Preston T (1842), Louisa A ‘Eliza’ (1846), Mary Caroline (1848). Mary died in 1848. The eldest and youngest of the children were living with their aunt Isabel (Guthrie) Sliger in 1850.

1837: MARRIAGE of SON – ABSALOM GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA on 6 May 1837

Absalom Guthrie married Sarah Armstrong. They moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where most of their children were born, and then to Hocking County, Ohio. Children: Isaac Armstrong (1838), Mary Frances (1840), Rachel Ann (1843), James Marshall (1845), Infant Son (1847), Isabella (1849), John Forman (1851), Martha Bell (1854), Virginia Alice (1856), Sarah Louise (1859), Jennie A (1861), and William Nolan (1861).

About 1838: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – RACHEL GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA, presumably

Rachel Guthrie married farmer James G Crawford about 1838 presumably prior to the birth of their eldest child in 1839.

1839: DEATH of MARY (SHELPS) GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA

Mary Guthrie died in 1839 and is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery.

1840-1850: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – ISABEL GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA

Isabel Guthrie married Henry Sliger, the son of Henry Sliger, who was about 15 years her junior. As far as I can tell they had no children of their own.

1844: MARRIAGE of SON – JAMES GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA on 28 July 1844

When farmer James Guthrie was 37 years of age, he married Barbara Boger. They lived near Brandonville and raised 7 children: Alcinda (1845), Sarah Ann (1847), Ephraim (1850), Jeremiah (1852), Mary (1854), Harrison (1858), and Lucretia (1860).

About 1848: MARRIAGE (2nd) of SON – ALEXANDER B GUTHRIE
Preston County, Virginia, USA, presumably

Widower Alexander B Guthrie married for a 2nd time to Anne Smith within about a year of Mary’s death. They were parents to five children: Melissa Jane (1848), Allen Crane (1852), Clarissa Ann (1853), Leander Kidwell (1856), Demeris (1859).

1863: STATEHOOD DESIGNATED for WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia was admitted to the Union as a separate state on 20 June 1863.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG6
Group Designation: Branch H – (The Guthries of County Tyrone, N.Ireland)

Haplogroup: R-M512 > R-M198
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-YP371

YDNA Matches:  1
Kit 235133
James Guthrie/Mary Shelps > Stephen Guthrie/Barbara Dennis > Stephen Spencer Guthrie/Elizabeth Brookmire > Samuel Spencer Guthrie/Julia Deahl (GGP) +more

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:  1
Kit B541856 (Guthrie Male / FF)
James Guthrie/Mary Shelps > John Guthrie/Elizabeth Boger > William M Guthrie/Mariah DeBerry > William Harrison Guthrie/Matilda May Strawser > Chester Earl Guthrie/Martha Fife (GGP)

Findings:

Our Y-DNA participant for this Guthrie line is a genetic match for GFG6. He has a Y37 marker test matching 32/27 markers compared to Group Mode DNA. This group has a lot of genetic mutations overall. It is recommended that this test be upgraded to Y67 or Y111 for a more accurate comparison.

His closest match is to GFG6 – Branch C – James P Guthrie & Martha Fansey of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

DYS391 = 10 instead of Group Mode = 11 – Unique to this kit
DYS385 = 12 instead of 11 – Unique to this kit
DYS439 = 12 instead of 13 – Also Kit 273990 (GFG6 – Branch C)
DYS 460 = 13 instead of 12 – Also Kits 124483 (Branch K) & 213202 (Branch I)
CDYi = 32 instead of 34 – Unique to this kit