GUTHRIES of AYRSHIRE SCT / PA / VA / AUS

GUTHRIE RESEARCH TREE: GFG7

Key Points

• Research suggests that Guthrie Family Group 7 (GFG7) likely originated in Ayrshire, Scotland, with branches migrating to the United States (Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas) and Australia (Tasmania, New South Wales).
• DNA testing indicates a shared Y-haplogroup R-FTF24857, with the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) estimated around 1495 CE; only two Big Y participants exist, from Branches D and E, highlighting limited genetic representation.
• Branches show potential interconnections, such as Branch C possibly descending from Branch B due to shared Virginia-Arkansas ties, while Branches A and E both trace to Ayrshire roots with Australian migrations.
• Key challenges include unverified parental links, undocumented origin stories, and name variations (e.g., Guthery, Guthry), complicating records; evidence leans toward Scottish heritage, but some family lore points to Irish influences.
• It seems likely that expanded DNA participation could clarify relationships, as current data supports a common Ayrshire progenitor but leaves room for debate on exact migration paths.

Branches Chart

Likely Origin Theories or Scenarios

Research suggests GFG7’s roots are primarily in Ayrshire, Scotland, with a MRCA around 1495 CE under haplogroup R-FTF24857, a branch of the widespread Western European R-M269. This aligns with ancient DNA matches in Scotland, England, Norway, and Sweden, pointing to a possible Nordic-Scottish influence via Viking-era migrations. Branch D’s Irish lore (e.g., descent from Niall MacGuthrie, anglicized from Gothfrith/MacGothfrith) introduces an Irish-Scottish transfer scenario, but DNA favors Ayrshire as the unifying hub. Branches A and E’s Australian lines reinforce Ayrshire origins, potentially as collateral to each other. American branches (B, C, D) may stem from 18th-century Scots-Irish immigration waves, with interconnections like Branch C from B or shared Bussell ancestry linking to GFG2A. Overall, evidence leans toward a Scottish progenitor, but Irish claims persist in lore without strong documentation.

Research Recommendations

Prioritize Scotland’s People for Old Parish Records (pre-1855) and Statutory Records (post-1855), as sites like Ancestry offer limited transcriptions—view original images for accuracy. Explore the Guthrie Research Tree on Ancestry (search “Ayr (Strathclyde)”) for compiled Ayrshire data. For DNA, encourage more Big Y testing via FamilyTreeDNA’s Guthrie Project to refine the MRCA and branch links—current participants are sparse. Investigate Bussell/Bissell/Flinn surnames for overlaps with other groups; use WikiTree’s Guthrie DNA Project for collaborative profiles. Share family stories, photos, or autosomal matches via Guthrie Genealogy blog or Facebook groups for community input. For American lines, check Revolutionary War pensions (e.g., via revwarapps.org) and land grants; for Australian, use New South Wales records.

Guthrie Family Group 7 (GFG7) represents a genetically distinct cluster of Guthrie lineages, primarily tracing back to Ayrshire, Scotland, with migrations to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, and Australia. This reorganization draws from the Guthrie Genealogy blog’s GFG7 page, supplemented by additional genealogical sources, DNA project results, and historical records. The group is defined by Y-DNA haplogroup R-FTF24857, with an unidentified most recent common ancestor (MRCA) born around 1495 CE. Currently, only two Big Y participants are documented: one from Branch D (Adam Guthrie & Mary Anderson) and one from Branch E (Guthrie-Burrows Family), underscoring the need for broader testing to refine connections. Ancient DNA matches appear in Scotland, England, Norway, and Sweden, suggesting possible Viking-era influences in the broader R-M269 haplogroup, of which R-FTF24857 is a subclade. The five branches exhibit potential interconnections, such as shared locations or surnames (e.g., Bussell/Bissell links to GFG2A), but remain genetically unified under GFG7. Name variations like Guthery, Guthry, or Guthrey are common, often due to phonetic spelling in records.

Group Overview

GFG7 is one of 15 genetically distinct Guthrie groups identified in the Guthrie DNA Surname Project, unrelated to others like GFG2A or GFG8. It includes three major American lineages (Branches B, C, D) and two Australian ones (Branches A, E). The presumed MRCA lived in Scotland, likely Ayrshire, based on DNA and migration patterns. Participants include an Australian descendant from the Guthrie-Logan line (Branch A) and others from American branches. Notable figures include Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist A.B. Guthrie (1901-1991), a descendant of Branch B’s Daniel Guthrie & Jane Flinn, born in Bedford, Indiana, but raised in Montana. The group’s small size (fewer tested lines) contrasts with larger groups like GFG2A, which has ties to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Haplogroup R-M269, common in Western Europe, dominates, with R-FTF24857 as the defining SNP. Origins may tie to Central Asia or the Middle East anciently, but modern distribution points to Scotland. Family lore sometimes claims Irish roots (e.g., Branch D), but DNA evidence favors Ayrshire.

Detailed Branches

The branches are reorganized here with progenitors, historical context, locations, and challenges, expanding on the blog’s content.

Branch A: Descendants of John Guthrie (c1766 SCT) & Betty Logan
Progenitors: John Guthrie (born c1766 in Ayrshire, Scotland) married Betty Logan.
Known children: Twins Margaret and Agnes (1786), Betty (1788), Charles (1789-1840). Charles married Mary Miller (several children) and later Agnes Smith (one son). Son Hugh Miller Guthrie emigrated to Tasmania, Australia.
Key Locations: Ayrshire, Scotland (e.g., Moulton, Prestwick); Tasmania, Australia (1840s-1850s emigration). Ancestral line traces to John Guthrie (1720-1730 SCT-1769 SCT) & Jane/Jean Dunlop in Prestwick.
Historical Context: Van driver occupation in early records; emigration tied to economic opportunities in Australia. Potential subset or collateral to Guthrie-Symond (Branch E).
Research Challenges: Early generations limited to Ayrshire parish records; transcripts on Ancestry or FamilySearch incomplete—originals on Scotland’s People essential. DNA matches suggest ties to other Ayrshire Guthries, but more participants needed.
DNA Notes: Matches group-wide haplogroup; Australian participant from Hugh Miller Guthrie line.

Branch B: Descendants of Daniel Guthrie (c1737 PA-1826 IN) & Jane Flinn
Progenitors: Daniel Guthrie Sr. (born 14 Feb 1737 in Bedford/Hopewell, Pennsylvania; died 17 Sep 1826 in Lawrence, Indiana) married Jane Flinn (born 17 Feb 1747 PA; died 18 Aug 1826 IN).
Children include Daniel Jr. (1780-1839, married Frances Flinn), John, and Hugh. Online trees list parents as William Guthrie & Nancy Bussell, but unverified.
Key Locations: Bedford, Pennsylvania; Virginia (children born/married); Kentucky; Leesville, Lawrence, Indiana (buried Elijah Allen/Flinn-Guthrie Cemetery).
Historical Context: Served in French and Indian War and American Revolution (Continental Army). Family homesteaded in South Dakota, returned to Iowa due to drought. Descendant Goldie Gertrude Guthrie lived to 101. Links to GFG2A via Bussell ancestry and autosomal matches.
Research Challenges: No original sources for parents; Revolutionary War pension apps (via revwarapps.org) may help. Surname overlaps with Flinn/Flynn complicate searches. Possible brother Hugh adds mystery.
DNA Notes: Group-wide matches; potential interrelation with Arkansas lines (Branch C).

Branch C: Descendants of William Guthery (c1809 VA-1866 AR) & Elizabeth Copeland
Progenitors: William Guthery (born c1809 Virginia; died 1866 Arkansas) married Elizabeth Copeland.
Possible siblings: Thomas Guthery and John Guthry (1850 Benton Co., AR census).
Key Locations: Virginia; Ball Township, Benton County, Arkansas.
Historical Context: Raised family in Arkansas; killed by bushwhackers post-Civil War. Households adjacent in 1850 census suggest close kin.
Research Challenges: Proving descent from Branch B (shared VA-AR ties); sparse post-war records. Surname variations (Guthery/Guthry) in censuses.
DNA Notes: Aligns with group; could confirm Flinn family link.

Branch D: Descendants of Adam Guthrie (c1740s IRE-1827 KY) & Mary Anderson
Progenitors: Adam Guthrie (born 1740-1745 Ireland; died 20 Aug 1827 Kentucky) married Mary Anderson (daughter of George & Elizabeth Anderson) c1760s-1770s in Augusta County, Virginia.
Children: James, George, Thomas (1789 TN-1850s TN), William (possible), Mary, Nancy.
Key Locations: Ireland; Augusta/Fincastle Counties, Virginia; Holston area (1770s); State of Franklin (1787 petition); French Broad River, Greene County, NC (1793 land grant, now Sevier TN); Illwill Creek, Cumberland County, Kentucky (now Clinton).
Historical Context: Migrated amid territorial changes; involved in failed State of Franklin; land grant for 123 acres. Family followed sons to Kentucky c1810. Lore ties to O’Reilly pedigree (Niall MacGuthrie).
Research Challenges: Lacks direct documentation for Irish-Scottish transfer; birth/port of arrival unknown. Defunct counties (Fincastle abolished 1776) hinder searches. Possible early child (1770-1776) unidentified.
DNA Notes: Big Y participant; shares R-FTF24857 MRCA ~1495 CE with Branch E.

Branch E: Descendants of FNU Guthrie & Kate Symond (Guthrie-Burrows Family)
Progenitors: FNU Guthrie married Kate Symond (young widow with 2-3 children; later married Robert John Burrows).
Children: Robert John (1893/1896-1970, emigrated 1914) and William James. Robert married Ella Maria Watson (1918 AUS); 9 children, including Beverley John (1920-1962), Bramwell Orames (1924-2014).
Key Locations: Ayrshire, Scotland (e.g., Prestwick); England (London); Murwillumbah/Lithgow/Brisbane, New South Wales/Queensland, Australia.
Historical Context: Adoption by Burrows after FNU’s death; name change to Guthrie-Burrows. Salvation Army officers led itinerant life. Robert killed by hoodlums c1903; son emigrated via ship Euripides.
Research Challenges: Lore oversimplifies adoption; FNU identity unclear. Missionary moves fragment records. DNA links to Ayrshire, possibly subset of Branch A.
DNA Notes: Big Y participant; confirms Ayrshire roots.

Likely Origin Theories or Scenarios (Expanded)

Theories center on Ayrshire, Scotland, as the cradle, supported by DNA and records. Scenario 1: Unified Ayrshire progenitor (c1495) with branches diverging via 18th-century migrations—Branches A/E to Australia, B/C/D to America. Scenario 2: Irish infusion (Branch D) via Scots-Irish waves, potentially from Niall MacGuthrie lineage, but undocumented. Scenario 3: Inter-branch links, e.g., Branch C as offshoot of B (VA ties), or A/E as collaterals (shared Australian DNA). Broader R-M269 suggests ancient Central Asian/Middle Eastern roots, with European spread via migrations. Controversial Native American presence unproven here. Counterarguments: Some trees claim direct Irish origins without sources; DNA refutes close ties to other GFGs like Irish-origin GFG8.

Research Recommendations (Detailed)

• Primary Sources: Use Scotland’s People for Ayrshire records; browse images, not transcripts. For US, check NARA for land grants/pensions; Find a Grave for burials (e.g., Daniel Sr.’s memorial).
• DNA Expansion: Join FamilyTreeDNA’s Guthrie Project; prioritize Big Y for male Guthries to map below R-FTF24857. Autosomal tests (Ancestry/FTDNA/MyHeritage/23andMe) for cousin matches.
• Collaborative Tools: WikiTree’s Guthrie DNA Project for profiles; Ancestry’s Guthrie Research Tree; Facebook groups (Guthrie Genealogy, Clan Guthrie) for sharing.
• Surname Variants: Search Bussell/Bissell/Flinn for overlaps; investigate Copeland in VA censuses.
• Australian Focus: New South Wales archives for immigration; Salvation Army records for Burrows moves.
• General Tips: Verify lore with originals; contribute to blogs/projects. If stumped, contact Ann at Guthrie Genealogy for collaboration.

Additional Tables for Context

Migration Patterns Across Branches

DNA Participant Summary (From Projects)

CLAIM TO FAME

Alfred Bertram ‘Bud’ Guthrie aka A.B. Guthrie (13 Jan 1901 – 26 Apr 1991). An American novelist, screenwriter, historian and literary historian, A.B. Guthrie won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction during 1950 for his novel ‘The Way West’. He was born in Bedford, Indiana, but relocated with his parents to Montana. The family had nine children, but most died as infants. Only three survived to adulthood. Bud is a descendant of Daniel Guthrie and Jane Flinn. (Source: Wikipedia) 

Evangeline Evelyn ‘Eva’ Burrows (15 Sep 1929 – 20 Mar 2015) Served as an officer of the Salvation Army from 1951 to her retirement in 1993, and from 1986 to 1993 was the 13th General of the Salvation Army. Her parents, Robert John and Ella Maria (Watson) Guthrie-Burrows were also Salvation Army Officers. Born in Australia, Eva was one of nine children. She earned Master of Education Degree presenting her thesis on the training of African teachers from Zimbabwe, and held leadership roles at Teachers’ College, Howard Institute, and Usher Institute. In 1975, she was appointed as the Leader of Women’s Social Services in Great Britain and Ireland. During the Australia Day Honours of 1986 Burrows was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) with the citation “In recognition of service to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the community and to social justice as the world leader of the Salvation Army”. This honor was later upgraded to Companion of the Order of Australia. Among her other honor, she was inducted into the Victorian Honor Roll of Women, the Queensland Business Leader’s Hall of Fame, and was posthumously awarded the Order of the Founder, the highest honor of the Salvation Army. (WIKI) (Women’s International Center)

DEVELOPING THEORIES

The Guthrie-Anderson line comes with a colorful origin story that currently has no direct documentation associated with it to provide proof, but it’s interesting so it’s on the table for discussion. Penelope Johnson Allen, a Tennessee Researcher, wrote in an article for ‘Leaves from the Family Tree’ that Adam Guthrie was a direct descendant of Niall MacGuthrie of Ireland. Just how that relationship was determined is the mystery. Niall MacGuthrie is documented in Irish Pedigrees: or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, by John O’Hart, 1892, as a lineal direct descendant of the Lord of Brefney, associated with the O’Reilly pedigree, with the names Gothfrith and MacGothfrith being anglicized to Guthrie and MacGuthrie. Brefney was an medieval Gaelic overkingdom comprising the present counties of Cavan and Leitrim, with a portion of Meath, and a part of the barony of Carbury in Sligo. If there is any truth to this potential family association it suggests that Guthrie Family Group 7 originated in Ireland and that much later some descendants transferred into Scotland.

According to numerous unsourced family trees, Daniel Guthrie, from the Guthrie-Flinn line, is the son of a William Guthrie and Nancy Bussell. I still haven’t found an original source listing these parents. William Guthrie is also supposed to be from Scotland, while Daniel Guthrie was born in Pennsylvania.

The Guthrie-Copeland line with its Arkansas connections could be a descendant of the Guthrie-Flinn family. They have a branch that ended up in the same location.

There may also be some interrelatedness between GFG7 and GFG2A, not on the Guthrie side, but via a connection to the Bussell family. Both groups lay claim to Bissell/Bussell ancestry, and both frequently commonly show up in Autosomal DNA matches. There is also a project member of the Bessell surname in Australia who also has Guthrie ancestry. Researching the Bessell/Bissell/Bussell surname in connection to Guthries in Scotland might lead to some clues.

We now have 2 Australian lineages associated with GFG7.

The Guthrie-Logan line originated in Ayrshire, Scotland and can be traced there for a few generations before our participant’s ancestor went to Australia.

It is possible that the Guthrie-Symonds line is a subset of the Guthrie-Logan family, but it could also be a collateral line with a common paternal ancestor further back on the group family tree.

🧩 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 GFG7 story together.