Q&A

Guthrie Genealogy · Questions & Contact

Every family has a question.

A missing ancestor. A puzzling match. A clue worth sharing.

Bring your Guthrie questions, discoveries and family stories.
Let’s see where the evidence takes us.

What brings you here?

Open a leaf-colored panel for suggestions and the best place to begin.

Find my family Where do my Guthries belong?

Know your Guthrie Family Group or branch? Ask on that family’s page so related questions, records and replies stay together.

Still looking? Tell us your earliest known Guthrie ancestor, their spouse, dates and locations. You are welcome to ask here even if you do not know your group.

Explore Family Groups → Ask here ↓
Ask about DNA A test, a match or the DNA Project?

Wondering where to begin with testing, how to join the Guthrie DNA Project, or how a result might help your research?

Mention the testing company and type of test, if known, plus the Guthrie ancestor or relationship you are investigating. Use private contact for individual account or kit details.

Joining the Project → Ask Ann privately ↓
Share a discovery A record, a story or a correction?

A family Bible, photograph, letter or overlooked record may hold the clue another researcher needs. Corrections and differing interpretations are welcome, too.

Include the relevant page link, identify the people involved, and explain what the source adds or changes. For a family story, share a short outline and the sources behind it.

Family Focus submissions will be fact-checked and edited into the series’ standard article style.

Explore Family Focus → Mistaken Identities → Share with Ann ↓
Start a conversation A general question for the community?

Ask about Guthrie research, discuss a puzzling clue, or share something other family historians may find useful.

Use the public comments below. Ann and fellow researchers can join the conversation, and future visitors may recognize a connection.

Join the discussion ↓
Help us follow your family Open a quick checklist for a useful question.

Tick off the details you can include as you prepare your message. A few clues are enough to begin; leave unknown details open.

This checklist is a writing aid. Send your question through the contact form or post it in the public comments.

Try this starting point:
“I’m researching [name], who married [spouse] and lived in [place] around [date]. I have found [record]. I’m trying to learn [specific question].”

↑ Return to Menu

Let’s Talk Privately.
Contact Ann directly.

Your message goes to Ann and will not appear in the public discussion.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

↑ Return to Menu

The Guthrie conversation

Someone else may have the missing piece.

Explore the reader discussions below, add a question, or reply when you recognize a family, place or record. Your experience may help another researcher take the next step.

New to Guthrie research?
You do not need a finished family tree or a DNA test to join the conversation. Start with what you know and what you would like to find out.

Keeping the conversation useful: Include sources when possible, distinguish a family story from a documented connection, and welcome new evidence. Earlier replies reflect the information available when they were written.

Comments are public. Please use private contact for living-family or individual DNA account details. Questions about an identified family belong on its Family Group or Branch page.

Continue below to read the comments or leave a reply. ↓

Leave a Reply

25 Comments »

  1. Hello,

    My Name is Alex Smith, My father ( Who I have never met was born as a Guthrie) His father died when he was 3 years old and my grandmother married a smith, When my dad entered Vietnam he changed his last name to smith ho help identify if he died or not. I have never met anyone on my fathers side and he has had no other children. so it seems like I might be the end of the line in away. I was wondering if you could help me in any way, I always wanted to find out information about my dads side.

    • Have you considered a DNA test? Your direct paternal line DNA should technically match ‘Guthrie’ DNA, so a Y-DNA 37-marker test (available at Family Tree DNA) should match you up with other men who share the same genetic ancestral profile. This might help you determine various Guthrie lineages that are related to yours. Another option is to add an Autosomal DNA test (like AncestryDNA or FTDNA’s Family Finder test). The Ancestry test will give you the most matches. This type of test links you up to all relatives with whom you share segments of ancestral DNA, which would include your Guthrie family. Hopefully, you would get some matches to close family members that might provide some clues to help you identify your Guthrie family.

  2. My brother did the AncestryDNA test. Our ancestor is William Guthrie b abt 1820 in Missouri and died 1896 in Oregon. He married Mary J Ivines/Evans b Feb 1833 in Tennessee and died after 1903. Their marriage is listed in your Missouri records but the name for William is spelled Guthrey. Their daughter, Laura Nancy Guthrie md William Matison/Madison Peden 14 Jan 1886 in Wymore, Gage, Nebraska and they both died in Vancouver, Clark, Washington.

    How do we fit in to your Guthrie Family Groups?
    Thank you,
    Marilyn Strode Dahlquist Fitze

    • Marilyn
      I am a descendant of Jane Carnes Guthrie and William Elliott, Jane is buried next to her brother whom is your ancestor William H Guthrie and his wife Mary (Evans) Guthrie at the Dallas Cemetery in Polk County, Oregon. Their brother David Morrow Guthrie is buried in the next row. They are children of James G. Guthrie and Margaret Phillips. Grandchildren of James Guthrie and Jane Carnes. I have been researching my lineage for decades and my father did since the 1940s. Hope this helps. Also my DNA connects to one of William H Guthrie’s son’s descendants also. Did your brother link himself to a tree showing his lineage to William Guthrie? If so it should link to me on AncestryDNA.

  3. Marilyn,

    William H Guthrie and Mary Jane Evans or Ivines do not currently have genetic evidence or documentation that identifies their Guthrie family group. We don’t have a Y-DNA participant (a direct line male Guthrie) in the DNA project to represent their line. As far as I know we do not have any descendant of this couple in the project, so I encourage you to ask your brother to provide me (Ancestry Username: AnnGU3) with viewer access to his AncestryDNA test. The results may skew toward one particular group, or at least narrow down the field.

    Since William and Mary Jane married in Nodaway County, Missouri in 1853, it is possible that William was already living there in 1850. The county was formed in 1845 from the Platte Purchase of 1836, so the entire area was growing at a fast rate receiving an influx of settlers over a 14 year period. I did not find any Guthrie families (or their variant spellings) in the 1850 census for Nodaway, but there are two families nearby in Andrew County, MO (a GFG2A-Branch A family), Holt County, MO (a GFG2A-Branch G family).

    Note that the head of the GFG2A-Branch A family in Andrew County was a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister and the marriage record for William and Mary Jane shows they were married by the Rev Wm F Bell, a Methodist Episcopalian Minister. Chances are that William was not directly related to the GFG2A-Branch A family.

    The Holt County, MO family seems to be buried at the Benton Church Cemetery in Forest City. I think it is associated with the Methodist Episcopalian Church. A biographical sketch of the Rev William F Bell mentions that he worked the Nodaway county circuit as he rode county to county preaching and performing services.

    Wiliam Guthrie was born about 1817. According to all of the census records this happened in Missouri, which became a state in 1821. Examining the Branch G family later listed in the census records, there are several possible spots in their family tree that could potentially be William. My guess for his parents: James G Guthrie 1793KY – 1873Nodaway, MO and Margaret (Polly/Peggy) Phillips. Only about half of their children have been identified through other records. Based on calculations from early census records there are a daughter and three sons who remain unknown. The sons estimated DOB are 1815, 1820, and 1825. William would fit into either the 1815 or 1820 slots if he is indeed their son.
    Check my Guthrie Research Tree:
    https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/3406955/person/-739869580/facts

    Note that some online trees have linked your William Guthrie as the son of William H Guthrie 1779VA-1840OH & Rachel Jones. This couple lived primarily in Ohio after their marriage. William H Guthrie is a descendant of GFG1A being the son of James Guthrie & Jane Candler. The trees actually list him as William Candler Guthrie. They did have a son named William Guthrie born in 1817 Virginia, but he died at 17 years of age in Williams County, Ohio.

  4. Hello, I was going through Campbell County VA court records and came across this in Book 7, page 229, Jan 1803:
    Commonwealth vs. Gutrey &al, the defendant being solemnly called & came not it is ordered that a Scirefacious issue agt him & his securities.
    – next entry-
    Cwealth vs. Gutrey, (John scratched out) Patience (inserted) Lane & Sophia Evans allowed 2 days attendance.
    I’m still looking so I may find subsequent entries. For several years I have researched Absalom Lane who married Polly Guthrie and somehow became guardian of her children after she passed. I haven’t been able to figure that situation out. The above entry doesn’t help. Any idea who Sophia Evans is? I can assume that Patience Lane is a daughter of John Lane but I don’t know for sure. I have calculated that Absalom should be a grandson of John Lane. Not sure why this took place in Campbell, but the Lanes were well established there so it’s makes sense on their side. Can you shed any light? Or put me in touch with someone who is researching the Halifax Travis Guthrie family?

    • Just a shot in the dark, but if Patience Lane was the daughter of John Lane, her children would be the heirs of their grandfather and mother. The laws at the time (and possibly today) require guardianship on behalf of minor heirs. That was usually their father if he was alive or a close male relative. If the estate in question was in Campbell county, the guardianship of the heirs would probably also be established there. Although I do have Polly Guthrey and Absalom Lane and family in my Guthrie Research Tree, the Halifax VA Guthrie family is not my personal area of family research. I am unfamiliar with the details. One of our project co-admins, James Guthrie, is the expert on those Halifax VA families. I am not certain if he is able to discuss genealogy at this time, but you can email him at jog49@yahoo.com.

  5. My maiden is Jennifer Marie Guthrie,my dad Marvin R.Guthrie,his dad Russell T.Guthrie,his dad Warren p.Guthrie sr.i was born in Lynchburg va my dad father Russell was born in halifax,va

    • Hi Jennifer. Did you have a question about your family, or were you just saying hi? If I identified the correct line for your grandfather, you belong to Guthrie Family Group 4: Descendants of Thomas Guthrey & Sarah Oakes. You have 2 lines of descent from that couple. I show the following: Thomas Guthrey/Sarah Oakes > John Guthrie/Betty Ann Allen > John Guthrey/Edness Adams > Jackson Guthrie/Perlina Stowe > Jackson Guthrie/Mary Elizabeth A Guthrie* > Henry Guthrie/Ethel Cunningham > Warren Percy Guthrie. ALSO: Thomas Guthrey/Sarah Oakes > Travis Guthrey/Mary Ann Hill > James Guthrey/Mary ‘Polly’ Hubbard > Chastain Guthrie/Ann Elizabeth Sparrow > Mary Elizabeth A Guthrie/Jackson Guthrie > Henry Guthrie/Ethel Cunningham > Warren Percy Guthrie (1899VA-1960 Lynchburg, VA)

  6. Can you trace back to what Guthrie line we belong – we are from the Australian Branch GFG7 Branch A? Thank you. Maggie

    • The earliest generation of GFG7-Branch A that can be traced is John Guthrie Sr, a wright, born 1726-46 in Scotland. He had a son named John Guthrie, born on 15 Nov 1866 in Monkton and Prestwick, Ayrshire, who worked as a day laborer. He married Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Logan. They had 4 known children: Margaret, Agnes, Betty, and Charles. The latter lived in Ayrshire his entire life and was twice married. Once of his sons was Hugh Miller Guthrie 1823-1888. He is the Guthrie of this line who went to Australia. He married Jessie Thompson in Tasmania on 29 Apr 1857. There are, of course, other Guthrie men and women who settled in Australia who may or may not be associated with this particular group.

  7. Hi Ann,
    We are from the GFG7 Branch E. Thank you for your amazing research and helping the family to find their Guthrie connections. Is it possible to tell us who the ancestors are to Robert Guthrie 1760/Barbara Brown? We get so far then hit a brick wall. Going backwards in time from Robert 1760, I have John Guthrie 1738/Janet Davidson, then David Guthrie 1715/Helen Thomson; David Guthrie 1685/ Margaret Scot 1690.. thats it but I’m not sure that its correct. Can anyone help please? Thank you Kerry

  8. Hello Ann

    I’m trying to find out where the Guthrie part of my family came from. I’ve had a DNA test, autosomal but I’m female. Does that help at all?

    The furthest back I can find that I’m positive about is my great great grandfather, Jackson Guthrie (1818-1904). Born in Virginia (around Halifax County). Bought land in Forsyth Co, North Carolina and was a tobacco farmer. Married Mary “Polly” Shelton while still in Virginia.

    I’ve been looking at this site that seems to show a few more generations back though these names are not familiar to me:

    http://www.bernethy-eby-scribner.com/pedigree.php?personID=I2111&tree=Abernathy

    I’m wondering if these Guthries came from Ireland or Scotland, and when.

    • Looks like I don’t have Jackson & Mary ‘Polly’ (Shelton) Guthrie attached to anyone in my research tree. Coming from Halifax County, Virginia, the names you found at the other side do include a family from that region, Thomas Guthrie 1711VA-1786VA and Mary Cason. These folks are in Guthrie Family Group 8. There lineage origins are a bit complicated as there may be a Carter family involved, but it sounds like there is an earlier connection to Ireland, but we’re talking back in the late 1600s – early 1700s. Our expert on GFG8 is a co-admin for the Guthrie DNA Project, James. I will forward an email to him on your behalf. RL has been super busy for him lately. In the meantime, let’s take a look at your DNA. Yes, autosomal DNA can still be helpful. Y-DNA is obviously the best choice if you happen to be a male Guthrie, but not all of us have access to someone with eligible Y-DNA. If your DNA test is at FTDNA, just complete a Project Join Request. If it is at Ancestry, send an invitation to me (anngu3@icloud.com) with “viewer access” and also an invite to your tree if it is there. If not, send me a basic lineage from you back to Jackson & Polly. If your DNA test is elsewhere, you’ll have to complete the free transfer to FTDNA so I will have access to interpret your Guthrie matches. I will take a look and let you know if you match other people from Group 8, another group, or if there is no clear picture.

  9. I don’t have a tree on Ancestry but hopefully I’ve send you my test results.

    What would you need for my line back to the Guthries? Just the applicable DNA carriers of Guthrie?

  10. Hello Ann, This is Pamela Davis, my great grandmother was Lena Maude Guthrie Niewald Lods. Iuka, IL is where lived, and I believe was born. I don’t know which one of these Guthrie family groups belongs to my line. Can you possibly steer me in the right direction?

    • You belong to Guthrie Family Group 3: Descendants of Francis Guthrie Sr.
      The line is Francis Guthrie Sr / Unidentified Spouse > John Guthrie / Unidentified Spouse > Alexander Guthrie / Eleanor Amis > John Guthrie / Lucinda Griffin > Marion Peter Guthrie / Elvina Lewellen > your great-grandmother. I have her listed as Maude Leona Guthrie in my research tree. We have a DNA project participant who is another great-grandchild.

  11. Ann, was there another John Guthrie who came with Dr. Clarks group, lived in Washington County, New York, in 1753 and 1765 with William Guthrie. And is it possible that not all family member were listed on the sheet of passengers and Harpers Ferry list? Thank you! Fran

    • I will give you Grok’s (AI) reply because I don’t have any consolidated information on Dr Clark’s group as it applies to Guthrie lineages. I do list William Guthrie of Stillwater, NY and his daughter Elizabeth, mentioned in the text below.

      GROK:
      Yes, there is a documented association between a Guthrie family and Rev. Thomas Clark’s settlement and parish in the mid-1760s, though it appears limited to one specific individual and family who were part of the original migration from Ireland but did not ultimately settle in the Salem area.

      Key Connection: William Guthrie and the 1764 Migration

      William Guthrie was one of the Irish colonists who emigrated aboard the ship John from Newry, Ireland, on May 10, 1764, arriving in New York on July 28, 1764, as part of Rev. Thomas Clark’s congregation of about 140 Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. This group, fleeing religious persecution and seeking land grants, was led by Clark (a minister from Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland) and formed the core of the early settlement in what became the town of Salem, Washington County, New York. The arrival was even noted in the New York Gazette on August 6, 1764.
      William Guthrie’s family included at least one daughter, Elizabeth Guthrie, who later married James Tomb (or Tumb). Genealogical records explicitly note that William was among the settlers who “came over from Ireland with Dr. Clark” but “remained at Stillwater, NY,” rather than relocating to the full Salem township lands secured by Clark. Stillwater is in modern Saratoga County, adjacent to Washington County (about 20-25 miles southeast of Salem), and was part of the broader Albany County frontier where many early arrivals initially clustered before dispersing.
      This places the Guthries within Clark’s immediate “parish” orbit during the migration and early settlement phase (1764–1765), as they traveled and arrived as a cohesive group under his pastoral leadership. However, William’s choice to stay in Stillwater suggests he may have separated from the main body for land or economic reasons, though no records indicate a formal break from Clark’s influence—Presbyterian ties often persisted across nearby congregations.
      Broader Context and Lack of Deeper Ties in Salem Parish

      Clark’s group settled primarily on a 10,000-acre tract in the “New Perth” district (later Salem), establishing the White Church Presbyterian congregation. Surviving records of parish members (from church rolls, land deeds, and histories like the 1878 History of Washington County, New York) list prominent families such as the McClungs, Cowens, Bells, Harrouns, Scotts, and Telphers (involved in the 1777 witchcraft incident adjudicated by Clark), but no Guthries appear in Salem-specific settler lists, baptismal records, or membership rosters from the 1760s–1780s.
      No evidence links Guthries directly to Clark’s ongoing ministry in Salem after the initial arrival. The family’s divergence to Stillwater aligns with patterns among some migrants who prioritized proximity to established trade routes (e.g., along the Hudson River) over the more remote Salem frontier.

      Later Guthrie presence in Washington County (e.g., James Guthrie in Hebron by the late 1700s or Richard Guthrie born ~1777) likely stems from subsequent migrations from Connecticut or other New England areas, not Clark’s Irish cohort.

      Potential Next Steps for Confirmation

      If this William Guthrie aligns with your family line, primary sources could clarify more:

      Ship Passenger Lists/Manifests: The John’s 1764 roster (partial, but includes Clark’s group) is available via the New York State Archives or FamilySearch.org—search for “William Guthrie” under Ireland-to-New-York voyages.

      Stillwater Records: Check Saratoga County deeds (1760s–1770s) or the Stillwater Presbyterian Church rolls for Guthrie mentions, as it was a hub for Clark-affiliated families.

      Genealogical Databases: Sites like Ancestry.com or WikiTree have user-submitted trees linking this William to descendants in New York/Pennsylvania; cross-reference with Clark’s biography (Sketches of the Life and Character of the Rev. Thomas Clark, 1850) for overlapping names.

      This connection is a solid but narrow link—exciting for tracing Scotch-Irish roots! If you have details like William’s approximate birth year, spouse, or children’s names, I can refine the search further. (END GROK)

      1700s ship passenger lists were generally considered not very accurate as there was no federal oversight or standard requirements. Some lists were formed from other sources. It was apparently common to list only adult males, heads of household, but this varied by origin, port, and ship. If the list included a daughter, one would expect it to include any other children accompanying the HOH. Families also came over in divided immigrations. A relative or the father may have come over with part of the family, and the remainder following once a home and work had been established.

      Send me a link to the Harper’s Ferry list you mentioned so I have some context.

      Dr Thomas Clark’s “Cahans Exodus” was on 10 May 1764 from Newry, County Down, Ireland on the Ship: “The John” or “Ship John”, which arrived in New York on 28 July 1764 carrying about 300 passengers. About 140 of them were associated with Clark’s group. Grok reports “no complete, official ship passenger list survives for the John voyage of 1764. This is typical for pre-1820 colonial arrivals.”

  12. I have so much info with records and history books it fills a 3 inch binder plus wish you were close as would take me forever to scan and email all . Researchers sent me quote from gazettes about Wm. Bells sister Sara married to Samuel Guthrie Sr. and that Wm. Bell picked up bodies from the Revolutionary war. Also found land records for a William Guthrie 26 Oct. 1794. Have report of William Guthrie’s wife’s daughter and husband coming from Ireland in 1794 and arrived just months after the mothers death. That William Guthrie was on the 1753 and 1765 list for land from Dr. Clarks group and rented from a Pattersen in Stillwater he had a beautiful daughter who married a Tomb. Article says Wm. had lots of books he brought with him from Ireland.. That his daughter wanted to marry someone else but father said no. Also John Guthrie is listed with William on those lists. John left Stillwater and continued to find his father James who came in 1745 and bought 128 acres in Connecticut Colonies at the time, later became Charlotte County which divided in to Charlotte and Washington County New York, Was a New Hampshire patent at the time as Vermont, New York and New Hampshire were all giving land to settlers which caused a problem and the Green Mountain Boys got involved all in History book found on line. William Guthries descendants have that deed (that William was my James brother born 1781/2. Samuel Sr and John moved their families to New York City during war for safety. You can fine thatmin the same book on war. Goerge stayed behind. After the war the men filed for reimbursement from the government which they received after giving proof of ownership of lots Johns was lot 105. John married Pheobe Nelson and George Guthries wife Elizabeth was her sister she was not a Cleghorn. Johns father James was married to a Cleghorn my 5th great grandfather. Have records documents for all of this. Also the story on the Samuel Sr. , Samuel Jr., and George. Family argument separated the family and George moved to Illinois with wife. When James, Editha and one daughter left for Livingston County and why the rest of James sibling and children went ahead of them to settle in that in Livingston County. Samuel Sr, had a son James, George and others so some of your land records for my James are for Samuels son James. Also found census list of Families who had slaves and hate to admit it but I had family who owned slaves in the 1800 census. I got records from Livingston County Historian. Holly has been great. Also have lists men from Washington County, New York who were enlisted in the Revolutionary War. John Guthrie is listed there from Washington County. Also Samuel Sr. and John were to receive land for their service found in History of Revolutionary War. John never received his as he was killed.

    My 2nd great Grandparents William and Sara Never lived in Washington County as your story says and several other errors. There is just so much more. I have over 800 in my histories of descendants of My grandparents 14 children and what a blessing it has been to get to know them all. Some have come to Iowa to visit me and from NORWAY . I just have so much to share and not the time to scan all and send. Like 3rd cousin Jean who wrote Northern Guthrie some of her info is not correct but what a terrific job she did with no computer, she hope like me that my work does not end up in the attic somewhere or the trash. I have 20 plus years of work and have been very careful not to add anything if no proof. Oh almost forgot History books from Poland state that several Guthrie men stayed there after being sent by King of Scotland to help with war Poland was involved in. Several Guthries are listed and occupations and statements by several that one which is named is the son of William of Fenwick. After proof King Sobeski gave him land and title and a silver cup which today is still in the Guthrie family there. I am told According to Russian database My uncle matches their male YDNA sample from today. SO??????

Leave a Reply