The Family Focus is on . . .

ALEXANDER GUTHRIE & SUSANNAH TATTON
~ New Brunswick, Canada ~

Every other summer during my childhood, my family would drive up the east coast from Virginia to visit my mother’s relatives in Newfoundland. To get there we crossed the US-Canadian border between Maine and New Brunswick. At our favorite first stop I would always order the french fries with vinegar and gravy. (Yes, it’s a thing.) Later, I would also get sea sick on the ferry taking us across the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Good times!

Those were the days before I developed an interest in genealogy. I was more interested in having fun with my cousins than figuring out exactly how we were related. With my Guthrie relatives securely ensconced on the family farm back in middle Tennessee, it did not occur to me that potential Guthrie cousins might also be living north of the border. Oddly, I do happen to have some relatives from Newfoundland living in Tennessee. Just goes to show that you can find kinfolk just about anywhere.

The Guthrie surname pops up in communities across Canada, and a few of these are also represented within the project.

New Brunswick was established in 1784 from colonial Nova Scotia. The county of Charlotte, home to this Guthrie family, is one of eight original counties. Located in the province’s southwestern corner, seven parishes were formed in 1786: Pennfield, Saint Andrews, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, Saint Stephen, and West Isles.
[Charlotte County, New Brunswick Genealogy]

Where does Alexander Guthrie (1791-1862) and Susannah Tatton’s family belong in the grand scheme of things? We do have a descendant from their direct line participating in Autosomal DNA testing, but no one with a YDNA test to conclusively prove their Guthrie Family Group origins.

Extrapolating clues from the family records we believe that Alexander Guthrie was born about 1791. His birthplace was either Scotland or Ireland. Census records of his sons list their ethnic origins as ‘Scotch’ or ‘Irish’. This likely means he was Scot-Irish. He was probably a laborer and/or farmer. The family were protestants following the religious practices of the Church of England. His marriage to Susannah Tatton took place in Pennfield, Charlotte, New Brunswick in 1819, so it is possible that Alexander was already living there during the War of 1812.

Although we don’t know if Alexander Guthrie was a soldier, he was a young adult at the time, and would have been qualified to enlist. New Brunswick received an influx of colonists with Loyalist leanings during and after the American Revolution. Did he come directly from Ireland to New Brunswick, or was he one of the men who moved north?

“Even with the loss of thirteen of its North American colonies in 1783, British colonial possessions in the New World remained vast, with the largest group of colonies becoming known collectively as British North America: the provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia, the Island of Cape Breton, the Island of St. John (later Prince Edward Island), and Bermuda; the Colony of Newfoundland was not included in this structure. The displacement of a large number of refugees popularly known as Loyalists, but also including a significant number of First Nations peoples, to the remaining British colonies and to Britain transformed the boundaries of British North America. In 1784, the province of Nova Scotia was partitioned and the province of New Brunswick created, while in 1791, the province of Quebec was divided into the largely English-speaking province of Upper Canada and the predominantly French-speaking Catholic province of Lower Canada.“

The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot in the War of 1812

During the 1790s, the British and French had ongoing conflicts primarily affecting ports in Europe. When the British began to blockade American ships and conscripting American nationals into service on British vessels, the United States declared war on Britain on 18 Jun 1812.

New Brunswick maintained a peaceful border with Maine where necessary trade between the province and neighboring states brought an exchange of manufactured British goods for American flour. After Britain declared war, New Brunswick vessels carried the sea war to the Americans ranging as far south as Boston. 600 soldiers in the New Brunswick 104th Regiment of Foot took an epic march from Fredericton, New Brunswick to Kingston, Ontario during the brutal winter of 1813.
Read More:
New Brunswick and the War of 1812
and
The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot in the War of 1812

Peace negotiations began in August 1814, and the Treaty of Ghent was signed 24 Dec 1814. The US Senate ratified the treaty on 17 Feb 1815, and the war ended with no boundary changes between the United States and British North America. The 104th Regiment of Foot (New Brunswick) was officially disbanded in 1817.

“The settler who wished to obtain a grant of Crown land submitted a petition to the Lieutenant Governor (later to the Crown Land Office) describing his or her circumstances, need, family, and any service (usually military) rendered the Crown, which would attest to the petitioner being deserving of the land and whose settlement would be beneficial to the community and province. The Lieutenant Governor in Council, acting as a Committee of Council on Land (see RS568) would approve or disallow the petition.”

Index to Land Petitions – The Process and the Records on Land

Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918
GUTHRIE, ALEXANDER, 1827, Charlotte County, 1 other petitioner mentioned: Samuel Bliss.
(Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – Microfilm F4209) [SOURCE]

!!!The above document would be a valuable source of data on this family!!!
Does anyone have a copy?
Do you have access to the New Brunswick Provincial Archives to get one?

New Brunswick, Canada County Deed Registry Books
Index Book 1838-1854
GUTHRIE, SUSAN (Grantee) from MICHAEL TATTON (Grantor) – DEED – Book Z – Page 640 – Parish: Pennfield.

New Brunswick, Canada County Deed Registry Books
Index Book 1854-1874
[IMG219/624]
GUTHRIE, MICHAEL (Grantee) from W HOPKINS (Grantor) – DEED – Book 15, p169 – Parish: Pennfield
GUTHRIE, SAMUEL (Grantee) from Philip Newton – DEED – Book 13 p 482 – Parish: Grand Manan (Note: Created from West Isles in 1816)
GUTHRIE, WALLACE (Grantee) from John Guphill – DEED – Book 12 Page 566 – Parish: Grand Manan

Other Entries
Grantor: 1874-1891 and Grantee: 1874-1891
Grantor: 1891-1906 and Grantee: 1891-1906

Origin Theories:

The original land petition of 1827 may provide some necessary information on Alexander Guthrie’s entry into New Brunswick.

Based on family census data, it appears that he was Scot-Irish and likely born in Northern Ireland. There are 3 established Guthrie Family Groups with lineages tied to Northern Ireland: GFG2A, GFG6, and GFG13. Although any group could potentially have a branch that settled in Ireland, these are the only ones with current connections. The given name Alexander is found in the GFG6 families from Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, Delaware that originated in Ireland.

If Alexander Guthrie was born in Scotland instead of Ireland, a look at the Old Parish Records shows 7 births/baptisms between 1788-1793.
1) Alexander Guthrie – Father: James Guthrie 8 Feb 1789 Arngask
2) Alexander Guthrie – Father: Alexander Guthrie 15 Feb 1790 Arngask
3) Alexander Guthery – Parents: William Guthery/Hellen McWattie 26 Feb 1792 Bonhill
4) Alexander Guthrie – Parents: David Guthrie & Clementina Cay 13 May 1792 Brechin
5) Alexander Guthrie – Parents: James Guthrie & Jean Smith 1 Jun 1792 Glasgow
6) Alexander Gardin Guthrie – Parents: Alexander Guthrie/Margaret Millar 14 Oct 1792 Monkton and Prestwick
7) Alexander Guthrie – Father: Alexander Guthrie 10 Feb 1793 Abernethy

Ruled Out: #4 (Surgeon), #5 (House Proprietor), #6 (Sea Captain). These all have documented lives and deaths.

No further details on the two Alexander Guthries from Arngask (Perthshire) or the one from Abernethy. Research needed.

Mistaken Identities:

None found so far.

The Family of Alexander Guthrie & Susannah Tatton:

ALEXANDER GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown, presumably born in Scotland, England, or Ireland
Born: About 1791
Location: Ireland/Northern Ireland, presumably
Married: Susannah Tatton in New Brunswick on
Occupation: Unknown, probably a farmer
Military Service: Unknown, possibly during the War of 1812
Died: 23 February 1852
Location: Pennfield, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada
Buried: Christ Church Cemetery in Pennfield

SUSANNAH TATTON
Parents: John Tatton & Martha (MNU), unconfirmed
Born: Abt. 1795
Location: Canada
Children: Francis (1820), Michael J (1827), Robert (1838), George (1844)
Died: 25 October 1857
Location: Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada
Buried: Christ Church Cemetery in Pennfield

CHILDREN:

FRANCIS GUTHRIE
1820CAN – 1860CAN

Francis Guthrie was born in 1820 in Pennfield, New Brunswick. He was enumerated in the 1851 Census of New Brunswick with his widowed mother Susan and his brothers: Michael 26, Robert 15, and George 11.

He appears to have been a single man. No evidence of a marriage or children has been found in the records. He died in December of 1860 and was buried on 17 Dec 1860 at Christ Church Cemetery in Pennfield. No tombstone or markers.

MICHAEL J GUTHRIE
1827CAN – 1911NY

Born in Pennfield on 4 July 1827, Michael Guthrie is found living at home with his widowed mother and brothers in 1851. He married Rhoda E Mealy on 2 September 1858 in Pennfield, witnessed by Daniel Hunter and Lucy Ann Jack. The rector John McGiven performed the ceremony.

Michael and Rhoda had 3 daughters and 2 sons. All but the youngest was born in New Brunswick. In 1868, the family moved to Clifton, Saint Lawrence, New York where they were listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses. Michael worked as a laborer. Rhoda ran a boarding house. By 1900, they had moved to Russell in the same county. Michael died there on 22 November 1911. Rhoda survived him by 20 years.

The census records list Michael’s father as being born in Scotland rather than Ireland.

Guthrie Children: 5
Hannah L Guthrie (1860), Elizabeth Guthrie (1862), Susan Ellen Guthrie (1863), George Edward Guthrie (1866), Wallace Ridgley Guthrie (1871)

Y-DNA Project Participants: No

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Participants: No

ROBERT GUTHRIE
1838CAN – 1912CAN

Robert Guthrie was born in Pennfield on 26 April 1838. He was 15 during the 1851 Census (actually collected 1852). He married Mary E Archibald in 1859 and they became parents to 4 daughters and 3 sons.

The 1881 census lists his father as ‘Scotch’, but the 1901 census lists him as ‘Irish’.

Robert was a farmer who appears to have lived in Pennfield his entire life. His wife Mary died in 1897, and he lived until 1912. He is buried at Christ Church Cemetery, Block B, Row 4 along with Mary and several children.

Guthrie Children: 7
Susan E Guthrie (1860), Ida A Guthrie (1865), Mandania Guthrie (1867), Daniel A Guthrie (1874), Effie Cornelia Guthrie (1877), William Edward Guthrie (1878), George Melvin Guthrie (1881)

Y-DNA Project Participants: No

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Participants: Yes
Kit B193069
Alexander Guthrie/Susannah Tatton > Robert Guthrie/Mary Archibald > Effie Cornelia Guthrie (2xGGM)

GEORGE GUTHRIE
1844CAN – a1900ME

George Guthrie was born on 14 March 1844 in Pennfield. He was the youngest son of the family and was living at home with his widowed mother Susan and his brothers during the 1851 Census of New Brunswick.

At the age of 17, George immigrated to Machias, Washington, Maine arriving on 15 Oct 1861. He was a sailor and laborer. He married Sarah, whose maiden name is unknown. They had 3 children, one of whom was named Sarah after her mother. None survived.

George became a naturalized American citizen on 6 Oct 1885.

George Guthrie; Address: Machias Maine; Certificate No.: 1-193; Court: Supreme Judicial, Machias ME Washington Co.; Country of Birth: Penfield, Charlotte Co. N.B.; DOB: Mar. 14, 1844.; Port of Arrival: 15 Oct 1861, Machias ME; No witnesses.

Naturalization Certificate No. 1-193

His death occurred sometime before 1900 as Sarah Guthrie is documented as a widow in the census. She was working as a servant in 1900.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Participants: N/A

Documented Family Events / Historical Highlights:

1812-1815: THE WAR of 1812

Late in 1812 the British detected a major build up of American troops, naval ships, and supplies at Sackets Harbor, New York. The British feared that the Americans would invade Upper Canada before the ice had left the St Lawrence River and reinforcements could arrive.  A desperate gamble was taken by stripping New Brunswick of its only British regular infantry regiment and marching it overland to Upper Canada in the dead of winter. On 16 February 1813, the first of six of the 104^th Regiment’s ten companies, consisting of approximately twenty officers and 550 men left Fredericton on snowshoes pulling toboggans. On 15 March, the regiment arrived in Quebec City and, after a short period of rest, continued on to Kingston, Ontario. They marched in harsh winter weather some 1,100 km for an average of 54 days, arriving in time to participate in an assault on the key American naval base at Sackets Harbor. Considering the distance involved and the trying conditions, this trek by the 104^th Regiment during the War of 1812 was an amazing feat of endurance.

New Brunswick Military Heritage Project

1819: MARRIAGE of ALEXANDER GUTHRIE & SUSANNAH TATTON
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 21 Jun 1819

1820: BIRTH of SON – FRANCIS GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada about 1820

1827: BIRTH of SON – MICHAEL J GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 4 Jul 1827

1838: BIRTH of SON – ROBERT GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 26 Apr 1838

1844: BIRTH of SON – GEORGE GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 14 Mar 1844

1852: DEATH of ALEXANDER GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 23 Feb 1852

Burial at Christ Church Cemetery – Block B Row 5. In/ Memory of/ Alex. Guthrie/ Died 23rd Feb. 1852/ aged 61 years/ Also/ Susannah/ his wife/ Died 25th Oct. 1857/ aged 62 years.

1852: The 1851 CENSUS of CANADA
New Brunswick, Canada

Susan Guthery 51 F widow; Michael Guthery 26 M; Francis Guthery 32 M; Robert Guthery 15 M; George Guthery 11 M.

1857: DEATH of SUSANNAH (TATTON) GUTHRIE
Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada on 25 Oct 1857

Block B Row 5. In/ Memory of/ Alex. Guthrie/ Died 23rd Feb. 1852/ aged 61 years/ Also/ Susannah/ his wife/ Died 25th Oct. 1857/ aged 62 years.

1858: MARRIAGE of SON – MICHAEL J GUTHRIE
New Brunswick, Canada on 2 Sep 1858

Michael Guthrie, Pennfield, and Rhoda Mealy, Pennfield, License 2 Sep 1858; With: Daniel Hunter & Lucy Ann Jack; Rector – John McGivern.

1859: MARRIAGE of SON – ROBERT GUTHRIE
New Brunswick, Canada on 28 Dec 1859

Robert Guthrie married Maria Elizabeth Archibald

1860: DEATH of SON – FRANCIS GUTHRIE
New Brunswick, Canada in December 1860

Francis Guthrie was buried at Christ Church Cemetery in Pennfield on 17 Dec 1860. No tombstone or markers.

1861: GEORGE GUTHRIE MOVES TO MAINE
Machias, Washington, Maine on 15 Oct 1861

1868: MICHAEL J GUTHRIE & FAMILY MOVE TO NEW YORK

1870: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Clifton, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA

Guthrie Household:
Michael Guthrie, 43, male, white, common laborer, Personal Estate: 50, NB
Rhoda Guthrie, 28, female, white, keeping house, NB
Hannah E Guthrie, 10, female, white, attends school, NB
Susan Guthrie, 7, female, white, attends school, NB
George E Guthrie, 4, male w, attends school, NB
Note: NB = NBrunswick; All listed with parentage of foreign birth.

1870: US CENSUS of MAINE
Machias, Washington, Maine on 2 July 1870

Guthrie Household:
George Guttery, 28, m, w, Sailor, NB, parents foreign born
Sarah Guttery, 30, f, w, keeping house, NB, parents foreign born

1871: CANADA CENSUS of NEW BRUNSWICK
Pennfield, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada

Guthrie Household
Robert Guthrie, M, 36, NB, Religion: C of England, Origin: Scotch, laborer, married
Mary Guthrie, F, 30, NB, C of E, Scotch, married
Susan, F, 10, NB, C of E, Scotch
Elizabeth, F, 8, NB, C of E, Scotch
Ida, F, 6, NB, C of E, Scotch
Daniel, M, 4, MB, C of E, Scotch
Mandane, F, 2, C of E, Scotch

1880: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Clifton, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA on 7 June 1880

Guthrie Household:
Michael Guthrie, white, male, 53, married, laborer, Canada, Scotland, Canada
Rhoda Guthrie, white, female, 39, wife, married, keeping house, Maine, Canada, Canada
Hannah L. Guthrie, white, female, 20, daughter, single, at school, Canada, Canada, Maine
Wallace R Guthrie, white, male, 9, son, single, at school, New York, Canada, Maine

1880: US CENSUS of MAINE
Machias, Washington, Maine

Guthrie Household
George Guthrie, w, m, 41, married, laborer, NB, NB, NB
Sarah E Guthrie, w, f, 41, wife, keeping house, PEI, PEI, PEI
Sarah E Guthrie, w, f, 8, daughter, single, attended school, Maine, NB, PEI

1881: CANADA CENSUS of NEW BRUNSWICK
Pennfield, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada

Guthrie Household:
Robert Guthrie, male, 45, NB, Church of England, Scotch, Laborer, married
Mary Guthrie, female, 40, NB, C of E, Scotch, married
Elizabeth, female, 18, NB, C of E, Scotch
Ida A, female, 16, NB, C of E, Scotch
Daniel, male, 14, NB, C of E, Scotch
Mandania, female, 12, NB, C of E, Scotch
William, male, 9, NB, C of E, Scotch
Melvin, male, 6, NB, C of E, Scotch
Effie, female, 3, NB, C of E, Scotch

1885: GEORGE GUTHRIE BECOMES NATURALIZED US CITIZEN
Machias, Washington, Maine on 6 Oct 1885

George Guthrie; Address: Machias Maine; Certificate No.: 1-193; Court: Supreme Judicial, Machias ME Washington Co.; Country of Birth: Penfield, Charlotte Co. N.B.; DOB: Mar. 14, 1844.; Port of Arrival: 15 Oct 1861, Machias ME; No witnesses.

BEF. 1900: DEATH of SON – GEORGE GUTHRIE

George Guthrie probably died in Maine before 1900 when his wife Sarah is listed as a widow.

1900: US CENSUS of MAINE
Machias, Washington, Maine

Main Street – Hotel Keeper, Staff & Boarders:
Walter H Foss, head, w, m, Dec 1863 Hotel Keeper
Mary E Foss, wife, w, f, Aug 1863, mx14, 3ch 1liv
Anna B Foss, daughter, w, f, Apr 1896, 4, single
Daniel Morang, boarder, w, m, Mar 1881, 19, single, Clerk (Hotel)
Grace Clemons, servant, w, f, Oct 1877, 22, single
Arthur H Lowell, boarder, w, m, Aug 1856, 44, single, Clerk (Hotel)
Reid, Thomas, boarder, w, m, Oct 1872, 27, single, barber
Elwell, Ernest, boarder, w, m, Mar 1874, 26, single, farm laborer
Guthrie, Sarah E, servant, w, f, Nov 1844, 55, widowed, 3ch0liv, Can-Eng, Can-Eng, Can-Eng, Can Read/Write/Speak
Longfellow, Jonathan A, boarder, w, m, Apr 1840, 60, marriedx36
Hanscom, Bertha F, daughter, w, f, Oct 1880, 19, single

1900: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Clifton, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA on 1st & 2nd June 1900

Guthrie Household:
Michael Guthrie, head, white, male, July 1827, 72, married x41yrs, Canada-Eng., Scotland, Canada-Eng., Arrived 1868 Years in US: 32 Naturalized Citizen, no occupation listed, own house with mortgage
Rhoda Guthrie, wife, white, female, Dec 1841, 58, married x41 yrs, 7 children, 4 living, Canada-Eng, Canada-Eng., Canada-Eng, Arrived 1868, in US: 32 years, Occupation: Boarding House Keeper

1901: CANADA CENSUS of NEW BRUNSWICK
Pennfield, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada

Guthrie Household
Robert Guthrie, m, w, head, widowed, 26 Apr 1838, 63, NB, Origin: Irish, Nationality: Canadian, Church of England, Farmer
Daniel Guthrie, m, w, son, single, 7 May 1874, 26, NB, farmer’s son
William Guthrie, m, w, son, single, 9 Jun 1878, 23, NB, farmer’s son
Effy Guthrie, f, w, daughter, single, 23 Sep 1878, 21, NB
Geo. Guthrie, m, w, son, single, 10 May 1881, 20, NB, farmer’s son
Ada Guthrie, f, w, lodger, single, 4 Mar 1886, 14, NB
Fred Guthrie, m, w, lodger, single, 12 Jul 1889, 4, NB

1905: NEW YORK STATE CENSUS
Russell, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA

Guthrie Household
Michael Guthrie, head, white, male, 77, Canada (Scotch), Yrs in US: 37, citizen, no occupation listed
Rhoda A Guthrie, wife, white, female, 63, Canada (Irish), Yrs in US: 37, citizen, housework
Floyd A Rusbeck, grandson, white, male, 21, United States, citizen, day laborer

1910: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Russell, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA on 18 April 1910

Guthrie Household
Michael Guthrie, head, male, white, 82, marriedx1: 52yrs, Can-Eng, Scot-Eng, Can-Eng, Arrived in US: 1868, Naturalized Citizen, Speaks English, no occupation, Can Read/Write, Owns Home Free of Mortgage
Rhoda Guthrie, wife, female, white, 68, marriedx1: 52yrs, 7 children, 4 living, Can-Eng, Can-Eng, Can-Eng, Arrived in US:1868, Speaks English, no occupation, Can Read/Write

1911: DEATH of SON – MICHAEL J GUTHRIE
Russell, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA on 22 Nov 1911

1912: DEATH of SON – ROBERT GUTHRIE
Seely’s Cove, New Brunswick, Canada

Buried at Christ Church Cemetery, Pennfield. Block B, Row 4. GUTHRIE, Robert 1835-1912 wife Mary E. Archibald 1841-1897 Susan E. 1860-1878 Daniel A. 1867-1901 George M. 1874-1901 Ada M. 1887-1905

The Guthrie DNA Project:

There are probably some Guthrie men out there who descend from Alexander Guthrie & Susannah Tatton. Consider participating in YDNA testing in order to identify and prove your Guthrie origins.

If you already have an Autosomal DNA test, please transfer it to FTDNA and join the project. Autosomal DNA works by triangulating multiple sources. In other words we need more of you for comparison.