A: Robert Guthrie & Jean McGibney
CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of Robert Guthrie & Jean McGibney
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project
ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG12 – BRANCH A
Census records reveal that Robert Guthrie was born in Ireland. The census actually lists ‘Swate Ireland’, but this is not a location. It is a colloquial way of saying he is from Beautiful / Sweet Ireland, which the census taker took as literal.
Baptismal records for Robert & Jean’s daughter, Margaret Ann Guthrie, show that she was baptized in Dromore Parish, County Down, Ireland. This is likely the location the family lived and potentially where Robert Guthrie was born.
Family tradition tells us that Robert Guthrie fought on the Protestant side of the Rebellion in 1798 and decided to move to the US in 1800 where they had relatives. This is a great clue because it lets us look for those relatives in the area where they settled.
“The Irish Rebellion of 1798 (Irish: Éirí Amach 1798) was an uprising against British rule in Ireland. The United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group influenced by the ideas of the American and French revolutions, were the main organising force behind the rebellion, led by Presbyterians angry at being shut out of power by the Anglican establishment and joined by Catholics, who made up the majority of the population. Many Ulster Protestants sided with the British, resulting in the conflict taking on the appearance of a sectarian civil war in many areas, with atrocities on both sides. A French army which landed in County Mayo in support of the rebels was overwhelmed by British and loyalist forces. The uprising was suppressed by British Crown forces with a death toll of between 10,000 and 30,000.” (Wikipedia)
Robert Guthrie & Jean McGibney were married in Ireland on 9 May 1796 and settled in Peters Township, Washington County, PA about 1800. They were there by the 1810 census and continued to live in that county though the 1850 census period. After Jean’s death in 1848, Robert moved to Coshocton County, Ohio where some of his children had settled. Although he died in Coshocton County in 1854, his body was transported back to Pennsylvania to be buried in Bethel Cemetery with his wife.
THE FAMILY of ROBERT GUTHRIE & JEAN MCGIBNEY
ROBERT GUTHRIE
Born: About 1774
Location: Ireland, presumably in Ulster
Marriage: Jean McGibney in Ireland on 9 May 1796
Occupation: Farmer
Died: 19 September 1854
Location: Coshocton County, Ohio, USA
Buried: Bethel Cemetery, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA
JEAN MCGIBNEY
Born: About 1774
Location: Ireland, presumably in Ulster
Sons: James Guthrie (1798), Robert Guthrie (1800), Thomas Guthrie (1803), George Guthrie (1806), William Guthrie (1817), Archibald Guthrie (1824)
Daughter: Margaret Ann Guthrie (1797), Jane Jean Guthrie (1809), Elizabeth Guthrie (1811), Isabella Guthrie (1813), Mary Guthrie (1815), Sarah Guthrie (1820)
Died: 6 June 1848
Location: Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
Buried: Bethel Cemetery, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA
CHILDREN:
MARGARET ANN GUTHRIE
1797IRE-1822PA
Margaret Ann Guthrie was baptized in Dromore Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland on 12 February 1797, so her DOB would be either close to that date or on it. She was 25 at her death in Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA, and apparently unmarried.
JAMES GUTHRIE
1798IRE-1888PA
James Guthrie was born on 23/24 December 1798 in Dromore Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland. He married Nancy Agnes Johnston in Pennsylvania on 1 July 1823 and they settled in South Fayette, Allegheny County, PA. He was a farmer. Nancy died in 1877 and James in 1888.
Children: 5
Sons: Robert Johnston Guthrie (1824)
Daughters: Mary Jane Guthrie (1826), Nancy Guthrie (1828), Margaret Ann Guthrie (1830), Isabel Guthrie (1832)
Y-DNA Project participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No
ROBERT GUTHRIE
1800PA-1881OH
Some family stories say that Robert Guthrie was born at sea on the voyage to America. Census records list Pennsylvania. He married in Nottingham, Washington, PA on 1 March 1825 to Margaret Patterson. Robert was a farmer. They lived in PA for several decades before moving to Clark, Coshocton County, Ohio by 1860. They both died there in 1881, Margaret on 18 January and Robert on 1 December.
Children: 7
Sons: Robert Guthrie (1828), John Guthrie (1830), James Guthrie (1832), William Guthrie (1838)
Daughters: Jane Guthrie (1825), Mary Guthrie (1840), Margaret Ann Guthrie (1843)
Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: Yes
THOMAS GUTHRIE
1803PA-1846OH
Thomas Guthrie was born in Peters, Washington, PA on 2 March 1803. He married Jane Patterson on 26 August 1824 in Washington County. They moved to Clark, Coshocton, Ohio by the time of the 1840 census. Thomas was only 43 at his death on 28 April 1846. Jane lived until 1877.
Children: 7
Sons: John W Guthrie (1831), Robert Guthrie (1834), William Craig Curtis Guthrie (1837), George W Guthrie (1839), Thomas Guthrie (1843)
Daughters: Elizabeth Guthrie (1828), Mary Jane Guthrie (1829)
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: No
GEORGE GUTHRIE
1805PA-1807PA
George Guthrie was born on 26 Jun 1806 in Peters, Washington County, PA. He died there in 1807.
JANE JEAN GUTHRIE
1809PA-1887OH
Jane Guthrie was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania on 16 May 1809. She married on 4 Mar 1830 to Joshua A Leggett, a farmer, and they settled that year in Union, Tuscarawas, Ohio. Jane died in Goshen, Tuscarawas County on 4 June 1887, and Joshua in 1893. They are buried at the Fair Street Cemetery in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, OH.
Children: 9
Leggett Sons: Thomas Jefferson Leggett (1832), Robert Guthrie Leggett (1834), William Dempster Leggett (1835), James Leggett (1839), Joshua A Leggett (1842)
Leggett Daughters: Margaret Ann Leggett (1831), Martha Jane Leggett (1838), Pamela Harriett Leggett (1847), Sarah Emma Leggett (1849)
Family Finder Participants: Yes
ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
1811PA-1890OH
Elizabeth Guthrie was born on 28 June 1811 in Peters, Washington, PA. She married John McCluggage there on 18 October 1832. Soon afterward they settled on a farm in Clark, Coshocton, Ohio where they raised their family. John died in Bedford, Coshocton in 1881 and Elizabeth in 1890.
Children: 8
McCluggage Sons: Robert McCluggage (1833), John McCluggage (1843), Matthew McCluggage (1847), Robert Guthrie McCluggage (1849)
McCluggage Daughters: Margaret McCluggage (1834), Eleanor McCluggage (1839), Elizabeth McCluggage (1844), Elizabeth McCluggage (1852)
Family Finder Participants: No
ISABELLA GUTHRIE
1813PA-1888MO
Isabella Guthrie was born on 14 July 1813 in Peters, Washington, PA. She married Robert Huston. They initially settled in Clark, Coshocton, Ohio, but moved to VanBuren County, Iowa in their 50s and to Caldwell County, Missouri in their 60s. Robert died there in 1883 and Isabella in 1888.
Children: 4
Huston Sons: John Huston (1838), Robert Guthrie Huston (1847)
Huston Daughters: Jane Huston (1839), Margaret Huston (1841)
Family Finder Participants: No
MARY GUTHRIE
1815PA-1876KS
Mary Guthrie was born on 25 April 1815 in Peters, Washington County, PA. She married Andrew Hardy. They settled in Bourbon County, Kansas by 1870.
Children: 8
Hardy Sons: Robert Hardy (1840), William Hardy (1841), John Hardy (1844), Thomas Hardy (1859), James Hardy (1860), William Hardy (1866)
Hardy Daughters: Mary Jane Hardy (1847), Margaret Ann Hardy (1852)
Family Finder Participants: No
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1817PA-1866PA
William Guthrie was born in Peters, Washington, PA on 1 June 1817. He married Elizabeth Crawford there on 29 December 1846. Unlike many of his siblings, William remained in Pennsylvania. William died 23 Dec 1866 and Elizabeth in 1871.
Children: 2
Sons: Robert Guthrie (1847)
Daughters: Nancy Jane Guthrie (1850)
Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No
SARAH GUTHRIE
1820PA-1861PA
Sarah Guthrie was born on 5 July 1820. She married Samuel Skiles and they continued to liven Washington County, Pennsylvania. The Skiles family is also associated with two other Guthrie family groups. Sarah died 7 March 1861 in Washington County, PA, and her husband Samuel in 1888.
Children: 9
Skiles Sons: Isaac Lightner Skiles (1842), Samuel Gideon Skiles (1852), George M Skiles (1854)
Skiles Daughters: Jane Skiles (1841), Isabel Cook Skiles (1849), Sarah Nancy Skiles (1851), Margaret Ann Skiles (1851), Agnes R Skiles (1856), Laura Belle Skiles (1873)
Family Finder Participants: No
ARCHIBALD GUTHRIE
1824PA-1861OH
Archibald Guthrie was born on 10 January 1824 in Peters, Washington, OH. He married Mary Ann Smith about 1849. They were still in Peters in 1850, but moved to Coshocton, OH by 1861 when Archibald died there on 4 June.
Children: 1
Sons: None
Daughters: Unidentified Infant Daughter (1853)
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
About 1774: BIRTH of ROBERT GUTHRIE
Northern Ireland, presumably County Down
Robert’s children were baptized in Dromore Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland, so it is possible that he was also born there.
County Down, Northern Ireland
1774: BIRTH of JEAN MCGIBNEY
Northern Ireland, presumably County Down
There are a number of spelling variants found on the internet for this surname. All 25 records for Griffith’s Valuation for McGibney households were found in County Down.
1796: MARRIAGE of ROBERT GUTHRIE & JEAN MCGIBNEY
Northern Ireland, presumably County Down, on 9 May 1796
1797: BIRTH / BAPTISM of DAUGHTER – MARGARET ANN GUTHRIE
Dromore Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland on 12 Feb 1797
1798: BIRTH of SON – JAMES GUTHRIE
Dromore Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland on 23/24 Dec 1798
1800: BIRTH of SON – ROBERT GUTHRIE
Either Born at Sea or in Washington County, PA on 21 Nov 1800
1803: BIRTH of SON – THOMAS GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 2 March 1803
1806-1807: BIRTH & DEATH of SON – GEORGE GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 26 June 1806
George died in 1807 of unknown causes.
1809: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – JANE JEAN GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 16 May 1809
1810: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
ROBERT GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD:
1M & 1F 26-44 (1766-1784)
1F 10-15 (1795-1800)
4M & 1F <10 (1801-1810).
1811: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 28 June 1811
1813: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ISABELLA GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 14 July 1813
1815: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – MARY GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 25 April 1815
1817: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 1 June 1817
1820: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
ROBERT GUTTERY HOUSEHOLD: 1M 45+ (<1775), 1F 26-44 (1776-1794), 2M & 1F 16-25 (1795-1804), 1M 16-18 (1802-1804), 1M & 1F 10-15 (1805-1810), 1M & 4F <10 (1811-1820).
1820: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – SARAH GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 5 July 1820
1822: DEATH of DAUGHTER – MARGARET ANN GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 14 October 1822
Margaret was 25 at her death. She was unmarried
1823: MARRIAGE of SON – JAMES GUTHRIE
Pennsylvania, USA
James Guthrie married Nancy Agnes Johnston on 1 July 1823. They lived in Allegheny County, primarily in South Fayette. Their children were Robert Johnston Guthrie (1824), Mary Jane Guthrie (1826), Nancy Guthrie (1828), Margaret Ann Guthrie (1830), Isabel Guthrie (1832). Nancy died in 1877. James lived until 19 Jan 1888. He was 89 at his death.
1824: BIRTH of SON – ARCHIBALD GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 10 January 1824
1824: MARRIAGE of SON – THOMAS GUTHRIE
Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA on 26 August 1824
Thomas Guthrie married Jane Patterson on 26 August 1824. They moved to Coshocton County, Ohio in the 1830s. Children: Elizabeth Guthrie (1828), Mary Jane Guthrie (1829), John W Guthrie (1831), Robert Guthrie (1834), William Craig Curtis Guthrie (1837), George W Guthrie (1839), Thomas Guthrie (1843). Thomas was only 43 at his death on 28 April 1846. Jane died in 1877.
1825: MARRIAGE of SON – ROBERT GUTHRIE
Nottingham, Washington, Pennsylvania on 1 March 1825
Robert Guthrie married Margaret Patterson on 1 March 1825. They lived in Nottingham through the 1830s. They were in Coshocton, OH by 1860 and may have been there many years by that time. Children: Jane Guthrie (1825), Robert Guthrie (1828), John Guthrie (1830), James Guthrie (1832), William Guthrie (1838), Mary Guthrie (1840), and Margaret Ann Guthrie (1843). Both Margaret and Robert died in 1881.
1830: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – JANE JEAN GUTHRIE
Canonsburg, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 4 March 1830
Jane Guthrie married Joshua A Leggett, a farmer. They settled in Union, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and later moved to Goshen. Children: Margaret Ann Leggett (1831), Thomas Jefferson Leggett (1832), Robert Guthrie Leggett (1834), William Dempster Leggett (1835), Martha Jane Leggett (1838), James Leggett (1839), Joshua A Leggett (1842), Pamelia Harriett Leggett (1847), and Sarah Emma Leggett (1849). Jane died at the age of 78 on 4 June 1887. Her husband Joshua died in 1893.
1830: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
ROBERT GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD:
1M & 1F 50-59 (1771-1780)
3F 15-19 (1811-1815)
1M & 1F 10-14 (1816-1820)
1M 5-9 (1821-1825).
1832: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA on 18 October 1832
Elizabeth Guthrie married John McCluggage. He was a farmer and they settled in Clark, Coshocton, Ohio. Children: Robert McCluggage (1833), Margaret McCluggage (1834), Eleanor McCluggage (1839), John McCluggage (1843), Elizabeth McCluggage (1844), Matthew McCluggage (1847), Robert Guthrie McCluggage (1849), Elizabeth McCluggage (1852). John McCluggage died in 1881. Elizabeth died on 30 may 1890 in Bedford, Coshocton, Ohio.
1834: ORGANIZATION of the CLARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Near Bloomfield, Coshocton, Ohio, USA on 22 March 1834
“Near Bloomfield is the Clark Presbyterian Church. It was organized March 22, 1834, by Rev. N Conkling, with a membership of twelve, including George Watherwax and wife, THOMAS GUTHRIE and wife, Nelly Kerr, John P Kerr, William Craig and wife, and ROBERT GUTHRIE and wife. These had mostly emigrated from Western Pennsylvania.”
(History of Coshocton County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, 1740-1881)
About 1836: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – MARY GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA, presumably
Mary Guthrie married Andrew Hardy. He was a farmer. They lived in PA until the late 1850s, went to Illinois where their son James was reportedly born, and then settled in Bourbon County, Kansas. Andrew died in Redfield on 11 February 1874 and Mary died there two years later on 28 October 1876.
About 1837: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – ISABELLA GUTHRIE
Unknown, presumably in Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA
Isabella Guthrie married Robert Huston about 1837. Their eldest child is listed as being born in PA, so it is likely that their marriage occurred in Washington County, PA. Children: John Huston (1838), Jane Huston (1839), Margaret Huston (1841), Robert Guthrie Huston (1847). They settled in Clark, Coshocton, Ohio, later moved to Lick Creek, Van Buren, Iowa, and then to Hamilton, Caldwell, Missouri. Robert died in 1883 and Isabella in 1888.
1840: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
ROBT GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD:
1M 60-69 (1771-1780)
1M & 1F 20-29 (1811-1820)
1M 15-19 (1821-1825).
2 in agriculture.
Even though Jean was still alive in 1840, she does not appear to be listed in the 1840 census. Possible that she was visiting family in Ohio at the time.
1840: MARRIAGE of DAUGHTER – SARAH GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
Sarah Guthrie married Samuel Skiles. They continued to live in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Children: Jane Skiles (1841), Isaac Lightner Skiles (1842), Isabel Cook Skiles (1849), Sarah Nancy Skiles (1851), Margaret Ann Skiles (1851), Samuel Gideon Skiles (1852), George M Skiles (1854), Agnes R Skiles (1856), Laura Belle Skiles (1873). Sarah was only 40 at the time of her death on 7 March 1861. Samuel lived until 1888.
1846: DEATH of SON – THOMAS GUTHRIE
Millcreek, Coshocton, Ohio, USA on 28 April 1846
Thomas Guthrie died at the young age of 43 leaving a widow, Jane (Patterson) Guthrie, 5 sons and 3 daughters. He was a farmer and presbyterian.
1846: MARRIAGE of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA on 29 December 1846
William Guthrie married Elizabeth Crawford with whom he had two children: Robert Guthrie (1847) and Nancy Jane Guthrie (1850). They remained in Washington County. William died on 23 December 1866. Elizabeth died in 1871.
1848: DEATH of WIFE – JEAN (MCGIBONY) GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA on 6 June 1848
Jean was buried at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Washington County.
1849: MARRIAGE of SON – ARCHIBALD GUTHRIE
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
Archibald Guthrie married Mary Ann Smith. They moved to Coshocton County, Ohio between 1850-1860. They had a daughter who died in her infancy in 1853. Archibald died on 4 June 1861 at the age of 37. Mary Ann died in 1896.
1850: US CENSUS of PENNSYLVANIA
Peters, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD:
Robert Guthrie 76 male Farmer 5000 Born: Swate Ireland
Note: “Swate Ireland” is colloquial for “Sweet Ireland” and not an actual location in Ireland.
1854: LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of ROBERT GUTHRIE
Coshocton County, Ohio, USA on 24 April 1854
Written in Coshocton County, Ohio where he died a few months later. He gives James $800; Robert $800; William $1,000; Thomas Guthries widow $800; Robert Hueston $800; Jane Leggett $800; Sarah Skils $700; Mary Hardy interest on $800 & the Craig Presb. Church $100 plus $50.00 for church repairs.
1854: DEATH of ROBERT GUTHRIE
Coshocton County, Ohio, USA on 19 September 1854
After his wife Jean’s death in 1848, Robert had moved to Ohio where several of his children had taken up residence. He wrote his will there on 24 April 1854, and died on 19 September 1854. Family histories indicate that Robert’s body was transported back to Pennsylvania to be buried at Bethel Cemetery with his wife.
1854: PROBATE of the WILL of ROBERT GUTHRIE
Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA on 18 November 1854
THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT
Guthrie Family Group: GFG12
Group Designation: Branch A – (The Guthries of Peters, Washington, PA)
Haplogroup: I-P37
Confirmed Haplogroup: I-P37
YDNA Matches: 1
Kit 59978
Robert Guthrie/Jean McGibney > Thomas Guthrie/Jane Patterson > Robert Guthrie/Mary Ann Hull (GGP) +more
Family Finder Kits: 2
Kit 32371
Robert Guthrie/Jean McGibney > Robert Guthrie/Margaret Patterson > James Guthrie/Mary Ann Linton > Hugh Washington Guthrie/Nellie Kelly > Mary Ann Guthrie/Jack Moore Plummer (GGP)
Kit 839891
Robert Guthrie/Jean McGibney > Robert Guthrie/Margaret Patterson > John Guthrie/Emma Jane Felton > Margaret Elizabeth Guthrie/Charles Alexander Hoyman > Milan Grover Hoyman/Ada Belle Warren (GGP)
Kit B58915
Robert Guthrie/Jean McGibney > Jane Jean Guthrie/Joshua A Leggett Sr > William Dempster Leggett/Elexis Amy Hedgecoth (GGP)
Kit B5067
Robert Guthrie/Jean McGibney > Robert Guthrie/Margaret Patterson > John Guthrie/Emma Jane Felton > Margaret Elizabeth Guthrie/Charles Alexander Hoyman > Milan Grover Hoyman/Ada Belle Warren > Irene Hoyman/Earle Armstrong (GGP)
Findings:
Kit 59978 is only a 12-marker Y-DNA tests. We usually prefer Y37 or Y67 for comparison to other kits. However, the Haplogroup and Genetic Profile are unique enough to the project that it is easy to identify a match for this family line.
The Haplogroup (ancient human genetic origins) is I-P37. This haplogroup originated 15,000 years ago in Eastern Europe.
Since this is only a 12-marker test, most of the matches are probably due to random convergence and are not related within a measurable genetic timeframe. Out of 383 matches, there is only one to a man of the Guthrie surname who descends from William Guthrie c1795 Perthshire, Scotland – 1855 Cass, Indiana & Margaret Japp, now designated as GFG12-Branch B. This man has a Y67-marker test, which provides us more information.
The Most Recent Common Ancestor of the Guthrie surname for Branches A & B would be found back in Scotland, potentially in Perthshire. However, at some point, either starting with that common ancestor, or in a generation prior to it, Benbow Y-DNA was introduced into the Guthrie family line. The most common surname match is Benbow, suggesting that a causal event, such as adoption or false paternity occurred in a previous generation.
This tiny genetic group conisting of just 2 men could use some participants for additional comparison.
Guthrie Genealogy 