B: William Guthrie & Susan Wright
CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of William Guthrie & Susan Wright
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project
ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG14 – BRANCH B
William Guthrie was born in New York State in 1803 and married Susan Wright in Salem on 11 July 1831. A descendant of this Guthrie line matches the genetic profile of an earlier generation of Guthrie men descending from George Nelson Guthrie, whose children were born in New York. There are quite a few blanks in George Nelson Guthrie’s origin story, so it is quite possible that William is a son or grandson of the GFG14-Branch A line.
The origin of the overall historical Guthrie line is also unknown, although it is likely that it belongs to either GFG2A or GFG6. Descendants of GFG14 do not match any of the other established Guthrie Family Groups. Their YDNA is most commonly found matching men of the Joyce / Joice surname. There were several families of that name living in New York in the 1700s.
We do not know the county of William Guthrie’s birth, but he was married in Salem, Washington County, NY, so it is possible that he was also born there. The Guthries in Washington County in 1790 and 1800 are associated with GFG6 lineages.
THE FAMILY of WILLIAM GUTHRIE & SUSAN WRIGHT
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Born: 18 July 1803
Location: New York, USA
Married: Susan Wright on 11 July 1831 in Salem, Washington, NY
Occupation: Cooper
Died: 15 October 1853
Location: New York, USA
Buried: Unknown, presumably in Livingston County, New York, USA
SUSAN WRIGHT
Born: 7 February 1809
Location: Hebron, Washington, New York, USA
Sons: John Lyman Guthrie (1837), William Guthrie (1842)
Daughters: Margaret Guthrie (1834), Unidentified (18??)
Died: 8 June 1896
Location: Oakdale, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial: Oakdale Cemetery, Oakdale, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA
CHILDREN:
MARGARET GUTHRIE
1834NY-Before 1912
Margaret Guthrie is listed on the 1850 census with her parents and brothers John and William. She is not listed in 1860, so is presumed to be married or deceased by that date. Her death occurred before the 1912 publication of her brother John’s biographical sketch. No further details known.
JOHN LYMAN GUTHRIE
1837NY-1927WI
John Lyman Guthrie was born on 2 September 1837 in the Genesse Valley in New York. A biographical sketch published in the ‘History of Monroe County Wisconsin‘, 1912 tells his story with the exception of his apparently brief marriage to Anna (MNU). The 1860 census indicates that they had been married within the year. His widowed mother Susan was living with them. It is presumed that Anna died that year. The sketch states that John removed from his home in New York in 1860 settling in Fox Lake, Wisconsin and then to Oakdale in Monroe County, Wisconsin where he engaged in getting out railroad ties and wood. He purchased 160 acres of land from the railroad company and developed it into a prosperous farm. John married on 27 April 1863 to Caroline Leffingwell, daughter of Hiram and Julia Leffingwell. John and Caroline had 6 children. He was a Republican, an organizer of the Oakdale Co-operative Butter Association, and a soldier. In August 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Berdon’s First US Sharp Shooters from Dodge County, Wisconsin, and was engaged at the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and Blackman’s Ford. He was discharged in February 1863 due to disability. John died on 28 November 1927 in Monroe County, Wisconsin. His wife Caroline had predeceased him in 1915. They are buried at the Oakdale Cemetery.
Children: 6
Sons: William Lyman Guthrie (1865), Arthur J Guthrie (1883)
Daughters: Julia Guthrie (1864), Emma Guthrie (1868), Cora Guthrie (1870), Bertha Guthrie (1873)
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: No
WILLIAM GUTHRIE
1842VT-Before 1912
The 1850 census indicates that William Guthrie was born in Vermont. He is the only one in the family born outside of New York. The location is confirmed by the 1855 New York State Census. He would be 18 in 1860, so potentially living and working on his own. However, the 1912 biographical sketch of his brother John indicates that William died prior to that date. No further details known.
(UNIDENTIFIED DAUGHTER) GUTHRIE
Unknown – Unknown
A biographical sketch of son John L Guthrie mentions that his mother Susan had 2 sons and 2 daughters, with only John surviving by the 1912 date of publication.
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1803: BIRTH of WILLIAM GUTHRIE
New York, USA on 18 July 1803, possibly in Washington County
1809: BIRTH of SUSAN WRIGHT
Hebron, Washington County, New York, USA on 7 February 1809
1810: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
William Guthrie would be about 7 years old in 1810, and most likely living in the household of his parents. There are many Guthrie households in New York State, but only 2 for Washington County, both of them in Hebron.
The James Guthrie Household: Ruled Out
1 – Male and 1 – Female 26-44 (born 1766-1784)
2 – Males and 3 – Females under 10 (born 1801-1810)
Note: This is James Guthrie who married Editha Munson. They do have a son William Guthrie, and it is that son whose descendants match GFG6.
The William Guthrie Household: Possible Match
1 – Male and 1 – Female 26-44 (born 1766-1784)
1 – Male 16-25 (1785-1794)
2 – Males and 2 – Females under 10 (born 1801-1810)
Note: This William Guthrie record is currently unassigned. The record does list a male of the correct age range to be William Guthrie, who would be about 7 years old.
1820: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
William Guthrie would be about 17 years old in 1810, and possibly still living within his parents’ household. Presumably still in Washington County, New York. There are only 2 Guthrie households in Washington County, one in Hebron and the other in Argyle.
The James Guthrie Household: Ruled Out
Note: This is the same James Guthrie who married Editha Munson. They belong to GFG6.
The Rebecca Guthrie Household: Possible Match
1 – Female 45 and over (born before 1776)
2 – Males 16-25 (born 1795-1804)
1 – Female 10-15 (born 1805-1810)
Note: This household could be a match if the 1810 William Guthrie had died and Rebecca was his widow. There is a male of an appropriate age to be this William Guthrie.
1830: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
William Guthrie would be about 27 years old, but still single in 1830. He could be listed as a Head of Household, enumerated with his Guthrie family, or if working elsewhere be listed in another household. There are 3 Guthrie households for Washington County, all of them in Hebron, but none of them are good candidates to include this William Guthrie.
The George Guthrie Household: Ruled Out
2 – Males and 1 – Female 20-29 (born 1801-1810)
1 – Female under 5
Note: This is the home of George Guthrie & wife Margaret Stewart. He descends from Samuel Guthrie Sr > Samuel Guthrie Jr inferred to be GFG6. There is an ‘extra’ male of the right age range.
The Samuel Guthrie Household: Ruled Out
1 – Male and 1 – Female 50-59 (born 1771-1780)
1 – Male 20-29 (born 1801-1810)
1 – Male and 1 – Female 15-19 (born 1811-1815)
1 – Female 10-14 (born 1816-1820)
Note: This is Samuel Guthrie Jr who married Sarah Rachel Lester. He is the son of Samuel Guthrie Sr who is inferred to be GFG6. There is a son William in the household, 1808-1876, who married his cousin Jane Ann Lester.
The James Guthrie Household: Ruled Out
This is the James Guthrie who married Editha Munson whose son William’s descendants match GFG6.
1831: MARRIAGE of WILLIAM GUTHRIE & SUSAN WRIGHT
Salem, Washington County, New York, USA on 11 July 1831
1834: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – MARGARET GUTHRIE
New York, USA about 1834, presumably in Washington County
1837: BIRTH of SON – JOHN LYMAN GUTHRIE
Genesse Valley, New York, USA on 2 September 1837
1840: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Washington County, New York, USA
1 – Male and 1 – Female 30-39 (born 1801-1810)
1 – Female 5-9 (born 1831-1835)
1 – Male under 5 (born 1836-1840)
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Total Household Members: 4 Free White Persons
Several families of the WRIGHT surname are listed close to this household, suggesting that it is the correct one for William Guthrie and his wife Susan Wright.
William Guthrie was a cooper by trade, so he made and repaired casks and barrels. This is potentially a loose connection to the family of George Nelson Guthrie, which in addition to farming were also distillers.
1842: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE JR
Vermont, USA about 1842
The family apparently spent some time in Vermont before settling in Livingston County, New York. The 1850 census lists Vermont as the place of son William’s birth.
1850: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Nunda, Livingston, New York, USA
THE GUTHREY HOUSEHOLD:
Wm Guthrey 45 M Cooper RE: 150 NY
Susan Guthrey 36 F NY Cannot Read/Write
Margaret Guthrey 16 F NY Attended School
John L Guthrey 14 M NY Attended School
Wm Guthrey 8 M VT Attended School
1853: DEATH OF WILLIAM GUTHRIE SR
New York, USA on 15 October 1853, presumably in Livingston County
1855: NEW YORK STATE CENSUS
Nunda, Livingston, New York, USA
THE GUTHRY HOUSEHOLD:
Frame House
Value: 50
Susan Guthry 47, born: Washington, Widowed, 11 Years resident of town, No Occupation, Cannot Read/Write, Land Owner
John Guthry 17, child, born: Livingston, 11 years resident of town
Wm Guthry 12, child, born: Vermont, 11 years resident of town
1859-1860: MARRIAGE of SON – JOHN LYMAN GUTHRIE
New York, USA, presumably
The 1860 census lists John Guthrie with a wife named Anna (MNU). They are noted to have married within the year.
1860: US CENSUS of NEW YORK
Nunda, Livingston New York, USA
THE GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD:
John Guthrie 22 M Farmer RE: 200 PE: 300 NY Married within the year
Anna Guthrie 24 F New York Married within the year
Susan Guthrie 57 F NY
1860: DEATH of DAUGHTER-IN-LAW – ANNA (MNU) GUTHRIE
New York or Wisconsin, USA, presumably
The 1860 census shows that John Guthrie had been married to Anna (MNU) within a year of the census, but she was never mentioned in John Guthrie’s biographical sketch. It seems probable that she died prior to his move to Wisconsin or soon afterward.
1863: MARRIAGE (2nd) of SON – JOHN LYMAN GUTHRIE
Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA on 27 April 1863
John Guthrie married for a second time to Caroline Eransie Leffingwell. They lived in Oakdale and raised 6 children: Julia (1864), William Lyman (1865), Emma (1868), Cora (1870), Bertha (1873), and Arthur J (1883). John was a farmer. Caroline died on 26 February 1915 and John on 28 November 1927 in Oakdale, Monroe, Wisconsin. They are both buried at the Oakdale Cemetery.
1870: US CENSUS of WISCONSIN
Oakdale, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA
THE GUTHRIE HOUSHEOLD:
Dwelling 67
Family 75
Guthrie, Susan, 69, F, W, Keeping House, PE: 110, New York
Although Susan (Wright) Guthrie lived another 26 years, I have not found her listed in the Wisconsin Census for 1880.
1896: DEATH of SUSAN (WRIGHT) GUTHRIE
Oakdale, Monroe, Wisconsin, USA on 8 June 1896
THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT
Guthrie Family Group: GFG14
Group Designation: Branch A – (The Guthries of New York State)
Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-M269
YDNA Matches: 1
Kit 343026
William Guthrie/Susan J Wright > John Lyman Guthrie/Caroline Leffingwell (GGP) +more
Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Matches:
None
There is currently only 1 YDNA representative for GFG14-Branch B. He has a YDNA 37-marker test, which matches our GFG14-Branch A kits 35/37. There are 2 genetic variances:
DYS455 = 12 versus Group Mode DNA = 11
DYS449 = 30 versus Group Mode DNA = 30
There are not enough participants within this group and branch to tell if the two mutations are significant to our research. They could simply be random and recent changes versus markers inherited from a previous generation.
This group’s most common surname matches are to men of the Joyce / Joice surname, which suggests that the group’s earliest ancestor (possibly George Nelson Guthrie of GFG14-Branch A) was either adopted from a Joyce family or resulted from false paternity with his biological father being a Joyce.
Guthrie Genealogy 