I: James Guthrie & Miss Bissell
CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of James Guthrie & Miss Bissell
Historical Highlights
Mistaken Identities
The Guthrie DNA Project
ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG2A BRANCH I
There is a point in our genealogy research when facts begin to fade and only family legends remain. How much of those traditions are accurate? If there is an inkling of truth to them they are still worth exploring. Prepare to keep an open mind because there may be more to the story. Genetic testing comes in handy when trying to prove that one family line is related to another, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the facts necessary to determine how much of the old tales are true.
Guthrie Family Group 2A – Cluster 1: The Three Brothers Theory consists of Branch B (Progenitor: Robert Guthrie), Branch F (Progenitor: John Guthrie), and Branch I (Progenitor: James Guthrie). According to the family legend revealed in ‘Records of the Guthrie Family of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Virginia,’ by Harriet Nancy Dunn & Eveline Guthrie Dunn, published in 1898, these men were brothers who worked in iron manufacturing in or near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Their decision to leave Scotland ‘on account of the religious persecutions under which the family suffered’ is noted by the authors. Dunn & Dunn claim the three brothers settled first in Boston where there is a record of a James Guthrie mentioned in the will of John Richardson in 1683. How they reached the conclusion that this James Guthrie was the one who later lived in Pennsylvania is unknown.
Brother John Guthrie settled in Connecticut where he died about 1730 in Litchfield County. John reportedly had 4 sons, but only his namesake John Guthrie has been identified. The book focuses on his descendants.
Rev. Laurence Rawlin Guthrie, author of ‘American Guthrie and Allied Families’ has gathered more details from various descendants, and most tell a similar version of the tale. The brothers may or may not have travelled together from Scotland. John may have settled in Ireland before going to America. They may or may not have stopped in Boston. They may have come as early as 1700 or not until 1718 when the Ulster movement to New England took place. One account indicates there were seven brothers.
The origin story for this cluster of men and their families is murky and the search for facts presents quite a challenge. The one hope for clarity comes in the form of Y-DNA of Guthrie men who directly descend from Robert, James, and John. The genetic profiles of their descendants match GFG2A with rare exceptions, which indicates there could be some truth to those family legends after all.
THE FAMILY of ROBERT GUTHRIE and MISS DARLINGTON
JAMES GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: c1703 (unproven)
Location: Scotland
Marriage: Unknown, presumably in Scotland
Occupation: Iron Manufacturing (Scotland), Unknown (Pennsylvania)
Death: c1778 (unproven)
Location: Pennsylvania, specifics unknown (unproven)
Burial: Pennsylvania, specifics unknown (unproven)
MISS BISSELL
Parents: Unknown
Born: c1707 (unproven)
Location: Unknown
Presumed Sons: James, William, Thomas, Robert
Presumed Daughters: None Known
Death: c1789 (unproven)
Location: Pennsylvania, specifics unknown (unproven)
Burial: Pennsylvania, specifics unknown (unproven)
CHILDREN:
JAMES GUTHRIE (Presumed Son)
c1731 – 1799PA
James Guthrie’s birth location is unknown. It might have been Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Pennsylvania depending upon the origin theory you believe. He settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania living in the vicinity of what is now Guthriesville, and had as his neighbors the family of Adam Guthrie, who is linked to the hypothetical family of Branch B. James Guthrie married Ann (MNU) around 1749. He was a tailor. They were parents to 2 daughters and 3 sons, and were members of the Forks of the Brandywine Presbyterian Church. James died 24 Oct 1799, and his widow Ann in 1807.
Children: 5
Sons: William Guthrie, John Guthrie, James Guthrie
Daughters: Ann Guthrie, Sarah Guthrie
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: Yes
WILLIAM GUTHRIE (Presumed Son)
c1735 – 1829PA
William’s estimated DOB is in 1735. Author LRG places him in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1761 in a return of houses, men, women, and children at Fort Pitt. Upper Town House No.43, William Guttery – 1 man, 1 woman, no children. In 1762, the population of Fort Pitt was reduced to a Garrison at the start of Pontiac’s War. Guthrie and (presumably) his wife left to settle in Westmoreland County, PA. William Guthrie served in the Revolutionary War enlisting as a private in the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Miles, in Capt. Joseph Erwin’s company. He served 1 year and 9 months. On 27 August 1776, 100 men from the battalion were taken prisoner, one of who was William. He was held prisoner for about 18 weeks and released about 1 Jan 1777. In March of that year he joined Capt James Carnahan’s company in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. He was discharged from the army at Valley Forge 1 Jan 1778, by expiration of the terms of enlistment. He reenlisted in March 1778 under Col. Broadhead. There is a William Guthrie listed as a Head of Household in the 1800 Westmoreland County, PA census: 1M and 1F 45 and over, 1M 26-44. Although it is possible that the younger man was a son of the couple, it appears that he was not alive at the time of William’s death in 1828. It is also likely he was a nephew instead. William is not found as a HOH for 1820. By that time he was an old man and probably living with relatives.
William Guthrie wrote his will on 9 Jan 1828 in Washington, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania leaving his estate to “brother James’ children and my sister’s children.” Executor Matthew Jack Jr of Beaver Run. He does not name his sister or any of the children.
There seems to be no definitive connections between William Guthrie of Westmoreland, PA and James Guthrie of Chester, PA. Although William mentioned a brother named James in his will, there is nothing in that will to specifically link him to this one. There is a James Guthrie who was living in Westmoreland County, PA at the time of William’s death: James Guthrie from GFG2A Branch G. So, it’s interesting that LRG chose to link William as a presumed son of Guthrie-Bissell. Probably because he had already created a hypothetical family for Branch B that already had a William Guthrie attached, which is where he had erroneously attached Branch G’s James.
One potential candidate for William’s sister is Margaret Guthrie 1716IRE-1787PA who married Abraham Fulton. They had a recommendation from their church in Articlave, Londonderry, N.IRE and married in America 25 Jun 1772 after a harrowing 17 weeks at sea, claiming the lived of 80 of its 300 passengers, the slowest recorded journey from Derry to Philadelphia. The Fulton family has connections to the Jack family. Matthew Jack was William’s executor. Margaret and Abraham lived in Westmoreland, PA. This would also make sense as a Branch G connection because of their origin in the Londonderry area.
Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A
Family Finder Participants: N/A
THOMAS GUTHRIE (Presumed Son)
1744PA-1837KY
Descendants claim Thomas is of Scot-Irish origin. He served in the Cumberland County Militia in 1777, and was living in Middleton Twp. in 1779. Thomas leased a Farm on Rocky Run in Fauquier County, Virginia 29 June 1782 containing 148 acres. They lived there for about 5 years prior to the family’s move to Woodford County, Kentucky.
Children: 10
Sons: Thomas Guthrie, John Guthrie, James Guthrie, William A Guthrie, Robert Guthrie, Caleb Guthrie
Daughters: Mary Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, Elizabeth Guthrie, Mildred Guthrie
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes [See Subgroup GFG2B]
Family Finder Participants: Yes
ROBERT GUTHRIE (Presumed Son)
1752PA-1815OH
Although Robert Guthrie has been placed within this hypothetical family as collected by author LRG, the Y-DNA test of our project member does not match GFG2A or any other Guthrie Family Group. With an isolated incident we might assume this was a one-time paternal event or adoption that did not affect all descendant lineages. However, the autosomal DNA results hint that everyone connects as far back as Robert’s generation, indicating that Robert Guthrie may be the first of his Guthrie line with this other YDNA.
Robert Guthrie lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and purchased land from William Caldwell in 1797. He married Elizabeth Jane Caldwell on 4 May 1778 in PA. This couple had a large family of 16 children. They moved to the Northwest Territory between 1797 and 1800 to what would become Harrison County, Ohio settling about eight miles south of Cadiz. Robert died there on 6 May 1815, soon followed by Eliza on 31 May 1815. They are buried in the Nottingham Church Cemetery. Robert left a will dated 2 May 1815.
Children: 16
Sons: William Guthrie, Nathaniel Guthrie, Robert Caldwell Guthrie, Samuel Guthrie, John Allen Guthrie, David Guthrie, James Caldwell Guthrie, Joseph Guthrie, Josiah Guthrie
Daughters: Elizabeth Guthrie, Margaret Guthrie, Jane Guthrie, Mary Guthrie, Agnes Guthrie, Sarah Guthrie, Martha Guthrie
Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes [See Subgroup GFG2C]
Family Finder Participants: Yes
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
c1703: SUPPOSED BIRTH of JAMES GUTHRIE (THE IMMIGRANT)
James Guthrie is supposedly one of the 3 brothers who lived in Edinburgh and worked in the iron manufacturing business. His estimated DOB is given as about 1703 in Scotland.
Be aware that there is no actual evidence of his existence. Documentation frequently linked to him appears to belong to his ‘son’ James Guthrie rather than the father.
c1707: SUPPOSED BIRTH of MISS BISSELL
Whether or not this generation included a Guthrie-Bissell marriage the genetic evidence seems to suggest that there is some kind of Bissell connection. Guthrie Family Group 7 also has claims to Bissell ancestry. There is also an Australian Bessell family with Guthrie ancestry in the project. What we don’t know is exactly when, where, and how GFG2A’s Bissell connection comes into play.
Laurence R. Guthrie links the elusive Miss Bissell to James Guthrie as the parents of this Guthrie branch, but no resource material has been found to support it.
c1730: ARBITRARY MARRIAGE DATE – JAMES GUTHRIE & MISS BISSELL
If they were a real couple, their marriage probably took place by about 1730. James Guthrie’s origin story suggests that he went directly from Scotland to Pennsylvania. They could have married in Scotland or in America. No record found. The Bissell family was concentrated in the Connecticut area, a location common to GFG2A Branch F.
c1731: BIRTH of SON – JAMES GUTHRIE (II)
The estimated DOB of son James Guthrie is 1731. As far as I know this is simply a rough guess based on the 1750 DOB of eldest known child Ann Guthrie. He could certainly have been older. James Guthrie settled in Chester County, PA in the area currently known as Guthriesville. He likely married there. His wife Ann’s maiden name is unknown. (Could he be the one married to a Bissell instead?) This couple had 5 known children. They lived near and attended the same church as the family of Adam Guthrie (GFG2A-Branch B).
c1735: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM GUTHRIE
This is another estimated DOB for a presumed son. He would have been an adult in 1761 when he was employed as an Indian Trader, so if he was at least 21 at the time his DOB would be about. 1740. An enumeration of his household in Washington, Westmoreland, PA in 1800 lists him as 45 and over putting his DOB no more recently than 1755.
1739: CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ELECTORAL DISTRICTS
The county was divided into 8 nearly equal electoral districts. Once district, French Creek, included East and West Caln, Nantmeal, Coventry, Vincent, Ewchlan and Pikeland.
c1744: BIRTH of SON – THOMAS GUTHRIE
Thomas Guthrie was reportedly born about 1744. The 1810 & 1820 census records list him as 45 and over, so before 1765.
1750: JAMES GUTHRIE (II) MOVED TO CHESTER COUNTY, PA
James Guthrie (the presumed son) settled in Chester County near current day Guthriesville. He likely married around the same time as his arrival as his eldest child was born in 1750.
1750: BIRTH of DAUGHTER ANN to JAMES GUTHRIE & ANN (MNU)
Ann was born on 9 April 1750 in Pennsylvania. She married Jacob Haines in Lancaster, PA on 22 Jun 1784. He was named in her father’s 1799 will. Jacob & Ann Haines received 50 pounds, and their son James Haines was to receive 30 pounds when he turned 21. Ann and her sister Sarah received the remainders of her mother’s estate after bequests were made to several grandchildren. Jacob died in 1825. Ann survived him by 10 years. She died on 31 Dec 1835 in Salisbury, Lancaster, PA.
1753: WEST CALN, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA TAX LISTS
LRG, p.216: “We have from the early unpublished tax lists of this county… ‘Jas. Guthrie, 1749-1763, West Caln Township.’ This James seems to have been a patriarch and the one who married a Miss Bussell.”
The first Chester County Tax List I found James Guthrie listed was dated 1753. The James Guthrie identified as the son was an adult by that date and could easily refer to him. As far as I can tell, there is no conclusive evidence of the man identified as the father/immigrant in Chester County, PA.
1755: BIRTH of DAUGHTER SARAH to JAMES GUTHRIE & ANN (MNU)
Sarah was born in 1755. She married James Entriken before 1775. Her father made a bequest of $1 to her husband James, but left Sarah a sum of 5 pounds per year for 20 years. This couple had 5 sons, and 1 daughter, Mary, to whom the annual sum was to pass in case of Sarah’s death. Sarah also received, along with her elder sister Ann, the remainder of her mother’s estate after bequests were made to some grandchildren. Sarah died in 1805 about 15 years after her husband. They lived in Chester County, PA.
1757: BROKEN CONTRACT – (JG II)
Indentured Servants and Apprentice Records, 1700-1855, Masters Index: Master’s Name: Gutthrey, James; Master’s Occupation: Tailor; Residence: West Caln; Reason for Petition/Complaint: Broken Contract; Folder 57
1760: BIRTH of SON JAMES to JAMES GUTHRIE & ANN (MNU)
James and Ann also had a son James of whom we know very little. He was married, but the identity of his wife is unknown. They had a daughter named Ann who was mentioned in the 1799 will of James Guthrie (II).
1763: BIRTH of SON WILLIAM to JAMES GUTHRIE & ANN (MNU)
William was born in 1763 in West Caln, Chester, PA. He was twice married to Battin women. Mary Battin was his first wife whom he married prior to 1786 in PA. She was mother to his son, James Battin Guthrie, and their 5 daughters. William was a blacksmith. They moved to the Brandywine area. Mary died in 1819, and William remarried sometime after that to Hannah Battin, the sister of his first wife. There were no children to this second marriage as the couple was already in their 50s.
1767: BIRTH of SON JOHN to JAMES GUTHRIE & ANN (MNU)
John was born in West Caln, Chester, PA in 1767. He married Esther Dunn in 1790. They lived in Brandywine and had 6 sons and 2 daughters.
1768: PROPERTY PURCHASE – WEST CALN, CHESTER, PA – JG (II)_
Dated: 1 Jan 1768. DB F2 184-187: James Steele, yeoman, of East Caln, to James Guthrey of West Caln.
1770: PROPERTY PURCHASED – EAST CALN, CHESTER, PA – JG (II)
Dated: 30 Oct 1770. DB F2 187-190: Assignment & Deed – James Batten & Lydia his wife, of Bradford Twp, to James Guthrey of West Caln. Property located in East Caln.
1770: RESIDENCE – (JG II)
East Caln, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Innkeeper. Acres: 150; Horses: 2; Cattle: 2; Sheep: 6; Servants: 0
1774: EAST CALN LAND OWNERS
Adam Guthry, James Guthry, Robert Darlington, Archibald Irwin, Samuel & John Culbertson, William Wilson, Charles Jack, James & Michael Miller and others listed.
1775: TAX RECORD – EAST CALN, CHESTER, PA – JG (II)
1775 – Guttry – James – East Caln – Landholder – 170 Acres – Tavern – Provincial (P-18) – Page 145
BEFORE 1778: JAMES GUTHRIE (II) MOVED TO CUMBERLAND, PA
1778: GUILFORD, CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA TAX LISTS
A James Guthrie is listed in Guilford, Cumberland, PA with 1 lot, 1 horse, and 1 cow.
Abt. 1778: DEATH of JAMES GUTHRIE (THE IMMIGRANT)
No proof of death has been found for this seemingly random date. It might infer that his death occurred after the 1778 tax records.
1787: COURT RECORDS – DEPOSITION OF JG (II)
May 1787, East Caln, Chester, Pennsylvania
Gutray vs. Gable – Folder 7 Document 5 – James Gutray of East Caln. Deposition.
1790: US CENSUS of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA – JG (II)
Brandywine, Chester, PA
JAMES GUTHRY HOUSEHOLD: 2M 16+, 1M<16, 2F.
1793: TAX RECORDS of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA – JG (II)
Includes: James Guthrie, Adam Guthrie Sr, Adam Guthrie Jr, William Guthrie, J. Guthrie.
1798: LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of JAMES GUTHRIE (II)
James Guthrie’s will was written on 11 Aug 1798.
Residence:Brandywine Date: 11 Aug 1798
Codicil: 13 Aug 1799.
Proved: 18 Nov 1799
Provides for wife Ann. To son-in-law James Antrican $1 and to his wife Sarah the value of £5 per year for 20 years, and in case of her death, the remainder to her daughter Mary Antrican. To son-in-law and daughter Jacob and Ann Haines £50, and to their son James £30 when 21. To granddaughter Ann Guthrie, daughter of James, £100 at 21. To granddaughter Mary Antrican £30 at 21. To son William the land he now lives on and 6 acres of woodland. To grandson James Guthrie, son of William, £30 at 21. To Hannah Cornwell, £10. To Presbyterian Congregation at Brandywine Manor £10 for use of the poor. To son John all the remainder of my land, £50, etc. To Robert Guthrie, son of John, £10, etc. Executors: Sons William and John, son-in-law Jacob Haines. Codicil gives to grandson James Guthrie, youngest son of John, £25 at 21. Letters to sons William and John.
1798: CODICIL to the LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of JAMES GUTHRIE (II)
A codicil was added on 13 Aug 1798.
Guthrie, James. Brandywine. Aug. 11,1798. Cocdicil: Aug. 13, 1799. Nov.18, 1799. Provides for wife Ann. To son-in-law James Antrican $1.00 & to hos wife Sarah the value of $5 per year for 20 years, & in case of her death the remainder to her daughter Mary Antrican. To son-inlaw & daughter, Jacob & Ann Haines $50 & to their son James $30 when 21. To grand-daughter Mary Antrican $30. at age 21. To son William the land he now lives on & 6 acres of woodland. To grandson James Guthrie, son of William, $30. at age 21. To Hannah Cornwell, $10. To the Presbyterian Congregation at Brandywine Manor $10. for use of the poor. To son John all the remainder of my land, Ect. To Robert Guthrie, son of John, @10, ect. Executors: sons William & John, son-in-law Jacob Haines. Codicil gives to grandson James Guthrie, youngest son of John $25 at age 21. Letters to sons William & John.
1799: RESIDENCE of BRANDYWINE, CHESTER COUNTY, PA – JG (II)
James Guthrie (II) was on a list of residents.
1799: DEATH of JAMES GUTHRIE (II)
Brandywine Manor, Chester County, Pennsylvania – 24 Oct 1799.
THEIR STORY
Picking apart a 300 year old immigration story is a tough task, especially when it comes with very little supporting evidence, and has a couple of hypothetical families thrown into the mix.
Were Robert (B), John (F), and James (I) three brothers who immigrated to America? Is there any truth to the story that claims they worked in the iron manufacturing business? Branch F has the only connection to ironmongery. John Guthrie set up a forge and furness in Connecticut. There is no evidence that lineages associated with Robert and James’ lines were associated with that trade.
Robert actually existed. There is a man of that name in Chester County, PA records. Whether or not he was a brother to John (F) and James (I) is up for debate. He is the head of one hypothetical family, but is he really the father to any of the sons assigned to him?
John Guthrie (F) existed although the bulk of what is known comes through the records of his son, John. This is also the man with the 3 unidentified sons. Is John perhaps father to some of these other GFG2 lineages whose origins remain unclear?
James (I) is the supposed head of another hypothetical family, but there is not one record attributed to him that does not make just as much sense when attributed to his ‘son’ James instead. The same goes to the supposed marriage to a Bissell woman. DNA suggests ties to Bissell ancestry, but that could stem from earlier generations. Does the Bissell marriage come in with this unproven father, or is it actually the maiden name of the son’s wife, Ann (MNU)?
Did James actually exist, or is he just a made up man? If he did not exist, who then is the father/s of his presumed sons James, William, Thomas, and Robert? James definitely belongs to GFG2A, but he lived in close proximity to Adam Guthrie of Branch B. William Guthrie mentions a brother James, but he lived in close proximity to James Guthrie of Westmoreland County (Branch G) and seemingly spent no time in Chester County, PA where James Guthrie of Branch I lived. During the war years, Thomas Guthrie was living in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania about the same time that James Guthrie was there, but Thomas moved to Virginia and then to Kentucky. Robert’s YDNA has already proved to be a mismatch, but that does not indicate he could not have belonged to the family. Still, records for Robert begin in Washington County, Pennsylvania before he and his family moved to Ohio.
Leaving the 3 brothers themselves out of the equation, the children attributed to these men are:
Adam Guthrie c1725-bef.1798 – Chester County, PA (Branch B)
William Guthrie c1726-1778 – Cumberland, PA > SC (Branch B)
John Guthrie c1734PA-Unk – Lancaster, Cumberland, Bedford, PA (Branch B)
James Guthrie c1720-p1801 Cumberland & Westmoreland, PA (Branch G)
John Guthrie 1700-1756 – Connecticut (Branch F)
3 Unidentified
James Guthrie c1731-1799 m. Ann (MNU) – Chester County, PA (Branch I)
William Guthrie c1735-1829 – Westmoreland County, PA (Branch I)
Thomas Guthrie 1744-1837 – Cumberland County, PA > VA > OH (Branch I)
Robert Guthrie 1752-1815 – Washington County, PA > OH (Branch I)
Scramble the Pennsylvania folks by location…
CHESTER COUNTY, PA:
Adam Guthrie c1725-bef.1798 – Chester County, PA (Branch B)
James Guthrie c1731-1799 m. Ann (MNU) – Chester County, PA (Branch I)
The Chester County, PA could still potentially be connected to Robert Guthrie of Chester County since he was a real man with a tax record.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA:
William Guthrie c1726-1778 – Cumberland, PA > SC (Branch B)
John Guthrie c1734PA-Unk – Lancaster, Cumberland, Bedford, PA (Branch B)
Thomas Guthrie 1744-1837 – Cumberland County, PA > VA > OH (Branch I)
Note that Lancaster & Cumberland were residences of Branch E’s Robert Guthrie who came to America in the 1740s.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA:
James Guthrie c1720-p1801 Cumberland & Westmoreland, PA (Branch G)
William Guthrie c1735-1829 – Westmoreland County, PA (Branch I)
Note that this James Guthrie was originally assigned by LRG to the Branch B hypothetical family, but his YDNA mutations match those of Branch G, which includes the lineage of John Guthrie 1725-1797 (Branch G) of Westmoreland. The Branch G line originated in Londonderry, N.IRE.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA:
Robert Guthrie 1752-1815 – Washington County, PA > OH (Branch I)
Descendants of Branch E’s Robert Guthrie & Bridget Dougherty were also living in Washington County, PA during the 1790s and 1800s. Although he has the right name for that branch of the family, the YDNA is a mismatch to any GFG.
MISTAKEN IDENTITIES:
I have some doubts that James Guthrie was a real person and not just an amalgamation of theoretical data and documents that actually belong to his ‘son’ James Guthrie.
The mysterious ‘Miss Bissell’ may or may not have been associated with this family line. If she did, was she the wife of the man who was identified as the progenitor of this Guthrie branch, or was Bissell actually the maiden name of Ann, who married James Guthrie the ‘son’?
THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT
Guthrie Family Group: GFG2A
Group Designation: Branch I – Cluster 1 (The Three Brothers Theory)
Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Z30233
YDNA Matches: 1
Kit 253355
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > Jacob Guthrie/Elizabeth Dillard > Amos G Guthrie/Mary E Dougherty > Howard Guthrie/Beulah Pearl Hess (GGP) +more
Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits: 16
Kit 121908
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > Sarah Guthrie/James Entricken > John Entriken/Lettice McClelland > Samuel Entriken/Mary Bunn > George Entriken/Emmeline Jung/Young > George K Entriken/Catherine M Becker (GGP)
Kit 196710
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > Robert Guthrie/Sarah Welch > Eliza Jane Guthrie/Benjamin Stackhouse > Emaline Jane Stackhouse/Hiram F Hill (GGP)
Kit 229652
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > William Guthrie/Mary Battin > James Battin Guthrie/Isabella McMullen > Sarah Ann Guthrie/Jacob Glass > John Wesley Glass/Emma A Freedman > Charles Glass/Mary Matilda Redfern > Cora Douglas Glass/David Vird McFarland Sr (GGP)
Kit 237176
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > John Dunn Guthrie/Thamsina Kerlin > Esther Emma Guthrie/Benjamin F Evans (GGP)
Kit 243531
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > Robert Guthrie/Sarah Jane Long > Mary Elizabeth Guthrie/Samuel Landrum > Clarence Underwood Landrum/Lyda Belle Scott (GGP)
Kit 286576
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > Robert Guthrie/Sarah Jane Long > Mary Elizabeth Guthrie/Samuel Landrum > Clarence Underwood Landrum/Lyda Belle Scott (GGP)
Kit 319313
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > Caleb Guthrie/Elizabeth Betsy Smith > Mary Guthrie/George Caplinger Price > Mildred Anna Price/William E VanArsdale > Maud VanArsdale/James B Calloway > John Lynnwood Callaway Sr/Martha Frances Emerick (GGP)
Kit 338179
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > James Guthrie/Elizabeth Gibbs > Isaac Newton Guthrie/Mary Beauchamp > James William Guthrie/Mary E Johnson > Jennie E Guthrie/John Clarke McClinton (GGP)
Kit 362912
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > Robert Guthrie/Sarah Welch > Eliza Jane Guthrie/Benjamin Stackhouse > Emaline Jane Stackhouse/Hiram F Hill (GGP)
Kit B48440
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > Robert Guthrie/Sarah Welch > George Albert Guthrie/Amy Jane Wickersham > Lillian Arwilda Guthrie/Isaac Allen Payton (GGP)
Kit B9950 Justin L Smith
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > William A Guthrie/Mary L Yates > Nancy Guthrie/Joseph J Kelly > Verlinda Kelley/Alexander Carey > Alexander Babcock Carey/Daisy Payne Clark > Hazel D Carey/William J Smith (GGP) > Paul Alexander Smith/Beulah Loraine Henson > Robert William Smith/Barbara Ann Swafford (P)
Kit B76265
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > Elizabeth Guthrie/James Lawrence Gibbs (4xGGP) > No Further Lineage Provided
Kit B89344
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > Caleb Guthrie/Elizabeth Betsy Smith > Coleman Guthrie/Mary J Crawford > George C Guthrie/Imogene Foster (GGP)
Kit B252532
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > Thomas Guthrie/Mildred Howell > William Guthrie/Mary Yeates > Nancy Guthrie/Joseph Kelly (4xGGP)
Kit B237412
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > John Guthrie/Esther Dunn > Jacob Guthrie/Elizabeth Diller > George William Guthrie/Mahala S Hartman (GGP)
Kit B678279
James Guthrie/Miss Bissell > James Guthrie/Ann MNU > Sarah Guthrie/James Entriken > Mary Entriken/Russell Batten > Mary Russell Batten/Thomas Mervine > William Mervine/Elizabeth Shaw King > Charles King Mervine Sr/Maude Susanna Fite > Charles King Mervine Jr/Emma Ruth High (GGP)
Findings:
The genetic clues for the lineages identified as being descendants of James Guthrie and Miss Bissell are just as jumbled up as the hypothetical nature of the family itself.
Just as with Branch B, author LRG has created a family from several Guthrie lines supposedly headed by the James Guthrie who was one of the three brothers from Scotland in the iron manufacturing business. His wife is supposed to be a woman of the Bissell surname. His sons are supposed to be James Guthrie (m. Ann____), William Guthrie (Unmarried), Thomas Guthrie (m. Mildred Howell), and Robert Guthrie (m. Eliza Jane Caldwell).
Our YDNA participant representing James Guthrie/Ann____ matches GFG2A just as expected.
There is no Y-DNA to test for son William because he died without heirs.
Thomas Guthrie has 2 descendants in the YDNA project who do not match any of the Guthrie Family Groups (See Subgroup GFG2B), but they are close cousins whose genetic mismatch likely results from a causal event in the 1800s. Their YDNA is probably not representative of the whole line of Guthrie-Howell descendants. The most common surname match is Vaughan, and there happens to be a Vaughan household living next to their direct ancestor’s household during the 1810 census.
Family Finder results og Guthrie-Howell descendants skew toward GFG2A results, so Thomas’ descendants probably do belong to GFG2A, but we have yet to conclusively verify it because we need another direct paternal line descendant (a male Guthrie) to provide some Y-DNA.
Robert Guthrie’s line is another interesting genetic situation. Our Y-DNA participant for this line is also a genetic mismatch to any of the Guthrie Family Groups. (See Subgroup GFG2C.) We do not have a 2nd YDNA test from the Guthrie-Caldwell line to verify the result at this time. However, we have a number of people with Family Finder/Autosomal DNA tests who all appear to match each other, and also match the FF test of our YDNA participant. This suggests that the genetic line (whatever its origins) goes all the way back to Robert’s generation at minimum. There is no single surname that stands out as a possible source of the original paternal YDNA.
Guthrie Genealogy 