Joseph Guthrie 1825IRE-1909TN & Julia McCarthy
of Ireland, Ohio, and Tennessee

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of Joseph Guthrie & Julia McCarthy
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG2A BRANCH J

Despite being the most recently-born branch progenitor compared to all others in our group, Joseph Guthrie’s origins are something of a mystery. 

According to the census records, his father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland, so the time this branch of the family spent in Ireland is very short. There is also no guarantee that Joseph’s father came to the same area of Ireland/Northern Ireland where Guthries with the same Group 2 ancestry were living. Joseph’s parents were most likely married in Ireland/Northern Ireland.

We know that Joseph was born in Ireland in 1825. 

Irish records for the timeframe of 1790-1847 seem to be fairly minimal. We should look for all Guthrie marriage records for the years 1790-1825 to see if any location information can be narrowed down in our search for Joseph’s birth location.

Census records reveal that Joseph Guthrie immigrated to America from Ireland in 1847. This is a key period of immigration due to the Irish Potato Famine. 

THE FAMILY of JOSEPH GUTHRIE & JULIA MCCARTHY

JOSEPH GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: 2 May 1825
Location: Ireland (Exact location unknown)
Marriage: Julia McCarthy on 19 Apr 1868 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
Occupation: Postmaster & Farmer
Military Service: Civil War – Private 10th Ohio Infantry
Death: 26 August 1909
Location: Meigs County, Tennessee, USA
Burial: Ragland-Baldwin Cemetery (aka Ten Mile Creek Cemetery)

JULIA J MCCARTHY
Parents: James McCarthy & Mary (MNU)
Born: September 1841
Location: County Cork, Ireland
Sons: James McCarthy Guthrie, Timothy Basselman Guthrie, John Francis Guthrie
Daughters: None
Death: 13 March 1924
Location: Sweetwater, Monroe, Tennessee, USA
Burial: West View Cemetery in Sweetwater, Monroe, Tennessee, USA

CHILDREN:

JAMES MCCARTHY GUTHRIE
1869TN – 1899TN

James was born on 13 March 1869 in Tennessee. He was listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Meigs County, TN with his family. James married Margaret ‘Maggie’ C Johnson in Meigs County on 5 February 1892. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. He died at the age of 30 on 18 Jul 1899 and is buried at the Ragland-Baldwin Cemetery (aka Ten Mile cemetery).

Children: 5
Sons: William McCarthy, James Barton, Farris Lacey
Daughters: Julia Elizabeth, Mattie T

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

TIMOTHY BASSELMAN GUTHRIE
1870TN – 1956TN

Timothy was born on 17 July 1870 in Meigs County, TN. He was listed in the 1880 census of Meigs with his family, and the 1900 census of Monroe, TN as a border living in the Fred C Smith household. He was a traveling salesman at the time. On 9 Sep 1903, Timothy married Sarah Lavinia Barrett. They made their home in Sweetwater, Monroe, Tennessee where they raised a son and two daughters. Timothy died there 19 Oct 1956 at the age of 86. He is buried in the West View Cemetery. His widow Sallie outlived him by five years. She died 5 Oct 1961 and is also buried at the same cemetery.

Children: 3
Sons: Timothy Basselman
Daughters: Florence Julia, Estelle

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: Yes

JOHN FRANCIS GUTHRIE
1873TN – 1953TN

John was the youngest of three brothers. He was born on 3 January 1873. He was listed with his family in Meigs County during the 1880 census. He married Julia Alberta ‘Berta’ Baldwin on 25 August 1908. They were parents to 2 sons and 2 daughters. Berta died 13 May 1950 at the age of 69. She is buried in Meigs County, TN. John died 1 Feb 1953 at the age of 80. Although his death location is listed as Ten Mile, Meigs, TN, he was buried in Buttram Cemetery in Dayton, Rhea, TN.

Children: 4
Sons: Joseph Gideon, Thomas Franklin
Daughters: Julia Sue, Jane Baldwin

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1825: BIRTH of JOSEPH GUTHRIE

Joseph’s DOB is listed on his tombstone: 2 May 1825. Census records list his birthplace as Ireland and reveal his father’s birthplace as Scotland, and his mother’s as Ireland. 

1841: BIRTH of JULIA J McCARTHY

Julia’s approximate DOB, September of 1841, and her parents’ identities, are recorded on her Death Certificate as reported by her son T.B. Guthrie. Descendants indicate that her birth location was County Cork, Ireland. It is likely that her family were Jesuits since her marriage took place at St Xavier Church, a parish run by the Society of Jesus.

The McCarthy surname originated in Ireland. 60% of people with that surname in Ireland still live in County Cork where the family was very powerful in the middle ages. [SOURCE] 

1845: THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE 

[Source: The Great Hunger] “In August, the Irish potato crop was attacked by a previously unknown fungus, Phytophthora infestans. It was first noticed in counties Dublin and Fermanagh.  The disease blackened the potato leaves and caused the tubers in the ground to putrefy. In this year, approximately 40 per cent of the crop was infected.”  

1846: THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE

[Source: The Great Hunger] “The blight returned to Ireland, but it appeared earlier in the harvest season and was far more destructive than in the previous year. As Ireland’s potato crop was consumed by blight, the nation’s peasants, who relied on the potato as their primary food source, starved. The famine took as many as one million lives from hunger and disease and caused mass emigration.”

1847: THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE – BLACK ’47 

[Source: The Summer of Black ’47] By 1847, the government had finally started putting some measures into place. Too little, too late. “In the summer of 1847, the number of deaths from starvation decreased, but the number of deaths from disease increased. It was common for doctors and the relief workers themselves to die from disease. This disease was to spread and, in the end, disease killed far more people during the Famine than direct starvation did.” 

[See Also: Timeline of the Irish Famine] 

1847: EMIGRATION of JOSEPH GUTHRIE from IRELAND to AMERICA

The 1900 census indicates that Joseph Guthrie immigrated to the U.S.A in 1847, which is a key year during the Irish Potato Famine. 

“The need for an immigration depot (at Ellis Island) was first realized in 1847 when a severe potato famine in Ireland sent thousands of starving immigrants streaming into New England and New York. As immigration to the United States increased, state and federal governments sought a way to regulate the flow. Along with their bundled possessions newcomers to America brought skilled hands and able bodies. Some saw this as a boon to the work force and economy of the nation. Others saw immigrants as merely hungry mouths and charity cases which would drain the U. S. Treasury.” [SOURCE: Ellis Island] 

“Many of these people came to Ohio as a direct result of the potato famine in Ireland during the 1840s. Unable to pay mortgages for their land due to the poor potato crop, many of these people hoped to come to the United States to start their lives again. Many arrived with nothing more than a few pieces of clothing. While most of the Irish immigrants hoped to become farmers, without any money, they took whatever jobs they could receive.” [SOURCE: Irish Ohioans]  

1850: RESIDENCE UNKNOWN

Although by 1850 Joseph Guthrie had been living in America for almost 3 years his state of residence is unknown. It seems quite likely that during this period he remained migrant searching for whatever work he might find. 

1851: EMIGRATION of the McCARTHY FAMILY from IRELAND to AMERICA

The 1920 census lists Julia’s immigration year as 1851. James & Mary McCarthy, her parents, were both born in Ireland. Julia would have been 9-10 at the time she came to America, so it seems likely that she made the journey with her parents.

The name James McCarthy is not exactly uncommon. Knowing the year of passage helps narrow the search criteria, but still leaves numerous possible entries when searching Immigration Records at Ancestry.com.

1860: RESIDENCE UNKNOWN

The only man by the name Joseph Guthrie (of any spelling variant) born 1820-1830 in Ireland is found in Wilmington Ward 4, New Castle, Delaware. He is living with the William & Margaret Forrest family and working as a laborer. 

BEFORE/DURING 1861: EMIGRATION to CINCINNATI, HAMILTON, OHIO, USA

Sometime between Joseph Guthrie’s 1847 immigration and the start of the Civil War, he emigrated to Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. 

1861: MILITARY ENLISTMENT (CIVIL WAR)

Enumerated for the 11th Federal Census (1890) in a Special Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, Etc., Joseph Guthrie is listed on Page 1, Supervisor District 2, Enumeration District 93, of the 7th Civil District, Meigs County, Tennessee, in June 1890.

Line#9: From Schedule #1- Home No. 69, Family No. 74; Guthrie, Joseph, Rank: Private; Company: C; Name of Regiment: 10 Ohio Inf; Date of Enlistment: 17 June 1861; Date of Discharge: 17 June 1864; Length of Service: 3 Yrs, 0 Mos., 0 Days, Post Office Address: Ten Mile Stand, Tenn; Disability Incurred: Shot in Right Hip; Remarks: Suffering from Rheumatism and Varicose Veins.

The site ‘Cincinnati Civil War Round Table‘ provides insight into the 10th Ohio Infantry, including some details on Company C:

“Information having been received that Floyd was intrenching himself at Carnifex Ferry, the column moved to attack him, and, after four days’ marching, reached the Gauley River. Company C deployed as skirmishers, and first struck the enemy, and drove them back on their camp, which was carried by the bayonet, and everything in it captured, including a fine drove of cattle.” 

1862: CINCINNATI DURING the CIVIL WAR

1864: MILITARY DISCHARGE (CIVIL WAR)

Joseph Guthrie was discharged from the US Army on 17 June 1864 after completing 3 years of volunteer service. The veteran’s schedule created for the 1890 census indicates that Joseph had been shot in the right hip during the war. Presumably, he was able to continue until the end of his enlistment period, but retained an invalid status, which is reflected on Veterans Payment Cards. 

1864-1866: MOVED to MEIGS COUNTY, TENNESSEE, USA

The original Meigs County Deed Books do not survive before 1879, a courthouse fire on the night of 2 April 1902 being the likely cause. So it may be necessary to look at other sources to determine exactly when and where Joseph Guthrie first settled within Meigs County, Tennessee. By 1866, he was living in Ten Mile Stand.

1866: APPOINTED POSTMASTER of TEN MILE STAND

Joseph Guthrie was appointed as a U.S. Postmaster at Ten Mile Stand in Meigs County, Tennessee on 11 June 1866. This service may have continued through 1878. This site on the History of Meigs County, Tennessee includes some great photos. One is of the Ten Mile Stand Post Office, although it does not indicate when it was built. This site on the US Congress House Documents describes a bidding process for the assignment of Postal Carriers. In this example, B.H. McCallon was accepted for the 15-mile Sweetwater to Ten Mile Stand route dated 8 March 1876 for $130 per annum. Bidders had offered to work for $130-$375 rates of pay. Bids for the same job for the Sweetwater to Hiawasee College route, which was only 11 miles, ranged from $313-$639, so it appears that the job might pay a very different salary depending upon the exact location and the level of bidding.

1868: MARRIAGE of JOSEPH GUTHRIE & JULIA J McCARTHY

Although Joseph Guthrie had been living in Meigs County, TN for at least 2 years, his marriage to Julia McCarthy took place back in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH. They married at St Xavier Church on 19 April 1868. He was 42 years old and Julia was 26. 

1869: BIRTH of SON, JAMES McCARTHY GUTHRIE

The first of three sons, James McCarthy Guthrie was born on 13 March 1869 in Tennessee. He was enumerated with his parents in District 7 of Meigs County, TN during the 1870 and 1880 censuses. James’ marriage to Margaret ‘Maggie’ Johnson took place in that county on 5 February 1892. The majority of their 5 children died young. Their youngest son, Farris Lacey Guthrie, was a posthumous child born about 3 months after his father’s death on 18 July 1899. James is buried in the Ragland-Baldwin Cemetery (aka Ten Mile Cemetery). There are no descendants from this line in the DNA project. 

1870: CENSUS of DISTRICT 7, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: Jo Guthrie 43 MW ret dry goods merchant 1500 1400 Ireland; Julia Guthrie 29 FW housekeeping Ireland; James Guthrie 1 MW TN; Jane Ellis 14 FW TN; Charlotte Socke17 FW TN. 

1870: BIRTH of SON, TIMOTHY BASSELMAN GUTHRIE

Son Timothy Basselman Guthrie was named for a family friend. He was born on 17 July 1870 in Meigs County, Tennessee and was enumerated with his parents in the 1880 census. By 1900, he had moved to Monroe County, Tennessee where he was listed as one of 4 boarders living in the household of Fred Smith. He was working as a traveling salesman at the time. Sarah ‘Sallie’ Lavenia Barnett became his wife on 9 September 1903. The marriage took place in Bradley, TN. They made their home in Sweetwater, Monroe, TN where they were enumerated in 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. Tim and Sallie had 2 daughters and 1 son. Tim was a retail merchant specializing in hardware. Timothy B Guthrie is the direct ancestor of DNA project participant Timothy Barrett Guthrie III. 

1873: BIRTH of SON, JOHN FRANCIS GUTHRIE 

Joseph & Julia’s youngest son, John Francis Guthrie, was born on 3 January 1873 in Meigs County, Tennessee. He was enumerated with the family in the District 7 census for 1880. I have yet to locate him in the 1900 census. On 25 August 1908 John married Jalia Alberta ‘Berta’ Baldwin. They were parents to 2 daughters and 2 sons. Berta died on 13 May 1950 in Meigs County, TN. She is buried at the Ragland-Baldwin (aka Ten Mile) Cemetery. John died on 1 Feb 1953 having been back in Ten Mile for a period of 6 months. He is buried in Buttrams Cemetery in Rhea County, TN. This line of the family is not currently represented in the DNA project.

1876 Tennessee State Gazetteer and Business Directory

1880: CENSUS of DISTRICT 7, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: Joseph Guthrie 54 Farmer IRE/SCT/IRE; Julia 38 wife keeping house dyspepsia IREx3; James 10 son @ school TN; Timothy B 9 son @ school TN; John F 7 son TN. 

1883: LIST of PENSIONERS

Joseph Guthrie is on the list of pensioners for Meigs County, TN on the roll on 1 Jan 1883. See Military Documents below. [SOURCE]

Name: Guthrie, Joseph; Post Office Address: Ten Mile Stand; Cause for which pensioned: g.s.w.r. hip; Monthly Rate: $6.00; Date of Original Allowance: Feb 1882 

1889: RE-APPOINTED POSTMASTER of TEN MILE STAND

Joseph Guthrie was again appointed as the Postmaster for Ten Mile Stand on 17 September 1889. Two others had held that post in the interim years since his last tenure, but Joseph maintained the role for only a few months through the winter of ’89-’90. Bernhard Gilbert was appointed as postmaster on 12 March 1890.

1890: RESIDENCE in ED 93, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

1891: REGISTERED MALE VOTER, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

1899: DEATH of SON, JAMES McCARTHY GUTHRIE

James died at only 30 years of age on 18 July 1899. He is buried in the Ragland-Baldwin (aka Ten Mile) Cemetery. 

1900: CENSUS of CIVIL DISTRICT 7, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: Joseph Guthrie head, may 1825, 78, mx33, IRE/SCT/IRE, imm1847x53yrs, farmer; Julia Guthrie wife Sept 1846, 53, mx33 3ch 2liv, IREx3; Alice Lemons, servant, Sep 1881, 18, TNx3; Robert Taylor boarder TNx3. 

1909: DEATH of JOSEPH GUTHRIE

Joseph Guthrie passed away on 26 August 1909 and is buried at the Ragland-Baldwin (aka Ten Mile) Cemetery. 

1910: CENSUS of CIVIL DISTRICT 4, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD: Julia Guthrie 68 widowed 3ch 2iv IREx3; John Guthrie son 37 mx1 1yr home farm; Bertie Guthrie daughter-in-law 28 mx1 1yr 0ch TNx3. 

1920: CENSUS of CIVIL DISTRICT 4, MEIGS, TENNESSEE, USA

GUTHRIE HOUSEHOLD @ Ten Mile, Sweetwater Road: John Guthrie 47 head TN farmer; Bertie 39 wife TN; Julia 11 dau TN; Jane 9 dau TN; Gid 7 son TN; Thom 5 son TN; Julia Guthrie 78 mother widowed immigrated 1851 Irelandx3. 

1924: DEATH of WIFE, JULIA J McCARTHY GUTHRIE 

Julia died on 13 March 1924 in Sweetwater, Monroe, Tennessee. See her Death Certificate below. She is buried at the West View Cemtery. 

THEIR STORY

There is no current published family history or biographical sketch yet discovered that reveals the migration details of this Guthrie family from Scotland to Ireland to America. 

What can be inferred from the existing records is that Joseph Guthrie’s father emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, married in Ireland, and started his family there. The exact location in Ireland is unknown. Several of the other Group2 branches point to Londonderry as their Northern Irish residence. However, there is no guarantee that this branch moved to the same location as their more distant cousins.

Although we cannot know exactly why Joseph Guthrie, at age 22, chose to leave Ireland for America in 1847, we do know that the period between 1845-1849 was the Great Potato Famine. in fact, 1847 was the peak year for mortality during the Irish Potato Famine. {Article by James H Johnson: ‘The Population of Londonderry During the Great Irish Famine‘} 

“Over one million went to the U.S., landing mostly in New York City,” indicates a Historical Summary of Ireland site. “The potato crop of 1846 was a near complete failure. The Whigs refused further corn shipments, prices returned to higher levels, and the poor began to starve. Disease struck those who desperately ate raw seafood. Workhouses swelled and public works became a national hardship — the starving forced to work on un-needed roads and fences, outdoors in the horrible winter of 1846/47. Angering the impoverished most was that grain exports which, although half of their normal size, continued to leave Ireland, with no attempt by the British government to use them to feed Ireland. Food was still available at market, though at three times last year’s prices. In the spring of 1847, public works, already falling below starvation wages, were stopped altogether. With poor streaming into the remaining filthy and disease ridden workhouses, so began the year called Black ’47.” 

It is easy to see why Joseph Guthrie left Ireland for America in 1847. Whether he came alone or with family members is unknown at this time. New York seems to be the most likely Port of Entry to the U.S., but it is not the only one. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Joseph Guthrie was living in or near Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH where he joined hundreds of other young men by enlisting in military service. He joined the Company C of the 10th Ohio Infantry. They were stationed for a time at Camp Dennison, depicted below in an etching by Frank Leslie, and published that year in Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly.

After the war, Joseph Guthrie moved to Ten Mile Stand in Meigs County, Tennessee. He seems to have returned to Cincinnati where he married Julia McCarthy, and they kept their home at Ten Mile Stand.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG2A
Group Designation: Branch J – (Cluster 4)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Z30233

YDNA Matches:  1

Kit 296397 (+FF)
Joseph Guthrie/Julia McCarthy > Timothy Basselman Guthrie/Sarah Lavenia Barrett (GP)

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:
None

Findings:
Joseph Guthrie had 3 sons: James McCarthy, Timothy Basselman, John Francis

Only Timothy Basselman Guthrie’s line is represented at this time.

The participant is a genetic match for GFG2A.

Our participant tested at the Y111 marker level. He is a 110/111 match with the group’s Mode DNA (most common result at any given marker). A single mutation at marker DYS513 is found only with two of the four descendants of Branch D’s John Guthery & Lydia Baldwin line from PA/VA/OH. Since it only occurred in half of that line’s participant, it might not be a significant finding and simply reflect random and/or recent changes in that genetic marker. 

Mode DNA 111/111 markers is found in Branches B and F at this time. These are both lineages associated with the Three Brothers Origin Story.