Someone else's Rev. War Records have been attributed to William Guthrie, son of John Guthrie of Oxford Twp., who was married to Esther McClelland and Franky Haley Young.
This has led to incorrect documentation of William Guthrie's birth date, death date, and death location. Also incorrect connections via DAR and SAR.
A study of the Fold3 documents for William Guthrey of Henry County, KY (1736 - 10 March 1823) includes all of the patriot soldier data found listed in 'American Guthrie and Allied Families'. Attestations show that his wife died before 1820, that he had 1 son and two daughters. He had not seen the son in 5 years, but one of his daughters had 9 children and a poor husband.
The 1810 census of Henry County, KY shows one Guthrie household: Wm Guthrie - 1M and 1F 45 and over.
There are none for 1820, so he may have been living in his daughter's household after his wife's death.
Property Records for Henry County, Kentucky show that William Guthrie's wife was named Catherine. On 15 Nov 1815, William Guthrie of Henry County, KY purchased 136 acres on Floyd's Fork from Baronet and Sally Chastain. The next year, on 18 Nov 1816, William Guthrie of Henry County Kentucky and Catharine his wife of the state of Indiana and County of Clark.
The year prior to William Guthrie's death in Henry County, KY, another man of the same name, William Guthrie and his brother Robert Guthrie, moved from Shelby County, KY to Henry County. These were sons of Thomas Guthrie and Mildred Howell. This William was born 1784 and his wife was Mary "Polly" Yeates. So, the Guthrie families in the 1830 census and beyond belong to a different branch or group.
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The William Guthrie who was a son of John and Ann Guthrie was most likely born bet. 1840-1840. Note that the other William's DOB in 1836 would make this William Guthrie 9 years older than his next sibling. Since William married Esther McClelland in 1761, he was probably at least 18-21, which would make his estimated range. It also keeps his position as eldest child, and he would be under 5 years distance from the next child. Since Ann went on to have 9 more children, a huge gap would be unexpected without another reason.
The story we were given in American Guthrie and Allied Families, p160 is that William Guthrie had settled in part of "York, PA, which was called the Monaghan Settlement, now embraced in northwestern Adams County, PA." The AGAF appendix, p.693, #125 "William Guttery, taxable in Hamilton's Bank township, York. PA, Dec. 1, 1767, for tax of 1768." (The Scots Irish in America, Vol 8, p370)
Author Laurence R Guthrie most likely connected this family's residence in York, PA with the fact that William Guthrie of Henry County, KY stated that he enlisted in York, PA. Understandably, it sounds like an easy assumption.
The story continues by revealing that in early 1777, William Guthrie moved his family to Augusta County, Virginia settling on land 3 miles west of Waynesboro. Yet he turned around, went back to York, Pennsylvania where he enlisted. William Guthrie was certainly the right age to be a soldier in the American Revolution, but there were several men of the same name serving in Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is possible that some of their data has been combined.
William Guthrie and Esther McClelland were parents to 7 children: John, Nancy, Ann, Daniel, William, Esther, and Polly.
His wife died in 1794 and afterward William Guthrie sold his home to one of his sons and moved back to York, Pennsylvania. He ended up in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
On 19 Jan 1796 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, William Gutridge and Franky Young were married by Rev John Coonts , bondsman Benjamin James. (Shenandoah County, Virginia Marriages) LRG, p.694 [Note: Haley is her maiden name. Multiple marriages.]
They had one son, Haley Guthrie, (died 1831/2 in Page County, VA), whose name has been mangled by official records as Alie and Elie, and has ended up in many trees as Paige Alexander Eli Guthrie or some variation.
On 13 Mar 1798 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
Wm Guthrie is a witness to a transaction between John Moore Jr & Rebecca, his wife, of Shenandoah, and Thomas Jones, shoemaker of same, Land near/at foot of Carrols Mountain on some branches of Smiths Creek.
Revocation of Power of Attorney
23 Jan 1800 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
William Guthrie of Shenandoah revokes power of attorney given March 29 1795 to Isaiah Roberts to transact his business in VA; william is late of York Co., PA, and has now returned to VA. (Chalkey's Abstracts of Augusta Co VA Vol III p217) LRG p694.
William Guthrie of Shenandoah County, Virginia died toward the end of 1803 or early 1804.
Estate Sale
9 Nov 1804 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
An account of the sale of William Guthery decd the 9th day of November 1804. Buyers include Widow Guthery, Alexander Wright, Alexander, Benjamin & John Wright, Martin Groves, Daniel & Isaac Strickler, John Payton, John Roads, Joseph Woods & others. (WB-F)
Estate Inventory and Appraisment
9 Dec 1805 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
At a court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday 9th day of December 1805 this inventory and appraisement of the Estate of William Guthrie decd was returned and ordered to be recorded. (Will Book F)
Probate
Dec 1805 • Shenandoah, Virginia, USA
Estate Account
Oct 1806 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
The estate of William Guthrie decd in account with Danl Strickler admir.
The probate/estate documents can be seen in Shenandoah VA Will Book F, pp389-392 and Will Book G pp.428-431.
William Guthrie's wife Franky lived until about 1835. She died in Page County, Virginia.
Estate Sale
7 Apr 1835 • Page County, Virginia, USA
A list of property sold at the sale of FRANCES GUTHERY deceased on the 7th day of April 1835.
Lawsuit
15 Sep 1837 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
A lawsuit was brought by John B. Young and others. Statements include: "Frankie Guthrie died in Jun of last"; "Frances Young, widow of Edwin, took her dower in slaves, then she married William Guthrie."
Lawsuit (Cont.)
15 Sep 1837 • Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA
Children of Edwin Young listed: John (deceased), Edwin Jr., William, Daniel, Cynthia Burner "Sintha", Elizabeth Johnson, Frances Garing, Nancy Allen
When you review all of the records it seems clear that William Guthrie (wives Esther McClelland, Franky Haley Young) of Shenandoah VA and William Guthrie (wife Catherine MNU) of Henry KY were two different individuals.
This William Guthrie was born about 1840-1843 in Chester County, PA and died bet. 1803-1804 in Shenandoah County, VA. His identified family and descendants remain the same.
We obviously have some work to do to discover his real military service history.
