Hey there, it's Ann Guthrie from the Guthrie DNA Project and Guthrie Genealogy: Guthrie Ancestry and Genetic Genealogy site.
Over the past week I have been at Geni to fix some ancestor identity issues that were merged into my line, and have also noticed similar issues with many colonial Guthrie families. Being able to share and merge trees through a collaborative system is potentially a very good thing, but it can also easily lead to merges that are based only on user-submitted trees. If those trees have legitimate, docuemted ties to one another a merge may be appropriate, but there are many cases it is not. So, I have been untangling errors and offering up some research and DNA-based findings to those of you with some obvious tree errors.
I cannot tell you the identity William Guthrie who died in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, prior to his arrival in America, but I can tell you that he is definitely not Rev. William Guthrie who married Agnes Campbell.
The dates you have listed for "Reverence William C. Guthrie" born c1710 Antrim, Northern Ireland and died Jan 1775 MCH, NCC, DE do belong to the correct ancestor. The photo that is attached to your tree is that of Rev. William Guthrie 1620-1665 who married Agnes Campbell. He is otherwise commonly known as Rev William Guthrie, Minister of Fenwick. He lived and died in Scotland. His story is well document. Yes, his wife was Agnes Campbell. They had a large family, but all of their sons are known to have died young without heirs. Only 2 female lines survived and are documented. This man was the son of James Guthrie, Laird of Pitforthie, and his wife Janet Lyon of Easter Ogle. This man never lived in Ireland, nor did he come to America. He did have a son named William who was born 1653 and died in Fenwick, Ayrshire, 18665. You can read some basic info at the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Guthrie_(minister)
The group also has a second wife listed for "Reverence William C. Guthrie" namely Margaret Legat. I can tell you that there is no 2nd marriage for the Rev William Guthrie, Minister of Fenwick, who married Agnes Campbell, so the question for you is whether you have any information identifying Margaret Legat as the wife of William Guthrie who died 1775 in Mill Creek Hundred, DE.
William Guthrie Sr (MCH, DE) died leaving a will that mentions, but does not name his wife. It does identify his children: Alexander (1736-1810), William (1744-1807), James (1750-1841), Adam, Margaret, and Mary. I don't know when the last 3 were born, but they all died sometimes after being named in their father's 30 Dec 1774 will.
Consider that (as far as I know) there is no evidence your ancestor William Guthrie Sr (MCH, DE) was born outside of Ireland. The family reportedly came to America from County Antrim, Ireland.
The marriage of William Guthrie and Margaret Legat occurred in Paisely, Abbey, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 2 June 1737. "Wm Guthrie & Margt. Legat were booked for proclamation in order to marriage." There is no notation of William's occupation or residence, nor of Margaret Legat's father's name.
This is in approximately the right time period since the MCH William's eldest son Alexander was born about 1736, but reportedly in Ireland. Looking at the Old Parish Records of Scotland, William Guthrie and Margaret Legat had the following children baptized:
1) Janet Guthrie born 4 and bapt 6 Aug 1738 at Abbey, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
2) William Guthrie born 6 and bapt 13 Apr 1740 at Low Church, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
They are the only 2 birth/baptisms recorded in Scotland for this couple. It does show this couple was in Scotland at least through 1740.
Looking forward at the OPR Marriage records, there are none between 1750-1780 for William. There are 2 in Renfrew for women named Janet, both in 1772, and both to men of similar surname named Walter, so it may be the same couple recorded at his parish and hers on separate dates. This is a typical practice in Scotland when the couple comes from different parishes.The marriage gets recorded in both books.
7 June 1772 Port Glasgow:
Walter McKechney, shipcarpenter in P.G. and Janet Guthrie daughter to Will. Guthrie farmer in the parish of Greenock.
27 Aug 1772 Greenock Old or West:
Walter McKinny ( __ in Port Glasgow and Janet Guthrie in this parish were booked in order to marriage.
If this is indeed Janet Guthrie, daughter of William and Margaret (Legat) Guthrie, which is not conclusive, then it shows this family was most likely still in Scotland at a time William Guthrie of MCH is already in Delaware.
There is nothing wrong with leaving William Guthrie Sr as your earliest proven ancestor until other genetic evidence or documentation provides more clues.
The following are couples whose descendants match the genetic profile of Guthrie Family Group 6.
Researching them may provide some clues.
Descendants of William Guthrie c1710IRE-1775DE & Unknown (MNU)
Descendants of William Guthrie 1738 IRE-1828PA & Margaret (MNU)
Descendants of Adam Guthrie 1740 ENG-p1785 & Elizabeth Nesbit
Descendants of James Guthrie 1761IRE-1833VA & Mary Shelps
Descendants of George Guthrie 1763SCT-1821SCT & Janet Mennion
Descendants of James Guthrie 1775SCT-1850NY & Editha Munson
Descendants of John Guthrie 1791IRE-1862CAN & Isabella Stinson
Descendants of David Guthrie c1796SCT & Agness (MNU)
Descendants of James P Guthrie c1801PA-p1840PA & Martha Fansey
Descendants of Benjamin Guthrie 1820MD-1864VA & Sarah Robinson
Descendants of Thomas J Guthrie 1874PA-p1920 & Nellie Bordreau
Descendants of Samuel James Guthrie 1876DE & Ella Hoopes
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