Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Adam Guthrie

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Descendants of Adam Guthrie

Generation No. 1

1. ADAM¹ GUTHRIE was born Bet. 1740 - 1745 in Ireland, and died 1827 in Cumberland County, Kentucky. He married MARY ANDERSON Abt. 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia, daughter of GEORGE ANDERSON and ELIZABETH. She was born 1744 in Virginia, and died 1825 in Cumberland County, Kentucky.

Notes for ADAM GUTHRIE:

THE ADAM GUTHRIE STORY

According to the book " First Families of Tennessee", Adam Guthrie was born in Ireland. His birth date has been placed between 1740-1745.
A study was done in the early 1930's about the descendants of Thomas Guthrie, one of Adam's sons, by Penelope Johnson Allen of the Tennessee State Genealogical Records Department. Her articles, known as "Leaves From the Family Tree", appeared weekly in the "Chattanooga Times" and gives the following information about the Guthrie family.
"The immigrant ancestor of the Guthrie family in East Tennessee (Adam Guthrie) came to America from Ireland in the latter half of the 18th century and found his way to Kentucky."It is also noted that, "he (Adam Guthrie) was a direct descendant of Niall Mac Guthrie, who has been traced from King Fergus of Cannaught through Miles the son of Cobthatch to Gothfrith, The Lord of Brefney. From Gothfrith who was killed in 1161 A. D. it is thought that our line of the Guthrie name has been derived. The word "Goth" means "straight" and "Frith" means "small", hence, "the son of a straight, small man."

Adam Guthrie came to America about 1765, possibly by way of Scotland, and made his way to what was old Augusta County, Virginia where a Scotch/Irish Colony was located. He later married Mary Anderson in Augusta County but according to court records he removed to Fincastle County, Virginia by 1773. Here, it is believed, some of his children were born.
It is thought that Adam Guthrie left Virginia as early as 1784 and records indicate that by 1787 he was established in the Southwest Territory (East Tennessee) where his name appears on a petition filed that same year to form a new state from North Carolina. This is noted in Volume 22 of the North Carolina State Records which indicates the State of Franklin petitioners. In 1793 Adam Guthrie received a land grant for 123 acres along the north bank of the French Broad River in old Greene County, North Carolina, what is now Sevier County, Tennessee. The land bordered that of Col. James Hubbard who was a noted Indian fighter in the area. It is thought that the wives of Adam Guthrie (Mary Anderson) and James Hubbard (Elizabeth Anderson) were related. In 1796 Tennessee became the 16th state and Adam remained here until about 1809 when he removed to Cumberland County, Kentucky. Two of his sons, James and George, removed to Cumberland County prior to Adams departure. The family crossed the Cumberland Mountains and settled along Illwill Creek in the region of the Upper Cumberland River. All of Adams family owned farms in this area which is presently a part of Clinton County, Kentucky formed in 1834 and lies along the Kentucky/Tennessee state line.
Adam Guthrie remained in Cumberland County until his death in 1827 and at the time his will was recorded in 1825 had acquired a good deal of property in both Kentucky and Tennessee. He was a farmer and planter by way of occupation and a pioneer in the truest sense. His journey which began with the dangerous voyage to America in the 18th century and ended across the Appalachian and Cumberland Mountains during the frontier period is a feat worth taking note of. Also of note is the fact that Adam Guthrie was in Tennessee, with family, less than twenty years after William Bean who is noted as being the first white settler to permanently live and begin farming in extreme East Tennessee along the Watauga River.

DEED OF ADAM GUTHRIE IN EAST TENNESSEE (formerly Greene County, North Carolina)

Deed Book 3, page 454
12 January 1793
State of North Carolina
No. 1234

To all to whom these presents shall come greetings:
Know ye that we for and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our treasurer by Adam Guthrie have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto said Adam Guthrie a tract of land containing one hundred and twenty three acres lying and being in our County of Greene. Beginning at a post oak on the north bank of the French Broad River on a corner of James Hubbard's land, then north three hundred and twenty five poles with said Hubbards line to a stake standing thereon then due east until it strikes a river persimmon then down the meanders to the beginning. As by plat hereunto annamed doth appear together with all woods, waters, mines, minerals, hereditaments and appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaining to hold the said Adam Guthrie and his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our general assembly from time to time may direct provided always that the said Adam Guthrie shall cause this grant to registered in the registers office of the said County of Greene within the time limited by law otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect. In testimony whereof we have caused these our sellers to be made patent and our great seal to be hereunto affixed witness Richard Dobbs Spraight Esquire our governor Captain General and commander in Chief. At Newbern the 12th day of January in the 17th year of our Independence and the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.

Richard Dobbs Spraight

By his excellence Commander
J. Glasgow Secretary

Recorded in the registers office in Greene County
The 23rd day of October 1794 by
James Stinson Clk.

Will of Adam Guthrie

In the name of God, amen, I, Adam Guthrie, of the state of Kentucky and County of Cumberland, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Doth make and ordain this my last will and testement that is to say principally and first of all I reccomend my soul into the hands of almighty God, that gives, and my body I reccomend to be buried with a decent Christian burial at the direction of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the crown? I again by mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of in the following manner and form to-wit: I first give my son James Guthrie, one gray mare that he has now in his possession and to George Guthrie, one cow; and to Thomas Guthrie a plantation on which he now lives, and to Polly and Nancy Guthrie the plantation on which I now live; also a plantation in East Tennessee on the French Broad River where I formerly lived; also the balance of my stock, farming utensils and household furniture to be equally divided between E. Polly and Nancy and if anything can be recovered on an obligation I now hold on John Anderson of forty pounds, it is to be equally divided among all my children. I also appoint Thomas Guthrie and George C. Craft the executors of this my Last Will and Testement and do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all other testement, wills, legacies by me in anywise before made. Willing and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testement.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st day of May in the year of our Lord 1825.
Adam Guthrie (his seal)
In presence of
Micheal Craft
William Craft

State of Kentucky, Cumberland County Sct.
I, Milton King, Clerk of the County Court for said county do certify that within will of Adam Guthrie,deceased, was proved in open court at the present August term by oath of Micheal Craft and William Craft, the two subscribing witness there to be recorded and I have truly recorded the same together with this certificate in my office, this 20th day of August, 1827
Milton King

More About ADAM GUTHRIE:
Burial: Clinton County, Kentucky

More About MARY ANDERSON:
Burial: Clinton County, Kentucky

Children of ADAM GUTHRIE and MARY ANDERSON are:

2.	i.	JAMES² GUTHRIE, b. Abt. 1777, Fincastle County, Virginia; d. Bet. 1850 - 1860, Clinton County, Kentucky.
3.	ii.	GEORGE GUTHRIE, b. Abt. 1779, Fincastle County, Virginia; d. Bet. 1840 - 1850, Illinois.
	iii.	MARY GUTHRIE, b. 1784, Southwest Territory, (East Tennessee); d. Aft. 1850, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Notes for MARY GUTHRIE:
Mary died unmarried in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

iv.

NANCY GUTHRIE, b. Abt. 1786, Southwest Territory (East Tennessee); d. Aft. 1850, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Notes for NANCY GUTHRIE:
Nancy died unmarried in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

THOMAS GUTHRIE, b. 1789, Southwest Territory (East Tennessee); d. 1845, Hamilton County, Tennessee.

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