The Guthrie Family, Chemung, NY
William and Gershom Hyde Guthrie, Brothers; from Chemung, NY
The stately Greek Revival Home of William Guthrie is sketched on a lithograph and appears on the 1853 map of Chemung, NY. William and Gershom Guthrie were merely names on an old map for many years. But when I began to find their names in old county history books, I started piecing the puzzle together. It is through much research that the story of the Guthrie brothers has come to life.
As we look further back to the beginning of the town when the Town of Chemung was located in the County of Montgomery, James Guthrie, son of John, was listed on the 1790 U.S. Federal Census and the NY Genealogical Records, 1675-1920. With him were 3 males under the age of 16 and 1 female; most likely his wife, Abigail (Betts) whom he married in Woodbury Ct on July 17, 1755. By the 1800 Census, James Guthrey, Jr. (notice misspelling) was living in Sherburne, Chenango, NY with his wife and 5 males under 16 and 3 females under the age of 10. Born in Stratford, CT in April 1732, James died in Sherburn, NY on April 22, 1804. James Guthrie was a Revolutionary War Soldier, enlisting from Lenox, Berkshire Co, Massachusetts. Selling land in 1786 and again in 1792, he moved to Bainbridge, Chenango Co, NY, settling for a short time before moving permanently to Sherburne, Chenango Co, NY in 1792. They had nine children.
William Sr. brother of James, son of John, was born December 30, 1730 in Stratford, CT. He died in 1806 in Jericho, NY. (Jericho was renamed Bainbridge) William Sr. is a documented Patriot of the Revolutionary War through the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.). He was also listed in the 1790 census in Chemung with 2 males over the age of 16 and 4 females. His wife’s name was Susanna Kirby. They were living in a separate household than that of James in 1790. The couple had eight children; seven daughters and one son. Their son William born Dec. 4, 1768 will be mentioned a little later. This family left Chemung before the 1800 census, and may have traveled with the family of James and Abigail Guthrie. William and James parents were John & Abigail Guthrie. More information will follow on this family.
So, where did this family hail from and why did they come to Chemung, where life was primitive at best during that time. I’ll answer the second question first.
- There were two reasons why settlers began pouring into the Chemung River Valley at the end of the 18th century. Fertile farm land and plenty of it, and lumber which was the number one commodity at the time. Lumber was needed for everything; building and heating homes, building mills and industrial buildings and selling or bartering for profit. Until that time, before, during and after the Revolutionary War, money was scarce and bartering was popular. The United States of America did not yet have its own currency. It wasn’t long before the mountains and hills were stripped of the old virgin white pine and with help of the early settlers, it was headed down creeks and river to sawmills. Tanneries sprang up as the amount of bark rose to epic proportions. As the lumber disappeared, so did the lumbermen as they moved on to the next frontier. Old photos will attest to the bare hills and devastation of the mountains. Erosion became a problem and flooding followed as there was extreme run off from rain into the creeks and river. Wildlife habitats were altered as well.
- The Guthrie family hailed from Edinburgh, Scotland. Brothers James, John and Robert sailed to America to avoid religious persecution, settling in Boston in 1683. John moved to Litchfield County, CT where he died in 1730.
You will find many family names were repeated which leads to a very confusing family line. This is the case for William Guthrie Jr. born late in the year of 1767, son of William Sr. & Susanna. William Jr. is buried in Kirby Cemetery in Chenango County, NY. He married Sarah Whitney, from Binghamton, NY on December 3, 1799. She was born May 8, 1775 and died December 17, 1859. Sarah was the daughter of Joshua and Hannah (Green) Whitney. Joshua is a documented Patriot of the Revolutionary War through the D.A.R.
Two of William and Sarah’s sons became prominent citizens of the Town of Chemung:
William Guthrie was born August 12, 1800 and Gershom (Gersham) Hyde Guthrie was born January 14, 1802, both in Bainbridge, NY. William named for his father and grandfather and Gershom Hyde named for Dr. Gershom Hyde of Bainbridge, who was married to his Aunt Jemima (Mime).
Brothers’ William and Gershom came to the Town of Chemung sometime before 1839. William appears on the 1850 U.S. Federal Census; 50 years old and a Lumberman. He married Sarah Ann Rhynders in her home town of Caton on Jan. 17, 1850 by Rev. C. Wheeler. She was born in Onondagua, NY in 1812. He was a Justice of the Peace for the Town of Chemung in 1838, 1840 and 1844.[1] In a newspaper article dated 1845, it was very apparent that William was deeply embedded in the politics of the day in the Town of Chemung. In the 1850 census, William was listed as living with the Henry and Frances Baker family with their 4 children and two laborers: Ira Davis and Adaline Quick both in their 20’s. By the 1860 census William and Sally (perhaps Sarah, transcribed wrong) was listed as a Hotel Keeper. It’s possible he was keeping a hotel in 1850, but it wasn’t listed as such at the time. William lived on Main Street of Chemung, just east of the business district. In the 1853 map, two properties/buildings are listed, side by side, three properties east of the G. W. Buck Home. It is possible one building was his residence and the second was a hotel. On the 1869 map of Town of Chemung, William Guthrie owned the Junction House, another hotel located on what was then Chemung Street but known today as Railroad Street, in the south-west corner near the Erie Railroad Depot and the Junction Canal Turnaround Basin. With the Railroad and Canal both open for business the town was a very busy and prosperous place.
Both brothers were Masons of the Masonic Lodge in Chemung.
Gershom lived on Main Street just west of the business district in Chemung. His house appears on the 1853 map, the second house from the North-east corner of Wynkoop Creek Road and Main Street, known today as County Route 60.
Gershom appears on the 1850 U.S. Federal Census as G.H. Guthrie, aged 48, Lumberman. His wife, Elizabeth Kitchen (or possibly Ketchum), aged 42. A laborer by the name of Smith, aged 17 was living with them and children: Sarah aged 10, Eliza aged 8, William aged 5 and Susan aged 1, all children born in Chemung.
Gershom and Elizabeth married June 5, 1836. An infant, Ophelia C. Guthrie is buried in the Chemung Village Cemetery. She was born July 17, 1837 and died Sept. 15, 1838, aged 1 year, 1 month, 29 days. I believe Ophelia was the daughter of Gershom and Elizabeth. She was named for Gershom and William’s sister, Ophelia. Gershom was Justice of the Peace for the Town of Chemung in 1848.[2] Sadly, on February 3, 1853, Elizabeth, wife of Gershom, died of measles. Aged 44 years, 3 months, 29 days. Born October 5, 1808, she is buried in the Chemung Village Cemetery in the same burial plot as Ophelia. Gershom died May 1, 1855 of Tuberculosis, aged 53 years, 2 months, 8 days. He too is buried in the Chemung Village Cemetery between Elizabeth and Ophelia’s graves. (Gershom’s grave marker is broken and the last number of the year of his death is missing which has led to many transcription errors, the correct date was 1855.)
Although Gershom and Elizabeth left 4 minor children, no records could be found at the Chemung County Surrogate Court regarding adoption or court appointed guardian of their children. Gershom died Intestate, “leaving no will, no widow and no children of age”[3]. Administration of his property and personal belongings was given to his brother, William.
This is why the 1860 census suddenly shows Gershom and Elizabeth’s children living with their Uncle and Aunt, William and Sarah, 59 yrs. and 48 yrs. respectively. Children: Sarah aged 19, Emma aged 16, William aged 14 and Susan aged 11 yrs. Also listed on the census and possibly were tenants in the hotel: Sarah Whitney aged 36, Abraham Elliott aged 30, a cook, Charles Slade aged 28, a merchant and James Sawyer aged 26, a merchant.
June 29 & 30, 1858, William Guthrie participated in the 4th Annual Summer Fair of the Chemung Valley Horticultural Society, held in Waverly, NY, per an article in the Elmira Gazette. He was listed as an amateur and held the best exhibition of Cherries, winning $1.50. He also took 3rd place in the Best table bouquet arranged in vase, with winnings of 75 cents.
In the 1865 New York State Census, William was aged 65 and Sarah 50 years. William was listed as a Landlord. Gershom and Elizabeth's four children were in the household with them: Sarah aged 24, Emma aged 22, William aged 20 and Susan aged 15; listed as daughters and son.
In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, William was a Hotel Keeper at age 69 years. Sarah A. was Keeping House at 60 years. The children were listed. Sarah was a School Teacher, aged 24 years. Willie was a Brakeman on the Erie Railroad, aged 22 years. Emma was a School Teacher, aged 21 years. Susan, 19 years; once again listed as daughters and son. (Obviously, the dates of the children are not exactly correct). By 1870, Sarah who was 10 in 1850 should have been 30 in 1870. Willie was 5 in 1850, would have been 25 yrs in 1870. Emma who was 8 in 1850, should have been 27 in 1870 and Susan was one year old in 1850, would have been 21 years old in 1870. I've always said, the accuracy of the census taker went down a notch with every household he visited. It seems it was customary for the home owner to show their hospitality by offering a drink to the census taker.
Although there is no proof the children’s parents were Gershom and Elizabeth, there is also no proof their parents were William and Sarah. If you are a genealogist you know the family information of death certificates is not always accurate, people’s memories fade or the person giving the information, simply doesn’t have the answers and this seems to be the case in the death certificates for some of Gershom and Elizabeth's children. The death certificate for Sarah Guthrie, 1903 lists her parents as Gershom and Elizabeth Guthrie. The death certificate for Emma (Guthrie) Converse, 1918, lists her parents as William and Mary (Kitchin) Guthrie. (We don't know who Mary Kitchin was.) An obituary for Susan (Guthrie) Thompson, 1927 lists her father as George Gutherie. (George?) William enlisted in the Civil War, October 12, 1861, listing his parents as Gersham and Elizabeth Guthrie. He enlisted in the New York 10th Cavalry, Company H. He was wounded in the calf of his right leg. Taken prisoner and was in Libby Prison, Richmond VA. Mustered out at Clouds Mill, VA, July 19, 1865. This information leaves us with a mixed bag. However, the children were listed in the 1850 census under the roof of Gershom and Elizabeth as a family. That information is plenty for me to believe they were all the children of Gershom and Elizabeth. As another side note: William was 5 years old in 1850 which would have made him 15 or 16 years old when he enlisted.
An inventory of the Gershom Hyde Guthrie Household in 1855 is as follows:
Spinning Wheel, Weaving loom, Stoves put up, One family Bible, Family pictures, School books, Ten Sheep Fleeces; yarn and cloth from same, One cow, Two swine and the pork thereof, Other books; under fifty dollars’ worth, Necessary cooking utensils, Necessary wearing apparel, The clothing of the family, Beds; bedsteads; and bedding, Widow’s clothes, Etc., One table, Six chairs, Six knives and forks, Six plates, Six tea cups and saucers, One sugar dish, One milk pot, one teapot, Six spoons, one wooden clock, Cupboards, Old cast iron box stove. Inventoried August 4, 1855 by John G. McDowell and Henry Baker.
It was March 1861 at the Town Hall in Elmira, NY, a sheriff sale of all that right, title and interest of William Guthrie which he had on the 10th day of June, 1853, or at any time afterwards to the following described property: twelve acres of land, fifty acres of land and fifty acres of land for a total of 112 acres located in the Town of Chemung. Dated February 11, 1861, signed by Henry Baker, Sheriff. Was this Gershom's land that William inherited and he either could not or chose not to pay taxes on? Or perhaps parcels of land that were lumbered and no longer valuable land to William?
William Guthrie died April 16, 1880, aged 79 years, 8 months, 8 days. He was listed as a Merchant and died in Elmira, Chemung Co, NY. Burial place was in Chemung, NY. Rheumatime was the cause of death for William according to the U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885. He was a good man to take in the children of his brother and raise them as his own to clothe, feed, provide shelter and nurture. His wife Sarah whom we know very little, played a major part in raising and taking care of the four children. William was a smart businessman and prospered at a time in Chemung when so much change was taking place. His home is no longer standing and it is possible the home burned at some point. The hotel next door to where William lived is also no longer standing. The Junction House can be seen today and is privately owned. The Junction Canal and Depot are long gone but the Railroad still runs through town.
The Guthrie Family like so many of the earlier settlers to the Town of Chemung brought with them good work ethics and fortitude. Lumbering in early times was a dangerous business and required extreme physical labor. There was no disability pay or social security in the early days. If you were injured or ill, you relied on family and friends to help. If you didn't have an income in which to pay taxes, you lost your property and home. Although this family had their up and downs like many others, they also participated in the well-being of the town by taking their turn as Justice of the Peace and by being active in politics of the day.
Mary Ellen P. Kunst
Historian, Town of Chemung
[1] History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler Counties, New York: with illustrations and biographical sketches, pg 424.
[2] History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler Counties, New York: with Illustrations and biographical sketches, pg 424.
[3] Surrogate Court, June 4, 1855, Elmira, Chemung County. Ariel S. Thurston, Surrogate.
A quick look at the family tree:
- Brothers James, John and Robert came to America from Edinburgh, Scotland, to escape religious persecution. First settling in Boston in 1683. John moved to Litchfield Co. CT. Died 1730.
- John's son, John, moved to Durham, CT then to Stratford, CT then to Woodbury, CT. Married Abigail Coe of Stratford June 1727. She was born Nov. 11, 1702, daughter of Capt. John and Mary (Hawley) Coe. When she passed he married Susanna ?. John and Abigail had 11 children: John, James, William, James, Joseph, Mary, Ephrain, Ebenezer, Abigail, Sarah & Lydia.
- John and Abigail's sons James and William (Sr.) resided for a short time in the Town of Chemung, duly noted on the 1790 census.
- John and Abigail's son: William Sr. was born 12/30/1730 in Stratford. He Married Susanna Kirby in (Jericho) Bainbridge, NY Died 1806. They had 8 children, William Jr, Eunice, Rhoda, Anna, Mary, Sarah, Jemima, Ruth.
- William Jr. Son of William Sr. (John) (John), born 1768 married Sarah Whitney 1799. He died in 1813. Sarah was born 1775, died 1859. They had 8 children: William, Gershom Hyde, Sarah, Susan, Olive, Emaline, George, Ophelia.
- William born 1800, son of William Jr. and Sarah, married to Sarah Ann Rhynders, they had no children but raised the children of his brother Gershom Hyde Guthrie.
- Gershom Hyde Guthrie born 1802, son of William Jr. and Sarah, married to Elizabeth Kitchen. They had 5 children: Ophelia, Sarah, Emma, William and Susan. Ophelia died in 1838, Elizabeth died in 1853 and Gershom Hyde died in 1855. The remaining children were raised by their Uncle and Aunt: William and Sarah.
Elmira Gazette article on Politics of the time by William Guthrie 1845.
Elmira Gazette article on the Horticultural event in Waverly; the Fourth Annual Summer Fair of the Chemung County Horticultural Society, 1858.
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