Samuel Guthrie was born in Scotland according to the records, but documentation to prove when, where, and to whom remains unidentified.
It appears that Samuel immigrated to New Jersey where he married and raised his young family. Sometime between 1860 and 1865, he moved them to Green, Mercer, Illinois.
Mercer County, Illinois is home to several Guthrie families, some of which are close neighbors of Samuel Guthrie's family. None of them have a New Jersey connection. Two appear to have gone from Scotland to Canada to Illnois, while a third has connections in Iowa before settling in Mercer County.
It seems possible that the Guthrie men heading these households were either brothers or closely related kin who, after establishing their families, decided to converge on Mercer County, Illinois. The documentation found only gets us so far. It may take DNA to prove their family connection.
Ancestors of Kit #B276145 (Y-DNA Match to GFG2A Project Members)
This man tested at the Y-37 marker level.
Compared to the group's Mode DNA Results, he has 2 genetic mutations at CDYi and CDYii, which are fast-moving markers.
No cluster determination can be made at this time without an examination of markers Y38-111 for comparison.
c1830-1832: BIRTH of SAMUEL GUTHRIE
The 1860 census of Pequannock, Morris, New Jersey is the first that can be confirmed as belonging to Samuel Guthrie. It lists his DOB as about 1832 based on a stated age of 28 years. The 1870 census of Greene, Mercer, Illinois lists him as being 41 or born about 1829. The 1880 census of Green, Mercer, Illinois lists him as age 50, being born abt 1830. All list his birthplace as Scotland.
1850: US CENSUS of PEQUANNOCK, MORRIS, NEW JERSEY
Since it has been established that Samuel Guthrie was living in Pequannock during the 1860 census, it is quite possible that he is also the Samuel Guthrie living there in 1850.
John Sooter 36, M Machinist, born Scotland
Margaret Sooter 37, F, born Scotland
William Sooter 13, M, born Scotland
Elisabeth Sooter 12, M, born Scotland
Samuel Guthrie 25, M, Laborer, born Scotland
William Delawh 23, M, Laborer, born Ireland
George Johnson 13, M, born Ireland
1852: OLD KIRKPATRICK, DUNBARTON, SCOTLAND
1 June 1852: Then were booked in order to proclamation of marriage SAMUEL GUTHRIE, machinist, and CATHERINE STEVENSON, both residing at Barnill [Bonhill] in this parish. Married at Barnhill [Bonhill] 1st One 1842 by the Rev WM Halley.
Later records tell us that Samuel Guthrie's wife was named Catherine Stevenson. Their eldest known child was born about 1855, so the marriage date for this couple appears to fit perfectly--with one exception. According to that 1850 census, Samuel Guthrie was already living in New Jersey. Is that record wrong? Did Samuel Guthrie go back to Scotland to marry Catherine Stevenson? Does the marriage record refer to another couple, of similar age and name?
1852-1854: BIRTH of CHILD OF UNKNOWN GENDER
The obituary of daughter Mary Catherine Guthrie states that she was the third of seven children of Samuel and Catherine Guthrie. Only 2 children are named in the 1855 census, so this was child #1 or 2 depending on birth order.
1852-1854: BIRTH of DAUGHTER - ANN AUGUSTA GUTHRIE
A presumed child based on the 1855 census data. This daughter would have died young between 1855 and 1859.
1855: BIRTH of DAUGHTER - MARY CATHERINE GUTHRIE
Born in Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey on 17 Feb 1855, Mary Catherine Guthrie moved with her parents to Mercer County, Illinois. She married twice. First to Benjamin Burton Walter, with whom she had a daughter, Mary, and second to William Cornelius Morey, with whom she had two sons and three daughters. Mary Catherine died in Omaha, Nebraska on 22 Jul 1922.
Her obituary, published in The Belleville Telescope on Thursday, Jul 27, 1922 (Newspapers.com) states that she was the third of seven children of Samuel and Catherine Guthrie.
1855: NEW JERSEY STATE CENSUS of PEQUANAC, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
State censuses were taken in NJ every ten years from 1855-1915. Records did not survive from all counties, but the data does include Morris.
SAMUEL GOTHRIE, Male, White, Residence Year: 1855, Residence Place: Pequanac, Morris, USA, Enumeration District: Hanover and Pequanac Townships, Electoral District: Boonton District in the Township of Pequanac part of the Second, Number 83, Page Number 106
Relatives:
Wife: CATHERINE
Children: ANN AUGUSTA, MARY C
Note that data for Ann Augusta Guthrie lists her DOB as 1859. This earlier census suggests otherwise. It could also be evidence of a daughter born in 1859 who was named for a sibling who died. Note that son, Samuel George Guthrie, who was born in 1857, is not listed.
1856: NATURALIZATION RECORDS
On 18 September 1856 in Morris County, New Jersey, Samuel Guthrie filed a Declaration of Intensions to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.
1857: BIRTH of SON - SAMUEL GEORGE GUTHRIE