The earliest information on Robert Guthrie & Bridget Dougherty is documented in 'Records of the Guthrie Family of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Virginia,' by Harriett Nancy Dunn and Eveline Guthrie Dunn, a collective work first published in 1898. Their source was George Wilkins Guthrie, a great-great-great grandson of R&B, an attorney and one-time Mayor of Pittsburgh.

"In 1872, Uncle James Guthrie sent to my father (John B. Guthrie), a paper in the hand-writing of his grand-father, John Guthrie, and it was indorsed in the hand-writing of his father, James Verner Guthrie, showing the descent of the Guthrie family from one Robert Guthrie, who was born in the City of Derry, Ireland. In his letter Uncle James said, " There was another letter or record containing the Scotch Guthrie branch back to 1702 in Scotland, before leaving for Ireland, but I cannot find it, which I very much regret." The paper which I have is in the hand-writing of John Guthrie, our great grand-father, and endorsed in the hand-writing of James Verner Guthrie, our grandfather, and dated 1807. It begins with Owen Dougherty, of Cardonough, County Donegal, Ireland, who is said to have been engaged in the wars; to have been blind for fifteen years, and then to have recovered his sight, and to have died at the age of 120 years. He left two sons, (1) Edward, commonly called " Eman Mone," on account of his remarkable size and strength, and (2) John, and four daughters, (1) Rose, (2) Bridget, (3) Sarah, and (4) Mary. Bridget Dougherty was born in Donegal, Cardonaugh County, in 1711. She married Robert Guthrie in 1736. Their first son, Robert, was born in 1737; their second son, James, in 1739; and a daughter, Jane, in 1741 (the daughter died when she was three years of age). Robert Guthrie, born perhaps 1700, even earlier, and his son, Robert, came to America in 1744, and were followed by his wife and son, James, in 1745. They settled and lived for three or four years in Philadelphia, and from there removed to Lancaster, Pa., where John Guthrie was born Jan. 11, 1749. When John was a year old they moved to Carlisle, Pa., and there they had a daughter, Margaret, who was born May 6, 1753."
{Dunn, p.103 History of the Descendants of Robert Guthrie, by Mrs Martha Guthrie Doughty Lyster.}

c1700:  BIRTH of ROBERT GUTHRIE

The date of 1700 appears to originate from the information provided to Mrs Lyster by George W. Guthrie. There is no census records or other original document known to exist that lists his date of birth or age. According to the letter, Robert was born "perhaps 1700, even earlier." His birth location is given as being the City of Derry, also known as Londonderry, Ireland.

Wikipedia: "Derry or Londonderry (from the Irish: Doire or Doire Cholmchille meaning "oak-wood of Colm Cille") is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The old walled city lies on the west bank of the River Foyle, which is spanned by two bridges. The city now covers both banks (Cityside on the west and Waterside on the east).

Derry is close to the border with County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, with which it has had a close link for many centuries. The person traditionally seen as the 'founder' of the original Derry is Saint Colm Cille, a holy man from Tír Chonaill, the old name for almost all of modern County Donegal (of which the west bank of the Foyle was a part before c.1600). Derry and the nearby town of Letterkenny form the major economic core of north west Ireland.

Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. The walls constitute the largest monument in State care in Northern Ireland and, as the last walled city to be built in Europe, stands as the most complete and spectacular.

The Walls were built during the period 1613-1619 by The Irish Society as defenses for early 17th century settlers from England and Scotland. The Walls, which are approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) in circumference and which vary in height and width between 12 and 35 feet (4 to 12 metres), are completely intact and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate to which three further gates were added later, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate, making seven gates in total. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columb, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the courthouse.

It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges including one in 1689 which lasted 105 days, hence the city's nickname, The Maiden City."

1711: BIRTH of BRIDGET DOUGHERTY
Bridget was born in 1711 in Cardonaugh, Donegal, Ireland. Her father was Owen Dougherty. Mother unknown. Bridget's birth date is also based on secondary sources listed above rather than an original source. All of the Ancestry trees I have seen online have the same date.

Wikipedia: "Donegal played an active role in the history of Ulster up until 1921. The O'Donnells and the O'Dohertys ruled the area during medieval times with the inaccesability of donegal's highlands helping to preserve its Gaelic culture and language. It was the last county to be taken over by the English with Cahir O'Doherty was the last chieftan in Ireland to be defeated in 1608 most of Donegal's chieftans fled to europe in 1607)."

1736: MARRIAGE of ROBERT GUTHRIE & BRIDGET DOUGHERTY
The date is listed in the Dunn book and by LRG. Consequently, all of the online trees have the date as well. No original sources found to date. This is the year before the birth of the eldest known child.

1737: BIRTH of SON, ROBERT GUTHRIE JR
Born in Ireland & came to America with his parents. Lived in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA. Learned the clock maker & carpentry trade of his father. Married Agnes Gordon. They had a large family that included 4 sons and 5 daughters. Their son James Guthrie is the ancestor of project participant EEG. Ongoing research has shown that MD/PA Group participant EJG is also a son of this couple rather than a Branch B descendant as was originally suspected. DNA evidence shows this line of descendants shares a specific genetic marker with EEG's line and with other branches believed to share a closer ancestry with Robert & Bridget (Dougherty) Guthrie.

1739: BIRTH of SON, JAMES GUTHRIE
Born in Ireland & came to America with his parents. Lived in Carlisle, Cumberland, PA. Learned the clock maker & carpentry trade of his father. Married Margaret Brown, the daughter of Robert & Martha Brown. James & Margaret are reported to be the parents of Robert D. Guthrie, born in 1765, who was a clockmaker, carpenter, and silversmith. As far as I can tell, none of Robert D. Guthrie's 4 sons had any male children, so there is no possibility of comparative DNA testing for this lineage. James Guthrie died in 1792 in East Pennsboro, Cumberland, PA.

In another potential case of mixed lineages, a Margaret Brown is reported as the wife of John Guthrie, son of Branch B's Robert Guthrie & Miss Darlington. This is also the James Guthrie claimed by many of online researchers to be the Branch A Progenitor who was actually born closer to 1720. Note that the Dunn & Dunn book excludes James' marriage completely and indicates that his death occurred in 1763.

1741: BIRTH of DAUGHTER, JANE GUTHRIE
Jane was born in Ireland in 1741. She died in 1744.

1741-1745: EMIGRATION from IRELAND to AMERICA
The story goes that Robert and his son Robert Jr came to America first, with Bridget and son James following in 1745. Bridget's pregnancy in 1741 might have been one reason to delay a trip, or it could be that Robert wanted to get settled first. The family reportedly spent 3-4 years in Philadelphia before moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and then to Carlisle.

1749: BIRTH of SON, JOHN GUTHRIE
"Took neither to his father's carpenter shop, nor to books, but to the forests and streams of his native land.  He was a frontiersman, expert with a rifle, an Indian fighter, a soldier, and an officer in the Revolutionary War." John was born on 11 Jan 1749 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the first American-born Guthrie. He married Sarah Davis. They had 3 sons and 6 daughters. He died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania on 12 Aug 1832 and is buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

1751: BIRTH of SON, GEORGE GUTHRIE
George was born in Carlisle in c1751. The Find-a-Grave site lists his DOB as 1746. Online trees list his middle name as 'Nelson', but a closer look reveals that George Nelson Guthrie was a different man. George, son of Robert & Bridget, married Margaret Campbell. He died between October - November of 1813 in Hollidaysburg, Blair, Pennsylvania. George & Margaret had several children, including 2 known sons. Their great-great grandson, Rev. Laurence Rawlin Guthrie, was the author of "American Guthrie and Allied Families." One of LRG's grandsons is DNA Project participant #214109.

1751: COURT RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
21 July 1751. Bridgett Guttry (of Carlisle), Assault & Battery on Robert Kirkpatrick

1752: COURT RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
15 Oct 1752. Robert Guthrie was indicted for keeping a tippling house (a tavern) without a license

1753: CUMBERLAND COUNTY TAX LIST
Robert Guthrie - Carlisle

1753: BIRTH of DAUGHTER, MARGARET GUTHRIE
Margaret was born on 6 May 1753 in Carlisle. She married George Brown.

"Our heritage goes back to 1734, when a large settlement of sturdy, God-fearing Scots-Irish from Lancaster County established a Presbyterian Church at Meeting House Springs, located on the Conodoguinet Creek about two miles west of the Carlisle Public Square.

The first minister was installed there in 1739 and preached from a crude pulpit in a one-room log church. Eventually, Meeting House Springs proved to be too far removed from the new county seat of Carlisle, established in 1751, so the congregation moved to town in 1757 and subsequently built the edifice in which we worship today. Behind the old stone walls at Meeting House Springs endures what is left of our earliest heritage, an old church graveyard with stones that date back to 1744 – the oldest anywhere in Cumberland Valley.

At the new meeting house in Carlisle, the doors of the sanctuary faced south, and the pulpit was situated at the north side between two arched windows. It was a high pulpit with stairs leading up to it, a sounding board over it and a desk for the clerk in front of it. Worshipers furnished their own benches before pews were installed and could bring their own foot warmers, since there was no heat. A south balcony was added in 1785." {SOURCE} The Church Archives are housed at Dickinson College.

1761: COURT RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
April 28 1761. James Stackpole, assault & battery against Robert Guthrie the elder

April 1761. Riot. Robert Guthery Senr and Jr among those ordered to pay fines of 2sh 6p each

1764: COURT RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
5 March 1764. James Alcorn & Barbara his wife, spinster & Robert Whinney to answer to Robert Guthry Sr

1764: TAX RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
Guthry, Robert 2 Lots free

1764: JURYMAN
The King v. Thomas Kempleton. Felony. Jury includes "Robert Guttery". No indication of Sr or Jr.

1765: JURYMAN
The King vs James Gullery. Indictment for keeping a tippling house (tavern) without a license. Jury included "Robert Guttery". No indication if it was Sr or Jr.

1765: TAX RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
Guthry, Robert 2cows, 2 Lots

1770: PROPERTY SALE, CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA
Lot #266 Robert Guthrie listed as original owner. 1770 Property was sheriffed and sold to James Stackpole for L10, 10 shillings. House. (S. D. A-4)

1771: PROPERTY SALE, CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA
27 Apr 1771. Property of Robert Guthrie Sr sheriffed and sold to James Stackpole for L8. (Lot # 299) Log house. (S.D. A-17)

1772: COURT RECORDS of CARLISLE, CUMBERLAND, PA
31 Mar 1772. Robert Guthrie and Bridget his wife are threatening to assault James Stackpole
31 Mar 1772. Robert Guthrey of Carlisle said James Stackpole forcibly entered his lot and pulled & broke down part of a pailed fence on the lot
April 1772. Entry may be in association with case of King v. Thomas Martin. "Upon application of Robert Guthrie Senr to the court his is discharged from his bail."

1782: DEATH of ROBERT GUTHRIE
It is thought that both Robert Guthrie and his wife, Bridget, were buried in the old cemetery one block south and about a block west of where they lived in Carlisle.

1794: DEATH of BRIDGET DOUGHERTY GUTHRIE