Guthrie Family of Nelson County, Kentucky

from Bloomfield, Chaplin and Fairfield, A History and Genealogy of Northeastern Nelson County, Kentucky complied by Robert P. Moore

General Adam Guthrie first appears in Nelson County records on 10 Sep 1788, when John and Arabella Ash, for 100 pounds, conveyed to him 218 acres on Ash’s Creek, where David Evans formerly lived.  General Guthrie, born in about 1762, died on 31 Jan 1826, and was buried behind the Baptist Church in Bloomfield.  Buried beside him is his wife, Hannah Polk, who died on 17 Mar 1842.  Their Nelson County marriage bond is dated 11 Nov 1788 and shows her to be the daughter of Edmond Polk, a member of the family associated with the so-called “Burnt Station” near Bloomfield.  This settlement was also known as Polk’s Station or Kincheloe’s Station and was the scene of an Indian massacre in 1782.  A family history states that Adam Guthrie was born 1 Oct 1762, County Cork, Ireland, the son of James Guthrie and Elizabeth Dunlap.  Among his children were John, who married Lucy Fore; James, one-time United States Secretary of the Treasury; and Mary, who married Spence Minor in 1816.  John, who has a number of descendants in Bardstown, and Mary, whose descendants are more associated with Bloomfield, are buried near their father in Bloomfield.

General Guthrie’s will is recorded in Nelson County Will Book F, page 64, written 13 Apr 1825, probated 13 Feb 1826.  He named wife Hannah, son John, daughters Polly Minor, Sally Guthrie, Hannah King and sons James, Edmond and John.  He also named a Lucinda Smith and his sister Betsey Guthrie.

Adam Guthrie, born County Cork, Ireland, died Bloomfield, Nelson County, Kentucky, married Hannah Polk, born 25 Dec 1765, near Fort Pitt, Washington County, Pennsylvania, died Bloomfield, Nelson County, Kentucky, daughter of Edmond Polk and Mary Fultz.  His parents are said to have died in 1774 at sea on the voyage to America.  He was a member of the legislature from 1800 to 1805 and in 1808.  He participated in some of the Indian campaigns in the early history of Kentucky.  The Guthrie family of Bardstown and the Bloomfield Muirs are descendants.

1.  Elizabeth Guthrie, born 9 Oct 1789, unmarried.

2.  Edmond Guthrie, born 28 Jan 1792, Nelson County, Kentucky, died of yellow fever, unmarried.

3.  James Guthrie, born 5 Dec 1792, Nelson County, Kentucky, died 13 March 1868, married 13 May 1821, Hardin County, Kentucky, Eliza C. Prather.  He was a lawyer, a US Secretary of the Treasury 1853-57 and US Senator 1865-68.  Kerr’s History of Kentucky, page 20, volume V, says, “His influence as a lawyer and citizen and also in the Legislature made him instrumental in the founding of three great institutions of the state, the University of Louisville, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and the State Bank of Kentucky.”  He was president of the L & N and for 32 years a trustee of the University of Louisville.  Guthrie Street in Louisville was doubtless named for him.

4.  John Guthrie, born 23 Apr 1794, died 11 Jan 1833, buried at Bloomfield Baptist Church, Bloomfield, Kentucky, married 26 May 1825, Nelson County, Kentucky, to Lucy Fore.  She married (2) William R. Glasscock.

5.  Mary Guthrie, born 22 Jul 1796, died 6 Sep 1834, Nelson County, Kentucky, married 1 Sep 1816, Spence Minor, born 22 Nov 1788, died 23 Jul 1857.  He married (2) Mary Brook Knight sometime after 1834.  They are buried at the Bloomfield Baptist Church, Bloomfield, Kentucky.

6.  Sally Guthrie, born 18 Mar 1798, Nelson County, Kentucky, married 10 Oct 1829, Nelson County, Kentucky, Thomas Q. Wilson (he was a Louisville lawyer).

7.  Nancy Guthrie, born 11 Jan 1800, Nelson County, Kentucky, died 18 Aug 1842 or 24, married 5 Oct 1823, Nelson County, Kentucky, Daniel Stephens.

8.  Hannah Guthrie, born 20 Sep 1801, Nelson County, Kentucky, died 19 Aug 1869, married 18 May 1823, Nelson County, Kentucky, Daniel Jennings King, son of Robert King of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia, and Sarah Jennings.