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James GUFFIE & Margaret KEARN

James GUFFIE & Margaret KEARN

Posted: 14 Mar 2002 7:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 27 May 2004 2:52AM GMT
Surnames: GUFFIE, GUFFEY, KEARN, McGUFFEY, SPENCE, McDOWELL, GIBSON, MITCHELL, PARCHMAN, PONTINY, POINTNEY, PUNTENEY, HOLLINGWORTH, SCANTLING, HOLLY, HOLLIS, STEWART, APPLEGATE, BURTON, TOOPS, BLOCKER, EWING, KING, MILLSAPS, BROYLES, COLES, PUNTONY, JAMESON, HARDY
, ,James GUFFIE and Margaret KEARN GUFFIE/GUFFEY

Initially, I want to make it CLEAR that there is NO evidence that James and Margaret KEARN GUFFIE / EY who had lived in Maryland EVER lived in VIRGINIA!. They were NOT the parents of any GUFFEYs from VIRGINIA. GUFFEY descendants or genealogists who attempt to connect any GUFFEYs of Virginia to James and Margaret KEARN GUFFEY are in error. Read on and see why.

This writing attempts to make two points:

Point I. James GUFFIE / EY and his wife, Margaret KEARN GUFFIE / EY's children never were in VA, but lived in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky. Margaret eventually died in Robertson Co., TN. where she left a will.

Point II. The GUFFEY brothers from Wayne and Clinton Cos., KY., Morgan Co., TN., and Putnam Co., MO. who were born in VA. were the sons of Ephraim McGUFFEY/GUFFEY, Junr. and his wife, Nancy.

Addressing POINT I., we find the first mention of Margaret KEARN GUFFIE and James GUFFIE in the will of her father, Thomas KEARN, of Cecil County, Maryland, dated Nov. 11, 1754. In that Will, Thomas KEARN named his wife, "Margaret and daughter, Margaret, wife of James Guffie..." The will can be found in the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, MD. Note the name is KEARN and is NOT spelled here with "s". Thomas KEARN also named his other children shown below. I’ve listed Thomas KEARN’s daughter, Margaret, first as she is the person of interest to us and was the wife of James GUFFIE / GUFFEY:

KEARN, Margaret, dau. of Thomas and Margaret Kearn of CE Co., m. by 1754, James Guffie (BFD 1:122).

KEARN, Agnes, dau. of Thomas and Margaret Kearn of CE Co., m. by 11 Nov 1754, Harry Spence (MDAD 36:546; BFD 1:122).

KEARN, Catherine, dau. of Thomas and Margaret Kearn of CE Co., m. by 11 Nov 1754, Baptist McDowell (MDAD 26:546; BFD 1:122).

KEARN, Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas and Margaret Kearn of CE Co., m. by 1754, Andrew Gibson (MDAD 36:546; BFD 1:152).

KEARN, Mary, dau. of Thomas and Margaret Kearn of CE Co., m. by 1754, William Mitchell (BFD 1:122).

From the above we can determine that James GUFFIE and Margaret KEARN were married before Nov 11, 1754, when Thomas KEARN wrote his will. James & Margaret KEARN GUFFIE were living in Maryland at that time. James and Margaret had at least six (6) children (named below) according to Margaret KEARN GUFFEY’s Will written in 1800 and proved in 1811 in Robertson Co., TN. (Robertson Co., TN. Will Book No. 1, pp. 368-370). Based upon Revolutionary War Pension applications of two of his sons, we realize that their father, James GUFFIE, probably died in the early 1770s, and Margaret then moved with all her children to Westmoreland Co., PA. about 1774. Margaret did not marry again. Her name is spelled "GUFFEY" in later documents. It was while in the area of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and the environs of Pittsburgh, PA. that Margaret's daughter, Mary GUFFEY, met and married Phillip PARCHMAN who had also served in the Revolutionary War. After the Revolutionary War, the GUFFEYs, PARCHMANs and some other related families left PA. and moved into IN., KY. & TN. Margaret GUFFEY, her son-in-law and daughter, Phillip and Mary GUFFEY PARCHMAN, relocated from PA. to Robertson Co., TN. which is just north of Nashville, TN. and directly south of Logan Co., KY. which is where her son, Alexander GUFFY, settled. Land records of Robertson Co., TN. show that Monday, January 15, 1798 Phillip PARCHMAN sold land in Robertson County, TN. to his mother-in-law, Margaret GUFFEY. (Robertson County, TN. County Court Minute Book No. 1, pp. 44-45; and Deed Book "B", p. 103). Margaret GUFFEY lived in Robertson County until her death. In her will probated in Feb 1811, she named her son-in-law and children in this order:


Philip Parchman, son-in-law, [his wife was Mary Guffey]

son, Henry Guffey

daughter, Jane

son, James Guffey

son, Alexander Guffey

daughter, Elizabeth

We know that sons, James and Alexander, were Revolutionary War soldiers, and they filed applications for pensions based upon that service. Some of what we know of this family and their movement from place to place comes from those pension applications which can be found, among other places, in the U.S. National Archives in Washington, D.C. According to both James' and Alexander's pension papers, their father had died [perhaps in the early 1770s] and their mother then moved with all her children to Westmoreland Co., PA. That is where Alexander GUFFY (Guffey) married on Mar 13, 1784 to Ann Pontiny (also spelled Punteney and Pointney in some records). Like Alexander, Ann was also a native of MD. She was the daughter of Joseph Edward PUNTENEY & Mary "Sarah" HOLLINGWORTH. Sometime around 1790, the Guffeys, Pontinys and others left Westmoreland Co., PA..

James & Margaret KEARN GUFFEY's son, James GUFFEY, was born May 5, 1758 in Harford County, Maryland, and died May 12, 1837 in Brown Co., IN. buried in Gantry Hill Cem, Hamilton Twp., Jackson County, IN. He was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and, according to "Central Pennsylvania Marriages 1700-1896", he married a woman known only as "Jane" ca. 1778 in Washington County, PA. That was his first of two marriages. His second marriage was on Nov 16, 1823 in Floyd Co., IN. to Sarah "Sally" SCANTLING. She was either widowed or divorced.

James GUFFEY stated in his Revolutionary War pension papers # S. 31718, which he filed on June 7, 1832, that he moved across the Allegany River about 22 miles from Pittsburgh, PA. to Butler Co., PA. He lived there about 12 years and went to Jefferson Co. KY where he resided one winter then moved to Harrison Co. IN. He lived in Harrison Co. 18 or 19 years. Next he moved to Jackson Co., IN. The DAR application also listed James' children and their spouses. In his Will dated Feb 23, 1837, Jackson Co., IN., he names his children and identifies which are by his first wife, Jane, and which are by his second wife, Sarah. Indiana State Marriage Records verifies them with dates.

James and his first wife, Jane, had nine (9) children whose names and spouses are:

1. James GUFFEY, Junr. (see note below list of these children).

2. Margaret "Peggy" GUFFEY mrd. Ephraim HOLLY / HOLLIS on Oct 22, 1810, in Harrison Co., IN

3. Elizabeth "Betsey" GUFFEY

4. Sarah "Sally" GUFFEY b. ca. 1789 d. Apr 26, 1854 in Harrison Co., IN. mrd. John STEWART on Dec 24, 1810 in Harrison Co., IN.

5. Alexander GUFFEY b. ca. 1792. mrd. Elizabeth APPLEGATE on Oct 15, 1818 in Clark Co., IN. They lived in Washington Co., IN. in 1850.

6. William GUFFEY b. ca. 1800. mrd. Mary BURTON on Dec 29, 1818, in Harrison Co., IN.

7. Martha Jane GUFFEY b. ca. 1801. d. Mar 11, 1875 buried: Peaksville Cem., Clark Co., MO. mrd. John TOOPS on May 3, 1820 in Harrison Co., IN. He was b. ca. 1800 in Jefferson Co., KY. d. Aug 15, 1877 in Clark Co., MO. In 1850 they lived in Harrison Co., IN.

8. Henry GUFFEY b. ca. 1802. mrd. Ruth BLOCKER on Mar 23, 1848 in Brown Co., IN. In 1850 they lived in Washington Co., IN.

9. John GUFFEY b. ca. 1805 d. 1842-1850. mrd. Nancy TOOPS on Apr 29, 1819. She was b. ca. 1805 in KY. d. before 1870 in Jackson Co., IN. John GUFFEY was listed in the 1820 Census of Harrison Co., IN, but in 1850 his widow, Nancy, was shown as head of household with children: Sarah A 31, James 24, William 21, John A. 16, Charles M. 12 and Jane C. 8 all b. in IN.

NOTE: (Some GUFFEY researchers speculate that the James GUFFEY who mrd. Elizabeth EWING on Jan 3, 1842 in Jackson Co., IN. was the James GUFFEY, Junr, son of the elder James GUFFEY. Others believe this younger James GUFFEY, the husband of Elizabeth EWING, was perhaps a grandchild of the elder James GUFFEY. The 1842 wedding date given here was well past the time when most of the children of the elder James had married. The elder James deeded land to the younger James in Nov. 1811, and this land was located back in Butler Co., PA.)

James GUFFEY and his 2nd wife, Sarah "Sallie" SCANTLING had three children:

1. Thomas Moor GUFFEY b. ca. 1826; mrd. (1) Susanna KING on Sept 08, 1850 in Brown Co., IN. She in 1853, Brown Co., IN. Shortly thereafter, Thomas mrd. (2) Nancy MILLSAPS in Brown Co., IN;. Thomas mrd. (3) Martha BROYLES, April 29, 1858. In 1850 Thomas M. GUFFEY lived in Brown Co., IN.

2. George Patterson GUFFEY b. ca. 1830. d. before 1842.

3. Joshua Preston GUFFEY b. Feb 1833. d. Mar 24, 1907 buried: Ohio Ridge Cem., Edinburg, Johnson Co., IN. mrd. 1st Sarah Ann KING on Sept 27, 1853 in Brown Co., IN. She died Dec 19, 1864, buried: Ohio Ridge Cem. Joshua mrd. 2nd Martha COLES on Sept 30, 1865 in Bartholomew Co., IN. Martha was b. May 1834.

Alexander GUFFY, son of James & Margaret KEARN GUFFEY, was born Jan 1, 1764 in Baltimore Co., Maryland, and died Aug 27, 1844 in Logan Co., KY. and said to be buried in the Duncan Chapel Cemetery, Logan Co., KY. The first Kentucky record of Alexander Guffy appears on the 1792 Logan Co., KY Tax Assessor's list. Ann's brothers Nelson & Aquilla "PUNTONY" are also on this tax list. A younger brother, Samuel "PUNTENNEY", appears later on the 1800 Logan Co. census. Like his brother, James, Alexander's Revolutionary War Pension application also gave the story of his father having died and his mother and siblings moved with her from MD. to PA. Alexander's wife, Ann PONTINY, was born ca. 1761 in Maryland and died Feb 25, 1849 in Logan Co., KY. and said to be buried in the Duncan Chapel Cemetery, Logan Co., KY. Alexander and Ann were married on March 13, 1784 in Westmoreland Co., PA. Alexander and Ann moved from Westmoreland Co., PA. to Logan Co., KY and remained there until they died. As stated above, Alexander's mother, Margaret KEARN GUFFEY, eventually lived just across the state line from Logan Co., KY., in Robertson Co., TN. which is where she had purchased land from her son-in-law, Phillip PARCHMAN.

Alexander and Ann had two known children, James and Young GUFFY. They are the only known sons for Alexander and Ann. They may have had at least two daughters, because Logan Co., KY marriage records exist for Rachel Guffy to David Elms on 8 May 1800; and Sarah Guffy to Joseph M. McDowell on 17 Nov 1806. There were no other adult GUFFYs besides Alexander living in Logan Co. at that time.

Alexander and Ann's two known sons and their families are shown below:


1) James GUFFY, son of Alexander & Ann PONTINY GUFFY, was b. 13 Aug 1785 in PA and d. 11 Nov 1862 in Butler Co., KY.and is probably buried in the Concord Church Cemetery at Quality, Butler Co., KY. James married Malinda JAMESON on 16 Dec 1813 in Logan Co., KY. Butler Co., KY. is directly northeast of Logan Co., KY. Malinda was b. abt 1791 in Logan Co. and d. 1 May 1857 in Logan Co.
Children of James and Malinda were:

1. Minerva Kennedy GUFFY b. ca. 1810; d. 9 Oct 1871 McLean Co., KY. mrd. James HARDY, one-time Lt. Gov. of KY.

2. Artemisia Guinn GUFFY b. 25 May 1814 Logan Co., KY; d. 14 May 1893 Beech Knoll, Butler Co., KY; mrd. Andrew Jameson NOURSE 24 May 1832.

3. Arminda GUFFY b. ca. 1816 Logan Co., KY; d. Apr 1854; mrd. Eli COLLINS 14 Oct 1845 Logan Co., KY.

4. Phidella Craig GUFFY b. ca. 1818 KY; d. ca. 1862 Tuscumbia, Colbert Co., AL. Killed in the Civil War.

5. Rev. Cartwright Franklin GUFFY b. 20 Dec 1820 Butler Co., KY; d. 13 Nov. 1896 Butler Co., KY. Buried on a farm outside of Morgantown, Butler Co., KY. Mrd. 1st Martha A. Moore 6 Jan 1847 Butler Co., KY. Mrd. 2nd Eliza M. GUFFY (first cousin) 18 May 1857 Logan Co., KY.

6. Caroline M. GUFFY b. ca. 1823; d. ca. 1896; mrd. William H. SIMMONS 31 Jan 1842 Logan Co., KY.

7. Rosalinda Maria GUFFY b. ca. 1826 KY; d. ca. 1893; mrd. John S. LUCAS abt 1857.

8. James Harvey GUFFY b. 26 Dec 1828 Logan Co., KY; d. 15 Feb 1896 Logan Co., KY; buried Old Riverview Cemetery, Morgantown, Butler Co., KY. Mrd. Adeline MOORE 14 Nov 1854.

9. Bayless Leander Durrant "BLD" GUFFY b. 24 Dec 1832 Muhlenburgh Co., KY; d. 1910; buried Old Riverview Cemetery, Morgantown, Butler Co., KY. Mrd. Mahala A. MONROE 28 May 1857. BLD was an attorney and county judge in Butler Co.

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2) Young GUFFY, son of Alexander & Ann PONTINY GUFFY, was b. 1794 in Logan Co., KY and d. 22 Nov 1857 in Logan Co., KY. Probably buried in the Duncan Chapel Cemetery, Logan Co., KY. Young GUFFY md. Amelia Gray GREER sometime before 1823. Amelia b. ca. 1805 in KY and died sometime after 1880. Children of Young GUFFY and Amelia had the following twelve (12) children:

1. Alexander "Alec" GUFFY b. 1823 MO; mrd. Eliza J. Moore ca. 1845 MO?

2. James G. GUFFY b. ca. 1825 MO; d. 1880 Logan Co., KY; mrd. Susan A. "Ann" SWEATT 18 Dec 1851 Logan Co., KY.

3. Clark GUFFY d. before 1850.

4. John Quincy GUFFY b. Apr 1828 MO; d. 8 Jul 1914 Logan Co., KY; mrd. Elizabeth C. SWEATT 1 Jan 1855 Logan Co., KY.

5. Ann E. "Bettie" GUFFY b. ca. 1830; d. after Apr 1913; mrd. John W. SIMMONS 15 Sep 1853 Logan Co., KY.

6. Eliza M. GUFFY b. 18 Oct 1831 Jefferson Co., MO; d. 8 Mar 1904 Butler Co., KY; mrd. Rev. Cartwright Franklin GUFFY (first cousin) 18 May 1857 Logan Co., KY.

7. Ara Eveline GUFFY b. ca. 1834; mrd. Richard WILSON 27 Aug 1850 Logan Co., KY.

8. Joseph R. GUFFY b. 15 Sep 1836 Logan Co., KY; d. 29 Oct 1916 Rosston, Harper Co., OK; buried Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Harper Co., OK. Mrd. Charity Angeline MILAM 16 Dec 1869 Logan Co., KY.

9. Mary GUFFY b. 5 Apr 1842 KY; d. 16 May 1880; buried Guffy Cemetery, Logan Co., KY. Mrd. John Lewis BROWN.

10. Sarah J. "Sallie" GUFFY b. 1840/1841 KY; mrd. Flem C. JAMESON 1861 Logan Co., KY.

11. Frances GUFFY b. bet 1845/1848 KY; d. bet 1878/1880 KY; mrd. Ben BRIGGS bet 1870/1873 KY.

12. Charles Wesley GUFFY b. 21 Aug 1850 Logan Co., KY; d. 19 Aug 1926 Rosston, Harper Co., OK; buried Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Rosston, Harper Co., OK. Mrd. Elisabeth Ann "Betty" JOHNSON 6 Dec 1875 Logan Co., KY.

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Henry GUFFEY, son of James & Margaret KEARN GUFFEY, does NOT have a history that is as clear and distinct as his two brothers. It is thought by many GUFFEY researchers, however, that the Henry GUFFEY who married Margaret Jane McDOWELL, was the Henry GUFFEY who was James & Margaret KEARN GUFFEY's son. Other GUFFEY researchers refute that claim and point out that the PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF PUTNAM COUNTY, OH, 1896 states that Henry GUFFY, who mrd. Margaret Jane McDOWELL, came from Ireland with two brothers, and Henry settled in Kentucky at a very early date in the history of the state, and was killed by Indians.

However, because some GUFFEY researchers believe this Henry is the son of James and Margaret KEARN GUFFEY, his children will be included here. Readers will have to decide for themselves whether this placement is proper. It is known that Henry GUFFEY and Margaret Jane McDOWELL had at least three children. Of this Henry the following is written: "He was killed while plowing on his farm in Pennsylvania, though he had his gun strapped to the plow, being shot by Indians in ambush. The Guffey family, who are of Scotch descent, come from an old and thoroughly respected clan in the land of Burns." [the preceding quote and information below on daughter, Margaret, comes from: History of Vigo and Parke Counties, together with Historic notes on the Wabash Valley, by H. W. Beckwith].

Henry and Margaret's three known children are:

1. John McDowell GUFFEY was b. 21 Dec 1782 in Pittsburg, Allegheny Co., PA and
d. 1 Jul 1874 in Sugar Creek, Putnam Co., OH. He was married first to Pamela
PUNTENNEY ca. 1804 in Franklin Co., OH. They had twin sons: Isaac GUFFEY
and William GUFFEY b. 22 Nov 1806 in Franklin Co., OH. Isaac died in Kansas on February 2, 1885. William died Oct 2, 1899 in Putnam Co., OH. John was married second to Nancy A. PENNINGTON / PENDELTON, and they had the following children: Margaret GUFFY mrd. Samuel PARKER; Henry GUFFY d. ca. 1812; Jane GUFFY mrd. James McKINLEY; Joseph GUFFY was killed by a falling tree in 1835; Aquilla GUFFY who died leaving a family of six children; Sarah GUFFY mrd. Jacob RHODES; Nelson P. GUFFY lived in Michigan; and Elizabeth "Libby" GUFFY mrd. William McLAIN, a farmer. [info from: Portrait & Biographical Record of Putnam County, OH 1896].

2. Henry GUFFEY [Jr.] was born in 1784. He died in 1812.

3. Margaret GUFFEY was born on 22 Mar 1786 in PA. She d. ca. 1851 and was buried in Parke Co., Liberty Township, IN. She was married to James LAVERTY on 10 Mar 1807 in Franklin Co., OH. James LAVERTY was born on 19 Nov 1785 in PA. He died on
10 Aug 1861. He was buried in Parke Co., Liberty Township, IN. James & Margaret GUFFEY LAVERTY had nine children: Jane LAVERTY, Cynthia LAVERTY, Samuel LAVERTY, John LAVERTY, Mary LAVERTY, Sarah Ann "Indiana" LAVERTY, Louisiana A. LAVERTY (Indiana & Louisiana are said to be twins), Aquilla LAVERTY, and Alexander LAVERTY d. ca. 1823. Many of these children lived and died in Parke Co., IN.

For the reasons listed below, many GUFFEY researchers think that the above Henry GUFFEY is the son of James & Margaret Kearn Guffey:

1. McDowell connections: This Henry Guffey married Margaret McDowell, and there are many McDowell connections among the KEARN, GUFFEY/GUFFY, and PUNTENNY families. Thomas KEARM had a daughter, Catherine, who married a Baptist McDowell in Cecil Co., MD. There was a Guffy/McDowell marriage in Logan Co., KY as mentioned above (Sarah Guffy married Joseph M. McDowell on Nov. 17, 1806). Several of the brothers and sisters of Ann Puntenney Guffy, wife of Alexander GUFFY, married McDowells: Aquilla Puntenney m. Margaret McDowell, Nelson H. Puntenney m. Jane McDowell, Samuel Puntenney m. Nancy McDowell. all of these couples lived in Logan Co., KY at the same time.

2. Similar locations: This Henry was in Pittsburgh, PA in the 1780s when his children were born...Alexander & James were also in the same area in the 1780s... Nelson and Jane McDowell Puntenney lived for many years in Parke Co., IN, Nelson dying there--same place that Henry's daughter, Margaret Guffey Laverty, lived.

3. Puntenney connections: Alexander Guffy married Ann Pontney/Puntenney. This Henry's son, James McDowell Guffey, married Pamela Puntenney, and they named their children Puntenney names: Joseph, Aquilla, Nelson. Henry's daughter, Margaret Guffey Laverty, also named one of her sons Aquilla (and another one Alexander).
Regardless of whether the Henry listed above is rightly included in the list of children of James and Margaret KEARN GUFFEY, it can be observed that James GUFFIE and Margaret KEARN GUFFEY never lived in Virginia nor did any of their children!

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Now to address POINT II: The GUFFEY brothers who were born in VA. and had lived in Wayne and Clinton Cos., KY., Morgan Co., TN., and Putnam Co., MO. were the sons of Ephraim McGUFFEY/GUFFEY, Junr. and his wife, Nancy, who had lived in Pittsylvania, Patrick and Henry Cos.,VA.


GUFFEY researchers need to be aware when dealing with the name of Ephraim Guffey in Wayne County, KY that there were several of them. Wayne & Clinton Counties, KY is the area to which many present-day GUFFEYs can trace our roots. The oldest known Ephraim GUFFEY (I'll identify as "elder") in Wayne County had migrated there in the late 1790s and came from and had lived in Pittsylvania, Patrick and Henry Counties, VA--the property was on the same location, it simply came to be in different counties as those counties were created. The elder Ephraim GUFFEY was b. ca. 1740, and relocated to Wayne County, KY. (late 1790s) as an elderly man with his wife, Nancy, and their children, many of whom were adults at the time (see list below). The oldest son of the elder Ephraim and his wife, Nancy, was also named Ephraim, and he was b. 1765, and he married Sarah Denny. Of the elder Ephraim GUFFEY b. ca.1740, we find this IMPORTANT record dated 1802 in the Wayne County Court House Order Book A 1801-1822, page 32:

"Ephraim Guffey, Jr. and his negro man Sam are exempted from the payment of County levies in future on account of age and Infirmity."

He was exempted because of age and infirmity--that doesn't identify conditions of his son, Ephraim Guffey b. 1765 who would have been only about 37 years old in 1802. It definitely refers to the father, the elder Ephraim b. ca. 1740. The father, the elder Ephraim, called himself Junr. and was recorded as such at times as reflected above, apparently because his father was Ephraim, too. The son, Ephraim b. 1765, had married Sarah "Sally" DENNY.

Further, an IMPORTANT record for one of the elder Ephraim's children was recorded in the adjoining Clinton County, KY Vital Records as photocopied by Latter Day Saints on micro film roll #216.821. We find:

"18 Mar 1852 Rich'd Guffey 76 male b. Virginia parents: E. & Nancy Guffey."

Guffey researchers are typically in agreement that at least the following were siblings, and we now know that Ephraim and Nancy Guffey were their parents: (some dates appear to conflict with other dates found, too. This posting doesn't claim that these below are necessarily the correct dates--they are just the ones I have.)
1. Anne Guffey. b. Mar 1, 1762. d. 1849. mrd. Yelverton Peyton.
2. Ephraim Guffey b. Sept 20, 1765. d. Feb 15, 1843. mrd. Sarah "Sally" Denny.
3. Mourning Guffey b. ca. 1768. d. ca. 1804. mrd. John Davis.
4. Henry "Hal" Guffey b. 1766-71. d. Jan 22, 1874. mrd. Elizabeth "Betsy" Adams.
5. Phoebe Guffey b. 1770-80. d. 1852-60. mrd. Gabriel H. Choate.
6. Constantine Guffey b. 1780. d. 1860-70. not mrd.
7. Richard Guffey b. 1782. d. Mar 18, 1853. mrd. Phoebe Adams.
8. William Guffey b. 1786. d. Oct 7, l866. mrd. Elizabeth Willis. (My direct ancestor)

In view of the above item regarding Richard GUFFEY's death and parents' names, it is assumed, rightly or wrongly, that if Richard's parents were Ephraim GUFFEY, Junr. and his wife, Nancy, that the other GUFFEY brothers share the same parents. Those brothers had lived in Wayne and Clinton Cos., KY. and then they all moved to Morgan Co., TN. and from there they separated and one went to Putnam Co., MO. (Henry "Hal" GUFFEY b. ca. 1766-71); one returned to Clinton Co., KY (Richard GUFFEY b. 1782 identified above) and two remained in Morgan Co., TN. (William GUFFEY b. 1786 and brother, Constantine GUFFEY b. ca. 1780 who lived his last 30 years in the household of William). The above named Henry "Hal" GUFFEY and Richard GUFFEY married ADAMS sisters, Elizabeth and Phoebe, respectively. They were the daughters of Joshua ADAMS and Phebe EASLEY ADAMS.

Because the elder Ephraim b. ca. 1740 was recorded in VA. with the name "McGUFFEY" and dropped the patronymic designator when he relocated in Wayne Co., KY, I have frequently recorded his name as "Ephraim McGUFFEY/GUFFEY, Junr."

In outlining his ancestry, we find his parents are believed to have been Ephraim Meguffey/McGuffey/Guffey who was b. ca. 1695 in Essex Co., VA. and his wife, Lucy. All these spellings are used in county records and also his own will. They were from Essex County, Va. where the name was spelled "Maguffe" and "Maguffie". They had migrated to old Bute Co., N.C. where Ephraim b. ca. 1695 died in 1777. Ephraim b. ca.1695 was the son of John Maguffie, Senr. and his wife, Susanna EVANS Maguffie. The family had been raised in Essex Co., VA. Many court records exist there for these people. John Maguffie, Senr. had a son named John Maguffie/Maguffee, Junr. whose wife was Jane HENLEY Maguffee. John Maguffie, Senr. was the son of the immigrant, John Meguffey/Maguffie/Maguffe, and his wife, Jane DAVONPORT Maguffie. First records of the immigrant, John Meguffey/Maguffie/Maguffe, are dated 1670 and found in old Rappahannock (later Essex) Co., VA.

Ephraim was a family name that was passed down by descendants of Ephraim McGUFFEY/GUFFEY, Junr. for several generations, and as a result at one time in Wayne and Clinton Counties, KY there were four Ephraim GUFFEYs living at the same time.

A. Joseph Guffey. guffeyaj@hotmail.com
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