EDWARD GYE -Of Westmoreland, Eng. Immigrant 1682, Phila

ADDENDUM

THE GUY

EDWARD GYE -of Westmoreland, Eng. Immigrant 1682, Phila.

1. John, who died 1734

JOHN GUY Married ISABELLA ~-- b. -

d. 1734 d. May 5, 1742

1. Elizabeth, baptised Aug. 24/1719 2. ~y-m. Martha, went to VA 3. William m. Ann

4. Thomas, owned land in Cumberland County 5. Archibald 6. Samuel 7. Robert

III. ROBERT GUY Married 1MJ b. b. d; 1760 d. l. Mary Ray

2. Joseph, d. 1780 3. Isabell Bell

4. Thomas. d. 1809 5. Archibald

6. John -went to Virginia 7 ..8JlD.

8. Sarah

9. Robert

FAMILY

IV.

ROBERT GUY Married ELINOR

b. ca 1748 b. ca 1750 d. ca 1819 d. ca 1812 1. Absolom, b. 1774

2. Mary, b. 1776, m. William Rush 3. bnn, b. 1778, m. Richard Low

4. Phebe, b. 1780, m. Stephen Gould

5. Jane, b. 1782, m. Aaron Herrington 6. Elizabeth, b. 1784, m. Elijah Cole 7. Rachel, b. 1786, m. Elijah Johnson 8. Sarah, b. 1788, m. George Kelly

9. Marqaret, b. 1790, m. Edward Wallis

ISABEL

ELIZABETH GUY Married ELIJAH COLE See Cole Family for details

THE HISTORY OF THE GUY FAMILY

There are a number of published histories of the Guy (Gay, Gye) family. Some say they were one of the Scots-Irish families who came to America early in the eighteenth century, while others claim the Guys were English, not Scots. They do pose a new and interesting addition to our family tree, but the task of proving exactly which Guy family produced our Robert will have to be a challenge for another researcher, in the event that my conclusion is incorrect.

After studying wills and deeds of many Guy families, the family outlined on the opposite chart seems to be the most likely ancestry for Robert Guy of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

In the PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES, there is a section concerning Early American Land Records.13 It states:

Isaac Self, whose Right to 500 acres of Land is entered page 75 hath now Sent over a Power of Attorney to Anthony Morris, dated ye 29th of August 1717, together with John Gye, whose father Edward Gye was Joint Purchaser with the Grandfather of Isaac Self, in the said 500 acres, to take up 250 acres, the other part being already laid out in Chester County. A. Morrest (Morris) requests a Warrant for the same, also for the Lott and Liberty Land belonging to the said Purchase.

Edward Gye arrived in America in 1682. The PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Vol. 28, p. 174 states that Edward Guy of Appleby in Westmoreland, but late of Philadelphia, son of Edward, went to Queens College, Oxford at age 15 in 1624. Edward Guy of Pennsylvania was the son of Edward of Westmoreland, England, whose will was dated 1698. He had a son John. In the Bucks County land records" there are lengthy deeds that trace Edward's land purchase in 1693 to his son John. 4

In addition to numerous deeds for land that was bought and sold by the children of John (II) and Isabella Guy, the wills of John's wife, Isabella Guy, and Robert Guy (III) were studied.

ISABELLA GUY'S WILL

Isabella's will was dated March 31, 1742136 and read as follows: I ISABELLA GAEY of the Township of Sadesberry and County of Lanchester now am Sick and Weak yet having my Naturall Witts and Sences Doth hear make my last Will and Testament the first thing I Require I give my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me and after my Decease I order my Corps to be Decently Interred at the Grave Yeard were my husband Lies at the Direction of my Exetors And for what Worldly Substance it has pleased God to Bless me hear with all I order in forme and manner as followeth first I order my Funerall Charges to be paid and Afterwards I Bequeath and give to my Four Sons Robert, Henry, William, and Thomas each of them one Shilling of English Money or the Value thereof and for the rest of my Concerns Personall and Real that is to say all Lands Goods and Chattels I Bequeath and Give to my Son Archibald Gawey and orders him to be my Exetor Revoking all other Will or Wills

promises or Grants but this is to be my Last Will and Testament given under my hand this Last Day of Ma1-ch in the year of our Lord God 1742. I order my son Samuel one English Shilling.

signed Isabella Gaey (her mark)

Her son, Samuel appeared to be an after thought. Since there was no mention of her daughter Elizabeth, I concluded that she probably died young. I was not able to find her husband John's will.

WILL OF ROBERT GUY III

Robert Gay (III) had a will dated September 15, 1760137. The first part contains the standard format so I will skip to the people he designates to receive a legacy. Item. I give and bequeath unto Isabel my dearly beloved Wife, Ben my Negroe Boy and my black pacing Mare, and be furnished with a good new Saddle at the expence of the Two Boys that get the Plantation, and also keep the Creature in Food Summer and Winter,. Sufficiently and likewise they are to find her in Sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparrell and Lodging during the time that she remains a Widow also Bed and Furniture. Item. I Give to my Well beloved Daughter Mary Ray five shillings to be paid in a Year after my decease. Item. I Give to my Well beloved son Joseph Fifty Acres of ye land untitled, joining Robert Willins. Item. I Give to my Well Beloved Daughter Isabell Bell Five Shillings. Item. I Give unto my Well Beloved Sons Thomas and Archibald the Remainder of my Plantation and all my goods and Chat tells, Each to have an Equal Share they paying all debts and legaceys, above mentioned or here-after mentioned to them and their Heirs and Afans (Assigns) for Ever. Item. I Give to my well beloved, Son, John Twenty pounds to be paid to him when he is of Twenty one years of Age. Item. I Give to my well beloved Son Robert the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid to him when he Arrives at the Age of Twenty one years and to have one years schooling and then to be bound to a Trade. Item. I Give to my Well Beloved daughter Sarah the sum of ten pounds to be paid to her when she is 18 years of age and she is to have one Years Schooling. Item. If any of the above mentioned Legatees should die before they come of Age, their part or parts is to be Divided equally amoung my Sons. Item. I likewise appoint and Constitute my Wife Isabel and my Son Thomas Gay, make and ordain my only and Sole Exes of this my Last Will and Testament AND I DO hereby utterly disallow Revoke and disannull all and Every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors by my and any ways before this named, willed bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.

Signed

Robert Gay by His Mark

Joseph Guy died in 1780 and his brother Thomas was executor of his estate. Both were children of Robert Guy III.

Other References to Guy children include the following: Henry Guy (II.2), son of John, applied for a Pennsylvania

Warrant for 49 acres of land in 1733. He sold the land in 17401

went to Virginia and died in 1779. His children were Sara Guy Gilkison, Ann Frazier, Martha Gillispy, Rebecca Tompson, Elizabeth Moore, Jennet and John.

William Guy(II.2) applied for a Pennsylvania Land Warrant in 1738 for 86 acres. He sold the land in 1781 and died in 1789. He had two known children: Will\iam Jr. and Ann, who married John Johnston.

Thomas purchased land in Cumberland County in 1766.

Archibald purchased 100 acres in 1738, apparently in Lancaster or Chester County.

Samuel purchased 150 acres of land in Middletown Township, Cumberland County in 1738.

Robert purchased 150 acres of land in Lancaster County in 1738. Which would indicate that all of the sons were at least 21 years of age in 1738.

There is no definite proof that the Robert Guy (IV) who purchased land on Muncy Creek in 1769 is the Robert Guy from the Lancaster family outlined in our chart. No records were found to establish Robert Guy's birth, marriage, death or the births of his children. The evidence found in deeds seemed to tip the scales toward the Lancaster County Robert. However, later research could reveal that he came from New England, New York state, New Jersey, or Maryland. There were Guys in all of these locations.

ROBERT GUY IV

When the "New Purchase" opened more land for settlers in 1769, Robert Guy filed Application No.35 to receive a Warrant for 330 acres of land in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. His age was estimated by assuming that he was 21 years old when he made this purchase.

It was not until 1774 that he registered as a settler on the land along Muncy Creek. This may have been due to a problem with the survey. It seems that in 1769, a deputy surveyor was sent to Muncy Creek, above and adjoining the manor. The area called "Muncy Manor" belonged to the Proprietors of Pennsylvania land. It is shown on the map on the opposite page. The surveyor was to make surveys for Robert Guy, John Mourer, Thomas Seaman, James Robb, William Foulk, Mr. Campbell and others, who were with him, in pursuance of orders from the Land Office, dated the 3rd of April, 1769. After arriving on the ground he was met by Samuel Harris (the book refers to Samuel Harris, but I believe they mean Samuel Wallis who contested the ownership of the land), who informed him that there were older rights to these lands, and forbid him making surveys. This order was ignored and the surveyor went about his duty until he found a tree marked as a corner, which appeared to be old marks on the bank of Wolf Run. The surveyor called the attention of those with him to the marks, and shortly after this he found other marks which showed clearly that surveyors had been there before him. After returning to Wallis' camp and telling him of the find, Wallis stated that he could show them all the corners, proving that it was his property. Several lawsuits followed between Wallis and the Proprietaries. Samuel Wallis lost because "a title to land obtained before it was purchased from the Indians cannot be valid in law. " Samuel Wallis took the suit to the Supreme Court sitting at Reading in 1773 and lost. This is probably the date when Robert Guy received the official survey for his land.

Robert probably then cleared the land and built a cabin. About 1774 he married and he and his bride moved to the area. Robert registered as a settler in Muncy in 1774. His first child was born in 1775. His wife's name was Elinor but I have never discovered her maiden name. Robert paid taxes on his land in Muncy Township for every year after 1778. On 1788 he received a Certificate of Acceptance for his land and paid £59 and 4 shillings to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His tract was named "WARWICK'. The name may offer a clue to the origin of Robert's family. An article written about the family of John Gay of

Sadsbury, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by Robert Montgomery AB, LLB of

Cambridge, Massachusetts, indicates that the Guys "may have" lived in Warwickshire, England before settling in Ireland.

The 1769 purchase of land from the Indians produced many problems for new settlers. As hundreds of white immigrants pushed westward onto Indian lands, the tribes suddenly realized their hunting areas were gone. Forests disappeared as farmers cut down trees to build houses and plant crops. Wild animals were killed for food and to protect domestic animals. The Indians were angry and continually harassed the settlers.

The British in Canada encouraged this action by the Indians, providing them with food and guns to help defeat the American army during the Revolutionary War.

On June 10, 1778 the residents in the Muncy area sent a petition to the Hon01~ble the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania. It stated: The remonstrance of sundry the distressed inhabitants of the county of Northumberland inhabiting the West Branch of the River Susquehanna above Muncy Hills/ humbly sheweth: That the repeated depredations and horrid murders lately committed upon the innocent and peaceable inhabitants amongst us within a few weeks past is truly alarming. The melancholy event of the 31st of May upon Loyalsock creek obliged us to leave our homes and livings/ and to assemble together in large bodies in order to protect our wives and infant children from becoming the victims of savage fury; in full faith and confidence that we should shortly meet with such succor as would enable us to make a vigorous stand/ that we have since frequently applied to the lieutenant of the county for aid, who, after using his best endeavors has not been able to furnish us with more than seventy-three troops of the militia of this county to cover at least forty miles in length. This supply we apprehend to be of very little use especially as their times will be out in the midst of the harvest/ and should anything more happen in the meanwhile, we are convinced that it will be impossible to call out the militia of this county at any rate; that those considerations, together with the very alarming event of the murder and captivity of thirteen of our near neighbors and most intimate acquaintances this day has drove the majority of us to desperation, and to pray that you in your wisdom will not only order to our immediate relief such standing forces as will be equal to our necessity;but that you wi1l order such magazines and stores of provisions to be provided as will convince the good people of this place that such troops are to be stationed amongst

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them during the war. Nothing short of your immediate assurance of this, we are convinced, will induce the people to run the farther risk of being obliged to move away at a more unfavorable season. Therefore in consideration of the premises, we beg leave to submit ourselves and families to your care and protection, not doubting but you will order us such relief as to you in your wisdom may seem meet.

The petition was signed by 145 residents, including Robert Guy. Sympathy was aroused for the settlers, but the fledgling government, still fighting the British along the coastline, moved too slowly. The blow came in July of 1779, when Captain John McDonald with 100 Tory soldiers and 200 Indians under Hiokoto, a Seneca chief, and the husband of Mary Jemison, the "White Woman," surged down the west branch of the Susquehanna River burning everything in sight.

Robert Guy, who had settled on a tract of land lying between what was afterwards known as Shoemaker's mill and Muncy, had been warned to leave but still lingered. On the approach of one of these marauding bands a messenger was despatched from Brady's fort to warn him again to fly as the danger was imminent. He was found at work in the field. Hastening to the house he told his wife of their peril. While she prepared a chaff tick for two of their children, he brought two horses to the door. Then ripping the tick open in the middle he removed a portion of the chaff, threw the tick over, the back of a horse, placed a child on each side, and then mounted to hold it in place and rode away. In the meantime his wife, with a babe in her arms, mounted the other horse and joined him. It being too late, as they supposed, to go to the fort, they rode on down the river and did not stop till they reached Carlisle. So great was their hurry to get away, they left everything behind. They remained at Carlisle until the war was over, when they returned, but they found all their buildings in ashes.

It is more likely that the Guys went to Lancaster County instead of Carlisle. It would be necessary to stay with relatives and I believe both Robert and his wife originally came from the Lancaster area. Also, if they went down the west branch of the Susquehanna river, they would be closer to Lancaster than to Carlisle.

The three babies that they took with them were Absalom, Mary and Ann. This incident was known as the "Big Runaway." Other historians describe the event as large groups of people arriving at the river where big rafts, canoes and all manner of floats were hastily assembled and loaded with household effects and provisions. The women and children were also placed on the raft and the flotilla started down the river. The men walked or rode along the shore, with rifles ready to repeal any attack. Had it not been for the men on shore, the Indians would most likely have attacked the floats at any opportune place along the river.

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THE FAMILY OF ROBERT GUY IV

In 1790 the census for Northumberland County shows Robert Guy with 2 males over 16 years of age. Absolom was probably just 16 that year. There are 8 females indicating that the youngest daughter, Margaret, was not born yet. Elinor had 7 daughters at that time.

In the 1800 census we found Absolom Guy living beside his father with a wife, one son and one daughter, both under 10 years of age. Robert had one daughter under 10 (Margaret), one daughter 10- 16 (Sarah, age 11), 4 daughters 16- 26 (Rachel, Elizabeth, Jane and Phebe). Mary and Ann must have married before this census.