Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, a.k.a “Woody Guthrie”, was an American singer and songwriter who was born in Oklahoma about 1913. Born in Oklahoma in 1913, Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, a.k.a. “Woody Guthrie”, was also my 4th cousin, 1x removed. I never met either one of them. Utter joy and disbelief ran through my head simultaneously when I discovered Woody’s name in the 1920 census. Could this be real? Yes and no. He was a real person after all. But my elation, which was driven by my fascination with famous relatives, was short-lived as I realized my Woody Guthrie was not the beloved guitar-wielding Woody Guthrie who gave us “This Land Is Your Land”. Although, a few researchers on Ancestry.com decided (my) Woody who was not Woody Guthrie the musician ought to have pictures of the musician and his family attached to his profile in their family trees. Morons.

I can image my Woody Guthrie went through life having to endure jokes or comments and he probably got more than his fair share of bewildered looks whenever he signed his name. Poor guy. He died in 1983 in Oklahoma. He didn’t turn out to be the person I thought he might have been but I am proud to have him as a leaf on my tree.

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 4th cousin, 1x removed
Common ancestors: Woody’s 3rd great grandparents, John and Margaret (Greenwood) Boren, are my 4th great grandparents