The Mother of The Steele Brothers of Georgia - Lucy Ellender Butler

The Family History of Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler

 Mother of The 6 Steele Brothers of Georgia and Their 3 Sisters

Pa and Granny Steele and her dog “Doodie”

Pictured Celebrating their 64^th Wedding Anniversary in 1933

Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler was born on October 3, 1851 on a cotton plantation 

in Dooly County, Georgia

She married Walter Simeon Steele on February 18, 1869 in Pike County, Molena, Georgia

She died on May 6, 1937 in Clayton County, Georgia

She and Walter are buried at Berea Church Cemetery, Henry County, Hampton, Georgia

The Butler Coat of Arms

The Butler surname came to Ireland with the Anglo- Norman invasion of the 12th century, led by the forces of Strongbow. The surname came from a common occupational name for a wine steward or the chief servant of a medieval household.

This Butler Family emigrated in 1632 from Braintree, Essex England

to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Boston

Butler Coat of Arms

The Butler Coat of Arms has a Quartered Escutcheon, The Blazon for the Butler Coat first indicates that it is a quartered shield and then identifies the Tincture (or color) of the 1st and 4th quarters as being Or (yellow or gold, in this case, yellow). Next, the Blazon describes a band across each of these yellow quarters, in the Chief position, (meaning "across the top") as Indented (or diagonally scalloped) and tinctured Azure, (blue). Next the Blazon describes the 2nd and 3rd quarters as being tinctured Gules (red). The Butler Blazon then numbers and describes the Charges applied to the red quarters as "six Cups Or" (or six golden goblets). By convention the charges are divided evenly between the 2nd and 3rd quarters, giving three Cups to each quarter. The heraldic "Cups" are covered wine goblets, and are common to many of the various Butler arms. Although probably not exclusive to the Butlers, these Cups are quite rare in other arms compared to the more common charges.

Butler is an occupational last name derived from the old French “bouteillier” which comes from the Latin word “buticula” means bottle. ... Modern variations of the name include Boutler, Buttlar, and Buteler. Counties associated with the name. Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny and Tipperary. Coat of arms motto

Among the symbols on the shield are bottles, since the first Butlers were bottlers to the king thus deriving their name; a cross for the crusades with a mark for each time a member of the family went on a crusade; a gold portion for participation in the Battle of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, and a lion, for affiliation with Richard the Lion-hearted. Also on the crest is the family motto, Comme je trouve, meaning I take things as I find them. Flanking the main part of the shield are a falcon and griffin, traditional heraldic characters.

The Family History of Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler Steele

The Mother of The Steele Brothers of Georgia

1821   The Steele family story that Lucy Ellen was born October 3, 1851 on a plantation on the banks of the Flint River in southwest Georgia is true.  The location has been a mystery until now.  The plantation was in Dooly County near Byromville which is between Turkey Creek and the Flint River.  This Butler Family Story  begins with a little girl orphaned at age 8 and followers the family back to 1632 when William Butler arrived in Boston  from England.  The family history dates back to 1525 in Essex England and as  founders of Hartford, Conn.  Their migration south through the Carolinas and to Georgia was as pioneers seeking new land for settlement.

Lucy Ellen Butler’s father was Matthew Crumpler Butler, born in Sampson Co NC in 1812.  He acquired land in the 16^th District of Dooly County through the 1821 Land Lottery.  In this 1821 Land Lottery lots were 202.5 acres.  The land lottery program was organized under the then GA Governor John Milledge after the Land Treaty was signed with the Creek and Muscogee Indian Treaty  by William McIntosh at Indian Springs, GA. 

Mathew died December 31, 1859 of typhoid fever. His son Lott H Butler also died in December 1859. On January 1, 1860 Lucy Ellen’s mother, Mary Ann and her oldest sister Anna Maria also died of typhoid fever.  At the time of his death Matthew Butler owned own a large cotton plantation, 6 slaves, real estate valued at $7,000 and personal property valued at $8,270. .

 The death of these 4 family members left Lucy Ellen and her 6 brothers and sisters orphaned.  It can be assumed that other family members cared for these children.  The details of their care is not clear, but Matthew Butler explicitly requested in his Will that proceeds from his estate be used for the care and education of his children.

After Lucy Ellen Butler was orphaned at age 8, the 1860 U S Census shows Lucy Butler age 8 and Charley W Butler age 5, each with assets of $305, living with a 59 year old widow woman named Fannie Fuller in the 26^th District of Sumter Co GA near Americus, GA. The 1860 Census of Sumter Co GA shows Fannie Fuller has land valued at $1000 and personal property valued at $3500.  .Apparently, this kind widow lady took in 2 of the Steele children to raise.  The child, Charley W Butler, is a mystery because he is not listed on any family list, but later records show he was born in 1854.   

Frances “Fanny” Bailey Fuller had married James Anderson Fuller and they had 7 children.  James Anderson had served in the military and had won land in the 1827 Land Lottery.  By 1860  Fannie Fuller’s children were grown and James Fuller had died in 1853 at the age of 63.   In 1850 Fanny had lived in  Meriwether Co GA near her daughter Mary Frances..  In 1860 she was living in Sumter Co GA.  Then she moved back to Meriwether Co and lived with her daughter, where she died at age 61 in 1862.  Now Ellen and Charley Butler were orphans once again. 

Fanny and John Fuller’s daughter, Mary Frances Fuller (1830 – 1910) , who married Rhodom Maxey Brooks (1832 – 1891) while living in Meriwether Co, GA in 1851.  They had 7 children.  Records show that Mary Frances and Rhodom Maxey Brooks continued to care for Lucy and Charley Butler after her mother died.  R M Brooks served as a Private in the Civil War, 1^st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Company F. 

By 1867 the Brooks family had moved to Pike County, GA Milita District 505, which is present day Molena GA.  The 1870 Pike County Census shows the following Brooks family members:

Rowdon age 38, Mary Frances age 38, Henrietta age 16, James M age 14, William age 12,  Rowlin age 11,  John W age 9, Simon age 6, Eddie age 4, Mary E age 5 months and Charles Butler age 15.  All of the children of age are attending school.  Lucy Ellen Butler is not listed in the household at this time. 

On February 18, 1869 Lucy Ellen Butler married Walter Simon “ W. S.” Steele in Molena GA in the presence of the R. M. Brooks family and was married by Rev. James Weaver.  A copy of this Marriage Certificate is in the Steeles of Georgia collection.  Rev James Weaver had a store and post office at a place near Molena called Weaver.  Walter Simon and Lucy Ellen Steele had 9 children including the 6 Steele Brothers of Georgia.  The family history is published at www.steelesofgeorgia.blogspot.com

The Brooks Family lived in Pike County, Molena, GA for generations.  Mary Frances Fuller Brooks lived with her son John Winfield Brooks in Molena until her death at age 79 on Jan 22, 1910.  He had a wife and 5 children and he was a railroad conductor.  He moved to Arcadia, DeSoto, FL where he died On Mar 11, 1932 and is buried in the Molena Cemetery.  Her son William Henry Brooks (1860 – 1898) was a farmer, had a wife and 4 children and lived in Molena.  Her son James Maxey Brooks (1855 – 1931) was a railroad conductor,  had a wife and 5 children and lived in Molena.  His son, Roscoe at age 19 was also a railroad conductor.  His son James at age17 was a merchant.  His son Basil at age 16 was a bookkeeper.  There are 26 burials of members of the Brooks family in the Molena Cemetery located east of town on Hwy 105 Spring Road.  Possibly, some of the Brooks Family still lives in the area.  We are thankful they cared for our Grandmother.  Ellen and Walter’s son, Morton Steele,  named his 2^nd daughter Mary Frances Steele, Ellen’s granddaughter,  possibly in honor of Ellen’s surrogate Mother, Mary Frances.

Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler’s Family 

         Dooly County,  Vienna, Georgia

1821    Her father was Matthew Crumpler Butler and was born December 24, 1812 in Sampson County NC, located just west of Fayetteville NC, where his father had received a land grant of 400 acres to create a plantation.  Matthew and other members of the Butler family won land grants in the 1821 Georgia Land Lottery for land in west Dooly County GA near the town of Bryomville located between the Flint River and Turkey Creek.

 In 1840 he owned 6 slaves – 3 males under 10, 1 male under 23, 2 females under 10 which means he had 5 slave children and 1 grown male slave. His family consisted of himself, Mary Ann and one child, Anna Maria.

In 1850 he owned 4 slaves – 1 age 12, 1 male age 10 and 1 female age 8.

1859, December 31 - Matthew Crumpler  Butler  died of Typhoid fever, but was not recorded until  1860.  He made a verbal death bed Nuncupative Will as shown below.  At the time of his death he owned 5 slaves -   1 male age 45, 1 male  age 25, 1 male age 21 , 1 female age 18 and 1 male age 12,  real estate valued at $7,000 and personal property valued at $8,270.  It was a large cotton plantation. His oldest son Lott H Butler age 17 also died in December 1859.

1860, January 1  Her Mother Mary Ann Forehand  Butler died of typhoid fever at age 44.   She was born in 1816. They met and married in Dooly County , Vienna, GA.  located just west of I-75 in South GA.  

1860, January 1 , their oldest daughter Anna Maria, age21, died of typhoid fever .

1860, January 1 - The remaining 7 Butler Children became orphans – they are:

 Arabella “Belle” age 18, Fort age 16, Frances age 14, John age 12, Caroline age 10, Lucy age 8, Josephine age 5 , and M A age 1.  The child Charley Butler is later found living with Lucy and a widow lady named Frances “Fannie” Fuller.   The arrangement for these children  is not known, but  Matthew’s will stated that his estate provide for the care and education of his children. 

Mathew and Mary Ann Butler had 11 or 12 children:

- Anna Maria Butler  b. 1838 –died January 1, 1860 of typhoid fever

-Arrabella “Belle’ Butler   b. Nov 1841 – d. 6-23-1919, married 1-30-1879 to Cornelius Patrick (1825 – 1899) a farmer.  At age 38, Bell lived in Dist 1, Dooly Co GA, at age 43 she had one child, Lillie M Patrick b. 1884. In 1900 she lived in Vienna, GA.   Cornelius Patrick died 2-22-1899 in Dooly Co GA.  As a widow Belle lived with daughter, Lillie, who married Charlie Hollon, who had one child, Luther.  Before marrying Bell, Cornelius Patrick was married to Lydia Rackley Kelly (1838 – 1876) and they had 4 children John, Sarah, Anthony and Pernal.  After his first wife died, he married Bell. In 1910 Belle age 68 is living with Lillie and Charlie Hollon in Cooling Town in 1^st District near the Dooly Tower, which could be the Walton Lookout Tower near the intersection of Highways # 257 and # 215.

-Lott H Butler 1842 –  died December 1859 of typhoid fever

- Fort M Butler 1843 – 1863

- Frances Butler 1846 –

- John Foster Butler 1851 – 1924  A farmer, lived and died in Vienna, GA.  He married Ella Larette Patrick on 1-25-1876 in Drayton, Dooly Co GA.  They had 8 children:   Clara Lena,  Matthew Patrick Butler, Ava Mae, Effie Estelle, Johnnie Bell, Annie Lou, Jerome Brown Butler and Bessie Louise.  In 1910 he had a boarding house at 3^rd Street, Vienna, GA with 12 boarders.  In 1920 at age 70 he owned a house  on Pine Street , is a merchant selling ice.  Daughter Bessie lives at home and is a stenographer for Empire Cotton Oil Co.  He had 2 boarders, a lawyer named Robert D Landan and Annie Landan.  Son Jerome B Butler lives on Pine St with his family and is a merchant in Thomaston, GA.

- Sarah Elizabeth “Babe” Butler 1851 – 1871  She was born in Macon Co GA and died at age 20 in Baker Co GA.  She married James Walter Walters (1842 – 1911) and had 2 children, Walter Calvin Walters (1867 – 1926) and Sarah Elizabeth Walters (1870 – 1936) Walter Walters also married Margaret McCollum ((1849 – 1927) and had 11 children Carrie, Lavonnie, Chad, Clarence, Clifford, Dodie, Jammie, Madge, Thadeus, Toy and Willie. 

- Carrie Butler 1852 – 1921 – married J M Walters died suddenly in Montezuma, GA July 29, 1921

* Lucy Ellender “Ellen” Butler Steele 10-03-1851 – 5-06-1937*M. Walter Simeon Steel, Molena, GA 2- 18-1869

? Charley W Butler 1855 –? Later he lived with Lucy Ellen and the Fuller and Brooks families

-Clifford, Josephine Butler 1857 – 1945

- Mary Butler 1859 – 1918

The Death Bed Nuncupative Will of Matthew Crumpler Butler

                 It is my Will and desire that I shall be buried in a Christian manner and that all by lawful debts be paid out of my effects; and that the residue of my property be kept hence on the place where I now live, until the youngest child becomes of age in monies, my younger children I want sent to school so as to get a fair English education.

It is my Will and desire that Gabril Butler, William Roberts and John A Forehand execute this M Will and see that my wishes are carried out.  And in the event of my wife marrying again then I desire my property be equally divided amongst her and all my living children.

                And in the event of my children any of them marrying, then I wish my Executors to give them that assistance from my estate, which they consider reasonable and just.

I also wish that my nephews Gerimiah Butler and Jackson Butler be sent to school until they are able to work.

We eo certify this to be the last Will and Testament of Matthew Butler made this 30^th December 1859.

Stephen B Stoval   Daniel G Wilder   Rob G Smith

State of Georgia}    Ordinary Court of said County

Dooly County}       3 February Adjourned from 1860

                Before me Samuel A Lassiter Ordinary of said county, personally came Gabril Butler & William Roberts Executors of the  Nuncupative Will of Matthew Butler deceased and produced before m the nuncupative Will of said deceased and the Witnesses to the same to wit, Stephen B Stovall, David G  Wilder & & Robert C Smith which said G Wilder & Robert C Smith which said witnesses being duly sworn in open court depose  and say the last request and proper hereto attached contains the last request and disposition of the personal property & effects of Matthew Butler late of said county deceased and the same is true in all its points.

                Sworn to before me in open court this 13^th February 1860

                Shamuel R Lasseter, Ordinary -    Stephen B Stovall -  R C Smith  -  Daniel G Wilder (X) mark

Note -    A nuncupative will is a verbal will that must have two witnesses and can only deal with the distribution of personal property. A nuncupative will is considered a "deathbed" will, meaning that it is a safety for people struck with a terminal illness and robbed of the ability or time to draft a proper written will. Real property cannot be transferred in this form of a Will.

The 1891 Dooly County Courthouse

Originally, a wooden courthouse was built in Drayton. In Dec. 1841, the legislature moved the county seat from Drayton back to Berrien, which it renamed Vienna. The legislation directed Dooly County officials to make the move by Feb. 1, 1842 -- so presumably a courthouse was quickly erected in early 1842. This wooden building burned in 1847 and was replaced by another wooden courthouse in 1849. This structure was later replaced by the current courthouse.   The Dooly County Courthouse, built in 1891 of granite, slate, and brick, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The courthouse was renovated in 1963 and again in the late 1980's.

Georgia Land Lottery

Eastern settlement of The State of Georgia began as land was acquired from the American Indians.  The distribution of this land was done by several schemes.  Land Indentures were  awarded to veterans of the Revolutionary War and Civil War, by the Headright System and later by the Land Lottery.  The Butlers participated in the Lottery after the Creek and Muskogee Indian Treaty was negotiated and signed by William McIntosh at Indian Springs, Georgia.   On January 8, 1821 a Treaty was signed for a long strip of land east of the Flint River to the Ocmulgee River.  On February 12,  1825 a Treaty  was signed for land west of the Flint River to the Alabama State line.  The U S Government paid the Indians $200,000 to be paid in $50,000 installments.  Indian Springs  is now a Georgia State Park and William McIntosh's old hotel is a museum.

1782    The Butlers come to Georgia from North Carolina

Matthew Crumpler Butler’s Parents  -

  John A  Butler (1782-1848 and Lucy Crumpler Butler (1783 -  before 1860)

Father - John A Butler was born August 2, 1782 in Sampson Or Duplin County, NC. 

1804  At age 22 he married Lucy Crumpler in Sampson or Duplin County NC.  The boundary lines of these 2 NC counties changed over time.  He was granted land in Dooly Co GA through the Land Grant program for settlement in the new territory.  They had 10 children.   He died at age 65 on  January 26, 1848 in Liberty Co, GA 

Mother – Lucy Crumpler   was born in1783 in Duplin County, NC.  She died between 1850 -1860.   At age 29 she married John A Butler in NC and died in Dooly County, GA possibly in the Lilly community Dooly Co GA.

 Lucy and John  A  Butler had 10 children:

- Jacob Butler 1804 – death date unknown

- Isaac William Butler 1806 – 1856   He married Elisa L West about 1836 and had 9 children.  This was his 2^nd marriage.  Isaac is buried in the Lilly City Cemetery, Dooly Co GA.  The 26^th District Dooly Co 1850 Census shows:  Isaac Butler age 43, a farmer, with land valued at $1300, Eliza age 33, Elizabeth age12, Adam J age 10, Jackson L age 9, Eliza E age 7,  Isaac W age 5, William J age 2 and Nicey West age 23.

- Adam Butler 1808 –

-Robert Butler 1810 –

* Matthew Crumpler Butler 1812 – 1850 (direct line ancestor) (In Robert Butler’s Will he refers to the Crumpler land which indicates the Crumpler family  were neighbors o f Matthew Butler’s family and how they met and married.)

- John Butler 1815 –

- Penny Jane 1817 – 1887

-Anna Ellizar 1819 –

- Phillip Raiford Butler 1821 -1869 The 1850 U S Census of 26^th District of Dooly Co GA shows Phillip R Butler, age 27 a farmer with land valued at $1000.  His household is Sarah age 20, Frances M age 2, Sarah C age 1, John G age 2 mo.

- Gabriel N Butler 1824 – 1868 He had a daughter named Ella (Mcinvale) who died 12-3-1936 and is buried at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery, Lilly,  Dooly Co GA.

John A Butler’s 2^nd marriage to Sarah Elizabeth Benton (1786 – 1860) In Liberty Co GA,     Sarah - born in Bladen Co NC 1786, died age 74 in Liberty Co Hinesville, GA in 1860.  John and Sarah had 3 sons:

- George Butler b. 1832, James Butler b 1834, John Butler b. 1826.. Sons George and John are listed as laborers.  John Butler  is a farmer with land valued at $2430.  Household members  include Lucy age 66, maybe his first wife,  and Gabriel age 25, John’s brother.

The 1850 Census of District 26^th of Dooly Co, GA shows other Butler family members as neighbors:

*Phillip R Butler age 27, farmer, real estate valued at $1000 and family – Sarah age 20, Trammell age 2, Sarah age 1

*Isaac   Butler age 43, farmer, real estate valued at $1300, family members Eliza age 33, Elizabeth age 12, Adam J age 10, Jackson L age 2, Eliza E age 7, Grace W age 5, William J age 2 and Nicey West age 25

 Jesse Butler age 35, a farmer with land valued at $600 and the following family members:  Margaret age 50, William H age 13, Cornelia E age 8, Samuel A age 10, Margaret Mikell age 19, James Mikell age 16 a laborer.  Next door is William W Winn age 32, a school teacher which probably why people in these households can read and write.

* Ezekiel  Butler age 38, farmer, land valued at $3000.  Family: Eliza age 41, Sophia age 10, John J age 9, Sarah J age 8.

*Sophia Butler age 50 female, born in NC, family members – Grace F age 8, John M age 6 and Jane Wilson

                    

Revolutionary War 1775 - 1788

1735  The Butlers in North Carolina

Revolutionary War 1775 - 1788

 John A Butler’s Parents

Major  Robert Asa Butler, Jr  and  Margaret Travers

                                                                                     

Major Robert Butler served in the Revolutionary War.  His service record shows he was born in Maryland in 1728 but other records state he was born in Sampson Co NC.  His name is on the NC Artillery Militia list of Duplin Co NC with a pay voucher #74 $68.10.  He served under Col James Kenan of Duplin Co Militia.  After the war he received 3 land grants totaling 1190 acres in Sampson County NC.  He died 4-6-1802. 

Two Spouses:  Margaret Travers and Delilah Rhodes   

                                                           

Father – Major Robert Asa Butler, Jr -  was born on April 7, 1735 in Bertie Precinct, Sampson County, NC.

 In 1761 in Sampson Co NC at age 26, he married Margaret Travers (1740 – 1786)

1783 at age 48 he was a resident of Duplin Co NC. 

1790 at age 55 he was a resident of Sampson Co NC.

1800 Robert lived in Sampson Co   Fayetteville  NC                                                                            

Sampson Co and Duplin Co NC boundary lines were changed and disputed about 1719.

Land Grants:  These grants were both to open up for settlement and rewarded for service in the Revolutionary War

1795, Feb 3 - Robert Butler received a Sampson Co NC Land Grant of 200 acres

1799,  June 10, Robert Butler Senior received a Sampson Co NC Land Grant of 400 acres

1788, June 7, Robert Butler Jr received a Sampson Co NC Land Grant of 90 acres

Mother –  Margaret Travers Butler b. 1740 d. 1786. 

Major Robert Asa Butler and Margaret had 12 children:

-Lusia   Lucy 1762 – 1782

- Sophier 1763 – 1805

-Desia   1766 –

-John 1767 - 1768

-Gabriel Winston 1768 – 1828

- Robert   Learance   1770 – 1839

Suffer 1771 -

-Travis Traverse   1772 – 1859

-Betsy Nancy 1776 – 1786

- Margaret “Polly” 1777 – 1850

-Gabriel 1779 -1825

Sally Sallie 1780 –

*John   A (Jno)  Butler 1782 – 1848  Direct descent father of Mathew Crumpler Butler who married Lucy Crumpler

-Elizabeth Betsy 1785 – 1786

-Patricia  Patience  1785 –  

In 1785  Robert Asa  Butler married Mary Williams (1768 – 1823) in Sampson Co NC

In 1786  Robert Asa  Butler, Jr married Delilah Rhodes Royal  (1758 -1826) in Duplin NC.  She had a child of her own -Reddick Rhodes, and Delilah and Robert Butler had 4 children –

-Cherrywine Butler 1787 -1788

-Betsy Butler 1789 –

Robert Asa Butler III 1790 –

Robert Adam Butler 1791 –

 The following transcribed Will of Robert Asa Butler, Jr refers to land near the Great Coharie Swamp.  This area is located north west of Wilmington, NC; west of I-40 which originates in Wilmington, NC; near Hwy 421; east of Fayetteville, NC and north of Clinton, NC.  This area is Sampson County NC or Duplin County NC.  The boundaries of these two counties changed several times over the centuries therefore the county designation varies depending on what year the reference is made.  The creeks that Robert Butler refers to are in the Cape Fear River Watershed.

ROBERT BUTLER’S WILL   (Robert Butler, Jr – transcribed from a printed copy) March 26, 1802

                In the name of God Amen.   I, Robert Butler, of the County of Sampson and State of North Carolina, being sick and weak in body but sound in mind and memory, thanks be given to God, do herby make and Ordain this my last Will and  Testament as followeth. 

                First in all I give and bequeath, in Witness, to my beloved son John Butler a certain piece of land on the west side of Great Cohary, taking the pea field beginning at the mouth of the Spring Branch thence to a stake, a corner, on the great run of said Cohary opposite William Clinton’s, thence up said run half way to the Beverdam Swamp and corners, thence to the west side of Great Cohary swamp to the mouth of Long Branch and with the same the head thence a straight line by the flax (?) hole and gum pond to my own back line and down the same to Boykin’s branch to the corner there a straight course to the head of the Spring Branch and down the same to beginning, also the services of a bound boy named John Williams during his servitude, and a feather bed and furniture, two cows and calves, and a bay mare.

                I likewise give to my beloved son Robert Butler the land and plantation where I now live beginning at the great run of Cohary to the corner of the aforesaid and up said run to the mouth of the Beaverdam Swamp and up the same to the mouth of my mill branch and up the same and across the small   ___? a corner, thence Crumpler’s below the Bee Pond thence with blazed trees by the Gum Pond to my old line and with the same to the point ? first mentioned to John Butler and with the same to the great run of Cohary which land and plantation I leave in possession of my beloved wife, Delilah, during her life or widowhood and afterwards to my said son Robert as aforesaid (turns over to) and  by named Henry after my wife is before mentioned.

                I also give to my wife’s son Reddick Rhodes seventy acres of land in the County of Sampson beginning at the union of the Beverdam Swamp run near(ly) north course to a post oak below the mouth of William New Branch thence to a corner formerly Byrd’s now Gabriel Holme’s, thence to a pine in the Beverdam Swamp thence to the beginning and a colt and the cattle that is now called Reddick’s, and a bed and furniture.

                I also give to my beloved son, Travis Butler, 200 acres of land beginning in mouth of the Gum Branch and up the same near the head corners at a pine and crosses to a corner thence to the (?  ___)  Mill Swamp into a state thence to the beginning, also 200 acres more on the head line joining Crumpler’s land on both sides. 

                I also give to my daughter Sally Butler, Patricia Butler, Betsy Butler and Cherrywine Butler – to each a colt and tack (a whole line eligible) and a Negro girl named Airy with her increase to the above said Betsy, and a Negro girl named Susanna with her increase to the above said Cherriwine.

                And my daughters Lusia Brown, Tuffus? Ryals and Desia Culbrath, deceased having received their legacies, I further give to the said Lusia 5 sterling, to said Tuffus 5 sterling, to the heirs of the said Desia 5 sterling.

                And I also give to my beloved wife, Delilah, a Negro woman named Jean without any reserves

                And I desire that my Executors sell my stud horse to defray necessary expenses, the money left is to be divided between my wife the said Delilah and the legatees that is now with her as they come of age and it is my intent that all the legacies that I have herein given to the within legatees unto them, their heirs and assigns.

                And my plantation where I now live as before mentioned I leave with my stock of every kind, household goods all within and without of doors I leave in the hands of my said wife during her life or widowhood to raise the children upon and dispose to the legatees as above mentioned.

                And I the said Robert Butler acknowledge this to be my last will and Testament and leave my said wife as Executor to the same.

                In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my and seal, March 26, 1802

                {F. A. Cooper

Test.      {William (X his mark) Butler,

                {Robert (X his mark) Butler, Jr

1703  The Butlers Move South to North Carolina                  

  Major Robert Asa Butler Jr’s Parents –

 Robert Asa Butler, Sr and Anne Wood

 1728  Robert Asa Butler Sr was born in Edgecombe Precinct Bertie County, NC

 1735 he married Ann or Anne Wood (1715 -1769) in Edgecombe, NC  where she was born. 

Her parents were John and Jane Wood.  She died Feb 21, 1767 in Duplin or Bladen Co, NC

1769 at age 66 Robert Asa Butler died in Duplin County NC.

Note:  In 1722 Edgecombe County was formed from a part of Bertie County NC.  At one time this area was called Albemarle County but then divided into smaller counties.  This area is located at the western end of Albemarle Sound.  Edgecombe County is located to the west near present day I-75, Rocky Mount and Tarboro, NC.

The children of Robert Butler, Sr and Anne Wood:

-Jethro Butler 1724 – 1761

- Luke Butler 1732 -

- Margaret Butler 1735 – 1758

-William Butler 1736 –

- Major Robert Asa Butler Jr. April 7, 1739 -1802 * Direct Ancestor and Father of John Butler

- James Butler 1745 –

- Jesse Jethro Butler 1746 – 1848

-Charles Butler 1748 – 1819 born in Craven, NC

  

  Parents of Robert Asa Butler Sr   –

*** William Butler, III moves south to North Carolina

1684 William Butler, III (1684 – 1737) and Susannah Hartwell  (1684 – 1730)

 William Butler, III was born in Essex, Massachusetts.

 He married Susannah Hartwell  (1684 – 1730) in Essex, Massachusetts USA

**They had one child -   Robert Asa Butler Sr  ( 1728  - 1769)  - Director Ancestor father of Robert Asa Butler, Jr

1737 -   August 2, William Butler, III died at age 77 in Duplin County, North Carolina

  Parents of William Butler, III   -  

1653  Lieutenant William Butler, Jr  or II (1653 – 1730)  4 marriages 

1653   Father  Lt. William Butler Jr was born in Ipswich, Essex, Mass and died in Chebacco (Essex) August 2, 1730

First Marriage:  1673 July 2  at age 22 he married Sarah Cross (1656 – d. age 50 on 7-21-1703) in Epswich, Essex, Massachusetts.  Sarah Cross died before July 21, 1703

Lt. William Butler, Jr and Sarah Cross had 9 children:

*William Butler, III   June 1677 -1723 -** direct ancestor

Sarah Butler 7-23-1680 – 1748

Thomas Butler 9-15- 1682 – 1765 twin

Ralph Butler 9-23-1682 – May 1684 twin

Hannah Butler   1685 – 1729

Elizabeth Butler 1686 – 1741

Tillie Eliza Sarah Butler

Mary Ann Butler

2^nd Marriage:  1703  At age 50 on July 21,1713  he married Mary Ingalls (1648 – 1711) In Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts

3^rd Marriage:  On July 21, 1713 when he was 50 years old he married Mary Ingalls.  Her parents were Samuel and Ruth Ingalls

William Butler, Jr and Mary Ingalls had 3  children:

2 of the children died young

Samuel Butler 1704 – 1723

John Butler   1706 - 1755

Mary Butler 1707 -1800

4^th Marriage: 1713, August 3,  At age 60 on October 3 he married Abigail Metcalf (1665 – 1732) In Essex, Massachusetts  She died after him and married in 1713 to Lt. Simon Wood.

 August 2, 1730 Lt William butler died at age 77 in Ipswich, Mass.   

More about Lt. William Butler   He was one of the founders of the Butler Family in America.  He took the freeman’s oath in Ipswich, Massachusetts Oct 11, 1682 and was a yeoman there in 1688. He did not follow his father, William Butler and uncle Richard Butler to Hartford, Conn. but stayed in Ipswich, Mass where he was granted land.

Yeoman:  A yeomen farmer owned his own modest farm and worked it primarily with family labor remains the embodiment of the ideal American: honest, virtuous, hardworking, and independent. These same values made yeomen farmers central to the republican vision of the new nation.

                On Jan 29, 1711 Lt Butler gives his son Ralph “one half of the house I now live in – that is,  the northwest end, the old end that father Cross live in – with two acres of tillage, etc.  This farm was in Chebacco (became  part of Ipswich then  Essex) and had been bought by William Butler 1695 of Capt. Stephen Cross and Robert Cross, Jr, sons of Robert Cross, Sr.  Note his second wife was Sarah Cross.  Lt Butler was also referred to as “senior, farmer and yeoman”. He was a considerable land owner in Ipswich.

                Lt. William Butler fought in the early Indian wars, acquiring his title.  From August 12 – 29, 1696 Lt Butler participated in with Capt Francis Wainwright and some of his company on an expedition to the eastward.  In 1707 he was Colonel of the Red and second in command in the expedition under Colonel  March against Port Royal, Nova Scotia.  The expedition was unsuccessful.  The expedition was sent out again under Col March and Col Townsend.  The expedition once again failed.  This was during the war between France and England over North America, the colonies and the American Indians.

                From the Ingalls Genealogy:  Lt William Butler was a yeoman at Ipswich, admitted to the church 1673, Freeman 1681, selectman 1683, and deputy 1690.  His will was made 1716, proved Jan 22, 1717.

The Butlers Came To America In 1632

12 years after the Pilgrims Landed at Plymouth Rock

 In 1632 aboard the ship Lion, Steven Nicholas Butler (1580 – 1633), his wife Sarah Ann  Elliott Butler (1588 – 1662).  His two sons William Butler,  Sr 1^st (1602 – 1684), his wife Sarah Ann Edwards (1578 – 1662) and 2^nd son Deacon Richard Butler (1608 – 1684) whose wife and child had died in England sailed on Ship Hector.   They  all arrived in Boston and became members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a group of about 1,000 Puritan refugees led by John Winthorp aboard his fleet of ships.  They left 2 sisters, Jane who married “West” and the other married “Winter”.  The Butlers had come from Braintree, Essex, England which dates back 4000 years to the Bronze and Iron ages.  It is located in the Brain Valley  along the Brain River northeast of London.  The family settled in America  northeast of Boston in Ipswich and Essex, Massachusetts.

                In 1635 William and his brother Deacon Richard Butler followed Rev. Thomas Hooker and about 50 other Puritan families  known as the Braintree Company, on the 100 mile journey  south to build a new colony  and the founding of present day Hartford, Connecticut    His home was in Weathersfield, presently a small town within Hartford Connecticut.   He died  there May 11 – 1648.  

                       

                Authors Note:  There is a Essex and Ipswich, Massachusetts northeast of Boston near Gloucester.    There is also an Essex, Connecticut and there once was an Ipswich, Connecticut but was renamed located south of Hartford Connecticut along the Connecticut River. The Weathersfield mentioned is a town within the City of Hartford, Connecticut.  These duplicate locations are confusing and sometimes misused in research papers.

 The Parents of Lieutenant William W Butler, Jr

William Butler (First)  (1602 -1648) and Eunice Coffin (1618 – 1648)           

1602   William Butler, Sr was born in Braintree, Essex, England                               

He was Baptized at age 1 on 24 Sep 1581 Castle Hedingham, Essex, England

1632   William Butler arrives in Boston   with his mother and stepfather

He married Eunice Coffin at age 40 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

                                                

Children of William Butler and Eunice Coffin

- Peter Butler 1636 –1699 born and died in Boston, married Elizabeth Brown, they had 2 daughters

**Lt William Butler born 1653 d 1730 in Ipswich, Massachusetts - direct ancestor

-Susannah Butler

William Butler, Sr’s Will (This Will (copied from original paper on file as written)

Butler, William, Hartford. Invt. £420-03. Taken by John Cullick, and William Gibbins.  Will dated 11 May 1648.

            I William Butler, of Hartford in Conectecot, doe meake and ordayne this my last will and testament wherein I give my earthly goods as followeth:  And first I meake my brother Richard Butler, dwelling in Hartford, my sole Executor.  All that is left of my lands and goods, when Sister Weste’s Children, that ear now living in old Ingland, five pounds apese.  It.  I give my Sister Winter’s Childrene, that eare nowe living in Ingland, five pounds apese.  It. I give my loving friends of Hartford, Mr Stone and Mr Goodwin and Mr. Hoker and Mr. John Stelle, ten pounds apese.  It.  I give to the Churtche of Hartford, three Schore pounds, and farther I doe earnestly desire my tow frendes, Mr. John Colicke and William Gibbince, both of Hartford to see that this my last will and testament be folfiled, and for there lowe and paynes I doe bequeath to etche of them thre pounds apes.

In Witness whereof I, the said Will Butler, have set tow my hand this Eleventh of May   1648  - William X Butler

Author’s Note:   It’s A Small World After All   -   William Butler bequeathed his friend, Mr. John Stelle, ten pounds.  In 1850, 221 years later William Butler’s descendant, Lucy Ellender Butler, my paternal grandmother, married Walter Simeon Steele in Molena Georgia in 1869.  During this  Steele family research an unsuccessful effort was made to link our Steeles of Georgia to the Steeles of Essex County England and “William Steele”. The Hartford Steele’s did migrate South and by 1795 this William Steele was the first postmaster of Pennington, SC in Pickens County, SC, located in the top western part of SC.

 William Butler, Sr’s Parents   - 

1580 Sir Nicholas Stephen  Butler (1580 – 1633) and 

Sarah Ann Edwards (1578 – 1662)              

Stephen Butler was born in 1580 in Braintree, Essex, England.                               

 1632  Pioneer Immigrants

Baptized September 24, 1581 Castle Hedingham, Almer Parish, Essex England                  

He married Sarah Ann Edwards at age 19 December 27, 1599 in Essex, England

He died March 10, 1633 in Weathersfield, Hartford, Connecticut   

 1632  Sir Nicholas Stephen Butler arrived in Boston, Massachusetts

with his Mother and Stepfather                                                                                                     

Stephen Butler and Sarah Ann Edwards children                                               

Dr. John Butler 1601 – 1682

-William  Butler Sr (first) 1602 – 1684 - Immigrant * direct ancestor – father of William Butler II

- Jane Butler 1604 - 1648

-FNU Butler 1604 –

-Joan Mount Christopher Stephens  1605 – 1650

-  Deacon Richard Butler b 1608 in Essex England - 1684  Immigrant  moved from Cambridge in 1632, freeman, Mass, May 14, 1634. In 1636 moved and became a  Founder of Hartford, an original proprietor, in 1639-40 when 16 acres were allotted to him.  His house-lot was on the corner where the road from George Steele’s to the south Meadow intersected the road from the Mill to the Country.  He was a juror, 1643 -4-7-8, townsman, 1649, 1654, 1658, committee for the mill, 1661, grand juror 1660, 1662, deputy 1656 – 1660, deacon of the Church, Clerk of Court, died Aug 6, 1684, Estate 684-15-00 £  pounds.   Second marriage to Elizabeth Bigelow b. 1606 in Hartford, CT d. Sep 11, 1691.  Her parents were Randall Bigelow and Jane Baguley.  Their children:  Mary 1635 - 1690, Thomas 1637 – 1688, Samuel 1639, Nathanial 1641, Elizabeth 1643 -, Joseph 1648, Daniel, Hannah.

Richard Butler Died August 6, 1684 – buried in Old Burial Ground on Gold St, Center  Church Cemetery, Hartford, CT

Will of Deacon Richard Butler  -  April 2, 1677 

                Know all men whom it may concerne that I Richard Butler of Hartford upon the Connecticut river being of bodily health and of sound and perfect memory doe make and ordayne this my last will and testiment in forme and manner as followeth

                I doe give to my sonne Thomas Butler my uper lot in the longe meddow.

                I doe give to my sonne Samuel all my meadow land in Wethersfield meadow

                I doe give to Nathaniel my sonne my meddow lot neare the long meddow gate

                I doe give to Joseph Butler my sonne all my land in the south meddow.

                I doe give to my sonne Daniel Butler my now dwelling house with all apurtenances of buildings and grounds about it and also I do give to my sonne Daniel my lot commonly caled ten-acres. I do give my 3 daughters Mary Wright, Elizabeth Olmstead and Hanah Greene twentie shillings apece (to be payed out of my moveable estate by my present wife Elizabeth whom I appoint my executrix to this my last will.

                Also it is my will that none of these children aforesaid doe possess or enjoy any of these lands or aught else mentioned, but with the consent of death or change of the mother's condition. That is by marrying againe. But if my wife Elizabeth Butler should change her condition and marry agtaine then my will is that all aforesaid sonnes and daughters dp possess every one his legacy and wife only the thirds and for the rest of the chattels and hoursehold goods I give them all to my wife provided as aforesayd she continues in widowhood but if she marry againe then to take the thirds of all as of the house and lands so chattels and household stuff and the rest equally to be divided amonge my children afore mentioned and there may be divers willes extant that I have written with my own hand yet this my last and shall stand Written with my owne hand.

Richard Butler  April 2, 1677 ---- (I also appoint my two sons Thomas and Samual Butler to be my overseers of this my last will ---) (my will also is that my daughter Mary Wright shal have one feather bed after her mother's decease)

Witnesses  Samual Wright  Samual Butler

Sworn in Court & accepted with 5 above written interlinings.

J. Talcott. C.C.  Copied from Ancient Wethersfield, II 171-172 by Eva L. Butler

-Joan Mount Stephen 1610 -1684

-Margaret Butler 1615 –

-Winter Butler - Mentioned in William Butler, Sr’s Will as remaining  in England

-Weste Butler - Mentioned in William Butler, Sr’s Will as remaining in England

1550   Parents of Stephen Butler –

John Butler  born January  1550 – 1579 and Joan Hancocke   1554 - 1600

John Butler was born an died in Braintree, Essex, England

In 1575 at age 25 he married Joan Hancocke in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England

In 1579 February at age 29 he died.

John Butler and Joan Hancocke children              

John Butler 1550 – 1579

Stephen Butler 1582 – 1633* Direct ancestor-   father of Richard Butler

Ms Susannah Stanley 1599 -1633

Parents of John Butler

1525  John Butler born 1525 –  died 1555( He is Sir John Butler of Dedham, Essex England) and  Elizabeth Thorton

They had one son:  *John Butler 1550 – 1579 or 1600 – *direct ancestor, father of John Butler born in 1550

The Founders of Hartford, Connecticut

There are 163 men and women listed in the Book of Distribution of Land as being those who settled in Hartford before February 1640.  Their names are on a monument in Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground.   There is a informational list of later settlers who lived in Hartford in the 17^th century but are not considered Founders of Hartford.  Our ancestors William Butler and his brother Deacon Richard Butler  sons of Stephen and Sarah Butler, are included in these lists.  Also listed is William Butler’s friend, Thomas Judd John Steele.

From Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford, Connecticut –

                William Butler arrived in Boston in 1632 as  part of the Boston Bay Colony.  He and many others found the Boston area too cramped.  William Butler joined Rev Thomas Hooker and about 100 other people from his congregation, along with as many cattle, left Massachusetts in 1635 and traveled south about 100 miles to present day Connecticut, where they started a settlement to the north of the Dutch. They originally called their new home Newtown, but changed it to Hartford.

                 The Native Americans in the area had generally good relations with the white settlers, at least in part because they sought protection from two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east.

                Because it lay outside the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Hartford assemblage needed its own authority to govern.  In 1638, the General Court, legislative body, meeting in Hartford, adopted the Fundamental Orders,  often described as America's first written constitution and the reason why Connecticut's official nickname is the Constitution State. The Orders, inspired in part by Hooker's assertion in a sermon that “the foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people,” set up an independent government and established Connecticut as a commonwealth.

William and Richard Butler are honored on the 

Founders Monument in Hartford, Connecticut

William Butler, Cambridge, 1634, freeman, Mass, May 6, 1635 was an original proprietor at Hartford and received 28 acres in the distribution of 1639-40.  His house-lot was on the road from the Little River to the North Meadow (now Front St) bounded W by John Talcott’s land.  He married Eunice, sister of Tristram Coffin, of Nantucket, died 1648.  He left most of his estate to his brother Deacon Richard Butler.

                This William Butler, Sr was an immigrant and founder of Massachusetts and he is linked with his son Lt William Butler, Jr in “The Founders and Patriots of America Register”.  William Butler, Sr had settled in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay before 1650.

 From THE ENGLISH ANCESTRAL HOMES OF THE FOUNDERS OF CAMBRIDGE   2. A company of about fifty families from Essex and Hertfordshire, followers of Rev. Thomas Hooker and known as the Braintree Company, many of whom came in the ship Lion in the summer of 1632, a year in advance of their leader, and most of whom removed with him to Hartford, Conn., in 1635.

HISTORY OF HARTFORD CONNECTICUT  

By the time white settlers arrived in Connecticut in the early 17th century, Native Americans had inhabited the area for thousands of years; indeed, it was the Algonquin word for “long tidal river,” quinnetukut,  that gave the colony (and later the state) its name.

Various tribes, all part of the loose Algonquin confederation, lived in or around present-day Hartford. These included the Podunks, mostly east of the Connecticut River; the Poquonocks, north and west of Hartford; the Massacoes, in the Granby-Simsbury area; the Tunxis tribe, in West Hartford and Farmington; the Wangunks, to the south; and the Saukiogs in Hartford itself. Saukiog, or as it is sometimes spelled, Sickaog or Suckiaug, was the Native American name for Hartford.

The first whites known to have explored the area were the Dutch, under Adriaen Block, who sailed up the Connecticut in 1614. By the early 1620s, Dutch fur traders had established a fort in Saukiog that they called “House of Hope,” in a location still known as Dutch point.

In the meantime, in England, a Puritan minister named Thomas Hooker was attracting the attention of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who fought fiercely against Puritan attempts to reform the established English Church. 

 Eventually, Hooker was forced to leave England for Holland, and in 1633 came to Massachusetts to escape more persecution. There, he became the first minister of the church at Newtown, now known as Cambridge. His assistant was Samuel Stone, who had been born in Hartford (or, as it was usually spelled then, Hartford), north of London.

                Finding the Boston area too cramped, Thomas Hooker and about 100 people from his congregation, along with as many cattle, left Massachusetts in 1635 and traveled south about 100 miles to Connecticut, where they started a settlement to the north of the Dutch. They originally called their new home Newtown, but changed it to Hartford, probably at the s The Native Americans in the area had generally good relations with the white settlers, at least in part because they sought protection from two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east.

                Because it lay outside the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Hartford assemblage needed its own authority to govern.  In 1638, the General Court, legislative body, meeting in Hartford adopted the   Fundamental Orders often described as America's first written constitution and the reason why Connecticut's official nickname is the Constitution State. The Orders, inspired in part by Hooker's assertion in a sermon that “the foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people,” set up an independent government and established Connecticut as a commonwealth.

suggestion of Samuel Stone.

                The Native Americans in the area had generally good relations with the white settlers, at least in part because they sought protection from two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east. 

                Because it lay outside the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Hartford assemblage needs its own authority to govern.  In 1638, the General Court (legislative body, meeting in Harford, adopted the  Fundamental Orders, often described as America's first written constitution and the reason why Connecticut's official nickname is the Constitution State. The Orders, inspired in part by Hooker's assertion in a sermon that “the foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of th e people,” set up an independent government and established Connecticut as a commonwealth.

                Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford sought protection from two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east.  Because it lay outside the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Hartford assemblage needed its own authority to govern. In 1638, the General Court (legislative body), meeting in Hartford, adopted the Fundamental Orders, often described as America's first written constitution and the reason why Connecticut's official nickname is the Constitution State. The Orders, inspired in part by Hooker's assertion in a sermon that “the foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people,” set up an independent government and established Connecticut as a commonwealth.

  

The Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford

Founders Monument: The original brownstone monument erected in 1837 was replaced by this one in 1986. It stands in the Ancient Burying Ground, which is located to the rear of the First Congregational Church at the corner of Main and Gold Streets in Hartford. This cemetery is also known as Old Center Cemetery. It lists the original Founders of Hartford.

Matthew Allyn      William Lewis       Nathaniel Ely          Richard Goodman   Nicholas Clarke      John Stone           

John Barnard           Mathew Marvin    Stephen Hart      William Kelsey       Thomas Scott        John Talcott     Clement Chaplin      William Pantry     William Westwood  Timothy Stanley  Edward Elmer   Thomas Stanley  Thomas Stanley Clement Chaplin      William Pantry   William Butler        James Olmsted     Edward Stebbins   John Steele         Richard Webb      Robert Day    William Westwood  Timothy Stanley  Edward Elmer   Thomas Stanley Clement Chaplin      William Pantry 

Monument in Memory Of The Founders of Hartford Connecticut

The names engraved on the four sides of the momument:

Jeremy Adams  Samuel Gardiner  Daniel Garret  John Gennings  William Gibbons  Richard Goodman

Ozias Goodwin   William Goodwin  Seth Grant  George Graves  Bartholomew Greene  Samuel Greenhill
Thomas Gridley     John Hall  Thomas Hale  Stephen Hart  William Hayden  John Hayes  John Higginson   Samuel Hale   William Holton    John Holloway   Thomas Hooker  Edward Hopkins  John Hopkins   Thomas Hosmer  Richard Lord  Thomas Lord  Thomas Lord, Jr.  Richard Lyman  John Marsh

Matthew Marvin  Reinold Marvin  John Maynard   John Moody   John Morris  Benjamin Munn
Thomas Munson   Thomas Olcott  James Olmsted  John Olmstead  Richard Olmsted  William Pantry

William Parker  Paul Peck  William Phillips  William Clarke  James Cole  William Cornwell  Philip Davis

Fulke Davy  Nathaniel Kellogg   Ralph Keeler   William Kelsey  Richard Church  John Clarke

Nicholas Clarke  William Lewis, Sr.  Richard Risley   John Pierce   Thomas Porter    John Purchas

Stephen Post   John Pratt   William Pratt   Joseph Mygatt   Nathaniel Richards   Thomas Richards

George Hubbard   Thomas Hungerford   William Hills   Jonathan Ince    William Spencer

John Stanley   John Sable   Thomas Stanley    Thomas Selden   Timothy Stanley   Thomas Stanton

Edward Stebbins   George Steele   John Steele    George Stocking   John Stone
Bunce   Thomas Scott   Samuel Stone    John Talcott   Thomas Thompson   Thomas Upson

Robert Wade   William Wadsworth   Henry Wakeley   James Wakeley   Samuel Wakeman

Nathaniel Ward   Andrew Warner   John Warner   Richard Watts   Richard Webb   John Webster
Thomas Welles   William Westley   William Westwood   John White   Samuel Whitehead
William Whiting   John Wilcock    Gregory Wolterton   Thomas Judd   Matthew Allyn   William Andrews   John Arnold   Francis Andrews   John Crow   John Cullick    Robert Bartlett   John Baysey

Thomas Beale   Nathaniel Bearding   William Butler    Richard Butler (brothers)

Clement Chaplin   Robert Day   Nicholas Desborough   Joseph Easton   William Edwards   Edward Elmer   Nathaniel Ely   James Ensign   Zachary Field   Thomas Fisher   John Friend Mary Betts  John Bidwell   Richard Billing  Thomas Birchwood   Peter Blachford   Thomas Blackley   Thomas Bliss, Sr.

Thomas Woodford   George Wyllys   Thomas Barnes   James Bridgeman   John Bronson   Richard Bronson   Thomas Bull   Thomas   Richard Seymour   John Skinner   Arthur Smith   Giles Smith   Thomas Spencer   William Ruscoe   Thomas Bliss, Jr.   William Blumfield   Andrew Bacon   John Barnard   Thomas Root   Nathaniel Ruscoe    Benjamin Burr

  

The Founder's Boulder and Plaque

                          Nicholas Clarke      Thomas Scott                                     

                         Robert Day             Timothy Stanley

                        Edward Elmer          Thomas Stanley

                        Nathaniel Ely          Edward Stebbins

                      Richard Goodman      John Steele

                          William Goodwin     John Stone

                           Stephen Hart         John Talcott

                        William Kelsey       Richard Webb

                       William Westwood   Clement Chaplin

                        William Butler       William Pantry

                         James Olmsted

From the Society of the Descendants  of the Founders of Hartford

   To the People of Hartford   October 15, 1935   Traveler’s Square:

The Plaque hangs directly behind the statue and reads: 

     THE SAFE ARRIVAL 

  "HE WHO BROUGHT US HERE SUSTAINS US STILL"   

"We owe it to our Ancestors to preserve entire those rights, which they have delivered to our care.  We owe it to our posterity, not to suffer their dearest inheritance to be destroyed"  (A composite of the old cemetery and the many monuments honoring the Founders of Hartford)

June 1635, about one hundred members of Thomas hooker's congregation arrived safely in this vicinity with 160 cattle. They followed old Indian trails from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the Connecticut River to build a new community.

Here they established the form of government upon which the present

 constitution of the United States is modeled.

Their deeply religious principles found expression in the emblem and the motto of the seal which the colony soon adopted. the seal of the state of Connecticut and the legend, "qui transtulit sustiunet" This statue, honoring the spirit of all pioneers, is dedicated to the founders of Hartford. It commemorates the beginning of the second century of service by the Traveler’s Insurance Companies 

The Massachusetts Bay Company and The Winthrop Society

1620   December 21  - The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.  These 102  English Pilgrims aboard 3 small ships founded the Plymouth Colony in America.

 1630    June 13 – About 1,000 English Puritans, their cattle and provisions,  from English counties of Suffolk, Essex and Dorset  began to arrive in 11 ships known as The Winthrop Fleet .  They were seeking religious freedom because they disagreed with the practices of the Church of England and the ruling of King James.  His son, King Charles, made life even more difficult for the Puritans.   The Puritans  had a sense of hopelessness for their

future.  They had a strong desire to seek religious freedom in the new world.  The Puritans  organized  and elected  John Winthrop as their leader to sail to the new world and  to form the Massachusetts Bay Colony Settlers.   

William Butler and his brother, Richard Butler, were among this group of Puritans to sail to the new world.    His exact arrival date or the name of the ship on which they sailed cannot be documented because  some of the ship’s passenger lists have been lost, but their presence with the Bay Colony Settlers has been documented.   We, the descendants of this William Butler are eligible to join the Winthrop Society.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?    The Winthrop Society is open to all men and women of good character and proven descent from one or more passengers of the Winthrop fleet, or of others who settled in the Bay Colony and down east before 1636.   Successful applicants for membership will receive a handsome certificate on gold parchment, suitable for framing, personalized with the Member's name and information about their qualifying ancestor.

Winthrop Society Member Processing    Annual Membership is $110    www.winthropsociety.com

Marie A. Seelye, Processing Assistant     13802 Pine Glen Drive East     Black Forest, CO  80908-3508

The Founders of Hartford, Connecticut

1635  Many of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Settlers in Boston began to feel the area was too crowded.  Thomas Hooker, a prominent Puritan colonial of universal Christian suffrage, a great speaker and writer of Christian subjects, had formed a Puritan Congregation.  About 100 people of his congregation, along with as many cattle, left Massachusetts in 1635 and traveled to Connecticut, where they started a new settlement north of the Dutch.  They developed good relationships with many of the Native Americans in the area.  Since this settlement lay outside the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Hartford assemblage needed its own authority to govern.  In 1638 The Fundamental Orders were written, described as America’s first written Constitution.  This is the reason Connecticut is known as The Constitution State.  It is said that these words were an inspiration of John Hooker’s sermon that “the foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people” set up an independent government and established Connecticut as a Commonwealth.  

William Butler and his brother Richard Butler were  members of this group and is recognized as one of The Founders of Hartford.   We, the descendants of William Butler are eligible to join the Founders Society.

Membership in the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford is open to any person who:

Can prove that he or she is descended from someone who settled in Hartford before February 1640, as shown in the Book of Distribution of Land. The list of these settlers may be found here  Is 18 years old or older;  Is of good moral character and good reputation; and  Pays the Life Membership fee.  When you have received the Application, print on legal sized paper, fill it out and send it, along with the needed supporting materials, to:

Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford

 Timothy Jacobs, Genealogist  PO Box 270771    West Hartford, CT 06127-0771. 

Send with your application a check for $300.00 for Life Membership made out to “SDFH”. If your application is not approved, this check will be returned to you.  

http://foundersofhartford.org/membership.htm

Butler DNA Research

A massive amount of DNA research has been done on documented descendants of William Butler, SR and Lt William Butler, Jr and other male Butler descendants from Ipswich, Mass showing the marker of Y-DNA R1a1.  Later descendants carried the same DNA marker, indicating this male DNA marker has been carried down through hundreds of generations.   The Butler ancestry of R1a1 has been traced back to -6000 BC and 97% have their origin in the countries around the North Sea – British Isles, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, NW Germany, and Netherlands.

Butler Family information can be found in the book, “Butlers and Kinfolks” by Elmer Ellsworth Butler can be purchased on line at Quintin Publications sales@quintinpublications.com   

Or go on line and enter “Hathi Digital Library” and search Butlers and Kinsfolk, and read the book online.

Research Sources:    Ancestry.com   -  Google research   -  Family history