Taliaferro Butler (abt. 1781 - abt. 1865)

Born about 20 Apr 1781 in Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 4 Nov 1865 at about age 84 in Chickamauga, Walker, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Taliaferro Butler

My great-great-great grandfather, Taliaferro Butler, was born April 20, 1781, in Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Butler and Nancy Embry.

Taliaferro married Janny Grimsley on December 28, 1804, in Culpeper County, Virginia. Janny was born 1786, in Culpeper County. She may have been the daughter of John Grimsley.

The 1810 Culpeper County census shows Taliaferro Butler, a male age 26-45; two males under 10 (Henry and Hillary) and one female 26-45. One slave was shown on the census.

(Also on the 1810 Culpeper County census, living in the same area, was the family of William Miller. The census shows one male over 45; one male 26-45; one male under 10; one female over 45; three females 26-45; and 5 females 16-26 years old. We believe this was Polly's father.)

Three children were born to Taliaferro and Janny. (Note: Steve Strickland, another Butler descendant, provided birth and death dates for their children. He said the information is from an old Bible printed by S. Andrus and Son, 1849. Steve said he believes the Bible may have been a wedding gift for Miller Creed Butler, son of Taliaferro. He also noted that Taliaferro's name is spelled Taliafarro in the Bible. My sincere thanks to Steve for sharing that information with me.)

Janny died November 1, 1813, in Culpeper County.

Taliaferro married my great-great-great grandmother, Mary "Polly" Miller on November 30, 1813, in Culpeper County. Mary "Polly" Miller was born February 16, 1781, in Culpeper County, Virginia. She may have been the daughter of William Miller. (The William Miller shown on the 1810 Culpeper County census.)

Taliaferro and Polly had four children. (Birth and death dates for their children is also courtesy of Steve Strickland from the above mentioned family Bible of Miller Creed Butler.)

When Taliaferro's father died in early 1818, Taliaferro was administrator of his father's estate. He was to oversee the payment of debts, including debts to Armistead Butler and Zachary Butler. Taliaferro also inherited land lot #4, called the "Mill Lot", which contained the saw and grist mill his father had operated for many years.

The 1820 Culpeper County census shows Taliaferro Butler, a male 26-44; two males 10-15 (Henry and Hillary); one male under 10 (William); one female 26-44 and one female under 10 (Jane).

Taliaferro sold his inherited property and moved his family to Tennessee, soon after 1820. The family settled in Campbell County, Tennessee prior to 1830.

The 1830 Campbell County census shows Tolofor Butler, a male 40-50; one male 30-40 (unknown); three males 5-10 (William, John and Miller Creed); one female 40-50 (Polly); and one female 10-15 years old (Jane). Living next door was the family of William Miller, who was probably Polly's brother.

We have been unable to locate Taliaferro on the 1840 census, but we believe he was still in Campbell County, Tennessee. His sons, William and John, both died in 1842. William would have been about 21 years old and John would have been about 20. They both may have still been living at home in 1840, as they would have been 18 and 19 years old at the time. We do not know what they died from, but believe it was some kind of fever. They died less than a month apart.

Prior to 1850, Taliaferro moved his family to Walker County, Georgia. He probably moved about 1849, at the same time his daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Isaac Bridgman moved to Georgia. The 1850 Walker County census, West Chickamauga Township, shows Toliver Butler, age 69, born in Virginia; Polly, age 64, born in Virginia; Miller C., age 25, born in Tennessee and Martha Chesterson, age 12, born in Tennessee. We do not know the identity of Martha. Living next door was the family of Isaac and Jane Bridgman.

Mary "Polly" Miller Butler died August 1, 1858 near Chickamauga. She may be buried in the Barron Cemetery. (Steve Strickland says the cemetery appears as Barnes Cemetery in some old records.)

The 1860 Walker County census, Eighth District, Rock Springs Post Office, shows Toliver Butler, age 80, a farmer, born in Virginia; Miller C., age 34, born in Tennessee; Mary, age 21, born in Tennessee; John B., age 18, born in Tennessee and Joseph G., age 16, born in Georgia. Taliaferro's real property was valued at $3000 and his personal property at $1233.

Taliaferro died November 4, 1865, near Chickamauga, Georgia. He may be buried in the Barron Cemetery.

Children of Taliaferro Butler and Janny Grimsley

1. Henry R. Butler was born Dec 17, 1805, in Culpeper Co, VA. He appeared on the 1810 and 1820 Culpeper Co census with his father. He married Rhoda Brown abt 1828, in VA. Rhoda was born abt 1805, in TN. They settled in Wayne Co, KY after their marriage. The family appears on the 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870 Wayne Co, KY census. Henry and Rhoda both died before 1880, in Wayne Co, KY. They are probably buried in Steubenville Cem, Wayne Co, KY. Children - all born in Wayne Co, KY: (1) Taliaferro Dolen Butler, b. Dec 16, 1829; d. May 18, 1884, KY; m. Margaret Roberts on Dec 29, 1859, KY; (2) Nancy J. Butler, b. 1833; (3) Hillard C. Butler, b. 1835; (4) William B. Butler, b. 1838; (5) Mary Ann Butler, b. 1840; (6) Celia Catharine Butler, b. 1843; and (7) John A. L. Butler, b. 1847

2. Hillary Butler (a twin) was born Oct 5, 1808, in Culpeper Co, VA. He appeared on the 1810 and 1820 Culpeper Co census with his father. Hillary died Sept 15, 1835, in Wayne Co, KY, and is buried in Steubenville Cem, Wayne Co, KY.

3. Catharine Butler (a twin) was born Oct 5, 1808, in Culpeper Co, VA. She lived less than a year. Catharine died Sept 11, 1809, in Culpeper Co.

Children of Taliaferro Butler and Polly Miller

4. Jane Butler was born Feb 26, 1815, in Culpeper Co, VA. She married Isaac Bridgman. (my line)

5. William E. Butler was born Mar 12, 1821, in Culpeper Co, VA. He appeared on the 1830 Campbell Co, TN census with his father. William died Dec 24, 1842.

6. John H. Butler was born Sept 5, 1822, in Culpeper Co, VA. He appeared on the 1830 Campbell Co, TN census with his father. John died Nov 28, 1842.

7. Miller Creed Butler was born 1825, in TN.

Sources