Joseph Butler Sr. (1742 - 1811)

Born 1742 in Frederick (now Shenandoah) County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 15 Jan 1811 at about age 69 in Coshocton County, Ohio, USA

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Biography

Joseph Butler ^[1]was born in early 1742, ^[2] Frederick County (now Shenandoah County), Virginia. ^[3] In the summer of 1764, he was married in Frederick County, Virginia, to Elizabeth. During the Indian raid, Elizabeth narrowly escaped capture by fleeing into the field where Joseph was working (this raid probably occurred in July 1764). Joseph went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in early 1766, to get his brother James, who had been captured by the Indians, but had finally been released. On 11 October 1766, Joseph received a Grant from Lord Fairfax for 400 acres on Cedar Creek. It is recorded on page 277 or Neck Book "N" (at the Land Office, Richmond, Virginia). It mentions Jane Butler (probably Joseph's stepmother): "One-third part reserved to Jane Butler for and during the Term of her natural Life, and after her Decease the whole to the said Joseph Butler." On 10 June 1774, he and Elizabeth (then "of Monongalia Co.") sold their 265 acres of this tract to Samuel Vance. They sold Jane's 135 acres on 05 November 1782, so she apparently died in that year.

Joseph and Elizabeth had moved to Monongalia County, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1773, settling on 400 acres near Thomas Butler Jr. on Dunkard Bottom, Cheat River, east of Laurel Hill. Dunker Bottom (in present Preston County, near Mannheim?) is 25 miles from where the Cheat River joins with the Monongahela River (according to George Washington). George Washington's diary (page 303, September 1784) describes the area as follows: "The Cheat River where it runs through the Laurel Hill, is in their opinion, so incomoded with large Rock stones, rapid and dashing water from on Rock to another, as to become impassable...". Joseph Butler received a Grant of 400 acres on Crab Tree Creek in 1775. Sims Index lists additional land acquisitions for Joseph: 764 acres adjacent to his settlement in 1785; 400 acres (Buffalo Run) in 1785; and 240 acres (Briery Mountain) in 1793. His land holdings were apparently on Roaring Creek and below, and he is said to have built a fort at the mouth of that stream. During the Revolutionary War, he served in the 7th, 9th, and 10th Regiments of the Virginia Continental Line.

Joseph Butler and family moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, about 1803 ^[4] (which was the year Ohio was admitted to the Union), members of his family settling around Owl Creek and White Woman (Walhonding). He sold most of his Monongalia County land (over 1200 acres) around 1808, with Joseph Severns (his son-in-law) acting as his attorney. Joseph and Elizabeth signed their will (Coshocton County Will Book "A", page 21) on 03 March 1811, witnessed by William Bird, Thomas Bird, and Ezra Horton, and their son John Butler was appointed Administrator. In the will, Joseph mentions having already given his Virginia land to his four eldest sons. The will was proven on 04 January 1813, and on 05 April 1813, his son John Butler presented the court with a "Bill of Sale" of items sold from the estate (total value of $363.85). Joseph had died on Monday, 18 March 1811, ^[5] and Elizabeth died in December 1812 or February 1813 (presumably the former). They, along with their son Isaac, were buried on Joseph's farm on the first hillside east of the present-day Mohawk Dam, 150 feet above Highway 36, between the towns of Warsaw and Walhonding. ^[6] The land was not sold until their granddaughter Maria came of age, and final settlement was made on 11 December 1826. The land was described as "southwest quarter of section number six, and northwest quarter of section fifteen, in the sixth township and eighth range of the unappropriated lands in the United States Military District directed to be sold at Zanesville, being all those parts or parcels of said quarters which lays on the north or east side of the White Woman." Elizabeth's tombstone states that she died at the age of 77, so that would make her birthyear about 1735 (but ages are often overstated, so 1740-45 seems more likely, especially since Isaac was born in 1780).

Hill's "History of Coshocton County" says: "Few, if any, families have given character to the upper Walhonding to so great a degree as the Butlers." And Norton's History of Knox County says: "Among the early settlers of this part of Ohio were the Virginia families of Butlers. They were John, Thomas, Benjamin, Joseph, Isaac, and James. All made their settlements upon Owl Creek and White Woman (Walhonding) at first and subsequently lived upon these streams or their tributaries.... They were hardy, sinewy men, good hunters, and well calculated to endure the hardships and privation of frontier life.... The Butlers were always full of fun and frolic, and never took a back seat when any sport or fighting went on in early days.^[7]

Several descendants of our Butler line have taken YDNA tests, so we know what Haplogroup the Butler males are in (see Haplogroup R1b lineage XVI at the website below). Unfortunately they are all in the United States, and so far none in Ireland or Great Britain that match. So it doesn't yet help us in determining where Thomas Butler came from. But at least it's a start. Source: https://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/butler/results

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S183 Page: Document: Territorial Papers of the US; Volume Number: Vol 3; Page Number: 51; Family Number: 9
2. ↑ Source: #S154
3. ↑ Source: #S154
4. ↑ Source: #S183 Page: Document: Territorial Papers of the US; Volume Number: Vol 3; Page Number: 51; Family Number: 9
5. ↑ Source: #S154
6. ↑ Source: #S154
7. ↑ Research by Kenneth Kinman in Salt Lake City.

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