William Butter (abt. 1630 - 1692)

Born about 1630 in Scotland

Husband of Mary (UNKNOWN) Stratton — married 1664 in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 13 Nov 1692 at about age 62 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Biography

He was born about 1630 in Scotland.

William Butter(s) married in Massachusetts to Mary. ^[1]

By 1665 he had emigrated from Scotland to North Woburn, Massachusetts.

He first appeared on the Woburn, Massachusetts tax list of 26 August 1666. His name appeared regularly on the Woburn town records for each succeeding tax rate, including that for the New Meeting-house in 1672. ^[2]

He was not a freeman in any town, probably because his religious opinions prevented him from joining any church in the area.

His home was recorded by the Town of Woburn (now in Wilmington) as being in a place known as Boggy Meadow Field, where in 1674, he owned one dwelling house, a barn, out buildings and 61 acres of land. ^[2]

On 23 Feb 1675, he was one of 20 men in Woburn granted 100 acres each on the other side of Maple Meadow River provided each remained in town for seven years.

In Feb 1678 he was one of 44 men granted 7 acres each in a tract of land on the north side of Maple Meadow River.

In August 1676 he enlisted in Captain Joseph Syll's Company and served for three months during King Philip's War. Their orders were to track down the Narragansett Indians who escaped from the Narragansett fight (possibly the Great Swamp Fight, but needs to be checked). About 400 Indians were overtaken on 04 Sept 1676, and a "sham' battle was staged with the help of Major Richard Waldron. The Indians were captured and 6 identified as having slain Englishmen were hung on the Boston Common; and the rest were sent to Bermuda to be sold as slaves. [Thirteen years later, the Indians tricked Waldron and captured him, eventually torturing him to death for his part in this treachery.]

William Butter again accompanied Captain Syll who, equipped for a winter's march, was ordered to Ossipe and Pequaquet, leaving November 1. When, after four days' march of very difficult way, over many rivers not easy to pass at that time of the year, they arrived, but found no Indians. On account of snow and severity of an early Winter, further search was abandoned, returning home November 9.

While this brave soldier was absent fighting the Indians his little family was left at home under the watchful eye of the "tithing man for the Boggy Meadow district, who, from time to time, advanced money for the town to the wife as necessities required ...

- "To Francis Kindall, for William Butters' wife, silver 000-45-00."

- "To the Captain, in silver, for Butters' wife, is."

- "The town debtor in 1676 deducted off William Butters' account, being overrated ooo-8s-o more in silver, to relieve William Butters' wife, 2s advanced." ^[2]

On 02 December 1679 he was recorded for the building and finishing of Mr. Julius Fox's house (the minister); also at different times for the maintenance of the minister.

It is inferred that his marriage was dissolved some time prior to his death, as his wife Mary, contracted a second marriage on 13 February 1691 to a Stratton.

William Butters died on 13 November 1692. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 for William Butters, d: 1692
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Woburn Town Records
3. ↑ Woburn Deaths, p27

• Genealogical Registry of the Butters Family

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Butter-56 was created on 20 Dec 2011 by Elizabeth Sthrough the import of Winn.ged. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Elizabeth and others.