John Butler (1674 - 1727)

Born 12 Jan 1674 in England

Husband of Bersheba (Noble) Butler — married 1 May 1703 in Bristol, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died 1727 at about age 52 in Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rodney Williams [send private message]

Biography

This biography is a rough draft. It was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import and needs to be edited.

Name

Name: John /Butler/^[1][2]

Birth

Birth:

Date: ABT 1670

Place: Gloucestershire, England^[3][4]

Event

Event:

Type: Indenture

Date: 20 FEB 1717

Place: Bristol, Somerset, England

Note: #N14467

Note: #N14468^[5]

Event:

Type: Migration

Date: BET JUN 1704 AND 1711

Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[6]

Event:

Type: Migration

Date: BET 1704 AND 1711

Place: Bristol, Somerset, England^[7]

Note

Note: #N8742

Note: #N11865

Note: #N14465

Note: #N14466

Marriage

Date: 01 MAY 1703

Place: Bristol, Somerset, England

Note: #N15127

Note: #N15128^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 40
2. ↑ Source: #S765 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Noble OR Nobell Butler
3. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 33, 40
4. ↑ Source: #S660 Page: p. 41.44
5. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 38
6. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 34
7. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 34
8. ↑ Source: #S604 Page: p. 40

• WikiTree profile Butler-3094 created through the import of WORCESTER_2012-07-31.ged on Jul 31, 2012 by Bob Worcester. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Bob and others.

• Source: S604 Author: Butler Family Association Title: Noble Butler: (1704-1799) of Bristol, England, Philadelphia and Chester County, Pennsylvania, His Ancestors and Descendants Publication: Name: Butler Family Association; Date: 1982;
• Source: S660 Author: Hitchens, Mary Beale Title: Here Comes Tomorrow, More Descendants of William Beale (1709 - 1800) Publication: Name: Abell Press; Location: Brooklyn; Date: 1957; Repository: #R10
• Repository: R10 Name: Allen County Library Address: E-Mail Address: Phone Number:
• Source: S765 Author: Ancestry.com Title: England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008; Repository: #R3 NOTEGenealogical Society of Utah, British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, copyright 2002
• Repository: R3 Name: www.ancestry.com Address: E-Mail Address: Phone Number:

Notes

Note N11865John Butler, the immigrant ancestor of the Butler Family, was the son of John and Elizabeth Butler. The known facts concerning his life are few and scattered. The record of his marriage is, however, complete and it is well to begin his account with the details it reveals. The Register of Marriages of the Men's Meeting of the Society of Friends of the City of Bristol, England, recites the marriage of John Butler and Bersheba (Noble) Coombe (widow of Owen Coombe) on the first day of the fifth month (July) 1703. John Butler is recited as residing in Bedminster, Somerset County, and his occupation is given as gardener. Bersheba's residence is given as the City of Bristol. The marriage certificate is signed by the groom and the bride and below their signatures are those of John Butler, the father, Enoch Noble brother of Bersheba, and Jonathan Butler, brother of John. Also signing are Gideon Noble, brother of Bersheba, and Charles Butler, as well as thirteen others, all men. The signers include Thomas Callowhill, father-in-law of William Penn, both of whom having witnessed Bersheba's first marriage. As a group the signers bear the names of Bristol Quaker families and include Paul Moone, well known Quaker minister, who was Bersheba's cousin by marriage, Richard Snead, a prominent Friend and witness at William Penn's second marriage, and the others, many of whom had suffered for their religious convictions.

Ten days following their marriage in Quaker Meeting John Butler and his wife Bersheba were on July 11, 1703 reunited in marriage in the Church of Saint John in Bedminster. The record of the marriage refers to them as Quakers. In view of the then attitude of disapproval of Quakers it is possible that John Butler considered this remarriage a precaution, but it is interesting to note that the Quaker ceremony came first. The same precaution may account for the fact that the, birth of their first child Noble Butler is recorded both in the Friends records at Bristol and in the register of St. John's Bedminster. There is, however, no record in St. John's that Noble Butler was christened.

It is difficult to trace the record of John Butler prior to his marriage. There were several of the same name in Bristol and vicinity in the last half of the seventeenth century. The records have been extensively searched by members of the Butler family and by several professional genealogists. Amos W. Butler visited Bristol in 1925 and during the 1960s Francis James Dallett, a professional genealogist in Philadelphia, and several English researchers examined many of the available records. Their findings are preserved by the Butler Family Association and will be available at the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is not unlikely that future research may well disclose further definitive information such as the birth of John Butler which could be recorded in one of the parish churches in the vicinity of Bristol.

It is surmised that John Butler, father of Noble, was born about 1670 if we assume that he was older than his brother Jonathan whom we know was born in or about 1672. His occupation is given as gardener and in the context of the times indicates that he was a farmer engaged in growing vegetables, probably in the lowlands along the river Avon, near the City of Bristol, in the area known as Bedminster.

Considerably more is known concerning the family and background of John Butler's wife, born Bersheba Noble and widow of Owen Coombe. As indicated in the extensive account of the Noble family included elsewhere in this record she was born June 14, 1672, the daughter of William and Frances (Price) Noble. Her first marriage, to Owen Coombe, occurred on May 17, 1697 under the auspices of Bristol Friends Meeting. The Friends records reveal that a child Bersheba Coombe was born to them in Bristol on October 30, 1701, and the records of St. John's Church, Bedminster, indicate that the child died, her burial recorded January 17, 1704. Owen Coombe had died previously, his burial being registered May 10, 1702.

As reported in the next generation, the first child of John and Bersheba was Noble Butler born in his father's dwelling house in Bedminster, England on May 4, 1704. From that date until 1711 there is no record of the family but the three additional children, John, Bersheba, and Mary were born following Noble's birth and prior to 1717, but whether in England or in Pennsylvania is not known.

The family removed from the Bristol vicinity to Philadelphia between 1704 and 1711. Bersheba's brother Abel had removed there as early as 1684 and members of the Coombe family had done likewise in the intervening years. The first record of John and Bersheba in Philadelphia is contained in the marriage certificate of Bersheba's former brother-in-law Samuel Coombe and Rebecca Nicholson which is dated August 30, 1711, and which occurred under the auspices of Philadelphia Friends Meeting.

John and Bersheba Butler remained residents of Philadelphia and lived at least until 1727 as appears from several records in the archives of the city and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

The only definite indication that John and Bersheba Butler had children other than Noble is contained in a lengthy deed of trust entered into in Bristol, England, on February 21, 1717 and recorded in Philadelphia two years later on February 9, 1719. In the words of the document and with necessary interpolations here added in parenthesis, it was entered into between Enoch Noble, of the City of Bristol, wiredrawer, and Caleb Jacob, of the City of Philadelphia, merchant (husband of Bersheba's sister Elisheba Noble). The deed recites that Bersheba's father William Noble, prior to his death (in 1696) had purchased an interest in 500 acres of land near Philadelphia, and that Enoch Noble had a one-fifth interest in this land (there being five surviving children of William Noble). The consideration for the deed is given as the love and affection which Enoch Noble bore to his sister Bersheba and his brother-in-law John Butler, and the further consideration of five shillings paid to the brother-in-law, Caleb Jacob. The deed then recites that the interest in the land is to be held in trust, first for the life of John Butler, then for the life of Bersheba his wife, following which it is to be continued for the life of John Butler, the younger, son of John and Bersheba, or if no heirs, then to the use of Bersheba and Mary, daughters of the said John Butler.

Unfortunately there appears to be no sequel in the records to explain further what might have become of the various interests in the lands referred to in the deed of trust. There is evidence in the land records of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that William Noble owned land there but there is no record of any patent or survey. Nor is there further definite record of the three named children of John and Bersheba Butler, with the possible exceptions noted hereafter. The failure to mention the son Noble Butler may be explained by the fact that as the oldest son he might alone inherit the one fifth interest of his mother to the exclusion of his brother and sisters.

The problem of tracing, our John Butler in Philadelphia is complicated by, the fact that, just as in the Bristol area there were several of the same name, so in Philadelphia and vicinity in the early eighteenth century the name John Butler appears with some frequency. Fortunately the signature of our John Butler appearing on several documents can be identified.

The first of these appears as witness on a deed from Thomas Vernon of Chester County to William Hudson of Philadelphia under date of January 29, 1712. William Hudson was later Mayor of Philadelphia.

Our John Butler's signature is also identified as a witness on an elaborate lease entered into in 1724 by Joseph Shippen, Anthony Morris, and other prominent citizens of Philadelphia, for the operation of a lead mine in New Jersey.

The verification of the foregoing signatures of John Butler is contained in the bond executed by him on February 3, 1726 when letters of administration were issued in Philadelphia upon the estate of Enoch Noble, late of Bristol, England, to John Butler and Bersheba Butler, naming them as brother-in-law and sister of the decedent. The fact that such letters were issued suggests a connection with the deed of trust of 1717, indicating possibly that the interest in lands referred to in the trust were yet to be administered. Records in England indicate that Enoch Noble had died by 1720 when letters of administration were issued to his widow and it would appear that the Philadelphia proceedings were ancillary to those in England and that Enoch Noble had not emigrated to Pennsylvania.

The next record of John Butler appears when on 24th of 12th month, 1726/7 the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends issued a certificate of removal for Noble Butler, son of John, who had some years previously removed within the verge of Kennett Monthly Meeting in Chester County. The certificate recited that Noble had previously resided with his father in Philadelphia, had behaved himself, and was free of marriage commitments.

Following 1727 it is not possible definitely to trace John Butler or his wife Bersheba. The name "John Butler" appears more and more frequently in various records of the eighteenth century in Philadelphia. Concerning Bersheba Butler's fate it must be noted that Christ Church in Philadelphia records the marriage of "Bathsheba" Butler and Francis Whitherance on February 5, 1740. Whether this "Bathsheba" was then the widow of John Butler or possibly the daughter born between 1704 and 1717 cannot yet be determined. There is also the record in the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia of the marriage of John Butler to Catherine Hudson on February 30, 1739, this suggesting a second marriage or the possibility of identity with the younger son John already noted as born in the period 1704 to 1717, assuming John did in fact immigrate from England.

Before concluding the biography of John Butler, the immigrant, a question concerning his occupation must be noted. As previously mentioned his occupation in England was given as gardener. In Philadelphia, however, as reported in the bond executed in 1726 he is described as cordwainer, or leather worker, the occupation of members of the Noble family and also of his son Noble Butler. Considering the long period of training and apprenticeship involved in the trade of cordwainer the apparent change of occupation is extraordinary.

We may surmise that John Butler followed his trade in Philadelphia and that his signature on several documents as a witness may reflect his availability at his place of business. It may also account for an advertisement that appeared in the American Weekly Mercury for Thursday, September 26, 1722, as follows: “Strayed away from John Butler living in the Front Street in Philadelphia, a Gray Mare, Branded on the near Buttock with W. H. She is dock'd. Whosoever takes up the said Mare and brings her to the said John Butler shall have Ten Shillings as a Reward."

The fact that the three younger children of John and Bersheba (Noble) Butler are mentioned in the 1717 deed of trust and the oldest child Noble is not has, as previously stated, presented a problem to the compilers. It is not known when Noble came to Pennsylvania but he had resided in Chester County "some years" prior to March 1727 (as mentioned in the certificate of removal), and prior to that year he had resided with his father in Philadelphia; whether as is likely, he came over with his parents (between 1704 and 1711), or later, is not established and there is no indication whether the other three children were in Philadelphia or in Bristol in 1717, or indeed whether they ever left England.

- Noble Butler (1704-1799) of Bristol, England, Philadelphia and Chester County, Pennsylvania, His Ancestors and Descendants. 1982. p. 33-36.

Note N14467Indenture of John Butler

Enoch Noble of Bristol, England to his Brother-in-law Caleb Jacob of Philadelphia for benefit of their In-laws John and Bersheba (Noble) Butler

This Indenture made the one and twentieth day of February in the fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith And etc Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventeen Between Enoch Noble of the City of Bristol wiredrawer of the one part and Caleb Jacob of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Merchant of the other part Whereas William Noble Deceased Father of the sd Enoch Noble sometime before his death purchased to him and his heirs of and from one Nathaniel Allen late of the sd City of Bristol Cooper the fee or some .other good estate of inheritance of and in five hundred acres of land lying near Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania aforesd and afterwards died seised and possessed thereof accordingly upon whose death the sd Enoch Noble became and is now entitled to and interested in one full fifth part of the sd five hundred acres of land the whole considered as into five equal parts to be accounted and divided Witnesseth now this Indenture that the sd Enoch Noble for and in consideration of love and affection which he, hath and beIareth to John Butler Barsheba his wife and their Children herein after named which the sd Barsheba is sister of the sd Enoch Noble and in Consideration also of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of Great Brittain to the sd Enoch Noble now in hand paid by the said Caleb Jacob the receipt whereof he the sd Enoch Noble doth hereby ackonwledge, and for divers other good causes and valuable considerations him the sd Enoch Noble thereunto moving Hath Given Granted Bargained Sold Transferred remised released conveyed and confirmed ... unto the sd Caleb Jacob All that the sd part of the sd five hundred acres of land above mentioned- And recited ... in Trust nevertheless ... To the use and behoof of the sd John Butler and his assigns for & during the term of his natural life from and after his decease To the use and behoof of the sd Barsheba (the sd wife of the sd John Butler) and her assigns for And during the and after the several deceases of them the sd John Butler/Barsheba his wife Then to the use and behoof of John Butler the younger (son of them the sd John Butler and Barsheba his wife) and the Heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten & for want of such heirs Then to the use and behoof of Barsheba Butler And Mary Butler daughters of the sd John Butler the father) their heirs, Exec. Adm. & Assigns for ever ... In Witness Whereof the parties first above named to these present Indentures have interchangeably set their names and seals the day and year first above written (his Majesties three Six penney Stamps being first here to affixed) Enoch Noble (Seal) Sealed and delivered in the presence of

Richd Smith

John Surges

John. Eyer

Mark Ramell

- Recorded in Philadelphia February 9, 1719 in Deed Book F, page 62E.