Elizabeth (Stanton) Butler (abt. 1740)

Born about 1740 in Virginia

Ancestors

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Biography

Elizabeth was a Friend (Quaker)

The date of birth of Elizabeth is nowhere documented though she is named in her father's will.^[1][2]

John Butler, son of James Butler, and Elizabeth Stanton gave first intention to marry on 16 Dec 1779 at Blackwater Monthly meeting.^[3] They were given leave to marry on 14 Apr 1780.^[4] However, in the minutes of 27 May 1780 of Blackwater Monthly Meeting held at Burleigh in Prince George's County^[5] representatives from several preparatory meetings met and papers of disunion were read against John Butler and Elizabeth Stanton, noted as "his new wife."

"Whereas John Butler (son of JaS.) having been educated among us the People called Quakers and professed himself a member of our Religious Society but neglecting to follow the dictates of Christianity and Morality, he so far deviated therefrom as to engage the affections of a Woman differing from us in Religious profession & gave her reason to expect he intended marriage with her, but before he had cleared himself of that charge, he Married another contrary to the known Rules of our Society.

"We therefore testify our disunion with such dishonest disorderly Practices & hereby disown him the said John Butler from being a member of the Society until he manifest a sincere repentance for his misconduct & give all the satisfaction in his power to the person or persons injured. We sincerely desire that he may be favooured with a true sight & sense of his Errors & enabled to conduct in such a manner as to obtain forgiveness fro all his offenses both towards God & and his fellow ___tors."

One page later, following another matter, is read the disownment of Elizabeth Stanton..."Whereas Elizabeth Stanton having had her education among us the People called Quakers and professed herself a member of our religious Society, but hath so far deviated from the known Rules thereof as to get married by a method contrary to the good order established among us...." with the language of disownment following.

As the meeting had accepted intention to marry and then given leave to accomplish the marriage, exactly what occurred is uncertain. It is clear John Butler was accused of courting the intentions of another woman but it also appears that Elizabeth still married him but either in a civil marriage or a marriage with a non-Quaker minister.

Research Notes

Is John Butler a sibling of Ann Butler that her brother marries?

John passed away 1808 (Hinshaw, Upper MM minutes)

Sources

1. ↑ Will books, with inventories and accounts, 1749-1916; general index to wills, 1749-1937, Southampton County, Book IV p 307
2. ↑ Chapman, Blanche Adams. Wills and Administrations of Southampton County, Virginia, 1749-1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Will Book IV, Page 307
3. ↑ Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Blackwater Monthly Meeting minutes.
4. ↑ Hinshaw, Wm Wade, et al, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, VI:122, Blackwater Monthly Meeting minutes.
5. ↑ Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Blackwater and Upper Monthly Meetings Minutes, 1780-1792