Pioneer Sketches
The Fighting Butlers
of the Revolutionary War
This page includes sketches I have compiled from my family history research
for my own use. I am posting them on the Internet in the interest of sharing
this information with interested parties. If you appear to be directly related,
based on the information in the the sketches, or have comments to share
with me about these sketches, I would be happy to hear from you. I do not
do research for others, nor am I particularly interested in speculative
relationships or unrelated surname discussions. There are many other worthy
sites for these activities. I hope you enjoy reading some of these interesting
stories.
The Fighting Butlers
We have discovered that our John
Butler (3rd Great-Grandfather of Bill Smith, father of Asenath
(Butler) Preston) was one of the eight "Fighting Butlers"
from (Ireland and) Lancaster Co, PA, during the Revolutionary War. According
to "The Butler Family in America" book, our John Butler, the least
famous and least documented, of course, was a first cousin of Major General
Richard Butler, the most famous and well doumented of the Fighting Butlers.
He later served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs for President Washington,
after the War of Independence. Richard, his four brothers and two cousins
(brothers of our John) stayed based in the east (PA), while John went into
the Northwest Territories after the war. He and his family were at Detroit
when Hull surrendered in 1812, for instance.
Asenath,
John's daughter, was born at Detroit in 1803. Our family thanks General
Hull for the surrender, allowing us all to have existed.
What's new:
1) On June 6, 1998, in Ohio, John Butler will be honored for his Revolutionary
War service, and, having been a resident of and dying in the State of Ohio.
A US Government Bronze marker will be placed at the Florida Cemetery, Florida,
OH.
Several sketches are provided here, from several sources, with comments
added to help set the context of each sketch and relate it to activities
of our immediate family interests.
Menu of sketches:
This page created 1 Mar 1998. Last updated 15 May 1998, by William
L. (Bill) Smith.
Five of the Kilkenny Butlers were
Officers of the Pennsylvania Line
From the Book, Irish Settlers in America:
Richard Butler was Lieutenant-Colonel of Morgan's celebrated Rifle Corps
and distinguished himself greatly at Saratoga. He was Colonel successively
of the Fifth and Ninth Regiments of the Line and rose to the rank of Major-General.
He was second in command to General St.Clair and fell in battle on November
4, 1791. His four brothers were noted officers of the Pennsylvania Line.
They were: Colonel William Butler, Major Thomas Butler, Captain Edward Butler
and Lieutenant Percival Butler. The story of the careers of these five brothers
makes a thrilling chapter of American history, a truly Irish chapter. They
were of the Butlers of Kilkenny, a family whose members have distinguished
themselves in many lands. Richard was born in Dublin, William, Thomas, and
Edward in Kilkenny and Percival in Pennsylvania. Lafayette's toast to the
Butlers is historic: "To the Butlers. When I wanted a thing well done,
I always chose a Butler." [2]
Comments by Bill Smith: This account,
of course, is intended to tout the exploits of men of Irish heritage who
were officers of the Revolutionary War.
(One) Description of the death of
Gen. Richard Butler,
in battle, in 1791:
(not for the squimish)
From Loyalists of the American Revolution, Vol.1, p.474:
GIRTY, SIMON. Of Pennsylvania. Indian Interpreter. Was born out of wedlock.
His father was a sot; his mother a bawd. He figures in the difficulties
of Doctor Conolly and his party, with the authorities of Pennsylvania, in
1774. Girty's career was entirely infamous. He was an early prisoner of
the Whigs at Pittsburg, but escaped.
In 1778 he went through the Indian country to Detroit, with McKee and Elliot,
proclaiming to the savages that the Rebels were determined to destroy them,
and that "their only chance of safety was to espouse the cause of the
Crown and fight."
In 1782 Colonel Crawford was captured by the Indians and perished at the
stake, after suffering the most horrible and excruciating tortures, which
Girty saw with much satisfaction. This is the statement of his enemies;
and it is but fair to say here that he denied the charge and averred that
he exerted himself to save the Colonel until his own life was in peril.
The same year his instigations caused the removal of the Moravian missionaries,
who were quietly and usefully laboring among the Wyandots. He personally
engaged in driving away these self-denying ministers, treated them with
great harshness on the march, and subsequently procured their arrest.
At the defeat of St. Clair, in 1791, Girty was present on the British side;
and saw and knew General Butler, who lay upon the field writhing from the
agony of his wounds. The traitor told a savage warrior that the wounded
man was a high officer; whereupon the Indian buried his tomahawk in Butler's
head, whose scalp was immediately torn off, and whose heart was taken out
and divided into as many pieces as there were tribes engaged in the battle.
[3]
Comments by Bill Smith: This account,
of course, is about persons who remained loyal to the British Crown, opposed
to the formation of the new United States of America, during the revolutionary
period, which really did not end until after the defeat of the Britsh, and
their indian allies, during and following the War of 1812. The Indian Wars
had continuing, unceasing, after the Revolutionary War, especially in the
Northwest Territories (especially in what are now Ohio, Michigan, Indiana
and nearby areas.
Our John Butler appears to have gone west at the end of the Revolutionary
conflict and joined in these subsequent squirmishes as a volunteer, but
still directed by (now) U. S. military commanders. As noted elsewhere, we
pick him up in Detroit, with General Hull in the 1803-1812 period. Shortly
thereafter, he and his family have migrated south, as so many did, to the
(what is now) northwestern Ohio area. By 1820 they are living along the
Maumee River. His pension papers, filed over the next several years, claim
he was a soldier of the United States from 1776 until 1812, for instance.
There are other documented versions of the death of Gen. Richard Butler.
These will be added, here, over time. There are many other documented stories
of the renegade, Simon Girty. They will NOT be added here! ;-)
John Butler
What we learned (9-14-97) from the
Pension, Military and Land Warrant File from National Archives
(As of 8 Sep 1997, I have now, presumably, received the complete file of
John Butler, Pension #S46461, who served in the Revolutionary War, with
the 2 Pennsylvania Regiment, as a Private.)
From Archive records. "it appears that John Butler enlisted at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, date not given, and served until the close of the Revolution
as private in Captains William Power's and Simmons' Companies, Colonels
Richard Butler's and Porter's Pennsylvania Regiments." However, in
a note to his Pension Agent, Wm. Bellinger, John Butler is said to have
indicated "that his Discharge was last at the time General Hull surrendered
Detroit." This would indicate that he had continued his military service,
following the Revolutionary War, probably in the Northwest Territories,
fighting against the British and the Indians, perhaps, including the Detroit
area. We also have information that his daughter, Asenath, born 1803, "at
the site of Hull's surrender." [Hull surrendered at Detroit, August,
1812.]
This information suggests that John Butler served, in one capacity or another,
in the army and/or militia, perhaps, from 1776 until 1812, a period of 36
years. Further, it appears that he may have been born in 1745 [see further
discussion of his age, below]. This would mean that he was already age 31
when he joined the army in Harrisburg, PA. It also means he would have been
67 when he completed his service, in 1812.
It appears there are three sources of age information, to-date, for our
John Butler. From the National Archives, there is a Revolutionary War Pension
Claim where John Butler claims to be 73 years old, in 1829. This would suggest
he was born in 1756. However, the IGI files, as well as the Ancestral file,
has John Butler born 1745, (Parish of Coolkeny?) Cookeny? Parish, County
Wicklow, Ireland. This would suggest that John Butler was 85 years old when
he died 12 Nov 1830, rather than 73, if born in 1756.
Finally, the 1830 census, for Henry Co, Richland Township, John Butler as
Head of Household, includes one male 80-90. This could be considered confirmation
of the 1745 birth date. Also in the household, one female, 40-50 (possibly
wife, Lena, at or near the age of 50 - mother of Asenath, in 1803? - and
of son, age 20-30, also in household?, along with two females, aged "under
5" and "15-20" - these most likely are a daughter -in-law
and and grand-daughter).
Comments by Bill Smith: The above
is my best understanding as of the Fall of 1997. It is now March 1, 1998.
No contradicting evidence as been found, yet. Always looking for additional
information, comments, updates and questions. Thank you.
The Siege of Detroit (August 5-16,
1812) [Hull's Surrender]
From: Reference Guide to United States Military History 1607-1815, Charles
Reginald Shrader, General Editor, Facts on File, New York, page 221.
Arguably the worst American disaster of the War of 1812, the brief siege
of Detroit resulted in the loss of both an important post and of Brig. Gen.
William Hull's entire 2,000 - man army. Subsequently, Michigan ws wholly
lost to the British and much of the region laid bare to Indian depredations.
By August 1812, Hull's situation at occupied Sandwich (now Windsor, Ontario)
had become precarious. British-allied Indians had severed his land communications
to Ohio and handily routed militia sent to reopen them. Learning that British
major general Isaac Brock was en route to nearby Fort Malden with regulars,
Hull abandoned Sandwich and fell back on Detroit. Although Detroit's defenses
were put in order, communications remained a problem. Twarted in a major
effort to restore land communications and blockaded by water, Hull nonetheless
refused Brock's surrender demand on August 15.
Soon afterwards, British guns opened from across the Detroit River. On the
following day, when 1,300 British and Indians crossed the river, two of
Hull's militia companies on the perimeter deserted. Doubting the steadiness
of his remaining militia forces and fearing a massacre of noncombatants
by Brock's Indian allies, Hull reconsidered his earlier refusal and surrendered
Detroit.
Because Hull's force had suffered only a few casualties and Fort Detroit
was fully manned and well armed with artillery, Hull's decision was considered
questionable by his superiors. An 1814 court-martial censured him for his
actions at Detroit.
Additional Reading: Bibliography: Mahon, John K., The War of 1812 (Univ.
of Florida Press, 1972).
Above sketch prepared by: Capt. Jeffrey A. Romer [4]
Comments by Bill Smith: It
would seem that John Butler's family would likely have numbered among the
"noncombatants" that Gen. Hull sought to protect by his surrender.
Thank you, Gen. Hull.
The First of Our Butler Family
to come to America from Ireland
From the Introduction to Butler History, by William David Butler, in
"The Butler Family in America" [1]
Our first American ancestors were James (1) and Thomas (1) Butler. They
were born on the Butler estates in the Parish of Coolkeny, County Wicklow,
of Dublin, the former in 1718 and the latter in 1720. Thomas came to America
in 1748 with three of his sons and settled in Lancaster, PA. James, so far
as we know, did not come to America but his son, William, came to this Country
in 1759 and joined his uncle, Thomas. John
{our John} and Thomas, other sons of James {1}, came to Pennsylvania
about the same time that their brother William did. Richard, a full cousin,
{son of Thomas (1)} served as an ensign in the Indian war of 1764. Thomas
{1} removed to Carlisle, PA, in 1760, and there established a gun shop.
Eight of his children were born in this country, and all but one, who died
in infancy, grew up ardent Americans. Two daughters of James {1}, Jane and
Sarah, joined their relatives in the New World and were married in later
years. All of these worthy people acted well their parts in the days preceding
the outbreak of the Revolution and imbibed in the free air of Pennsylvania
the principles that made them bravest of the supporters of George Washington
in the glorious days of old.
James Butler(1), oldest of the brothers, was born on the father's estate
in the Parish of Coolkeny, County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1718. He was educated
in Dublin and was married in 1739. His oldest son, Thomas (2), was born
January 2, 1740, in Ireland, and died in Pennsylvania in 1832. His second
son, William (2), was born in July, 1743, in Ireland, and died March 4,
1839, at Harmonsburg, Crawford Co, PA. The third son, John
(2), was born in 1745, in Dublin, and died in Williams County, Ohio,
of which he was one of the pioneers, in 1830. Jane Butler (2), the oldest
daughter, was born in 1747 in Dublin. She was married to William Mahan after
she had come to this Country, and died about 1830. Sarah Butler (2), the
youngest daughter, was born in 1749, but unfortunately all known records
concerning her have been buried in oblivion.
Thomas Butler (1), second of the brothers, was born on the Butler estates
in the Parish of Coolkeny, County Wicklow, Ireland, April 6, 1720. He was
educated in Dublin and was married October 26, 1741, to Eleanor Parker,
daughter of Anthony Parker, of Carey, County Wexford, Ireland. She was born
October 26,1722. Eleven children blessed the union. Two of these died in
infancy. Richard {2}, the eldest son, was born in the Parish of St. Bridget's,
Dublin, Ireland, April 1, 1743, and killed November 4, 1791, in the battle
of the Miamis, in Ohio. William {2}, the second son, was born in St. Andrew's
Parish, London, January 6, 1745, and died in Pittsburg, PA, May 16, 1789.
Thomas {2}, the third son, was born in St. Andrew's Parish, Dublin, November
15, 1746, and died of yellow fever, near New Orleans, on September 7, 1805.
Edward {2}, fourth son, was born in St. Bridget's Parish, Dublin, May 22,
1748, and died July 19, 1748. Mary {2}, the oldest daughter, ws born at
West Lancaster, PA, November 5, 1749, was married to Jacob Scandrett and
died when comparatively young. Rebecca {2}, the sixth child, was born at
West Lancaster, PA, September 19, 1751, was married to Captain George, McCulley,
and died in Allegheny County, PA, about the close of the century. The next
three children died at infancy. Percival, or Pierce {2}, the tenth, was
born at Carlisle, PA, April 4, 1760, and died at Carrollton, KY, September
9, 1821. Edward {2}, the eleventh, was born at Cumberland, PA, March 20,
1762, and died at Springfield, TN, May 6, 1803. Eleanor {2}, the twelfth,
was born at Mt. Pleasant, Cumberland County, PA, December 31, 1763, was
married to James Brown, and died at Carrollton, KY, early in the century.
Thus it will be seen that the family was widely scattered even in the early
days when the facilities for travel were limited. All of the sons served
nobly in the war of the Revolution and the daughters did well their parts
in clothing and caring for their brothers and other gallant soldiers in
the greatest of all wars of liberty. What other family has a larger and
better record in the earliest history of the United States? May not we,
their descendents, be more than proud of such ancestry? It gives me the
greatest pleasure to have been able, by immense labor, all of love, to present
their descendants these records of the Butlers of the New World. [1, p.
6-10]
WILLAM DAVID BUTLER
(from earlier in the Introduction): We, of the Butler family, could trace
our ancestry back to the days of William the Conqueror and possibly earlier.
We may lay incontestable claim to close relationships with the proud dukes
of Ormonde, of Ireland's best past (See Burke's Peerage and Hall's Picturesque
Ireland). But it is not part of my purpose to seek to carry our Butler genealogy
beyond the confines of the United States which no less than eight of our
immediate ancestors aided most brilliantly to establish. Our lineage in
America is sufficiently bright to cause us all ample content with what we
have. Therefore, in these succeeding pages we shall strive to give to the
Butlers only the best compliation, that our endeavors permit, of the records
of the American Butlers of this family permit, satisfied that this will
prove amply pleasurable reading for all of the family. It is worthy of note
that in the Revolutionary War there were eight Butlers of our immediate
family. In the War of 1812, there were sixteen Butlers of our immediage
family in arms in defense of our nation. In the Mexican War, many more Butlers
were conspicuous for brave deeds and shining heroism. In the Civil War,
there was almost a regiment of Butlers arranged on both sides - each alike
ardent Americans according to their lights. Many another Butler aided in
framing the laws of nation and state. Still others separated themselves
from their relations and became pioneers, assisting markedly in the development
of the newer portions of this great nation. Soldiers, statesmen, pioneers,
professional men are included in the ranks of the Butlers. All have been
of sterling integrity and all have been, first and foremost, true Americans.
[1. p. 4-5]
{ } these brackets added by Bill Smith, for clarity.
Comments by Bill Smith: Finding
this book was a real thrill for me. There is much told, but much more to
learn about this family, our family. There are obviously some errors, as
there always are, but this is a rich source of family history. I encourage
interested relatives, and other students of American history to read this
reference source. I have yet to read it all, myself, but certainly intend
to finish those segments unread. It has already encouraged me to read further
about the events reported. Additional quotes will be extracted, from time
to time.
Sources
1. The Butler Family in America, Compiled by William David Butler (of
St. Louis, MO), John Cromwell Butler (late of Denver, CO), and Joseph Marion
Butler ( of Chicago, IL), Published by SHALLCROSS PRINTING CO., St. Louis,
MO. UMI G2638, microfilm at Mid-Continent Library, Independence, OM.
2. Irish Settlers in America, Page 360.
3. Loyalists of the American Revolution, Vol.1, p.474
4. Reference Guide to United States Military History 1607-1815, Charles
Reginald Shrader, General Editor, Facts on File, New York, page 221.
5.
Return to Menu of Sketches, near top of page
More history to come...
Come back soon to enjoy it with us again. Bill