Person:William Butler (116)

WILLIAM BUTLER, SENIOR was born in 1738 in Frederick County, Maryland. He later moved to Bedford County, Virginia. He later moved to Anderson County, Tennessee.

William married ANN DUCKETT, the daughter of JACOB DUCKETT, SENIOR and SARAH O'DELL, on April 24, 1764 in Frederick County, Maryland.

William and his family moved to Bedford County, Virginia in 1770.

William was a Revolutionary War soldier from Bedford County, Virginia. He submitted an affidavit in Anderson County, Tennessee in April 1, 1834 as part of the requirements for a Revolutionary War pension application. In the affidavit, he swore that he was 96 years of age, and that he volunteered for service under Captain Samuel McCampbell the last of May, 1780 and returned home in September, 1780. He served this four-months tour against the Indians in the western part of Virginia at McDonald's Fort on Greenbriar River where his company of 66 men had a small battle with the Indians. He received a discharge from his Captain, but said his discharge was lost.

William again entered service in February 1781 as a volunteered under Captain Thomas Helems and marched into North Carolina where his company under General Green, took part in the Battle of Guilford. On March 15, 1781 his Captain was killed in battle. Private Butler returned home in May, 1781.

There was an accompanying affidavit made and signed by Richard Oliver and Alexander Galbraith in which they stated that William Butler, Sr., age 96, was reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that they concurred in that opinion.

William and his family probably moved to Anderson County, Tennessee shortly after 1800 and bought land from his son, Thomas A Butler.

William bought 422 acres of land from his son Thomas in 1807 (Anderson Deed D, Page 37).

Among the many early Butler deeds recorded in Anderson County for conveyances of land sales and sales of negro slaves. The following are examples:

Deed Book G. Page 134: William Butler, Senior to his granddaughter, Jane Rector, my Negro boy named Jim, October 25, 1828.

Deed Book G, Page 155: William Butler, Senior to my grandson, William G Butler, 100 acres on Poplar Creek adjoining William Butler and Ancil Manley, February 13, 1828.

Deed Book I, Page 16: William Butler, Senior to William R Butler, Henry R Butler and John W Butler (grandsons), for $300.00 70 acres on Poplar Creek beginning on Thomas Butler line, 1832.

Deed Book I, Page 131: William Butler, Senior to Rhoda Butler, wife of my grandson, William R Butler, my Negro woman named Betsy, 1834.

The 1830 census shows William living with his family in Anderson County, Tennessee.

William Butler, Senior died on November 9, 1836 in Anderson County, Tennessee. He is buried in an unmarked grave, probably in, or near, present Butler Cemetery on Poplar Creek and Highway No. 61 Anderson County, Tennessee.

1. ↑ The Story of Oliver Springs, Tennessee and Its People, Volume IV, by Snyder E Roberts.
2. ↑ William Butler, (Sr.) Will
   Anderson County Wills Book, 1830 - 1840, Page 141
   
   "I, William Butler, of Anderson County am infirm but in the perfect mind and memory -- soul -- desire debts be paid -- funeral decent -- etc. Will that my property be disposed of in the following manner;
   
   To my son, Thomas, my Negro girls Elizabeth and Nelly.
   
   To my daughter, Elizabeth Manley, my Negro woman Jane, Barbary, Cloe, and Fan and negro boy Moses.
   
   To my son, Henry, and to my son, William, my Negro man Joseph and girl, Margaret.
   
   To my daughter, Mary Rector, my Negro woman, Jude and her child, Sethany.
   
   To my granddaughter, Elizabeth Pryor, my Negro girl, Marie.
   
   To my grandsons, Jacob and Benjamin Rector, $40 in money each.
   
   To my granddaughter, Nancy Rector, my Negro boy, James.
   
   Signed William Butler
   Recorded January 16, 1836
   
   Witnesses:
   
   James Crace
   Jane B. Rector