Joseph Butler

My 4th great grandfather, Joseph Butler, was born about 1748, in Fauquier County, Virginia.  He was the eldest son of William Butler and Mary (possibly Emmons).

Joseph married my 4th great grandmother, Nancy Embry, on April 15, 1769, probably in Fauquier County, Virginia.   Nancy Embry was born about 1748, in Fauquier County, Virginia, one of at least eight children born to Robert Embry and Anne (last name unknown).  

Robert Embry was born about 1706, in Virginia and died February 1790, in Fauquier County, Virginia.   He may have been the son of William Embrey from Gravesend, England, and Ann (last name unknown).    Robert Embry married Anne (last name unknown) probably about 1727, in Virginia.   Their children, who were probably all born in Fauquier County, included: (1) Thomas Embry, b. abt 1728, VA;  (2) Sanford Embry, b. abt 1731, VA;  (3) Robert Embry, b. abt 1735, VA;  (4) William Embry, b. abt 1735, VA;  (5) Elizabeth Embry, b. abt 1736, VA;  (6) Charles Embry, b. abt 1740, VA; (7) Nancy Embry, b. abt 1748, VA; m. Joseph Butler, and (8) Anne Embry, b. abt 1750, VA.  

Joseph and Nancy settled near his family in Fauquier County to begin their family.  

Joseph is listed in the Fauquier County, Virginia tithables list in 1782, 1783, and 1784.  

About 1784, several members of the Butler family moved into Culpeper County, Virginia.   Joseph may have moved his family about that time.   

Joseph is listed in the Culpeper County, Virginia tithables list in 1787, next to his brother Spencer.

Joseph purchased land in Culpeper County in 1792.   Culpeper County Deed Book R, dated December 29, 1792 shows the following: "Wm Roberts to Joseph Butler 27 pounds for 90 acres in fork of Battle Run beginning at chestnut and white oak on Roberts Mill Dam thence N40E62P to a red oak and pine, thence N3DE34P to 2 white oaks, in Thornton Taylor’s line, thence with Taylor’s line N14(?)W 222p to white oak and pine on north side of south part of said Run, thence down the several course of the said Run to the beginning".

The next land record we found was recorded in Culpeper County Deed Book U, dated April 15, 1799.   This record shows a transfer of land from William and Mary Butler to their son Joseph Butler.   The deed shows: "To all whom this present writing shall come, we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia send greetings. Know ye that for diverse good causes and considerations and thereunto moving, but more especially for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son Joseph Butler and for his better support and maintenance hereafter in the world, we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Jos. Butler 78 acres &ldots; land formerly Jno Lawler’s&ldots; where Joseph now lives&ldots; beginning at two pines on a ridge, corner to Spencer Butler, N27DW132P to a box and two red oaks another of Spencer Butler’s corners, then NE68P to white oak and ash on bank of Battle Run on the East side thereof&ldots; thence down the several courses of the Run S47E68PS65DE28S36DE30P to a locust and ash on the bank of said Run , then leaving the Run S39DW126P to beginning".

The 1810 Culpeper County census shows Joseph Butler a male over 45; one male 26-45; two males 16-25; two males under 10; one female over 45; and one female under 10 years of age. Living next to Joseph was his son Taliaferro.   Joseph's brothers Charles, Armstead, and Benjamin were also listed next to Joseph.

Joseph was the operator of a saw/grist mill.   Upon his death, his son Taliaferro inherited the mill lot, while his other acreage was divided among his other children.

Nancy died prior to 1818, in Culpeper County.  

Joseph died prior to March 17, 1818, at his home on Battle Run, in Culpeper (now Rappahannock) County.   His property was divided among his children at that time.    

Culpeper County, Virginia Will Book H, dated March 17, 1818, shows the buyers at the estate sale of Joseph Butler, deceased.    Those buyers included Nancy Butler, Daniel McCarty, Clayton Johnston, Robert Butler, Tolliver Butler, William Stewart, Charles Emory, George Duncan and Zachary Butler.   Joseph's son, Taliaferro, was administrator of the estate.

A final entry in Culpeper County Will Book H, dated December 18, 1823, shows Joseph Butler's estate, with his son Talliaferro Butler, administrator.   As administrator, Talliaferro was to oversee the payment of debts, including debts to Armistead Butler and Zachary Butler.    The land was divided among Joseph's children as follows:  lot #1 to Joshua Butler; lot #2 to Robert Butler; lot #3 to Susan Butler; lot #4 (the "Mill Lot") to Tolliver Butler; lot #5 to James Butler; lot #6 to Charles Butler; lot #7 to William Butler; lot # 8 to John Butler; lot # 9 to Sarah Peyton; lot #10 to Joseph Butler; lot #11 to Nancy Butler, and lot #12 to Elizabeth Priest.

Children of Joseph Butler and Nancy Embry

1. Joseph Washington Butler was born abt 1775, in Fauquier Co, VA.   He married Mary Ann "Polly" James abt 1795, in VA.   Polly James was born abt 1778, in VA.   The 1810 Prince William Co, VA census shows Joseph Butler, a male 26-44; one female 26-44 and two females under 10 years old.  When his father died in early 1818, Joseph inherited land lot #10.  Polly died prior to 1820.   The 1820 Culpeper Co, VA census shows Joseph Butler, a male 26-44 and one female 16-25 years old (probably his youngest daughter).   Joseph moved to Simpson Co, KY prior to 1830 and appears as a male 50-59, living alone, on the 1830 Simpson Co census.    Joseph died abt 1839, in Simpson Co, KY.    Children: (1) George Washington Butler, b. Feb 18, 1797, Culpeper Co, VA; d. Aug 19, 1873, Dallas Co, TX; m. Lucy W. Jennings on Jan 5, 1818, KY;  (2) Tabitha Butler, b. July 17, 1799, Culpeper Co, VA; d. Aug 9, 1839; m. Michael Groves on Jan 16, 1819 and  (3) Unknown Daughter Butler, b. abt 1802, VA.  

2. Joshua Butler was born abt 1779, in Fauquier Co, VA.   He married Frances ____ .   When his father died in early 1818, Joshua inherited land lot  #1.   We have been told he migrated to Franklin Co, OH, where he died before 1826.    We have been told his children included: (1) Alcey Butler,  (2) David Butler,  (3) Joshua Butler and (4) Nancy Butler.

3. Taliaferro Butler was born Apr 20, 1781, in Fauquier Co, VA      (my line)

4. William Butler was born abt 1782, in Fauquier Co, VA.    He married Tabithy Settle on Nov 29, 1805, in Culpeper Co, VA.   When his father died in early 1818, William inherited land lot #7.   On June 10, 1839, William Butler of Jackson Co., IN granted power of attorney to John B. Rust to sell his part of the real estate of his father Joseph Butler, deceased.  

5. John Butler was born abt 1784, in Fauquier Co or Culpeper Co, VA.   He married Nancy _____ on Dec 26, 1805, in Culpeper Co, VA.   When his father died in early 1818, John inherited land lot  #8.  John sold that property and moved his family to Pickaway Co, OH prior to 1820.  The 1820 Pickaway Co census shows John living next to his sister and brother-in-law, John and Sarah Peyton and their family.   John's family moved to Franklin Co, OH prior to 1840.   They appeared on the 1840 Franklin Co census.   John had several children including: Samuel Butler. 

6. Nancy Butler was born abt 1785, in Culpeper Co, VA.   We believe Nancy married John Milstead on Mar 16, 1813, in Culpeper Co, VA.   John Milstead was born Feb 25, 1789, in MD.   When her father died in early 1818, Nancy Butler inherited land lot  #11.   (Note: I find it curious that she was listed as Nancy Butler in the court estate papers regarding her father's estate, but her married sisters were referred to by their married names.)   John and Nancy appeared on the 1830 Prince William Co, VA census with one son and six daughters.  They migrated to Muskingum Co, OH abt 1831 and appeared on the 1840 Muskingum Co census with their son and five of their daughters.   John and Nancy appeared on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Muskingum Co census.   The 1870 census listed John as 82 and Nancy as 81 years old.   John died Feb 7, 1873, in Muskingum Co, OH.   Nancy died there on Nov 22, 1878.   Children: (1) Jane Milstead, b. Dec 1813, VA; d. Nov 18, 1889; m. Evan L. Morgan on Apr 2, 1840, Muskingum Co;  (2) Eliza J. Milstead, b. Sept 11, 1815, VA; d. Oct 28, 1897, Licking Co, OH; m. Dudley Field on Mar 15, 1840;  (3) Harriet Milstead, b. Mar 6, 1817, VA; d. Jan 8, 1834;  (4) Mary Milstead, b. Nov 7, 1818, VA; d. Mar 26, 1884, Muskingum Co; never married;  (5) Susanna Milstead, b. Mar 14, 1820, VA; d. Dec 16, 1859; never married;  (6) Albert Milstead, b. Mar 22, 1822, VA; d. June 17, 1891, Coshocton Co, OH; m. Martha Ingram on Feb 8, 1849;  (7) Mariah Milstead, b. Jan 22, 1825, Prince William Co, VA, d. Oct 11, 1827, Prince William Co and  (8) Nancy Milstead, b. Sept 11, 1827, Prince William Co, VA; d. June 8, 1910; m. Marcus L. Carter  on Apr 14, 1853. 

7. Charles Butler was born abt 1786, in Culpeper Co, VA.   He married Susannah O'Neal on Nov 12, 1809, in Culpeper Co.  When his father died in early 1818, Charles inherited land lot #6.   Charles moved his family to Barren Co, KY prior to 1820.  The family appeared on the 1830 and 1840 Barren Co census.   On Nov 13, 1847, Charles and Susannah, of Barren Co, KY, sold the land Charles had inherited from his father.   Charles died abt 1849, in Barren Co, KY.   The 1850 Barren Co census shows Susannah, 63; William, 33; Jerome B., 24, Underwood, 22; Rachel, 28 and Jennetta, 19 years old.   Susannah died 1859, in Barren Co.   Children included: (1) John Nelson Butler, b. 1811, Culpeper Co, VA; m. Isabelle "Isey" Butler, dau. of Fielding Butler and Elizabeth Huffman, on May 1, 1834, Barren Co;  (2) Joseph Butler, b. 1812; m. Lavina Graham;  (3) Richard Butler, b. 1815; d. 1847, Barren Co;  (4) William Butler, b. 1817;  (5) Daniel Butler, b. 1821, Barren Co, KY; d. bef 1870, Barren Co; m. Eliza Ann ____;  (6) Rachel Butler, b. 1822, Barren Co, KY;  (7) Jerome Butler, b. 1825, Barren Co, KY; m. Olivia Richie;  (8) George Butler, b. 1826, Barren Co, KY;  (9) Underwood Butler, b. 1828, Barren Co, KY; m. Sarah E. Duff on Jan 26, 1869, Barren Co, KY and  (10) Jennetta Butler, b. 1831, Barren Co, KY; d. 1887, Barren Co; m. Robert Lafayette Butler, son of Fielding Butler and Elizabeth Huffman.

8. James Butler was born abt 1788, in Culpeper Co, VA.   When his father died in early 1818, James inherited land lot  #5.  

9. Sarah Butler was born abt 1790, in Culpeper Co, VA.    She married John Peyton on Jan 3, 1805, in Culpeper Co.   When her father died in early 1818, "Sarah Peyton"  inherited land lot #9.   John and Sarah moved to Pickaway Co, OH prior to 1820.   The 1820 Pickaway Co census showed the family of John Patton living next to Sarah's brother, John Butler.  John Peyton died abt 1828-1830, in Pickaway Co.   The 1830 Pickaway Co census shows Sarah Payton head of household, with 3 sons and 6 daughters.   Living next to her was her eldest son Thomas and his wife.   Sarah was living with her son Elias on the 1840 and 1850 Pickaway Co census.   Sarah died prior to 1860.   John and Sarah had at least 10 children (4 sons and 6 daughters) including: (1) Thomas Peyton, b. 1808, VA; m. Rebecca ____ in 1830, in Pickaway Co, OH;  (2) Elias Peyton, b. 1817, VA;  (3) Phoebe Peyton, b. 1825, Pickaway Co, OH.     

10. Susan Butler was born abt 1793, in Culpeper Co, VA.   When her father died in early 1818, "Susan Butler" inherited land lot #3. 

11. Elizabeth Butler was born abt 1795, in Culpeper Co, VA.   She married William Priest about 1813-1815, probably in Culpeper Co.   When her father died in early 1818, "Elizabeth Priest"  inherited land lot #12.   The 1820 Fauquier Co, VA census shows William Priest, a male 26-44; one female 16-25 and three males under 10 years old.   Elizabeth died 1824-1830.   The 1830 Fauquier Co census shows William Priest, a male 50-59; one male 20-29 (probably a son-in-law); two females 20-29 (William's daughters) and one female under 5 (a grandchild).    William may have died prior to 1840.  

 12. Robert Butler was born abt 1797, in Culpeper Co, VA.   When his father died in early 1818, Robert inherited land lot #2.   Robert married Deliah Yeates on Feb 28, 1820, in Fauquier Co, VA.   Robert and Deliah appeared on the 1820 Culpeper Co, VA census.   We have been told that Robert died in 1826, in Franklin Co, OH.    I believe he died in VA.   The 1830  Frederick Co, VA census shows Delila Butler, 20-29; one male 5-9 and one female 5-9.    Children: (1) Daniel Butler, b. 1821, VA; m. Leodsia Jane John on Feb 9, 1843, Warren Co, VA and  (2) Eliza J. Butler, b. 1823, VA; d. Apr 10, 1907, Henry Co, OH; m. Elisha Marion Andrews on Mar 7, 1842, VA.