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My own research begins with my 5th great-grandfather, William Butler, was probably born about 1723, in Stafford County, Virginia. He was the youngest of seven children born to Joshua Butler and Grace Page.
William was probably no more than two years old when his father died. William was listed in his father's will, probated Sept 3, 1725, to receive a cow and calf at the age of 16.
William married my 5th great grandmother, Mary (possibly Emmons), about 1747, probably in Stafford County. Mary was born about 1730, possibly in Prince William County, Virginia. She may have been the daughter of Joseph Emmons (b. 1701, VA; d. 1767, Fauquier Co, VA).
William appears on the 1759 Fauquier County, Virginia tax list paying taxes on himself.
The 1766 Fauquier County tax lists shows William and his brother, John, paying 2 tiths and taxes on 423 acres of property.
The 1767 Fauquier County list of tobacco growers in John Kirke's Southern District shows William Butler and his brother, John, each paid taxes on 2 males.
The 1768 Fauquier County tax list of tobacco growers, John Kirke's Southern District, shows William paying taxes for himself and another male under 21 but over 16 years of age. His brother, John also paid taxes on 2 males.
The 1775 Fauquier County tax list shows that William is responsible for himself and two sons, Spencer and Charles, who are between 16 and 21 years old. William's eldest son, Joseph, first appears as head of household in the Fauquier County tax lists in 1775. Joseph was about 27 years of age at that time and may have appeared earlier in the tax records, but none exist for Fauquier County between 1769 and 1775.
William also appears on the Fauquier County tax list for 1778.
William moved his family to Culpeper County, Virginia about 1781-1782. Culpeper County records show that on December 25, 1782, John and Susannah Lawler sold to William Butler, for 20 pounds, 150 acres of land "beginning at oak on the south side of Battle Run, running down several courses South 47 degrees East 68 pole South 66 degrees E 28 pole, S 36 degrees East 30 pole to a tree on the bank of the Run, thence leaving the Run S 39 degrees West 200 pole to a line made for Wm Roberts, thence with the same North 30 degrees West 139 poles to 3 oaks on spur of Aron Mt. on east side thereof, thence NE 160 poles to beginning".
On February 19, 1787, William purchased an additional 190 acres adjoining his property. The deed states: "Wm Roberts as attorney for Ed. Tanner of GB to Wm Butler. 40 lbs for 190 A. Beginning at spur of Arons Mt. on the east side running north&ldots;" . The deed continues with the full property description. John Jett and Joshua Butler were witnesses to the transaction.
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 237, dated April 15, 1799, shows William purchased 250 acres of land for 3000 pounds from Samuel and Mary Daniel.
On that same date, April 15, 1799, William and Mary transferred parcels of land to their children as follows:
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 239, dated April 15, 1799, shows a transfer of land to their son Benjamin Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots;. we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots;. for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son Benjamin Butler &ldots; we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Benj. Butler his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or parcel of land containing 50 acres which lying and being in the county of Culpeper and joining on Battle Run, it being a part of a tract&ldots; owned by Wm Roberts, and where Benj now lives&ldots; beginning at Spanish and red oak corner to Armistead Butler in Nancy Butler's line and running thence by her line &ldots;".
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 241, dated April 15, 1799, shows a transfer of land to their son Joseph Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots;we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots; for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son Joseph Butler &ldots; 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 &ldots; to white oak and ash on bank of Battle Run &ldots;".
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 243, dated April 15, 1799, shows a transfer of land to their son Charles Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots;we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots; for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son Charles Butler &ldots; we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Chas. Butler 129 acres formerly Wm Daniel's, where Charles now lives&ldots; beginning at 3 red oaks on spur of Aron's Mt., corner to Spencer Butler, Jno Grimsley and Armistead Butler, thence with said Armistead Butler's line &ldots; corner of the dividing line between said Charles Butler and Nancy Butler, thence &ldots; ".
Culpeper County Deed Book V, p. 381, dated December 12, 1800, shows a transfer of land to their son Armistead Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots; we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots; for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son Armistead Butler &ldots; we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Armistead Butler 136 acres at foot of Aron's Mt., formerly Wm. Roberts, where Wm and Armistead now live. Beginning at three red oaks at spur of Aron's Mt corner to Spencer Butler and Jno Grimsley running thence &ldots; corner to Benj Butler line &ldots; to chestnut at mouth of branch on bank of Battle Run then down the several causes of the said run &ldots;".
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 383, dated December 12, 1800, shows a transfer of land to their daughter Nancy Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots; we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots; for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our daughter Nancy Butler &ldots; we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Nancy Butler 129 acres beginning at red oak and chestnut oak in alley, corner to Chas Butler in Arm. Butler's line, thence &ldots; corner to Jos Embry and Benj Butler. Thence with said Embry's line &ldots; to Chas Butler &ldots;".
Culpeper County Deed Book U, p. 384, dated December 12, 1800, shows a transfer of personal property to their son Armistead Butler and their daughter Nancy Butler. The deed shows: "&ldots; we Wm Butler and Mary his wife of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia &ldots; for and in consideration of the love good will and affection which we have and bear unto our son beloved children Armistead Butler and Nancy Butler &ldots; we have given granted and conformed and by these presents doth freely clearly and absolutely give grant and conform unto the said Armistead Butler and Nancy Butler all and singular our goods, chattels, plate, jewels&ldots; personal estate whatsoever. 3 head of horses, 11 head of cattle, 11 head of sheep and 7 head of hogs, 3 feather beds and furniture with all the rest of the household furniture to be equally divided between them".
Tax lists for Culpeper County show that Armistead and his father, William, were taxed in 1801 through 1804. The Culpeper County Personal Property tax lists for the years 1805-1810 are missing.
William Butler died between 1804 and May 1809. Mary also died during that time. (Note: Their home on Battle Run, in Culpeper County is now in Rappahannock County, Virginia.)
A Culpeper County Minute Book, dated May, 1809, shows that Armistead and Nancy Butler divided the estate of their parents, William and Mary Butler according to the Deed of 1800.
Children of William Butler and Mary
1. Joseph Butler was born abt 1748, in Fauquier Co, VA. (my line)
2. Charles Butler was born abt 1755, in Fauquier Co, VA.
3. Spencer Butler was born abt 1757, in Fauquier Co, VA.
4. Sarah Butler was born abt 1760, in Fauquier Co, VA. She married James Grimsley abt 1780, probably in Fauquier Co. James Grimsley was born abt 1755, in VA. He may have been the son of James Grimsley (b. 1720, VA; d. 1806, Culpeper Co, VA) and Ann ____. The family migrated to Boone Co, KY prior to 1790. James was a Revolutionary War soldier. He died abt 1795, in Boone Co, KY. Sarah appeared on the 1830 Boone Co census with her son Silas. She was shown to be 70-79 years old. She died before 1840, in Boone Co. Children included: (1) Fielding Grimsley, b. abt 1783; (2) Elizabeth Grimsley, b. abt 1785; (3) Mary "Polly" Grimsley, b. abt 1786 and (4) Silas Grimsley, b. abt 1789.
5. William Butler was born abt 1762, in Fauquier Co, VA.
6. Nancy Butler was born abt 1768, in Fauquier Co, VA. She received 129 acres of land from her parents in 1800, and was also deeded personal property along with her brother Armstead. Nancy apparently never married.
7. Benjamin Butler was born April 6, 1769, in Fauquier Co, VA. He married Mary Edwards on Dec 1, 1790, in Culpeper Co, VA. In 1799, Benjamin received 50 acres of land from his parents. Mary died between Apr 9, 1844 and 1849. Benjamin appeared on the 1850 Rappahannock Co., VA census. He was listed as a pauper, 97 years old. He was living in the County Poor House. He died after Nov 19, 1850.
8. Armstead Butler was born in 1770, in Fauquier Co, VA.