The following information was
submitted to this site by Dr. Janice Butler Turner and me. Janice was
recognized around the CSRA (The counties around Richmond County Georgia) for 20
years. I spent many days pouring over records to try to prove or disprove the few facts that are
actually in print about our ancestor Zachariah. We all fall victim to father
time and I miss her input and companionship greatly. Larry R. Butler-baby
brother
Listed
in the "Official History of Elbert County Georgia 1790-1935 by John H.
McIntosh. Butler Family Cemetery is located in Fortsonia Ga. right outside of
Elberton Ga. on what is
now the Dye homestead. When Janice and I were there about 20 years ago there
were two
Revolutionary War Markers standing. Zachariah and Patrick Butler. We have since heard they have been vandalized and
are no longer completely visible. (In November 2011 the Elbert Co. Ga. SAR
cleaned up this cemetery and the markers and had a dedication ceremony)
Marriage
date from Zachariah family Bible as copied by Randy Butler. This bible information is still
debatable but we have no legitimate argument
to deny the information found in
this book. We would, however like to know where
this Bible is now located or if it
is still in existence. The
1820 Census does not show a Zachariah Butler in Elbert County Georgia. There are no financial dealings of him and
his wife after 1814. He paid taxes in 1814 but is
not on the 1817 tax list. There is
no male of his age in any of the Butler Households in Elbert County Georgia in 1920. It is
out opinion that he dies between 1814 and 1820.
He would have been 84 years old in
1820. He bought 700 acres of land in 1811 from
a Rich who sold the land the next
year. We have to accept that he is alive in 1813 since he shows in a book of
Taxpayers 1791-1813, but the entries are not dated. But Rich is paying taxes on land he
bought from Zachariah and Zachariah is still listed as owner of adjacent land
in 1812 and he is therefore assumed to be alive in 1812
Nancy Butler born in 1792 is said to be his
daughter in some DAR records. She is
actually Patrick’s as evidenced by
the date of her birth and the naming of her first son.
Have
in our possession a copy of microfilm record from Virginia confirming his birth year as 1736 prior to September or
1735 after September. On Sept 2 1780 he was
listed as 44 years old five feet
four and 1/2 inches tall, with black hair and blue eyes and fair complexion.
Listed in Chesterfield House as belonging to Militia and having signed up for
eight months in September 1780. Private in Anderson's Company Nelson's Reg Virginia
Troops.(Do not know if reg stands for regiment or regular)
In
1782 "Heads of Families" he is in Mecklenburg Virginia in list of
Lewis Parham with 9 white in household. So he has a wife and seven in house. James is married and his first child
was born in 1782. There is a James in the same
tax list not far from Zachariah with
4 in house. Patrick is also married with a child 1782but does not appear near
Zachariah in the tax list so he is possibly still at home. This places
Zachariah, his wife, Patrick, Joel, Anna, Patrick’s wife and possibly their
child.
BUT
WHAT ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:
In
"General Indexes to Deeds Mecklenburg Virginia page 77 if found the
following. November 3 1784 Zachariah Butler and wife Mary Deed to Joshia Butler
(this is in error, it later appears as Joseph), land in Book 6 page 418.So
Zachariah was married to Mary at least that early. The index was incorrect, the
person was
Joseph Butler and the land was 100 acres and sold for 5 shillings of the
current money of
the county. (This is a very small amount for 100 acres)
We
conclude that a Joseph was probably a son of Zachariah. A Joseph marries
Frances Oliver in June 9 1783 in Mecklenburg County, but records say he was
born in Caroline Virginia.
This is not our Joseph
In
Book B page 194 Wilkes County Georgia Land Grant. Head right for self and two in
family. This was in 1785. We firmly believe there was a son Joseph who stayed
in Virginia
and kept the family land, simply because of the sum of money paid
