Why Search Into the past?

Why did I start my long investigation into my Butler family tree? It started with a simple question to my father.."What were Papa Butler's grandparents names?" My dad didn't know, and I thought to myself then "I want to find out". Trips to the Atlanta Archives started and many hours of looking at microfilm records. This was before the Internet and just finding a census record was time consuming. The records were hard to find and even harder to read. One good thing about that time was that original records were used to verify information. When you find "facts" on your family tree, make sure there is an original document to back it up. The oldest member of your family is the place to begin. Asking these older family members about your family tree can give you great information that can be lost after they are gone.

After finding everything you can from an older relative you may want to start with census records. The census records give evidence of where families lived and how they migrated. Look for different spellings of both first and last names. I found that census takers sometimes spelled phonetically, so spelling can vary greatly from one census to the next.
Just these two sources will give you a lot of insight into your famly and yourself. Get started and have fun along the way.

Time Change......

The memorial ceremony for Zachariah Butler and his son Patrick Butler is now scheduled for 11:00 am November 12, 2011.

Make plans to attend.

From Elberton GA - on the SE side of Elberton, Go SE on Hwy 72/17 : ......... Hwy 72 and Hwy 17 fork - take the right fork down Hwy 17 and go 7.0 miles from the fork. Just past a large Baptist Church on the left is Dr. George Ward Rd. There is also a CITGO gas station at the intersection. Go left ( East ) on George Ward Rd and drive 2.1 miles and make a left on Bakers Ferry Rd. Go about 200 yards and park.

Off to the West ( 150 yards ) is a large clump of trees in an open field. The Butler graves are in that group of trees.

GPS coordinates are N 34.02630 W 82.75385

More Information On Zachariah Butler.....

On the Thomas Partridge Store records in Hanover Co Va in 1756 Christopher Butler is named as settling the account of son Zachariah, b.1736. Zachariah is well documented, but Christopher Butler had other children of all ages by these store accounts. While many records from Hanover are missing, Christopher is listed in deed records in 1734-35. While some have tried to say that this Christopher is a son of Joshua Butler and Grace Page the DNA of this group is no where close to the DNA of Zachariah's descendants.
Because of DNA matching we may suspect that James Butler, c1740 who married Winifred Brooks of Hanover and Mecklenburg, may be a brother of Zachariah. James went to Edgefield County SC before the Revolutionary War. The father of Christopher may have been James who immigrated from Ireland in 1703. James came over on the same ship with the same merchant as Edmund Butler in 1706. Edmund's family is well documented and the DNA of Christopher's descendants is a near match for Edmund's, suggesting they may have been brothers or cousins.
The mystery continues and gets better with time.....

Some Faces of Our Past..........

If you have some pictures that you would like posted on this Blog site please e-mail me at Butlerfamilyhist@aol.com.

I will post them and any other information about them that you would like to add.

I have thought and wondered many times what I would say to my gggrandparents if I could go back in time and speak to them. Every time I find a picture from the past I try to see some of myself.

 Frances Hogue Butler 1815-1900

 Nathan Butler 1815-1875

Parents of James Marion Butler1838-1896 and Napoleon B. Butler. James fought for the Confederates, Nathan and Napoleon with the Union.
They all survived the war.  Nathan's father Daniel b1794-1878 was my gggrandfather Patrick's brother. Patrick b1799-1880 lost two sons in the war..one of them was my ggrandfather William. b1827-1861

James Marion Butler named one of his sons after his father and grandfather.

                              Nathan Daniel Butler b1872-1960
                              Kate Beard Butler b1873-1953
                              Daughters- Matie, Meryl, Mamie

 Wedding Day

Nathan & Kate with Grandson Jewel Franks

November 12 2011 -----SAR Morning Ceremony

If you are a descendant of Zachariah Butler or his son Patrick Butler..veterans of the American Revolution, make plans to attend a memorial ceremony by the Samuel Elbert Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The memorial will be at the Butler Cemetery at the grave site, November 12, 2011 in the morning at 11:00 am.

From Elberton GA - on the SE side of Elberton, Go SE on Hwy 72/17 : ......... Hwy 72 and Hwy 17 fork - take the right fork down Hwy 17 and go 7.0 miles from the fork. Just past a large Baptist Church on the left is Dr. George Ward Rd. There is also a CITGO gas station at the intersection. Go left ( East ) on George Ward Rd and drive 2.1 miles and make a left on Bakers Ferry Rd. Go about 200 yards and park.

Off to the West ( 150 yards ) is a large clump of trees in an open field. The Butler graves are in that group of trees.

GPS coordinates are N 34.02630 W 82.75385

Peter Patrick Butler & Hannah Snellings

 Patrick Butler and Elizabeth Fannin Butler's son, Peter Patrick Butler was born March 3, 1789 in Elbert Co Ga. With his father and two grandfathers Revolutionary War Veterans, Peter Patrick no doubt grew up hearing about their experiences in the conflict.
Zachariah Butler and Laughlin Fannin were both residents of Mecklenburg Co. Va. Oct 12, 1778 Laughlin Fannin took his oath to become a militia officer in the Va. Milita. In 1780 Ensign Laughlin Fannin was present when Joseph Butler enlisted.
Patrick married Laughlin's daughter Elizabeth and both families relocated to Elbert Co Ga after the war to settle their land awarded for their service. Peter Patrick Butler married Hannah Snellings B1788.
George Snellings Butler, son of Peter Patrick was born in 1803 in Elbert Co Ga. He married Catherine Booth Feb 17,1830. their children were William Sanford b 1831, Harriet A. b 1834, Samuel b 1836, and GeorgeW. b 1839.

George Snellings Butler

After Catherine's death in 1850, George Snellings Butler married Mary Ann Richards Dec. 15,1856. They had 12 children. David Ned b 1857, Elizabeth Jane b 1858, Patrick Henry b 1859, Ellen Augusta(Gussie) b 1861, James Thomas b 1862, Simon Clayton b 1863, Joseph Warren b 1866, Martha Ann b 1867, Benjamin F. b 1868, Susan F. (Susie) b 1870, Willis Jackson b 1871, Charles Walton b1875.

Images Of That Great War........

This July is the 150 anniversary of my gggrandfather William H. Butler leaving his home in Walton Co Ga and heading to Virginia to join thousand of others at the start of the Civil War. Their train was delayed so the Walton Volunteer Home Guard missed the First Battle of Manassas. The July sun and heat made dead on the battlefield fill the air with death.This confederate victory gave everyone pause and realize that this would not be a quick victory or a bloodless one. Drinking water was soon contaminated and sickness went through the ranks. William was soon sick with typhoid fever and was sent to a hospital in Richmond where he was discharged disabled August 10, 1861. His discharge papers were signed by General J. H. Winder. Across the top of the discharge is written, "Transportation Furnished". The train ride home was long and with a fever I don't know how he made it. Just the thought of making it home was probably what kept him going. And thankfully he did make it home. He died in his own bed September 18.

Happy Birthday America!

Our  Butler Colonial grandfathers gave us the gift of Freedom in 1776.  Zachariah Butler, and his sons Patrick, and James were part of a revolution that changed the course of history.
Do we take it for granted today..sometimes I think we do.

The courage to come to America and the courage to rebel against England is in our DNA.

Fathers Are Forever......

Our fathers play a very important part in all of our lives. They have an influence that lasts forever even to  future generations. From our Colonial grandfather Zachariah Butler to our fathers that raised us we carry them in our hearts and minds.
I know my branch of the Butler family is influenced by the death of William H. Butler in the Civil War. Orphaned at age 9, Nathan Patrick Butler my great grandfather, the oldest of William's four children, had to grow up very fast and be responsible for too much too soon.
To all the Butler fathers out there....take the good you have received from your fathers and pass it down.
Happy Fathers Day.

Some Butler fathers.......

We Remember...Memorial Day 2011

From the American Revolution to the War On Terror our Butler Family has contributed to the cause of Liberty. Patrick Henry who was a neighbor of our Colonial Grandfather Zachariah Butler said ---

"Should I keep back my opinions at such a time,through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country ,and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."

We remember you all---

Memorial For Our Colonial Grandfather........

On November 12, 2011 the Samuel Elbert Chapter of The Sons of The American Revolution will have a memorial service for Zachariah Butler and Patrick Butler at the Butler Cemetery in Fortsonia Ga.

All descendants of these two patriots are cordially invited to attend. If you are are a descendant I hope you will make plans to be there. The SAR has agreed to clean up the grave site and they will help us remember the bravery, and hope our grandfathers had in America. They had enough hope to be a part of the revolution that forged our nation.

A Life Well Lived.....

We are not promised a certain number of days. Our lives are gifts, where we find our purpose and grow into who the Creator meant for us to be. If we live our lives well we are remembered fondly by those left behind. A few years ago my cousin Gary and I began to e-mail each other about our mutual interest in the Butler family tree. He was retired and wanted to spend some time researching our family history, and I was happy to share what I had discovered. He and his wife Judy made a trip to Ireland and sent me some interesting information about our history and also pictures of places where the name Butler was well known.
Later he participated in the Butler DNA project. For that, our branch of the family is truly grateful to him.
In February 2011 Judy passed away and yesterday I got a call that Gary had died. Both were wonderful, thoughtful, and kind people. I always thought of Gary as a shy, quiet, intellectual. Judy was the picture of a beautiful, friendly, wife and mother. Being first cousins in our family meant a connection that though not as deep as cousins were in past generations..was still a tie that was treasured. The fact that our dads were brothers meant a lot of shared memories.
An example of a life well lived is the blessing given to Gary and Judy's daughters, Kim and Beth. We will all miss them.

Sons of The American Revolution

The Samuel Elbert Chapter of the Sons of The American Revolution are an organization that keeps our colonial grandfather's memory alive. They will be scheduling a cleanup of the grave site of Zachariah Butler and his son Patrick Butler located in Elbert County Ga.

Hopefully a memorial ceremony can be held this Fall. All descendants are invited. Details will follow as soon as the exact date is known. Make plans to travel to Georgia to see where the Butler family settled after coming from Virginia almost 250 years ago.