The Family of Robert W. Butler b. 1799 Maryland via 1850 Iowa census.
The Life Summary of Robert W
Robert W Butler was born on 2 June 1799, in Maryland, United States. He married Elizabeth Briggs on 8 July 1822, in Ross, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in English Township, Iowa, Iowa, United States in 1860. He died on 24 April 1864, in North English, Iowa, Iowa, United States, at the age of 64, and was buried in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States. He is actually buried at Clothier Pioneer Cemetery Iowa County, Iowa. I have stood at his marker and by the places i have joined. The picture I have taken of his marker has made the rounds..
Does anyone have anything on him? Have been at a Brick wall here for many years. I even did a DNA and that didn't give me any surname help either. Have joined a multitude of groups and still no helpful data.
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@Larry Joe Butler, I am not related to any Butlers but I took some time today to see what I could find. We always hope to bring down a brick wall with the discovery of some lost record providing the direct evidence we need. The truth is that tearing down brick walls is usually a process of finding small clues and connecting the dots.
Start with a timeline of the facts you know. The earliest actual record of Robert seems to be his marriage to Elizabeth Briggs in 1822 in Ross County, Ohio which did not provide much information but I usually go on the assumption that they lived near each other in the area where they married. What records are readily available for Ross County? I'm sure you've already looked, but even the smallest of clues are important. Here are some that I found:
- 1820 census shows Joseph Briggs (Elizabeth's father) and other Briggs in Concord Township, Ross County. On the same page is a George Butler. Coincidence or could he be related?
- Tax records reveal that Joseph Briggs paid taxes on land owned in Concord Township, but also on land in Union Township. In that same township is a Thomas Butler. Thomas did not own land but paid taxes on personal property. Tax records can be found and searched from the links to catalog holdings for Ross County: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=196733&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%20States%2C%20Ohio%2C%20Ross%22&subjectsOpen=382464-50
- The land deed for Joseph Briggs' purchase of the property in Union county, dated 1816, says (among other things) that it adjoins the farm of Jesse Pritchard. Property deeds can also be found through the catalog, but are not indexed. You will need to look up names in the index to get the Deed Book and Page #, than go to that book and page. Please ask questions if you have any problems because deeds are important sources for family connections so it would be important to look up every Butler for clues, if you have not already done so. To give you a head start, the deed I just referenced is found in Deed Book 13, Page 483, Image 271.
- The 1820 census shows Jesse Pritchard and Thomas Butler as neighbors. Living nearby are two elderly women with the surname Briggs. I would have to assume that they live on the property owned by Joseph Briggs.
- Here is a link to an 1860 property map for Ross County that you might find helpful. Among other things, look to the north of Deer Creek for the number 2337. That was the number of Joseph Briggs Union township property on tax records.
I wish you luck in finding many more clues and hope you will stay in touch. I am one of the monitors for this group and would love to help you in any way I can!
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Thanks for your information. I have been a bit frustrated. Anyway I'll look into George and Thomas.
Larry J. Butler
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@Larry Joe Butler I understand your frustration. I have a few in my tree that are still unsolved mysteries, but I just keep hacking away at it. When records can't be found or simply do not exist you often have to turn to FAN strategies--FAN standing for Friends, Acquaintances, and Neighbors. Robert Butler was definitely acquainted with the Briggs family and Thomas Butler (given his place of residence on the 1820 census) was very likely acquainted with the same family. When you take into account the scarcity of Butlers in that area of Ross county, it is pretty good indirect evidence.
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