Captain Thomas Butler

1820 British Settler:

Born in 1776 in the town of Baltinglass in Wicklow (County), Ireland.

He attained the rank of "Captain" in the Dublin (County) Militia, in 1807. Circa 1800, and married Elizabeth, (born in 1785), in Baltinglass.

Capt.Thos. BUTLER aged 43 years, his wife Elizabeth 35 years. Eldest son John 19 years, second son Joseph 11 years, third son James aged 6 years and only daughter Matilda aged one year.

The following relevant extracts from “Happy Families” kindly supplied by John Butler of the Butler Society:

Happy Families

"HAPPY FAMILIES" is a serial of continuing research into the genealogy of families named BUTLER, compiled by Lord Dunboyne, and published in the Journal of the Butler Society. This table lists the 456 queries and subsequent follow-ups published in Butler Journals Vol.1#1 (1968) to Vol.4#1 (1997).

Q417. BJ3#4

Thomas Butler (b, c. 1777), Capt., Dublin Militia; emigrated to S. Africa, 1820.

QUOTE:

Q417. BJ3#4
Thomas Butler (b, c. 1777), Capt., Dublin Militia; emigrated to S. Africa, 1820.

Clue: With wife, Elizabeth (33) and children, Joseph (11), James (6) and Matilda (1 year), he led a party of 27 settlers from Co. Wicklow who eventually settled in the Zuurveld (later known as Albany), near Algoa Bay. In the same group was John Butler, aged 19 (per James's descendant, Mrs Simpson of Despatch, S. Africa, via Major R. E. Butler of California).

Reply: Thomas Butler became Capt. in Dublin (County) Militia, 1807 (List of Militia Officers, PRO, Kew);