Nicholas Butler was born in 1594 in Eastwell, Ashford, Kent, England. His parents reportedly were Henry Butler and Isabel Tempest, but I believe there is some disagreement with this from some sources.
Nicholas married his first wife, Mary Cottrell in 1613 at St. George's Church in Canterbury, Kent. (This church was badly damaged during WWII bombings by the Germans. It was demolished in 1955 and no longer exists, except for the clock tower). Mary died in 1623 in Eastwell. With Mary, Nicholas fathered daughters, Lydia, Mary (who died in 1622 as an infant), a second Mary born in 1623 - the same year her mother died.
In 1624 Nicholas married his second wife, Joyce Baker, daughter of Richard and Margaret Elkes-Baker in Ashford. With Joyce, Nicholas had at least four more children: John, Henry, Lydia and Thomas. John was my 8th great grandfather.
In 1637, Nicholas emigrated from England to Massachusetts on the ship, "Hercules", initially settling in Dorchester. Three of his children came with him on the ship - John, Lydia and a third unknown child. Joyce and son, Henry emigrated in a later year. Nicholas also had several servants who came with him (John Pope, John Gill, Richard Jenkins and Simon Athern), which indicates that he was a man of some wealth and considerable status. He was referred to as "Mr. Butler" in legal papers, which also points to social status, as well as the fact that his son Henry graduated from Harvard. He was admitted as a freeman in 1639.
In 1651, Nicholas, Joyce and son, John moved to Martha's Vineyard Island and settled south of Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point across from Chappaquiddick Island. He was one of the "first-comers" to the island. Martha's Vineyard then was it's own separate colony, under Gov. Thomas Mayhew (also my ancestor), who had acquired the islands, including Nantucket ten years prior to Nicholas' arrival there.
Nicholas died on August 13, 1671, a very old and feeble man who was going blind. He signed his will with an "X" due to his loss of "sight as it were gon". He was survived by his wife, Joyce, who died in 1680. From his will, signed the day before his death:
"This doth testify that I Nicholas Butler Being at present Sound in memory doe Now by this my last will give my Estate Whatsoever that I left after I Shall be buried like a Christian wholly unto my wife Joyce Butler, uppon serious consideration for her to dispose of to hir children and my children as shee shall see good, and hereunto I praise [god] being of memorie as aforesaid Sound. I doe witness with my hand this 12th of August 1671.
This will is witnessed
by us
THOMAS MAYHEW
THO’ BIRCHARD
The marke of Nicholas Norton His sight as it were
gon
the mar X of
NICHOLAS BUTLER."
------------------------------------------
His children by Joyce:
1) John (1624-1658): m. Mary Lynde, d. of Decon Thomas Lynde of Charlestown, MA.
2) Rev. Henry (1626 -1696): Graduated from Harvard. Married Anne, daughter of Thomas and Avis Abbott-Bishop in Dorchester in 1655. Returned to England in 1656 and died in Somerset Co, England. Anne died in 1673 - He married secondly Mary ___. He was a dissenting minister, who suffered several imprisonments and great persecution there before his death.
3) Lydia (1628 -1667): m. John Minot 1647 - resided in Dorchester (apparently never settled on MV). Died during childbirth.
4) Thomas (1641 - 1641)
-------------------------
The Butler surname and descendants of Nicholas (via son, John) still remain on Martha's Vineyard. Other subsequent descendant branches moved westward later. Two notable descendants were lawman and gunfighter, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (via his mother, Polly Butler-Hickok) and Benjamin Franklin Butler, Civil War Union General, Congressman and Governor or Massachusetts. My 4th great-grandmother, Besty Butler-Birdsall (f. Timothy Butler, m. Jane Vincent) moved from Edgartown in the early 1800s and settled in Ohio. Her widowed mother moved there with her. Jane's g-g-grandfather was William Vincent, who's house is preserved and open as a museum in Edgartown.
Nicholas married his first wife, Mary Cottrell in 1613 at St. George's Church in Canterbury, Kent. (This church was badly damaged during WWII bombings by the Germans. It was demolished in 1955 and no longer exists, except for the clock tower). Mary died in 1623 in Eastwell. With Mary, Nicholas fathered daughters, Lydia, Mary (who died in 1622 as an infant), a second Mary born in 1623 - the same year her mother died.
In 1624 Nicholas married his second wife, Joyce Baker, daughter of Richard and Margaret Elkes-Baker in Ashford. With Joyce, Nicholas had at least four more children: John, Henry, Lydia and Thomas. John was my 8th great grandfather.
In 1637, Nicholas emigrated from England to Massachusetts on the ship, "Hercules", initially settling in Dorchester. Three of his children came with him on the ship - John, Lydia and a third unknown child. Joyce and son, Henry emigrated in a later year. Nicholas also had several servants who came with him (John Pope, John Gill, Richard Jenkins and Simon Athern), which indicates that he was a man of some wealth and considerable status. He was referred to as "Mr. Butler" in legal papers, which also points to social status, as well as the fact that his son Henry graduated from Harvard. He was admitted as a freeman in 1639.
In 1651, Nicholas, Joyce and son, John moved to Martha's Vineyard Island and settled south of Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point across from Chappaquiddick Island. He was one of the "first-comers" to the island. Martha's Vineyard then was it's own separate colony, under Gov. Thomas Mayhew (also my ancestor), who had acquired the islands, including Nantucket ten years prior to Nicholas' arrival there.
Nicholas died on August 13, 1671, a very old and feeble man who was going blind. He signed his will with an "X" due to his loss of "sight as it were gon". He was survived by his wife, Joyce, who died in 1680. From his will, signed the day before his death:
"This doth testify that I Nicholas Butler Being at present Sound in memory doe Now by this my last will give my Estate Whatsoever that I left after I Shall be buried like a Christian wholly unto my wife Joyce Butler, uppon serious consideration for her to dispose of to hir children and my children as shee shall see good, and hereunto I praise [god] being of memorie as aforesaid Sound. I doe witness with my hand this 12th of August 1671.
This will is witnessed
by us
THOMAS MAYHEW
THO’ BIRCHARD
The marke of Nicholas Norton His sight as it were
gon
the mar X of
NICHOLAS BUTLER."
------------------------------------------
His children by Joyce:
1) John (1624-1658): m. Mary Lynde, d. of Decon Thomas Lynde of Charlestown, MA.
2) Rev. Henry (1626 -1696): Graduated from Harvard. Married Anne, daughter of Thomas and Avis Abbott-Bishop in Dorchester in 1655. Returned to England in 1656 and died in Somerset Co, England. Anne died in 1673 - He married secondly Mary ___. He was a dissenting minister, who suffered several imprisonments and great persecution there before his death.
3) Lydia (1628 -1667): m. John Minot 1647 - resided in Dorchester (apparently never settled on MV). Died during childbirth.
4) Thomas (1641 - 1641)
-------------------------
The Butler surname and descendants of Nicholas (via son, John) still remain on Martha's Vineyard. Other subsequent descendant branches moved westward later. Two notable descendants were lawman and gunfighter, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (via his mother, Polly Butler-Hickok) and Benjamin Franklin Butler, Civil War Union General, Congressman and Governor or Massachusetts. My 4th great-grandmother, Besty Butler-Birdsall (f. Timothy Butler, m. Jane Vincent) moved from Edgartown in the early 1800s and settled in Ohio. Her widowed mother moved there with her. Jane's g-g-grandfather was William Vincent, who's house is preserved and open as a museum in Edgartown.
Nicholas Butler was born in 1594 in Eastwell, Ashford, Kent, England. His parents reportedly were Henry Butler and Isabel Tempest, but I believe there is some disagreement with this from some sources.
Nicholas married his first wife, Mary Cottrell in 1613 at St. George's Church in Canterbury, Kent. (This church was badly damaged during WWII bombings by the Germans. It was demolished in 1955 and no longer exists, except for the clock tower). Mary died in 1623 in Eastwell. With Mary, Nicholas fathered daughters, Lydia, Mary (who died in 1622 as an infant), a second Mary born in 1623 - the same year her mother died.
In 1624 Nicholas married his second wife, Joyce Baker, daughter of Richard and Margaret Elkes-Baker in Ashford. With Joyce, Nicholas had at least four more children: John, Henry, Lydia and Thomas. John was my 8th great grandfather.
In 1637, Nicholas emigrated from England to Massachusetts on the ship, "Hercules", initially settling in Dorchester. Three of his children came with him on the ship - John, Lydia and a third unknown child. Joyce and son, Henry emigrated in a later year. Nicholas also had several servants who came with him (John Pope, John Gill, Richard Jenkins and Simon Athern), which indicates that he was a man of some wealth and considerable status. He was referred to as "Mr. Butler" in legal papers, which also points to social status, as well as the fact that his son Henry graduated from Harvard. He was admitted as a freeman in 1639.
In 1651, Nicholas, Joyce and son, John moved to Martha's Vineyard Island and settled south of Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point across from Chappaquiddick Island. He was one of the "first-comers" to the island. Martha's Vineyard then was it's own separate colony, under Gov. Thomas Mayhew (also my ancestor), who had acquired the islands, including Nantucket ten years prior to Nicholas' arrival there.
Nicholas died on August 13, 1671, a very old and feeble man who was going blind. He signed his will with an "X" due to his loss of "sight as it were gon". He was survived by his wife, Joyce, who died in 1680. From his will, signed the day before his death:
"This doth testify that I Nicholas Butler Being at present Sound in memory doe Now by this my last will give my Estate Whatsoever that I left after I Shall be buried like a Christian wholly unto my wife Joyce Butler, uppon serious consideration for her to dispose of to hir children and my children as shee shall see good, and hereunto I praise [god] being of memorie as aforesaid Sound. I doe witness with my hand this 12th of August 1671.
This will is witnessed
by us
THOMAS MAYHEW
THO’ BIRCHARD
The marke of Nicholas Norton His sight as it were
gon
the mar X of
NICHOLAS BUTLER."
------------------------------------------
His children by Joyce:
1) John (1624-1658): m. Mary Lynde, d. of Decon Thomas Lynde of Charlestown, MA.
2) Rev. Henry (1626 -1696): Graduated from Harvard. Married Anne, daughter of Thomas and Avis Abbott-Bishop in Dorchester in 1655. Returned to England in 1656 and died in Somerset Co, England. Anne died in 1673 - He married secondly Mary ___. He was a dissenting minister, who suffered several imprisonments and great persecution there before his death.
3) Lydia (1628 -1667): m. John Minot 1647 - resided in Dorchester (apparently never settled on MV). Died during childbirth.
4) Thomas (1641 - 1641)
-------------------------
The Butler surname and descendants of Nicholas (via son, John) still remain on Martha's Vineyard. Other subsequent descendant branches moved westward later. Two notable descendants were lawman and gunfighter, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (via his mother, Polly Butler-Hickok) and Benjamin Franklin Butler, Civil War Union General, Congressman and Governor or Massachusetts. My 4th great-grandmother, Besty Butler-Birdsall (f. Timothy Butler, m. Jane Vincent) moved from Edgartown in the early 1800s and settled in Ohio. Her widowed mother moved there with her. Jane's g-g-grandfather was William Vincent, who's house is preserved and open as a museum in Edgartown.
Nicholas married his first wife, Mary Cottrell in 1613 at St. George's Church in Canterbury, Kent. (This church was badly damaged during WWII bombings by the Germans. It was demolished in 1955 and no longer exists, except for the clock tower). Mary died in 1623 in Eastwell. With Mary, Nicholas fathered daughters, Lydia, Mary (who died in 1622 as an infant), a second Mary born in 1623 - the same year her mother died.
In 1624 Nicholas married his second wife, Joyce Baker, daughter of Richard and Margaret Elkes-Baker in Ashford. With Joyce, Nicholas had at least four more children: John, Henry, Lydia and Thomas. John was my 8th great grandfather.
In 1637, Nicholas emigrated from England to Massachusetts on the ship, "Hercules", initially settling in Dorchester. Three of his children came with him on the ship - John, Lydia and a third unknown child. Joyce and son, Henry emigrated in a later year. Nicholas also had several servants who came with him (John Pope, John Gill, Richard Jenkins and Simon Athern), which indicates that he was a man of some wealth and considerable status. He was referred to as "Mr. Butler" in legal papers, which also points to social status, as well as the fact that his son Henry graduated from Harvard. He was admitted as a freeman in 1639.
In 1651, Nicholas, Joyce and son, John moved to Martha's Vineyard Island and settled south of Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point across from Chappaquiddick Island. He was one of the "first-comers" to the island. Martha's Vineyard then was it's own separate colony, under Gov. Thomas Mayhew (also my ancestor), who had acquired the islands, including Nantucket ten years prior to Nicholas' arrival there.
Nicholas died on August 13, 1671, a very old and feeble man who was going blind. He signed his will with an "X" due to his loss of "sight as it were gon". He was survived by his wife, Joyce, who died in 1680. From his will, signed the day before his death:
"This doth testify that I Nicholas Butler Being at present Sound in memory doe Now by this my last will give my Estate Whatsoever that I left after I Shall be buried like a Christian wholly unto my wife Joyce Butler, uppon serious consideration for her to dispose of to hir children and my children as shee shall see good, and hereunto I praise [god] being of memorie as aforesaid Sound. I doe witness with my hand this 12th of August 1671.
This will is witnessed
by us
THOMAS MAYHEW
THO’ BIRCHARD
The marke of Nicholas Norton His sight as it were
gon
the mar X of
NICHOLAS BUTLER."
------------------------------------------
His children by Joyce:
1) John (1624-1658): m. Mary Lynde, d. of Decon Thomas Lynde of Charlestown, MA.
2) Rev. Henry (1626 -1696): Graduated from Harvard. Married Anne, daughter of Thomas and Avis Abbott-Bishop in Dorchester in 1655. Returned to England in 1656 and died in Somerset Co, England. Anne died in 1673 - He married secondly Mary ___. He was a dissenting minister, who suffered several imprisonments and great persecution there before his death.
3) Lydia (1628 -1667): m. John Minot 1647 - resided in Dorchester (apparently never settled on MV). Died during childbirth.
4) Thomas (1641 - 1641)
-------------------------
The Butler surname and descendants of Nicholas (via son, John) still remain on Martha's Vineyard. Other subsequent descendant branches moved westward later. Two notable descendants were lawman and gunfighter, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (via his mother, Polly Butler-Hickok) and Benjamin Franklin Butler, Civil War Union General, Congressman and Governor or Massachusetts. My 4th great-grandmother, Besty Butler-Birdsall (f. Timothy Butler, m. Jane Vincent) moved from Edgartown in the early 1800s and settled in Ohio. Her widowed mother moved there with her. Jane's g-g-grandfather was William Vincent, who's house is preserved and open as a museum in Edgartown.
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