Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 49,198, William Butler, Continental Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Penn.
Butler William
S 49198 B.L. Ref.
CONTENTS

9938
R
Pennsylvania William Butler
in the state of ho was a Privat in the regiment commanded by olonel Miles of the Pennsyl re, for the term of 2 years
scribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 of April 1818
ertificate of Pension issued the 28 of April 19 and sent to Sister Moore Madison Tenn
Arrears to 4th of Mar 10  81 83 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept 19  28
$129.83
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Crawford Co. Discontinued
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 8 th April 1838 from 11 March 1838 to 26 May 1838 the day of his death the Act notified 3 April 1846
sent to Mr. John Headingle, Esq. May

File
at 3m 2491985 William Butler
***
Soldier of the Revolution
Born
In Dubois, Ky. Oct. 1800
Died
In Crawford Co. Pa. March 24th 1885
OLD WAR & REV SEP 19 1895
ILLINOIS

WM. BUTLER,
~ A ~
Soldier of the Revolution.
To perpetuate the memory of one of the bravest soldiers of the Revolution the following true narrative is written. The material has been gathered from official documents on file at Washington in the Old War Division of the Pension Bureau, from deeds and other documents, from old family Bibles and personal recollections of the writer and others with whom the writer conversed. The writer when a boy often spent much time with the old hero and listened with intense interest to his description of battles and thrilling scenes through which he had passed.

William Butler, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ireland "within two miles of Dublin," as he often expressed it, in July 1748. He was educated in the schools of Dublin.
Near the close of the French and Indian War he was pressed into the British Navy and against his will brought to America. On the landing of the vessel in America he deserted the Navy and escaped into the interior of Pennsylvania. The old hero often related the following story of his escape in the hearing of the writer, thrilling his boyhood heart with the exciting scenes. The vessel on board of which Butler had been brought from his native home anchored somewhere on the coast of New Jersey. A squad of marines, one of whom was the hero of this story, was sent ashore under the command of a Lieutenant to cut and prepare wood for use on board the vessel. After cutting the wood they went into a farm house to get food and specially cider for which New Jersey was famous. The marines stacked their guns in the hall of the house and the Lieutenant placed his sword on the hall table. All went into an adjoining room to eat their food and drink their hard cider. While the cider drinking was going on William Butler slipped out of the room, poured cider in the pans of the old flint lock guns, seized the Lieutenant's sword and ran for his life. His departure was not noticed for a little time and when they became aware of it the Marines rushed for their guns and the Lieutenant for his sword, but to little purpose, as the guns were silenced and the sword was gone. In vain they tried to fire their guns. So the swift footed ran and tried to catch their fleeing companion. Seeing them behind him in swift pursuit only lent additional strength to his limbs and courage to his heart. It was then a race for life or death, for Butler had once before tried
to escape by swimming ashore from the anchored vessel. One of his pursuers got so close to him as to touch Butler's back with the points of his fingers. Feeling this, Butler struck back with his sword and the point of it cut through the cheek of the open mouthed pursuer. This ended the pursuit. The old hero often said he saw the wounded marine on the streets of Philadelphia after the war, but did not make himself known.
Butler made his way to a wide river (doubtless the Delaware) buried the sword in the sandy beach and waded and swam till he reached the opposite shore. While swimming he felt burdened by the weight of a heavy double cased watch his father had given him on leaving home, and to be relieved, he dropped it in the river. The writer oft lamented with boyish grief the loss of that watch. After crossing this river Butler made his way into the interior of Pennsylvania where other Butlers from Ireland, relatives, had settled, notably the five famous Butler brothers. He seems to have settled in that portion of the state now included in Berks County, for when the Revolution broke out he enlisted for twenty-two months in a company recruited in Berks County by Capt. Henry Christ of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment of Rifles and Musketry. He served his full time in this company then re-enlisted for three years or during the war. For his military services the writer copies the following account from a document furnished him by the Pension Bureau at Washington.
"William Butler, when he applied for pension, April 1818, was residing in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. In May 1823 he stated his age as 80 years in July next, making his birth in July 1748. (At his death he was said to be 104 years old. This was a mistake) He was nearly 94.

"He owned land in Sadsbury Township, Crawford Co., where he was living in 1823.
"April 12, 1776 he volunteered under Capt. Henry Christ, Jr. in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment of Rifles and Musketry, proceeded to New York city, ordered to Long Island, where he was engaged in battle Aug. 27, 1776, retreated in the night to New York city and on the evacuation of the city Sep. 15, 1776 marched to White Plains in Westchester County, N. Y., where he was engaged in another battle Oct. 28, 1776. On the capture of Fort Washington and the evacuation of Fort Lee Nov. 16 and 18, 1776 the army retreated across New Jersey into Pennsylvania.
"Gen. Washington recrossed the Delaware river in boats, amid the floating ice, facing a driving snow storm, reached Trenton, N. J., then occupied by the British, surprised them in the early morn of Dec. 26, 1776, captured over 900 Hessians, in all of which Butler participated. His regiment was commanded by Col. Samuel Miles.
"The said William Butler continued in the United States service until the expiration of the aforesaid twenty-two months and re-enlisted for three years or during the war in the same company commanded by Capt. Marshall (Capt. Christ having resigned) in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Col. Walter Stewart (Col. Miles having resigned).
"He was in the battle of Brandywine, Sep. 11; 1777 which was followed by the British occupation of Philadelphia Sep. 26, 1777.
"Butler accompanied the detachment ordered to assist in the defence of the Forts at Red Banks and Mud (now League) Island (a navy yard now located there) a short distance below Philadelphia, which were besieged in the latter part of October and November, 1777. The object of the enemy's attack was to open communication with their fleet and transports
to receive supplies of provisions and munitions of war, in which they were successful.
"He was in the camp of Washington at Valley Forge that terrible winter of 1777-78.
"He was at the battle of Monmouth, N. J., June 28, 1778 with the British army which had evacuated Philadelphia June 18, 1778, to march across New Jersey to reach New York city. The day of the battle was an excessively hot day and Gen. Washington had left the historic camp of Valley Forge Pennsylvania to intercept them.
"The said William Butler was one of the volunteers who made the midnight and surprise assault on the Fort at Stony Point on the Hudson river July 16, 1779, under Gen. Wayne which was captured and the garrison made prisoners.
"He was at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, and capture of Lord Cornwallis Oct. 19, 1781. After which he was ordered under Gen. Wayne to the South and was in the campaigns in South Carolina and Georgia until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Philadelphia in August 1783.
"During his long service of seven years and four months the said William Butler was frequently drafted or transferred into different companies and regiments, having served in the Artillery commanded by Col. Thomas Proctor and Col. Harrison. At one time he served in a guard of honor or special body guard to Gen. Lafayette. He also served as sentinel guarding Gen. Washington's tent."
"The said William Butler was twice wounded and received a pension from the State of Pennsylvania of forty dollars a year prior to receiving a pension from the United States."
After the war William Butler settled in Bald Eagle Township Northumberland (now Clinton) County near the site of the city of Lock Haven on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
* see note on last page.

The State of Pennsylvania gave William Butler two hundred acres of land for his services "done in the late war against Great Britain." This land located "north of French Creek and west of the Allegheny river," Butler sold to James Dunn for eighty-seven pounds sterling while living in Bald Eagle Township, Lycoming County (then just organized), March 15th, 1796.
After selling this land he with his wife and daughter removed to Crawford County, Penn., and settled in 1798 on the farm where he lived till his death March 4, 1837. He was buried in the old grave yard at Harmonsburg, beside his son, James Butler, who died in 1835. He had four daughters born to him while living on his farm.
William Butler, the old hero, was a man of extraordinary strength and courage, that knew no fear whether he had to fight with fist or gun. The following incidents illustrate his great physical strength. On his hundredth birthday (as has often been stated) he walked from his farm to Meadville and returned a distance in all of sixteen miles. In the fall previous to his death they were threshing buckwheat in the field on a floor made by beating and rolling the ground smooth after the manner of Bible days. The old hero and his grandson Joseph M. Butler, then thirteen years of age, with the old fashioned flails threshed to completion a flooring of buckwheat as it was brought from the field. As they finished the old man remarked, "Well done for two boys, one thirteen and the other a hundred and three." Few men at that age have accomplished such feats.
On his removal from Lycoming County he left behind him two grown sons James and William. These two sons came over the Allegheny Mountains, married and settled in Black Lick Valley between Cheat-
nut Ridge and Laurel Ridge, near Armagh in Indiana County, Penn.
These sons partook of their father's physical and mental characteristics. Both were men of giant strength and of determined will and courage.
James Butler was a furnace man, pattern maker and moulder. He worked in the Old Ross Furnace, the first iron furnace ever built west of the Allegheny mountains. He married Martha Clarke, daughter of William Clarke, Esquire, or "Squire Clarke" as he was commonly called. "Squire Clarke" came from the north of Ireland. He was well educated and a man of great wealth in those early days. He was a civil engineer. So was his son, Thomas Clarke. He bought many thousand acres of land lying in Black Lick Valley and on the mountains around. He improved many farms in said valley, built flouring-mills and saw-mills and did much for the settlement of the country. Black Lick M. E. Church and graveyard remain to this day a monument of his benevolence. A number of the farms are still owned and occupied by Squire Clarke's descendants.
William Butler worked for a time with his brother James. He married Sally Dias whose mother was a Dillon, of an old aristocratic family in Ireland. By her he had two sons, John and Samuel. John died in his youth. Samuel was brought up by his mother's parents and still lives 77 years old, a life-long, practical, prudent, and well-to-do farmer. William Butler married for his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph McMurtry of Crawford Co. who belonged to an old Scotch family early settled in New Jersey. The McMurtrys took an active part in the Revolutionary war. Joseph's three brothers were soldiers in the Revolution.

William lived on part of his father's farm and there his children were born. By this second marriage he had two sons and two daughters. The two sons and one daughter still survive.
After settling in Crawford Co. William Butler followed transporting goods by flat boats or barges between Meadville and Pittsburgh. These barges were poled up and down French Creek and the Allegheny River. In 1880 he took a boat load of supplies of various kinds down the Allegheny, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. While at New Orleans he was murdered and for some two or three years his family did not know what had become of him. Some three years had passed when his brother James left his family of ten children in Black Lick Valley where most of them were cared for by the Clarkes, their mother having died, and proceeded down the river to New Orleans.
He there learned all that is known about his brother William's death and burial. After gaining all the information he could he returned to Crawford Co. to report to his father and sister-in-law the sad news. Two days after his return he died suddenly on his father's farm and was buried in the old graveyard at Harmonaburg. It was several years before his family in Black Lick learned of James' death.
William Butler's two younger children, a son named William David and a daughter were cared for and brought up by their mother's parents, the Mc Murtrye.
From these two sons, James Butler and William Butler, have descended a numerous posterity. Most of them now living are in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Indiana and Cambria Counties. Some are scattered over the West and some are east of the Allegheny Mountains. The writer of this narrative has during
the past two years visited and talked with at least one hundred and fifty direct descendants of William Butler the soldier of the Revolution through his two sons James and William.
James Butler left in Indiana county a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Their names indicate their mother's love of the Bible. They are William, Abner and Solomon (twins), Elizabeth, Caleb, Martha and Ellen (twins), Ruth, Jesse and Washington. William, Caleb, Jesse and Washington are now living. William has one son and four daughters, all married and with families. Caleb has three sons and two daughters married and with families. One daughter died leaving two sons and a daughter. Jesse has six sons and one daughter. The daughter and four sons are married and have families. One daughter died leaving a son. Washington has two sons and four daughters. The sons and one daughter are married and have families.
William Butler has three sons living, Samuel, Joseph and William D. Samuel has a family of five sons and two daughters. His two daughters and three sons are married and have families. Joseph Butler has two daughters married and with families, and one son unmarried. William D. Butler has three sons and two daughters, one son and one daughter are married and have families.
William D. Butler was graduated at Jefferson College, Pa., and for forty years past has filled important positions in the Public Schools of St. Louis, as Professor of Ancient Languages in the High School, Principal of Grammar and Intermediate Schools, and as Assistant Superintendent.
Caleb Butler inherits his father's and his grandfather's physical strength and courage and has transmitted the same to his three sons, William, Elmer,

and Jesse. While in Johnstown where Caleb lives, now over seventy years of age the writer had related to him the following story. Caleb has been employed in the Cambria Iron Works at Johnstown for over forty years. He is a quiet and peaceable man not given to quarrelling. Some years ago among the thousands of employes in those Iron Works there was a Welshman, a man of such great physical strength and quarrelsome disposition that none dare molest him. He was the bully and terror to the men in the works and constantly quarrelling. All feared and shunned him. He abused and nagged Caleb Butler till he could endure it no longer. Being roused by the bully's abuse Caleb turned on him and gave him such an unmerciful pounding that the bully ever afterwards slunk away in cowardice and left the works. So pleased were the proprietors with Caleb Butler's act that they presented him fifty dollars, for downing the boastful giant. Ever since Caleb Butler has held unchallenged the championship of the Cambria Iron Works which employ from five to seven thousand men. His three sons employed in the same works in responsible positions are fully competent to take their father's place.
William Butler, the soldier of the Revolution has now living bearing the name Butler seven grandsons, the oldest 88 and the youngest 67, all men of great physical strength in their younger days. He has twenty-one great-grandsons also Butlers and sons of the fifth generation more than the writer has the names of. In the above numeration the writer has taken no account of the daughters born in the several Butler families and their equally numerous posterity.
The writer's interest has been confined to those bearing the name Butler, the male descendants bearing that name. It will be difficult to find a harder race of men than the Butlers of this family or one
more numerous. This Butler family have characteristic traits which pass down the whole line of descent. Determined will and the courage of their convictions mark them all. A strain of mechanical genius runs through them all. James Butler's sons were all skilled mechanics or machinists.
Washington Butler, now an accomplished farmer, rendered important service to the Government in mechanical skill in the war of the Rebellion. A grandson of James Butler has run the engine of the Penn. "Limited" between Pittsburg and Altoona for twenty-five years without an accident, and still fills his post.
William Butler's sons, Joseph and William D. were both skilled mechanics. A son and daughter of William D. possess this talent in a marked degree. The son is a graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey, and is now principal of one of the largest St. Louis Public Schools. The daughter is an artist of marked ability and teaches in the Mary Institute a Department of Washington University of St. Louis.
For energy and activity in commercial life there are few better examples than the two great-grandsons, sons of Samuel Butler, J. C. and S. M. Butler, constituting the firm of J. C. Butler & Co. of Denver, Colorado. J. C. Butler educated at Allegheny College, is largely interested in mining.
In religious belief all the posterity of James Butler and his brother William are Protestants, though the brothers themselves and their father were Catholics. The father was only a nominal Catholic for he was a Free Mason. James Butler's wife was a Methodist and all her posterity Methodist also. Jesse, now a successful farmer, one of James' sons, is quite a distinguished leader in the Methodist Conference to which he belongs.

William Butler's son Samuel is a Lutheran and so his children are Lutherans also. William's sons, Joseph and William D. are, the former a Methodist and the latter a Presbyterian following the faith of his mother. The religious belief of the Butler family is a marked proof of God's rewarding a pious mother's faith.
The Butlers are a sober, temperate and industrious people and patriotic to the core. Three of the grandsons and seven great-grandsons served their country in the army of the Union in the war of the Rebellion. In politics all are Republicans.
For sixty years the Butlers of Crawford County lost all knowledge of the Butlers in Indiana County, owing to the peculiar death of the two brothers James and William away from their families. Not till Aug. '98 were the lost links of the family chain discovered and a full knowledge obtained of all the descendants.
The writer's persistent search has brought all to light and knowledge.
The above narrative has been written for the Historical Society in Meadville, Pa., by a grandson of the old hero of the Revolution.
July 22, 1898.
WM. D. BUTLER, St. Louis, Mo.
NOTE. —William McArthur of Meadville, Pa. shortly before his death in a letter to the writer, confirms this statement. He says, when Gen. Lafayette visited Meadville in 1824, that he, then a boy of thirteen, stood near Lafayette having just shaken hands with him when someone told the Gen. of the old soldier, William Butler, living near. The Gen. remembering him, spoke of him and expressed an earnest desire to see him. The old hero, through failing memory, mistook the day and came to Meadville the day after the Gen. had left. Bitter disappointment grieved the old man so that he often afterwards mourned the failure to see the General.

Between the States Original Copy Journal
John Moore, Esquire, Judge Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylv a .-
William Butler, Pennsylvania line, Revolutionary Claim.
See Endorsement in the case of Dennis Hean.
Wm S

Statement of William Butler, residing in Beaufort county State of Pennsylvania, who applies for a pension from the United States in pursuance of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed the 18 th day of March 1818
Said William Butler saith, that in the year 1775- he enlisted for twenty two months in Captain Henry Shipp's company, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Stiles in the Penn a line on the Continental establishment - The said William Butler continued in the United States Service until the expiration of the aforesaid twenty two months, and re-enlisted for three years or during the war in Captain Marshall's company, in the Second Penn a regiment, commanded by Colonel Walter Stewart, on the Continental establishment, and remained in the Service of the United States until the army was disbanded at the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge, which discharge he gave to a person to have his account settled, and the said discharge never afterwards came into his hands. The said William Butler was frequently drafted or transferred into different companies & regiments, having served in the artillery commanded by Colonel Thomas Proctor and Colonel Harrison - The said William Butler was in the battles of Flat Bush on Long Island, White Plains, Trenton where the Hessians were captured, Brandywine, at Red Bank & Red Bank on the Delaware, Monmouth, at the Storming of Stony Point, at York Town where Gen l Cornwallis surrendered, after which he marched into South Carolina and served there under General Anthony Wayne during the time he remained there.
The said William Butler hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension that may hereafter have been allowed

to him by the laws of the United States, and further saith, that from his adverse circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support
Wherefore Butler
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Crawford County ss
On the twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me Jesse Moore, President of the Sixth Judicial district of Penn ne William Butler, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing statement, and having been duly sworn as the law directs, did declare and say that the said statement was true and true Sworn & subscribed the day & year above written before me
W m Butler
Jesse Moore
Crawford County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss
To the Secretary of the Department of War
I the subscriber, President of the several courts of common Pleas in the Sixth Judicial District consisting of the counties of Butler, Allegheny, Venango, Crawford & Erie within the said Commonwealth, do hereby certify that from the deposition of William Butler, which I believe is entitled to full credit, it appears to my satisfaction that the said William served in the Revolutionary war as he has stated in the foregoing statement, against the common enemy. In testimony whereof the twenty eighth day of April 1818 at Meadville in the said district of Crawford, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my hand
Jesse Moore F.B.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Crawford County ss
I William MacArthur Prothonotary in and for the county of Crawford in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the Honorable Jesse Moore before whom the deposition on the preceding page of this paper was made and whose name in his own proper hand write is subscribed to the certificate on the same page is President of the sixth Judicial district of the said Commonwealth duly commissioned and sworn to whose official acts as such judge and credit is due and of right ought to be given even in courts of justice of the United States as elsewhere.
In testimony of which I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the county seal at Meadville in the said county the twenty eighth day of April Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred eighteen.
William MacArthur Proth.
Crawford county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss. To the Secretary of the Department of War,
I Jesse Moore, President of the several courts of common pleas in the sixth judicial district now consisting of the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango and the provisional county of Warren within the said Commonwealth, do hereby certify that William Britton the foregoing applicant, by reason of his reduced circumstances in life is in need of assistance from his country for support, and that as well from his own declaration on oath, as from various other circumstances and inquiries which I have lately made, I am fully satisfied that he did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as he hath stated in the preceding declaration. In testimony whereof, at Meadville in the said county of Crawford, the thirty first day of Decr. one thousand eight hundred eighteen I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed my seal.
Jesse Moore
Crawford County ss
I William MacArthur Prothonotary in and for the county of Crawford in the said Commonwealth do hereby certify that the Honorable Jesse Moore whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is President of the sixth Judicial district of Pennsylvania and that he is duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit is due and of right ought to be given to all his official acts as such in courts of justice of the United States of America as elsewhere. Witness my hand and the county seal at Meadville 31 st of Decr. 1818. William MacArthur Proth.

eff m/Butter
Jan — for Mr O

Crawford County
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss
On this 10 th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court being a copy of record in hand for the said County of Crawford in pursuance of an act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania establishing it as such William Buttle aged seventy seven in full years, resident in said County and Commonwealth, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. That in the year 1776 he enlisted for two months in Captain Christie's Company in the Continental Army by Col. Samuel Miles in the Second Penn. Regiment, during the full term of his enlistment. At the expiration of which term he again enlisted in said Company and Regiment for three years or during the war and continued to serve the United States faithfully until the year 1782 or 1783 when he received an honorable discharge in Philadelphia at the close of the war, and after his return from Georgia & South Carolina the said William Buttle received a pension from the United States in pursuance of an act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818: on the Continental Army This application therefor dated the 28 th day of April 1818: and the certificate of the Hon. Secretary of War, placing him on the pension list, is dated the 28 th day of April 1819, which certificate is number 29908. And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as far as I am concerned within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18 th day of March 1818. and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in

Schedule of property belonging to William Butcher.
Two hundred acres of land in Sadsbury township on which I reside. It is wet and swampy and very unfit for raising grain. — About fourteen acres of it is in cultivation. — Five horses one of them 18 years old, the other 12. — Two cows and a heifer. Five sheep. Five head of hogs, old and young. One plough and horse-gear. Household furniture not exceeding the value of five dollars (excepting bedding) one stove, two years old, one yearling calf.
I receive a pension from the State of Pennsylvania of forty dollars per annum granted to me for my revolutionary services.
I am and have been by occupation a farmer, but from my age and infirmities, and from two wounds received in battle during the revolutionary war, I am rendered almost totally unable to pursue my occupation or to earn a livelihood by labour. I have living with me a wife and three daughters the oldest seventeen years of age, but never has been in the possession of her mental faculties and never has been able to do any kind of work; she has been, and I am fully convinced will continue to be a charge to me during her own or my natural life. One of my daughters is aged thirteen, and the other eleven.
The debts I owe amount to between forty and fifty dollars.
Sworn and subscribed in open court for the County of Crawford. Wm Butcher. this 16th day of June 1830. Before
William Mac Arthur Prothon.
I William Mac Arthur Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas for the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Four hundred seventy seven dollars, including both real and personal property. After deducting the

daughter mentioned in said Schedule is a heavy charge to the said William and that to maintain and take care of her would require more than the interest of the said four hundred seventy seven dollars and the pension from the state of Pennsylvania of forty dollars a a year.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the of the said court on this twenty fifth day of July Anno. Domini M D C C XX.
William MacArthur Prothon of the court for the county of Crawford.

Affidavit of Heir of the Battle and Rev. Soldier, and Pensioner of the United States, Act of Mar. 1818. Resides in Crawford County, Pa.
J. T. H. Wilson Meadville, Pa. Atty.

State of Pennsylvania § County of Bradford. §
On this 2 nd day of June A.D. 1859. Personally appeared before me and acting Judge of the Court duly author- -ized by law to administer oaths for general purposes, Mary Ann Bright, resident of said County. Who being duly sworn, according to law, doth depon and say that she is the daughter of the late William Bittler, late of said County, deceased, who was a private in the Penn ts Genl l Line in the American Revolutionary War, who was also a pensioner of the United States, under act of 18 Mar. 1818. That to her knowledge her said Father never received the Bounty in Land from the United States, to which he was entitled in consequence of said Enlist- ment and service for during said War. That he died about the year 1841. and left sur- viving the following named children William Kelley, Mary Ann, & Catharine. That she makes this Affidavit for the purpose procuring said Bounty Land or obtaining the necessary information relating thereto, And Authorizes F. F. A. Nelson of Meadville Pa. as her said Agent in the matter &c.
Mary Ann Bright

Severn and subscribed before me this 2 d day of August. 1853. and I certify that said Affiant is of good & quite for truth so J. H. Davis Notary Public
Affidavit of Heir of John B. B. Davis Rev. Soldier, and Pensioner of the United States Abt. of M. W. R. Resides in Crawford County, Pa.
J. H. H. Wilson Messrs. M. B. & Co. Atty.

S. J. Schmitz
State of Pennsylvania, CRAWFORD COUNTY, ss:
I, Chas. M. Burda , Clerk of the Courts of said county of Crawford, Certify that H. Davis , Esquire, by whom the annexed and foregoing Affidavit  was taken, was at the date thereof, an acting Judge of the Court within and for the said county, duly qualified, and as such duly authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to take the same. And Further , that I am acquainted with the handwriting of said Judge and believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof , I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of the said Court, at Meadville, the Eleventh day of August A. D. 1859.
C. M. Burda
Clerk.

It appears that there were two soldiers only of the Penna. continental line named William Butler, who received warrants for 100 acres, issued Jan'y 5 th 1795, to Mrs. Butler a private of said line, and that said warrant 9.084 issued Jan'y 25 th 1793 to Butler & Davis ministers of William Butler also a private of the aforesaid line.
Room 201 Aug. 2/59
Ad Mr. 2/59 302.418 Aug. 20/59
Mary Anna Bright heiress at law of of William Butler Penn.
Ans. Sept. 1/59.
Respectfully Revolution
Penn chd 36-2646
Robert Call to Mr. Gordon Aug. 27/59
From J. A. Wilson Meadville Pa

I certify that it appears by the rolls of the Pennsylvania Line in the revolutionary war in this office, that the name of William Butler is included in the roll of the 2 d regiment, that he was paid up to the 1 st January 1781 also that he served three years or more having received the depreciation on his pay — Witness my hand and the seal of the Office of the Auditor General the 15 th day of March 1819
Wm. Bryan Aud. Genl.
— see rolls Penn a Line book A page 5.

Meadville, Penn a , 15 May 1821
Sir
I have been requested by William Butler and John Thompson, 2 d of the county of Crawford, to write to you for information whether they have been struck off or continued on the pension roll. The former was placed on the roll 28 April 1819, and the latter 14 July 1819 — They both exhibited their schedules of property to the Court of Common Pleas, in pursuance of the act of Congress of May 1 st 1820, nearly a year ago; a copy of which had been forwarded to the War Department by the clerk of the Court a short time thereafter. They have not as yet received any notice from the Pension office, whether they are struck off or continued on the roll. They therefore wish you to inform me as to their fate, which I will communicate to them.
I am very respectfully,
your ob t Serv t
William Foster
Hon. J. C. Calhoun Secy of War

Hon. Butler, Pawnee of 6th Christian Church of 6th Street, Phil a . Penn a . Penn a . Pension Roll of Philadelphia Act of 1818. Awarded on May 1888 in the City of Phil a . • Ann Butler of Phil a . his Widow, Certificate of Pension off ce to her dated May 13 th 1889 - and sent to Chas. S. Cooper, Phil a .

cannot decide which soldier this warrant was issued Warrant N o . 9041, for 100 acres, issued Jan'y 8 th 1795, to W m Butler, a private of the Penn a  Cont l line —
Warrant N o . 9084, for 100 acres, issued Jan'y 25 th 1793, to Butler & Davidson administrators of William Butler, a private Penn a continental line

Received of 9938 , 189
Invalid File No 49198
William Butler
Rev. Rev. Kans.
Act Mar. 18, 1818.
O.V. Inv. Qd
1894 Aug 24 Sent to Prof Wm D Butler St Louis Mo 9.5.
Apr. 11/97 (Ind. Hist. Soc.) J. C. Butler 1405 Market St. St. Louis, Mo.

Crawford County, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss
Personally appeared before me Jesse Moore, President of the Sixth Judicial District of Penn. a Joseph Williams, and having been duly sworn as the law directs, did depose and say, that in the year 1781 he became acquainted with William Beutter at Newton in Bucks County, Penn. a who was then a soldier in Colonel Thomas Proctor's Regt. t of Artillery in the Penna line on the Continental establishment, in which regiment this deponent was then a soldier. This deponent further states, that he served with the said William Beutter at the taking of Genl. Cornwallis at York Town in Virginia, and afterwards marched with him into South Carolina where they both served in the same regiment until Peace was proclaimed, and arrived in Philadelphia about the same time the said William Beutter did in August 1783, when they were both discharged. This deponent states that the whole time he served with, and was acquainted with William Beutter in the army of the United States during the revolutionary war, was between two and three years; and that during this time he knew the said William Beutter to be a brave and deserving soldier.
Sworn & subscribed before me the fourth day of March 1819.
Joseph Williams
Jesse Moore.

Crawford County
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss
On this first day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty three personally appeared in open court of Common Pleas of Crawford County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being a court of record for the trial of civil causes, established by the laws of the said Commonwealth, William Butler resident in said County, aged eighty years in July next, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of the 18 th of March 1818, the first of May 1820, and first of March 1823, that he the said William Butler enlisted for the term of twenty two months on the — day of — in the year 1776 in the state of Pennsylvania, in the Company commanded by Captain — Christ, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles, in the line of the state of Pennsylvania on the Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Company and regiment during the full term of his enlistment, at the expiration of which term, he again enlisted in said Company and regiment for three years, during the war, and continued to serve the United States faithfully until the year 1782 or 1783, when he received an honorable discharge from the service of the same in Philadelphia at the close of the war, and after his return from the campaigns in Georgia and South Carolina.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, passed on the 18 th day of March 1823 and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property, or surplus pension or debt due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court (signed)
for the County of Crawford this first
William Butler

Schedule of property belonging to William Butler
Two hundred acres of land in Sadsbury township on which I reside About fourteen acres of it in Cultivation the residence is in a state of nature, heavy timbered, of no use to me whatever but an annual expence to me in the payment of taxes, I cannot make sale of it, so as to obtain any thing from it towards My support Taking the whole two hundred acres together I could not rent it for five Dollars Per annum, the tenant being obliged to pay the taxes it is wet and Swampy and very unfit for raising Grain
One Mare, fifteen years old, and one Colt one year old, two Cows two heifers of two years old two Spring Calves eight Sheep old and young one hog one Plough and horse gears - Household furniture, excepting bedding not exceeding the value of five Dollars
I receive a pension from the state of Pennsylvania of forty Dollars per annum Granted to me for my revolutionary services
I am or have been, to speak more correctly, by occupation, a farmer, and have heretofore supported my self by labor, but from my age and infirmities, and from the wounds received in battle during the revolutionary war, when fighting for the liberties of my Country, I am now totally unable to pursue my occupation, or to earn a livelihood by labour, I have arrived at that age, that it cannot be expected I will enjoy the liberty of my Country for a great length of time, should I be restored to the pension list, all I want is to be made a little comfortable towards the close of a long life, seven years and four months of the prime of it I spent in the service of my Country in defending the liberties thereof, exposed to every hardship and danger incident to that eventful period
I have living with me an aged wife, and two daughters the oldest one Jenny, has been married, her husband has left her and she has returned to me with two small children - the other Daughter living with me named Sally is about twenty years of age, she is, and always has been, an idiot totally deprived of her mental faculties, the ties of nature compel me to support her as far as I am able - she destroys in her clothing and other articles about the house, nearly as much as would maintain her I have two young daughters one of them eighteen years of age named Mary the other aged about fifteen named Kitty they are not living with me, but have to go out to the neighbors and work their maintenance

The debts I owe to different persons amount to rising one hundred and eighty eight dollars, I am liable at any time to be sued for them, and my little property taken from me for the payment thereof the debts due to me do not exceed five Dollars My situation is really deplorable, and unless assisted by my country I must depend upon Publick or private Charity for support
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court (Signed) William Butter of Common Pleas of Crawford County this first day of May 1823 Before
L. DeHeve Clerk
The court value William Butter property as follows viz
   Two hundred acres of Land at two hundred and fifty Dollars $ 250. ~   Mare and colt at Twenty five Dollars 25. ~   Two Cows at Fifteen Dollars 16. ~   Two Heifers at Six Dollars 6. ~   Two Shoing Cows at No Value " " ~   Eight Sheep at Twelve Dollars 12. ~   one hog at one Dollar and fifty Cts 1.50 ~   Plough and horse gears at five Dollars 5. 00 ~   House hold Furniture at five Dollars 5. ~   $ 320. 50   Deduct debts due by William Butter 188. 00   $ 132. 50  
Crawford County
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss
On this first day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty three personally appeared in open Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, William Cook, Morrow Lowry, Robert Stockton, Neer neighbors of the before mentioned William Butter, who having been solemnly sworn according to law did depose and say, that they have long lived his neigh-

from the inclemency of the weather and in every other point of view, he might as well be without the land he has, as we are fully persuaded there is not any person who would be willing to take it and pay him five dollars a year beyond the amount. His idiot daughter is a heavy charge upon him, and we are fully convinced that no person would keep her for the pension of forty Dollars he draws from the State of Pennsylvania nor doubt that that sum annually.
William Cook Morrowstown Port. Stockton
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County the day and year above written before L. L. Ferré Proth. J.
Henns. @ Crawford County Pa.
I Daniel L. Ferré Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County of Crawford Do hereby certify that the foregoing Oaths and the Schedule hereto annexed are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is one hundred and thirty two Dollars and fifty cents, after payment of debts due by the said William Butler.
And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court, (having also taken Testimony in the case) that the whole of this sum, together with the Pension of forty Dollars from the State of Pennsylvania, not included, are more than absorbed in the maintenance of the idiot daughter of the said William Butler.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, on this first day of May Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and twenty three.
L. L. Ferré Proth. J.

REFERENCE: National Bank of Commerce Commercial Agencies, Express Companies.
AGENTS FOR: CALIFORNIA FRUIT UNION, J. Z. ANDERSON FRUIT COMPANY.
J. C. BUTLER & CO GENERAL COMMISSION MERCHANTS
Wholesale Dealers and Packers of Green and Dried Fruits.
1405-1407 MARKET STREET.
PACKING HOUSE AT RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA. P. O. BOX 96.
Denver, Colo Mar 15 1895
Interior Department I, 419198 Washington DC
As there is some uncertainty in our family, as to whether my ancestor William Butler, a Revolutionary Soldier enlisted in April 1775 or 76.
There were two W m Butlers from Penna in the Revolution. My ancestor enlisted in Capt. Henry Christian's Company at Reading Pa. The other one lived in Philada. Mine also lived in Crawford County in 1818 when he applied for a pension, and died there in 1837 or 39. He signed his name in a good hand. In the Phila one by X, so in looking over their papers you can distinguish. I shall be very grateful for the above information.
Very Respectfully
J. C. Butler

Blom School. South St. Louis
2/29.82.
Hon. G. B. Raum Pension Com.
Dear Sir,
In June last I received a statement dated June 12, 91, of so much of history of William Butler, a Revolutionary Soldier from Penn. as is contained in his application, & that of his widow, for the pension which both received. Since that time I have ascertained from records preserved in Lehigh Co. Pa. that William Butler, the Revolutionary Soldier, who drew a pension, and was my grandfather, settled in Meadville in 1788, & lived there 10 years. In 1798 he settled on a farm of 400 acres in Berne Township, Lehigh Co. Pa. in 1800 he settled on an other farm of 400. in same Co. & lived there till he died, March 4, 1839. His wife died five years before him 1834. Your record is correct so far as his service as a soldier, battles etc. In account of this service battles etc. I had from his own lips being then 11 years old.

Your statement says that he lived in Phila. for 19 years after the war that he left a widow, living with a son, Sam. G. Butler, that she died before he was living in 1839. Now this must be an error.
The correspondence in regard to my grandfather's pension was carried on by David, Wilson, or John Dick Meadville, Pa. These letters if preserved will serve to correct the above statement. It is barely possible there were two William Butlers, soldiers of the Revolution, and the names have been confounded. The statement you sent me seems to have been made out by I. N. P. Old War Department.
Will you kindly have this account examined again & send me the results? I shall be greatly obliged.
Resp.
Wm G Butler
10479

W D Buller Miss
Feby 27 1891
Wm Buller Rev
Ex I,

Blodt School, South St. Louis.
2/27/91.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir: I am desirous of learning something of my grandfather, William Butler, who was a soldier of the Revolution & received a pension. His residence was near Macadville, Crawford Co. Pa. He died in 1837, aged nearly 104 years. I wish to know to what body of troops, Continental, he belonged. He stated that he was assigned to the Body Guard of Gen. La Fayette while in the Continental Army. Any information will be very gratefully received.
His pension was paid through the Dicks, Meadville Pa. Resp.
Wm D. Butler.

I have to acknowledge the Receipt of the application for bounty land in right of Wm Butler, dec d , who it is stated, was a private in the Pennsylvania Continental line and a Pensioner under the Act of March 18 th 1818 and at the time a resident of the City of Philadelphia. In reply have to inform you the Records in this Office show that, there were two soldiers only of the Penn a Continental line named William Butler, who were entitled to, and received Warrants for bounty land from the U. States, as follows, Land Warrant N o 9041, for 100. acres issued Jan y 8 th 1795, to William Butler, a private of the aforesaid line, and that Land Warrant N o 9054, for 100. acres, issued Jan y 25 th 1793 to Butler & Davidson, Admin rs of Wm m Butler, dec d , also a private of the line aforesaid. Hence, there is nothing now due, in bounty land, to, or in right of, any soldier of the Pennsylv a Continental line, named William Butler.
J. F. A. Wilson, Esq r Meadville — Pennsylv a