A variety of reasons have led to Butlers emigrating to Australia over the years. These are some of our early settlers about whom we have details of their descendants. The stories behind who they were, where they came from, and where and when they landed in Australia make very interesting reading. By comparing notes, several members have discovered that they have a common ancestor, and have discovered branches of their family of which they had no previous knowledge.
Laurence Butler
who was transported to Sydney for his part in the 1798 Irish Rebellion, arriving on 30 October 1802 on the ship “Atlas 2”. Laurence was born in County Wexford, and married, (1) Catherine (surname unknown), (2) Mary Ann Fowles by whom he had a son, Walter, and (3) Ann Roberts, children Lawrence, George, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth.
John Sedgfield Butler
who arrived in Hobart in 1833, on the ship “Sir John Rae Reid”. John was accompanied by his wife and a daughter, Adelaide Eliza, aged 2.
Thomas Butler
who was transported to Sydney at the age of 13 for stealing some spoons, arriving on 9 April 1835 on the “Lady Nugent”. Thomas married Eliza Wilson in 1843 at Bathurst, and they had 8 children – Michael, Janet, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Agnes, Theresa and John.
Spencer Butler
who arrived in Sydney in 1839 on the ship “Neptune”, with wife Harriet (nee Chapman) and 3 daughters – Mary Anna, Harriet and Maria. A son, called Thankful, died on the voyage. A further 6 children were born in Australia.
James Butler
who arrived in Sydney in 1843 accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and 3 children – George, Eliza-Jane and John.
Elijah Henry Butler
who arrived in Port Adelaide from Somerset on 5 November 1849 on board the “Navarino”. Elijah married Caroline Walker on 27 July 1850 in Adelaide, and they had 12 children.
George Butler
from Wiltshire who arrived in Geelong on 18 July 1853 on board the “Euphemus”, with his wife Elizabeth and 5 children – Elizabeth Ann, Charlotte, Anne, Stephen and Thomas.
William Field Butler
from Bedfordshire, who emigrated to Sydney in 1854. He married Jane (Jeanie) Graham in 1871, and they had 10 children – William Royston, Arthur Graham, Ethel Brice, Rosa Kilcoy, Mary Tulk, Colin Hope, Frank Wells, David Ormonde, Jeanie Christie, and Duncan.
Pierce Butler
who came to Australia in the 1850's from Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. Pierce married Agnes Rabbage.
John Thomas Butler
who married Elizabeth Alice Searle in 1862 in London. John and Elizabeth emigrated with their children on the “Orient”, arriving in Melbourne on 16 October 1880.
Thomas Butler
who arrived in Fremantle in 1866 as a pensioner guard on a convict ship. Thomas had married Mary Connors, and his wife and 6 children accompanied him on the voyage. A further 3 children were born in Fremantle.
Albert Henry Butler
from Leicester who came to South Australia in 1912/1913 with his family, among whom was a daughter, Doris May Butler, aged 6.
The family trees of the descendants of these people are available to members of the Society. Join now, and you too may find a connection with your family history!