53
CHAPTER 12
THE BUTLER FAMILY OF KENT
CONTENTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Butler ancestors
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Census
Wills
Official documents
Daniel Crambrook
1 BUTLER ANCESTORS
SAMUEL BUTLER
Born
Baptised
Married
???
???
1781 Feb 4
Died
???
Buried
????
CHILDREN
Mary
Abraham)
Sarah )
Jane
Martha
Ann
Elizabeth
@ Canterbury St Dunstan
to Susannah Johnson
BORN
1781
1783
1783
1785
1789
1794
1796
PARISH
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
The identification of Samuel is possible because we have in the autobiographical notes 1 of his
grand daughter Harriet Passmore, (later Rowe) the names of two of Ann’s sisters and the
mention of the marriage of one of them, Jane, to Daniel Crambrook. Consequently the
identification of his children, all baptised in Canterbury Guildhall St Independent &
Presbyterian, is certain. He married Susanna Johnson on 4th February 1781 at Canterbury
St Dunstan and on the entry in the parish register he is given as being of the "parish of St
Mildred". Samuel had a good signature. The signature of his wife Susanna Johnson was
much less well formed.
The was another marriage of a Samuel Butler in Dover on 1767 Oct 9th to an Elizabeth
Blaxland and this might seem to be an earlier marriage. However the signature differs in
some ways from the Canterbury one and in fact appears to be more developed although
performed 14 years earlier. There seem to have been two Samuel Butlers.
Although no record has been found of the marriage of Jane Butler to Daniel Crambrook the
1851 census shows that they were living in Maidstone together with Jane’s unmarried sister
Mary. Daniel was then minister of Bethel Chapel. Further information about Daniel is
included in section 8 later in this chapter.
In 1770 Samuel Butler was enrolled as apprentice to Mrs Martha Butler hosier & stocking
weaver for seven years. No relationship was mentioned. She died in 1773, only three years
into his apprenticeship and he was admitted, by gift, to the freedom 1780. Assuming Samuel
to have been 14y when taking on the apprenticeship, he would have been born in 1756. We
have not found an appropriate baptism.
Among the Freemen enrolled in Canterbury was a James Butler who was clearly someone of
importance. He was admitted as a stocking weaver, by redemption in the sum of £20, on
1
Chapter 7.1
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
54
1752 Oct 3rd. He married Martha Goatly 1743 Sep 10th, at Thanet St Lawrence and they
had children: John Goatley in 1744; James in 1745; Daniel in 1750 & William in 1755. He
died on 4th October 1767 and his monumental inscription is in the nave of Canterbury St
Martin. His son Daniel was enrolled apprentice to him in 1764 for seven years as a
framework knitter and admitted as a freeman 1771, aged 21years.
It would be a big coincidence if Samuel were not in some way related to James & Martha but
the evidence of the Monumental Inscription, whereon the family is listed and from the Will of
James (section 6) seems to rule out his being their son.
Samuel took as an apprentice framework knitter, his son Abraham(783) in 1798 in
Canterbury. Abraham was admitted to the freedom in 1806. Unfortunately he died in 1816
aged 32, his address being Ruttington Lane, Northgate, Canterbury and was buried at St
Dunstan's. Samuel was therefore alive in 1806, otherwise Abraham's admission papers
would have said "deceased".
ANN BUTLER
Born
Baptised
Married
Died
1794 May 15
1794 June 8
1876 October 28
@ Canterbury Guildhall St Independent
to Christopher Passmore
@ Wendron Cornwall
CHILDREN
BORN
See Christopher(784) Passmore
PARISH
Ann Butler was very probably brought up from birth as a strict puritanical nonconformist. She
was one of five sisters who were baptised at Guildhall Street Presbyterian church at
Canterbury, which is quoted2 as an example of the union of two branches of Puritanism
namely the Presbyterian and the Congregational around the beginning of the 18th century.
They called themselves the United Brethren.
From the autobiographical statement made by her daughter Harriet in 1890, by about 1815
Ann was living with her sister Jane, who had married Daniel Crambrook, and her unmarried
sister Elizabeth, in Deal. Daniel Crambrook was in the boot and shoe business, but was
apparently of a strongly religious disposition, for he was soon to leave for Maidstone and
become for 19 years pastor of a church (obviously nonconformist) in Maidstone. Around
1815 a lodger came to live with the Crambrooks, he was Christopher(784) Passmore (q.v.)
and he married Ann. No record has been found of this marriage. During their time at Deal
Christopher and Ann became strong adherents to the faith of "The Brethren". What is not
entirely certain from the letters and statements of her daughter Harriet is who converted
whom. However the letter from “Aunt Mari” is clear 3 that Christopher “joined the Brethren”
and was cut off by his family as a consequence. In other words his family were not of the
Brethren whereas the Butlers were.
The United Brethren were formed from two branches of Puritanical origin, the Presbyterians
and Congregationalists, who had come together in 1691. In Canterbury the Independent
Chapel in Guildhall Street united in 1726 with the Presbyterian Chapel in Grey Friars,
presumably to form a branch of the United Brethren. It was at this chapel in 1794, by then
known as the Guildhall Street Independent and Presbyterian Chapel, that Ann Butler was
baptised, together with, at various times, four more of her sisters. Thus, it does seem likely
that Christopher was converted to that particular faith by his wife's family.
After their marriage Christopher joined the Baptist Home Mission Society and set off on a
lifetime of converting others to the faith. Ann’s life must have been very difficult in those prerailway days, travelling the country almost continuously and giving birth and bringing up seven
children. In addition she must have suffered much of the persecution brought on by her
husband's adherence to the faith by the local Anglican community.
2
3
National Index of Parish Registers Vol 2 p527
Chapter 7.4
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
55
Her subsequent life has been described under that of her husband, Christopher Passmore.
2.BAPTISMS
CANTERBURY
GUILDHALL STREET INDEPENDENT AND PRESBYTERIAN REF PRO RG4 871
1781 Dec 16
Mary
d
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1781 Nov 30)
1783 Dec 25
Abraham)
Sarah )
sd
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1783Dec 4)
1786 Jan 15
Jane
d
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1785 Dec 26)
1789 Jan 11
Martha
d
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1788 Dec 31)
1794 Jun 8
Ann
d
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1794 May 15)
1796 Jul 31
Elizabeth
d
Samuel & Susannah
(b.1796 Jul 9)
ST ALPHAGE 1558-1800 (TRANSCRIPT @ SOG)
Many BUTLERS only looked for SAMUEL
1719 Jun 20
John
s
Samuel & Jane
1721 Apr 23
Jane
d
Samuel & Jane
1725 Jul 12
Samuel
s
Samuel & Jane (died Mar 9 1725)
1726 Jul 12
Abraham
s
Samuel & Jane
1728 Jul 28
Jane
d
Samuel & Jane
1736 Jul 29
Mary
d
Samuel & Jane
ST ANDREW 1740-1770
1756 Jun 17
William
s
James & Martha
St George the Martyr, 1588-1800
St Mary Magdelen, 1588-1800
St Peter, 1588-1800
(Trans @ SOG)
(Trans @ SOG)
(Trans @ SOG)
)
)
) Many Butlers but no Samuel
Holy Cross;
St Margaret;
St Martin;
St Mary Northgate;
St Mary Bredman;
St Paul
St Mildred 1746-1770 St Dunstan 1740-1790
No BUTLER found in above registers
DEAL
ST. GEORGE 1781-1807 PR
1798 Dec 12
Amelia
1800 Aug 10
James
1802 May 14 John
1804 Jul 6
Sarah
1805 Jul 21
Charles
1807 Feb 18
Benjamin
& 1814-16
1814 Jun 10
Frederic
d
s
s
d
s
s
John & Charlotte
James & Ann
a taylor
James & Ann
James & Ann
William & Mary
James & Ann
s
Wm & Mary
INDEPENDENT 1740-1820
DOVER
General Baptist 1733-1837 PRO RG4 875
Pentside 1816(when founded)-1837
Presbyterian 1710-1776
)
)
) No BUTLER found in above registers
ROCHESTER
ST. NICHOLAS 1720-1728, 1745-1760 PR @ CANTERBURY
1720 Jan 1
William
s
Thomas & Sarah
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
56
1723 Aug 23
1723 Aug 23
1728 Sep 3
1758 Feb 12
1760 Jun 29
1761 Sep 13
Susannah
Thomas
Thomas
Sarah
Samuel
John
d
s
s
d
s
s
Thomas & Sarah
Thomas & Sarah
Thomas & Sarah
William & Susannah
Thomas & Elizabeth
Thomas & Elizabeth
3 MARRIAGES
CANTERBURY
M ARRIAGE LICENCES
BUTLER. Many present, only those of apparent interest recorded.
1763 Apr 16
John Harwood
Rebecca BUTLER
wid, of Deal
sp of Deal
mariner
Deal (?)
1767 Oct 5
Samuel BUTLER
bach of St Mary Dover
26 vintner
Elizabeth BLAXLAND Dover St Mary
minor of Thanington
Father Wm Blax. husbandman
1770 Dec 8
John BUTLER
bach
Sarah Beer
sp of Bishopsbourne
Cant St Dunstan
1772 Nov 19
William BUTLER
bach of Deal
Ann Durban
sp of Deal
Deal
1778 Mar 24
Wm Haywood
wid of Minster
carpenter
Ann BUTLER
wid of Deal
Deal
1793 Sep 30
Ralph Lee Ashington
bach of St Dunstan
Stepney, Middx.
Elizabeth BUTLER
of Deal
at Deal
1794 Sep 7
Thos. BUTLER
bach of Deal
Esther Mecrow
Dover St Mary
minor, father Henry M.
of Dover St Mary
1799 Jul 20
John BUTLER
bach of Deal,
grazier
Mary Wood
sp of Mongeham
at (Great) Mongeham
ST. DUNSTAN PR
1781 Feb 4
Samuel BUTLER
Susannah Johnson *original & banns seen
of St Mildred's
otp
both signed
Witnesses:- John JOHNSON & Mary Boswall (or Bosnall)
DOVER
ST M ARY PR
1767 Oct 9
Samuel BUTLER
bach otp
Elizabeth Blaxland
spinster
(& minor w consent of her father Wm Blaxland
witness Wm Martin & churchwarden
ROCHESTER
ST NICHOLAS 1670-1760 SEARCH MALES ONLY
1670 Jun 1
Stephen BUTLER
Elizabeth Taylor
of Faversham
otp
1681 Apr 12
Andrew BUTLER
Elizabeth Good (?)
1709 Dec 13
John BUTLER
Catherine Vernon
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
57
1711 Feb 21
1749 Oct 29
of Peckham, dissenter
Robert BUTLER
William BUTLER
Jane Sutton of Maidstone
Susannah Stannack
James Butler
Martha Goatley
THANET
ST LAWRENCE
1743 Sep 10
DEAL
ST.GEORGE 1717-1752
No Butler
4.BURIALS
DEAL
ST. GEORGES 1734-1774
1737 Jun 29
Sarah
1739 Oct 21
Infant
1741 May 6
widow Butler
1754 May 8
Thomas
1754 May 8
Bathia
1756 May 18 John
1759 Sep 19
William
1768 Mar 12
Ann Mary
1770 Nov 9
Ann
1772 Feb 29
Elizabeth
1772 May 25 Ann
1772 Nov 3
1811-1880
1834 Apr 4
1835/37
1876 Dec 27
1880 ?
child of Bathia, widow
dau of James
Lucy
widow
Pilot (?)
son of Elizabeth
dau Samuel & Elizabeth
dau Thomas & Ann
widow of 69 years
wife of Thomas soon after deliverance of twins. The
husband at the time being Pilot on board one of the
Squadron sailed to Denmark
infant d of Thomas
Thomas
Thomas
Ann
Mary
of Primrose Court, aged 64 yrs
of Primrose Court, aged 61 yrs
of Ivy Court, Lower St. aged 74 yrs
of Ivy Court, Lower St. aged 76 yrs
BURIAL GROUNDS (@ Deal Museum 1856-1869)
1856 May 5
Sarah Butler, w of Richard aged 62
1863 May 9
Richard Butler of Park St Deal aged 62
CANTERBURY
ST DUNSTAN
1816 Mar 5
From an Index of burials 1743 - 1812
& 1796 - 1840 (from orig)
Abraham Butler of Ruttington Lane, Northgate Canterbury, aged 32
ALL SAINTS 1797-1830
BLACKFRIARS GENERAL BAPTIST CHAPEL 1786-1836
ST. ANDREW'S 1796-1840
ST M ARTIN'S 1796-1840
ST MILDRED 1796-1812
)
)
) NO BUTLER
)
)
DEAL INDEPENDENT 1786-1837
DOVER BAPTIST 1731-1744
THANINGTON PR 1737-1800
) NO BUTLER
)
)
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION
CANTERBURY ST M ARTIN inside the church
Underneath lieth the body of James Butler late of the parish of St Andrew in the city
of Canterbury who died 24th October 1767 aged 49
Also of Martha wife of the above who died 25th June 1773 aged 52
Likewise of John Goatley their son who died 30th May 1754 aged 10years and of
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
58
William their son who died 30th September 1762 aged 7 years
5.CENSUS
The abstracts below are included to show that surnames Butler & Crambrook were present in
these very early census returns in Deal.
DEAL 1801 Book 1 Folio 5
Name
Male Female No in trade
Crambrook
No inital
2
4
1
"Butler" mentioned as one enumerator
Book 3
Folio 5
Butler
John
1
3
1
Book 4
Folio 8
Crambrook
Jno
3
1
1
DEAL 1811 Vol 2 Folio 21
Crambrook
Vol 3 Folio 20
Butler
Butler
Vol 4 Folio
Butler
widow
1
2
0
widow
Thos
13
Jas
1
4
no entry
0
6
3
1
widow
1
1
DEAL 1821
Butler
1851
M AIDSTONE
21 Marsham Street
CRAMBROOK Daniel
H
CRAMBROOK Jane
BUTLER
Mary
U
M
64
W
M
65
Sister in law
69
Baptist Minister of Bethel
Chapel,Maidstone
Dover
Canterbury
6.WILL
James BUTLER of Canterbury hosier
1766 Apr 30th
Martha, wife. Daniel, son. John, brother. Jane Middleton, sister, Abraham, brother.
Children of my bro-in-law William Stork, captain of the Diamond, merchant ship
If my wife should die before sons reaches 21y make Wm. Stork & Edward Daniels both of
Ramsgate, guardians
Proved 1768 Oct 1st Executrix Martha Butler, relict
7.OFFICIAL DOCS.
CANTERBURY ST DUNSTAN'S @ CANTERBURY RO
Settlements
1733 - 1753
ref U3/141/13/2
1758 - 1790
do -/3
Examinations 1770 - 1863
do -/5
Assessments & disbursements for the poor
1756 - 1795
ref U3/141 P59
No BUTLER entries
CANTERBURY FREEMEN @ CANTERBURY LOCAL STUDIES LIB.
1752 Oct 3
James BUTLER, stocking weaver, by Redemption
Ref AC9 193 James Butler of this city, stocking weaver, paid £20 to be
admitted to Freedom but not sons & daughters .....
Ref FA36 106 James Butler of this city admitted.... £20... not to extend to
sons etc.....
1764 Dec 5
Daniel BUTLER. Enrolled apprentice.
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
59
1770 Apr 20
1771 Jul 2
1780 Oct 10
1798 Feb 15
1806 Oct 21
s app James BUTLER Frame work knitter
Ref FA 171
Recd of Mr James Butler of this city FWK for enrolling of his
son Daniel Butler bound to him for seven years from 24th May last
Samuel BUTLER, Enrolled apprentice to Mrs Martha BUTLER
hosier & stocking Weaver
Ref FA37 382 Recd of Mrs Martha Butler of this city hosier & stocking
weaver for inrolling etc of Samuel Butler, bound to her for seven years from
March 2nd last
Daniel BUTLER, framework knitter, s. app to James & Martha BUTLER
Framework knitter
Ref AC9 845 Daniel Butler admitted to ... Freedom for service of
apprenticeship to his father James Butler late of this city,FWK, deceased &
since his decease to his mother Martha paying the fee....
FB3 74
Daniel Butler admitted Freeman by service to his father
James Butler, late of this city FWK & to his mother Martha Butler
Samuel BUTLER, stocking weaver, by gift
Ref AC9 1049 at County Burghmote, ordered that Samuel Butler of this city,
stocking weaver shall be admitted ... to the freedom of this city with proviso
that the same shall not extend to make his sons or daughters free of this city
but himself & his apprentices only, paying the fees accustomed for the same
Ref FB5 2
1780 Oct 20 Samuel Butler of this city stocking weaver,
admitted. by gift.
Abraham BUTLER, Enrolled App app Samuel BUTLER FWK
Ref FA40 1797/8 11. Inrolling indentures
Abraham BUTLER, FWK Walmer, app to Samuel BUTLER FWK
Ref AC11 342 Abraham Butler of Walmer in Kent FWK admitted by
apprenticeship to Samuel Butler FWK
DEAL
ASSESSMENT FOR THE RELIEF OF THE POOR
1801 Queen Street, George Johnson £6 paid 3/SETTLEMENTS (NAMES OF SETTLERS IN THE PARISH)
1737 Daniel Butler & his wife from Hougham, Kent
KENT DIRECTORY 1792
Canterbury, John Butler, cordwainer
KENT DIRECTORY 1784
Rochester, Deal, Dover, Maidstone & Chatham
No Butler
8. CRAMBROOK
BAPTISM
DOVER ST. M ARY
1787 Mar 18
Daniel
s
James & Mary CRAMBROOK
CENSUS 1851
M AIDSTONE
21 Marsham Street
CRAMBROOK Daniel
H
M
64
CRAMBROOK Jane
BUTLER
Mary
W
SiL
M
U
65
69
Baptist Minister of Bethel
Chapel,Maidstone
Dover
Canterbury
Canterbury
The following information was received from the Archivist, Regents Park College Oxford.
In turn this was provided by Rev Geoffrey Breed of Gillingham Kent.
Daniel Crambrook
Pentside, Dover 1st Kent
Bethel , Union St. Maidstone 4th
Keighley, Yorks
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
from
1st Aug 1827
26th Aug 1838
to
1838
26th May 1839
Mar 1842
60
Swavesey, Cambs
Bethel, Union St.Maidstone 4th
Died 7th April 1876
Death noted 1877 Baptist Handbook page 349
© Gordon and Barbara Faulkner
Mar 1842
11th Feb 1847
11th Feb 1847
19th Jan 1870