The Butsons of Vermont

Research note by Wesley Johnston - begun 11 Jan 2023 - last update 11 Jan 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/12001386/person/27357827168/media/6b992a76-0bbf-44dc-a075-972950a87e38?_phsrc=rxD1466

Overview

Three Butson families arrived in the state of Vermont in 1864. All were included in the Gazetteer Of Orange County, Vt. 1762-1888 compiled and published by Hamilton Child (The Syracuse Journal Company, Printers and Binders.: Syracuse, N. Y., 1888) in the section History of the Town of Topsham (pp 451-471) which was transcribed by Karima Allison in 2004 and posted on the Internet at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~vermont/OrangeTopsham.html

William BUTSON, son of Joseph and Mary (WYDE) BUTSON, was born in Devonshire, Eng., came to this country in 1864, and in 1867 settled in this .town. He was twice married, first to Emma FROST, who died April 30, 1876, by whom he had five children, Lillias (Mrs. David VANCE) of Barnard, Vt.; William, Jr., Lydia A. and Walter, of this town; and Robert, now dead. His second wife, Margaret VANCE, whom he married March 13, 1877, bore him four children, Mabel and David, now dead, and Robert and Sarah.

Robert BUTSON, a native of Devonshire, Eng., was born June 3, 1829, and his parents were Joseph and Mary (WYDE) BUTSON. He married Elizabeth J. STONE, daughter of William and Elizabeth (REDWOOD) STONE, also a native of Devonshire, and with her removed to this country in May, 1864, settling in this town on road 8, in April, 1869. In 1873 he removed to the farm he now occupies. Of his family of four children, Mary J. was born in Devonshire, and married Rufus HOSMER, of this town; Elizabeth A., also a native of Devonshire, married Edwin GARDNER, and died in 1885; Emma D. and Ellen J. are living.

John BUTSON, son of William and Mary (HILL) BUTSON, was born in Somerset, Eng., November 15, 1835. May 2, 1864, he married Sarah A. NORTON, daughter of John NORTON, of Devonshire, Eng., by whom he has had nine children, viz.: James, John, Henry, Ella T., Charles, Frederick, Robert, Henry, and Jessie.

What this account does not include is the fact that John's father William BUTSON was the brother of William and Robert's father Joseph BUTSON so that the Vermont settlers were two brothers and their first cousin. In fact, William and first cousin John's marriages were a double-marriage 2 May 1864 in Tiverton, Devon.