Book excerpts pertaining to various Leedom families

Part I        Part II        Part III        Part IV        Part V     Part VI

The Emigrant Churchman in Canada.
By a Pioneer of the Wilderness, Volume 1.
Ed. by the Rev. Henry Christmas. Richard Bentley, London, 1849; p. 139-140
 

The case of the poor shoemaker, Richard Leedom, who was carried over the Falls so lately ago as Sunday, October 1, 1848, must still be fresh in the memory of every one. It seems he had gone out from Buffalo on a pleasure excursion on the Saturday previous, and was first seen on the following Sunday about sundown, near the verge of the dangerous rapids, half a mile below Navy Island. Had he then determined to make for Goat Island, he might by possibility have been saved; but his urging the boat towards the American shore, when caught, proved his ruin. The boat must have been a good one, and well managed, to have lived through the rapids as she did. After successive desperate plunges, she rose again each time, to the astonishment of the lookers-on, probably owing in part to her being decked forward. The courage and self-possession of the unhappy man were extraordinary throughout.

As the boat was swept furiously along, his chief hope lay in either jumping on to either the pier of the bridge or the rock; but the current dashed him away under the bridge, breaking the mast. Even then he rose on the opposite side, and was able to say to the spectators of his agony, "Had I not better jump?" They were too much paralyzed to reply, and in another moment the boat struck a rock, turned over, and lodged. He appeared to crawl from under it, and swam with the oar in his hand till he went over the hideous abyss. The mind recoils shuddering from the bare attempt to analyze the feelings of a strong man, in the full vigour of life, thus wrestling hopelessly with death at one of his most terrible portals. Did it cross his mind at that awful moment that he had been out taking his pleasure on God's day of holy rest?
 

Recollections of a '49er
by Edward Washington McIlhany
Pub. Kansas City, Hailman Printing Co., 1908.

Edward Washington McIlhany (b. 1828) left West Virginia for the California gold fields in 1849. Recollections of a 49er (1908) describes his overland journey west, gold prospecting on Feather River and Grass Valley, hunting and trapping, proprietorship of a general store and hotel in Onion Valley, the Colorado gold rush, and Missouri railroading after the Civil War.

CHAPTER IX.
page 97
There was a pretty good trail at that time from Bodwells out to Marysville. We threw our snowshoes away there and found a pretty good going until we reached a ranch kept by a man by the name of Leedom. We nooned at Raspberry valley at an eating house, and stayed all night at Leedom's and there hired a team to haul us to Marysville.

We reached Brigg's ranch 3 miles from the city. His was the first and the finest fruit ranch in that country. His house was situated on the Uba River. The melting of the snow and rain had put the river out of its banks and was over the bottom where my ranch was on the opposite side, about a mile below him, where all my stock was. I asked him if he had heard anything of any of my boys and he said he had not. I asked him if he could let me have a skiff and he did.

CHAPTER X.
page 112
From Onion Valley to Marysville, the fare was $20.00. Occasionally a gambler would want to go from Onion Valley to Marysville, and vice versa, and sometimes would not have the money to pay. They were well known by the agents and proprietors and they were frequently trusted for their fare, which was always paid, the company never losing a cent. On one occasion I was going to the mountains and I met the stage and Bob Jordon, the driver, was a partner. He asked me, on my return, if I would stop at Leedom's ranch and bring a change of horses. I told him I would. On my return I had only $200.00 in gold with me, I was making a quick trip and I remember it well. I reached Leedom's ranch at noon. I was riding my fine mule, Bonita, I found a great many campers and miners scattered all around, nooning. I walked into the store attached to the little hotel and put my saddle pockets behind the counter. Of course I was seen by many of the campers as I went into the house. I rested a while, ate my dinner and told Leedom, one of the proprietors, that Bob Jordan wanted me to bring him a change of horses. He said he would go down to the pasture with me, after dinner, and help me cut them out and bring them up. It probably had been an hour and a half or two hours when I got the horses back to the road ready to start. On my return I found that all these campers had left. Occasionally I would hear the report of a gun which was a very common occurrence among miners, shooting at wild pigeons and at marks and other things.

 

 

Wilson and Allied Families
Author: Alfred Rudulph Justice, Philadelphia 1929.
Call Number: R929.2 W754

The descendants of William Wilson who emigrated from Stewardstown, County of Tyrone, Ireland in 1732.

Will of William Wilson of Bristol, Philadelphia County, Pa., dated September 9, 1776, pro. October 9, 1776:

To my beloved wife, Hannah, best feather bed and furniture, Case of drawers, Six of my best chairs, a small dining table and tea table, two of my best pewter dishes, six pewter plates, tea kettle and other tea furniture, the two middle sized iron pots, one cow which she shall choose and my large Bible.

My wearing apparel and books shall be divided amongst all my children equally. To son James œ10. To William Willson, son of son Thomas, œ10. Residue of estate shall be sold by my executors, with power to sell plantation whereon I now dwell, situate in Bristol, containing 150 acres more or less, with buildings, etc--The proceeds to be divided between my wife and children vizt Thomas, William, Archibald, James, Pricila and Silas in such manner that after allowing for what Thomas and William have heretofore had of my estate, shall make them all equal. If son Archibald should die before he has received his share and without lawful issue then his widow shall have œ50 of his share and residue to my surviving children with similar provision in case of death of any of the other children.

Execrs: three sons, Thomas, William & Archibald.
Witnesses: Joseph Spencer, Samuel Leedom & John Child.

 

Our Family Ancestors
Author: Thomas Maxwell Potts
Call Number: R929.2 P871.1

Genealogy of the Potts Family and Allied Families.

Bibliographic Information: Potts, Thomas Maxwell. Our Family Ancestors. Canonsburg, PA: Thomas M. Potts, 1895.

CHAPTER XXV.
THE BUTLER FAMILY.
It is alleged that the Butler families of England and Ireland had their origin from the Dukes of Ormonde, and still more anciently from Rollo of Norway, the first Duke of Normandy.
Hrolf or Rollo, a Norwegian Iarl, who was descended from the ancient kings of Norway, was born about, A. D., 860, and died about, A. D., 930. He is reported to have been a man of great strength and martial prowess. He was banished from Norway and after many adventures gained victories over the Franks, and in 912, had a cession of the province since called Normandy.

Rollo married Gisella, daughter of Charies III, of France, embraced the Christian religion, and was the first Duke of Normandy. William the Conqueror was the sixth Duke of Normandy, and the first King of England in the Norman line.

Gislebert the Norman, Earl of Eu, came into England with William the Conqueror, and had four sons, 1 Gislebert de Clare; 2 Roger; 3 Walter; and 4 Robert, who was the ancestor of Fitz Walter and Butler.

Page 209
Harvey Walter, who was a lineal descendant of Robert, married a daughter of Gilbert Becket, and a sister of Thomas Becket, the Martyr.

Theobald Walter, their son, with all his family, was banished out of England on account of the disfavor in which Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, then stood with the King--Henry II. After the death of Becket, the King recalled all the Archbishop's relations and promoted them to great offices and employments, especially Theobald. He was for a time called Theobald Walter, until the King took him into favor and sent him into Ireland with the title "Chief Butler" of that kingdom, about A. D., 1177, where, by the King's royal bounty, and his own power and valor, he became eminent, and attained greater possessions, becoming possessed of the baronies of Upper Ormonde, Lower Ormonde, and numerous other territories. He married Maude, daughter of Robert le Vavasour, and died before April 4, 1206.

He was succeeded by Theobald, his son, who first assumed the name of "Le Botiler,(*) alias Botelere, alias Butler, in 1221. He first married Joan, eldest sister and co-heir of Geoffrey de Marreis, a considerable Baron of Ireland. He died July 19, 1230, and was succeeded by his eldest son Theobald.

(*) NOTE. Said to signify the bottle carrier, or one who had charge of the wine. Other antiquarians hold that the name of Butler is derived from Robert, supposed to have been "butler" to King William the "Conquerer," who in Doomsday Book is called "Robertus Pincerua." This Robertus Pincerua, with two others of the same name (whether his brothers or his sons we know not), called Hugo Pincerua and Richard Pincerua, held each of them from the King several towns in England. The said Robertus was grand father of the above-mentioned Walter.

Page 210
The history of the illustrious house of Butler of Ormonde, is in point of fact, the history of Ireland. At the head of the great nobility, have ever stood the Butlers. The Irish antiquarians, who record the pedigrees of the Butler families, give a line of direct descent of twenty one Barons, Earls, Marquis, and Dukes of Ormonde to 1708. Those, who may desire to pursue this branch of the subject further or more in detail, are referred to Johnstone's "Celto Scandinavian Antiquities," Turner's "Anglo Saxons," Camden's "Britannia," Burke's "Peerage and Baronetage," and other works. The Butler family is about equally divided between England and Ireland.

The writer hereof has only had a very limited opportunity for studying the American branch of the Butler family. Our own ancestry in this line, has not at this writing been traced beyond a certain JOHN BUTLER who was in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1740, and probably much earlier. Whether he was a first settler or was descended from an earlier American ancestor, has not been discovered. There is some reason to believe that he had relatives of the same family name in this country. The following memoranda may be helpful to the future investigator.

The first witness signed to the marriage certificate of John Butler is Thomas Butler, and another is Thomas Gill, both being signed among the relatives of the contracting parties.

Page 211
Thomas Butler(*) was settled in Middletown, Bucks County, as early as 1728, when he received a Friends' Certificate to Chester Meeting. He returned to Middletown in 1730, married Rebecca Gilbert in 1731, and removed to Buckingham in 1732. He had two children, 1 Joseph who married Sarah Pickering, 2 Mary who married Barak Fisher. Thomas Butler died in 1750, and in his will appointed his "uncle Thomas Gill" to be one of his executors. Thomas Harding, of Bucks County, by his will, dated Feb. 4, 1728-9, made a small bequest to Thomas Butler and his sister Mary.

Thomas Gill was a respectable citizen of Bucks County, who married Alice Comly, daughter of Henry and Agnes, 7 mo. 28, 1719, and had children, 1 Grace, 2 Agnes, 3 Mary, 4 Hannah, 5 Ure, 6 Thomas.(+)

In 1747, Joseph Eaton of Philadelphia County, by his will, appointed his brother-in-law, Thomas Gill, and Simon Butler, of Bucks County as his executors. Rebecca Butler was a witness to the will. Simon Butler?? was a man of prominence in Bucks County, and is known to have had a brother Benjamin who died 1751.
Richard Butler, (according to some brief records preserved by his descendants,) was born in England, and

(*) NOTE. Mr. James A. Searight, of Uniontown, Pa., who is a lineal descendant of Thomas Butler, is of the opinion that he was born at Hanley, on the Thames, England, but this remains to be proven.
(+) NOTE. To make Thomas Gill an uncle of Thomas Butler, the latter's mother must have been a sister, either of Thomas Gill or of his wife Alice Comly.
?? See Penna. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., Vol. IX, p. 50, for a mention of a Simon Butler in 1710, as coming from Llangenych, Wales.

Page 212
came to New Jersey in 1662. He brought with him five sons and three daughters, as follows, 1 Richard, 2 John, 3 William, 4 Noble, 5 James, 6 Molly, 7 Sally, and 8 Jane. John Butler, late of New Jersey, son of John, (2), was born August 29, 1725, and died at Philadelphia Sept. 29, 1791.

William Butler, (3), son of Richard, had a son William, born Feb. 27, 1731,(*) in Chester County, Penna., and died May 27, 1838, aged 107 years.(+) He married Ann Giffin, Oct. 6, 1774. She was born May 6, 1749. They had children as follows, 1 Jane, 2 Martha, 3 Samuel, who was born October 15, 1785, and died March 9, 1864. He married Ann Elizabeth Keen, who was a first cousin of my father.?? They lived on South 9th Street, below Locust, Philadelphia.

It is possible that some of the Bucks County Butlers were descended from the above named Richard Butler of New Jersey.

About 1727, a certain Noble Butler, son of John, received a certificate from the Friends Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia, to Chester County, where he married Rachel Jones and had children, 1 John, 2 Enoch, 3 Bathsheba, 4 William, 5 Benjamin, 6 Noble. Judge William Butler and his brother Hon. Samuel Butler of Chester County, were great grandsons of the above Noble Butler.

(*) NOTE. Another copyist gives date of birth as Feb. 16, 1730.
(+) NOTE. My father was well acquainted with William Butler, and I have heard him speak of the old gentleman as very active, walking briskly about the streets of Philadelphia when he was above a hundred years old.
?? See page 74, ante.

Page 213
At first it might be thought that this Noble Butler was a descendant of Richard Butler of New Jersey, but this is doubtful. The Friends records of Somersetshire, England, show that John and Bershaba [Bathsheba] Butler of Bedminster, had a son Noble, born 3 mo. 4, 1704. This may have been the Noble Butler who settled in Chester County in 1727. The repetiton of the unusual name of Noble suggests relationship.

Page 214
JOHN BUTLER, (44), of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Mary Fisher, daughter of John and Mary (Hough) Fisher, were married 1 mo. 27, 1740, according to the records of Wrightstown Monthly Meeting of Friends. The witnesses signed to the marriage certificate were Thomas Butler, John, Robert, and Elizabeth Fisher, Thomas Gill, and twenty eight others. Mary (Fisher) Butler was born 1 mo. 28, 1711, and died 1792.

From Friends records it appears that they removed to Chester County--first to Darby and afterwards to other places in the County. John Butler seems to have died in Goshen Township in 1771. Mary Butler his widow survived him until 1791 or 1792. Her will dated 4 mo. 1, 1791, and proven Feb. 17, 1792, is recorded at West Chester, in Will-Book I, page 19. She speaks of herself as widow, of New Garden, "being far advanced in age," etc., and mentions her sons Thomas, John, Isaac, (deceased,) and Jacob, and daughter Mary; also grand-daughter Betty Butler daughter of Thomas. She appoints daughter Mary and Samuel Cope, executors.

Page 215
CHILDREN OF JOHN AND MARY (FISHER) BUTLER.
1 Thomas Butler, (22), b. 12 mo. 8, 1740-1; d. 1801; m. Abigail
Bane, (23), October 13, 1773. See Infra.
2 Grace Butler, b. 8 mo. 22, 1742; d. 10 mo. 9, 1742.
3 Mary Butler, b. 12 mo. 19, 1743-4; living and unm. in 1791.
4 John Butler, b. 6 mo. 3, 1747; He married and had children, and
removed to New Garden in 1777.
5 Isaac Butler, b. 7 mo. 8, 1749; and died about 1791, apparrently
unmarried. He was a resident of Goshen Township.
6 Jacob Butler, m. Eleanor Haines about 1782. In 1781 he appears
to have been a tavern-keeper, probably in Goshen Township.
His will, dated in 1801 and proven 1817, makes him a resident
of West Fallowfield Township. He seems to have left no children
but made bequests to the children of his brothers Thomas
and John.

Page 216
Thomas Butler, (22), son of John and Mary (Fisher) Butler, was born 12 mo. 8, 1740-1, in Bucks County, and died about 1801, in Londongrove Township, Chester County. He married Abigail Bane, daughter of William and Jean Bean or Bane, October 16, 1773.(*) "For going out in his Marriage and accomplishing the same by the assistance of a Priest," he was disowned by Friends in 1774. At that time he was a member of Bradford Preparative Meeting.

Abigail (Bane) Butler his widow survived him and died about 1807. Her will dated 8 mo. 2, 1804, and probated Nov. 20, 1807, is on record at West Chester in Will-Book L, page 187. She names her daughters Betty Carter, Hannah Cannon and Amy Butler, and son Nathan Butler.
(*) See Penn, Archives, 2d Series, Vol. II, p. 48. and Vol. IX, p. 352.
 

Page 217
CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND ABIGAIL (BANE) BUTLER.
1 Betty Butler, (11), b. 1777; d. Oct. 27, 1831; m. William Carter,
(10). See Ante, pp. 113, 114.
2 Hannah Butler, m. Robert? Cannon.
3 Amy Butler; m. Benjamin Brown a son of Joseph Brown.
4 Nathan Butler, m. Sarah Morton. They lived near the village of
Chatham. They had children, 1 Nathan, 2 Morton, 3 Jacob, 4
Quincy, 5 Lydia, and 6 an elder daughter who married (???)
McCartney, and left two daughters.
5 Eli? Butler, accidentally killed in a collier's cabin.