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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: jibba on Thursday 19 June 14 11:33 BST (UK)

Title: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: jibba on Thursday 19 June 14 11:33 BST (UK)
Hi

When I first started researching my Butler ancestors, who were from Benenden, Kent, England, I managed to get a copy of Malcolm Ronan's book - Up and Down the River: The Butlers from Benenden. The book is based on the descendants of George Butler (1800-1884) who emigrated to live in Victoria, Australia, but also gave some background information on George's English ancestors

Although there are several errors in the book, it did help in constructing the family tree. There are two comments made in the book that I still query though:


Having looked at the Benenden parish registers over here in England, I cannot find any reference to the two comments above, and I wonder if they were recorded by George when he emigrated to Australia in 1838 (on board the Maitland)

Are there any potential records held over in Australia (immigration, land etc...) that might reveal where these sources came from?
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: cupoflife on Thursday 19 June 14 12:27 BST (UK)
Not sure ??? since your George BUTLER was born 1800.
There is only one BUTLER on ship Maitland 1838
This link says George age 19 s/o George
http://www.fairhall.id.au/resources/maitland/passengers.htm
This shows his age 20
http://www.rootschat.com/links/015az/



Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Thursday 19 June 14 12:48 BST (UK)
Quote from: jibba on Thursday 19 June 14 11:33 BST (UK)
George's mother is listed as Mary Lucy Pellatt
George's father, Alexander, is listed as Milkman
Having looked at the Benenden parish registers over here in England, I cannot find any reference to the two comments above, and I wonder if they were recorded by George when he emigrated to Australia in 1838 (on board the Maitland) Are there any potential records held over in Australia (immigration, land etc...)

George BUTLER 1800-1884 with parents Alexander & Mary arrived with his wife & children 1 Sept 1839 SYDNEY, NSW on the CORNWALL:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/015b9/

http://www.rootschat.com/links/015ba/
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Thursday 19 June 14 12:59 BST (UK)
Death:

BUTLER Geo 83yrs d. 1884 BRIGHT #3638
Father: Alexr
Mother: Mary PALLET
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: jibba on Thursday 19 June 14 13:45 BST (UK)
Hi

Thanks for those links. Sorry I got the name of the ship wrong earlier. The George on the Maitland is believed to the eldest son of George and Charlotte

My request is regarding his mothers middle name, Lucy, and his fathers occupation, Milkman. As no citations for these have been found in the Benenden parish registers, and the book does not list a specific source, I'm assuming they came from an Australian record source.

Which records should I be looking at to determine if these facts are true?

Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: Dundee on Thursday 19 June 14 14:46 BST (UK)
The card index to bounty immigrants is digitised on FamilySearch:

George and Charlotte BUTLER and family
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11590-3321-62?cc=1542665

The names of George and Charlotte's fathers are difficult to decipher from the original handwriting. Charlotte's mother appears to me to be named as "Mary Lucy", it doesn't look like a repeat of the surname (LADBY).  The other immigrants do not have a mother's maiden surname listed.

I will do some snips so you can see.

Debra  :)
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: Dundee on Thursday 19 June 14 14:49 BST (UK)
Sorry I repeated Merlin's link.

Debra  :)
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: Dundee on Thursday 19 June 14 14:53 BST (UK)
Snips from the entitlement certificates.
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: Dundee on Thursday 19 June 14 15:11 BST (UK)
Perhaps if George's father was a labourer at a dairy the knowledge of his occupation by descendants changed over time to 'milkman'.  Was that terminology even used as an occupation in 1839?

Debra  :)
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Thursday 19 June 14 15:33 BST (UK)
Why haven't you contacted the Mal Ronan, author of the book & asked him?
I'm sure he'd love to hear from you  :)



Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: jibba on Thursday 19 June 14 22:06 BST (UK)
Thanks Debra for supplying those images! I've looked at the book again and I think I can see what has happened. Their parents details have been confused with one another, so Richard is the dairyman and his wife, not Alexander's, is called Mary Lucy

Now that's not to say Alexander was not a dairyman, however the most detailed record of his occupation is Agricultural Labourer (taken from his wife's death certificate)

I have wanted to write to Malcolm Ronan, but have not been able to find any contact details for him. Ironically it was his 88th birthday yesterday, and I would like to discuss the future of the book with him before the opportunity passes us by
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Friday 20 June 14 00:44 BST (UK)
I have PM'd his contact details to you ;)
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: jibba on Friday 20 June 14 19:26 BST (UK)
Thanks Merlin :)
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: peb205 on Wednesday 10 April 24 17:00 BST (UK)
Did you manage to contact Malcolm?
Title: Re: The Butlers of Benenden - Source Query
Post by: ~MERLIN~ on Thursday 11 April 24 07:52 BST (UK)
Quote from: peb205 on Wednesday 10 April 24 17:00 BST (UK)
Did you manage to contact Malcolm?

Malcolm RONAN passed away in 2019.