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Note: Descendent of John Howland & Elizabeth Tilley of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Lineage back on maternal side will follow that line. The Mother of Julia Blunt Butler (2 Dec. 1836 - 16 Nov. 1905) Opening Statement and Purpose The knowledge of Julia B. Butler's mother has long since been lost to time and no direct evidence exists of who her mother is. Additionally, none has been found after countless hours and exhaustive research. This knowledge is also beyond the memory of any living descendents. In order to show who in all probability the mother of Julia B. Butler is; it will be necessary to establish who Julia's father, children, brother and half brothers are. Theory It is the belief of this researcher that in all likelihood the mother of Julia Blount Butler is Eunice Hall Butler, who came to the Republic of Texas in May 1839. � The father of Julia B. Butler: Two records provided will show without doubt that the father of Julia was Dr. Pleasant H. Butler. The first, a power of attorney dated 5 February 1846, Hamilton County, TN, proves that Pleasant H. Butler was leaving Tennessee "to make suitable provisions for my daughter now believed to be in the said state of Texas�." This document proves that: Julia Blunt Butler was the daughter of P. H. Butler and inadvertently, that she came to Texas before P. H. Butler, but with whom? Additionally, a "Petition for letters of Administration on the Estate of P.H. Butler Dec'd" state that Mrs. Julia Terrell, wife of S. H. Terrell was the "only legal representative" for the estate of P. H. Butler Dec'd (Cherokee Co. TX). Also included is the 1830 Marion County, TN, census, and a land entry in the Marion County, TN, Register of Deeds book showing that P. H. Butler was in Marion County as late as 21 March 1839. This is important to note as it places him in Marion County, TN, before and after the birth date of Julia on 2 December 1836. [NOTE - Marriage record for S. H. Terrell and Julia B. Butler included] � The children of Julia Butler-Terrell: Census records provided show who the children of Julia are. The indirect evidence that will be provided in this study make it imperative to know the identity and relationship of said children; mainly daughter, Aylita Terrell-McClure, and sons, George Butler Terrell and Henry Berryman Terrell. � The brother and half brothers of Julia B. Butler: The 1860 census record for Cherokee County will show G.W. Butler residing in the residence of S.H. and Julia Terrell. The headstone at Mineola Cemetery, Wood Co, TX, confirms a birth date of 10 March 1830 and also states in Jasper (Marion Co), TN. In addition to that census a letter written by a son of Julia's, George B. Terrell, dated 5 April 1929 proves that his half Uncle was Frank Cadenhead and that Frank Cadenhead was the half brother of George Butler. Included in documentation is also a Widows Pension application, confirming the G. B. Terrell letter and the given name of Francis Marion Cadenhead. Supporting Research for the mother of Julia Blunt Butler Now that we have established who Julia's father, children and brothers (both full and half) are; let's examine the supporting indirect evidence that supports the theory that Eunice Hall Butler was indeed the mother of Julia B. Butler. Submitted for examination are the issued "headright" documents that show Eunice Hall Butler arrived into Nacogdoches, the Republic of Texas, in May 1839. Furthermore these records show that she was issued her "headright" of 640 acres on 1 August 1839. It is imperative to note that 640 acres issued, indicated that the receiver of the warrant was "head of household" and therefore had family with them as opposed to a single person who received 320 acres. I have also included entries made into the Board of Land Commissioner entry book for Nacogdoches County showing that James T. Cadenhead was the witness for Eunice Hall Butler. Additionally, marriage entries for Nacogdoches County also show that MRS. Eunice Butler married James T. Cadenhead on 1 August 1839. It is important to note that the title of "MRS" on the entry of marriage denotes that Eunice Butler had been previously married, which inadvertently tells us that Butler was not her maiden name. If not Butler, what was her maiden name? From the marriage between James T. Cadenhead and Eunice Butler, two sons were born that survived birth and lived to adulthood; Francis Marion (F. M.) Cadenhead and Benjamin Cadenhead. Provided in the documentation is the 1850 Cherokee County, TX, census, which shows James T. Cadenhead residing with his two sons Benj. F. and F. M. Cadenhead, but - no wife. This leaves us with the question of, "where was she?" In a letter from Aylita McClure to Henry Berryman Terrell dated 1903, Aylita tells Henry that "Grandmother Butler died early while in confinement." Confinement defined in the terms of those days meant she died during pregnancy. This would leave us the obvious conclusion that Eunice Butler died after the birth of her second Cadenhead son, F. M. [Francis Marion] in 1844, but before the 1850 Cherokee County Census. In order to further affix a timeline on her death, we can deduce from Pleasant H. Butler's departure from Tennessee on 5 February 1846 to "come to Texas" to care for his daughter, that his departure must have been provoked by the untimely death of her mother, leaving her an orphan before February 1846. We also know from the letter by George B. Terrell that Francis Marion Cadenhead was Terrell's half uncle, and that F.M.'s half brother was George Butler, thus implying that George Butler is his [G.B. Terrell] full uncle and therefore the brother of his mother [Julia], which inadvertently suggest that Eunice Hall Butler was the mother of George and Julia Butler. Conclusion on Julia B. Butler's mother In examining the evidence, we can deduce without doubt that Eunice Hall Butler married James T. Cadenhead. We can further deduce that of their children, F. M. Cadenhead was the admitted half uncle of George B. Terrell, a proven child of Julia B. Terrell. Therefore, when all the indirect evidence is assembled, its sum points inexorably to Eunice Hall Butler being the mother of Julia Blunt Butler. Who was Eunice Hall Butler? Based on the first half of this case study, we have been able to show that in all probability, Eunice Hall Butler is the mother of Julia Blunt Butler. The question posed in the case study; "what was her maiden name?" makes it imperative to look at additional indirect evidence to answer that question. First, it is necessary to first establish who the grandmother of Julia Blunt Butler is. Theory It is my theory that Eunice Hall Butler is Eunice Hall Witter, born 12 July 1808 in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, who is the daughter of Reverend Ezra Witter (6 September 1766 - 31 October 1833) and Eunice Lee (22 October 1769 - bet. 1841-1845). � The Grandmother of Julia B. Butler: A copy of Cherokee County, TX, Chancery Court minutes dealing with the "Estate of Eunice Witter Dec'd" states that the only legal heirs of Eunice Witter were her grandchildren, George W. Butler and his sister (unnamed in the document). Additional records prove that Eunice Witter arrived into the Republic of Texas in May 1839, that she received "headright" of 640 acres on 7 September 1841 in Nacogdoches County, TX, and that she came to the Republic of Texas a widow and died in the Republic of Texas. This will inadvertently show that Eunice Witter died after 7 September 1841, but before 29 December 1845 (when Texas was annexed as a state). Additional records will show that James T. Cadenhead was the witness for Eunice Witter at the time her "headright" was made. Supporting research for the identity of Eunice Hall Butler Having established that Eunice Hall Butler was the mother of Julia Blunt Butler, let's examine the indirect evidence showing that in all probability Eunice Hall Butler was Eunice Hall Witter. Documented evidence shows that Eunice Witter was the grandmother of the Butler children, and that both Eunice Hall Butler and Eunice Witter arrived into Texas in May 1839 and that James T. Cadenhead was the witness for both on entries made to the Nacagdoches Board of Land Commissioners. In order for Eunice Witter to have been the grandmother of George and Julia Butler, she would have to have been either the mother of their father or mother. We can therefore assert that had Pleasant H. Butler been the son of Eunice Witter, George and Julia Butler would not have been named her only legal heirs in her probate records, when the 1860 census clearly shows that Pleasant H. Butler was still living. Therefore, it makes logical sense that in all probability Eunice Hall Butler was the daughter of Eunice Witter. To support this theory, exerts from the published genealogies of the Witter family by George C. Washburn (1929) and the Lee family by Edward E. Salisbury (1892) have been included to show that a Eunice Hall Witter, born 12 July 1808 in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, was the daughter of Reverend Ezra Witter (6 September 1766 - 31 October 1833) and Eunice Lee (22 October 1769 - bet. 1841-1845). Additionally a biography on Ezra Witter, from "The Graduates of Yale University" (1885) has been supplied which also coincides with the published genealogies. Direct evidence shows that Ezra Witter was in Franklin County, Tennessee as early as January 1822 performing marriages. Furthermore, the 1830 census for Franklin County shows Ezra Witter, which supports the aforesaid genealogies and biography. It should be noted that Franklin County and Marion County (where evidence has been shown that places P.H. Butler in said county) are neighboring counties. Also included are copies of two County Court minutes from the February term 1834 and the November term 1835 showing that Eunice Witter received money from the county for the support of herself and her daughter Eliza. This would be an indication that by the February term 1834, she was a widow, supporting the Yale biography of 1833 for Ezra's death in Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee. Another piece of evidence provided to show that Ezra and Eunice Witter of Franklin County, Tennessee is the Ezra Witter who married Eunice Lee, is a copy of the County Clerk minutes for open court, showing that in the February term 1833, both Ezra and Eunice Witter signed a power of attorney to William Lee which was certified by the court. Coincidentally, Eunice Lee had a younger brother William Lee as shown in the Lee genealogy. Summery No direct evidence proves Eunice Hall Butler is Eunice Hall Witter or that Eunice Witter is the mother of Eunice Hall Butler. No evidence exist that shows Eunice Hall Witter married or divorced Pleasant H. Butler. However, we showed direct evidence that P.H. Butler is the father of Julia B. Butler and we showed substantial indirect evidence that Eunice Hall Butler is the mother of Julia B. Butler. We have showed that Eunice Witter is the grandmother of Julia B. Butler and that in all probability the mother of Eunice Hall Butler. We have showed that Ezra and Eunice (nee Lee) Witter were in Franklin County, Tennessee (a neighboring county of Marion County, TN.). Additionally, we have showed that Julia B. Terrell listed her mother as being from Massachusetts on the 1880 census. When all the direct and indirect evidence is assembled, its sum points inexorably to Eunice Hall Butler being the daughter of Eunice Witter and therefore being Eunice Hall Witter, the daughter of Ezra Witter and Eunice Lee. .
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