Abigail Butler

Brief Life History of Abigail

When Abigail Butler was born on 10 January 1743, in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, United States, her father, Thomas Butler, was 31 and her mother, Abigail Craft, was 34. She married Stephen Downing on 17 November 1763, in Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 5 daughters. She died after 1790, in Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut, United States.

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Family Time Line

Stephen Downing
1737–1790
Abigail Butler
1743–1790
Marriage: 17 November 1763
Elizabeth Downing
1764–1841
Abigail Downing
1767–
David B. Downing
1769–1860
Jemima Butler Downing
1771–1860
Kezia Downing
1773–1781
Stephen Downing
1776–
Deidamia Downing
1778–1782
Eleazer Butler Downing M.D.
1786–1870

Sources (21)

  • Abigail Butler, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906"
  • Abigail, "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850"
  • Abigail in entry for Kezia Downing, "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850"

World Events (2)

1776

Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.

1781 · British Forces Capture Fort Griswold

The capture of Fort Griswold was the final act of treason that Benedict Arnold committed. This would be a British victory. On the American side 85 were killed, 35 wounded and paroled, 28 taken prisoner, 13 escaped, and 1 twelve year old was captured and released.

Name Meaning

English: from a word that originally denoted a wine steward, usually the chief servant of a medieval household, from Norman French butuiller (Old French bouteillier, Latin buticularius, from buticula ‘bottle’). In the large households of royalty and the most powerful nobility, the title came to denote an officer of high rank and responsibility, only nominally concerned with the supply of wine, if at all. As well as being widespread in England, this is also the surname of an important Irish family, descended from Theobald FitzWalter, who was appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177. It is Gaelicized as de Buitléir.

English: occasionally perhaps an occupational name from Middle English boteler ‘maker of bottles (usually of leather)’, a derivative of Middle English botel, Old French bo(u)teille ‘bottle’ and synonymous with Botelmaker.

Americanized form of French Bouthillier (see Bouteiller ).

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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