General Notes

!According to Virginia Historical Geneologies, Thomas Butler (also spelled
Boteler) married Joan Mount Stephen 16 Jan 1625/26 at St Magnus the Martry
r,
London. She was the widow of Nicholas Mount Stephen. Since the record is
confusing, I will guess her maiden name was Christopher, and that she w
as the
daughter of John Christopher and Miss Harris. The confusion is that both J
oan
Mount Stephen and Joanne Christopher are listed as the wives of Thomas But
ler
I, the 1st lady has no children, the 2nd lady 9, but on Thomas' death his
widow, Joan Mount Stepehn married their neighbor, Edward Thomas, and took
Thomas' orphaned children with her. Further, the narrative gives no accou
nt of
a 2nd marriage. Thomas' conflicts with the Governor of Maryland are an
exciting story, but not as much as that of his brother, Capt. John Butler.
The records of the Draper's Company of London give the following informati
on; "Thomas Butler, Haberdasher, son of John Butler and Jane Elliott, of t
he Parish of Roxwell, Essex. Jane Elliott, daughter of Edward Elliott. Tho
mas Butler married 16, January 1625/6 at St. Magnus the Martyr London, Jo
an Mount Stephen the widow of Nicholas Mount Stephen, citizen of St. Mart
in Ludgate". (Will P. C. C. 93 Clarke) (56 V -459).
Thomas Butler I and his brother, Captain John Butler, are found residi
ng on Kent Island in 1637. There are no records preserved before that tim
e, so they may have arrived much earlier, for the first permanent settleme
nt of white men within the present boundaries of Maryland was made on Ke
nt Island in 1631. William Claiborne, formerly Secretary for the Colo
ny of Virginia, had received a grant of this island from the King wh
en it was considered a part of Virginia. In 1632, the King granted a chart
er for Maryland to Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, which charter contain
ed within its boundaries the Island of Kent. Baltimore refused to recogni
ze Claiborne's rights. Claiborne tried but could not obtain recognition fr
om the King, so there was nothing left for him to do but fight it out wi
th the Calverts.
Thomas moved with his brother John, to Kent Island, MD after his sister a
nd brother-in-law William and Elizabeth Claiborne received a grant ther
e. Thomas held 100 acres and paid a yearly rent of two barrels of corn a
nd two capons. Political and religious problems soon arose. Kent Island w
as a disputed area between Maryland and Virginia, both colonies claiming t
he area. Also, Maryland was primarily Catholic and Virginia was protestant
.
John was arrested by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, for treason and threat
ened with hanging in 1638. In 1644 Thomas, along with many other Maryla
nd Protestants, refused to pay taxes to the Catholic government and was de
clared an enemy of the state. Soon after, Thomas Butler died, apparent
ly of natural causes. His widow married a merchant, Edward Thompson and th
ey along with the Butler children "escaped" south to the Virginia colony a
bout 1650.
Thomas Butler, brother of the redoubtable Captain John had a small plantat
ion and a family but had lived a less exciting life. In March 1637, Thom
as Butler, together with Edward Thompson, who later married his widow, sig
ned the election returns in Kent Island, at which time Richard Thompson w
as elected Burgess. Richard Thompson represented the Island in the first G
eneral Assembly of Maryland in 1637k and continued in office until his dea
th. (Proceedings of the Assembly, Vol. 1. p. 31). In 1642, Thomas Butler a
nd Edward Thompson were levied upon to pay the charged of Richard Thompson
's election to the House of Burgesses. In September 1642, they are sho
wn in the lists as inhabitants of Kent Island (Proceedings of the Assemb1
y, Vol. 1, pp. 143, 168, 169). Thomas Butler's name is also spelled "Botel
er" in the records. In 1640 Thomas Butler of Kent Island demanded 600 acr
es due him for transporting himself, wife, and two children and Capt.