My oldest confirmed ancestor is Thomas Butler, individual No. 2 in the following Genealogy report. The book Butler Family in America, published in 1909 by Shallcross Printing Co., St. Louis, MO (by William David Butler, Joseph Marion Butler, and John Cromwell Butler), states that Thomas Butler's (No. 2) father was James Butler (No. 1). We have every confidence that this is correct, as one of the authors (William David Butler) obtained this information directly from his grandfather, Thomas Butler (No. 2), though we have not been able to prove this, as yet, with source documentation. This James Butler is cited in numerous sources as being the elder brother of Thomas Butler (not listed in this report), gunsmith, of Carlisle, PA, father of the famous 5 Revolutionary War officers, often referred to as "The Butlers of the Pennsylvania Line," or the "Fighting Butlers." This sibling relationship between James (No. 1 below) and Thomas Butler of Carlisle, PA, has never been proven through source documentation, though, again, William David Butler (Butler Family in America), states that his grandfather (Thomas Butler - No. 2 below), claimed he was a first cousin of the 5 "Fighting Butlers." Many of the descendants of Thomas Butler, of Carlisle, PA (the "Fighting Butlers"), are known to us, and tracked in our family file, but are not represented here to avoid confusion.
James Butler (No. 1), is also said to have had another brother, Joseph (youngest of the three), whose descendants were believed to have been in the vicinity of Mauch Chunk (now known as "Jim Thorpe"), PA, in the late 1800's or early 1900's, and some descendants may still be there, though we have never had contact with any of them.
I am a descendant of Thomas Butler (No. 2) through his youngest son, David (No. 17), and David's son John (No. 67). Our complete "Descendants of James Butler" report is 164 pages in length (with notes) and is composed of about 1,572 individuals (of various surnames). Thomas Butler (No. 2) emigrated to the Colony of Pennsylvania in about 1759, living at first in Lancaster (Rapho Twshp). He died in Roaring Spring, PA, and many of his descendants remain in this area of Pennsylvania to this day (Blair County). William Butler (No. 3), Thomas' younger brother, came to Pennsylvania in about 1759 (having deserted from a British Naval vessel off the New Jersey coast), first going to Lancaster, and later in his life to Allegheny County, PA. Various descendants of Thomas and William (Nos. 2 and 3) are known to have lived in Johnstown, PA, and some descendants may yet live in that area. John Butler (No. 4) is known to have moved to Ohio (Richland Township, old Williams County), and several of his sons are, as yet, unaccounted for.
Click here to go to report "Descendants of James Butler" to get more detail.