Thomas Butler
Born 6 Apr 1720 in Coolkenna, County Wicklow, Ireland.
Married Eleanor Parker, daughter of Sir Anthony Parker, 26 Oct 1741 In
Kilkenny, Ireland.
Died 1789.
Thomas and his family came to America in 1748, and settled in Lancaster County,
PA. From there, he moved to the city of Mt. Pleasant in Cumberland
County, PA. In the city of Carlisle, Thomas Butler founded the first
Episcopal Church in this part of the country. In Mt. Pleasant he raised
his family consisting of five sons and three daughters, the eldest three sons
having been born in Ireland. His five sons were all officers in the
Revolutionary Army, and were personally commended by George Washington.
General LaFayette once said, "When I wanted a thing well done, I ordered a
Butler to do it."
Thomas was also a gunsmith, and had a shop both in Dublin before immigrating to
this country, and in Pennsylvania after his immigration.
I am also descended from Matthew Talbot, born 26 Sep 1699 in England, died 27
Nov 1758 in Virginia. Matthew is almost certainly descended from The
Talbot line of the Earls of Shrewsbury (although this is not without
controversy), and thence from James Butler, the fourth Earl of Ormonde, born
1392, died 22 Aug 1492. James' ancestry is rigorously documented ad
infinitum.