Hi all,
First time poster here. Great to see you all looking into my great grandparents, as I am also hitting a road block with them. Are you working from their descendants as I am, or their ancestors? I'm happy to tell you what I know and what I have concluded.
My grandfather was James William Butler. He was born in Cowra on 19 July 1901. His birth certificate records his father as James Henry Butler, 35yo, born in Ballarat, Victoria, and his mother as Margaret Whittaker, 23yo, born in Cowra, NSW.
James Henry Butler and Margaret Whittaker were married on 13 June 1900. Their marriage certificate lists the parents of James Henry Butler as being Denis Butler and unknown wife (deceased).
There is no record of a James Henry Butler born to a Denis Butler in the period 1860 – 1870 in either NSW or Victoria.
There is a Denis Butler (22yo) who married a Mary Jane Brett (18yo) on 18 November 1862, in Bathurst. Denis Butler and Mary Jane Brett had six children :
- Michael James, approx. 1864
- John Thomas, born 21 May 1867 , Mount Pleasant, Bathurst.
- Denis, approx. 1870
- Bernard, approx. 1871
- Catherine Ann, approx. 1873
- William, born 4 January 1875 , Generals Gate, Bathurst.
Mary Jane Butler died of a post-partum haemorrhage on 18 January 1875 , after giving birth to William on 4 January 1875 .
The births of all the children, except for Michael James, are recorded on the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages. However, there is no record of a James Henry Butler being born to Denis Butler or Mary Jane Brett.
On Mary Jane’s death certificate, her first born son is recorded as Michael James, 10yo, in January 1875.
On Denis’ death certificate, his first born son is recorded as James M., 50yo, in August 1915.
My great grandfather, James Henry Butler, gives his age at the time of his marriage as 34, lists his father’s name as Denis, and his place of birth as Ballarat, on his marriage certificate. This would suggest that he was born around 1866.
Expanding the search to include Victoria (where James Henry Butler claims he was born), we find a record for a Michael James Butler, born to Denis Butler and Mary Jane (Brett) . This would appear to be the birth record for the first born son of Denis and Mary Jane, listed on both of their death certificates.
Indeed, in the period 1850 – 1890, the only children born to a Denis Butler in NSW or Victoria are those listed on the death certificate for Denis and Mary Jane Brett. This includes spelling the father’s name as DENIS or DENNIS.
It is worth noting the change in the name of the first born son between his birth certificate, his mother’s death certificate and his father’s death certificate.
On his own birth certificate and his mother’s death certificate, he is recorded as Michael James.
On his father’s death certificate, he is named as James M. This suggests that he may have been known within the family as James, despite his first name actually being Michael. It is possible that informant for Denis’ death certificate (Bernard) only knew his oldest brother as James.
Given that there is no “James Henry” recorded as being born in Ballarat to a father “Denis” in the period 1850 – 1890, it seems likely that James Henry Butler is in fact Michael James Butler. This is based upon them both having a father called Denis, both being around the same age (James Henry 34 in 1900, whilst Michael James would have been 35-36), and them both being born in Ballarat (if the information on James Henry’s marriage certificate is to be believed.
Whilst there is no firm documentary linkage between James Henry and Denis, this theory appears to be the best one. As there appears to be little reporting of Michael James / James Henry, it is believed that he may have moved away from Bathurst where the rest of his family lived, and eventually found himself in Cowra. His movements over the period 1875 (the death of his mother) and 1900 (his marriage) are unclear, and require further research.
So what then became of James Henry Butler? Family legend has it that was reported to have died and been buried at Lake Cargellico in NSW approximately 1920 – 1925. So how did he come to be there?
The 1903 Electoral Role shows a James Henry Butler (saddler) and a Margaret Butler (domestic duties) in Cowra. On 31 March 1908, the Sydney Morning Herald lists a James Butler as bankrupt (file number 17695). It is uncertain whether this is the same James Butler. On 6 Feb 1911, the Bathurst Times reports in its Cowra News that a fire broke out in the main street in the buildings occupied by James Butler, saddler. The structure was completely destroyed.
It is believed that the possible bankruptcy in 1908, the loss of the business in 1911 may have been too much for James Henry. He either abandoned his family, or set off seeking other employment opportunities to support them.
Using the family legend of James Henry being buried in Lake Cargellico, it was possible that he found his way to this area, where he found employment as a rabbitter.
There is a report in the Lachlander and Condobolin Recorder on 24 July 1918, about the death of an unknown rabbiter on Boorabil.
A death certificate was found for a James Butler, rabbiter, about 60 yo, deceased on 17 July 1918 at Boorabil, Cargeillco. It does not list any marriage or children but records place of borth as Bathurst, NSW.
It seems likely that this James Butler was my great grandfather James Henry Butler (also known as Michael James Butler). As he was away from home, there was no one who would have known him to provide more accurate details about his death. As the family never seems to have received formal notification about his death, it is further assumed that he had abandoned his family in Cowra by this stage.
I have the various NSW and Vic BDM document references, if anyone is after them. I've also tried to do a bit of digging on the other descendants of Denis and Mary Jane, to see if that reveals anything, but so far without any joy.
I hope that this helps, and if you think my theory is incorrect, please let me know. If you have any info that can assist with this roadblock, I'd appreciate it.