The Death (Murder?) of Alexander Butler

[jibba]

Hi all

I'm trying to find out the fate of my 5th great-grandfather, Alexander Butler of Benenden (c.1769). According to some public trees and the family book, "Up and Down the River - The Butlers from Benenden", they list his fate as such:

"...Sometime after 1801, it is also said, he was poisoned at a wayside inn by the lady inn-keeper who boiled up oleander leaves for the purpose. These stories can not now be affirmed."

So I started looking into this. The date of his death given is wrong (1862), which belongs to his son, also called Alexander. The last parish record listing Alexander, is at the baptisim of his son George in 1801, who curiously was baptised in private.

I then started going through the parish chest. I saw that his wife Mary, (who was listed as Mrs Alexander Butler) was receiving relief money from 1801-1808. Then in 1810, her entry changes to "Widow Butler", so it is almost certain Alexander died around 1809.

I then started looking for a burial record for him in the local area, but could not find an entry that matched, even including burials of "unknowns". Places search include Appledore, Benenden, Biddenden, Goudhurst, Hawkhurst, Headcorn, Newenden, Rolvenden, Sandhurst, Staplehurst, Teneterden

The problem is, were do I go from here? Where else can I look to find information about Alexander?

Regards

Lee

[Linda_J]

Hi Lee

Over the past couple of years I have researched a couple of murders for other people and one was very close to Benenden.
I was able to search the newspapers at the Maidstone Library and found reports in three seperate newspapers on the crime, the court case and the eventual hanging of the murderer.
The newspapers are on microfilm and go back to about 1795 so I would expect if there is any truth in the story it would be reported in the paper.
If possible I would suggest a visit the the library.

Linda

[casalguidi]

I then started going through the parish chest. I saw that his wife Mary, (who was listed as Mrs Alexander Butler) was receiving relief money from 1801-1808. Then in 1810, her entry changes to "Widow Butler", so it is almost certain Alexander died around 1809.

It certainly looks like she was estranged from him from c1801 doesn't it?  I wonder if it was a case of no sighting for 7 years so presumed deceased or am I being fanciful here?

I notice there is a marriage license for Nanny BUTLER 20 of Benenden (mother Mary BUTLER widow) and Samuel Munn HEATH gent. granted 16 Oct 1809 - would "Nanny" be their daughter?

Casalguidi

[jibba]

Hi

Thanks, that does prove that Alexander was deceased by 1809. Where did you get the marriage license info from?

Yes, Nanny was their oldest daughter, and the eldest of their six children. The youngest was George Butler, who is well documented on the web and in the book "Up and Down the River - The Butlers from Benenden" as being the ancestor of several Butler families in Australia.

I, on the other hand, descend from Alexander, the eldest boy, who remained in England and fell on hard times, listed as being a tramp in one of the census'!

Lee

[jibba]

Evening

Just a quick update regarding the fate of Alexander. I've recently discovered an entry in the Death Duty Register index referring to him. The index lists his wife Mary settling his estate in 1820.

I'll look to order the record from TNA in the near future to hopefully answer when he died and maybe the circumstances around it