Emma Buttle 1843-1920

Parents: William Buttle and Sophia Scotcher Whiting (1)
Born: 13th August 1843 in Burton End, Haverhill (1,3)
Baptised: 3rd September 1843 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill (1)
Married (1): John James Abbott, mailman, son of George Abbott, on 20th March 1867 at the residence of Alexander Wyly, Kanyaka, South Australia. Witnessed by Alexander and Elizabeth Wyly(2)
Children (1): Sarah Elizabeth Abbott b.1868 in Mattwarimgla and George John Abbott b.1869 in Werearden North.(2)
Relationship: James McOid
Child: Margaret Jane McOid b.1874 in Blinman.(2)
Married (2): George Phillips, of Augepena, son of William Phillips, on 13th November 1875 at the residence of Mrs Abbott, Blinman, South Australia. Witnessed by Arthur and Eliza Raper.(2)
Children (2): Annie Emma Phillips b.1876 in Blinman, Ellen Maud Phillips b.1877 in Blinman, Robert Arthur Phillips b.1880 in Angorichina, Harriet May Phillips b.1881 in Parallion, Catherine Eliza Phillips b.1884 in Meadows, and Frederick William Phillips b.1886 in Bunyeroo.(2)
Died: 22nd August 1920 in North Yelta, South Australia. Buried on 23rd August 1920 in Moonta Cemetery, South Australia.(2,4)

Bio: Emma was born in Burton End, Haverhill in 1843 and features on the 1851 census living there with here parents and siblings. She emmigrated to South Australia with her family in 1852 aboard the China and arrived there on 12th November.(for details of the Journey see Thomas Whiting)

She first married John Abbott, a mailman, in Kanyaka in 1867 at the residence of Alexander Wyly her sister Elizabeth's husband, and had two children with him - Sarah and George. John died sometime before 1874, although a record of his death doesn't seem to be available. Emma then had a child, Margaret Jane McOid, by James McOid. They never married. Margaret was buried as an Abbott along with her stepfather, George Phillips, in 1941. It is rumoured that she was deaf and dumb.(2)

Emma then went on to marry George Phillips in 1875 and was to have six children with him. They lived in Blinman, South Australia, although they were not settled there permanently as several of the children were born elsewhere.

Emma died on 22nd August 1920 in North Yelta, South Australia, of cardiac failure after suffering from Acute Bronchitis for three weeks. Her husband George is listed on the death certificate as being a Railway employee.(2) She is buried at Plot 52, Section West 23 of Moonta Cemetery.(4)

Fiona Errington, Emma's great great granddaughter, recently took at trip to the Flinders Range where the Butler family settled and explored the ruins of Kanyaka Station, where Emma married John Abbott. The pictures on the left taken by Fiona capture the breathtaking scenery and show that apart from the state of repair of the buildings, little has changed since the days of the Butlers. She also found a direct link to the Butler surname at a place near Alpana Station (owned by the Henery family since the time the Butlers lived there - Emma's brother George's 2nd wife was Edith Henery) which was called 'Butlers Creek' after her ancestors.

Many thanks to Fiona Errington for her pictures and input, and Kym Jones for filling me in on the background history surrounding Alpana.

Thanks to Kym at Dead Search (hosted by rootsweb) for the photo of Emma's gravestone. (Click on photo to enlarge)

Sources:

(1) SFHS, Suffolk Baptism Index, Clare Deanery 1813-1900.
(2) Information kindly supplied by Fiona Errington, taken from birth, marriage and death certifcates.
(3) Birth Register. 3rd Quarter 1843, Risbridge District, Volume 12 Page 385
(4) Burial Entry, Emma Phillips, Moonta Cemetery, 23/8/1920, Section: West 23, Plot 52, Permit 14773. www.coppercoast.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=764&c=17673