George Buttle 1845-1913

Parents: William Buttle and Sophia Scotcher Whiting
Born: 4th Quarter 1845 in Haverhill (1)
Baptised: ?
Married (1): Harriet Gaiger, 21, daughter of Henry Gaiger, on 1st June 1870 at the residence of George Buttle, Blinman, South Australia(2)
Children (1): Harriet Ada Butler b.1871 died in infancy, George Frederick Butler b.1872, Harriet Edith Butler b.1874, Henry William Butler b.1877, Mabel Ellen Butler b.1879, Walter Harold Butler b.1881, Gilbert Ernest Butler b.1882, James Herbert Butler b.1886, Frank Percival Butler b.1888(2)
Married (2): Edith Henery, 29, daughter of Patrick Henery, on 5th June 1894 at the residence of Patrick Henery, Alpana South, Blinman, South Australia(2)
Children (2): Beatrice Anne Sophia Butler b.1895, Robert Kimberly Butler b.1900 and Jack Patrick Butler b.1905 died in infancy.(2)
Died: 29th June 1913 in Quorn, Blinman, South Australia(2)

Bio: George does not appear on the parish baptism register, but the GRO register gives his birth as being at the end of 1845. He feature on the 1851 census living with his family in Burton End, Haverhill. George emigrated 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)

George was living in and around Blinman for most of his life in Australia, and was first married to Harriet Gaiger with whom he had 9 children. Harriet died on the 5th March 1892(2), and George re-married two years later to Edith Henery and had a further 2 children.

The Henerys had been farming at Alpana Station since 1878 when they started with 133 acres. Edith's father Paddy Henery had emigrated from Ireland in the 1840s and started a dynasty that have been farming the land there up until the present day. Paddy was wise to the opportunity that presented itself in the form of bullock teams hauling copper ore from Blinman Mine to Port Augusta. These beasts-of-burden needed to be fed, and the Henerys made a living by growing fodder crops with this need in mind. When the advent of railways put a stop to this form of income in 1882, like a true entrepreneur Paddy was not deterred and turned to sheep farming for wool to provide a living for himself and his family. For some more about the Henerys at Alpana Station, see 'Our Story'.

The Buttles, or Butlers as they became known, were connected to the Station at Alpana through their link with the Henerys.

When he died in 1913 after suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia for 16 days, George was living in Quorn, Blinman. His occupation was listed as labourer.(2)

George's widow Edith died in 1938 and her obituary reads as follows: "The death of Mrs. Edith Butler, of Truro, severed a link with an old pioneer family. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Henery, of Blinman, and was born on November 25, 1864, at Anama Station, where her father was manager. Later the family moved to Blinman, and took land known as Alpana, now held by her eldest son, John. She married Mr. George Butler, a contractor, of Blinman, later moving to Quorn, where Mr. Butler died. Mrs. Butler then made her home with Mr. R. K. Butler, of Truro. There survive a son and a daughter - Mr. R. K. Butler, of Truro, and Mrs. F. Moffat, of Taplan. There are five grandchildren."(3)

Thanks to Kym Jones for his useful insights into Alpana and the Henery connection.

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 4th Quarter 1845, Risbridge District, Volume 12 Page 376
(2) Fiona Errington, information from South Australian birth, marriage and death certificates.
(3) The Advertiser (Adelaide), Friday, November 4th 1938.