Early Philipa Butson Records
Research note by Wesley Johnston - begun 13 Dec 2024, last updated 14 Dec 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/12001386/person/422219214914/media/e204c537-2ae4-401f-b816-09e269a15730
Overview
Several early (1600s -1700s) records of Philipa BUTSON exist in Cornwall, mostly at Padstow. It is not clear which ones relate to the Phillipa BENNETT who married Nicholas BUTSON (who some online trees erroneously show as Nicholas John BUTSON) about 1682 and bore at least three children and which records relate to her granddaughter Philipa BUTSON who was baptized 6 Jan 1717/8 and which Philipa BUTSON was buried at Padstow 11 Apr 1779. This research note lists and examines each record.
I am reflecting the various spellings of the given name and not locking in on any one way of spelling her name since the spelling varies in the records.
Phillipa Bennett Butson (b c 1660)
She is known only through the baptismal records of her three children. At this point, I am not sure her maiden name is documented so that it is uncertain. I have searched for a death/burial or remarriage record for her, but I have not found one. She and her husband are presumed to have married about 1682 and been born about 1660 since no birth/baptism or marriage records for them have been found. I believe her husband is the Nicholas BUTSON buried 28 Jul 1724 at Padstow.
Here are the records for her, all at Padstow. None include her maiden name.
1683/4 Feb 12 - Rebecca BUTSON - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-2RX?i=433&cat=495817
1686/7 Jan 30 - Charity BUTSON - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-22B?i=435&cat=495817
1692 Apr 10 - Nicholas BUTSON - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-G6P?i=438&cat=495817
Philipa Butson (bap 6 Jan 1717/8)
She is the granddaughter of the prior Phillipa, daughter of that Phillipa's son Nicholas BUTSON listed above. Her baptism record is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-G1Z?i=454&cat=495817&cc=1473016
Nothing more is known of her with sufficient confidence to accept it as her record.
Philipa Butson wife of William May (m 3 Feb 1738/9 at Perranzabuloe)
The marriage of Philipa BUTSON and William MAY at Perranzabuloe 3 Feb 1738/9 would be about the right age for the 1717/8 Philipa BUTSON to marry. The image is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DCP3-JX2?wc=3CBC-DPB%3A138123201&i=57
However, Perranzabuloe is far enough from Padstow and close enough to St. Agnes (where related Butsons had settled) to wonder if this Philipa BUTSON was a daughter of the St. Agnes BUTSONs. None is known at this point so that the identification with the 1717/8 Philipa BUTSON seems good -- but uncertain.
Phillippa Butson Burial 11 April 1779 at Padstow
Who was the Phillippa BUTSON buried 11 Apr 1779 at Padstow? The image is at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-C8R?i=646& (Burials in Woolen) and also at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6W33-CS2?i=684 (all burials)
Was she the unwed 1717/8 daughter? If so, then she was probably not the one who married William MAY.
Or did the 1717/8 daughter marry William MAY and then revert to her maiden name at some point? I have not yet searched for a death record of Philipa MAY so that I have no evidence yet of the death of William MAY's wife.
Or was she an as-yet-unfound descendant of the c 1660 Philipa?
At this point, I do not know who she is.
The Main Open Questions