Origin of Thomas Butson Married 1786 at Dulverton, Somerset
Research note by Wesley Johnston, begun 24 Nov 2014, updated 4 Dec 2018, 3 Sep 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/12001386/person/12775855121/media/e3ef07ec-3a54-4cf9-bfc8-8c631825ff54
The Problem
There are several reasonable candidates for the Thomas Butson who married Mary Merchant 7 Apr 1786 at Dulverton, Somerset. This research note considers the evidence and presents a conclusion, which is open to revision if further evidence supports a revision.
The candidates, born in the years 1750 to 1769, and the places in which they were found, are as follows, including Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
So we have seven candidates.
Did He Name His First Son after His Own Father?
I have found five baptisms at Dulverton (FHL Film 1526604, Item 43) of the children of Thomas and Mary (although one has been transcribed -- and may be in the original -- as Thomas and Martha Batson).
In many families, the oldest son was named for the child's paternal grandfather, so that the Thomas Butson who married Mary Merchant would possibly have been the son of a John Butson. Only one of the 7 remaining candidates had a father named John, the one (#4 above) baptized 6 Jul 1760 at St Columb Minor, Cornwall. So this is one piece of evidence to be weighed. It is not at all conclusive, since the custom was not always observed.
It is also worth considering which of the reamining candidates had a father whose name was neither John nor Thomas nor William. This would weigh slightly against the 1756, 1758 and 1768 Thomas Butsons.
What Do We Know About This Thomas Butson?
Which Candidate Fits Best Geographically?
The first and most solid thing we know about Thomas Butson is that he was from Skilgate at the time of their marriage. Skilgate is 5.5 miles east of Dulverton.
So how close are the various baptismal towns to Skilgate? The following are calculated using the shortest distances with Google Maps.
5.0 miles - Brompton-Regis, Somerset
24.1 miles - Crediton, Devon
42.0 miles - Aschcott, Somerset
78.9 miles - Stoke Damerel, Devon
118 miles - St Columb Minor, Cornwall
129 miles - St Agnes, Cornwall
130 miles - St Just in Roseland, Cornwall
This makes the 1756 Thomas, son of Joseph Butson and Joan Vicary, by far the leading candidate on this measure. People were not immobile, but to have a candidate this close when the others are so distant is significant. Brompton-Regis is just 5.0 miles north and then west of Skilgate. by the main road. But there is an even shorter route on lesser roads. He married 5.5 miles west of Skilgate and my have been born less than 5 miles NNW of Skilgate.
Which Thomas Butson Best Fits the 1818 Burial Thomas Butson's Age?
Most common people were illiterate and innumerate at this time. Thus they could not write their names nor accurately write and calculate from their birth date. In addition, age at death of older people was almost always given by someone who had not been there when the deceased was born. So ages at death must always be considered as estimates in the absence of any corroborating evidence.
If Thomas Butson really was precisely 65 when he was buried 3 Feb 1818, then he would have been born in 1753 or 1752. The closest remaining candidate is the 1756 Thomas. Next would be the 1758 Thomas and second next the 1760 Thomas.
Conclusion
Certainly there may be other records that can shed light on the question at the heart of this research note. But the conjunction of the calculated birth year and the very close proximity of the baptismal place of the 1756 Thomas outweigh the much weaker child-naming custom. So my conclusion is:
I am carrying the Thomas Butson who married Mary Merchant as the Thomas Butson baptized 25 Apr 1765 at Brompton-Regis, Somerset, son of Joseph Butson and Joan Vicary and who was buried 3 Feb 1818 at Dulverton, Somerset.
This conclusion is open to revision if new documentation supports the case for it being revised.
3 Sep 2023 Update: I have discovered that Joseph Butson, age 60, was buried 14 Feb 1779 at Dulverton. The name and age conform with the Brompton Regis father of Thomas. If this is correct, then both the father Joseph and son Thomas apparently moved to Dulverton. The image of the burial record is on Ancestry at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60856/images/42886_1831109331_0619-00073