Thomas Butson of St. Merryn, Cornwall

Research note by Wesley Johnston

last updated 23 Feb 2013

The earliest parish register record of any Butsons in Cornwall was the 26 Mar 1663 baptism at St. Merryn of Hester, daughter of Nicholas and Urusula Butson. Based on later records, Hester probably had at least two brothers: Nicholas and Johannes. And estimating back from these, her father Nicholas was probably born about 1635, although the location of his birth is completely unknown.

In 1642, when the requirement for an oath, called a protestation, was issued for every male over age 18, the protestation letter from St. Merryn included a "Thomas Butsan" -- or so it was transcribed on a relatively recent plaque. It seems very possible, even probable, that this was really Thomas Butson. As the only adult Butson at St. Merryn in 1642, he would most likely have been the father of Nichols, the husband of Ursula and father of Hester and Nicholas and Johannes. And so I am carrying him in my tree, although there are no records thus far found to confirm that.

It should also be noted that the 1642 protestion list for Kentisbeare in Devon contained a number of Butson men. And Thomas Butson was identified on the list as one of the constables of that parish. He is probably the same Thomas Butson who donated 40 pounds to St. Mary's Church at Kentisbeare in 1632, as recorded by a plaque in that church. It is possible that the Kentisbeare Thomas was the father of the St. Merryn Thomas, but at this point this is pure speculation.