Deaths in Young Adulthood
Butler Family Plot
Plots G3 & G4 (Sylvanus, Rebecca, Asa, Richmond, Julia, Eliza, Catherine, James, Phelps, & W.H.H.)
Sylvanus F. Butler (1804-1850)
Sylvanus F. Butler, son of Israel and Mercy Butler, was born about 1804 in Ontario Co, NY and moved to Gates prior to 1830. By 1840 he had relocated to Rochester where he worked as an innkeeper for some years. His wife Rebecca Jane died in 1845 and he subsequently married Julia Vanness in 1846. In 1850, Sylvanus was a grocer and owned real estate valued at $3000. From the mid-1850s to the mid-1870s, he worked as a carpenter and also operated a wood yard about 1859-60. Second wife Julia died in 1860. Sylvanus died in Rochester on 13 January 1877 and was buried in the family plot at Rapids Cemetery. Included in the account of expenses filed by the administrator of his estate was a charge of $4 for digging his grave and $110 for the monument.
Rebecca Jane Butler (1809-1846)
Rebecca Jane (maiden name unknown) wife of Sylvanus, was born about 1809. She died in Rochester at age 36 on 12 March 1846 and was buried in Rapids Cemetery.
Asa F. Butler (1827-1850)
Asa F. Butler, son of Sylvanus and Rebecca, was born about 1827. He married Janette Bresee of Penfield, NY on 10 February 1847 in Rochester. Asa died, age 23, in Penfield on 8 March 1850 and was buried at Rapids Cemetery.
Richmond C. Butler (1833-1853)
Richmond C. Butler, son of Sylvanus and Rebecca, was born about 1833 in Monroe County, NY. He died at age 20 on 11 June 1853 and was buried in the family plot.
Julia Butler (Vanness) (1817-1860)
Julia Vanness was born in New York state about 1817 and married Sylvanus Butler in Rochester on 12 November 1846. Julia died on 12 March 1860, aged 43 years, and was buried in Rapids Cemetery.
Eliza J. Pierce (Butler) (1829-1847)
Eliza J. may be Eliza Jane Butler, likely a daughter of Sylvanus and Rebecca, who was born in 1829 and married Justus W. Pierce in October 1847. She died 4 November 1847, aged 18 years and five months and was buried in Rapids Cemetery.
Other Butler Family Members
Relationships of the following individuals to Sylvanus Butler were not stated on the marker and have not been uncovered through research. Catherine A. died aged one month; death date unknown. James K. died aged one year and two months; death date unknown. Phelps F. died aged 25 years; death date unknown but possibly 1850. W.H.H. died aged 22 years; death date unknown.
Headstone seen at the Butler Family Plot