John Butler (pioneer)

Bust of John Butler in Ottawa

John Butler (* 1728 in New London , Colony of Connecticut , colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain , today the USA ; † May 21, 1796 in Niagara Falls , Ontario , colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, today Canada) was a loyalist British colonist in North America. He worked in the British "Government Office for Indians" under Sir William Johnson and led Indian forces in the Saratoga campaign . He later founded and commanded a ranger regiment known as " Butlers Rangers."" That operated in the Northern Frontier during the American Revolutionary War .

Butler was born in Connecticut in 1728 to Walter and Deborah Butler. His family soon moved to the border country in the Mohawk Valley near present-day Fonda (New York) . In 1752 he married Catherine Brandt, with whom he had five children.

He joined a militia in the French and Indian War and fought at Fort Ticonderoga , Fort Niagara and Montreal . After the war he returned home and expanded his estate to 105 km² . He was the only wealthy border guard and landowner besides Sir William Johnson.

War of Independence

Butler returned to military service as a loyalist when the American Revolutionary Movement escalated into war in 1775. He joined Sir Williams' Government Office for Indians and in November he was transferred to Fort Niagara . His eldest son Walter served with him, but his wife and other children were arrested by the American rebels.

In the summer of 1777 he led an Indian unit from Niagara to accompany Barry St. Leger's Mohawk expedition as part of the Saratoga campaign . He led the same group in a successful attack at the Battle of Oriskany . Therefore, after this expedition he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given the authority to form his own regiment, which came to be known as the Butlers Rangers . At the beginning it consisted of eight companies .

In June 1778 Butler led 20 of his rangers and 300 Indians against Wyoming (now Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania ). He successfully destroyed several forts in the Wyoming Valley. Later that year, Indian allies under his command carried out the Cherry Valley Massacre .

His ranger unit was distributed on border outposts from Niagara to Illinois . Butler himself commanded from Fort Niagara , which despite attacks never fell into the hands of the Americans. In 1779 he lost the Battle of Newton to the Sullivan Expedition , but was able to withdraw and hold Niagara.

Post-war years

After the war, Butler lost his New York land holdings and began farming near Niagara. He became one of the leaders of Upper Canada , later Ontario . He was a deputy superintendent in the government bureau for Indians, justice of the peace and the local militia commander. Butler was also known for building the Anglican Church and organizing Freemasonry in Ontario.

Butler died in Niagara Falls on May 21, 1796. His wife had died earlier and three of his sons and a daughter survived.