Ezra Butler (September 24, 1763July 12, 1838) was an American clergyman, politician, lawyer, judge, the

11th 11 (eleven) is the natural number following 10 and preceding 12. It is the first repdigit. In English, it is the smallest positive integer whose name has three syllables. Name "Eleven" derives from the Old English ', which is first atteste ...

governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

, and a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from Vermont.

Biography

Butler was born in Lancaster in the

Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of ...

. In 1770 he moved with his parents to

West Windsor, Vermont West Windsor is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,344 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It was known for its Ascutney Mountain Resort, which closed in 2010 and was bought by ...

. His mother died while he was still a boy, and, after living with his elder brother for several years, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in

Claremont, New Hampshire Claremont is the only city in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 12,949 at the 2020 census. History Pre-colonial native populations Before colonial settlement, the Upper Connecticut River Valley was home to the Pe ...

, until he was an adult. He served in the Continental Army for six months in 1779 during the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

Career

In 1775 Butler staked a claim as the second settler in

Waterbury, Vermont Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, United States. Although the town is still home to the Waterbury Village Historic District, the village sharing the name of the town officially dissolved as a municipality in 2018. As ...

. He returned in 1776 with his wife, Tryphena Diggins, with whom he eventually had eleven children. In 1785, Butler studied law in

, and after he passed the bar, in 1786, he practiced law, and served as

Town Clerk A clerk is a senior official of many municipal governments in the English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the United States, the position is elected, but in many others, the clerk is appointed to their post. In the UK, a Tow ...

in 1790. In 1790, he began to think seriously on religious subjects, became a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

in 1791, and in 1800 began to preach at

Bolton, Vermont Bolton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,301 at the time of the 2020 census. The town is home to Bolton Valley, a popular ski resort. The main road passing through the town is U.S. Route 2, which follo ...

. A Baptist church was organized in Waterbury in 1800, and he was its pastor for more than thirty years. He did not allow his ordination to the ministry to interfere with his public career. Butler was one of the first three selectmen of Waterbury. He was elected member of the Vermont House of Representatives, an office he held from 1794 to 1797; from 1799 to 1804; in 1807; and in 1808. He was the first judge of the Chittenden County Court from 1803 to 1806; Chief Justice in Chittenden County from 1806 to 1811; and Chief Justice of Jefferson County from 1812 to 1825 (excepting periods of congressional service). He was elected as a

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

to the Thirteenth Congress and a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1822. Butler was elected as a

National Republican The National Republican Party, also known as the Anti-Jacksonian Party or simply Republicans, was a political party in the United States that evolved from a conservative-leaning faction of the Democratic-Republican Party that supported John Qu ...

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

from 1826 to 1828. During his tenure, lotteries were abolished, and legislation was passed to require the examination of teachers. In the 1832 election for President, Vermont was carried by Anti-Masonic Party candidate William Wirt. Butler was one of Vermont's electors, and cast his vote for Wirt.Vermont Secretary of State
Legislative Directory
1888, page 77

Death

Butler died in

Waterbury Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut on the Naugatuck River, southwest of Hartford and northeast of New York City. Waterbury is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut. According to the 2020 US Census, in 202 ...

on July 12, 1838, and is interred at Waterbury Cemetery.

References

External links

Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Ezra 1763 births 1838 deaths People from Lancaster, Massachusetts Vermont National Republicans Anti-Masonic Party politicians from Vermont Governors of Vermont Members of the Vermont House of Representatives People from Waterbury, Vermont Vermont state court judges People of Vermont in the American Revolution People of colonial Massachusetts Continental Army soldiers Burials in Vermont Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont National Republican Party state governors of the United States People from West Windsor, Vermont