Butler-Grayson Connection

We found an amazing link between Annette and Larry’s families. Larry’s cousin Peter Grayson saved Annette’s cousin Edward Butler during the Battle of Wabash also known as St. Clair’s Defeat. Then, Peter Grayson named his son after Annette’s cousin.

On November 4, 1791, Richard Butler (48), Edward Butler (29) and Peter Grayson (21) are all serving under General St. Clair as the US forces advanced on the location of Indian settlements near the headwaters of the Wabash River. It was the greatest victory by Native American warriors against the US army, but not great for Annette’s Butler family. Annette’s cousin Major General Richard Butler who is second in command was killed, but his brother Edward Butler survived thanks to Peter Grayson.

The following event was shared in a Grayson biography.

“In the defeat of General St. Clair Peter Grayson often mentioned the difficulty he had in bringing off from the field his wounded friend Captain Edward Butler, whom he had placed and supported on a horse and whose agony was so great from its motion that he entreated the whole time, though the Indians were in close pursuit and their yells broke upon the air, to be put back and suffered to taken and killed… Peter’s son Edward Butler Grayson, named after his wounded friend.”

Annette’s 1st cousins
Richard Butler (1 Apr 1743-4 Nov 1791)
Edward Butler (20 Mar 1762- 6 May 1803)

Larry’s 1st cousin
Peter Grayson (14 May 1770-1816)

For family members, the lineage is through Annette’s mom’s side of the family.

Smith>Preston>Butler

For family members, the lineage is through Larry’s mom’s side of the family.

Johnson>Grayson

The image is from a Harper’s New Monthly Magazine article by Theodore Roosevelt about St. Clair’s Defeat.