Additional information has been supplied by:Chazmanbsr

Joseph was the 2nd of 6 children (2nd son) born of Jonah Butler (1701-1755) and his wife Anne Wilford (1702-1753). Joseph's siblings were: Abel (1733-1816), Daniel, Ann, Mary, and Rachel.


Joseph married Jane Byintun (b. 1743) by whom he had 11 children (6 sons and 5 daughters): Jonah (b. 1763), Jerusha (b. 1765), Reuben (b. 1766), Olive (b. 1768), Lucretia (b. 1771), Salle (b. 1773), Solomon (b. 1775), Rhoda (b. 1776), Martin (b. 1778), Irene (b. 1779), and Joseph (b. 1784).

Sometime between June 1768 and October 1771, Joseph moved to Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut where his last 7 children were born.

At the age of 36 years, Joseph, on February 1, 1776, at Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut, enlisted for one year as a Sergeant in Captain Titus Watson's Company, Colonel Charles Burrall's Connecticut Regiment commissioned for Continental service. A few days after enlisting, he marched with his company to reinforce the American Army of the Northern Department on its expedition against Quebec City in Canada. The Company's route of march was via Albany, NY, Fort Edward, Fort George at the south end of Lake George, Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Champlain to St. Johns and Chamblee in Canada, and the St. Lawrence River to within a few miles of Quebec City where they remained a short time until ordered to retreat. After marching and countermarching in the retreat for a considerable time, they arrived back at Crown Point on Lake Champlain and then went to Mount Independence (now in Vermont) across the lake from Fort Ticonderoga. The Company remained at Mount Independence until their one year enlistment had expired at which time Joseph was discharged.

Of the 24 men from Goshen, in Colonel Burrell's Regiment in 1776, one was killed, six died and of the others 12 had the small pox.

Joseph and his wife moved to South Hero, Chittenden (now Grand Isle) County, Vermont, sometime after their last child was born at Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut in 1784, but, prior to the taking of the US Census in 1800. Joseph was a wheel right by occupation.

References:

(1) US Federal Military Pension File # S40775

(2) "The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolution 1775-1783." By Henry P. Johnston, 1889, Pages 110-112

(3) "History of the Town of Goshen, Connecticut" by A. G. Hibbard, 1897, Pages 120-124

(4) "The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records - Goshen 1739-1854" Vol. 14, by Christina Bailey & Lorraine Cook White, The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1999, page 15