Ezra Butler

Ezra Butler (September 24, 1763 – July 12, 1838) was an American clergyman, politician, lawyer, judge, the 11th governor of Vermont, and a United States representative from Vermont. He was born in Lancaster, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, on September 24, 1763. In 1770 he moved with his parents to what later became West Windsor, Vermont. His mother died while he was still a boy, and after her death he lived for several years with his elder brother. As a young man he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Claremont, New Hampshire, until he reached adulthood. During the American Revolution he served in the Continental Army for six months in 1779, an early public service that preceded his later legal, religious, and political careers.

In 1775 Butler staked a claim as the second settler in what became Waterbury, Vermont, helping to establish the community that would remain his home for the rest of his life. He returned to Waterbury in 1776 with his wife, Tryphena Diggins, with whom he eventually had eleven children, and he combined the responsibilities of family life with the demands of frontier settlement. In the mid-1780s he turned to the study of law in Waterbury, beginning formal legal training in 1785. After passing the bar in 1786, he commenced the practice of law in the town, quickly assuming a prominent role in local affairs. He was one of the first three selectmen of Waterbury and served as town clerk in 1790, positions that reflected the confidence his neighbors placed in his judgment and abilities.

Butler’s interest in religious questions deepened as his legal and civic career advanced. In 1790 he began to think seriously on religious subjects, and in 1791 he became a Baptist. His religious commitment led him to the ministry, and in 1800 he began to preach at Bolton, Vermont. That same year a Baptist church was organized in Waterbury, and Butler became its pastor, a position he held for more than thirty years. He did not allow his ordination to the ministry to interfere with his public career, instead combining pastoral duties with legal practice and political office. His long pastorate in Waterbury made him a central figure in the religious life of the community, even as he continued to rise in state and local government.

Parallel to his clerical work, Butler built an extensive record in Vermont’s public life. He was elected a member of the Vermont House of Representatives for multiple terms, serving from 1794 to 1797, from 1799 to 1804, in 1807, and again in 1808. His legislative service coincided with his growing influence in the judiciary. He was appointed the first judge of the Chittenden County Court, serving from 1803 to 1806, and then as chief justice in Chittenden County from 1806 to 1811. Following the creation of Jefferson County (later Washington County), he served as chief justice there from 1812 to 1825, except during periods when his congressional duties required his absence. Through these judicial posts he played a significant role in shaping the early legal framework of Vermont.

As a member of the Republican Party representing Vermont, Ezra Butler contributed to the legislative process during one term in office in the United States Congress. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth Congress, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives during a significant period in American history, when the young nation was confronting issues arising from the War of 1812 and its aftermath. In this capacity he participated in the democratic process at the national level and represented the interests of his Vermont constituents. In addition to his congressional service, he remained active in state constitutional matters and was a member of the Vermont State Constitutional Convention in 1822, taking part in the ongoing refinement of the state’s governing charter.

Butler’s statewide prominence culminated in his election as governor. He was elected as a National Republican and served as the 11th governor of Vermont from 1826 to 1828. His administration addressed a range of social and educational concerns. During his tenure, lotteries were abolished in Vermont, reflecting a growing reform sentiment against gambling. The legislature also enacted measures requiring the examination of teachers, an early step toward professionalizing public education and improving instructional standards in the state. These initiatives illustrated Butler’s interest in moral reform and civic improvement, consistent with his background as both a clergyman and a public official.

In national politics beyond Congress, Butler continued to participate in the electoral process. In the 1832 presidential election, Vermont was carried by Anti-Masonic Party candidate William Wirt. Butler served as one of Vermont’s presidential electors that year and cast his electoral vote for Wirt, aligning himself with a movement that opposed secret societies and reflected contemporary currents in American political life. After his gubernatorial service and his role as a presidential elector, he remained a respected elder statesman and religious leader in his community.

Ezra Butler died in Waterbury, Vermont, on July 12, 1838. He was interred at Waterbury Cemetery, leaving a legacy as a pioneer settler, long-serving pastor, legislator, judge, governor, and member of Congress whose career spanned the formative decades of both Vermont and the United States.