Traxler Family History
INCLUDES FAMILIES OF PENDARVIS, CARN, WEATHERS, WAY, BUTLER
The Planters of the Old South
OVERVIEW
John Traxler, probably a Swiss or German-Palatine-Rhineland immigrant, came to South Carolina by 1738, receiving a headright land grant. He likely spoke German and was Protestant by religion. He likely heard about America from those recruiting people to relocate to British America by way of England. Namely, from Franz Louis Michel and Christopher von Graffenried of Bern. This was in coordination with William Penn and the Lord Proprietors of the Carolinas. In a contract deal, Graffenried said, “I was to give to each family 300 acres of land and they were to give me for quit-rent two pence per acre, and I, on the other hand, was to be responsible for the 6 pence per 100 acres acknowledgment toward the Lords Proprietors.” It was a feudal contract, and hereditary by inheritance. But of course, new immigrants had to meet certain requirements.
https://www.carolana.com/Carolina/Settlement/german_swiss_settlers.html
In 1773, his son George Traxler had received a royal land grant for a free socage (freehold) plantation of 200 acres, plus another 100 acres, in Berkeley County at Cattle Creek (near Branchville). This was granted to him, like all other ones, by the British-Hanover King George III under the signature of the British SC Royal Governor, the Rt. Lord Charles Granville Montagu, son of the Dukes of Manchester. https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/
From George Traxler, his paternal or male line of sons branched out throughout all the deep old Southern States, establishing many other plantations and properties such as Traxler, Florida. They have left their mark on history. Along the way, they have married into and collected the histories of other families, states, and nations. By 2038, it will mark the 300th anniversary of this family in America. The Traxler men from South Carolina belong to the Haplogroup R-U152.
JOHN TRAXLER, 1st generation
Mr. John Traxler (1700-1765) was the pioneer immigrant to make landfall in the English Royal Colony of South Carolina by April 1738. Records indicate that John might have been of Swiss Austrian or German-Palatine descent and embarked from England. It may be that he arrived in America aboard the ship “Minerva” in 1738 under Captain Nicholson. Upon his arrival in South Carolina, John Traxler received a “head rights” land grant of 50 acres in old Berkeley County, as well as a half-acre town lot in Orangeburg in April 1738. Headrights Land Record: John Tracklier, dated April 27, 1738, for 50 acres, Township Lot 400. Reference: 0009-003-0004-00154-02.
GEORGE TRAXLER, 2nd Generation
Mr. George Traxler, Gentleman/Planter (1730-1792). He was son of John Traxler by probate estate records. He married Swiss woman, Margaret Ann Aberly (Eberly) (1745-1792). She was daughter of Zurich natives Hans Aberly Jr. and Anne Marie Long who came in received lands in 1736. Anne Long/Lang’s parents were Zurich-Swiss named Hans Lang and Anne Meyer from the 1600s.
George appeared to succeed to his father’s estates in or after 1745, and in 1767 and 1773, George received several royal land grants for 300 acres of land. He is referred to as a Gentleman and Planter in court documents. He died on 22 October 1792. One of his sons was John “the planter” Traxler. It is likely he had a son George Traxler Jr.
JOHN “The Planter” TRAXLER, 3rd Generation
GEORGE TRAXLER
John “The Planter” Traxler (1770-1845), Planter, Manor Lord, would eventually succeed his father, George Traxler Sr., in the family estate plantation near Branchville SC. He married Susanna Burnett, and likely had several sons, W.B. Traxler and J.E.D. Traxler. Records show a tax return of 1825, with 300 acres of land plantation. When John died on 6 Sept 1845, the Traxler family had started to make several branches.
John “the planter” Traxler is likely a brother of George Traxler Jr. George Jr’s sons maybe William Henry Traxler Sr (1812-1871), both being low-country SC planters. WH Traxler Sr. is the father of the Florida branch and was also likely related brother to David Traxler (1815-1856), who died in 1856 at Charleston, SC (father of the Greenville branch). Some records suggest William and David are related, they are likely brothers; they both were at St George’s Parish before moving elsewhere. All Traxler’s were UMC members since the time of the American Civil War.
OTHER BRANCHES (GEORGE JR) OF THE TRAXLER FAMILY
The Florida Branch
George Traxler Jr. is believed to have fathered the SC low country planter sons, including: W.H. Traxler Sr. (1812-1871) was a southern planter in St. James Goose Creek Parish, SC, in 1846 and 1852, which would be either in Berkeley or Colleton Counties. He may also have been at St George’s Parish. Apparently, he married Ann E. Sandford and later moved to Traxler, Florida. He must have died by 1871. He would be the father of the Florida branch.
“William H. Traxler, Jr., (1857-1928) was born in Columbia County, Traxler, Florida. He was the son of pioneer and former slaveholder William H. Traxler Sr (1812-1871) and Ann E. Sandford (1825-1868), who came from Colleton County, SC, to grow long-fibered Sea Island cotton. Bill Jr was one of eleven children (born in Florida); he was orphaned by age 14.” https://www.h mdb.org/m.asp?m=197954
For more information on the Traxler’s in Florida: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15479913/william_h-traxler
The Grenville / Byrd Branch
claims history from David Traxler (1815-1856), who died in Charleston, SC, and is believed to be the son of George Traxler Jr. David’s son, David H. Traxler (Jr) (1849-1913) married Julia Byrd, i.e., the Byrd Branch. David H. was also a civil war confederate veteran and said to be a friend of William J. Bryan, and a SC state commissioner. His son was a David B. Traxler. Later descendants include Mayor David G. Traxler of Grenville and the Hon. W.B. Traxler Jr., a former US Chief Federal Judge for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The J.E.D. Branch from Orangeburg /Dorchester
As for John “the planter” Traxler’s two known sons, they are W.B. and J.E.D. Traxler. The two sons were also both members of their state’s militia during the Civil War. The sons of JED Traxler came from both Jamina Way and Etta Dantzler. One of the notable sons of JED and Jamina Way was Hurby Lee Traxler, who was a PFC in the army during WWII.
WILLIAM B. TRAXLER & SONS
William Burnett Traxler, CSA (14 Jan 1840- 12 Sept 1923), Planter, Farmer, Friend, Freemason, and CSA Soldier. W.B. Traxler was the son of John “the planter” Traxler. He served in the SC state militia during the Civil War as a Private, Co. A, 1st S.C. Infantry. He claimed a war pension in 1919. He died at St. George Parish, Dorchester, SC, 1923. WB had sons by two wives, the first was M.A.E. Pendarvis, and the second was Sarah “Sallie” Winningham.
The sons of Elizabeth Pendarvis are John, Lawrence, and William Traxler. Some notable names from the sons of Lawrence include Lawrence R. Traxler, a WWII veteran in the USCG and VFW. Another son, LCDR James A. Traxler, was a Navy officer veteran of WWII and Korea. James had three sons of his own. WT Traxler’s sons would serve in the Army, as discussed later.
The sons of Winningham are Simon, Harry, and Herbert. The second son, Harry Duncan Traxler, was a Navy veteran of WWII and died in San Diego, CA.
Elizabeth “M.A.E.” Pendarvis-Way-Traxler (1842-1892) married WB Traxler during or after the Civil War, and she later died of scarlet fever with some of her children in 1892. She is buried at Indian Fields UMC Church in St. George, Dorchester, SC, USA. Elizabeth was a Pendarvis-Way co-heiress since her brother William died without heirs in the Civil War, and her father, Lewis Pendarvis, died young as well. Her mother was Mary Ann Way, and she, along with her other sisters, was under the legal guardianship of her maternal uncle, William G. Way. She would eventually marry William B. Traxler.
Elizabeth Pendarvis was the daughter and co-heiress of two old English colonial families:
Pendarvis, the founders of Charles Towne, SC in 1690s. They came from Cornwall, England. They were related to many of the other founding families of Charleston, the Colony, and its state history.
The Way family was of the English gentry class and also held some manors and plantations. They left England in the 1600s for Dorchester, Massachusetts, and later were a part of the Salem witch trials. They were related to many of those first immigrants to Dorchester, SC, in 1730s, names like Maverick (later of Texas), Gye, and Gorton.
WILLIAM T. TRAXLER & CARN BRANCH
William Thomas Traxler (30 Dec 1874- 26 DEC 1942) – Farmer, father, and friend. He was the son of WB Traxler and Elizabeth Pendarvis. He was a part of the Orangeburg/ Dorchester branch. He married Elizabeth Carn in 1900 at St George, Dorchester, SC, and had five sons and several daughters. WT died Dec 1942, and Elizabeth Carn Traxler died in 1963. They are buried at Duncan Chapel Cemetery, SC.
Elizabeth Carn’s (1875-1963) family has another illustrious colonial history going back to the progenitor Lewis Carn (Ludwig Kern), a German Hessian-Colonial jurist, his wife Elizabeth Strobel, and their son Daniel Carn, a patriot planter, who defended Bacon’s Bridge in Summerville, SC. The Carn male line group, belonging to the Danish/Swedish Group I1, includes many who migrated into Germany. Other related historical family names they married into include Strobel, Meyers, Weathers, Colliers, and Summers of Charleston and Summerville, who also have long histories.
Ms. Elizabeth Carn-Traxler was the first cousin of the SC Secession Lt. Gov. Col. Hon. Merrick E. Carn, Esq. from Walterboro, Colleton Co, SC. Merrick E. Carn was the state Lieutenant Governor who signed the act of “Ordinance of Secession” in Dec 1860, thus beginning the American Civil War. His tombstone is a state marker in Jacksonboro, SC. Merrick’s grandson was the Hon. E. Ladson Fishburne, SC State Supreme Court Justice.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49071773/merrick-ezra-carn. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143059226/edward_ladson-fishburne
THE SONS OF WB & WT TRAXLER : PENDARVIS-CARN BRANCH
The sons of WT Traxler and EU Carn, who is the Orangeburg-Carn branch, include Army veterans Col. Denver W. Traxler and Capt. William C. Traxler, TSGT Marion O. Traxler (Sr.), and CPL Hollis C. Traxler, along with Barney L. Traxler. The boys all went to Clemson University, and Hollis was a roommate with James “Strom” Thurmond in the 1920s. All the boys had daughters, with exception to the youngest son Marion. Only Marion Traxler Sr. had a son, Marion O. Traxler Jr., who has two Traxler sons today.
Mr. Barney Lee Traxler (1911-1994), a younger son of WT Traxler and EU Carn, followed his older brother, Capt. Bill Carroll, to Philadelphia, where he married Constance Asami-Butler of Philadelphia in 1937, whose mother was Annie Butler* of England. Barney established his own HVAC Engineering business in Philadelphia and was considered very talented in his industry. He later retired and died in December 1994, and was buried in Orangeburg, SC, with his second wife, Hazel Mosley. Based on recent DNA testing, Barney’s only biological grandson is Matthew A. Watkins through his daughter Barbara L. Traxler.
The BL Traxler – Butler Branch
& The Gilded Age
Barney L. Traxler’s daughter is Barbara L. Traxler, whose firstborn child and only son is Matthew A. Watkins. Barbara Traxler’s maternal grandmother was Annie Butler from England. “Grannie Annie” worked for some of the wealthiest British and American families at the time and passed down her old English Victorian values to her daughters and granddaughters. The following is the story of Annie Butler in the Gilded Age.
Annie Butler of England (1876-1968) was the maternal grandmother of Barbara Traxler (daughter of Barney Lee Traxler). Annie is the daughter of John Butler, a wealthy merchant dealer, and Maria Deacon from Chichester, England. The family lived for many years at Ryde, on the Isle of Wight.
Annie Butler had come to New York, USA, in the Gilded Age of 1895. By 1910, she had worked as an English Anglican Victorian Governess, Nurse (Nanny), and Lady’s Maid of Honor to several British nobles and American wealthy families. It is possible she worked for Ava Willing Astor and the other leading families in New York and Philadelphia.
One of the English American families was British Army Major Robert C. Baron Lethbridge and his wife, Mary Stewart-Phillips, from Villanova, PA. He was related to Baring-Gould (Barings Bank and Jay Gould). He married Mary Phillips-Stewart (Lethbridge), who may be related by her mother to Anita R. Stewart-Morris, the dollar Princess de Braganza of Portugal. Annie was with Lethbridge-Stewart in England for their marriage at the Isle of Wight. Annie was also at the manor house, Red Rose Inn, in Villanova, PA.
After the death of Mary Lethbridge’s uncle, the Villanova estate was bought by “J. Kearsley Mitchell and his wife, (Francis B. Stotesbury), the daughter of one of Philadelphia’s richest men, Edward Stotesbury.” Stotesbury was a business partner of Anthony Drexel and J.P. Morgan, who lived at Whitemarsh Hall in PA, and El Mirasol in Palm Beach, FL. Annie had been with the family(s) from at least 1906 to 1909. The Lethbridge family later relocated to San Diego, California. Annie stayed in Philadelphia and likely continued to work for the Mitchells/ Stotesbury family in Villanova and at Whitemarsh Hall, with their valet and head butler, Mr. “Mitch” Asami, whom she married in 1910.
Annie Butler is the British/ English maternal-line great-grandmother (haplogroup U5b) of Matthew Watkins. She passed away in 1968 and is buried at Hillside Cemetery and Memorial Gardens in Roslyn, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. Her sister Carolina Butler Marshall also followed her to the US and has children here as well.
Many of Annie Butler’s brothers trained at the Royal Navy College at Osborne on the Isle of Wight, and they served as sailors in the British Royal and Merchant Navies during WWI and WWII. Annie’s mother, Marie Deacon Butler, and the Butler brothers are buried at City of London Cemetery and Crematorium, Newham, London Borough of Newham, Greater London, England.
https://collections.lowermerionhistory.org/home/full-text/contents/red-rose-inn/
https://www.scribd.com/document/681859219/A-Brief-History-of-the-Lethbridge-Stewarts
https://collections.lowermerionhistory.org/home/full-text/contents/red-rose-inn/
https://americanaristocracy.com/
http://www.upperdorchestercountyhistoricalsociety.com/links.php
http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/
https://www.historiccharleston.org/Home.aspx
http://www.preservationsociety.org/
http://www.charlestoncvb.com/charlestonheritagefederation/
MATT'S WORLD 