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JosephSmithSr.
So shall it be with my father: he shall be called a prince over his posterity, holding the keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and he shall sit in the general assembly of patriarchs, even in council with the Ancient of Days when he shall sit and all the patriarchs with him and shall enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days. |
BUTTON, Matthias Peter I
1607 - 1672 (64 years) 
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Name BUTTON, Matthias Peter Suffix I Birth 11 Oct 1607 Harrold, Bedfordshire, England 
Christening 11 Oct 1607 Harrold, Bedfordshire, England Gender Male Death 13 Aug 1672 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Burial 15 Aug 1672 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States WAC 4 May 1905 _TAG Reviewed on FS Headstones 
Submit Headstone Photo Person ID I20629 Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith Last Modified 19 Aug 2021
Family ID F11104 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Lettice , b. 1612, Harrold, Bedfordshire, England Harrold, Bedfordshire, Englandd. 1639, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age 27 years) Marriage Bef 1633 England Family ID F11101 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jan 2022
Family 2 THORNTON, Joan , b. 1618, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United Statesd. 3 Dec 1650, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age 32 years) Marriage 3 Jun 1639 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Family ID F11102 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jan 2022
Family 3 TEAGLE, Ann , b. 1620, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United Statesd. 4 Feb 1663, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age 43 years) Marriage 1651 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States 
Children3 sons and 5 daughters Family ID F10793 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jan 2022
Family 4 WHEELER, Elizabeth , b. 10 Jan 1618, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England Salisbury, Wiltshire, Englandd. 16 Jul 1696, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age 78 years) Marriage 9 Jun 1663 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Family ID F11103 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jan 2022
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Notes - Matthias Button was a son of Thomas Button of Harrold, Bedfordshire. He was baptized on 11 Oct 1607 Harrold, Bedfordshire, England. He had a brother William (bap 23 Nov 1600) and a sister Ann (bap. Dec 1604). His father was buried at the Parish Church of St. Peters at Harrold 26 June 1617. The mother may have been Mary (Price) Button. I have no further information on the mother at this time.
Name:Matthias Button
Gender:Male
Baptism Date:11 Oct 1607
Baptism Place:Harrold,Bedford,England
Father:Thomas Button
FHL Film Number:845460
Source Information
Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013
R. Glen Nye, "Button Families of America", (Private Publisher, Utah 1971), page 40. 1
--MATTHIAS BUTTON, probably born ca. 1607; bapt. Oct. 11, 1607 at Harrold, Bedfordshire, England. He came to America on the ship Abigail, with Governor John Endicott's party, landing at Salem, Mass. Sept. 6, 1628. He removed to Boston in 1633 where he was among the earliest settlers. He was admitted to the First Church with his wife Jan. 26, 1633. He removed to Ipswich prior to 1639, later, in 1646 to Haverhill, Mass., where he resided until his death. Matthias married four times; (1st) Lettyce; she died before 1639. He married (2nd) about 1639, Joane, widow of John Thornton. He married (3rd) ca. 1648/9 Ann Teagle or Tagall; she died Feb. 4, 1662/3. He married (4th) June 9, 1663 Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Duston and daughter of John and Ann (or Agnes) (Yeoman) Wheeler. She was buried July 16, 1690 at Haverhill. He was the son of Thomas Button of Harrold, England, who was buried at Harrold June 26, 1617 as recorded in the Register of the parish Church at Harrold. Matthias is said in many records to have been a Dutchman. It is not known from whence he came to America other than by the records mentioned above. It is therefore sometimes theorized that he might have emigrated to Holland with his parents when quite young, during the exodus of other Pilgrims between the years 1609 and 20. In Davis' Ancient Landmark of Plymouth, the Pilgrims emigrated from England to Amsterdam, Holland, in the winter of 1608-9; to Leyden in the spring of 1609, where they resided for nearly twelve years. Precisely how many and who at that time composed the Pilgrim Church, besides William Bradford and the families of Brewster and Robinson is not known; though it is probably true that members of the Wright, Southworth, Morton and Button families were among the number. It is known there were other Buttons early in Boston and there was a William Button on the Mayflower who died on the passage in 1620, which may show there were Buttons among the Pilgrims. There are other circumstances which support the theory that Matthias Button may have emigrated from Holland, besides the fact that he is spoken of as a Dutchman by early chronicles. First: the register books of the Parish Church of Harrold, Eng. shows that Thomas Button, supposed father of Matthias was buried there June 26, 1617 but gives no account his death, from which it might be inferred that his remains were brought from elsewhere, possibly abroad, to be buried beside a wife or child, it having been shown that he resided there in 1607 when Matthias was born. Second, among the effects of Daniel, son of Matthias and Ann Teagle Button (who was impressed into Captain Lathrop's Company in 1675 and killed in the Battle of Bloody Brook) was a Holland shirt, so called in the inventory of personal effects taken of his personal estate, indicating the family may have brought the same from Holland, or that his mother may have been of Holland (Dutch) parentage, as her name Ann Teagle might indicate, as does the name Lettyce, the first wife of Matthias. Matthias, as before said, came with Governor John Endicott's party. This company included adventurers, sons of noblemen and those of impoverished estates. They were in an exhausted condition when they landed from a long and hazardous voyage with exhausted stores of provisions. Many were sick and weak of limb. They brought with them cannon and small arms for their protection from savages. While some of them were acting as scouts in the wilderness, they overheard or observed some savages planning for the entire destruction of the colonists. They, accordingly prepared to meet them and with great effort got out and planted their cannon so as to command their projected approach. When the main body of the savages was located, they fired the cannon and frightened the Indians so they scattered like sheep. Matthias Button is spoken of in this incident of the first landing as one of the few colonists who were able to get and man the big gun, so nearly exhausted were they from sickness and from want of food. He was spoken of as a hale and hearty man. Nothing is known whether Matthias was married before or after his arrival at Salem. He did not reside there long, removing thence to Boston sometime prior to 1633 where he is found among the earliest settlers and identified with the 1st Church where two of his children were baptized. He removed thence to Ipswich, where he was a commoner in 1641, then to Haverhill in 1646 where he finally settled and where several of his children were born. He sold land at Ipswich to Thomas Wells June 14, 1644, subscribed to Major Dennison's allowance Dec. 29, 1648, this probably after he removed to Haverhill. In 1650 his estate at Haverhill was valued at 60; he had a house granted him and received six acres of plow land laid out June 2, 1652. His name appears in a list of twenty who built houses on the common of Haverhill. He first lived in the village of Haverhill, then in the western part of the town, then in the eastern, and finally where his house was burned in 1671, a thatched house situated about one mile northeast of the village. Matthias Button accumulated considerable landed estate during his lifetime but at no time was considered wealthy, as land was very cheap. He died intestate and the inventory of his estate Mar. 9, 1673 was only 99:11s:1d exclusive of the 80 acres of land given to his wife, Elizabeth. Children: 1 Mary, baptized Feb. 23, 1633/4 at Boston, Mass. She married Dec. 6, 1652 at Haverhill, Edward Yeoman. Records of Haverhill show births of six children 1653 to 1664. A daughter died April 1667. This family is believed to have moved to Plainfield, Conn. Their last two children were born in Stonington, Conn. Children: i Mary Yeomans, born Jan. 4, 1653. ii Samuel Yeomans, born Sept. 1, 1655. iii Thomas Yeomans, born Dec. 6, 1657. iv Elizabeth Yeomans, born Jan. 19, 1659. v Mehitable Yeomans, born Oct. 11, 1661; died Apr., 1667. vi Edward Yeomans, born Feb. 6, 1663; died Apr, 1667. (?) vii Henry Yeomans, born Jan. 15, 1669 in Stonington. viii John Yeomans, born Apr. 18, 1670 in Stonington. 2 Daniel, bapt. Feb. 22, 1634/5; died young. *3 Sarah, born 1650/51. 4 Hannah, born May 11, 1652. 5 Daniel, born Apr. 10, 1654 at Haverhill. He was killed Sept. 18, 1675 at Bloody Brook. His estate was inventoried Sept. 25, 1677. His "brother" Kingsbury is mentioned. 6 Abigail, born June 16, 1656; died in Apr., 1667. *7 Matthias, born Mar. 17, 1657/8. *8 Peter, born July 17, 1660. 9 Patience, born June 1, 1662; died Oct. 30, 1662.
ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1633
FIRST RESIDENCE: Boston
REMOVES: Ipswich 1636, Haverhill 1652
OCCUPATION: Mariner
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: There is no evidence that Matthias Button was ever a church member, but at least one of his wives was, and perhaps more.
EDUCATION: Signed deeds and bonds by mark.
BIRTH: By 1610 based on approximated date of first marriage
DEATH: Haverhill 13 August 1672 "Husband of Elizabeth".
MARRIAGE: (1) By 1633 Lettice ______; "Lettyse Button the wife of Mathew (sic) Button' admitted to Boston church 26 January 1633/4 (BChR 18); died after 1635 and before 1639. (2) By 16 November 1639 Joan (_____) Thornton, widow of John Thornton of Ipswich (Essex Ant 8:30; died by about 1650.
(3) By about 1650 Teagle ____; died Haverhill 4 February 1662/3 as a result of the firing of their house by John Godfrey. (4) Haverhill 9 June 1663 Elizabeth (Wheeler) Duston, born about 1622 (deposed aged forty-seven 29 June 1669 (EQC 4:154-155), daughter of John Wheeler, and widow of Thomas Duston (Pillsbury Anc 1107-1109); died Haverhill 16 July 1690.
ESTATE: Matthias Button sold one half acre houselot in Ipswich to William Symmons of Ipswich, it "having been granted to John Thornton's widow of said dThornton, who is lkiving," entered 16 November 1638. (Essex Ant 8:3). On 14 June 1644 Matthias Button of Ipswich sold to Thomas Welles of Ipswich two parcels given to Burton by the town, on of meadow, the other upland, thirteen acres.
In 18 March 1658/9 "Matthias Button and Tegell his wife of Haverhill" sold to John Haxeltine of Rowley six acres of planting land, three acres of meadow at Hawke's Meadow and three commonages with all privileges belonging theretoo (NLlR 1:104-06)
On 14 February 1664/5 "Matthias Button of Haverhill" mortgaged to Mr. John Ward of Haverhill "my mansion or dwelling house and parcel of land belong to me"; Elizabeth acknowledged the deed and made her mark (NLR 2:23). On 11 April 1665 "Matthias Butten of Haverhill" granted to "my brother-in-law George Wheelar for the use of my wife Elizabeth Butten" fourscore acres of upland, part of his third division (NLR 2:24). Elizabeth sold thirty of the eighty acres almost immediately to son-in-law John Kingsbury, 28 December 1670 (EL 33:229) On 7 December 1673 she deededd twenty acres near Hawk meadow to "Peter Green my son-in-law" (NLR 3:107).
Button brought in an account of what he had lost in the fire "when John Godfrey burnt his house,: which totaled 111 pounds and 1 s, and included "the house itself with the cellar and leanto,""a musket with a firelock," "sword and a pair of bandoliers, 2 pound of powder,""16 pound of lead" "a great brewing tubb"
and "the loss of his own time and which is the most damage to his estate the death of his wife occasioned hereby, 20 pounds. (EQC 4:373-5) His daughter Sarah refused to swear to the inventory saying that her father had sold the butter he was claiming to the merchant for hats and that the amount of linen in the house was much over stated. The bedding had been seen since the house was burned. Button angrily told Abraham Whitaker that if he swore against the inventory, "I would strike him, and that if there were some things in the inventory which should not be there, there were some things left out which should have been in, so they might set one against the other." (29 August 1671 for June Term, 1671, EQC 4:375).
The clerk of the writs at the October Term, 1672, was ordered to inquire after the estate left by Matthias Button and to bring an inventory to the next Salisbury court (EQC 5:104). Captain Nathaniel Salonstall was appointed administrator pro tempore at the April Term, 1673, at the court addressed the fact that widow Elizabeth Button refused relignquish to her dower right as the court directed, despite having received land from her husband in his lifetime (EQC 5:153). Saltonstall aknowledged a judgment to Daniel Ela from Button's estate at the Appointed time.
The estate of Matthias Button was inventoried in four installments. On 2 December 1672 six swine were appraised at 3 poundss. On 5 April 1673 a collection of moveables was valued at 2 pounds 1 s. 7d/ Amd finally an inventory of the remainder of his estate, taken on 9 March 173/4, totaled 99 pounds 11s, 8d, of which 35 pounds was real estate: "3 acres Duck meadow, 8 li; Spiggot meadow 3 acres, 8li., Strong water meadow 8 acres, 5li.; land about the house 7 acres, 14li.," the latter appeared to have a mortgage (EPR 2:300; NLR 2:2:325).
At court 14 November 1676, it was ordered that the estate be divided into five equal sums, "a part for each child, and that the share to the two daughters be delivered to their husbands as soon as possile and the other shares at age or marriage: (EPR 3:101).
ASSOCIATIONS: "Thomas Davis, constable of Haverhill, according to the Governor's warrant, brought in Stephen Kent, Matthias Button, Dutchman, and John Mackcalamy, Scotchman" (EQC 1:278, March Term 1653).
COMMENTS: R. Glen Nye and Katherine (Watson) Nye identify Matthias Buton as "a son of Thomas Buktton off Harrold, Bedford Co., England. He was baptized there October 11, 1607" (Buton Gen 23). Skuch a b aptism does exist, but there is no other evidence in support of this claim. Fkurthermore, since our Matthias is called at one point a "Dutchman,: he presuksmably derived from a Gesrmanic-speaking region on the Continent and not from England.
In a letter (ukndated buy circa April 1636) to her mothr, Margaret Winthrop, Mary Dudley asks that her mother send her a "achild's chair for I can get none made here and goodman Bkutton's Boat shall call rfor it a fortnight hence" (WP 3:242).
Matthias Bkutton sued Thomas Boreman for an undisclosed offence at the December Term, 1641, probably relating to the sale of land in Ipswich (EQC 1:38, 7:86). In relation to a retrospective case about this land, Daniel Hovey deposed din September 1678, aged sixty ydears,k that "living in the house of Goodman Button at the time of the earthqake in June forty years since and being at that time at work with him in his planting lot at the place called Button's point..." (DEQC 7:87). Isaac Cummings and Thomas Newman recognized Button's stray swine at March Term, 1647 (DEQC 1:113). Thomas Perkins sued Matthias Button, Abraham Wear and Robert Beacham for debt at September Term 16u47, implying that the three defendants may have been connected in business in some way (EQC 1:125).
Matthias Button acknowledged juddgment to William Marston, Sr., of Mapton at the April Term, 1664 (EDQC 3:147, 199). At March term 1665, "Matthias Button acknowledged judgment in open court to Mr. Jewett's executors, Mr. Philip Nelson and Jremiah Jewett, in corn and cattle" (EQC 3:241).
Matthias Bkutton had the poor judgment to deal with the notorious John Godfrey. Owing him a bond dated 12 January 1663/4, at June Term 1668, Button was sued by Godfrey for debt and the jury found for Button. The court disagreed and set the verdict aside. In this czase John Hutchins and Abraham Whitaker deposed that four years before, Godfrey had them accompany him to Button's to demand the cattle valued the 2 pounds that Button owed him.
Button said, "I will now look up my cattle and pay thee." Godfrey told him to bring them to town to Goodman Kent's before twelve o'clock where they would be appraised, and he would give up the bond. Godfrey chose Stephen Kent for his appraiser and Button Chose Bartholomew Heath. The cattle were brought before the time time and appraised, but Godfrey would not come to receive them, although deponents remained till almost night (EQC 4:29).
Even with the verdict set aside bythe court, Godfrey evidently harbored a grkudge. At the April Term, 1669, less than a year later, Button sued him for "firing his chimney which caused his house to burn and the goods therein, also the death of his wife, and for running away as soon as h had done it.:" The cout, which did not have the power to rule in a case of wrongful death, brought a verdict anyway, and awarded Bkutton 238 pounds 2s (EQC 4:130-31).
More detail abaout this case is seen in the June Term, 1669, when Godfrey sued Matthias Button for "unjust molestation." Button won, but the court again set the verdict aside. From the disposition of Edward Clark, we learn that Button gave Godfrey an acquittance (9 January 1662/3, before the burning of his house (EQC 4:152). Godfrey was accused in the course of testimony, of being in two places at once, and appearing suspiciously the day after Goody Archer was buried, among other trappings of witchcraft. Matthias's fourth wife, Elizabeth Button, deposed aged about forty-seven years,...that on a rainy day, she and her daughter Sarah laid in a bed by the fireside about twelve or one o'clock there was a great noise about the house which this deponent took to be the cattle, but when she was awake she saw a shape of a man and (it) sat in a great chair and being a great fire near the bed and near the chair within a yard and a half I saw Godfrey sitting and I would faine have struck him but could not put forth my hand and I what I could to wake the maid that was in bed with me but could not for I could neither speak nore stir and thus he continued for the space of two hours and I see him three or four times but as soon as I had come to settle myself in the bed he vanished away to my apprehension for he went strangely out and the door was fast and when I rose in the morning I went to the door and it was fast bolted (sworn 22 June 1669, EQC 4:154-5).
Godfrey was found legally not guilty of witchcraft by the Court of Assistants, but was found "suspiciously guilty." By the next term, he was back in court, unsuccessfully suing the deputy, Daniel Ela, for extortion (EQC 4:17i9). The case would not go away. Ela sued Godfrey for "willful firing and burning of the dwelling house of Matthias Button, which was the cause of the death of said Button's wife." Godfrey replied, "Why should I bely myself; there be the witness: and asked whether he should go and execute himself; ... protested that he was cleared of firing the house and knew not of it: and that he went to Corlis his house, and there remained until Button came with his family" (DEQC 4:185). In a calmer deposition, Godfrey "acknoweldged that he was at Button's houses the day before the house was burned and went about ten or eleven o'clock to Corlis' house; that he said to Goody Button, lying upon the bed, "Woman weigh me out some meat,' and she arose and gave him meat and brought in water; also that he made a little fire of small wood upon the hearth" (EQC 4:186).
Button apparently paid Ela for his services as deputy and attorney, and the court found Ela's charges to be excessive. During testimony at November Term, 1669, it was revealed that Button had agreed to give Ela one third of all he
should return of John Godfrey for the burning of my house and goods" (EQC 4:199).
Godfrey sued Matthias Button again at the June Term, 1671, trying to overturn the conviction for burning Button's housse.
The humble request of Matthias Bkutton: that have been sued by John Godfrey and I lying very sick and weak for this great while so that I am not able to do anything nore to come to the court the hand of God have been and is still so upon me that I humbly beseech the honored court to consider how unjustly Godfrey sues me out of my own county contrary to law as it conceive because it will appear by evidence that Godfrey belongs to one town and County therefore if he find himself aggrieved he shouild try in the same county where we both live, therefore I humbly beseech the Court that your poor petitioner may have justice in the case as the Lord shall direct you (EQC 4:373).
As late as 29 June 1671, the court was still ordering Godfrey to pay Button in this case and Godfrey was still countersuing Ela (EQC 4:450, 5:51). Button sued Godfrey one last time, and the case being called at the October Term, 1672, Button did not appear, and Godfrey was discharged (EQC 5:102). Button had died the preceding August.
At the June Term, 1673, Godfrey sued Edward Clark, claiming that Clark had fraudulently prevented him from receiving even one penny of a 138 pound judgment Button was to pay Godfrey pursuant to a Court of Asstant's declision dated 13 March 1671/2 (EQC 5:182). (For copies of these and other papers in the disputes
- Matthias Button was a son of Thomas Button of Harrold, Bedfordshire. He was baptized on 11 Oct 1607 Harrold, Bedfordshire, England. He had a brother William (bap 23 Nov 1600) and a sister Ann (bap. Dec 1604). His father was buried at the Parish Church of St. Peters at Harrold 26 June 1617. The mother may have been Mary (Price) Button. I have no further information on the mother at this time.
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