July 2026.
The Button family of Suffolk is particularly difficult to research as it seems to be a very common name. The father of Harriet Button is thought to have been John Button, born at Kelsale, Suffolk around 1776. He had a son, also John who was apparently born in Kelsale but he married his wife Harriet Skipper in Bramford which is just north of Ipswich, 20 miles to the south-west as the crow flies. He is recorded as a farmer but how big the farm was is not known.
John Button and Harriet Skipper were married by license rather than by having banns read out in the three Sundays before the wedding in the churches of the Parish where the persons resided. To do this the Groom was required to prove his good intent by signing a marriage bond and, unusually, for this couple we possess this bond. The bond was underwritten by Robert Rudland for UKP800; about UKP30,000 now. It sets out what will happen if the marriage doesn't occur and the inheritable consequences. The marriage took place the next day.
Harriet and John had 3 known children, the eldest son James Button was born in Bredfield which is about 1/2 way between Kelsale and Bramford and he was an occupier of 32 acres employing 1 man in 1861. He is also recorded as a coachman in London after his marriage in Marylebone. There are DNA matches to several descendants.
Harriet & John's daughter Harriett Button was baptized in Great Blakenham which is just over 2 miles north of Bramford, so whether the family had moved around is not clear. She is the subject of a family legend that, while working as a servant, she married, against her father's wishes, Jonathan Jefferies. As said before this seems unlikely as she was living at Gosfield, 3 miles south of Sible Hedingham, and her younger brother, Peter Skipper Button was a witness to their wedding.
Harriet & John's younger son mentioned above is a mystery but seems to have married at least 3 times. I suspect there is more to discover about the Buttons.