Major John Button, 1772–1861 (aged 89 years)
- Name
- Major John /Button/
- Type
- birth name
- Name prefix
- Major
- Given names
- John
- Surname
- Button
John was a Loyalist born in New London, Connecticut in 1772. It is not known why he did not apply for UEL status but his loyalty to the crown was later proven. He immigrated to Canada in 1798. Captain Button’s Troop of Markham Dragoons, the oldest cavalry in Canada, evolved over the years to become The Governor General’s Horse Guard Calvary Squadron.
In recognition of his and his heir’s continued service to the Community a portion of York/Markham was named “Buttonville” which continues today. Here is a link to his biography on the War of 1812 Veterans Graveside Project website:
http://www.1812veterans.ca/?p=965&lang=en
During the War of 1812, John Button served as the captain of a cavalry troop in the 1st York Militia. [1]
In April, 1813, he was taken prisoner at York. [2]
From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he commanded his cavalry troop. [3]
From July 8 to 27, 1814, he commanded his troop. [4]
On May 6, 1820, John Button, a gentleman of Markham Twp. and a former captain of a cavalry company of the 1st York Militia, received a militia land grant of 800 acres in Innisfil Twp. These included broken Lot 14, Con. 2 & broken Lot 12 and parts of Lots 14 & 15, Con. 4. Title appeared to have been given to F. Button on June 25, 1823.
| Birth | May 18, 1772 |
|---|---|
| Birth of a sister | Sally Button 1773 (aged 0) |
| Death of a paternal grandfather | Peter Button May 10, 1774 (aged 1 year) |
| Birth of a brother | Vine Button 1775 (aged 2 years) |
| Death of a father | Joseph Button 1782 (aged 9 years) |
| 1st President of the United States | George Washington April 30, 1789 (aged 16 years) |
| Occupation | cooper 1790 (aged 17 years) |
| Birth of a son | Colonel Francis Button April 21, 1794 (aged 21 years) |
| Marriage | Elizabeth Williams — View this family 1795 (aged 22 years) |
| 2nd President of the United States | John Adams March 4, 1797 (aged 24 years) |
| Emigration | February 6, 1798 (aged 25 years) Note: Upper Canada Land Petition dated 22 May 1798, “having been prevailed upon by his Relations” came to… Upper Canada Land Petition dated 22 May 1798, “having been prevailed upon by his Relations” came to the Province on 6 Feb 1798. He did at this time request 200 acres of farm land in York. This was approved on 17 Nov 1801 having met the criteria “remains in the Province for 12 months or brings his family in”. |
| Birth of a son | Newbury Button 1798 (aged 25 years) |
| 3rd President of the United States | Thomas Jefferson March 4, 1801 (aged 28 years) |
| Birth of a daughter | Anna Button 1807 (aged 34 years) |
| Military | N.Y. militia Lieutenant Type: Light Dragoons 1808 (aged 35 years)Agency: North York Regiment of Militia Note: Participated in the War of 1812 (Battle of Detroit). Sometime before 1810, John Button applied for t… Participated in the War of 1812 (Battle of Detroit). Sometime before 1810, John Button applied for the right to raise the first Calvary Troop in Canada. The 1st York Light Dragoons (Button’s Troop) came into being in 1810. |
| 4th President of the United States | James Madison March 4, 1809 (aged 36 years) |
| Birth of a daughter | Pauline Mary Button 1810 (aged 37 years) |
| Military | N.Y. militia Captain Type: Light Dragoons 1812 (aged 39 years)Agency: North York Regiment of Militia Note: In July of 1812, John received his Commission of “Captain of a Troop of York Militia” by General Isa… In July of 1812, John received his Commission of “Captain of a Troop of York Militia” by General Isaac Brock. At least eight different orders were sent to Captain Button between 5 Feb 1812 to July 1814. |
| Birth of a grandson | Colonel William Marr Button December 1, 1816 (aged 44 years) |
| 5th President of the United States | James Monroe March 4, 1817 (aged 44 years) |
| Birth of a grandson | John N. Button May 24, 1818 (aged 46 years) |
| Birth of a granddaughter | Phoebe Button June 15, 1823 (aged 51 years) |
| Death of a son | Newbury Button 1823 (aged 50 years) |
| 6th President of the United States | John Quincy Adams March 4, 1825 (aged 52 years) |
| Birth of a grandson | Newbury Button August 26, 1825 (aged 53 years) |
| Birth of a granddaughter | Sarah E. Button 1827 (aged 54 years) |
| 7th President of the United States | Andrew Jackson March 4, 1829 (aged 56 years) |
| Military | N.Y. militia Major Type: Light Dragoons 1831 (aged 58 years)Agency: North York Regiment of Militia Note: Participated in the Rebellion of 1837 (Battle of Montgomery's Tavern) |
| Birth of a granddaughter | Susannah Button April 13, 1832 (aged 59 years) |
| Birth of a granddaughter | Mary Amanda Button April 19, 1836 (aged 63 years) |
| 8th President of the United States | Martin Van Buren March 4, 1837 (aged 64 years) |
| Birth of a grandson | Francis Button 1838 (aged 65 years) |
| Birth of a granddaughter | Catharine Button January 20, 1840 (aged 67 years) |
| 9th President of the United States | William Henry Harrison March 4, 1841 (aged 68 years) |
| 10th President of the United States | John Tyler April 4, 1841 (aged 68 years) |
| Death of a granddaughter | Mary Amanda Button March 22, 1844 (aged 71 years) |
| 11th President of the United States | James K Polk March 4, 1845 (aged 72 years) |
| Death of a wife | Elizabeth Williams 1847 (aged 74 years) |
| Marriage | Elizabeth Merigold Bradley — View this family 1848 (aged 75 years) |
| 12th President of the United States | Zachary Taylor March 4, 1849 (aged 76 years) |
| Death of a granddaughter | Phoebe Button May 21, 1849 (aged 77 years) |
| 13th President of the United States | Millard Fillmore July 9, 1850 (aged 78 years) |
| 14th President of the United States | Franklin Pierce March 4, 1853 (aged 80 years) |
| 15th President of the United States | James Buchanan March 4, 1857 (aged 84 years) |
| Death of a daughter | Anna Button July 27, 1858 (aged 86 years) |
| Death of a daughter | Pauline Mary Button October 11, 1859 (aged 87 years) |
| Death of a granddaughter | Catharine Button December 24, 1859 (aged 87 years) |
| 16th President of the United States | Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1861 (aged 88 years) |
| Death | November 9, 1861 (aged 89 years) Buttonville, Ontario, Canada Latitude: N43.86578N Longitude: W79.36156Google Maps™Bing Maps™OpenStreetMap™ |
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| Marriage | Marriage — — |
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3 years
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3 years
elder sister |
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4 years
elder sister |
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3 years
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1772–1861
Birth: May 18, 1772 — New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Death: November 9, 1861 — Buttonville, Ontario, Canada |
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20 months
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3 years
younger brother |
| himself |
1772–1861
Birth: May 18, 1772 — New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Death: November 9, 1861 — Buttonville, Ontario, Canada |
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| Marriage | Marriage — 1795 — Dutchess, New York, USA |
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-8 months
son |
1794–1880
Birth: April 21, 1794
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22 — Connecticut, USA Death: October 17, 1880 — Buttonville, Markham, York, Ontario, Canada |
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5 years
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10 years
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4 years
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1810–1859
Birth: 1810
37
38 — Ontario, Canada Death: October 11, 1859 — Buttonville, Markham, York, Ontario, Canada |
| himself |
1772–1861
Birth: May 18, 1772 — New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Death: November 9, 1861 — Buttonville, Ontario, Canada |
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| wife |
1793–1863
Birth: 1793 — Kingsclear, York, New Brunswick, Canada Death: 1863 — Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Marriage | Marriage — 1848 — |
| Name | Wikitree Citation details: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Button-1150
Text: John was a Loyalist born in New London, Connecticut in 1772. It is not known why he did not apply for UEL status but his loyalty to the crown was later proven. He immigrated to Canada in 1798. Captain Button’s Troop of Markham Dragoons, the oldest cavalry in Canada, evolved over the years to become The Governor General’s Horse Guard Calvary Squadron. In recognition of his and his heir’s continued service to the Community a portion of York/Markham was named “Buttonville” which continues today. Here is a link to his biography on the War of 1812 Veterans Graveside Project website: http://www.1812veterans.ca/?p=965&lang=en During the War of 1812, John Button served as the captain of a cavalry troop in the 1st York Militia. [1] In April, 1813, he was taken prisoner at York. [2] From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he commanded his cavalry troop. [3] From July 8 to 27, 1814, he commanded his troop. [4] On May 6, 1820, John Button, a gentleman of Markham Twp. and a former captain of a cavalry company of the 1st York Militia, received a militia land grant of 800 acres in Innisfil Twp. These included broken Lot 14, Con. 2 & broken Lot 12 and parts of Lots 14 & 15, Con. 4. Title appeared to have been given to F. Button on June 25, 1823. |
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| Source | Wikipedia Citation details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Button_(soldier)
Text: Major John Button (May 18, 1772 - November 9, 1861) was an American-born Upper Canada settler (founder of Buttonville, Ontario), sedentary Canadian militia officer and founder of the 1st York Light Dragoons (also as Troop of Markham Dragoons or Captain Button's Dragoons). Early Years Button was born in New London, Connecticut[1] to Joseph Button and Mary Ann Atwell.[2] He was the fourth generation of Buttons in America (the first ancestor is believed to be Matthias Button (1610-1672), who arrived in the Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony around 1633).[3] In 1790 John Button was working as a cooper and married Elizabeth Williams (1772-1847) in Dutchess County, New York in 1795. With the end of the American Revolution and not being an active United Empire Loyalist, Button would not begin the process of migrating north to Canada until the ratification of the Jay Treaty in 1795. In 1798 he petitioned the then President of the Executive Council and Administrator of Upper Canada Peter Russell for land in Upper Canada. Not waiting for the approval of his request his family settled in at Crowland Township (in now Welland, Ontario) in the Niagara Region (with family members already residents in the township) from 1799 to 1801. Once the grant was approved in 1801 (by Peter Hunter) they settled on 200 acres (81 ha) of land along Yonge Street (somewhere north of Bloor Street as Park lots ran north–south direction south of Bloor) in York, Upper Canada. He later sold this grant, moved north to Markham in 1803 and obtained 200 acres (81 ha) around the area now known as Buttonville, Ontario around 1805.[4] Military Career Button joined the local militia in 1808 as a Lieutenant with the North York Regiment of Militia and established his cavalry troop, Light Dragoons, in 1810. Despite the end of the War of 1812, Button saw the need to maintain military alertness and requested to maintain his troop's readiness. Button was promoted as Major in 1831, had participated in the War of 1812 (Battle of Detroit) and later in the Rebellion of 1837 (Battle of Montgomery's Tavern). Community Leader and breeder Besides his military contributions, Button help secure land for a church (he was a Wesleyan Methodist) in Buttonville. He would later establish a post office in the community that bore his name. Button was a farmer and bred colts in his early years in Upper Canada and after the 1837 Rebellion. Later Years and Death Button began selling off his land holdings in the latter part of his life (1840s) which led to the establishment of Buttonville in 1851.[5] John Button died on November 9, 1861,[6] predeceased by wife Elizabeth, son Newbury (1798-1823). He married Elizabeth Bradley in 1848. His son Colonel Francis Button (1794-1880) and grandson William Marr Button (1816-1908) would become members of his Light Dragoon. His troop is now part of The Governor General's Body Guard. Button and many members of his family are buried at Buttonville Cemetery. William Marr Button would become reeve of Markham. Legacy There are a few places that honour Button in Markham: Buttonville, Ontario was established as a post office by Button and friend William Morrison with the name provided by Morrison. Buttonville Airport is only land originally owned by Button and named in reference to the community of Buttonville. Major Button Drive is a small residential street in newer section of Markham Village near Highway 7 and Ninth Line. John Button Boulevard is another residential street near Woodbine Avenue and 16th Avenue closer to the area where Button had settled with two connecting roadways, Captain Francis Drive and Colonel Marr Road, are named for his sons and grandson respectively. John Button Waterway North and South are two tracts of greenspace along Apple Creek near Buttonville. Nearby also is John Button Park, a city park bearing Button's name. Buttonville Crescent / Buttonville Street is a short residential street off Woodbine Avenue and located within what was John Button's Markham grant. Buttonville Public School (c. 1992) and the 1872 Buttonville Schoolhouse are named for the community that is linked to his name. |
| Emigration | Upper Canada Land Petition dated 22 May 1798, “having been prevailed upon by his Relations” came to the Province on 6 Feb 1798. He did at this time request 200 acres of farm land in York. This was approved on 17 Nov 1801 having met the criteria “remains in the Province for 12 months or brings his family in”. |
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| Military | Participated in the War of 1812 (Battle of Detroit). Sometime before 1810, John Button applied for the right to raise the first Calvary Troop in Canada. The 1st York Light Dragoons (Button’s Troop) came into being in 1810. |
| Military | In July of 1812, John received his Commission of “Captain of a Troop of York Militia” by General Isaac Brock. At least eight different orders were sent to Captain Button between 5 Feb 1812 to July 1814. |
| Military | Participated in the Rebellion of 1837 (Battle of Montgomery's Tavern) |
| Note | Buttonville, Ontario was established as a post office by Button and friend William Morrison with the name provided by Morrison. |
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| Media object | Note: Buttonville area in Markham ON Canada |
| Media object | Note: Buttonville area in Markham ON Canada |