Alfred was the youngest of seven children although his eldest brother, also named Alfred Henry, had died within a few weeks of his birth. Their parents were Charles William Button, a shepherd, and Mary Maguire who were married at Frindsbury All Saints in January 1870. They were both said to be of full age (21 or over) although Mary who was born in Ireland was probably only 19 or 20.
Children of Charles and Mary:
Alfred Henry born Q1 1870, died Q3 1870
Elizabeth Lydia born Q3 1871
Charles Reymond born Q3 1874
Ernest John born Q2 1875
Florence Amelia born1876
Walter born Q2 1878
Alfred Henry born Q1 1880
In 1871 Charles and Mary were living at Avery, Allhallows, next door but one to Charles’ parents Lydia and John who was also a shepherd.
On census night, 3rd/4th April 1881 Charles and his six children were living in Shepherd’s House at Nord Corner. 28 year old Mary had been buried in Allhallows churchyard earlier that same day.
Alfred’s father Charles remarried in 1890 to Margaret Emma Mott from Orsett, Essex.
Q2 1890 Orsett District, vol 4a page 491. There were no children to this marriage.
In 1891 Charles and Margaret were at Cottage Building, Norwood farm with Ernest and Walter.
Alfred’s sister Elizabeth may have been a domestic servant in Paddington, she never married but became a nurse in Greys Thurrock, Essex and died there in 1970 aged 98. His sister Florence was a domestic servant with a family in Hornesey, Middlesex, and his brother Charles was lodging with a farmer in High Halstow.
Alfred himself was living with his grandparents, John and Lydia in Smithfield Road, Grain. He was still with them at Rose Court Cottage, Grain in 1901. Lydia died in 1909 and in 1911 John was living alone at Gravel Pit, Stoke.
Alfred married Mabel Rist at Stoke in 1904. Mabel was born Q2 1885 in Ardingley, Sussex daughter of William and Mary Rist. Q2 1885, Cuckfied district vol 2b page 170.
In 1891 she was withe her parents in Horsed Keynes, Cuckfield and in 1901 she was a domestic servant with a family in Haywards Heath, Sussex whilst her parents were still in Cuckfield..
In 1911 her parents, William and Ann were living at Deangate, Hoo.
In 1911 Alfred was at Palmers Terrace, Allhallows* with his father Charles and step-mother Margaret. He was a general labourer helping his father who was by then a coal dealer and general carter. Alfred was described as married but Mabel was not with them and I cannot find her elsewhere.
Alfred enlisted in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own Regiment (4th Middlesex) at Maidstone.
he died 28 April 1917. In the record of soldiers’ effects his father Charles W Button was named as sole legatee.
* Palmer’s Terrace is now in Allhallows Road, Stoke, but until a boundary change in the 1960s Allhallows parish extended south as far as the school, which meant that Palmer’s Terrace was then inAllhallows.
Allhallows Remembers
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