Nelly Button the Witch of Hockley, Essex, England
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Part II: Purleigh, Hawkwell, South Fambridge, Ashingdon, and Hockley, Essex.
Nelly Button the Witch of Hockley, Essex, England
Elizabeth Eleanor Witherow (1818 - 1896)
Wife of Zachariah Henry Button
4. ELIZABETH ELEANOR WITHEROW was born in Purleigh, Essex and was baptized 7 June 1818 in the church at Purleigh.
Father: William Witherow (No. 1)
Mother: Elizabeth Burton
Click here: to read about Nelly Button's parents
~ 1818
The baptism record from the parish register of Purleigh, All Saints:
Image 16 right side
Baptisms 1818 - Page 25. No. 197.
When Baptised. / Name / Parent's Name / Surname / Abode. / Profession. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
June 7th. / Eleanor Dautr of / William & Elizabeth / Witheroe / Purleigh / Gardener / Henry Biss Curate
~ 1841
In 1841, Eleanor Witherow, age 20, a School Mistress, was living with William and Elizabeth Witherow in Purleigh, Essex.
From the 1841 Census of Purleigh:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
Village
William Withero ……… 60 M…… Gardiner…………. y
Elizabeth…. do…….…… 60 F………………………………. y
Eleanor……. do…….….. 20 F…… School Mistress…. y
Eliza Brewer……………… 5 F……………………………….. y
~ 1851
In 1851, Eleanor Witherow, age 32, a Dressmaker, was living alone in Purleigh, Essex.
From the 1851 Census of Purleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Village
Eleanor Witherow…. Head… U… 32 F…… Dressmaker……….. Purleigh
~ 1853
Elizabeth Ellen Witherow and ZACHARIAH HENRY BUTTON were married 17 September 1853 in the St. Mary the Virgin church in Hawkwell, Essex.
From the marriage record in the parish register:
Page 22
1853. Marriage solemnized at this Parish Church in the Parish of Hawkwell in the County of Essex.
No. 43
When Married -- 17th Sept. 1853
Name / Age / Condition / Profession / Residence / Father's Name / Father's Profession
Zachariah Henry Button / 37 / Bachelor / Labourer / Hawkwell / Samuel Button / Labourer
Elizabeth Ellen Witherow / 34 / Spinster / ---- / Hawkwell / William Witherow / Gardener
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by Banns by me, James Montagu
This Marriage was solemnized between us,
Zachariah Henry Button His X mark
Elizabeth Ellen Witherow
in the Presence of us,
Daniel Button His X mark
Edward Burton
~ about Zachariah Button
Zachariah Button was born in Hawkwell, Essex and was baptized 16 February 1817 at the church in Hawkwell.
From the parish register of Hawkwell:
Image No. 5 left side
Baptisms 1817 -- Page 6. No. 42.
When Baptised. / Name / Parent's Name / Surname / Abode. / Profession. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
16th Feby / Henry Zachary Son of / Samuel & Rachael / Button / Hawkwell / Labourer / by [J?] Sumner Curate
In the baptism record he was "Henry Zachary Button" and his parents were Samuel and Rachael Button.
~ 1861
In 1861, Zachariah and Eliz Button were living at Pulpits in South Fambridge, Essex. Zachariah was an Agricultural Laborer.
From the 1861 Census of South Fambridge:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Pulpits
Zachariah Button… Head… Mar… 43 M….. Ag Lab………. Essex.. Hawkwell
Eliz………….. Do……. Wife…. Mar… 41 F………………………… Do….. Purleigh
Wm.. E. …... Do……. Son…………….. 4 M………………………… Do….. So Fambridge
Z. C. ………… Do……. Son…………….. 3 M………………………… Do……. “…… Do
~ 1871
In 1871, Zachariah and Elizabeth E. Button were living at Bull Lane Fishers Farm in Rayleigh, Essex. Zachariah was an Agricultural Laborer and Elizabeth was a Tailoress.
From the 1871 Census of Rayleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Bull Lane
Fishers Farm
Zachariah Button… Head… Mar… 55 M…. Ag Lab………. Essex… Hawkwell
Elizabeth E… Do….. Wife…. Mar… 51 F….. Tailoress……. Essex… Purleigh
William…….. Do…… Son……………. 14 M…. Ag Lab………. Essex… South Fambridge
Zachariah….. Do…… Son……………. 13 M…. Ag Lab………. Essex… South Fambridge
~ 1878
Zachariah Button died at the age of 61 in the first quarter (Jan-Feb-Mar) of 1878 in the Rochford registration district of Essex.
From the England & Wales, Death Index:
Name:…………………….. Zachariah Button
Date:……………………….. Jan-Feb-Mar 1878
Age:…………………………. 61
Registration District:…. Rochford
County:…………………….. Essex
Volume:…………………….. 4a
Page:…………………………. 159
~ 1881
In 1881, Elizabeth Button, age 63, a widow, a Seamstress, is living alone at Greens[ted?] Lane in Hockley, Essex.
From the 1881 Census of Hockley:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Greens[ted] Lane
Elizabeth Bullon… Head… Wid… 63 F…. Seamstress…………… Essex Purleigh
Note: In the census the name is written as “Bullon” but that is because the enumerator neglected to dash the t’s.
~ 1891
In 1891, Eleanor Button, age 73, a widow, is living in Hockley, Essex.
From the 1891 Census of Hockley:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
2 - Number of rooms occupied if less than five
Eleanor Button…. Head… Widow… 73 F………………………. Essex… Purleigh
~ 1896
In 1896, Elizabeth Button died at the age of 79 in the 4th quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec) of 1896 in the Rochford registration district of Essex.
From the England & Wales, Death Index:
Name:……………………… Elizabeth Button
Date:……………………….. Oct-Nov-Dec 1896
Age:…………………………. 79
Registration District:…. Rochford
County:…………………….. Essex
Volume:………………….… 4a
Page:………………………… 287
Elizabeth Button was buried 27 October 1896 in the churchyard in Hockley, Essex.
From the parish register of Hockley:
Image No. 29 left side
Burials 1896 -- Page 52 No. 411
Name. / Abode. / When buried. / Age. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
Elizabeth Button / Rochford Union / Oct 27 / 79 / W F Handcock Offg Minr
According to the burial record, Elizabeth Button was in the Rochford Union house in Rochford, Essex when she died.
~ 1962
The folklorist and author, Eric Maple, wrote about Nelly Button in his book. Maple in the late 1950's and early 1960's collected folklore from people, who were in their 70s to 90s at the time, about the Witches in Essex mainly in the Rochford and Dengie Hundreds.
They were people that were around during the 1850's to the 1890's.
From the book "The Dark World of Witches", by Eric Maple, 1962:
Pages 171-172
En route to Canewdon, the other witch village, was Hockley, which in the 'eighties (1880's) was the haunt of a sinister character named Nelly Button. She had power to hypnotize those she disliked so that they lost the use of their limbs.
In one story a girl offended the witch and was immediately struck down by a form of paralysis which defied diagnosis by the doctor. She was left in that state for seven days and then Nelly Button arrived at the front door, entered without speaking a word and whispered something in the ear of the sick girl, who, within five minutes, was well again.
She possessed a diabolical sense of humour and liked nothing better than to drive her victims almost frantic with her occult pranks. Once when the village blacksmith offended her she made his concertina play day and night for weeks on end until he became a wreck from lack of sleep.
She punished a woman by making the dumplings she was cooking fly up the chimney, which nearly gave the woman a heart attack.
In the end she met her deserts for someone remembered that witches could not cross iron and planted a hedge of old knives and scissors around her house so that she was kept a prisoner there.
Children of Zachariah and Eleanor (Witherow) Button
5. HENRY CHARLES BUTTON was baptized 23 June 1854 at the church in Hockley, Essex.
From the parish register of Hockley:
Image 17 left side
Baptisms 1854 -- Page [blank] No. 218
When Baptised. / Name / Parent's Name / Surname / Abode. / Profession. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
1854 June 23 Privately / Henry Charles / [blank] /Button / Hockley / Labourer / Edw Cockey
Henry Charles Button died at the age of 10 weeks and was buried 20 August 1854 in the churchyard of Hockley, Essex.
From the parish register of Hockley:
Image No. 46 left side
Burials 1854 -- Page 87. No. 694.
Name. / Abode. / When buried. / Age. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
Henry Charles Button / Hockley / August 20 / 10 Weeks / Edw Cockey
Note: as you can see the parish register of the baptism entry, the space for the parent's name is left blank.
At FamilySearch.org website, there is in the records that were submitted by LDS members, the above entry mentioned with the parents being Zachariah Henry Button and Elizabeth Ellen.
Possible that the submitter got it from the Bishop's transcript of Hockley or they verified it with a birth certificate.
From the FamilySearch.org website:
Henry Charles Button was christened 23 Jun 1854 at Hockley, Essex. Son of Zachariah Henry Button and Elizabeth Ellen.
The above is a secondary source record. It would need to be verified by checking the Bishop's Transcript of Hockley, Essex or by obtaining the birth certificate.
6. WILLIAM EDWARD BUTTON was born in South Fambridge, Essex and was baptized 25 May 1856 at the church in Ashingdon, Essex.
From the parish register of Ashingdon:
Image No. 24 left side
Baptisms 1856 -- Page 24. No. 191.
When Baptised. / Name / Parent's Name / Surname / Abode. / Profession. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
May 25th. / William Edward Son of / Zachariah Edward and Elizabeth Ellen / Button / South Fambridge / Labourer / Septimus Nottidge Rector.
7. ZACHARIAH CHARLES BUTTON was born in South Fambridge, Essex and was baptized 14 March 1858 at the church in Ashingdon, Essex.
From the parish register of Ashingdon:
Image No. 24 right side
Baptisms 1858 -- Page 25. No. 197.
When Baptised. / Name / Parent's Name / Surname / Abode. / Profession. / By whom the Ceremony was performed.
1858 March 14th / Zachariah Charles Son of / Zachariah Edward and Eliza Ellen / Button / South Fambridge / Labourer / Septimus Nottidge Rector.
Sources:
1. 1817 baptism of Henry Zachariah Button. Hawkwell, St Mary the Virgin, D/P 217/1/6, Baptism register 1813-1879, 50 Images. Image No. 5 left side, Page 6, No. 42. Searched on July 13, 2013 Saturday 6:20 PM.
2. 1818 baptism of Eleanor Witheroe. From the Seax-Essex Archives online. Purleigh, All Saints, D/P 197/1/11, 1813-1859 Baptisms, 106 Images. Image 16 right side, Baptisms 1818 - Page 25. No. 197. Searched January 5, 2013 Saturday 6:45 PM.
3. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Purleigh, District 7, Image No. 2, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: HO 107 / 327 / 22, Original Page No. 2, Stamped Page No. 21, Household of William Withero. March 23, 2009 Monday 2:01 PM. Reviewed January 4, 2013 Friday 6:39 PM.
4. 1851 Census of England, Essex, Purleigh, District 7a, Image No. 2, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: H.O. 107 / 1778, Original Page No. 1, No. of Householder’s Schedule 3, Household of Eleanor Witherow. March 23, 2009 Monday 1:55 PM. Reviewed July 12, 2013 Friday 5:10 PM.
5. 1853 marriage of Elizabeth Ellen Witherow and Zachariah Henry Button. Hawkwell, St. Mary the Virgin, D/P 217/1/11, 1837-1958 Marriage register, 248 images. Essex Record Office online at Seax Essex. Image No. 24, Page 22, No. 43. Searched on July 12, 2013 Friday 5:36 PM.
6. 1854 baptism of Henry Charles Button. Hockley, St Peter and St Paul, D/P 191/1/6, Baptism register 1844-1959, 100 Images. Image 17 left side, No. 218. Searched on July 13, 2013 Saturday 5:01 PM.
7. 1854 burial of Henry Charles Button. Hockley, St Peter and St Paul, D/P 191/1/8, Burial register 1813-1860, 55 Images. Image No. 46 left side, Page 87, No. 694. Searched on July 13, 2013 Saturday 5:01 PM.
8. 1854 baptism of Henry Charles Button linking Zachariah Henry Button and Elizabeth Ellen as the parents. The baptism entry from Batch No. 7602115, Source Film No. 1058176. (description of the film no. 1058176 - Patron ordinance submission sheets, 1969-1991)
9. 1856 baptism of William Edward Button. Ashingdon, St Andrew, D/P 89/1/4, Baptism register 1813-1947, 66 Images. Image No. 24 left side, Page 24, No. 191. Searched on July 13, 2013 Saturday 5:40 PM.
10. 1858 baptism of Zachariah Charles Button. Ashingdon, St Andrew, D/P 89/1/4, Baptism register 1813-1947, 66 Images. Image No. 24 right side, Page 25, No. 197. Searched on July 13, 2013 Saturday 5:55 PM.
11. 1861 Census of England, Essex, South Fambridge, District 6, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: R.G. 9 1083, Original Page No. 7, Stamped Page No. 85, No. of Schedule 30, Household of Zachariah Button. March 23, 2009 Monday 2:07 PM. Reviewed July 12, 2013 Friday 5:10 PM.
12. 1871 Census of England, Essex, Rayleigh, District 2, Image No. 4, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: R.G. 10 1667, Original Page No. 3, Stamped Page No. 26, No. of Schedule 10, Household of Zachariah Button. March 22, 2009 Sunday 9:19 PM. Reviewed July 12, 2013 Friday 6:14 PM.
13. 1878 death of Zachariah Button in the index. England & Wales, Death Index online at Ancestry.com. Date: Jan-Feb-Mar 1878; Age: 61; Registration District; Rochford; County: Essex; Vol.: 4a; Page: 159. Searched March 23, 2009 Tuesday 2:34 PM. Reviewed on July 12, 2013 Friday 7:47 PM.
14. 1881 Census of England, Essex, Hockley, District 8, Image No. 16, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: RG 11 / 1768, Original Page No. 15, Stamped Page No. 104, No. of Schedule 85, Household of Elizabeth Bullon. March 23, 2009 Monday 2:19 PM. Reviewed July 12, 2013 Friday 7:00 PM.
15. 1891 Census of England, Essex, Hockley, District 8, Image No. 13, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: RG 12 / 1390, Original Page No. 12, No. of Schedule 81, Household of Eleanor Button. March 23, 2009 Monday 2:26 PM. Reviewed on July 12, 2013 Friday 7:26 PM.
16. 1896 death of Elizabeth Button in the index. England & Wales, Death Index, on line at Ancestry.com. Date: Oct-Nov-Dec 1896: Age: 79; Registration District: Rochford; County: Essex; Vol.: 4a; Page: 287. Searched March 23, 2009 Tuesday 2:36 PM. Reviewed on July 12, 2013 Friday 8:17 PM.
17. 1896 burial of Elizabeth Button. Hockley, St Peter and St Paul, D/P 191/1/9, Burial register 1861-1933, 54 Images. At Essex Record Office online at Seax Essex. Image 29 left side, Page 52, No. 411. Searched on July 12, 2013 Friday 7:56 PM.
18. 1962 Nelly Button mentioned in the book "The Dark World of Witches" by Eric Maple. Pages 171-172 From my book that I received August 14, 2010 Saturday morning.
Worked on it on and off since March 23, 2009 Monday 4:16 PM
Last updated on July 14, 2013 Sunday 7:25 PM.
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
Deadfamilies.com
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William Wallworth
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