To members of the Sisson list, I have followed with interest the many stories that have recently appeared about linkages to Sisson lineages. I have one to offer that (to me at least) is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of a few of our antecedents. Many genealogies are a repetitive recitation of vital statistics: which after a period of reading are likely to put one to sleep. But, once in a while a document surfaces that puts flesh and blood on the people about whom the record was made. In this case we have vivid stories about these people and the times in which they lived. How it becomes a Sisson connection can be seen on pages 15/16. Some years ago a cousin who was a New Marlborough (MA) native, thoughtfully gave into my care a handwritten ledger, the kind that in the Victorian age had black leatherette covers, more often than not with a red reinforcement over the corners and the binding. This made quite a sturdy book and one designed to last a long, long time. Between the covers of this book was documented the life and times of the Button and Witter families from their earliest advent in 1662 in Scotland, into the 20th century, and “in fancy’s eye” perhaps even to 1066. There is way too much material to repeat it all, so I have exerpted a few stories that will demonstrate how important it is to document events as they occur rather than rely on recollection at some indeterminate future date. That admonition is as apt today as it ever was, for history and genealogy are constantly in the making, and the time to make a record is now, not later. Such was the case when the author of this record, Mrs. Althea-Stone Nettleton of West Stockbridge in the State of Massachusetts first put pen to paper in 1892. That’s right, pen to paper, for the entire book is hand-written in what was once called the Palmer Method of writing. Her penmanship is absolutely perfect from page one throughout the entire 150 pages that follow, leading one to wonder how it was pssible not to get writers cramp. We pick up her story at the introduction, and then recount just a few of the lives she so eloquently and lovingly recalled. Fear Not - I have no intention of recounting all 150 pages here, though the events omitted are equally fascinating. I call this narrative, THE BUTTON WITTER CONNECTION. Mrs. Nettleton started her story by saying... “If we unbend and mount the winged steed “Speculation”, time and space need not be reckoned. We are Button/Witter Connection/Sisson 2 carried in an instant to Plymouth in the Bay State, and behold one of our ancestors landing from the good ship Mayflower on those rock-bound shores...or if he did not reach our shores at that time, no doubt he arrived by the next sailing packet from Old England. We can only give him the merest glance. If one wishes to know how he looked---what was the fashion of his dress---or any other important point in his appearance, let him study a picture of ‘The Landing of the Pilgrims’. We fancy we see a Wittie, or a Wyter, or a Witter---whatever the orthography may be---among the stalwart soldiers under Oliver Cromwell. Earlier we fancy that there may have been a Bouton---or a Button, who wore either the white of the red emblem---it matters little to us which---in the days of the War of the Roses; and still earlier we are confidant that there may gave been a knight of the name Boutonne who faithfully served under the victorious leadership and consequent reign of William the Conqueror of England. This takes us to the year 1066 in England.” On the Witter side this history begins with Lt. William Witter who was commissioned in a time-worn, defaced paper that still exists, saying, “Joseph Talcott, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Colony of Connecticut in Button/Witter Connection/Sisson 3 New England, to William Witter to become Lieutenant of the First Company or Trainband in the Town of Preston. Reposing special trust and confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and Good Conduct, I do by virtue of the Letters of Patents from the Crown of England to this corporation, Appoint and Empower you to take said Trainband into your care and charge---exercising the soldiers in the use of their arms according to the discipline of war. Given under my hand and seal of this Colony, in Hartford, the 5th day of June, in the 14th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, King of Great Britain, Annoque Domini, 1741.” “When we remember that it was during the reign of George the Second that Great Britain was meeting peculiar trials---that her nearest neighbors were unfriendly---that war-like trouble existed with Spain on account of the British and Spanish traders of the high seas--that war was waged over difficulties with the Austrian Succession---that civil strife arose and the attempt of the exiled Stuarts to recover their inheritance--that the war with France was entered upon which finally resulted in the conquest of Canada by British troops---that troubles were met in India on account of the cruelties practiced upon British residents---what wonder that the King looked upon his New England colonists, and Button/Witter Connection/Sisson 4 demanded of them loyalty, courage, and trained military service? Probably in his wildest dreams he never embraced the suspicion that he was giving to those colonists the means for a training which would enable them, in the days of his grandson and successor, to throw off the sovereign yoke of Great Britain.” The saga of William Witter, on a more personal vein, follows. “He was particularly fortunate, or unfortunate, in his marriage relations. Unfortunate, because he was so often bereaved---fortunate, because he was always able to find just the right woman to pity and to offer consolation to his bereaved heart. One must not for a moment suppose he was a ‘Bluebeard’, although he had as many wives, less one, as did Henry the Eighth King of England.” The succession of wives was, #1, Mary Douglas lasted less than one year and her death is shown as Nov. 1734. #2, Zerviah Smith lived just two years of marriage, departing Jan. 1738. #3, Hannah Freeman lived for 21 years with death recorded as Apr. 19, 1759. #4 was Elizabeth Lothrop of Norwich who lived only 7 years as Mrs. William Witter. #5 is the most noteworthy of his wives: Mrs. Elizabeth Draper of Button/Witter Connection/Sisson 5 Boston, who donned her marriage dress on Sep. 9, 1767 at the age of 56 years. Mr. Witter was then 60 years old. They both died in 1798, she in August, he in September. But let me return to Mrs. Nettleton’s narrative. “Shortly after the (last) bride (Mrs. Elizabeth Draper) in her rustling silken robes had appeared in the society of Preston City (as the little village was then called), a wonderful new two wheeled covered equipage was sent down from the metropolis, the purchase of the ‘Esquire’, for use of ‘Madam’ and himself. It excited the wondering admiration of the inhabitants of the little settlement, because it was the first carriage owned by one of the residents. It must have possessed the quality of durability for it was preserved till the days of the third or fourth generation from its first owner. Probably in points of excellence of workmanship it was not unlike the ‘Deacon’s Masterpiece’ so humorously described by our poet, Holmes. “He had it made so like in every part That there wasn’t a chance for one to start For the wheels were just as strong as the thills Button/Witter Connection/ Sisson 6 And the floor was just as strong as the sills And the panels just as strong as the floor, And the whipple-tree(sic) never less nor more, And the back cross-bar as strong as the fore--- And the spring and axles and the hub encore---” The fate of the wonderful Witter carriage was not like the fate of the ‘Deacon’s’ vehicle. “His went to pieces all at once, All at once and nothing first Just as bubbles do when they burst.” let no one speak slightly of that old carriage. That rude two wheeled clumsy affair was an honorable predecessor to the stately landau, the luxurious coupe, the aristocratic Victoria, and the graceful Surrey of modern times.” Lest you get caught up in the narrative, remember that this story was first set to paper in 1892, so reflections about ‘modern times’ have to be placed in context of the time of writing, and not our world of 2003. Button/Witter Connection/Sisson 7 “A truthful history compels us to present a gloomy picture among the other family portraits. Elisha Witter, son of William the First, was a man endowed with mental attributes inclined towards speculation, melancholia, and religious fervor. His family consisted of a wife and three small children. His love of study, especially the Bible and religious works, led him into deep researches after the revealed word of God. In those days, clergymen, like Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards, preached and taught the “terror of the law”--the awful condition of the lost---and the punishments of an avenging God. Detached fragments of scriptures like, “our God is a consuming fire”, and, “flee from the wrath to come”---under the manipulation of a skillful word painter were made to produce imagery revolting and indescribably real. Added to the pages of the old family bible were engravings representing horrible creations of the imagination bearing the title, “The Great Fiery Dragon”, or, “Entrance to the Bottomless Pit.” Reading, hearing, and possibly believing these things to be literally true, what wonder is there that the poor disturbed brain lost its equipoise, and that Elisha Witter was hopelessly bewildered with relation to right and wrong. Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 8 Strange and fearful fancies seemed to come and possess his mind. He finally believed there would be no happiness nor salvation for his wife or children if he did not send them on to heaven by his own hand. In a fit of frenzy, before anyone suspected his designs, he struck down his two oldest children, and rushed at his wife with the same intention against her. Her presence of mind in her dire extremity did not desert her---or rather Providence interposed to save her life. From a window on the second floor of their dwelling, she threw a feather bed and leaped out upon it with her baby in her arms, and escaped without serious injury. Neighbors came to the rescue and the frenzied man was promptly and firmly secured. There were no hospitals for the insane in the country then, but the father bound himself under heavy bonds to keep his unfortunate son in close confinement as long as his life continued. The bonds were never forfeited. A heavily barred room in the father’s house was the asylum where the afflicted man passed the remainder of his days, probably bewailing the cruel fate which had thwarted his purpose of performing what he had imagined to be the will of the Lord. Years later the tortured brain was at rest. The hampered soul went home to meet not an avenging Judge---but a tender, Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 9 loving father.” Of the three sons of William Witter the first, William the Second lived to foster a family, but we have little information to tell of his life. The third son, Frederick, had an interesting life and we shall here recount just a glimpse of his introduction to the Button family. “Like his father, Frederick was instructed in the arts of warfare. In 1783 he received from the “Captain General and Commander-in-chief” in and over the State of Connecticut, a commission to become Lieutenant in the same company, and again in 1787 a commission to become Captain. Frederick Witter was married (Probably) in 1781 to Lydia Tyler. Sixteen years later she died leaving to the father’s care eight young daughters. In 1799, or early in the year 1800, Captain Frederick Witter, the father, died, leaving a large property and his eldest daughter Lydia, aged seventeen years, as head of the household. An engagement of marriage had previously been entered upon between Miss Lydia Witter and Gilbert Button, the son of a neighbor, living about a mile from the Witter homestead. Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 10 Some one was needed to take the position made vacant by the death of Captain Witter. To no one would the eldest daughter turn more readily than to her promised husband. It was decided that notwithstanding they were both young, the wedding day should be hastened, and accordingly as soon as the bans had been duly published the marriage took place. Date, Dec. 4, 1800. The young husband had just passed his twenty-second birth anniversary, and the young wife was not quite eighteen years of age. Gilbert Button immediately became a member of the Witter household; he was duly appointed guardian over the younger sisters, and at once occupied the position of head of the family. As the years passed one after another of the sisters married and removed to other houses. When the marriages of the young ladies took place, their guardian and brother-in-law paid to each one the value of her share of the father’s estate until the property at last became wholly his own.” And so we leave this Witter line; the name appears rarely now for no son was born to Frederick Witter, who seems to have been the last of the male line. Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 11 Now to briefly link up with the Button family we shall take up the tale of Roswell Button, who, the writer claims, was an “unfortunate young man”. “While alone in the forest cutting timber, the heavy trunk of a tree fell upon him, crushing the bones of one leg and holding him fast. In alternate intervals of unconsciousness, and intervals of agony he waited, until he was at last discovered and removed to his home, where he was immediately attended upon by surgical ministrations. Inflamation had so far advanced, and the bones appeared to be so hopelessly crushed that all that surgical skill could suggest was immediate amputation. Anesthetics were almost unknown, so the young man was strapped to a table, and endured with as much fortitude as he possessed, the slow and tortuous process of amputation with the clumsy instruments then employed. Roswell Button was a resident of Rhode Island. He married Miss Polly Spicer of the same state and after the marriage removed to Preston, New London County, Conn., where he engaged in the saddle and harness business, and despite his early misfortune became a successful man. In the process of Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 12 time the family was increased by one son and three daughters. The first daughter was named Sabrina, but probably being considered too much for the little girl, it was shortened to “Sabra”. Upon the second daughter was bestowed the very euphonious name of Parthenia, which the family changed to the less musical “Thany”. Clarissa followed and soon became “Clara”. While the children were still of tender age. the gentle mother was called away, and the mother’s sister, Lydia Spicer was summoned to care for the little orphans. Her sound sense, judicious treatment of the children, and withal her tender sympathy and thorough kindness of heart attracted the father, and afterwards opened afresh the fountain of his affection, and thus as time went on, Lydia Spicer was importuned to consent to occupy the position made vacant by the death of her sister Polly. The marriage between Roswell Button and Lydia Spicer took place, and the time and circumstances clearly demonstrated the fact that in that special case, marriage was a success. Nine children were born to that marriage. Roswell Button died in June 1820; his wife Lydia passed away Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 13 the same month just seven years after the death of her husband.” One further anecdote (though there are many more interesting stories, which will have to await another time) and we shall stop peering into the family history of these people. “Sabra Button was not persuaded to enter into the state of matrimony until she had attained the mature age of forty-nine years, when she became the wife of Jasper Giddings., who had already been bereft of one companion. For twenty-seven years they marched together on life's thoroughfare and then he fell by the wayside. After a year had passed a Mr. Rose offered to be her companion, and his offer was not rejected. A few months elapsed and Mrs. Rose was left in solitude. For third time she was sought in marriage. To quote the words of one of her nieces, “At the age of seventy-nine Aunt Sabra was once more persuaded to exchange her widows weeds for the bridal wreath”. Her last husband, Mr. Williams, was in failing health for several years, after which he left his venerable wife to mourn his loss for nearly seven years. Mrs. Williams departed this Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 14 life in 1873 having attained to nearly the age of ninety years. A picture of her last years shows a pleasant face which seems to say that if the “brow is writ with care”, the heart is still fresh and strong.” And so we take our leave of these families knowing there are many more anecdotes left untold. Perhaps we can visit them again at another time. I will end this narrative with a brief chronology of the generations preceding mine, showing how the Button and Witter families blended over the years by frequent intermarriage. Many other marriages also occurred between siblings of the principal players of this story. JOSIAH WITTER m ELIZABETH WHEELER, Scotland, 1662 EBENEZER, s of Josiah, emigrated to America, m DOROTHY MORGAN, d 1712 WILLIAM, s of William, b. 1707, d. 1798, m 5 times FREDERICK, s of William, b. 1752, d. 1800 LYDIA, dau of Frederick, b. 1783, m. GILBERT BUTTON, 1800, d. 1850 EMILY, dau of Lydia W. Button, b.1808, m. CHESTER SPAULDING, 1831, d. Sheffield, MA. 1867 EMILY PERSIS SPAULDING, b.1836, d.1923,m. HENRY DWIGHT SISSON, 1862 Sisson/Genealogy with a Difference 15 HARRY DWIGHT SISSON, b. 1863, d. 1938,m.ELIZABETH C. WELLS WALTER W. SISSON, b, 1887, d./ 1923,m.JESSICA L. DELLERT JOHN D. SISSON,b. 1921,n. MARY M. IRELAND end