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Born Brighton, Sussex, 1854, he was a library porter in Brighton in 1871, then vanishes. Reappears as a bricklayer, a boarder in the home of his younger brother William Henry in Dartford, Kent in 1901. Three of his brothers had gone to Australia (Albert in 1870s to Melbourne, Arthur in 1883 to Queensland, William Henry in 1891 to Melbourne but returned to England in 1900). However I've found no trace of Edward James in any passenger lists or Australia/NZ records. If anybody has come across him in England, Australia, or anywhere else, please let me know! I also have no clue where he went after his brief reappearance in the 1901 census.

Nice to see that his father was Benjamin Button! [ As in the film, in case anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about! ]

For our reference, as it often helps to see the actual records mentioned;

Edward James Button
in the England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name: Edward James Button
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 19 Mar 1854
Baptism Place: St. Peters, Brighton, Sussex, England
Father: Benjamin Button
Mother: Ellen
FHL Film Number: 1067134
Reference ID: item 7 p 150


He seems to be always known as James.


James E Button
in the 1861 England Census
Name: James E Button
Age: 7
Estimated birth year: 1854
Relation: Son
Father's name: Benjamin Button
Mother's name: Eleanor Button
Gender: Male
Where born: Brighton, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Brighton
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Street address:
Occupation:
Condition as to marriage:
View image
Registration district: Brighton
Sub-registration district: Kemp Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 14
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 20
Piece: 592
Folio: 124
Page Number: 4
Household Members:
Name Age
Benjamin Button 42
Eleanor Button 32
Benjamin Button 19
Elizabeth Button 18
Charlotte Button 16
John Button 14
Mary Ann Button 9
James E Button 7
Albert Button 5
Arthur Button 3
Frederick Button 1



James Button
in the 1871 England Census
Name: James Button
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: 1854
Relation: Son
Gender: Male
Where born: Brighton Sussex England
Civil Parish: Brighton
Town: Brighton
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England
Registration district: Brighton
Sub-registration district: Kemp Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 14
Household schedule number: 12
Piece: 1074
Folio: 92
Page Number: 2
Household Members:
Name Age
Eleanor Bullen 42
Mary Ann Bullen 19
James Button 17 - library porter
Albert Button 15
Arthur Button 13
William Button 8
Eleanor Button 5
Ernest Button 3


James Button
in the 1901 England Census
Name: James Button
Age: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1856
Relation to Head: Boarder
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Brighton, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Dartford
Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity
Town: Dartford
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Dartford
Sub-registration district: Dartford
ED, institution, or vessel: 02
Neighbors:
Piece: 702
Folio: 53
Page Number: 57
Household schedule number: 346
Household Members:
Name Age
William Button 35
Frances E Button 24
Hilda M Button 4
Beatrice F Button 3
Maude M Button 1
James Button 45 - bricklayer

How certain are you that the boarder in 1901 is the right man? Do you have anything in the way,of proof?

For what it's worth, there's no other James Button born in Brighton 1852-58.

Searching for Sussex births on FreeBMD -
there's a James Bottin born in Ticehurst in 1858, and a James Botten in Tunbridge in 1855.

Registration in England/Wales wasn’t enforced until 1875

True.

Not saying it isn't the same person, but just hoping to get the poster to think carefully

A tree on ancestry has this

James Edward Button
1854–1938

Fact DetailsMediaSource Citations
Fact Details
30 Aug 1882
Ringwood Victoria Australia
Spouse
Margaret Elizabeth Ross
1859-1895
....................................................

Margaret Elizabeth Ross
1859–1895
BIRTH 1859 • Inverness Invernesshire Scotland
DEATH 1895 • Melbourne Victoria Australia
.............................................

James Edward Button
1854–1938
BIRTH JAN 1854 • Brighton, Sussex, England
DEATH 30 MAY 1938 • Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Have you checked 'members' trees'? There are several listings -which may help.

(I couldn't see any death of James/Edward Button in Perth WAus)


Valerie
WAus

margaret elizabeth ross married albert button

Name: Margaret Elizabeth Button
Death Date: 3 Oct 1895
Burial Place: Victoria, Australia
Cemetery: Melbourne
Section: W
Grave Number: 446
Religion: C-E
Transcription: Sacred to the memory of our dear little bud Mary Eleanor BUTTON who died 13 Jan 1884, age 4 mths also my dear wife Margaret Elizabeth BUTTON who died 3 Oct 1895, age 36 yrs Alas she has gone, a wife so dear a mother kind,a friend sincere. We mourn her loss, but hope to meet inheaven above in union sweet Erected by Albert BUTTON.
Relatives:
Name
Margaret Elizabeth Button

Name: Albert Button
Gender: Male
Marriage Registration Year: 1882
Marriage Registration Place: Victoria, Australia
Spouse: Elizabeth Ross
Reference Number: 4363

Looks like the ancestry tree may have added above info to the wrong brother.

Thanks, Catherine and Maddy - yes, it was definitely Albert Button, a younger brother of James, who married Margaret Ross. I'm in touch with some of Albert's descendants, now living in W. Australia, who have confirmed this. And they had never heard of James Button. Yes, Catherine - this is not the only Ancestry tree that confuses these brothers. I think it must have been a transcription error. Too easy to copy-paste!

Of the three Button borthers who definitely went to Australia, Albert first lived in Melbourne, and later moved to Fremantle and Perth. Arthur died in Sydney in 1896; his estranged wife later remarried. William Henry ran the Phillip Island Hotel in Cowes but returned to England in 1900. Both William Henry and James were in Dartford, Kent in the 1901 census, with correct ages and birth place Brighton, Sussex. I have no doubt that these are correct identifications. William Henry had a complicated life, with two families - in Kent and in Brighton - and died in Brighton in 1908. James disappeared again.

??? England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

James E
Last name Button
Gender Male
Birth year 1853
Age 69
Death quarter 4
Death year 1922
District Thanet
County Kent
Volume 2A
Page 1207


but that may be this man.

Button
James
1853
England & Wales Births 1837-2006
Thanet, Kent, England

Full name of the man who died in Thanet:

BUTTON, JAMES EDWARD 69
GRO Reference: 1922 D Quarter in THANET Volume 02A Page 1207


The one born in Thanet is only registered as James, and is only James throughout his life, according to censuses and marriage..
Born (mmn Goldsmith - parents Frederick and Jane ) and lived in Ramsgate, married Charlotte Amelia Spain.
He was a seaman/fisherman.
Still living in 1911, though "at sea".
But having said that, I don't see his death, if it's not the one in 1922 - at least not in Thanet..
There's a possible death in Sunderland 1921. Perhaps he was away at sea when he died.

Charlotte was a widow by 1939, still living in Ramsgate, and died in 1946.