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| Button Street showing the rear of Philip Son & Nephew bookshop. |
Button Street, off Whitechapel, formerly Lower Stanley Street, was named after Mr. John Button, who was, previous to his death on the 18th of November 1785, the oldest Burgess in Liverpool. This street was evidently formed about the time the Pool was filled up
and Frog Lane formed on the site. It was only now about 20 yards in
length, and was in all probability merely a passage, at this time, from
Frog Lane to Rainford's Gardens immediately in the rear. It was
customary, especially in this neighbourhood, to name the streets after
the owners or lessees of abutting lands, and that this was done in the
case of Button Street seems conclusive.
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| Rainford Gardens looking up to Button Street |
On the 23rd of January 1722 a Lease was granted of a piece of land and two messuages having a frontage of 8 yards to Frog Lane (Whitechapel) of a depth along the north side of Button Street of 27 yards, the term being 3 lives of 21 years. The lives were the Lessee John Button, Mary his wife and Esther his daughter. On the 5th of August 1747 the above Lease was renewed to same. Description 2 houses and several cottages. Lives Lessee, Mary daughter of Benjamin Robinson and Esther the wife of said Benjamin Robinson. In 1802 part of the above Lease was sold to William Rathbone. In 1803 other part sold to William Gregson. The remainder expired, and the name of Button is not again recorded.
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| Button street. March 1973 |
In connection with this John Button there is one rather interesting incident, that he told to his great-
grandson,
Daniel Wilcox (son of the Captain), and he passed the story on to John
Button Wilcox, his son, who told the story to his grandson, that he,
John Button, had been present at the opening of St. Peter's Church, and
had been on that occasion on the top of the tower, and from there at
that time it was almost possible to count all the houses in Liverpool.
That was in 1704.
Here is a copy of the will of John Button, which is
useful in giving particulars of various inhabitants of Liverpool at the
date on which it was made, i.e the I7th of February 1768.
Extracted from the District Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty's High Court of Justice at Chester.
'In
the name of God Amen I John Button of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Bricklayer being of a sound and disposing mind and memory do
make and ordain this my last Will and Testament (setting aside or making
void and of none effect all former Wills made by me in manner and form
following that is to say Imprimis I Will that all my just debts and
funeral charges be paid and discharged by my Executor hereinafter named.
Item I, give and bequeath unto my son in law Benjamin Robinson and
his wife Esther after my decease all the profitts or rents arising from
two houses in Mersey Street in Liverpool now in the occupation of my son
in law Benjamin Robinson and his daughter Mary Willcox and likewise all
the profitts or rents arising from six houses in Frog Lane and
Rainfords Garden now in the occupation of Thomas Green, Thomas Gill,
Thomas Penny, Thomas Taylor, Catharine Aspinwell and Edward Burn all
which profitts and rents shall my son in law Benjamin Robinson or his
wife Esther receive and make use of for their own use or convenience
during their natural lives. Nevertheless it shall be so provided that
neither Benjamin Robinson or his wife Esther shall have it in their
power jointly or separately to sell or dispose of their right of
reversion in the profitts or rents aforesaid. Item, at or after the
decease of my son in law Benjamin Robinson and his wife Esther I do give
and demise unto Daniel Robinson Sailmaker son of Benjamin Robinson and
his heirs the two houses in Mersey Street with their appurtenances now
in the occupation of Benjamin Robinson and his daughter Mary Willcox.
Item, at or after the decease of my son in law Benjamin Robinson and his
wife Esther I give and demise unto Mary Willcox daughter of Benjamin
Robinson and her heirs Six houses in Frog Lane and Rainfords Garden now
in the occupation of Thomas Green, Thomas Gill, Thomas Penny, Thomas
Taylor, Catharine Aspinwell and Edward Burne. Item, if Daniel Robinson
son of Benjamin Robinson and Esther Robinson dies without lawfull issue
that then the two houses in Mersey Street bequeathed him as before
mentioned shall descend to Mary Willcox and the lawfull heirs of her
body. Item, if Mary Willcox daughter of Benjamin and Esther Robinson
dies without lawfull issue that then the six houses in Frogg Lane and
Rainfords Garden bequeathed her as before mentioned shall descend to
Daniel Robinson and the lawfull heirs of his body. Item, whatever cash
bills notes household goods I may have by me at my death excepting
wearing apparel would have them valued by an appraiser and distributed
equally amongst these after mentioned persons that is my son in law
Benjamin Robinson, his wife Esther Robinson, Benjamin Robinson, son
Daniel Robinson and Benjamin Robinson's daughter Mary Willcox. Item, I
give to my brother Nathan Button all my wearing apparel. Lastly I do
make and constitute Mr. Joseph Brooks and Mr. James Brooks of Liverpool
and Testament dated this seventeenth day of February in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight.'
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/06/historical-liverpool-dwellings-everton.html
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