Lucy Anna Nixon (1851-1931)
was born in Stoke, Nelson, on 4 June 1851, 1 of 7 children of John Nixon & Eliza Julia Peterson from Nottingham (buried Wanganui). She married John George Butts (1840-1891) in 1869. John was born in Dorset, England, the youngest son of Rev Edward Drury Butts (1793-1863) & Mary Hill, only daughter of James Hill, Esq., Walthamstow.
NOTE His father, Edward Drury Butts, died 14 Nov 1863 at Southsea, Hampshire aged 70
Wellington Independent, 24 July 1869
BUTTS-NIXON - At Wanganui, on the 20th July, at Sedgebrook Grange (the residence of the bride's father), by the Rev C. H. S. Nicholls, John George Butts, Lieutenant 18th Royal Irish, youngest son of the late Rev Edward Drury Butts, Incumbent of Melplaish, Dorset, to Lucy Anna, youngest daughter of J. Nixon, Esq., J.P., Wanganui
NOTES
* marriage of Anna's sister On the 9th July 1863, at Sydney, Theodore Henry Dickens, Esq., barrister, Calcutta, to Matilda Julia, eldest daughter of John Nixon, Esq., J.P., Sedgebrook Grange, Wanganui, New Zealand, and niece to A.T.T. Peterson, Esq., Barrister, Calcutta
* Sedgebrook Grange was a large family estate on the left bank of the Wanganui River. Anna's brother John Henry Nixon, Manager of the BNZ in Wanganui, lived on the estate and bred thoroughbred horses and pedigree Jersey cattle

the children of Lucy & John:
... 1 1871 - 1960 HARRY PAULET Butts
* born in Devonport, England 11 Jan 1871. He married Edith Mary Templer (1867-1947) in Hawera on 13 Dec 1900.
* Edith was 1 of 12 children of Edward Merson Templer (1820-1896) & Mary 'Jane' Saunders King (1837-1906), who were from England & married in NZ
* Harry was very involved in sports and was Secretary & Treasurer of all his local clubs in Hockey, Cricket, Golf, Lawn Tennis, Swimming etc. and took part in Diving Competitions. He was Treasurer & Auditor of the Hawera Library, Treasurer of the Waverley A. & P. Association and President of the Waverley Debating Society.
Edith Mary Butts died in Tauranga 22 Nov 1947 aged 80
Harry Paulet Butts died 15 July 1960 aged 84
They are buried Plots 48 & 49, Row 20, Section 14 at Tauranga Anglican Cemetery

... 2 1875 - 1961 EVA MARY Butts
* born in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, Eva never married. She was a school-mistress, teaching elocution, arithmetic and geography at the Terrace School, Fitzherbert Terrace, Wellington to the Beauchamps (Katherine Mansfield), among others. Katherine wrote that she tolerated, even sometimes liked, Miss Butts, who didn't attempt to make her conform, like Mrs Henry Smith.
Eva Mary Butts died in Christchurch and was cremated and buried at Bolton street, Wellington with her family

... 3 1878 - 1926 MURIEL St CLAIR 'Clair' Butts
* born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, India. Muriel never married.
Muriel died in Wellington 6 March 1926
She was cremated and buried at Bolton street with her family

... 4 1883 - 1960 George Aubrey 'Pitt' Butts
* born in New Zealand, Pitt married Winifred Mary Kempthorne Holmes (1884-1972) nee Roskruge. Winifred had first married Garnet Bowen Holmes in 1907. Garnet was involved in a 'scandalous affair' with women who ran a brothel at 5 Freeling St., Island Bay. It became known as the 'Freeling St Affair' and Winifred divorced him (go to her link) as did other wives (& husbands) of those involved.
Pitt Butts died 20 Oct 1960 in Auckland aged 77. His ashes were scattered from Purewa.
Winifred Mary Butts died 25 July 1972 aged 88. Her burial not yet found.

... 5 1885 - 1885 EMILY Butts
* born prematurely at Felcourt, Wellington, on 27 May 1885, Emily only survived 2 hours and was buried at Bolton Street cemetery

New Zealand Times, 8 Dec 1891
BUTTS - On the 5th December 1891, at his residence, Gordon-street, Newtown, Wellington, John George Butts, retired major 18th Royal Irish Regiment, aged 51 years ...
Evening Post, 7 Dec 1891
DEATH of Lieutenant-Colonel Butts
The brief announcement made in our last issue will have prepared our readers for the news ...

NZ Times, 22 Dec 1892
THE MAYORESS' RECEPTION. The Mayoress held a reception from 4 to 6 yesterday afternoon at her residence, off Hill street. His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Bell received the visitors as they arrived and suitably entertained them. A list of those who were present included Mr H. P. Butts and Mrs Butts ..

NZ Mail, 26 May 1893
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY. Between the hours of noon and 1pm on Wednesday, His Excellency the Governor held a levee at Government House in honour of Her Majesty's Birthday. The following gentlemen attended:- .. Mr H. P. Butts

Hawera & Normanby Star, 9 June 1899
HAWERA PUBLIC LIBRARY. The annual general meeting was held on Thursday evening. Treasurer - Mr C. A. Strack was proposed by Mr Fake and seconded by Mr Davidson and Mr Matthews proposed Mr H. Graves, who declined. Mr Major proposed Mr H. P. Butts; Mr Barton seconded. There followed a very long, personal discussion, where Mr Strack's ability to do an efficient job as Treasurer was in question. Mr Strack finally declined to accept nomination and Mr Butts was elected.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 14 Dec 1900
A large party of relatives and guests assembled at St Mary's Church, Hawera, on Thursday afternoon, for the celebration of the wedding of Mr H. P. Butts and Miss E. M. Templer. The ceremony took place at about a quarter to 3 and was performed by Rev H. Anson, assisted by Rev A. W. H. Compton. Mr R. C. Templer, brother, gave the bride away. Miss A. Templer and Miss Ivy Brett were bridesmaids and two little nieces of the bride carried baskets of flowers, while Mr G. B. Hull was best man. The bride was married in her travelling dress, of dark green, with white hat trimmed with heliotrope and the bridesmaids wore white and yellow. When all the company were assembled the scene was a pretty one. The church was decorated and the usual musical accompaniments to the wedding were played by Mrs Anson. After the ceremony Mrs Templer held a reception, at which a large number of friends were present and shortly before 4 o'clock the bride and bridegroom, amid showers of rice and expressions of good wishes, went off to catch the train to Wanganui.

Wanganui Herald, 20 June 1905
Mr H. P. Butts, who has been on the staff of the Hawera branch of the Bank of Australasia for some time, has been promoted to the managership of the Waverley branch. Mr Butts is a keen hockey and tennis enthisiast. The renowned Hawera Hockey Club will thus lose one of their best backs, whilst Waverley, already strong in tennis, will gain further power by Mr Butts advent

Evening Post, 27 June 1908
A really novel note was struck by Mrs Rankine Brown last week with her charmingly-planned Violet Tea. The rooms were decorated with them, every guest wore a cluster on her bodice and some on the muffs, a dainty fancy - and the tea table was so exquisite.. all the cakes were iced in violet, even some of the tea-cups had violet wreaths painted on them and a most successful novelty was sandwiches of violets, crystallised! There were two competitions, one was the writing of four lines or original poetry on the violet. The prizes for the competitions - one a charming satchel of rose satin strewn with embroidered violets - were won by Miss Kathleen Beauchamp (who later wrote as the talented Katherine Mansfield) and Miss Eva Butts ..

Evening Post, 24 Dec 1908
The Children's Hour Guild, of which Miss Clair Butts of Newtown is president, on Monday gave a Christmas entertainment to about forty children in the Girls' Club Room. Games and an excellent tea were followed by the distribution of gifts from a Christmas tree, as well as parcels of clothing.

Patea Mail, 26 Feb 1909
Mr H. P. Butts, the genial manager of the local branch of the Bank of Australia, leaves to-morrow for a three weeks cycling tour. Mr and Mrs Butts hope to visit the Waitomo caves and the Mokau River, where the scenery is said to be superb.

NZ Times, 14 May 1909
Yesterday Miss Eva Butts gave a small tea for her girl friends at the D.I.C., when among those present were the Misses Lucy Atkinson, Head, Dora Brandon, Hilda Miles, Dorothy Pollen, Grace Morrah, Irene Edwin, Joan Hislop, Kitty MacKenzie and Miss Claire Butts

Evening Post, 4 Jan 1910
Mrs Butts and Miss Claire Butts have gone to pay visits in the Wairarapa. Mrs Hampton has taken their house in their absence.

Dominion, 11 Jan 1910
Miss Eva Butts, who was on the "Waikare" when she was wrecked, (in Wet Jacket Arm, Dusky Sound, Fiordland without loss of life) has returned to Wellington and is staying at Miss Malcolm's

Dominion, 23 May 1910
Mrs Butts, of Newtown, on one occasion many years ago, travelled in the same ship with the present King and the late Duke of Clarence. Some mishap had occurred to the Bacchante, on which the two Princes were travelling and they transferred themselves to a passenger steamer, on which were the late Colonel Butts, with his wife and two very small children. The Duke of Clarence was much interested in Colonel Butts' stories of shooting in India and both the Princes won the hearts of the children of whom they took a great deal of notice. They were pleasant boys, frank and friendly as the present King's sons seem to be. Years before, Colonel Butts had formed one of the guard of honour at the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra and Mrs Butts treasures as an interesting memento, the buckle of the sword-belt her husband wore on that occasion with its badge of the Royal Irish Regiment. It did duty again when Mrs Butts wore it at the service on Friday. Another memento treasured by Miss Butts is a little pen and ink sketch which the Duke of Clarence did for her and which bears his signature.

Evening Post, 5 Dec 1910
All present greatly enjoyed the little fete of the Sunshine Guild on Saturday afternoon in Daniel-street. The Christmas tree was, of course, the cheif centre of admiration and attraction and was a nice fruitful tree too. The sweets were in great demand and the fancy wares also found customers. Mrs Wilford opened the fete with a little speech full of kind sympathy for the work of the guild and had the unfailing bouquet presented to her. It was a charming arrangement of coreopsis, as yellow as the guild's colour. Miss Clair Butts is the secretary of the guild and she and her fellow members bring a great deal of sunshine to many who sadly need such kindly cheering. Any profits of this party will be carefully expended in helping to make Christmastide a happy season to sick sufferers.

Evening Post, 4 Jan 1911
A very pretty little wedding took place last week at St Thomas's Church, the Rev Wynne Bond (vicar) officiating, when Miss Katie Cosbey (Katherine 1884-1962), younger daughter of the late Rev J. Cosbey, of Ings Kendall (England), was married to Dr W. D. Stoney Johnston (Nelson) (William David Stoney 1882-1962), son of the late Rev T. Johnston, Motueka. Miss Claire Butts was bridesmaid and Mr Charles H. Makay was best man. The bride was given away by Lieutenant Cooke, R.N.

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 April 1911
Mr H. P. Butts, the popular local manager of the Waverley branch of the Bank of Australasia, has received notice of his transfer to Gore branch of the bank and leaves in the course of a week or two to take up his new duties. Mr Butts will be greatly missed in sporting circles here, as he takes a keen interest in all outdoor sports. He will be especially missed by the local golf and tennis clubs, of which he is secretary and a very energetic worker for his club's welfare. Although sorry to lose Mr Butts, we have to congratulate him on his well-earned promotion and wish him every success and happiness in his new sphere.

Southland Times, 9 Jan 1912
Archdeacon Jacob, late of Wanganui and vicar-elect of Timaru, in succession to Archdeacon Harper, who has just returned from the overland trip to Milford Sound, is visiting Gore and is the guest of Mr and Mrs H. P. Butts. The Archdeacon will leave for the North to-day.

Evening Post, 9 Aug 1912
Miss Claire Butts is in Masterton, where she is staying with Mrs Vivian Donald. Miss Butts leaves for Christchurch tonight.
NOTE Lucy & Claire spent a number of holidays with the Donalds. This was Gertrude Blanche Mills (1875-1966), born in Havelock, Hawkes Bay, she married Vivian Everard Donald (1878-1970) at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington in 1904. Vivian was born in Masterton, 1 of 2 sons to Donald Donald & Elizabeth Ann Stevens. He went into business with his father as founders of Donald & Son Ltd, manufacturers of wool presses and wire strainers. In 1909 he joined the Board of Directors of the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association, holding the position of Chairman for many years. He also served as President of the Opaki Rifle Club and President of the Wairarapa Rifle Association.
* This is a photo of Vivian & Gertrude Donald taken in their home in Lansdowne in 1958, sitting in front of their extensive art collection, including work from Goldie & Lindauer.
* 1 of their 8 children was Haddon Vivian Donald (1917-2018) DSO, MC, ED NZ soldier, businessman and politician of the National Party. He was the oldest living former NZ Member of Parliament and at the time of his death, was the highest-ranking New Zealand army officer of World War II.
* Vivian & Gertrude are buried in Masterton

Evening Post, 9 Dec 1912
Miss Claire Butts, the president of the Sunshine Guild, is also the enthusiastic head of a branch of the Braille International Correspondence Club

Dominion, 6 Feb 1913
The Hon Trevor and Mrs Ogilvie Grant, Mr and Mrs Reynolds Denniston and Miss Eva Butts leaves Wellington to-day by the 'Warrimoo' for Sydney, where they join the P. & O. 'Beltana' for England.
* In August Eva wrote home enthusiastic of the English Spring which she had just been enjoying partly in Sussex with relations. Also she had been seeing many English schools en passant but the sales were attracting her to London. Visits to Mrs H. Bridge (nee Miss Douglas) at Droxford, to Major and Mrs Drake at Polsham Park, Paigton, also to Lord and Lady Seaton at Buckland Abbey, were among her summer plans. Later in August Paris was to see her, where the French language and French schools would each have their share of attention. In October she was in Dublin, the guest of Mrs Popham (nee Maggie Douglas), and enjoyed the Dublin Horse Fair.
* On 29 Dec she left England for Italy. After that she went on to Ceylon before returning to New Zealand via Australia. She arrived into Melbourne on the 'Omrah' in Jan 1914
* In Feb 1914 Eva arrived in Wellington, via Sydney after 12 months away visiting England, Ireland and the Continent. Her mother Lucy returned to Wellington from her visit to the Southern lakes and Gore and her sister Claire returned after staying with Mrs MacShane in Auckland

Evening Post, 7 Feb 1913
Yesterday afternoon, in St Peter's Church, Wellington, the marriage took place of Miss Ethel Bennett (Ethel Adeline Amy/May 1888-1961), of Melbourne and Mr Charles Handcock Mackay (1882-1952), eldest son of Dr and Mrs Mackay of Nelson. The Ven. Archdeacon Harper, assisted by the Rev L. Mackay, performed the ceremony and Dr Pollen gave the bride away. Miss Claire Butts was the bridesmaid and the best man was Mr W. Mackay, brother of the bridegroom.

Free Lance, 13 March 1915
Mrs Butts is going away for a short holiday. Her son, Mr Pitt Butts, has been an invalid for some months and is still in the Wellington Hospital, but hopes to be quite well again before many months have past

Free Lance, 31 March 1916
Mr Pitt Butts, the younger son of the late Colonel Butts, is making a good recovery from his long illness. Recently he has been to Nelson and though he is still on crutches, he is able to get about a little. One fine day last week he was seen in Newtown Park. Mr Butts has had a hard trial. It has been his fate to lie helpless while all his pals have gone forth to war.

Dominion, 15 March 1917
Yesterday Miss Claire Butts entertained several of her blind friends at her home in Gordon Street, Newtown. The weather was perfect for outdoor entertainment and practically the whole of the day was spent in the garden, where the warm air and the feel of the sunshine were appreciated to the full. Mrs Ewart had lent her gramophone and some fine records added to the pleasure of the guests, who were entertained at luncheon and afternoon tea by Miss Butts and Mrs Butts.

Evening post, 19 Nov 1921
Keen interest is being evinced in the production on Monday night and succeeding nights of "The Satin Slipper," from the pen of Miss Eva Butts of Wellington. It is a one-act play, in the cast of which are Mrs Horace Hunt (who, under the stage name of Nan Bevill, has appeared on the stage and in film plays in London), Mrs Coleridge, Misses Hilda Miles and Pearl Hamilton and Messrs Theodore Trezise and Ivan Findlay. The presentation of the play should be an encouragement to local creative work. Their Excellencies the Governor-General Lord and Lady Jellicoe hoped to be able to attend the performance

Evening Post, 10 March 1926
DEATH OF 'CLAIRE' BUTTS
A great many people of Wellington and other parts of the Dominion will have heard with great regret of the death of Miss Muriel St Clair Butts, second daughter of Mrs Butts, of Gordon street, and the late Colonel Butts, 18th Royal Irish Regiment, who passed away after a long illness. Miss Clair Butts had a very fine and gentle personality and made many friends, especially among the blind, the sick and the sorrowful. Early in life she began as a Sunday school teacher at St Thomas's Church and went on to many other good works. Among these was the reading to and care of blind people and she accomplished the task of learning to read Braille and conducted correspondence for and with the blind in all parts of the Dominion, as well as transcribing many stories, pamphlets and parts of books into Braille for their enjoyment. She was a regular visitor at the Victoria Hospital for Chronic Invalids and wrote letters for them, as well as other kindnesses and giving the cheer of her presence in regular visits.
Miss Butts's life was a beautiful and well-spent one and great sympathy will be extended to her mother and family in their loss.
The funeral service at St Paul's Pro-Cathedral was conducted by the Rev Canon Fancourt, an old friend who came from Palmerston North for the purpose, the Ven. Archdeacon Johnson, vicar of St Paul's and the Rev Mr Burgin, curate of St Thomas's Church.
It was a fully choral and attended by a parade of St John Ambulance members as well as by a great many other friends. The service at the graveside was conducted by the same clergy.
The pall-bearers were Sir Kenneth Douglas, Mr W. Wood, Mr McGhee and Mr Miles Samuel. The late Miss Butt's brothers, Mr H. P. Butts of Tauranga and Mr Pitt Butts of Rotorua were present.

Evening Post, 18 March 1926
The fortnightly meeting of the Wellington South Nursing Division of the order of St John was held on Tuesday in the Masonic Hall. A good attendance of members was present and the work of the evening was various kinds of roller bandaging, followed by home nursing questions, under the direction of the lady superintendent and Mrs Betts. Reference was made to the death of Miss Claire Butts, one of the first members of the division and a message of sympathy passed to the family.

Evening Post, 1 April 1926
The meeting of the committee of the S.P.C.A. was held on Monday last and was presided over by the president, Mr F. Meadowcroft. A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Miss Muriel Butts, who was for many years a very ardent supporter of the work of the society.

Evening Post, 8 Aug 1927
Members of the Suburban Nursing Division met at Mrs Osborn's residence on Saturday evening, the occasion being the presentation to the division of the Clair Butt's Memorial Trophy. A beautiful cup, which bears the following inscription: "Claire Butt's Memorial Trophy, present by Mrs Butts, 1917, Wellington Suburban Nursing Division, S.J.A.B.O., for Individual Home Nursing." In making the presentation, Mrs Butts spoke of Miss Butts' long association with ambulance work and expressed the hope that members would be very keen in this home nursing competition. Mrs Osborn, in returning thanks to Mrs Butts for her generosity in giving such a handsome trophy to perpetuate the memory of the late Sister Claire Butts, felt sure that with such a great example as Miss Butts had set, members would try to follow in her footsteps and in remembering the great Order to which they belong would endeavour to be as loyal as she was to it. In competing for the trophy, all would bear her in loving memory. Mrs Butts, who was accompanied by Mrs Disbury, was presented with a beautiful posy by the members of the division.

Evening Post, 20 Oct 1931
OBITUARY - Mrs Lucy Anna Butts (1851-1831)
The death occurred yesterday of a well-known and highly respected lady, Mrs Butts, widow of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Butts, 18th Royal Irish Regiment and daughter of the late Major and Mrs Nixon, of Sedgwick Estate, Wanganui.
Mrs Butts, who had resided a great many years in Wellington, was a highly cultivated woman with the old-school ideas of courtesy and duty towards others. She had a delightful sense of humour, a wonderful memory, never forgetting a face or name and was a great social favourite as she had a never-failing fund of cheerful pleasantness which made her a delightful companion and friend. Mrs Butts was eminently kind too and was always ready to help others, though she was the last to make any mention or parade of her good deeds.
After the death of one of her daughters, Miss Clare Butts, Mrs Butts lived with her daughter Miss Eva Butts at Clifton terrace. She was 80 years of age and was born at Stoke, Nelson, but soon afterwards the family moved to Wanganui and took up the well-known Sedgwick Estate.

Mrs Butts came of a very interesting family. Her grandmother was a Miss Turton, daughter of Sir Thomas Turton, of Starborough Castle, Kent. She married first a Mr Petersen, son of a well-known Count Petersen, of Norway, who, during the Napoleonic War, was a fugitive from his country and a sloop of was was sent for him to the coast of Holland, bringing him to England, where he settled and bought an estate in Kent.
Mrs Nixon's two sisters married Italian noblemen, one the Marchese Burl-Macchi, of Milan and the other Conti Riccardi, the family of the latter living at Eden hall, Kent, not far from Starborough Castle. Both families attained high positions and are historical people.

The late Lieutenant-Colonel Butts came to Wellington as Commandant of the District and held the position up till the time of his death, many years ago. The family includes Miss Butts (of Clifton terrace, Wellington), Mr Harry Butts (manager of the Bank of Australasia, Tauranga) and Mr Pitt Butts (Rotorua). Much sympathy will be felt with them in the loss of their mother, who was to the end full of interest in life, a great reader of good literature and who kept herself up to date in every sense of the expression

Evening Post, 1 Feb 1935
Mrs Ruthven, Bedford, England, who is visiting New Zealand and has been staying with a cousin, Mr Harry Butts, Tauranga, is now in Wellington, to see something of Miss Eva Butts and will leave on Monday for the Sounds trip.

NZ Herald, 15 Oct 1935
There was a large party arranged last week in Wellington by Lady Myers, Mrs Knox Gilmer, Mrs Godfrey Wilson, Mrs Herbert and Miss Eva Butts for Mrs Sprott (Edith Christina Campbell of Dublin), who, with her husband Bishop Sprott, will be leaving Bishopscourt shortly to take up their residence at Brooklyn. On behalf of some of Mrs Sprott's friends, lady Myers presented her with several gifts as an expression of the appreciation of her public work as well as of their affection for her

John George Butts died 5 Dec 1891 aged 51
Lucy Anna Butts died 30 Oct 1931 aged 80
They are buried Plot 7904 at Bolton Street cemetery with others ..

PHOTO
The family buried in Plot 7904, C of E at Bolton St are John, his wife Lucy and daughters Eva Mary and Muriel St Clair
The HEADSTONE reads:
In Loving Memory Of
Lieut Colonel J. G. BUTTS
Late The Royal Irish Regiment
Born April 2nd 1840
Died December 5th 1891
Erected by the officers, noncommissioned officers and men of the Volunteer Force, Wellington District 1892

LUCY ANNA BUTTS
beloved wife of above
Born 1851 - Died 1931

MURIEL St CLAIR BUTTS
Born at Kasauli
Died at Wellington
6th March 1926 aged 47 years

EVA MARY Butts
Born India
Died at Christchurch 31 May 1961 aged 86