The family of Dutton takes its name from the ancient town of Dutton in England. In the records, one part of this town was held by a man named Odard or Udard, also spelled Hudard and Hodard, who came from Normandy in 1066 with William the Conqueror. In the distribution of the conquered lands, Hodard received a good part of the town of Dutton in Cheshire, and settled there. Hodard was Lord of Dutton and his descendants added the name of the town to their Christian names after he received the land. The names of Dutton and Dunton have the same origin, and in the same American family the two spellings were used as late as the revolution. It is assumed therefore that the button and Dunton pioneers of Reading, MA, namely, Thomas, Josiah, Robert, and Samuel, may have been the sons of John Dutton. Cutter, Genealogical and Memorial of New England Families, pp. 194–195. Thomas and Susannah (Palmer) Dutton Thomas Dutton Born: in England, circa 1621 Died: in Billerica, MA, 22 January 1687 Parents: Uncertain. Refer to text below Born: circa 1626
Susannah Palmer Died: in Billerica 27 August 1684, age 58 years Father: John Palmer Mother: Unknown Married: probably in Reading, MA.
Second Wife: Ruth Hooper, probably the widow of William Hooper of Reading, MA. It is thought that Thomas came to America in 1630 with the man we assume was his fathe There is a record that John, the father, came before the General Court of Massachusett: October 1640. Thomas Dutton and his wife lived in Reading, MA, for seven years. In 1668 lived in Woburn, MA, for ten years. They moved to Billerica, MA, in 1669 and settled on the side of Fox brook. Thomas was accepted as an inhabitant of Billerica on 22 November 1660
Thomas and his wife Susannah (Palmer) button had nine children: • Thomas, Jr., b. in Reading, MA, 14 Sept. 1648; m. (1) Rebecca (Braybrook) Draper; m Converse • Mary, b. in Reading, MA, 14 Nov. 1650 • Susannah, b. in Reading, MA, 27 Feb. 1653/4 • John, b in Reading, MA, 28 March 1656/7; m. Sarah Shed • Elizabeth, b. in Woburn, MA, 28 Jan. 1658/9 • Joseph, b. in Woburn, MA, 25 Jan. 1660/1; d. in East Hadden, CT, 1734; m. Mary Cutl • Sarah, 6 m Woburn, MA, 5 March 1661/2. • James, b, in Woburn, MA, 22 Aug. 1665, • Benjamin, b. in Woburn, MA, 19 Feb. 1667.
Source: Brent Bunker