Buttner, Gottlieb

Buttner, Gottlieb a Moravian minister, was born in Germany in 1717, and came to America in October, 1741. In 1740 a mission had been established at Shacomaco, a village thirty miles from Poughkeepsie, near the borders of the Connecticut. Count Zinzendorf ordained Buittner a deacon in February, 1742, and he was appointed a Moravian missionary to this mission. During the first year of his labors among the Mohegan Indians thirty-one persons were baptized. In 1743 Buttner was subjected to considerable persecution, being charged with preaching without authority, and of refusing, on conscientious grounds, to take the oath of allegiance to the constituted authorities. In consequence of this persecution, ten: families of the Mohegans removed to Pennsylvania, where a tract of land had been purchased for them. Buttner died shortly before the breaking-up of the mission, Feb. 23, 1745. See Loskiel, Hist. of Morav. Miss. ii, 58, 63; Allen, Amer. Biog. s.v. (J. C. S.)