Butterfield was an English weaver who immigrated to the United States during an influx of English weavers to the New England area during the early 19th century. Butterfield worked with another weaver, James Cunningham, until the 1830s in Oneida County, New York. When the partnership ended, they created individual businesses. Despite this, Butterfield and Cunningham would both continue to create coverlets in this exact same design independently. Textiles by Butterfield, independently, typically fall between 1834-1837.