Batten Family
Welcome to my Batten Family
My Direct Maternal Line
William Batten buried 23rd August 1795
Edward Batten c1780- 4th January 1849
John Batten c1816 - 3rd March 1866
Elizabeth Batten 25th March 1849 - 2nd February 1929
This is the part of my family whose name was often mentioned by my Nan but as I have said on previous pages my Nan was a great storyteller. Whilst I have been able to prove most of the stories on the Groves family that she told me, the stories on the Batten's have been far more difficult to prove. Supposedly there was a German link and a royalty link. The most farfetched link is that the family invented the 'dummy tit' but then did they have a connection? The men on my side of the family worked as Skinners’ and my research found that some of the earliest dummies were made from leather. Therefore, I do not think they invented them, but did they possibly help to manufacture them. Or maybe not!!
The Batten family possibly arrived in Denbighshire around the 1770's the first documentation I could find was for 1778. At this time I cannot find where the Batten family originated from there is no mention of the family in the Baptism Register for Denbigh parishes from 1703-1739, neither have I found a mention in the parish registers of marriages between 1739-1753 nor the burial registers between 1739-1773. Source: Registers produced by Clwyd Family History Society Vol. 2(1) and Vol. 4.
Further confusion arises because the surname Batten has been transcribed as Ballen, Battin; Batting; Barton; Baton, Bolten and Beaton. To add to the confusion Wm Batten, Wesleyan Minister is recorded on his obituary and in the Denbigh, records as being the son of "William Beaton" and I now have more questions than answers, can anyone help?
Questions
When did the Battens come into Wales?
Where did they come from? Family researchers who have been doing this longer than I have suggested the Batten’s might have come from Cornwall. However, there are at least four other researchers who now vaguely remember a German link, none of us can be sure and we are all now wishing we had paid more attention as children.
William Batten who was buried on 23rd August 1795 his burial is recorded in Volume 8 of Denbigh Parish Registers; Burials 1790-1800, produced by Clwyd Family History Society. My family researchers know that he was married to an Arabella Jones (known as Bella). At this time, I do not know when they married and as far as I am aware, they both came from Denbigh. It is looking as if Arabella was not his first wife; this is because the Rev. William’s mother was shown as Rebecck, this is how it is spelt in the records. At this time, I have no idea what happened to Rebecck, the Rev. William’s mother, unless 'Becck' became 'Bella', as suggested by Carol one of the other Batten family researchers. Is this an explanation or speculation I way at this time neither of us have any proof?
William was recorded in 1779 on the Rev. William's baptism record as being William Beaton but his burial record shows him as William Batten. William's occupation on both records was shown as Skinner.
To the best of my knowledge William had four traceable children some of which have been quite a surprise. Why do I think there might have been more? (Explanation soon)
Followers of my website will know that I tend to follow a direct line however, with the help of other family researchers I have found that Rev. William Batten 1778 the eldest son of William was my great-uncle x 4 and he and his son Thomas c1720 were Wesleyan Ministers. William was a Minister between 1804 - 1864 and Thomas 1845 - 1857.
I still have further research to do here and as these two were interesting and reasonably well documented I decided to follow them as well as my direct line through Edward Batten c1780. Source: http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections Thank you to Paul, Cath and Julia for your help and suggestions.
William Batten (also recorded as Beaton) died 23rd August 1795 and Arabella died 27th March 1815 both died at Denbigh. Arabella was shown on the records as Bella. Source IGI
1. William Batten 1778 – 1st September 1864 the eldest son of William and because there is a lot of information on his life from the time, he became a Wesleyan Minister I have given him his own page. William's baptism on the 16th February 1779 shows that he was the son of William Beaton, occupation Skinner and his mother's name shown as Rebecck. Source: Vol 5 Denbigh Parish Records; Baptisms 1774-1790 produced by Clwyd Family History Society www.clwydfhs.org.uk
2. Edward Batten 1780 - 1864 my great-grandfather x 4 was the second son of William Batten. Scroll down for his history.
3. Mary Batten c1782 - 1816 currently appears to be the only daughter of William and Arabella. No further details currently and not likely to follow this line.
4. Thomas born 22nd November 1783 - 15th November 1810 the youngest son of William Beaton and Arabella (nee Jones). Thomas was baptised 30th November 1783 this baptism was recorded in volume 5 of the Denbigh Parish Registers 1774 - 1790.
On October 3rd, 1803 Thomas married Elizabeth Pughe. The record reads: Thomas Barton (Skinner) "b opt" (banns of this parish) a bachelor Sig: Batten, s/o William Barton, dec, by Bella h/w formerly Jones and Elizabeth Pughe d/o Thos. Pughe, Weaver spinster opt by Mary h/w formerly Davies. Witnesses were John Bartley and Isaac James. Source for date of death IGI
We now move on to Edward Batten and my direct line.
Edward Batten the second son of William and Arabella and my Great Grandfather x 4 born 1780 - 1849, married Elizabeth Evans 23rd April 1803, by banns. They both at the time of marriage where living in Denbigh the records show Edward as Edward Barton however, he signed his signature at Edward Batten. Witnesses were John Henshaw and Isaac James. Elizabeth and Edward had 7 children. As with all family history, research dates and places can differ from one record to another. Elizabeth Evans died in 1837 and Edward Batten remarried in Newtown Montgomeryshire Anne Oliver. Source GRO: Qtr. 4 1839, Vol; 27, Page 193.
Finally, I have sent for Edward Batten's marriage details to Ann Oliver his second wife as follows:
10th November 1839 by Banns in the Parish Church, Newtown, Montgomeryshire according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England.
Edward Batten full age Widower, Skinner, Bank, Newtown, Father William Batten, Skinner.
Ann Oliver, Spinster, Servant. Church Square, Newtown, Father Richard Oliver, Labourer.
Edward signed his name Ann used her 'mark', witnesses John Davies and ---- C. Horton
--
As a point of interest Isaac James shown as one of the witnesses at Edward's marriage and mentioned in Ancient and Modern Denbigh, page 300 as one of the clerks who would not receive any fees, but would receive "offerings", or gratuities from parties attending, funerals, marriages and churching’s. The dissenters however, had a conscientious objection to give offerings at funerals, because they believed this to be a remnant of a Popish custom of paying the priest for the release of a departed soul out of purgatory.
Anne Oliver, Edward's second wife was born 28th February 1811 at Newtown and was baptised 19th March 1811, her parents were Richard and Jane. Source: Montgomeryshire Baptisms provider http://home.freeuk.net/montgensoc
1841 Census for Wales
Edward and Ann are on the 1841 census for Wales living at Gas Street, Newtown, he was aged 60 and his occupation Skinner and Anne is aged 30. Note their surname spelt Batton. Source: RG HO107, piece 40, folio 1/51, page 30
Children of Edward and Elizabeth (nee Evans)
William c1804 eldest son of Edward and Elizabeth
Edward c1806 - 12th November 1808
Thomas c1810 – 1858 I have researched Thomas yet have not had time to add his details here.
Edward 1813
John baptised 12th May 1817 - buried 3rd March 1866 my Great Grandfather x 3 scroll down for further details.
Elizabeth c1820 born Denbigh, I believe Elizabeth moved to Newtown with her father after her mother's death. On 31st August 1846, Elizabeth a servant, married John Evans, widower whose occupation was Tin man the son of Daniel Evans cutter. My thanks to Joan and Derrick for this information. GRO source; Volume 27, page 79.
James was baptised 28th February 1822 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in the Parish of Denbigh. The records show that his family where living at Henllan Street Henllan and his father's occupation was a Glover. Sadly, James died in 1829. Source: TNA ref: RG4/Piece/ 3776/ Folio 0
I am not aware at this time that Edward and his second wife Anne had any children. Edward died 4th January 1849 and Anne registered his death the address given as Bank Cottage Newtown.
Below is a photograph of Bank Cottage and I understand that Edward and Anne lived at the last cottage. My thanks to Joan and Derrick for sending the photograph and details of Edward's death.
The above is a brief guide to how I arrived at my direct line and hopefully I will be able to add more information later.