JOHN & MARY’S CHILDREN
William Batten born c1845 at Nanty Glyn, Denbighshire
1851 details to follow
The 1861 census shows that William then aged 17 and working as a Skinner was living at home with his parents and brothers and sisters. (See 1861 census main page for further details).
1871 census William living at home in Willow Street with his mother two brothers and two sisters. (See Mary Batten 1871 referred to in the census on main page for further details). Source: RG10/2782, folio 33, page 3.
William married in Qtr 3 Jul/Aug/Sep 1871 to Margaret Rogers in Oswestry. They had a very short life together and it would appear they had three children all girls. The first daughter Harriet was born c1873, Mary born c1875 and Jane was born the year her mother died in 1878. Margaret died at the age of 33 at Oswestry; at this stage I have no burial details. Source of Margaret’s death: GRO Vol: 6a, page 631.
In 1881 the census shows that William is living with his mother Mary as Head of the family and his three daughters, Harriet aged 8, Mary aged 6, and Jane aged 3. The address the family were living at was 1 Chapel Street, Oswestry and William’s occupation was given as Skinner.
The family address in 1891 was given as 1 Cripplegate, William’s mother Mary as Head of the family aged 75 and William aged 46, occupation Skinner. The only child living at home was Jane aged 13. At this stage I have not followed the other two daughters Harriet and Mary.
By the 1901 census William’s mother Mary had died and he was still working as a Skinner only on this census the word ‘Fur’ is next to Skinner. William aged 56, his daughter Jane aged 23, where living at home, they had moved to Lorne Street Oswestry. This is interesting because William’s sister Bess (Elizabeth) was living either next door but one or across the road with her children and her husband William Groves. This leads me to assume that this part of the family were quite close.
William died Qtr 2 Apr/May/Jun 1907 aged 62. At this time I have no burial details.
Ellen Batten born c1844 Denbigh, possibly Henllan Street. On the 1851 census Ellen was aged 4 and a scholar, the family address Henllan Street, Denbigh. (See main page for family details). Ellen’s age on the 1851 and 1861 show a three year difference. The 1861 census show Ellen aged 17 and working as a servant at the White Lion Inn, Willow Street. Edward Edwards is the Inn Keeper aged 34, his wife Catherine Edwards aged 24 and Charles Lamb aged 16, a servant.
By the 1871 census Ellen aged 25 had married Edward Humphreys and they where living at Pool Road, Oswestry. Edward’s worked as a Stone Mason he was aged 29. The couple had one son Thomas aged 1 month. I believe Ellen and Edward married in 1865 but as yet have no further details.
Ellen and Edward had a very short life together, Ellen died on 31st March 1876 at 1 Parry’s Buildings Oswestry, aged 30 of Ovarian disease. This address we now know was her mother’s home. Her husband Edward registered her death and his address was given at Nant Mawr, Trefonen which is near Oswestry.
Edward died four months later on the 25th July 1876 of TB at Upper Church Street Oswestry. His death was registered by my Great Grandmother x 2 Elizabeth Jones who was in attendance at his death and her address was given as 1 Parry’s Buildings, Oswestry.
Ellen and Edward had at least three children and it would appear that the youngest John was brought up by Edward’s parents. The other children were not so lucky and ended up in the workhouse at Oswestry. (Details to follow)
The source for most of the information on Ellen and Edward comes from Julia who is a direct descendent, her Great Grandfather was Thomas Humphreys, their first child. Thank you Julia for your help, it is greatly appreciated.
Elizabeth Batten (see main page)
Edward Batten born c1851 on the 1861 census he was living at home with his parents and siblings (see main page) and he was aged 9. The 1871 census show that Edward then aged 19 was working as a Skinner and living at home with his mother, Brother John and Sisters Anne and Jane. What is interesting here is that I can not find Edward at this time on the 1881 census; he might have married and had at least two children. Looking at the Shropshire Burial Index there are two children who died, John Edward Batten who died aged 9 months who died 1868 and Edward Batten aged 10 weeks, 1875. The Shropshire Burial Index refers to both the children as the daughters (yes you have read that right) of Edward Batten of Parry’s Buildings. This poses the following questions.
1. Did Edward marry and to who?
2. Did Edward have any more children?
3 Why did he die at his mother’s house in 1885? See his obituary next.
Death announcement in the Advertizer for 4th November 1885 reads as follows: ‘October 29, aged 35, at his mother’s house, Mrs, Mary Batten, Cripple Gate-street, Castle Fields, Edward, second son of the late John Batten, skinner, Oswestry formerly of Henllan-street, Denbigh.
Mary Batten
Anne Batten
Jane Batten
John Batten born c1860, John appears on the 1861 census born in Oswestry and aged 10 months. The 1871 census shows he was aged 11 and living at home with his mother Mary, his brother Edward and sisters Anne and Jane. At this time I have not found John on the 1881 census however, from his death notice in the Oswestry Advertizer he had become a Pte in the 43rd Regiment from the notice it would appear that he had not married nor had children. John died at home at his mother’s.
Death announcement in the Advertizer for 22nd September 1886 reads as follows: ‘September 25, aged 26 at 1, Parry’s-buildings, Cripple-gate Street, Castle Fields, Oswestry, Private John Batten, 43rd Regiment, third son of the late John and Mary Batten, Oswestry, formerly of Denbigh’. John was buried at Oswestry Cemetery 25th September 1886 aged 26, on the burial records occupation at the time of death was shown as Skinner. He is buried in Grave P in P, 2nd interment; as far as I can tell at this stage he is buried with his brother and his mother Mary. Source for burial details Shropshire Burials Index Edition 4 produced by Shropshire Family History Society www.sfhs.org.uk
mypastonline.uk 