The story of the Battens starts with the first George Batten, he was born in Bitton which is in Bristol. He met and married Ann Bawn she was also born there.

George Snr died the family then moved I am not sure if their next move was to Coleford, Somerset but we know the family did move there at one point where they met the Wilcox Family.

Here is the family living in Chelwood, Somerset on the 1851 Census.

Name Age Occupation Where born

Chelwood in 1851 Census

BATTEN Ann Widow/er 40 Pauper Bitton, Glos.

Olive 14 Servant Chew Magna, Som.

William 12 Farm Servant High Littleton, Som.

James 10 Scholar Bitton, Glos.

George 8 Scholar Bitton, Glos.

Mercy 6 Scholar Bitton, Glos.

Elizabeth 4 Chelwood, Som.

George jnr and two of his brothers Joseph and James met in Coleford three sisters, Rhoda, Louisa and Sarah Wilcox.  They then married them.

Here is the Wilcox family on the 1841 Census

7th June 1841 

Address

Church Lane

Coleford

Kilmersdon

Name  Age male/female Occupation where born

Willcox  John  30 M   Carpenter   Coleford      

Willcox Sarah  30  F   Coleford   Carrier Maiden name

  Willcox Thirza  6 F

Willcox Louisa 5 5

Willcox Mary  3 F

 Willcox John 1M   

George and his wife Rhoda for a time settled in Coleford where their first daughter Olivia was born in February 1868.  We then find the family on the 1871 Census in Trowbridge, George is described as a Grocer

1871 Census

12 Bond Street,

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

Name Age in 1871 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island 

George Batten 28  Siston, Gloucestershire, England Head Grocer  

Rhoda Batten 24  Kilmersdon, Somerset, England Wife

Olivia T Batten 3  Kilmersdon, Somerset, England Daughter 

Agnes A Batten 1  Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England Daughter 

We dont know how long they lived in Trowbridge, but we then see them in Gorton, Manchester on the 1881 Census

1881 Household: Incorrect name, but Correct Family

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability

George BOTTEN Head M Male 38 North Common, Gloucester,

Warder H M Prison    

Rhoda E. BOTTEN Wife M Female 34 Coleford, Somerset,        

Olivia J. BOTTEN Daur Female 13 Coleford, Somerset, Scholar

Agnes S. BOTTEN Daur Female 11 Trowbridge, Wiltshire Scholar    

Florence L. BOTTON Daur Female 9 Trowbridge, Wiltshire Scholar    

Minnie G.BOTTON Daur Female 7 Manchester, Lancashire Scholar    

George W. BOTTON Son Male 5 Manchester, Lancashire Scholar

Joseph H. BOTTON Son Male 3 Manchester, Lancashire Scholar

Beatrice A. BOTTON Daur Female 1 Manchester, Lancashire

Ann BOARDMAN Boarder U Female 45 Pendlebury, Lancashire No Profession   

Source Information:

Dwelling   53 Birch St

Census Place Gorton, Lancashire, England

Family History Library Film   1341932

Public Records Office Reference   RG11

Piece / Folio   3902 / 66

Page Number   9

So, from being a George then becomes a Warder with The Prison, most likely to be Strangeways Prison.

So, moving onto the 1891 Census another change of occupation for George we then see him as a Messenger/Port?

1891 Census

11 Hyde Grove,

Manchester

Source information:    RG12/3186

Registration district:    Chorlton 

Sub registration district:    Chorlton upon Medlock 

ED, institution, or vessel:    34 

Folio:    93 

Page:    13 

Batten George 48 Bitton, Gloucestershire Head  Chorlton on Medlock  Lancashire

Batten Rhoda E 44 Coleford, Somerset Wife   

Batten Olin 23 Coleford Somerset Daughter (Olivia)

Batten Agnes 21 Trowbridge, Wiltshire Daughter

Batten Florence 20 Trowbridge, Wiltshire Daughter 

Batten Thurza 24 Pensford, Somerset Niece (Thirsa)

Batten George W 15 Manchester Son   

Batten Joseph H 13 Manchester Son 

Batten Munir 17 Manchester Daughter (Minnie) 

Botten, Beatrice 11 Manchester Daughter 

Boardman, Amy A 53 Manchester peud celery Boarder 

1901 Census 

PRO Reference Schedule Number

RG Number, Series Piece Folio Page

RG13 3696 96 2 10

Address

11 Hyde Grove

Civil Parish Rural District

South Manchester  

Town or Village or Hamlet Parliamentary Borough or Division

South Manchester

Ecclesiastical Parish Administrative County

Chorlton Upon Medlock St Stephens Lancashire

County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District Ward of Municipal Borough or Urban District

George Batten

Relation to Head of Family Condition as to Marriage Age Last Birthday Sex

Head M 58 M

Profession or Occupation Employment Status Where Born

Insurance Agent Worker Bitten Gloucester

Rhoda Elizabeth Batters

Wife M 54 F

Undefined Coleford Somersetshire

 Florence Lousia Batters

Daughter S 29 F

Undefined ... Wiltshire

George William Batten

Son S 25 M

Cashier Worker Gorton Lancashire

  Joseph Henry Batten

Son S 23 M

Cotton Goods Warehouseman Worker Gorton Lancashire

Beatrice Ann Batten

Daughter S 21 F

Drapers Assistant Worker Gorton Lancashire

These are the amendments to the 1901 census that I found online

Beatrice Batten Age 21 Surname Batters Batten

George Batten Age 58 Surname Batters Batten

George Batten Age 25 Surname Batters Batten

George Batten Age 58 Where born ... Gloucester Bitten Gloucester

Joseph Batten Age 23 Surname Batters Batten

In the 1901 census he is described as being an Insurance Agent, this is confirmed on his death certificate.

 George died aged 70 years of Cardiac failure, Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. His son George W. Batten was the informant.

George and Rhodas siblings, Joseph and Louisa settled down in Pensford, Somerset.  This is just outside of Bristol, and the house they occupied is still owned by their Great Grandson.  The Blacksmith Forge where Joseph worked is still there as is his workshed.  As well as being the Blacksmith, he was also the undertaker, a role which goes hand in hand with smithing.  His Great grandson is the local undertaker still for the village.

Here is the family on the 1881 Census

 1881 British Census 

 Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability

Joseph Batten Head M Male 46 Wick Abson, Gloucester Blacksmith     

 Louisa Ann Batten Wife M Female 45 Coleford, Somerset,      

Mary Batten Daughter U Female 21 Publow, Somerset,

George Batten Son U Male 17 Publow, Somerset,

Thirsa Batten Daughter U Female 14 Publow, Somerset,  Scholar    

Bessey Batten Daughter U Female 12 Publow, Somerset,  Scholar    

Charles Batten Son U Male 10 Publow, Somerset, Scholar    

Albert Batten Son U Male 8 Publow, Somerset, Scholar    

Charles Higgins Apprentice U Male 17 Publow, Somerset, England   Blacksmith    

Source Information:

Census Place Publow, Somerset, England

Family History Library Film   1341584

Public Records Office Reference   RG11

Piece / Folio   2426 / 71

Page Number   10

1891 Census

157 Grocers Shop

Pensford

Publow

Source information:RG12/1925

Registration district: Clutton 

Sub registration district:Chew Magna 

ED, institution, or vessel:7 

Folio:88 

Page:17 

Batten, Joseph 56 Wick abson, Gloucestershire Head  Grocer

Batten, George 27 Publow, Somerset Son  Assistant Overseer

Casling, Melinda 31 Bristol st phillips Visitor  School Mistress (George married Melinda)

Louisa is visiting their daughter Mary who gave birth 8 days before the census was taken

20 Rose Grove

Ardwick

Manchester

Civil parish:Ardwick 

Ecclesiastical parish:St Matthew 

County:Lancashire 

Source information:RG12/3166

Registration district:Chorlton 

Sub registration district:Ardwick 

ED, institution, or vessel:11 

Folio:101 

Page:31

Cox, Charles 30 Publow, Somerset Head Railway Porter     

Cox, Mary 31 Publow, Somerset Wife     

Cox, Mary 8 days old Manchester, Lancashire Daughter 

Batten, Louisa A 55 Coleford, Somerset Mother Grocer  

Joseph and Louisas daughter Thirsa is staying with her Aunt and Uncle, I am assuming because of the birth of the baby they are in Manchester to help out.

Their son Albert on the 1891 Census is living with his Mothers sister Thirza Wilcox

1891 Census

204 Wills Way Square

Radstock

Bath

Aylesbury, James 62 Kilmerson, Somerset Head  Coal Miner

Aylesbury Thirza J 56 Coleford, Somerset Wife 

Batten, Albert 18 Pensford, Somerset Lodger  Carpenter