William Batten, who was born on 13 December 1815 in Cornwall, England was the son of John and Mary (née Bone) Batten. His wife Ann, born on 7 December 1816 in Cornwall, was the daughter of Henry and Annie (née Roberts) Batten. William arrived in Geelong in 1850 farming in the Bellarine district soon after. Although successful he moved to Batesford becoming the licensee of a hotel. He started the first punt service on the Barwon River in partnership with a Mr Connor. On 30 August 1852 he was called before the Police Bench to account for the exorbitant charges he and his partner levied upon the public. It was claimed that he refused to let the police cross free of charge, a claim which he denied. He owned the first team of bullocks in the area and carried goods to Ballarat at a time when the trip took about six weeks. He then took a trip to Europe with his wife which took about eighteen months. After returning to Geelong he speculated in land, a venture which was very successful. He was elected to the South Barwon Council in 1862-1871, 1874-1877 and 1881. He was mayor of the municipality of South Barwon in 1867-68. In 1867 when the Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, travelled from Geelong to Winchelsea he was met by Mayor William Batten and the councillors of South Barwon at the Waurn Ponds toll gate where a speech was given amid great excitement. In 1866 he was elected a councillor of the Newtown and Chilwell borough council for many years. During this time, he was a trustee of the Queen's Park and was the oldest trustee when he died. On 21 September 1886 a banquet was held in his honour in recognition of his services during a period of upwards of 30 years' representation in the municipal council. He died on 13 May 1896 aged 80 years at his residence "Skene House" Newtown, Geelong. He had suffered from an acute attack of bronchitis. He was buried in the Church of England section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Ann Batten was born on 7 December 1813 at St Stephens, Cornwall. She died on 19 August, 1905 aged 93 years and was buried beside her husband. In a complicated will Batten left a lifetime interest in his property to his wife Ann. After she died certain properties were bequeathed to various nieces and nephews on condition that they gave a cash amount to other nieces and nephews. Both his brother Thomas and Ann's brother William Roberts Batten had brothers named William Henry Batten. The son of William Roberts Batten who moved to Sydney had an unfortunate accident and died in 1900. He was not found by the executors before his death and it took until 1905 before his widow could claim his share. | |
William Roberts Batten, born in 1816 in Cornwall, was the son of Henry and Annie (née Roberts) Batten. He was married to Charlotte Lloyd (1825-1914). He was a sister of William Batten's wife Ann. He farmed land at Marshall which he purchased from the crown in July 23 1855. He later moved to Sydney where he died on 10 October 1884 at his residence, Victoria Terrace, Darlinghurst after a long and painful illness at the age of 69 years. He had three children, Carolyn Mary who died in 1859 aged 7 years, William Henry and Charlotte Catherine. His son, William Henry Batten, had an unfortunate accident on 10 August 1900 which resulted in his death. He left a widow, Emily Jean née Craigie and a daughter, Valerie, born on 20 November 1887. |