Family:Jason Bateman and Margaret Thigpen (1)

The 1850 census, Washington County, Georgia, Division 91, #731, shows that Jason Bateman was deceased by 5 Nov 1850 when his widow is shown as head of the household (with NO last name recorded by the enumerator): Margarett [no last name recorded] (40/NC, widow, illiterate), Martha (20/NC), Briant (18, NC), Hugha (16, NC) and Jason (9/NC). Interestingly, all of these individuals were recorded with a North Carolina birth place. There are no other Bateman households in Washington County in the 1850 census. Margaret's maiden name "Thigpen," and her marriage to Jason Bateman, are shown in the biography of Hugh Bateman, written during Hugh's lifetime. I have transcribed this biography under Hugh's page. Three Thigpen heads of household were shown in District 91, Washington County, who were within a decade or so of Margaret’s age: Dennis Thigpen (Division 91, #1054, 58/NC, with Lucy 30/NC, & William Thigpen 7/NC); James Thigpen (Division 91, #563, 58/NC, with Lurany 52/NC, Mary 29/NC, Martha 18, NC, etc.); and Randol Thigpen (Division 91, #159, 54/NC, with Lavina 65/NC, Nancy J. 27/GA & Marion V. Thigpen 22/GA).

By 1860, Margaret and her children had removed to the area of Washington Parish, Louisiana, where Margaret was living at Shady Grove, near present day Angie. The 1860 Census, Washington Parish, LA, Ward 8, Shady Grove P.O., #487/484, shows her as head of household 55/NC, with Jason Bateman in her home 17/GA. Hugh Bateman, at this time, was working nearby as an Overseer on the farm of Sarah Daniels (Ward 8, Shady Grove P.O., #484/479, age 22/GA). Other Bateman heads of household in Washington Parish included Margaret's sons James E. Bateman (Ward 8, #475/470, Davidson P.O. 32/GA, with Caroline 23/GA, Margaret 6/GA & Theresa Bateman 3/GA); and William F. Bateman (Ward 8, Stubbs Mill P.O., #461/454, 34/GA, with Marion G. 21/GA, Saren Anns 10/GA, Daniel F. 5/GA, John P. 3/GA & Samuel W. Bateman 7 months/GA)

It is worth noting that Alice Whitley Smith, in "The Thigpen Tribe" (1963), 348-53, gave a fairly full sketch of this family. Several grandchildren of Jason Bateman and Margaret Thigpen were living at the time of publication. Given the detailed biographical sketch that she gave regarding living grandson John Wesley Bateman (on pp 349-50), he was almost certainly a source for at least some of Smith's information.

[submitted by Bevin Creel]

1.   Washington County, Georgia, Division 91, #731, in United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   household of widow "Margarett," no last name shown. Incorrectly indexed under the surname of the preceding household, "Warmack."