Person:John Batte (4)

During the early 1640s England was engaged in civil war. The Roundheads of Cromwell would eventually overthrow King Charles and his Royalists supporters. John Batte [7048.6] was a captain of foot soldiers in the Royalist regiment of Agbrigg and Morley.

In the summer of 1643 the Marquis of Newcastle, a Royalist, led his army against Lord Fairfax and his son Sir Thomas. Although Newcastle had no military expertise, he and his men, including John Batte, overwhelmed the Fairfaxes at the Battle of Adwalton Moor. This struggle took place on 30 June 1643 within a mile of Oakwell Hall, the Batte homestead. Cromwell eventually overcame the opposition.

In August 1644 John Batte prudently surrendered to Lord Fairfax and was ordered to pay £3,640 to recover his lands. Parliament later reconsidered their fines and reduced John's to one-tenth - £364. John sold some assets and leased other property, presumably to pay the £364 fine.

John married Martha Mallory [7050.12]. The Mallorys were a prominent Cavalier family and some said John spent too much of his family's wealth elevating himself to their level. Family Topic of his Wife

John and Martha had nine children: Henry [3524.1], John [3524.2], William [3524.3], Martha [3524.4], Elizabeth [3524.5], Robert [3524.6], Mary [3524.7], Henry [3524.8], and Thomas [3524.9]. The baptisms of these children are in the Birstall Parish Register.

John left with most of his family for Virginia in June 1646. Son John, a law student at Cambridge, remained behind to complete his studies.

In 1649 John returned to England. Perhaps incensed by his treatment at the hands of the Cromwellians and deep in debt, John conceived of a way to raise some cash. He would undertake a trading "adventure" to Virginia with a promise to return with profits. Two of John's brothers, Henry Batte [7048.8] and William Batte [7048.9], were already in the Colony along with his sons Thomas [3524.9] and Henry Batte [3524.8]. Philip Mallory [7050.8], his double brother-in-law, was there, too.

Robert Batte, grocer of London, petitioned the "Committee for advances of money cases" on behalf of his brother John. John himself persuaded Sir Thomas Danby to invest £1,500 and borrowed another £1,500.

In September 1653 his brother Robert Batte applied for administration of his John Batte's estate for the vague reason that he was "beyond the seas deced." Submitted at the same time was a document intended to shield William Batte from any claims. Danby's heirs had engaged Philip Mallory to pursue their interests in the Colony. On 21 September 1653, Mallory signed an affidavit that he had received what he could of the estate of John Batte in the Colony of Virginia and "therefore to the utmost of my power discharge, release, acquit William Batte, son and heir of Gent. John Batte of all debts, dues, accounts or whatever that may be claimed by Sir Thomas Danby Kt."

John's London will left Oakwell Hall and his other estates to his son William Batte [3524.3]. When William returned to claim his inheritance, Sir Danby had him arrested but could not connect him with the lost investments. William successfully argued that he was neither a planter nor trader and was in no way in involved with his father and brother in the "adventure" that lost Danby's money.

John's wife, Martha, died and was buried 9 February 1654/5 at Birstall, Yorkshire.

When CAPTAIN JOHN BATTE and MARTHA MALLORY came to Virginia from England in 1646, they carried along their son, HENRY BATTE. Henry had been born at the family estate of "Oakwell Hall" around 1642 and was about four years old when he crossed the Atlantic with his family.

With his brother, THOMAS BATTE, HENRY BATTE obtained a patent for land in Charles City County 29 April 1668. His property was on the south side of the James River beginning at the head of Charles City Creek. It covered 5,878 acres, two rods and eight poles. The land was for the importation of 118 persons into the colony. Henry's parents, who had returned to England, and his brothers and several Mallory's were a part of this group. A 1673-patent issued to FRANCIS WHITTINGTON showed THOMAS BATTE and HENRY BATTE sold 900 acres of this patent to Whittington.