William Battey, son of John and Priscilla (Westcot) Battey, born 2 Sep. 1759, died 25 Mch. 1842, both Scituate; married in Scituate, by Elder Samuel Winsor, 12 Oct. 1782, Betsey Sheldon, daughter of James Sheldon, of Cranston, born 30 Sep. 1766, died 2 Oct. 1800, and they had eight children; married, 2nd, in Scituate, by Elder John Westcott, 23 Aug. 1801, Lydia (Sheldon) Hall, daughter of James Sheldon and the widow of Allen Hall, born 11 Sep 1768, died 31 Oct. 1840, and they had three children; married 3rd , 2 Dec. 1841, Lucy (Healy) Peckham, born 1773-4, died 5 Apl. 1589, in her 86th year. He resided Scitute, R.I., where he conducted a tavern prior to and after 1797, upon one of the former main highways between New York and Providence and Boston. In 1797 he built an addition thereto, and the sign, which bears date of 1797, is in the possession of James E. Battey, a descendent. This sign reads: "Entertainment by Wm. Battey," and is a yellow sun with rays radiating therefrom. General Lafayette stopped at this tavern on one occasion, and family heirs have the maple "four poster" in which he slept. Lafayette Battey, a well known horseman of two generations later, was named after this event. This building still stands, (1920.) In 1827 he was Major of the 7th Regiment, State Mililtia, in 1833 he was place upon the pension rolls as a private of Rhode Island militia. William Battey and his three wives are buried in the family cemetery of his brother, Joshua Battey, in Scituate. His children, eleven in number, born Scituate. R.I.
