Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Nathaniel batten

Solicitor

 

Nathaniel Batten was born in Yeovil in 1743. He was the eldest of the three sons of lawyer Nathaniel Butler Batten (1712-1784) of Yeovil and Thornfalcon, near Taunton, by his second wife Ann née Adams. Nathaniel's siblings were Robert (c1745-1824), Edmund (c1748-1836) and Susanna (1750-1841). Certainly by 1745, his father had begun his law practice in Yeovil and in 1762 Nathaniel was articled to him.

Nathaniel Batten was, like his father and brothers Robert and Edmund, a solicitor and a member of the Inner Temple, London - to which he had been admitted in 1777.

Nathaniel inherited the manor of Thornfalcon, near Taunton, from his father in 1785. Nathaniel, a bachelor, lived at Kingston House in Kingston until his death in 1819, from which time it became the residence of his younger brother Edmund.

Nathaniel died in Yeovil in 1819, aged 76, and was buried at Yeovil on 6 December 1819.

 

See Batten Family Tree

See Yeovil Solicitors

 

 

Nathaniel lived at Kingston House, Kingston, until his death in 1819. Kingston House, most recently the Park School, is seen here from Kingston. Photographed in 2016.

 

The entry of Nathaniel's 6 December 1819 burial from St John's burial register.

 

 

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Nathaniel Batten of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gent I give and devise all that my moiety of the Manor or Lordship of Thornfalcon with the Rights members and appurtenances thereof lying and being in the said County of Somerset and also of the advowson free disposition and right of patronage of the parish church of Thornfalcon and of all the Messuages Cottages Tofts Lands Tenements Rents reversions Services and Hereditaments whatsoever to the to the same belonging or appurtaining situate lting and being growing happening or [remaining?] within the Parishes Villages Fields Hamlets and Precincts of Thornfalcon aforesaid and West Monkton in the said County of Somerset unto my Brother Robert Batten and my Nephew John Batten their heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in Common and not as joint tenants I give unto Mary the Wife of my said Brother Robert and to her daughter Mrs Margaret Aboudio fifty pounds each I give unto my Sister Susanna Wife of the Reverend Samuell Fawcett one thousand pounds I give unto my Nieces Joanna Ann Elizabeth Harriet and Sarah daughters of my deceased Brother John Prigg Batten three hundred pounds a piece I give unto my Goddaughter Mrs Elizabeth [Hanslast?] one hundred guineas I give unto my esteemed Friends William Sandford of the City of Exeter Gentleman and Ann his Wife twenty guineas each for a Ring or any other trifling article they may choose to purchase as a small token of the sincere regard and Friendship I bear towards them I give unto my late Clerk Mr John Powell the hundred pounds which he owes me on his Promissary Note together with such Interest as may be due thereon at the time of my decease I give unto Uriah [Chinly?] of [word illegible] in the County of Devon Butcher one hundred pounds I give the like sum of one hundred pounds to be divided between and amongst the Children of Samuel Tapscroft Aplin of [word illegible] aforesaid Carpenter according to the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named I give unto my Servants the following legacies in case they shall respectively be living with me at the time of my decease viz to Susan Apsey thirty pounds to James Andrews twenty pounds to Elizabeth Goodland twenty pounds and to Richard Hull ten pounds and as for and concerning all the rest and residue of my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever I give and bequeath the same unto my Brother Robert Batten and my Nephew John Batten in equal shares and proportions and I make and appoint them the said Robert Batten and John Batten joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Nathaniel Batten have to this my last Will and testament contained in two sheets of paper to the first sheet thereof set my hand and to this second sheet thereof my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen

Nathl Batten

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us who at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other

Robt Barfoot        Robert Reed        William Buck

I give and bequeath unto my Sister Susanna Fawcett the wife of the Revd Samuel Fawcett Gent my Silver Tea urn and Candlesticks now in Church Yard and all the glass of whatever kind or quality the same may consist of being in my Dwellinghouse or elsewhere and to which I am in [word illegible] entitled as Witness my hand this eighteenth day of January 1816

Nath Batten

Proved at London with a Codicil 25th May 1820 before the Judge by the oath of Rober Batten the Bro & John Batten the Nephew tjhe Ex[excut]ors named in the Will to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn that is to say Robert batten before the Worshipful John Danbury Dr of Laws & the sd John Batten duly to admin[ister]

Transcribed by Bob Osborn