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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Somerset => England => Somerset Lookup Requests => Topic started by: judymg on Friday 10 January 25 22:01 GMT (UK)
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In a census and baptism record, the dwelling place is recorded as Batts buildings, Cannon St. I am wondering if Batts refers to an area, there appears to be many buildings in the vicinity, the owner of the buildings, or possibly a poor house/home for unwed mothers? There is no specific address listed. Is there another way to find one?
In the 1841 C, a mother (Maria Rex) is living with 3 children in Batts Buildings, in 1844 the daughter (Isabella) had a son and baptism register lists her as a single mother living in Batts Buildings (makes sense); in 1851 mother, daughter and grandson are living on Middle St. The daughter married Edmund Wilkey in 1846 but he is not listed living with them in 1851, is married not widowed and grandson Frederick has taken the Wilkey name. Edmund also had no father on his baptism record; his mother Hannah's surname was Wilkey. A father is listed on Edmund and Isabella's marriage record as Edward Northam, however, I have no other documentation that corroborates that. (In the following generations Wilkey became Wilkie, my mother's maiden name.)
Any information on either of these subjects would be most helpful and appreciated. Thank you
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There is a Batts Park in Taunton.
Maybe a link to Batts Buildings?
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Thank you K Garrad. I have investigated your suggestion, and that of Batts Park, but I can find no reference anywhere to 'Batts Buildings" or the origin of the name Batts. I did find one document that mentioned Batt's Court with an apostrophe 's' which leads me to thinking that it was/is a geographical area and at some point the name changed to Batts Park. Thank you again, Judy
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Have you tried contacting South West Heritage Trust who seem to have done a lot of research on Taunton or Somerset Archives.
Looking at the occupants of those dwellings they seem to be occupied by working families in 1841. They are possibly named after a Batt family who had them built. I see in 1851 there is a Batts place in the High Street, one occupant being an Ann Batt - occupation Annuitant :)
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Given the enumeration sequence/route in 1841 & 1851, I suggest Batts Buildings are later marked on the OS town plan as Court No 1 and Court No 2 on the east of Canon St between the former Oxford Inn and Canon House. There seems to be approximately 14 families enumerated in the Buildings in 1841 and that is about the number of buildings shown on the town plan. Courts 1 & 2 are shown on the c1840 Tithe map for Taunton (but not named) so those buildings would have been present at the time of the census. Courts 3 & 4 on the west of Canon St are not shown on the tithe map suggesting they were built post 1841.
1888 Town plan https://maps.nls.uk/view/117915524 (https://maps.nls.uk/view/117915524)
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Thank you, rosie99 and Sc00p, great suggestions and information. I will look at the town plan next; thank you for the link. I will contact the South West Heritage Trust also. How did you find Ann Batt in the 1851 census? This would make the hypothesis that the buildings are named after an owner and led to a geographical area being known as Batts plausible. I am emailing from BC, Canada so all your tips are most helpful. Judy
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Thank you K Garrad. I have investigated your suggestion, and that of Batts Park, but I can find no reference anywhere to 'Batts Buildings" or the origin of the name Batts. I did find one document that mentioned Batt's Court with an apostrophe 's' which leads me to thinking that it was/is a geographical area and at some point the name changed to Batts Park. Thank you again, Judy
I would assume that a Mr Batt owned Batt's Buildings - hence the apostrophe, indicating a possession.
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I have now had a chance to look at the 188 town map, thank you again. I downloaded a PDF copy. In your response you mentioned an 1840 Tithe Map. I know about tithes but what and where do I find a tithe map? Thank you in advance, Sc00p. Judy
PS: Agreed, KGarrad. Thanks, J
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I have now had a chance to look at the 188 town map, thank you again. I downloaded a PDF copy. In your response you mentioned an 1840 Tithe Map. I know about tithes but what and where do I find a tithe map? Thank you in advance, Sc00p. Judy
PS: Agreed, KGarrad. Thanks, J
You can find it as a layer on the map here https://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/ (https://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/). Find and centre Canon St on the modern map then change the layer to the Tithe map.
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How did you find Ann Batt in the 1851 census?
I just searched surname 'Batt' place 'Taunton' in the 1851 dataset :)
HO107
Piece 1922
Folio 544
Page 8
Living Batts Court, High Street, Taunton
Ann Batt 41 -Annuitant
Her children -
William J 16 - Cabinet maker apprentice
Henry 15 - Tailor apprentice
Maria Emily 9
Charles 5
Elizabeth Chapple Servant 20 House servant
All born Taunton
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Birth registrations
BATT, MARIA EMILY mmn WYATT
GRO Reference: 1842 March Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 10 Page 495
BATT, CHARLES mmn WYATT
GRO Reference: 1846 June Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 10 Page 475
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In 1841 she is with probable husband William and son Henry at Mount Street, Taunton. William was a coachmaker