John Battle ca (1634 – 1690)

John Battle was born in Yorkshire, England, in about 1634 (43, Page 199). He married Elizabeth in England, in about 1652; her maiden name and parents have not been identified. About two years after their marriage, John and Elizabeth Battle immigrated to Nansemond County, Virginia, possibly by way of Ireland (43, Page 199; 96). John and Elizabeth Battle may have fled England and then Ireland with a daughter Alsey because of religious persecution (43, Page 200).

On 14 Dec 1654, John Battle received a land grant for 200 acres on the West Branch of the Nansimum River for the transport to the Virginia Colony his wife, Elizabeth Battle, and himself, as well as Thomas Nowell, and Robert Wolfe (374).

On 25 Sep 1663, John Battle acquired a grant 640 acres of land in North Carolina on the “westward side of the Paspetanke River” (43, Page 199; 375). On 25 Sep 1665, he was granted an additional 60 acres of land on the “westward side of Paspetanke River, beginning on a point which parts this and land of Mrs. Fortsen, running southwest” (43, Page 199).

A son, William Battle, was born to John and Elizabeth Battle in 1682, likely in Pasquotank County, North Carolina (43, Page 199). At William’s birth, John Battle was about 48 years old. John and Elizabeth Battle likely also had a daughter Alsey Battle who died young (43, Page 200).

On 24 Apr 1682, John Battle was granted 580 acres in Kill Mary Swamp in Nansemond County, Virginia for the transport of 12 persons into the Colony (376).

John Battle died in Pasquotank County, North Carolina in about 1690 (43, Page 199).

Notes and Comments

John Battle may have been born in Yorkshire, England in about 1634. His parents may have been William Battell and Margaret Dukes (43, Page 199).

A daughter Alsey Battle was born to John Battle in England or the Virginia Colony; she died young (43, Page 200).

A 14 Dec 1654 land grant to John Battell is assumed to have been to John Battle.

Geographic Boundary History

In 1642, Upper Norfolk County, Virginia was renamed Nansemond County.

Pasquotank County, North Carolina was formed as early as 1668 from Carteret Precinct and Albemarle County.

Sources

43. Herbert Bemerton Battle, Lois Yelverton, and William James Battle. The Battle Book: A Genealogy of the Battle Family in America. Montgomery, Alabama: The Paragon Press, 1930. (PDF file on file.)

96. Virkus, Frederick A. (Editor). Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America Before 1750. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1964. (Database: U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s–1900s, Ancestry.com)

374. Land Grant to John Battle. 200 acres on the West Branch of Nansimum River, Nansemond County, Virginia, 14 Dec 1654. Virginia Colonial Land Office Patents, 1623–1774, Volume 3, 1652–1665, Page 216. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)

375. Land Grant to John Battle. 640 acres on the Western Side of the Paspetank River, 25 Sep 1663. Land Office Patents Number 4, 1655–1664, Reel 4, Page 585. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)

376. Land Grant to John Battle. 580 acres in Kill Mary Swamp, Nansemond County, Virginia, 24 Apr 1682. Land Office Patents Number 7, 1679–1689, Volumes 1 & 2, Reel 7, Page 172. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file).

Land Grant, 14 Dec 1654

To all whereas now know yee that I the said Richard Bennett Esq. give and grant unto John Battle two hundred Acres of land Situate or being in and western branch of Nansimun river begining at a marked white oake and running for breadth South East one hundred pole joyning to the lands of Thomas Babb to a marked white oak and for length southwest three hundred and twenty pole to a marked red oake and Soo again for breadth north west one hundred pole to a marked tree, and soo for length north East three hundred and twenty pole to the first mentioned Marked tree. The said Land Coming due unto said John Battle by and for the transportation of four persons into this Colony to have and to hold yeilding and paying which payment is to be made Seven years after the first grant or Sealing thereof and not before provided. Dated the 14th of December 1654. John Battle Elizabeth Battle Thomas Nowell Robert Wolfe.

374. Land Grant to John Battle. 200 acres on the West Branch of Nansimum River, Nansemond County, Virginia, 14 Dec 1654. Virginia Colonial Land Office Patents, 1623–1774, Volume 3, 1652–1665, Page 216. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)

Land Grant, 25 Sep 1663

To all to whom these prsents shall come I Wm Berkeley Kt Governor and Capt Genrll of Virginia send Greeting in our Ld God everlasting Whereas by Instructions from ye Kings Most Exclt Majtie directed to me and ye Councell of State his Majestie was graciously pleased to authorize ye said Governor and Councell to grant patents & to assign such proportions of land to all adventurers and planters as hath been usual heretofore in like cases either for adventurers of money or transportacon of people into this Colony according to a Charter of orders from ye late treasurer & Company and yt ye same proportion of fifty acres of land to be granted & assigned to every pson transported hither since Midsumer 1625 and yt ye same course be continued to all adventurers aund planters untill it shall be otherwise determined by his Majestie.

Now know yee yt I ye sd Wm Berkeley Kt Governor &c doe with ye consent of ye Councell of State accordingly give and grant unto John Battle six hundred and forty acres of Land lying on ye westward side of paspetank River Begining at a marked pine on a point which parts this land and Wm Fortsens Land and running Southwest and by West 640 poles into ye Woods for Length then up ye said River to marked pine with in ye mouth of a creek and thence Southwest by west to ye end of ye two miles ye said Land being due to ye said Battle by &c for ye Transportation of thirteen psons into this Collony whose names are on the Record menconed under this Patent. To have & to hold ye said land wth his due share of all Mines & Mineralls therein contained wth all rights and previleges of hunting hawking fishing fowling wth all Woods Waters and rivers wth all profitts Comodities and hereditamts wtsoever belonging to ye sd land unto him ye said John Battle his heires & assigns for ever in as large and ample maner to all Intents & purposes asis Expressed in a Charter of orders from ye late treasurer & Company Dated ye 18th of November 1618 or by consequence may be justly collected out of ye sum or out of the letter patents wherever they are grounded to be holden of our Soveraigne Lord ye King his heires and successors as of his Maner of East Greenwich in free and comon soccage and not in capite nor by Kt service yielding and paying unto our sd Soveraigne Lord ye King his heires and successors for every fifty acres of land hereby granted yearly at ye feast of St. Michael ye archangell ye ffee rent of one shilling wch payment is to be made yearly from year to year and ye first payment to begin one year after ye date hereof according to his Majesties Instructions of ye 12th of 7ber 1662 Provided yt if ye sd John Battle his heires or assignes doe not seat or plant or cause to be seated or planted upon ye sd land wthin three years next ensueing that then it shall be lawfull for any adventurer or planter to make choice or seal thereupon Given at James City under my hand and seal of ye Collony ye 25th of September 1663 and in ye 15th year of ye reigne of our Soveraigne King Charles ye 2d &c.

WILLIAM BERKELEY

375. Land Grant to John Battle. 640 acres on the Western Side of the Paspetank River, 25 Sep 1663. Land Office Patents Number 4, 1655–1664, Reel 4, Page 585. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)