John Batts

John Batts

• John Batts was born on 11 September 1814 in Miller County, Georgia.
• He married Mary Livingston.
• John Batts and Mary Livingston appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Lee County, Georgia. Other members of the household included Eliza J. Batts, William Batts, Amanda Batts, Nancy Batts, Joseph L. Batts, Mary M. Batts and Joel Walker Batts. At the time of the 1850 census, John Batts owned 12 slaves, 4 of whom were age ten and under.
• He was a planter, according to the 1850 census.
• John Batts and Mary Livingston appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Lee County, Georgia, enumerated next to their daughter Amanda Ladd.. Other members of the household included William Batts, Joseph L. Batts, Mary M. Batts, Joel Walker Batts, Marguretta D. Batts, Gertrude Orisco Batts, John G. Batts, Mitlina B. Batts and Tallulah O. A. Batts. Also in the household was John E. Heisler (age 7). At the time of the 1860 census, John Batts owned 35 slaves, 14 of whom were under the age of ten, living in six slave houses.
• He was a planter, according to the 1860 census.
• In January 1864, John Batts was paid by the treasury department the amount owing to his deceased son William, $111.30.
• John Batts appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Lee County, Georgia. Other members of the household included Joel Walker Batts, Gertrude Orisco Batts, John G. Batts, Mitlina B. Batts, Tallulah O. A. Batts, William P. Batts, Sarah F. Paul and John Liddle Paul. Also in the household were three domestic servants.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
• He was interred at Smithville Cemetery, Smithville, Lee County, Georgia.
• John Batts died on 19 May 1878 at age 63 in Smithville, Lee County, Georgia.
• His wife Mary Livingston became a widow at his death.
• The following appeared on 28 May 1878 in the Georgia Weekly Telegraph: Suicide of Judge Batts. The suicide of this old and respected citizen of Smithville, which occurred last week, was quite remarkable. He has been laboring from mental disorder for a long while, but none of his family feared that he would do any thing so desperate. He, however, went about the act of self-destruction with grave deliberation.
       He made an elaborate toilet and taking his pistol and standing before the mirror took deliberate aim from the mirror at his temple and fired, killing himself almost instantly.
       He did not owe anything and was at peace with the world. His family relations were very pleasant, and the sole cause that can be assigned for the suicide is mental derangement.

• Last Edited: 21 May 2012