Have I got the right chap?

[Thomasjohn]

Hello all,
I am hoping that one of the experts amongst you can put me out of my misery please? I am trying to 100% confirm the identity of a Thomas Henry Jackson who appears on a local war memorial (Ravensthorpe, Northamptonshire). I have been through the usual channels which has worked in the past - CWGC, Ancestry and census', National Archives and local records office etc. and have dug up the following who I think is the same man:
Pte. TF/201799 Thomas Henry Jackson
13th Battalion Sussex Regiment
KIA 31st July 1917
Enlisted in Northampton
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Jackson of 19 Lawford Road, Newbilton, Rugby, Warwickshire.
Born in Seagrave, Leicestershire.
Married Martha Jane Batten (born in Merthyr Tydfil on 20th April 1891) in 1909.
Other than the fact Thomas enlisted in Northampton and that his parents did not live far away from Ravensthorpe I am can't certain he's the same man. There is one other possible link with the village however but this is where I am struggling. There was a boot maker in the village called Horace Batten. His family originated from Somerset but seem to have moved around a bit before settling in Northamptonshire. If I can confirm that Martha Jane Batten and Horace Batten were of the same family, I think I will have identified my man?!
Can anyone help please?

Many thanks,

Ant

[JeannieR]

Hello There...

And welcome to Rootschat.....

1901 census

64, Dunlace Road , Hackney ,  London

Batten James / head / age 59 / Boot Maker / born Gloucester
Batten Maggie / wife / 52 / Born Canada
Batten HORACE / son / 20 / Boot maker / born Hoxton , London
Batten Hettie / daughter / 22 / Boot Machinist / born East Grinstead, Sussex

I am sure we will be able to help ascertain, the guy you are looking for.

JeannieR

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome

If I can confirm that Martha Jane Batten and Horace Batten were of the same family, I think I will have identified my man?!

Martha J Batten was the daughter of Henry & Elizabeth Batten.  Checking the 1891 and 1901 Welsh census shows no son Horace

[toastbutler]

Hello Ant

Maybe I'm reading this wrong but Thomas Henry born Seagrave son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Jackson is only 3 in the 1901 census.
So the marriage in 1909 is not the same Thomas.

Maybe someone can put me right if I've got it wrong.

[JeannieR]

Hello Again....

I am sure that there must be a connection, between Horace Batten , and Martha Jane Batten.

Martha's father , was Henry Batten , born 1863, in Gloucester....Mother Mary, was born Glamorgan

Horace's father , was James Batten , born 1842 also in Gloucester...Too much of a coincidence that they all end up in Rugby

JeannieR

[CaroleW]

Reading the opening post - the impression I got was that Ant wanted to prove that Martha & Horace were from the same family (ie) were brother and sister.

Have I got the wrong end of the stick?

[CaroleW]

The Thomas Jackson who married Martha Jane Batten was b 1883 in Wolverhampton Staffs

[heywood]

Hi Ant,

it all seems a bit confusing here and the information seems to be drawn from various sources.

1901 has a Thomas H Jackson, 3 yrs born Seagrave son of Thomas and Sarah and living in Lutterworth.
You could check him in 1911 but you would have to check that yourself as we cannot post that information.
Needless to say he can't be the one who marries in 1909 but he could be the one who dies in 1917.

regards
heywood

[Thomasjohn]

Blimey - I'm confused now! Your right - the Seagrave Thomas was not old enough to marry Martha Batten but he did die in 1917 so maybe he is not the one that is commemorated on the Ravensthorpe memorial?
I wanted to ascertain whether there was a family connection between Matha Batten b. 1891 and Horace Batten b. 1912 (son/nephew) thus linking Thomas to the village.
If neither the Seagrave Thomas or the Wolverhampton Thomas are not the one commemorated on the memorial, who is he?
By the way - thank you all very much for your swift responses - very impressive!
The answer is out there!

Thanks all - much appreciated.

Ant