Marcellus Thomas Batts (abt. 1840 - abt. 1908)

Born about 1840 in Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died about 1908 at about age 68 in Bourbon, Kentucky, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sue Matthews [send private message]

Biography

Cellus Batts is a part of US Black heritage.

Marcellus was born in Kentucky between 1840 and 1850.

Marcellus was a member of the 117th U.S. Colored Infantry during the Civil War. He drew an invalid pension beginning in 1890 and his widow drew he widow's pension beginning in 1908.

Marcellus was married before 1872.

Elizabeth (Adams) Batts (abt.1860-1930) before 1872. Marcellus and Eliza had two children.

In the 1880 census Marcellus (age 30), Laborer, was the married head of household in Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States.^[1]

In the 1900 census Cellas (age 60) was the widowed head of household in Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky.^[2]

Marcellus was mentioned on a memorial in Cedar Heights Cemetery, Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, United States.^[3]

Research Notes

• Pension records indicate that Marcellus was born in Bourbon, Kentucky or at least came from there to join the Union Army.

• Information from Army Widow Pension document

• Pension Record: Name: Marcellus Or Cellus Thomas Or Batts

Event Type: Pension Event Date: 1907-1933 Event Place: United States Beneficiary's Name: Eliza Batts Digital Folder Number: 004691451

• Marcellus's first child, Annie R (Batts) Corbin (1872-1959), was born in 1872. He and a wife, Ann E. born about 1855, and Annie appeared together on the 1880 U.S. Census.

• In 1900 Marcellus appeared on the 1900 U.S. Census as a widow in an adjoining household to Eliza Batts and Rachel (Batts) Webster (1885-1964).
• Eliza Batts is his widow's pension recipient.
• Eliza's 1900 U.S. Census reports 2 of 3 children living.
• Eliza was living in Annie's household and was described as her mother at the time of the 1900 U.S. Census.
• Rachel was the informant on Eliza's death record.
• Annie's obituary mentions Marcellus and Eliza as parents.

• It is possible that Marcellus had two different wives.

• This researcher believes that the available data shows that there was only one wife. Annie E./Eliza Adams.

• The next household after Marcellus on the 1900 U.S. Census is Rachel Batts who was born in 1820, also a widow.

• The link to the 1900 U.S. Census transcript at Ancestry has been attached to ensure that there is a link. The FamilySearch transcript that should be attached to Eliza and Rachel has been removed, so in an abundance of caution this duplicated link is attached below.

• 117th U.S. Colored Infantry National Park Service Web page online resource.[1]

• The Civil War in the east online resource.[2]

• Marcellus's Find a Grave Memorial Profile has a useful bio. There is also a picture of his U.S. military headstone, but no dates.

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky; Roll: 403; Page: 39A; Enumeration District: 017
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #10269567 (accessed 13 January 2023)
   Marcellus Batts (30), married, Laborer, head of household in Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky, USA. Born in Kentucky.
2. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 17; Digital film/folder number: 004118889; FHL microfilm: 1240508; Image number: 751; Sheet number: 16; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00787-8
   FamilySearch Record: M9WD-FLC (accessed 5 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DYHS-PR1
   Cellas Batts (60), widowed head of household in Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.
3. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #240946951 (accessed 5 February 2024)
   Memorial page for Marcellus “Cellus” Batts (Jan 1840-unknown), citing Cedar Heights Cemetery, Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Chris Hanlin (contributor 47638705).

• "United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6H5-ZXG : 20 August 2019), Eliza Batts in entry for Marcellus Or Cellus Thomas Or Batts, 1907-1933; citing NARA microfilm publication M850 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,634,158.

• 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1900; Census Place: Paris Ward 3, Bourbon, Kentucky; Roll: 508; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0003
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #17410127 (accessed 5 February 2024)
  Cellas Balls (60), widowed, Day Laborer, head of household in Paris Ward 3, Bourbon, Kentucky. Born in Kentucky, USA. INTENTIONAL DUPLICATE, please do not remove.

Acknowledgements

• http://sites.rootsweb.com/~kyafamer/Family/fr022-batts.htm