Jesse Battle (18 Jul 1738 – 25 Aug 1805)

Jesse Battle was born on 18 Jul 1738 in Bertie County, North Carolina (1044, 1029). His parents were John Battle and Sarah (Browne) Battle. At the birth of Jesse Battle, John Battle was 29 years old—the date of Sarah (Browne) Battle’s birth has not been determined.

Following the death of his father on 24 Apr 1740, Jesse Battle’s grandparents, William Battle and Sarah (Hunter) Battle, brought Jesse and his sister Pricilla Battle to Nansemond County, Virginia and served as guardians. At the death of his father, Jesse Battle was one year and nine months old.

In about 1756, at age 18, Jesse Battle married Susanna Faucette in Nansemond County, Virginia (43, Page 202). At their marriage, Susanna Faucette was about 18 years old. Tradition holds that Susanna Faucette, a French Huguenot, escaped France hidden in bales of silk. Her father, Francois Faucette, settled near Suffolk in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County. Susanna is believed to have had a brother Benjamin Faucette who also immigrated to the Virginia Colony.

Prior to the Revolutionary War, ten children were born to Jesse and Susanna Battle in Nansemond County, Virginia (43, Page 202–203):

John R. Battle in about 1757,
Benjamin Battle in about 1759,
William Sumner Battle on 26 Oct 1761,
Sarah Battle in about 1763,
Polly Battle in about 1765,
Bathsheba Battle in about 1767,
Jesse Battle in about 1770,
Lewis Battle in about 1770,
Susannah Faucette Battle on 7 Apr 1773,
Mary Battle on 12 Dec 1774.

Jesse Battle, born in about 1770 died soon after his birth.

In about 1777, the Jesse Battle family migrated from Nansemond County, Virginia to Edgecombe County, North Carolina where he settled on Swift Creek. During the American Revolution, Jesse Battle was a Patriot, providing supplies to American soldiers (43, Page 169; 1029).

On 4 Jul 1777, a son Lazarus Battle was born to Jesse Battle and Susanna (Faucette) Battle in Edgecombe County, North Carolina (1044).

Jesse Battle appears on 1780 and 1782 tax lists for Nash County, North Carolina (1027). On 2 May 1783, Jesse Battle was restored to the office of Justice of the Peace for Nash County, North Carolina by a resolution of the North Carolina General Assembly. A son Isaac Battle was born in about 1781, likely in Nash County, North Carolina (43, Page 203). A son Reuben Taylor Battle was born to Jesse Battle and Susanna (Faucette) Battle on 10 Sep 1784 in Nash County, North Carolina (43, Page 203).

On 25 Oct 1786, Jesse Battle and his wife, Susannah Battle, of Nash County, North Carolina sold 500 acres of land in Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Isaac Hilliard of Nash County for 500 pounds Virginia money (1031, Nash County, North Carolina Deed Book 4). The land is described as a tract of 500 acres on the north side of Swift Creek on Lane’s Swamp and the Thomas Hart line, it being part of a 563 acre grant by Earl Granville to Jacob Whitehead on 14 May 1756. Arthur Arrington, John Arrington, and Isaac Newsome witnessed the deed.

Before 20 Feb 1787, the Jesse Battle family migrated from North Carolina to Greene County, Georgia (43, Page 202).

On 19 Oct 1792, Jesse Battle signed a petition to Governor Telfair of North Carolina to the effect “that part of the County of Green that was formerly called Wilkes County” was in dispute and seeking relief.

Jesse Battle appeared on the 1794 tax list for Whitfield District, Hancock County, Georgia.

In 1798, Jesse Battle received a grant of 1,000 acres of land on Grabells Creek in Greene County, Georgia by head rights (1032).

Jesse Battle made a will in Hancock County Georgia on 20 Aug 1805 (1033). Jesse Battle died on 25 Aug 1805 in the home of his son John R. Battle in Sumter County, Georgia. According to records of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Jesse Battle is buried in Hancock County, Georgia (103).

Will of Jesse Battle (1033)
Hancock County, Georgia
20 Aug 1805

In the name of God Amen. I Jesse Battle of the county of Hancock and State aforesaid being in perfect Sound Mind and Memory; and Calling to Mind the Mortality of the Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men since to Die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in the Manner and form following (to wit) principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul unto the Hands of Almighty God who gave it me, my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Decently buried at the discretion of my Executors, nothing Doubted but that it will be raised again at the General resurrection by the power of God. And as for the Worldly Goods wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me with in this life. I give And dispose of them in the Form and Manner follow Viz. —

First. My Will and desire is that all my lawful Debts should be paid.—

Secondly. I lend unto Susannah my Dearly beloved wife the Dwelling house and plantation whereon I now live with all and Singular the premises and appendages during her natural life at her Death I give and Bequeath unto my Son Reuben Battle the plantation and everything acertaining the estate to his Heirs & assigns forever. —

Thirdly. I lend unto my Beloved wife Susannah Six Negroes to wit. Dick, Lancaster, Bob, Wingfield, Betty, and Penny during her natural life. Then it is my will and desire that they be equally divided among my seven children to wit, Benj Battle, William Battle, Lazarus Battle, Isaac Battle, Rhuben Battle, Susannah Ragan, and Polly Ragan, to them and their Heirs and assigns forever. —

Fourthly. I give and Bequeath unto Benjamin Battle one Negro boy named Andrew, to him and his Heirs and assigns forever. —

Fifthly, I give and Bequeath unto my Son William Battle one negro Boy named Candy to him and his Heirs forever. —

Sixthly. I give and Bequeath unto my Son Lazarus Battle one Negro Boy named Miles Which he now has in possession to him & his Heirs forever.---

Seventhly. I give unto my Son Isaac Battle Four Negroes to wit, Alexander, Jack, Isabel and Ede which he has now in possession to him and his Heirs forever.

Eightly. I give unto Rhubin Battle my Son four Negroes to wit, Stafford, Dick, Salinda, and Tensey which he has in possession to hime His Heirs forever. —

Ninthly. I Give unto my Beloved Wife Susannah one Sorrel Horse named Tom one Gray mare named Pegg, the one half of my Stock of cattle, Hogs and Sheep all my furniture and Kitchen furniture and one half of the crop that now is on the ground or may hereafter be at the time of my Death, to hold to her and to her assigns during her natural Life, and after her Death what remains to be Equally Divided among my Children, likewise I give unto my Beloved Wife Susanna one Hundred Dollars in Specia likewise one half of the Farming utensils to her and to her Heirs forever. —

Tenthly. I give unto James B. Cain my beloved Grandson one Negro Named Simon to hold to him and his Heirs forever. —

Lastly. My Will and Desire is that the residue of my Estate both real and personal Should be Equally divided among my seven Children, to wit: Benjamin, William, Susanna Ragan, Polly Ragan, Lazarus, Isaac & Rhuben To them and to their Heirs and assigns foreveer. — I also nominate constitute and Ordain that my beloved Son William Battle and my Beloved Son-in-law William Rabun be Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills by me made ratifying and confirming This only

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this the 20th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and five. —

Signed Sealed pronounced and Delivered the last Will & Testament Of the Testator in the presence of all Who in his presence and the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses. —
Jesse Battle (Seal)
Levin Ballard
William Macbellans
John Veazey