William Batten

William Batten was a Whittlesea pioneer from the well known Batten family of the Whittlesea district. One of twelve children born to Richard and Mary Jane Batten (nee Hazard), he was born at the “Cellar House” in Yan Yean on 7 November 1859, the fourth of their children. Siblings included Charlotte, Richard, Agnes, Albert, Mary, Maria, Robert, Leonard, Florence and Elizabeth. Another child was stillborn, who may have been William’s twin. The “Cellar House” was reported as having been demolished in 1934 when he was noted as being one of the district’s oldest residents. He attended Whittlesea Primary School from 1864 and was remembered as a student there when Whittlesea had its centenary in 1937.

William lived at Glenvale and Upper Plenty where he farmed, before he moved to Whittlesea. In 1902 he married Georgina Anne Nivison. Their daughter Winifred was born in 1903. A second daughter Louisa was born in 1904 but died in infancy.

William and his wife were both reported injured in an accident on the way home from the Whittlesea Show in 1912 where the family were thrown from their vehicle when a motorcycle spooked their horse. William received a cut to the head while his wife had an ear torn off.

William was active up until the last few weeks of his life, passing on 31 May 1942 at his Whittlesea home.

Bibliography / Notes

Obituary, 12 June 1942, Eltham and Whittlesea Advertister.

Serious Accident. Whittlesea. The Age, 14 November 1912 & Weekly Times, 23 November 1923

Centenary of Whittlesea “Back to School” The Argus, 9 November 1937

Whittlesea Parish Ball, The Advertiser, 16 November 1934

Image is cropped from a larger image taken in 1937 and has been upscaled using AI.

William’s mother’s maiden name is occasionally given as Hayward. Hazard is the correct spelling. This and the names and number of the children can be seen at the Births, Deaths and Marriages website.