West Family Tree

David Batson
Company G
28th Alabama Infantry

David Batson was born on December 29, 1845, in Coosa County, Alabama. His parents were William and Phebe Batson. By 1860, he had moved with his parents to Jefferson County, Alabama. He enlisted in Co. G, 28th Alabama Infantry on February 25, 1862, at Elyton, Alabama. He served with his unit at Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, the Dalton-Atlanta Campaign and at Ezra Chapel. On August 10, 1864, while on picket duty near Atlanta, he was shot through the left arm, just above the elbow. He was taken to the Ocmulgee and Floyd House Hospital in Macon, Georgia, where his arm was amputated. According to oral tradition the arm was first amputated above the would, but he later contracted gangrene, and it was amputated at the shoulder in order to save his life. He was retired from service on December 20, 1864, and as a maimed soldier he may have received a small pension until the end of the war. There would be no further pension for Confederated soldiers until the end of Reconstruction. On March 23, 1877, David was among the first group of maimed veterans to receive a pension from the state. In addition to David, three of his brothers saw military service during the war. George Washington Batson served in the same regiment and company as his brother David. Benjamin Franklin Batson served in Company G, 18th Alabama Infantry and died in 1862. His father filed a deceased soldier's claim in his name. The oldest brother, William, served in Ellis Logan's company of mounted reserves from Coosa County.

When he returned to Alabama, David may have lived briefly with William in coosa County near a place called Traveler's Rest. Here, near Kelly's Cross Roads at a popular and somewhat rowdy gathering place called The Devil's Half Acre, David shot and killed a man named Sewall who had ridiculed his Confederate service and mand fun of his missing arm. Sewell was apparently a relative of brother Georges's wife, Mary E. Sewell. An older brother Nathan was also married to a Sewell. Willaim Batson was married to Mary Kelly and the Sewells and Kellys were intermarried as well. The incident therefore may have caused drastic ramifications within the family. Following the shooting, David fled to Covington County, Alabama, where his sister Elizabeth and her husband Enoch Jordan (also a veteran) lived. His brother William remained in Coosa County where he died on September 6, 1877. He is burried at Providence Baptist Chruch. George remained in Jefferson County where he had lived before the war. He died on December 19, 1904, and is buried at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.

David Batson spend the remainder of his life in Covington County. Late in 1865 or early 1866, he married Arena Frazier. He and Arena had twelve children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. David was both a farmer and school teacher and was known as a strong disciplinarian by his students. His ablility to plow with one arm was legendary. In April 1891, his Confederate pension for disability was approved, and on December 1, 1903, he was appointed registrar for Covington County at Green Bay. Apparently, he never returned to central Alabama and maintained little contact with his relatives. In 1910, he was asked to attend a family reunion in Rockford, Alabama, by a well to do nephew James Polk Batson (Son of William and Mary Kelly). In response he replied, "I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am in the land of the living.... I never hear from any of the connections. I haven't heard from Jefferson [County] in about three years. I do not know whether George is dead or alive." In fact George had died six years earlier. "Elizabeth Jordan & family is all well & gittin along well.... I reamain your uncle until death." On October 10, 1910, David Batson answered his last role call. He is buried in the Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Covington County. Arena died on December 20, 1916, and is buried beside him in an unmarked grave.

Robert Bradley: Great Grandson, Montgomery, Alabama, November 24, 2005.

"...David was the Confederate soldier that I mentioned ( Co. G, 28th Alabama Infantry) . He was wounded while on picket during the Atlanta Campaign. His left arm was amputated at the shoulder at the Ocmulgee and Floyd House in Macon Ga. He returned to stay with his brother William in Coosa County Alabama. He shot and killed a man named Sewell. He fled to Covington County where he stayed with his sister Elizabeth Jordan and her husband Enoch. That is where he met Arena. Her nick name was Reaney. He became a school teacher. My grandmother (Nancy/Annie) called him “old man Dave.” He was a very strict school teacher. She said he was very mean and could plow a mule with one arm. She remembered all of his Civil War stories which she told me. So, we have just spanned six generations as a result of a little boy listening to his grandmother tell stories in a cold dark house in Northwest Florida in the early 1960’s. Later research proved her to be correct and remarkably reliable as a story teller..."

Courtesy of Bob Bradley

 

"There seems to have been a good bit of civil strife in Coosa (and what became Elmore County) especially toward the end of the war. Conscription resistance and desertion were not uncommon. While there is a little in the OR's, most of the history seems to be oral tradition. One example would be my great grandfather David Batson a member of Co. G, 28th Alabama Infantry. David was from Elyton, his parents had passed away during the war so he went to live with his brother William in Coosa County. David had lost his left arm and was said to be somewhat bitter. Brother William was a member of Ellis Logan's Mounted Reserves. Unfortunately William's son James who was the same age as David was a conscription evader. (Some fun stories here). Anyway William was married to a Kelly. Brother George (also of Elyton) was married to a Sewell and the Sewell's were intermarried with the Kellys. One of the fun places to go was called the Devil's Half Acre near Kelly's Cross Roads not far from Traveler's Rest. Well one night at the Devil's Half Acre one of the Sewells made unpleasant remarks to David concerning his Confederate service and the loss of his arm so, David shot and killed him. Pursued by the Kelly's and Sewells, David (one arm, red headed, easy to spot) chose to visit his sister in Covington County, where he married and remained the rest of his life. Versions of this story are still well known in the area. Just ask Mr. Kelly who runs the store at Kelly's Cross Roads. The area was well known for the shootings and killings that occurred there both during and after the war. His ancestor, Sheriff Kelly, is the one who "cleaned that place out." David never saw any of the family again (other than his sister). William died in 1877 and is buried in a local cemetery. His son James Polk Batson became rather wealthy, lived in Rockford and often visited the Confederate Soldier's home at Mountain Creek. George returned to Elyton and raised a large family. Most if not all of the Batsons in Birmingham are his descendants as was Nancy Batson the aviator. David became a school teacher. Looking back(and leaving out the details) one could say that David was a soldier who shot and killed one of the locals in Coosa County. There is much more to the story and to the events in the area that I will share with you at a later date."

Written by Bob Bradley
See: http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/alcwmb3/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=33196

American Civil War Soldiers about David Batson. Found through ancestry.com

Name: David Batson
Residence: Jefferson County, Alabama
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment Date: 11 May 1863
Enlistment Place: Jefferson County, Alabama
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: Alabama
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1845
Death Date: 10 Oct 1910
Death Place: Covington County, Alabama
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 11 May 1863 at the age of 17.
Enlisted in Company G, 28th Infantry Regiment Alabama on 11 May 1863.
Discharged for wounds Company G, 28th Infantry Regiment Alabama on 20 Dec 1864 at Macon, GA.

 

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles about David Batson. Found through ancestry.com

Name: David Batson
Residence: Jefferson County, Alabama
Occupation: Farmer
Age at enlistment: 17
Enlistment Date: 5 Nov 1863
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Jefferson County, AL
State Served: Alabama
Survived the War: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company G, Alabama 28th Infantry Regiment on 11 May 1863.
Mustered out on 20 Dec 1864 at Macon, GA.
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1845
Death Date: 10 Oct 1910
Death Place: Covington County, AL
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records
Research by R. Ross Houston
Those Gallant Men of 28th Alabama

"Appear on the 1860 Jefferson County Census." ~Robert Bradley

Listed on the 1870 Federal Census as a school teacher. On the 1880 he listed as a farmer and as missing an arm.

Surmise based on the 1910 Federal Census: David and Arena (Irene) Batson were probably living with their son, David Price, his wife Lydia, and their son Walter at this time.

Batson families resided in Green Bay
From the Andalusia Star News and written by Curtis Thomasson

A search for the burial site in Covington County of a Confederate veteran led to this feature on the Batson family.

Although this name is practically nonexistent in the county today, there was a large family who resided here after the end of the War Between the States.

Prior to moving to Covington County, several Batson families resided in Coosa County in 1850 and later in Jefferson County in 1860.

Their ancestors had lived previously in Virginia and then South Carolina.

The earliest one identified is William Batt (Batson) who was born in 1760 in Virginia and died in 1824 in Chesterfield, S.C.

He was married to Lucy (Outlaw) (1765-1835), and they had a son, William Batson, born in 1799 in Culpepper, Va., who moved to Jefferson County.

William Batson was married to Pheobe Mahon (1805-1880), and they reared a large family. Various records indicate they may have had the following 14 children: Nathan, b. 1822, d. 1870; Rebecca, b. 1822, d. 1915; John R., b. 1823, d. 1901; George Washington, b. 1827, d. 1904, m. Mary E. Sewell; William H., b. 1828, d. 1920, m. Mary Kelly; Phoebe Pluby, b. 1830, d. 1865, m. William Vessel; Charles, b. 1833, d. 1925; Zilphia, b. 1835, d. 1919, m. Charles Gilliland; Mary, b. 1835, d. 1864; Elizabeth, b. 1836, d. 1910, m. Nicholas Jordan; Arena “Irena,” b. 1836, d. 1900, m. H.G. Harden; Zilpher, b. 1838; Benjamin Franklin, b. 1840, d. 1862; and David, b. 1845, d. 1910.

There is some question as to whether Charles, Mary and Zilpher were indeed the children of William and Pheobe.

The older children of William and Pheobe were born in Milledgeville, Ga., before the family moved to Autauga County before 1850.

Several of the sons served in the Confederate Army – Nathan possibly with a Mississippi Company, George W. and David in the 28th Ala., and William in the home guards.

As the children were beginning to settle into their own homes, several of them moved into Florida, and their descendants have an annual family reunion there.

David Batson enlisted for service first in 1863 in Jefferson County, and he then reenlisted in 1864 at Dalton, Ga.

He was assigned to Company G, 28th Ala. Infantry Regiment.

He served with his unit at Corinth, Munfordville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, the Dalton-Atlanta Campaign and Ezra Chapel.

While on picket duty on Aug. 10, 1864, near Atlanta, he was shot in the left arm.

He later contracted gangrene, which caused his arm to be amputated just below the shoulder.

He was in the Floyd House and Okmulgee Hospital in Macon, Ga. on Oct. 3, 1864.

He was retired from service on Dec. 20, 1864, and he began his long trip home.

His brother, George W., continued serving in the same unit.

At least three of the sons purchased government land in Covington County where they settled.

In 1895, David homesteaded 160.24 acres in the Horn Hill community. In 1897, William J. homesteaded 120.18 acres in the New Hope community.

In 1910, George W. homesteaded 40.92 acres of designated railroad land in the Horn Hill area.

David Batson was the descendant to bring his family to Covington County during the late 1860s after he was released from service in the Confederate Army.

He was born in 1845 in Coosa County and lived until 1910.

At his death, he was buried in the Enon Cemetery in the southeast area of Covington County. His grave has been located, and it has a nice headstone with appropriate dates.

It is hoped that in the future a marker designating his Confederate service will be placed at the site.

It is believed that his wife is buried next to him, but there is no headstone.

It is also understood that several other family members are buried there without any headstones.

David was married 1861 to Serena or Arrena “Reaney” Frazier, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gay) Frazier. Serena was born in 1846 in Georgia and died in 1916 in Covington County.

David supported his family by farming and working as a schoolteacher.

It is believed that at one time he was a member of the local board of education.

They mostly resided in the Green Bay community where David was appointed registrar for Covington County in1903.

David and Serena had 11 children, with 10 of them reaching adulthood.

These included the following: William J., b. 1866, d. 1940, m. (1) Georgia Anna ? (1867-1904) (2) Leona Fannie ?; David Jr., b. 1871, d. 1957, m. 1895 Amanda Jane Livings (1878-1967); Benjamin Franklin “Frank,” b. 1872, d. 1920, m. Susan Cassidy; Abbey, b. 1874, d. 1955; Robert Lee, b. 1875, d. 1964, m. 1898 Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rebecca Turbeville (1881-1963); Thomas Jefferson, b. 1878, m. Adaline ?; James J., b. 1886, m. Lanie ?; George Washington, b. 1888, d. 1963, m Nancy E. Dubose (1884-1980); Asbury “Berry” Price, b. 1889, d. 1962, m. Liddie Lavonia Turbeville; and Alice, b. 1892.

The oldest son, William J. Batson, and his first wife, Georgia Anna, had the following children: Melinda “Linnie,” b. 1891; Luna B., b. 1892; Milton, b. 1895, d. 1963; and Dewey, b. 1900, d. 1964. William and his second wife, Leona Fannie, reared the following three children: Iler, b. 1906; Dempsey, b. 1908; and Winifred, b. 1910.

The second son, David Batson Jr., was married in 1895 to Amanda Jane Livings, daughter of Robert Wesley and Mary Mollie (Catrett) Livings.

In 1930, they were living in Avon, Fla., and had the following children with them at the time: David J., 17; Arthur, 16; and Comer A., 14.

The son, Benjamin Franklin Batson, was a farmer, and he was married to Susannah “Susan” Cassidy.

They had the following children in their home in Green Bay when the 1910 census was enumerated: Emma Mandy, 15; Minnie B., 12; Charlie L., 9.

They also had a grandson, Hardie L. Johnson, living in their home. Ten years earlier in 1900, they had an older son, Jose P., 8, at the time. In 1930, Susannah was a widow living in the McRae precinct.

The son, Robert Lee Batson, was married to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rebecca Turbeville, daughter of James Monroe and Mary Frances Ameta (Mitchell) Turbeville. In 1910, they had the following children: Pearlie, 10; Mark H., 9; Amie Ruby, 7; John D., 3; and Willie 4 months.

Ten years later, they had two additional children, Rutha and Frances.

The son, Thomas Jefferson Batson, and his wife, Adaline E., resided in the Cardina community in 1920 and had the following children at the time: Fannie L., 15; Wade or William F., 12; Homer H., 9; and Lizzie, 5.

The son, James J. Batson, and his wife, Lanie, lived in the McRae Community and had the following children in 1920: Harvey, 10; Bessie, 9; Carlus, 6; James S. 4.

The son, George Washington Batson, was married to Nancy E. Dubose, daughter of Jeptha James and Elizabeth “Betty” (Butts) Dubose. In 1920, the family resided in Opp and had the following children in their home: Early, 11; Curtis, 10; Myrtis, 8; Posey, 5; Nalia V., 3; Mildred E., 1; and infant Thelma. A couple of years later they had Clara M.

The youngest son, Asbury “Berry” Price Batson, and his wife, Lydia “Liddie” Lavonia, had a son, Walter, 4 months old in 1910.

His parents, David and Serena, were living with them in the George precinct.

Sources for this writing include Ancestry.com, census records, Wyley’s Ward’s Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County, Alabama, and information provided by Dennis Murphy.

Some of this data is not as complete as desired, but anyone who has a correction or additional information on this family is requested to contact this writer.

He hopes that someone in the family will continue to compile Batson genealogy and make it available to those with interest.

Contact him, Curtis Thomasson, at 30357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

Note from Batson, [Private] about this article in the Andalusia Star News:

Gorden [Private], one of my cousins sent the following attachment to me. I know that some of it is factual, but I also saw that in my grandfather's case, the children are not listed as I know them to be. I found the locations named to be in line with what I think are correct... If you are still pursueing the geneology this might help if compared to other info that you may have. Love, Batson, [Private]