Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/175

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ter of the marriag-e. ^Iar.2:aret Sandford Haii- ister, born at Lynchburg, Virginia, June 29. 1894.

George Gordon Battle, a New York law- yer, is a representative of the Battle family of North Carolina, one of the most distin- guished and numerous families of the state.

(I) The American ancestor and founder of the family in this country was John Battle, of Pasquotank county, North Caro- lina, who was a planter on the Pasquotank river as early as 1663. Very little is known regarding the events of his career, or re- garding his origin. He was probably from Ireland.

(II) William Battle, son of John Battle, was born in Pasquotank county. North Carolina, in 1682, early left an orphan and reared by his guardian in Nansemond county, Virginia, and resided there for the greater part of his life, esteemed and hon- ored in the community. By his marriage to Sarah Hunter he was the father of a num- ber of children, among whom was Elisha, of whom further.

(HI) Elisha Battle, son of William Battle, was born in Nansemond county, Virginia, January 9, 1724, died in Edge- combe county. North Carolina, March 6, 1799. He resided for the greater part of his life in Edgecombe county, North Carolina, removing to Tar river in 1748. He was active and prominent in the public affairs of North Carolina, representing his county in the legislature for twenty consecutive years ; was state senator during the revo- lutionary war, and afterwards, until 1787, with the exception of two years, was a member of the provincial congress which met at Halifax, and which formed the state convention at Ilillsboro, in 1788, which met to deliberate on the ratification of the con- stitution of the United States, and was often chairman of the committee of the whole ; was an active factor in drawing up the con- stitution of North Carolina, and for a num- ber of years served in the capacity of jus- tice of the peace and also as chairman of the court of common pleas and quarter ses- sions. About the year 1764 he joined the Baptist church and continued a consistent and zealous member of this organization until his death, serving for twenty-eight years as deacon. He married, in 1742, Eliz- abeth Sumner, granddaughter of \\'illiam

Sumner, a planter in Virginia, whose grand- son, Jethro Sumner, was a brigadier-general in tile continental army under General Washington. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Battle: i. Sarah, married (first) Jacob Hil- liard, (second) Henry Horn Jr. ; had a daughter Elizabeth, who married William Port. 2. John, died in 1791^ ; married Frances Davis. 3. Elizabeth, married Josiah Crud- up, third son, Josiah Crudup, was a member of congress from 1821 to 1823. 4. Elisha, born in 1749; married Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Bunn. 5. William, born Novem- ber 8, 1751, died in 1781 ; married, about 1774. Charity Horn. 6. Jacob, of whom fur- ther. 7. Jethro, born 1756, died in 1813; married Martha Lane. 8. Dempsey, born 1758, died 1815; married, in 1784. Jane An- drews.

(IV) Jacob Battle, son of Elisha Battle, was born in North Carolina, April 22, 1754, died April i, 1814. He married, July 21, 1785, Mrs. Penelope Edwards, nee Langley. Children : James Smith, of whom further. Lucy; Marmaduke; Thomas; Elizabeth, married, in 1814, Dr. Cullen Battle.

(V) James Smith Battle, son of Jacob Battle, was born June 25. 1786, died July 18, 1854. He married (first) January, 1812, Mrs. Temperance Fort, .daughter of Jethro Battle (Tempy Battle), and (second) De- cember 3, 1812. Sally Harriet Westray, daughter of Samuel Westray. Children : Marmaduke; \\'illiam S., married Elizabeth Dancy ; Turner W^estray, of whom further; Cornelia, married John S. Dancy; Mary Eliza, married (first) W^illiam F. Dancy, (second) Dr. N. J. Pittmann ; Martha, mar- ried Kemp P. Battle ; Penelope, married W. R. Cox.

(VI) Turner ^\'estray Battle, son of James Smith Battle, was born in Nashville, North Carolina, February 6. 1827. He was the owner of "Cool Spring Plantation," Edge- combe county. North Carolina, and was a man of prominence and influence in the community. He married. May i, 1850, Lavina Bassett Daniel, daughter of Judge Joseph J. Daniel, who was for sixteen years judge of the superior court of North Caro- lina, and later, for the same period, was a judge of the supreme court of that state. He was a distinguished jurist, and was held in high esteem throughout the state. He was a member of the Daniel family of North Carolina and Virginia, representatives of