Jake & Queen Batts
Sarah Morgan (Died Aug. 1903) & Frank Batts (Died April 28, 1924) gave birth to five boys and two girls: Steve, Leroy, Nathan, George, Charlie, Josephine and Maggie. They lived and raised their children in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, near Pinetops. Frank Batts and his family were freed from slavery when he was 12 years old (circa 1875).
Whit Cotton (Died Oct. 23, 1922) & Millie Smith (Died Jan. 5, 1918) gave birth to 3 children: Cora (Hawkins), Willie and Carrie (Batts). They also lived and raised their children in Edgecombe County, close to Tarboro.
Both the Batts and Cotton families farmed for a living.
Charlie Batts (born Jan. 30, 1889) served his country in World War I (Army), which lasted from 1914 to 1918. He met Carrie Cotton (born Aug. 24, 1900) when she was 16 and they married (Feb. 7, 1920). After they married, Carrie continued to stay with and care for her father Whit until the young couple’s first two children, Charlie Jr. (Bud) and Annie Maude, were born. Meanwhile, Charlie lived with his Aunt Mae. (?)
Together they raised 12 children: Annie Maude (Mar. 26, 1921), Charlie Edward (Bud) (Aug. 30, 1923), George William (July 23, 1924-1968), Robert Lee (March 6, 1926), Sarah Louise, (July 27, 1927) Willie Junior (May 17, 1929), James Nathan (Dolly)(Dec. 14, 1931 – May 2, 1991), Josephine (July 23, 1932-May 16, 1952), Mamie Ruth (Aug. 8, 1934), Curtis Frank (Sept. 14, 1936-Sept. ? 1990), Careatha (June 14, 1938) and Rubye Lois (May 10, 1941-Feb. 7, 1972)). (When James Nathan was born, little Sarah said she didn’t want a toy for Christmas; he was her “dolly. The nickname stuck). Always industrious, Sarah helped her mother raise the younger children and Josephine. Sadly, as a child, Josephine had contracted what the doctor said was polio and was never able to speak or care for herself. She died May 16, 1952 at the age of 17.
