Batten, John, St Margaret's Bank, Rochester, Kent, upholder, cm, appraiser and undertaker (1792–1839). Took out a Sun Insurance policy on 7 June 1792 for £3,300 of which utensils and stock accounted for £1,000, workshop and storehouse adjoining house for £300, utensils and stock therein, £200; cart house, stable and loft above, £70, utensils and stock therein, £30, and house in tenure of widow Batten, £485. Named as an orator in a bill of 13 June 1817. Trade card [Banks Coll., BM] advertises ‘Gentlemens Cabbins, Wardrooms Marques &c. genteely fitted on the Shortest Notice’ and ‘Hair Trunks, Sea Chests, Cotts, Mattrasses, Bedding etc.’ A bow front chest of drawers is recorded bearing the circular label of ‘John Batten, Upholder, Rochester’. A Mr Batten, u, of Rochester, subscribed to Sheraton's Drawing Book, 1793. [D; GL, Sun MS vol. 387, p. 18; V & A archives; PRO, C13 710/29] See Latitia and T. Batten.