Olivia Mercer Batts was born on March 18, 1882 in Wilson, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Ella Mercer, who was black, and Joseph Albert Farmer, who was white. Joseph and Ella were both unmarried at the time. DNA testing confirmed this relationship. Olivia grew up on a farm and lived, for part of this time, with her grandparents, Dempsey Mercer and Cherry Vick Mercer. Very little is known about Olivia's childhood, but Olivia told members of her family that her mother, Ella, frequently neglected her. It is possible that Ella was raped and resented her daughter for this. In about 1901, Olivia began a relationship with one of her close neighbors, Willie Batts. They applied for a marriage license in 1902, then in 1903, but they didn't actually get married until February 10, 1904. Olivia and Willie had eleven children together. They were Ernest "Jack" Batts, Clara Batts, Elizabeth Batts, twins named Josephine Batts and Joseph "Jodie" Batts, Annie Batts, William Batts, Georgia Batts, Mary Magdalene Batts, Rosa Lee Batts, and Henry Albert Batts. Olivia passed away on September 5, 1978 in Spring Hope, North Carolina.
Olivia Mercer Batts was born on March 18, 1882 in Wilson, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Ella Mercer, who was black, and Joseph Albert Farmer, who was white. Joseph and Ella were both unmarried at the time. DNA testing confirmed this relationship. Olivia grew up on a farm and lived, for part of this time, with her grandparents, Dempsey Mercer and Cherry Vick Mercer. Very little is known about Olivia's childhood, but Olivia told members of her family that her mother, Ella, frequently neglected her. It is possible that Ella was raped and resented her daughter for this. In about 1901, Olivia began a relationship with one of her close neighbors, Willie Batts. They applied for a marriage license in 1902, then in 1903, but they didn't actually get married until February 10, 1904. Olivia and Willie had eleven children together. They were Ernest "Jack" Batts, Clara Batts, Elizabeth Batts, twins named Josephine Batts and Joseph "Jodie" Batts, Annie Batts, William Batts, Georgia Batts, Mary Magdalene Batts, Rosa Lee Batts, and Henry Albert Batts. Olivia passed away on September 5, 1978 in Spring Hope, North Carolina.
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