Biographical Sketch of Robert Patterson of Craven Co., SC
© 2003, Charles Wesley (Wes) Patterson, Sr.

Page 6 of 17
Table of Contents  |  Previous Page  |  Next Page  |  End Notes

1770 Probates Regarding Margaret Adams’ Estate

The most important documents from the Augusta Co., VA records concerning Robert Patterson of LC are the 1770 series of entries into the court books concerning Margaret Adams and her estate. All three entries were in 1770. The first of the three specifically identifies Robert Patterson, son of Margaret Adams, as living in Tryon Co., NC. This was on February 1, 1770. There was another Robert Patterson in Tryon Co., NC in 1770, but he was still in Mecklenburg Co., NC in 1777 when CFBC was once again claimed by SC, as being in York Co. Evidence presented later will prove that Robert Patterson of LC was the one living on CFBC next to Robert Black, Robert Cravens’ land, Nathaniel Harrison, and other LC families. Robert Patterson of LC died in 1775 in York Co., SC.

Yet another Robert Patterson was in the old Mecklenburg Co., NC prior to 1770 as well, but he died in 1767. Neither of these other two Roberts of Mecklenburg ever lived on CFBC. Observe the 2-1-1770 Augusta Co., VA record involving Robert of LC (and CFBC) - again, this is Robert (A) from earlier in this sketch.

These are to certify to all persons whom it may concern that I, Robert Patterson of North Carolina, Tryon County, son of William Patterson deceased, do disclaim any right or title that is or may be alledged belonging to me of a certain tract of land lying and being in Agusta County upon a small branch on the south side of Linwells Creek which said land was taken up by Margaret Adams, the widow of John Adams deceased.
Robert “R” Patterson. 1st February, 1770.
Teste: Francis Adams, J. P., North Carolina, Tryon County.

Figure 3 - Robert Patterson’s Disclaimer of Rights, Feb. 1, 1770

The “R” between Robert and Patterson was his mark, not his middle initial as many transcribers have indicated. Notice that Robert made the same mark on his Will in York Co., SC five years later. The key is that both marks are “R” instead of one of them being an “X” or anything else. It should be pointed out that Robert used this same mark in 1738 when he sold his Sussex Co DE land and began the move to the Linville Creek VA area. His wife Sarah made her mark "S" on that same document.

Figure 4 - Robert Patterson’s “R” mark on his own 1775 Will, when he was old and weak

 
 
 
The second of the series of three court records in 1770 is the 3-15-1770 record, which indicates when the Will was probated.

Certifies that Francis Adams is a magistrate. Ezekiel Polk, C. C. Proved, 15th March, 1770, by Samuel Hull and Jacob Gum. Samuel Adams qualifies executor, with Joseph Dictum, John Madison, Jr."

This writer “assumes” that Margaret Donnell Patterson Adams died between February 1st and March 15th of 1770 since she is not listed as “deceased” on February 1st , as was John Adams. Also, the March probate is the record where Margaret’s grandson Samuel Adams (Jr.) qualified as heir since his father had died in 1748.

May 1748, Margaret Adams bond as admin of the estate of Samuel Adams deceased.¹⁰

Joseph Dictum was a son-in-law of Daniel and Jane Adams Love. In other words, Joseph Dictum married Margaret Adams’ granddaughter Rachel Love, who was a first cousin to Samuel Adams, Jr. in the 1770 court record above. As for John Madison, Jr. – he was a Justice of the Peace for Augusta Co., VA.

Many transcribed records have accounted Jacob Gum’s last name with different variations, such as Guin or Quin. As you can see in the picture below, it is Gum. Remember “Gum Run” on the previous map of the head branches around LC? There was a John Guin (Gwin, Quin) that was listed on various Deeds and Wills of Augusta Co., VA. He was the other son-in-law of Daniel and Jane Adams Love, by virtue of his marriage to Ann Love. However, he was NOT related to this Jacob Gum mentioned above. The Loves, Dictums, and Gwins were long-time neighbors of the Harrisons and Cravens of the LC area.¹¹

The following image is from a copy of the original Margaret Adams’ 1744 Will, which clearly identifies the testators.

Figure 5 - The Testators on the original Margaret Adams’ 1744 Will

The next picture is of the same items, but from the clerk of court’s copy of the Will (which includes his interpretation of the original Will).

Figure 6 - The Testators on the clerk of court’s transcription of Margaret Adams’ 1744 Will

This writer is still in the process of finding out more about these three testators. Not much has been found regarding Thomas Lunday and Samuel Hull. However, Jacob Gum’s family moved from Sussex Co., DE about 1743 to this LC area. The Gums of DE were there going back to the late 1600’s, and many of this Jacob Gum’s siblings and cousins remained in the Sussex Co., DE area. Jacob had an older sister named Mary Gum who had married a John Ponder III in Sussex Co., DE. The Ponders were long time residents of Talbot Co., MD with some members of the family having also moved to DE.

A first cousin of the above mentioned John Ponder was named Daniel Ponder. Daniel Ponder, of MD, married Jemima Bennett (also a Ponder descendant). Daniel and Jemima Bennett Ponder had several children, one of whom was Daniel Ponder, Jr. This particular Ponder family moved into Augusta Co., VA in the 1750’s (perhaps earlier?). By the 1770’s, most of this family had also moved to York Co., SC where many other LC families had also moved. In fact, Daniel Ponder, Jr. eventually married Elizabeth Patterson, the daughter of Robert and Sarah Patterson of LC, in York Co., SC.

The third and final document in the series of records pertaining to Margaret Adams’ Will in 1770 has already been listed previously, but here it is again for the sake of continuity.

Page 315.--15th May, 1770. Samuel Adams, of North Carolina, to Joseph Dictum, power of attorney to convey 340 acres on Linvel's Creek, devised by Margaret Adams and from him descended to Samuel as eldest son and heir, having been patented in the name of Mary Adams. Title yet to be made to Samuel.

We now have an indication as to the size of the property that Margaret Adams owned on LC. Perhaps the creek that currently lies to the west of LC known as “Patterson Creek” is the property that Robert Patterson received as a land patent in 1764 which was next to where he was already living, on LC. With his mother’s plantation (which is how she described it in her Will) being 340 acres, that creek was very likely to have been close enough to Margaret’s property, and therefore, named after Robert Patterson.

Biographical Sketch of Robert Patterson of Craven Co., SC
© 2003, Charles Wesley (Wes) Patterson, Sr.

Page 6 of 17
Table of Contents  |  Previous Page  |  Next Page  |  End Notes