Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek
(York Co., SC)

Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek... where exactly was that? The property known as Clarks Fork was (is) located in what is now York Co., SC. However, it actually begins across the state line in NC, and flows south into SC, runs through what is now Kings Mountain National Military Park, and then continues to flow south where it feeds Bullocks Creek. But where on Clarks Fork did the Pattersons, Blacks, Harrisons, and Cravens live? I believe they lived on the northern end of Clarks Fork, near the state boundary line, just east or northeast of Kings Mountain.

Here is a picture of the general area of Kings Mountain (shaded in green), with Interstate 85 located just north of the mountain. There are actually two sections of the park. The northern section is located in NC, while the southern section is in SC. The latter park is the one I'm focusing on.

The following map shows Kings Mountain with Clarks Fork running north to south on the eastern edge of the park (green area). Notice also that Ponders Branch is located to the northwest of the park, and flows into Kings Creek.

Clarks Fork flows south through the park. Other branches in that area, such as Jennings Branch, Long Branch, and others, all flow into Clarks Fork. Once Clarks Fork exits the park on the southeast side, it flows west until it meets up with the park boundary again. At that point, Clarks Fork flows south again for a few miles, at which time it empties into Bullocks Creek. The entire trek in SC for Clarks Fork is contained inside York County.

The next map shows the northeastern edge of Kings Mountain park, with Clarks Fork at the center of the image.

Notice in the above map that Clarks Fork begins in NC and crosses the state line. By the time it flows just a little further and meets up with the park (green area), three other branches have flowed into Clarks Fork. It is very possible that one of these three branches is "Patterson Creek", which was located on Peter Patterson's land. Peter was one of the sons of Robert "R" Patterson. Subsequent evidence will be shown that will prove that Peter's land was adjacent to the original land that the Pattersons were granted in the 1760's. One other possible location for Patterson's Creek is the branch in the lower left corner of the map. This branch (name not displayed either) also flows into Clarks Fork.

The Ponders lived on the northwest end of Kings Mountain, near the state boundary line. They were fairly close to the Pattersons, and definitely were related. Daniel Ponder, Jr. married Elizabeth Patterson, daughter of Robert "R" Patterson. This Daniel and Elizabeth Ponder later moved to Buncombe Co NC, as did several other families from Clarks Fork.

Also notice Love Valley Road. The Loves were adjacent neighbors to the Pattersons, as will be shown later. The proximity of these other branches which feed into Clarks Fork (one must be Patterson Creek), plus the proximity of Love Valley Road, and the fact that the Ponders were also on the north side of Kings Mountain, all point to the extreme likelihood that the section of Clarks Fork on which the Pattersons (and Blacks, et al) lived was on the northeast/east side of Kings Mountain.

The first piece of evidence to consider is the following deed from 1797.

13 July 1797 Peter Patterson of York County to Malcolm Henry of York County for 150 pounds, 150 acres, on the waters of Clarks fork of Bullock Creek being Patterson's branch and also 80 acres adjoining the above and Peter Patterson's lower field, the ridge road above Jacob Peters School House, Robert Love's corner at cross road and ------- Ponder. Also 62 acres, adjoining and originally granted to Robert Patterson Sr., deceased, and is on both sides of Clarks fork. Witnesses: Robert Love, William Henry and Abigail Patterson. Samuel Watson J.P.

I believe that what is now labeled as "Park Road" on the previous map would have been the "ridge road" on these old deeds. The current park road traverses the ridge of Kings Mountain. Also, the Park Road intersects with Love Valley Road. And just to the east of that intersection is a cross roads of the Park road (ridge road) and York Road, a major travel route. I suspect the "cross road" in the 1797 deed to refer to one of these intersections.

The previous deed also contains three separate tracts of land. The third tract specifically identifies 62 acres as part of the original grant to Robert Patterson, Sr. Robert "R" Patterson originally received a 200 acre grant which was surveyed on 22 March 1766, and issued on 22 April 1767. This land was on both sides of Clarks Fork, and bordered Robert Black.

PATTERSON, ROBERT - File #821(1542); Gr. #21; Bk. 17, p. 380(18, 347)
Plat: 22 Mar 1766, Surveyed for Robert Patterson, 200 A on Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek adj. Robert Blacks . Wm Sims, Surv.
Mathew Black, Robert Cravins, CB
Iss. 22 Apr 1767

Notice that Mathew Black and Robert Cravens were chain bearers for that grant. We also know that Robert's son Thomas Patterson received a 60 acre grant which was issued the same day as his father's.

PATTERSON, THOMAS - File #820(1541); Gr. #20; Bk. 17, p. 380(18, 347)
60 A on both sides Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek adj. Robert Blacks, Harrisons .
22 Apr 1767 - Wm Tryon

You can see that Thomas' tract also bordered Robert Black, as well as Nathaniel Harrison. For more extensive details on the men who took up grants on Clarks Fork during the 1760's, see my page at http://wespatterson.com/patt/bios/patt-robt-1775-p11.htm which is part of my biographical sketch of Robert Patterson.

In 1786, Thomas Patterson sold his 60 acres to his brother, Robert Patterson, Jr. Robert Black also sold his tract to Robert Patterson, Jr. Robert (Jr) had received his own land grant, as well, in 1767. That was 150 acres on both sides of Clarks Fork, and the chain bearers were William Cravens and Thomas Patterson.

I mention these three tracts for the sake of explaining this next deed, which also occurred in 1797.

30 May 1797 Robert Patterson of Rutherford County, North Carolina to William McElwee planter, of York County, South Carolina, 500 acres, which is the remainder of a tract of land on Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek being three surveys. (1) land granted to Robert Black and conveyed to Robert Patterson, (2) land granted to Thomas Patterson and conveyed to Robert Patterson, and (3) land granted to Robert Patterson and is adjacent Jacob Peters School House, widow Loves spring. Witnesses: Malcolm Henry, John Henry and John Patterson. Proved 12 August 1813. F. Walker J.P. of Haywood County, North Carolina.

All three tracts were sold by Robert Patterson, Jr. to William McElwee. McElwee was married to Janet Black (McElwee), a daughter of Mathew and Mary Black, and therefore a sister to Robert Black, Joseph Black, etc. Also notice the reference to "Jacob Peters School House" and "widow Loves spring". Again, this puts us in the vicinity of the Loves and the school house which was near the "ridge road". And again I point out that these were the original grants from the 1760's - all three of them.

Also notice in the previous deed that John Patterson was one of the witnesses. He was the oldest son of Thomas Patterson, and therefore a nephew to Robert, Jr. Thomas and his son John Patterson both had moved to Buncombe Co NC in the 1790's. By the 1810's, Thomas had already died, and John Patterson was preparing to make his move to Haywood Co NC, which is where this deed was entered.

This next deed points out that there was a "dividing ridge" between the section of Clarks Fork that the Pattersons lived on and Kings Creek, which was west of Kings Mountain.

15 October 1825 Robert Patterson of Rutherford County, North Carolina, to Robert Love of York District, 258 acres, on the dividing ridge between Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek and Kings Creek. Witnesses: William Love, Jonathan N. McElwee. Proved 11 August 1826. William McGil J.P.

There were many other deeds and grants that can be (and have been) taken into consideration. Yet, these listed here are the most important pieces to the puzzle in my estimation. As more details are uncovered, I will be sure to update this page. My intention is to one day find the actual land on which Robert "R" Patterson and Thomas Patterson lived. I would also like to find where Joseph Black and Mathew Black lived.

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