Robert Patterson was born about 1796 in Pendleton District, SC. The 1810 Buncombe Co NC census is the only definite proof of his existence in that the 1800 census for John and Margaret Patterson leave off one of the three sons that were born to them by 1800, for some reason. The 1810 census clearly shows three sons born b/w 1800/10, plus one more (Amos) born after 1800 (1803/04).

The family records that have been passed down over the years originally came from Mary Patterson Fountain, daughter of William Cravens Patterson, and granddaughter of Joseph B. Patterson Sr., and therefore great-granddaughter of John and Margaret Black Patterson. She lists Robert as having married a Cassie Pulasky and that they had a son named John Patterson.

The 1810 census lists 3 sons age 10-15. However, only one of those sons were listed on the 1800 census. That would have been Robert. As for John Jr. and George, they were the other two sons in the "3". George is consistently listed in future census records as being born about 1800. He could have been born after the 1800 census was taken, but still in the same year. John Jr. was born in 1798, so he must have simply been left out of the 1800 census for some reason. Another thing to remember is that younger sister Ann was born in October of 1802. So that leaves about 24 months between George and Ann.

There's still another problem. The 1820 Haywood Co., NC census lists two sons age 16-25, and one son 16-18. In the past I have thought this was George and Amos in the 16-25 bracket and Robert in the 16-18 bracket. However, if that's the case then where was the older brother John, Jr.? He didn't marry Sallie Hicks until three years later. The oldest brother Joseph Patterson is living two households away, so he's accounted for. At this point, I believe that the 1820 census for John and Margaret Patterson shows three sons and one daughter, i.e. John Jr. and George in the 16-25 bracket (they were 22 and 20, respectively), and Amos in the 16-18 bracket (Amos would have been 16 or 17 years old then), and the daughter was Ann, age 17 at that point (although it has her in the 10-15 bracket). If Robert was born about 1796 he would have been 24 then. However, there isn't any male accounting for Robert in John's household. Robert must have already moved south into GA by 1820.

There are at least two court records from Rabun Co Ga that refer to Robert Patterson, deceased. The first was indirectly, in 1822. The second was in 1830, and it specifically named him, and it was obviously the same as the 1822 family. His land was needing to be disposed of, and Joseph Patterson was the one being ordered to take care of it. I hope to visit the Rabun Co courthouse soon to verify these records. I believe these records are referring to Joseph's uncle Robert Patterson (brother of John Sr), and not THIS Robert Patterson, son of John.

Here is a copy of the records that were sent to me by Jennifer Patterson in August, 2001:

I'm not sure who the John Patterson was in 1839. However, I have no doubt whatsoever that the Joseph Patterson mentioned in 1822 and again in 1830 was none other than Joseph B. Patterson, son of John and Margaret. The tract of land is clearly the same piece of land in both records, so the November 1822 court record must be referring to Robert Patterson, deceased. The signature of John Patterson appeared on the 1830 record. Was this John Sr or Jr? Since we don't know where John Sr was in 1830, and we know that John Jr was in Rabun Co Ga in 1830, I assume that this was John Jr who signed the court record for Robert's personal property inventory, but it could have been John Sr., nonetheless.

As for whether or not Robert was married and had a son John as some have stated... I have yet to find any Pulasky family in Buncombe or Haywood counties during the years the Pattersons were there. It is possible that Robert met a Cassie Pulasky in Haywood and that they and her family were in Rabun Co Ga by 1820. The Cassay Pence who lived next to the Pattersons in Haywood around 1820 appears to have married a John Marion Patterson, and they were supposedly the parents of Abraham Marion Patterson, born 1824.

At this time I believe that Robert Patterson, son of John and Margaret, was born in 1796. He may or may not have had a family by a first wife named Cassie Pulasky. I have yet to find any proof of such a marriage, however, more and more evidence is pointing to a son named John by a first wife, which in itself may be proof enough. There was a John Patterson in Rusk Co Texas during the same time that Robert's family was there. It appears to me that he WAS Robert's son. His name was John Sydney Patterson, and he was born in 1828. There was also a Thomas T. Patterson there and in Nacogdoches Co Tx with this John, presumably his brother. Until I can prove otherwise, my assumption is that Robert was indeed married previously, most likely to a Cassie Pulasky, and they had at least two children, as follows:

Robert married again at age 39 in Franklin Co GA in 1835, to Ann M. Johnson, widow of John Strange. After having one child in GA in 1836, and 4 sons in AL by 1845, Robert and Ann Patterson were in Rusk Co., Tx by 1853, as was Amos Patterson, another son of John and Margaret. Also, SK Patterson, a nephew of Amos and Robert was there by 1853.

Robert Patterson was recorded in the Rusk Tx census of 1860, but was dead by 1870.

The children of Robert Patterson and Ann Johnson Strange Patterson were:

Descendants Report in PDF format.

Most of these Pattersons of Rusk Co Tx served in the Civil War. That list includes the afore-mentioned SK Patterson, plus both of Amos Patterson's sons, John Joseph Patterson and William Lumpkin Patterson.

Additionally, at least three of Robert Patterson's sons, and possibly as many as six, also served in the Civil War. We know that Mid, Berry, and Robert L. served, and there were many William Pattersons who served, so one of them was likely this William. John Sydney Patterson and Thomas T. Patterson served in the war as well.

The 14th TX Cavalry was the 1st Regiment under Colonel M.T. Johnson's Brigade. Johnson was the brother of Ann Johnson Patterson, and therefore a brother-in-law of Robert Patterson. Six of the afore-mentioned Pattersons served in the 14th TX Cavalry. They were Thomas T. Patterson, John J. Patterson, Wilson L. (Lumpkin) Patterson, Mid Patterson, Berry Patterson, and Robert L. Patterson. Robert L and Wilson L were officers in the regiment.

I am seeking any known descendants of this Robert Patterson who died in Rusk Co Tx in the 1860's. If found, we need a direct line male descendant of Robert Patterson to participate in the Patterson DNA project. This would help us prove whether or not there is a kinship between the Robert Patterson of Rusk Tx and the Amos and SK Patterson of Rusk Tx. Thanks.

In December 2009, Marty Grant was updating his website and he did some follow up research on this Robert and was able to find him on the 1840 (St Francis Co AR) census, and perhaps also in 1830 (Clarke Co GA). No one had previously located him on any census except 1860. The following research notes are excerpts of communications initiated by Marty Grant on 10 Dec 2009. These notes are from Marty Grant, and supplemented by Wes Patterson in Dec 2009 and April 2010.

The following notes begin with Marty’s data collection and analysis.

Franklin Co., GA Marriages to 1850:
9 Oct 1806 Rachel Patterson & James Bohannan
26 Nov 1825 John Strange & Ann Johnson
23 Mar 1830 Milly Patterson & Absalom H. Shelton
9 Feb 1832 Calvin W. Patterson & Elizabeth Attaway
11 Oct 1832 Nancy Patterson & H. K. Phillips
25 Aug 1833 Hampton Patterson & Mary Bowers
11 Oct 1835 Robert Patterson & Ann Strange
18 Jul 1840 Tryon Patterson & Eliza Prewitt
22 Nov 1842 Samuel Patterson & Frances M. Patterson

Jackson Co., GA marriages to 1850:
29 Aug 1808 Rachel Patterson & Patton Gardner
25 Dec 1817 Charlotte Patterson & Grigsby Grady
14 Apr 1819 William Patterson & Rebecca Coffee
15 Feb 1821 Tabitha Patterson & James Candle
10 Oct 1828 Katharine Patterson & Stephen Caudle

Clarke Co., GA marriages to 1850:
20 Apr 1809 Nancy Patterson & Henry Langford
29 Jan 1818 William Patterson & Rodey Runnels
28 Oct 1827 James Patterson & Nancy Howard
13 Feb 1834 Littleton Patterson & Elizabeth Dupree

Madison Co., GA marriages to 1850:
12 Jun 1817 Celia Patterson & Charles McDaniel
2 Jan 1829 Elizabeth Patterson & James S. Palmer
22 Nov 1840 Elizabeth Patterson & Ezekiel Bray
25 Nov 1847 Joshua M. Patterson & Prudence Chetham
7 Dec 1848 Mary E. Patterson & James R. Anderson
3 Jan 1850 Martha A. Patterson & Thomas B. Thompson

1820 Census - Georgia
Clarke County - No Pattersons
Franklin - None

Jackson -
1- Wm Patterson 000200-10010 no slaves
2- James Patterson 110101-00001 no slaves
3- Wm Patterson 000001-00010 no slaves
# 1 and 2 were very near each other

Madison - None

1830 Census
Clarke -
David Paterson (c1790/1800) 100001-12001, 55 slaves
John Paterson (c1790/1800) 210001-010001, no slaves
Robert H. Paterson (c1790/1800) 200001-10001, no slaves [WP: This might be the son of John & Margaret Black Patterson]
No Morrow, Marr or similar. No Kincaid

Franklin -
John Strange (c1800/10) 20001-10001, no slaves, 1 slave
Claborn Johnson (c1780/90) 2011001-0120001, 8 slaves, next to John Strange
William Strange (c1790/1800 or 1800/10) 200011-00001, no slaves, 8 houses from John Strange
George Patterson (c1800/10) 20001-10001, 1 slave, 5 houses from William Strange
Tryon Patterson (c1770/80) 00021001-00110001, no slaves
William Patterson (c1800/10) 00001-200010001, no slaves
James Strange (c1800/10) 10001-00001, no slaves
Seth Strange (c1780/90) 00011001-00000001, 12 slaves
Seth Strange (c1800/10) 00001-1001, 2 slaves

Jackson - none
Madison - none

From the Franklin County records you can see that John Strange (1st husband of Ann Johnson) was next to Claborn Johnson, perhaps her father [WP: he definitely was Ann's father]. They weren't far at all from George Patterson. Don't know how George ties in with Robert or if he does.

By 1840 there were only two Strange families in Franklin: Seth and William.

I also found this in St. Francis Co., AR in 1840 side by side in Johnson District (or Township):
pg 196 Claborn Johnson (c1780/90) 00010001-00010001, 11 slaves
pg 196 Robert Patterson (c1800/10) 212001-012101, 4 slaves

This is almost certainly the same Claborn Johnson from 1830 Franklin, and this would be his son-in-law Robert Patterson and wife Ann Johnson Strange Patterson. It also fits to be your Uncle Robert Patterson except we didn't know they were ever in Arkansas (or at least *I* didn't know it). William King was next door. I mention that because Robert's daughter R. E. married a King in the 1840's.

There is a William H. Patterson (c1790/1800) in 1840 St. Francis also, but not nearby.

Looking for them again in 1850 (I tried to find Robert in 1850 before but failed), I first looked for Claborn Johnson, and found him in Rusk Co., TX, right where he ought to be! He was by himself, age 66 born SC, no occupation, no real property, Rusk District, house and family # 430/430. No obvious relatives nearby, and still no sign of the Robert Patterson family in 1850. I checked for them in St. Francis Co., AR in 1850 but they weren't there. William H. Patterson (c1803) and family were there in 1850, probably same from 1840.

On a hunch I checked the 1850 Slave Schedule for Rusk and found "C. Johnson" listed with two slaves. That is probably Claborn. No Pattersons were listed in Rusk County, TX with slaves.

Marty Grant (Marvin A. Grant, Jr.)

*** and then my consolidated responses to Marty ***

Marty,

You've gotten my attention for sure! Yes, Claborn Johnson WAS Ann's father. There is no question about that from the previous research I've done. And yes, he arrived in Tx prior to Robert and Ann coming. There WAS a young John Patterson living with Elizabeth Ferguson in Rusk Tx in 1850, and I believe him to have been the oldest son of Robert Patterson by his 1st wife.

St Francis Co AR is on the eastern border of the state - with Mississippi. This is certainly in the direct line of travel from GA / AL etc toward Tx. The 1840 AR Robert Patterson and his wife both appear to be too young by one column, but I realize that census records are not always correct - depending on who actually gave the data to the census taker.

Given that Patterson is next door to Claborn Johnson, that is a HUGE factor in believing this is most likely the Robert Patterson who married Ann Johnson Strange and ended up in Rusk Co Tx.

Now - here's the next question I have for you. Do we think this is John and Margaret's son born in 1796? Or do we think this is their nephew, son of Robert and Elizabeth Patterson of 1800 and 1810 Buncombe and 1820 Haywood? I don't have those census records in front of me right now, but I know that Robert had at least 3 sons. Could the 3 Patterson males from 1830 Clarke Co Ga be the sons of Robert and Elizabeth? And, therefore be nephews of my John? [WP: in 1800 Buncombe Co NC census, Robert Patterson had 2 males 0-10 in his household. So it's possible that the Robert of Clarke 1830 could have been a son of 1800 Buncombe Robert, but all 3 of these 1830 men were not his sons, if any. I believe the evidence will show a closer kinship to John of 1800 Buncombe.]

1830 Census
Clarke -
David Paterson (c1790/1800) 100001-12001, 55 slaves
John Paterson (c1790/1800) 210001-010001, no slaves
Robert H. Paterson (c1790/1800) 200001-10001, no slaves

Either way, there was a huge connection b/w the Patterson/Johnson group of Pattersons and then Amos Patterson's sons - in Rusk Co Tx. They all served together in the 14th TX Cavalry under Col Middleton Tate Johnson, brother of Ann Johnson Strange Patterson!!!

Here's more info on Claborn Johnson, who's full name was Matthew Claiborne Johnson, b 1784 SC. He died in 1853 in Rusk Co Tx, and was in Tx as early as 1839, although he apparently was back in AR for the 1840 census.

And, here's another page about Claiborne Johnson's family, his father being Rowland Johnson of Amelia Co, Va and Spartanburg Co, SC.

Marty, you mentioned that Robert Patterson's daughter (R.E.) married a King in the 1840's. I found some info on the Robert Patterson daughter who married a King. You mentioned:

I also found this in St. Francis Co., AR in 1840 side by side in Johnson District (or Township):
pg 196 Claborn Johnson (c1780/90) 00010001-00010001, 11 slaves
pg 196 Robert Patterson (c1800/10) 212001-012101, 4 slaves

This is almost certainly the same Claborn Johnson from 1830 Franklin, and this would be his son-in-law Robert Patterson and wife Ann Johnson Strange Patterson. It also fits to be your Uncle Robert Patterson except we didn't know they were ever in Arkansas (or at least *I* didn't know it). William King was next door. I mention that because Robert's daughter R. E. married a King in the 1840's.

If you go to http://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/tx/rusk/1860/pg0297b.txt and search for King you'll find the George and R.E. King household. Whoever transcribed this page added some annotations to this family, which sheds light on the fact that this Rhoda E. was a STRANGE, and therefore apparently the daughter of Robert Patterson's wife Ann, by her first husband.

18-1434/1452 KING George 36 M W M.D. 1,000 6,300 TN
19-1434/1452 KING R. E. (Rhoda E. STRANGE) 29 F W - - - GA (m. 1 Jan. 1850)
20-1434/1452 KING E. C. 8 M W - - - TX
21-1434/1452 KING William G. 6 M W - - - TX
22-1434/1452 KING J. E. 4 M W - - - TX
23-1434/1452 LUMMUS (?) Elizabeth 15 F W - - - GA

And then a page or two further down we find Amos and Kimsey Patterson living next to each other. Amos was a younger brother supposedly, of Robert Patterson, and Kimsey was a son of George and therefore nephew of Amos.

12-1446/1464 PATTERSON S.K. 32 M W farmer 800 200 GA
13-1446/1464 PATTERSON M.E. (Mary F. JOWELL) 20 F W - - - AL (m. 13 Dec. 1855)
14-1446/1464 PATTERSON H.B.J. 2 M W - - - TX
15-1446/1464 PATTERSON L.B. 5/12 M W - - - TX
16-1447/1465 PATTERSON Amos 51 M W farmer 3,000 550 NC
17-1447/1465 PATTERSON Parmelia (A. MORRIS) 40 F W - - - AL (m. 12 Sept. 1858)
18-1447/1465 PATTERSON Lumpkin 30 M W f laborer 300 – GA
19-1447/1465 PATTERSON J.J. 25 M W – 150 – GA
20-1447/1465 PATTERSON Margaret 22 F W - - - GA
21-1447/1465 PATTERSON Nancy 20 F W - - - GA
22-1447/1465 MORRIS Eliza 10 F W - - - TX
23-1447/1465 MORRIS Martha 8 F W - - - TX

S K Patterson (Silas Kimsey), was the son of George (b 1800) and nephew of Amos (and Robert).

The Morris girls were daughters of Amos' 2nd wife, Parmelia _____ (Morris) (Patterson), by her first husband.

Another big clue along the way in believing that Amos and Robert of Rusk were brothers, is the following deed:

H/532 - B. C. H. Johnson to Amos Patterson, a tract of land 25 mi. s.e. of Henderson (now known as Caledonia Community), 215 acres, filed 12-26-1853.

This was Berryman Cicero Holt Johnson, brother of Ann Johnson Patterson, and therefore brother-in-law of Robert Patterson - selling land to Amos Patterson! Robert Patterson named one of his sons B C H Patterson, as well.

Furthermore, these same Johnsons were intermarried with the Davis clan, including Jeremiah Gurley Davis. One of Jeremiah Gurley Davis's daughters married Wilson Lumpkin Patterson, son of Amos Patterson.

Wes Patterson (ggg-grandson of George Patterson – b. 1800)

***

Additional thoughts, April 2010:

So what does all this mean? I do believe the 1830 Clarke Co Ga record to be this same Robert Patterson. He had two sons in 1830 which match the ages of his two older sons in 1840. Also in 1830, Robert H Patterson of Clarke Co Ga had a daughter, which could be one of the older daughters in 1840. We also know that his second wife, Ann Strange (widow of John Strange from 1830 Franklin Co Ga), had a daughter by 1830. That only accounts for one of the 3 older daughters of Robert in 1840 (plus his own older daughter), leaving a third older daughter, age 10 or higher, unaccounted for. It could be that Ann or Robert, either one, had another daughter born right around 1830, who was not enumerated in 1830 but was listed as 10-15 in 1840.

The remaining children in Robert's 1840 household are accounted for. So if Robert is this Robert H. Patterson from Clarke Co Ga in 1830, what does the middle initial "H" stand for? I would be shocked if it was NOT "Harrison". Robert was born in 1796, at which time the Patterson family was relocating to Buncombe Co NC with all of their Harrison and Black relatives. Robert's paternal grandmother was named Margaret Harrison (Patterson). I cannot prove this, so don't write it down as gospel, please.

So that leaves two census years in which we are still missing Robert. He is not located in 1820 yet, and perhaps was living in another household as a farm laborer. That doesn't surprise me. But in 1850 he's also missing. Perhaps one day we'll locate that record.