Thomas Patterson was the oldest son of Robert and Sarah Patterson. Thomas and Sarah were apparently the oldest son and daughter of Robert when Robert wrote his will in 1775 in York Co SC. Thomas's son John Patterson was named in that same document. For more information about the 1775 Will of Robert "R" Patterson go to http://wespatterson.com/patt/robert-r.1775will.asp.

Thomas Patterson was most likely born by 1745 at the latest, based largely in part on the fact that his oldest son John Patterson was born about 1765 (fairly accurate date). Also, Thomas appears to have been involved in some degree in the French and Indian War, along with other individuals in Augusta Co Va who later moved to York Co SC, such as Nathaniel Harrison, Robert Patterson, the Blacks, Cravens, and others. They were recorded in 1758 for service they provided in 1756. I'm inclined to believe that Thomas was born closer to 1740 than 1745. Another good reason for stating that is the 1744 Will of Margaret Adams. Margaret was Thomas's grandmother (Mary Margaret _____ Patterson Adams). She recorded in her 1744 will that her son Robert Patterson had a daughter named Mary Patterson, and that he had "children". Yes, there could have been another child born prior to Thomas and that died later, but we have no record of this, and it seems very likely that Thomas must have been born closer to 1740 in order to be "involved" in the War in 1756.

Many details of Thomas Patterson's life are covered in my Biographical Sketch of Robert "R" Patterson, so I will not repeat all of them here. I encourage you to read that sketch, especially if you want to learn more about Thomas.

Thomas appears to have moved to the Clark's Fork of Bullocks Creek area that is now in York Co SC sometime in the 1760's.

It seems that based on the 1800 and 1810 Buncombe Co NC census, and the 1820 Haywood Co NC census, one of the other sons of Thomas may have been a Robert Patterson. The only child listed in Thomas's household in 1800 was his daughter. His wife was still living then, too.

Thomas's Buncombe land was sold by the Sheriff of Buncombe (Joseph Hughey) in 1804. Did Thomas die between 1800 and 1804? That's possible, but it's also possible that he just failed to pay his taxes in 1803 or '04, leading to the Sheriff's repossession and sale. There was an older female living in his son John's household in 1810, that may have been Thomas's widow. This is still circumstantial evidence at best however.

We have learned in 2010 that Thomas Patterson was first married to Margaret Harrison on 24 Dec 1761 in Augusta Co Va at the Peaked Mtn Church. The most likely scenario (in my opinion) is that Margaret was a sister to the Nathaniel and Thomas Harrison who lived right next to Thomas Patterson at Clarks Fork in York Co SC. Furthermore, it is quite possible they were children of the Joseph Harrison who died in 1748 in Augusta Co Va. That is not confirmed yet, but it is a working theory. That Joseph possibly was born circa 1710-14, and may have been either a son of Isaiah Harrison Sr, or Isaiah Jr. It seems that Isaiah Jr's family moved to the Yadkin River Valley of Va in the late 1740's and early 1750's, so I tend to think that Joseph may have been an undocumented son of Isaiah Sr. The latter's children by his second wife, Abigail Smith, seem to be less well documented in comparison to his children by his first wife, Elizabeth Wright. Another angle to research is John Harrison (b 1691), son of Isaiah Sr... was this Joseph an undocumented son of John?

The descendants of Thomas Patterson, Thomas Harrison, and Nathaniel Harrison all ended up in Buncombe Co NC living next to each other in the 1790's and early 1800's. Two descendants of these Buncombe Harrisons have been DNA tested and found to be matches with the Isaiah Harrison family.

I also now believe that Thomas' wife Margaret died ca 1770-73. In 1773 Thomas acquired 400 acres back in Augusta Co Va. He appears to have moved back there for at least a few years, if not longer. There

The details of the children of Thomas Patterson have been pieced together to the best of my knowledge, but many details are still uncovered. Most likely, ALL of his children were born BEFORE 1790. The following is a brief sketch of what is currently believed to be true about the children of Thomas:

The Thomas Patterson of St Bartholomews Parish and Prince Williams Parish (Charleston District in 1790, and Colleton District thereafter), was NOT my Thomas Patterson. The Thomas of Colleton wrote his will in 1797 and it was proved in 1799, recorded in the Charleston Wills. My Thomas was alive and well in 1800 in Buncombe Co NC.