William
Patterson -> Robert "R"
Robert
Patterson Fast Links:
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Page Was Last Updated in April, 2008.
June 23, 2004 Update: Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek... where exactly was that? The property known as Clarks Fork was 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. For more details on this prospect, I have outlined the evidence for this opinion on my Clarks Fork page.
For the record, I used to believe they lived on the part of Clarks Fork that is closest to Bullocks Creek (the southern part). I no longer believe that to be accurate. At the time I did not understand how far north you had to go to find the beginning of Clarks Fork. Now that I understand this better, it all makes perfect sense now. I just had to do more investigative work to find enough details for the picture to start coming together. If they did live on the northern end of Clarks Fork (and I am convinced that they did), they were MUCH CLOSER to the NC line than I ever thought they were. And, they were much closer to Kings Mountain than I ever would have imagined. It's no wonder that the Loyalist members of this family moved away during the 1780's since over 200 Loyalists were killed in the Battle of Kings Mountain, on October 7, 1780.
September 15, 2003 Update: Court records in Sussex Co Delaware (DE) have CONFIRMED that Robert "R" Patterson lived there prior to moving to the Linville Creek region of VA. In late August, 2003, Harald Reksten was able to make the trip to Lewis, DE (Sussex Co) to search the Land Books for clues regarding Robert Patterson, his mother Margaret ?Donnell Patterson Addams, and any ties to other related families such as the Harrisons, Cravens, Stewarts, Blacks, Dollinsons, etc. His trip was a success!
Harald
located four deeds that have a direct bearing on the Patterson/Addams
family. The source for locating these particular land
records of early Sussex Co DE is Malone, Johnita P., “Land
Records of Sussex County 1722-1731 Deed Book F No 6”,
Heritage Books, 1997, 124 pages and Malone, Johnita P., “Land Records of Sussex County 1732-1743 Deed
Book G No 7”, Willow Bend Books, 2001, 119 pages.
The
four deeds show that 1) Margaret Addams was in Sussex
Co DE in 1727, that 2) Robert Patterson bought 106 acres
there in 1732, that 3) a Thomas Black bought 106 acres
next to Robert Patterson the same day in 1732, and that
4) Robert and Sarah Patterson sold the land in Sussex
Co DE in 1738. Here are the extracts, courtesy of Harald
Reksten:
- F6-233.
2 May 1727 Philip Dirnie, marriner, of Sussex to William
Burton of Somerset Co. Maryland for 10 pounds, 50 acres
on North side of Broad Kill bounded by Bryan
Rowles. Witnesses: Margret Addams, Phil Russel.
- G7-030.
7 November 1732 Matthew Ozbon Jr. of Sussex County,
Delaware to Robert Patterson yeoman, of same
for 50 pounds, 106 acres on the South side of Pemberton’s
Branch, one of the branches that runs into the Broadkill
Creek below the county road. Tract was taken up
and surveyed for Matthew Ozbon by commissioners warrant
granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter of Sussex by proprietors
in Philadelphia on 8 December 1718. Robert Lodge sold
to Matthew Ozbon dated 2nd day 10th month of 1719. Land
was surveyed by Matthew Ozbon and found to contain 212
acres of which half is sold to Robert Patterson.
Bounded by Pemberton’s Branch, by a small branch
below the county road. Witnesses: Phil. Russel, Robt.
Shankland. Acknowledged: 7 February 1733 (32?).
- G7-032.
7 November 1732 Matthew Ozbon Jr. of Sussex County,
Delaware to Thomas Black yeoman, of same
for 15 pounds, 106 acres on the South side of
Pemberton’s
Branch, one of the branches that runs into the Broadkill
Creek below the county road. Tract was taken up
and surveyed for Matthew Ozbon by commissioners warrant
granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter of Sussex by proprietors
in Philadelphia on 8 December 1718. Robert Lodge
sold to Matthew Ozbon dated 2nd day 10th month of
1719. Land was surveyed by Matthew Ozbon and found
to contain 212 acres of which half is sold to Thomas
Black.
Bounded by Robert Patterson. Witnesses: Phil.
Russel, Robt. Shankland. Acknowledged: 7 February
1733 (32?).
- G7-287.
7 March 1738 Robert Patterson, yeoman of Sussex
County and his wife, Sarah, spinster, to
John Isaac and Jonathan Dunton, late of Summerset County,
now of Sussex for 40 pounds, 106 acres on the South
side of Pembertons Branch below the County Road
and was taken up and surveyed for Matthew Ozburn Jr.
by commissioners warrant granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter
of Sussex by proprietors in Philadelphia on 8 December
1718. Robert Lodge sold to Matthew Ozburn dated 2nd
day 10th month of 1719. Land was surveyed by Matthew
Ozburn and found to contain 212 acres of which half
is sold to Robert Patterson. Signed: Robart
Patterson (his mark "R"), Sarah Patterson
(her mark "S"). Witnesses: Jeremiah Claypoole,
James Smith. Acknowledged: 6 March 1738.
Further
land records verify the close geographical proximity between
Robert Patterson and the Stewarts, Harrisons, and Cravens,
all of whom later moved to the Linville Creek Va area.
Robert
and Sarah thus began their move toward Linville Creek
VA in or about 1738. The 1738 deed also proves that Robert
and Sarah were married NO LATER than 1738.
August
21, 2003 Update:
Court records in Rockingham Co Va (Harrisonburg) have
CONFIRMED that Robert "R" Patterson's 265
acre land patent that he received on the head waters of
Linville Creek was sold AFTER he died, by his sons, Robert
Patterson Jr. and Peter Patterson, the two
executors of his will. Robert Jr. and Peter sold the land
to John Ervin (Erwin) in April 1787, and it was
entered into Deed Book 000, page 362 on June 25, 1787.
The deed was proved by oaths of Hy. (Henry) Ervin and
John Ervin Jr. Robert "R" Patterson's will was
written and proved in 1775 in York Co SC where he had
lived since the 1760's. For many, this is the final confirmation
that the Robert Patterson of Linville Creek Va (originally
Orange Co, then Augusta Co, and finally Rockingham Co)
was the same Robert Patterson who lived on Clark's Fork
of Bullocks Creek in modern York Co SC (originally Craven
Co SC, then Anson Co NC, Mecklenburg Co NC, Tryon Co NC,
and finally Craven/York Co SC). This also confirms that
Robert's parents were William and Margaret Patterson.
To
clear up the matter somewhat, Robert Patterson appears
to have moved into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia during
the early to mid 1740's, possibly even before 1740. We
know for a fact that the Harrisons of modern day Rockingham
Co Va left Sussex Co DE around 1737/38 and were in the
Valley of Va by 1738. Their father Isaiah Harrison Sr.
died en route to the valley. Many other families from
Sussex Co DE migrated to the Linville Creek and surrounding
areas of what is now Rockingham Co shortly thereafter,
perhaps 1738 - 1748, depending on which family you're
looking at.
Many
of these families appear to have had short stops along
the way in places such as Lancaster Co PA, or even parts
of Maryland. Most of these families took up their tracks
of land immediately, but waited many years before they
applied for their land patent from the state of Virginia.
"Widow Adams" aka "Mary Adams" was
the same person as Margaret Addams who wrote her will
in 1744, in Orange Co Va. In 1745, the area was finally
organized officially as Augusta Co, and remained so until
1780, when it became Rockingham Co.
Margaret
Adams appears to have already been widowed twice BEFORE
she moved into the Linville Creek area, which was BEFORE
1744. She didn't receive her land patent for her 330 acres
until 1759. Robert Patterson, her son, also appears to
have already been there by 1744 as he (and his younger
half-brother, Samuel Adams) were named as executors of
her 1744 will. Robert didn't receive his Va land patent
for his 265 acres until 1764.
When
Robert wrote his will in SC in 1775, he left his "Virginia
claims" to his sons Robert Jr. and Peter Patterson.
No record of his sons selling the land was ever found
in Augusta Co Va records. However, in 1780, just five
years after Robert "R" died, the Linville Creek
location fell under the newly formed Rockingham Co. Unfortunately,
the court house in Harrisonburg (Rockingham) has burned
twice since then, leaving us with hardly any original
records remaining. On the other hand, many deed books
were re-recorded from old court minute books, which is
what happened with the 1787 Deed of Sale from Robert Jr
and Peter Patterson to John Ervin. The original is lost,
but we DO have this record, which is enough to confirm
the relationship between the Robert Patterson of Linville
Creek Va and the Robert Patterson of York Co SC.
Original
Notes:
Robert
Patterson made his mark on documents as an "R"
instead of an "X". This fact is an important
clue in identifying Robert as he moved from the Linville
Creek area of old Augusta Co Va in the 1750's or 1760's
to the Clark's Fork of Bullocks Creek area of modern day
York Co SC.
Robert
was born circa 1711, most likely in N. Ireland, although I do not know where he was born. He wrote
his will in 1775 in "Craven Co SC" (York Co
SC). He died later that same year. His wife was Sarah
_____, and she died in 1790 in York Co SC.
Robert
was the son of William and Mary "Margaret" ?Donnell Patterson.
There are two very important pieces of documentation that
have been placed on my web site to allow everyone to see
for themselves the evidence that exists for confirming
relationships between this Robert Patterson and 1) the
families of Linville Creek, Va and 2) the families of
Buncombe Co NC. A third document was added on 9-29-2003
which covers the timeline of documentable events in the
life of Robert "R" Patterson.
Wes
Patterson's Biographical Sketch of Robert "R"
Patterson (©2003) tackles item #1 regarding
the families of Linville Creek, Va, many of whom also
moved to the Clark's Fork of Bullocks Creek area of
York Co SC during the 1760's and later. These families
include the BLACKS, HARRISONS, CRAVENS, etc. These pages
show the proof that Robert was the same Robert who was
the son of Margaret Donnell Patterson Adams. It also
shows evidence that Robert "R" was most likely
our immigrant ancestor and that he MAY have immigrated
in the 1710's or 1720's.
Page
13 also covers the will of Robert Patterson, and was
updated on 8-21-2003
with the information regarding the 1787 Deed of Sale
of his Virginia lands by his sons Robert Jr. and Peter
Patterson.
Harald
Reksten's Notes and first-hand pictures of the 1775
Will of Robert "R" Patterson (©2002)
deal with item #2 above. This page shows the evidence
that the three sons-in-law of Robert Patterson were
Joseph BLACK, John BLACK, and Daniel Ponder Jr. These
facts are priceless in establishing the relationships
between the Pattersons, Blacks, and Ponders of York
Co SC during the 1760's - 1790's and the same families
of Buncombe Co NC during the 1790's - 1810's. THANK
YOU, Harald for sharing this wonderful research with
all of us! (there are 12 images/photos that will need
to load in your web browser while this page loads, so
please allow a few extra seconds. Thanks.)
The
Timeline of Documentable Events in the Life of Robert
"R" Patterson (also his parents, during his
lifetime), (©2003), contains extracts of court
documents, land grants, patents, etc. These extractions
were compiled by Wes Patterson and Harald Reksten. There
are at least 20 documented events that refer to Robert
Patterson, plus another event that documents his mother
during a time when Robert would have been about 15 - 20
years old, and most likely living with her.
The
details of the children of Robert "R" and Sarah
_____ Patterson have been pieced together to the best
of our knowledge. There may have been more than the eight
listed below, but these are the ones we know of for sure:
Marty
Grant descends from another group of Pattersons who
also settled in the western NC and north Ga region.
Marty started an E-mail List Service for those of us
who descend from Pattersons who migrated through
the area of upstate SC, western NC, north Ga, and eastern
TN. Many of us have had good success in trading
information and resources via this new list serv. I
highly recommend that you subscribe to this list. Just
follow the link below.
In
February of 2004, I started an E-mail List Service
for those of us who descend from the BLACK
families who migrated through the area of upstate SC,
western NC, north Ga, and eastern TN. Based
on the success of the Pattersons of NC genealogy ListServ,
I felt this was a good opportunity for the same type
of endeavor with the BLACKs. If you are interested
in some focused research on the BLACK family, then
follow the link below.
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