Thursday, December 27, 2018

Thomas Harrison of Buncombe NC 1800 Census

For years I've read online about the Thomas Harrison of Buncombe Co., NC who lived there during the late 1790's and early 1800's, being in the 1800 census in a household of 14 members. However, I have checked the transcripts of that census numerous times never to find him listed. There is a John Harrison listed, but not a Thomas Harrison.

I also kept forgetting to check the original microfilm of that census, which you can do online in many places, including ancestry.com if you have a membership. I finally remembered the other night to check for this since I am writing a book on the Pattersons and their relatives pertaining to that time period.

And surprise, surprise. The transcribed version on the OBCGS site simply missed this line. I wonder how many others were missed? Thomas Harrison WAS on the microfilm version of the 1800 Buncombe census, right before John Harrison. See below.
1800 Buncombe Co NC Census - Thomas Harrison and John Harrison
This serves as a strong reminder to me to always check the original source, when at all possible.

Wes

John Patterson and Margaret Peggy Black Cemetery Revisited

Several years ago I wrote a post about why I believe John and Peggy were buried at Bethlehem Church Cemetery in Union Co., GA. I have revised that post today and included a couple of new maps, and cleared up some mysteries based on new evidence. I encourage you to re-read that post. 

Wes Patterson

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

John and Margaret Black Patterson in York Co SC in 1790 After All

John and Margaret Black Patterson appear to have been in York Co., SC in 1790 after all


Last revised: 26 Dec 2018

For years we have searched for John Patterson and his young family with wife and one-year-old son, Joseph B. Patterson in the 1790 census. Thirty years ago I was given family group sheets listing my GGGG-Grandparents as living in Pendleton District, SC in 1790. About a decade ago, Marty Grant showed credible evidence to indicate the John Patterson on page 8 of that census (1-1-1-0-0) more accurately fits with the Patterson / Chapman family group, not the Patterson / Black family group. I agreed with him then and still do.

So where were John and "Peggy", if not in Pendleton District? Family stories always stated they were from Camden District, which included York Co., among others. Overwhelming evidence has been discovered in the last 15 years that proves my John and Peggy were from York Co. having lived along Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek. But no household was enumerated under the name of John Patterson in 1790 from there.

Other possibilities were looked into in Randolph Co., NC and Lancaster Co., SC, but those records end the end proved to not fit. Other records from York Co. in 1790 and following years place John and Peggy there, from 1790-1797, and most likely during the 1780's as well.

In 2017-18, extensive land records have been captured, perused, documented, and plotted on maps by yours truly, in an attempt to located where John Patterson's land was located along Clarks Fork. No records show him buying or inheriting or selling land there, but other records show tracts lying adjacent to his land. I was able to prove that the tract known as John Patterson's in 1792 and 1794, turns out to be the 150-acre tract previously owned by Robert and Esther Harrison Cravens from 1767-1774, then by James Patterson (uncle of John - and uncle of Peggy, too, for that matter) from 1774-1775/80. Thereafter, the land passed to the estate of Robert Patterson Sr. (grandfather of John), and in 1790 court records from York Co. show John Patterson and his uncle Peter Patterson administering the estate of James Patterson (deceased). That was in January 1790. A few months later, Peter then administers the estate of Robert Patterson, who had died in 1775, but his wife Sarah did not died until 1789/90, and the estate was undergoing its final probate in 1790.

It is my belief that the land was inherited by James' father's estate as James had no heirs. Since Robert was deceased also, it apparently would have passed to the eldest son, Thomas, but appears to have passed to Thomas' eldest son, John. 

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Two New Court Records Found for Robert Patterson

Two More Court Records from Augusta Co VA found for Robert Patterson of Linville Creek

By Wes Patterson

Last Revised: 21 August 2018

Robert Patterson lived near Linville Creek in Augusta Co VA from the late 1730’s through the late 1760’s, before moving south to what is now York Co SC along Clarks Fork. He died there in 1775.

Over the years I have attempted to maintain a timeline of recorded events for his life. Records that were publicly entered and available to anyone today. Records that have survived court house fires and other disasters. Records that I KNOW make reference to him.

There are numerous references to jurors in Augusta Co VA during the 1700’s named Robert Patterson. But there were always two or more in residence, therefore such a record is impossible to distinguish which Robert Patterson is meant. Therefore, I do not count these records. But surely, some of these belong to Robert of Linville Creek as well.

Nevertheless, today’s discovery of two more records that I can accurately determine to be “my” Robert Patterson, now bring the total of such records to 90! Never would I have imagined that so many confirmed records could be found of such an individual who lived on the frontier his entire life – and that during the 1700’s.

Today’s Discoveries

The records found today are both from the Augusta Co VA Court books, as researched and abstracted by Harald Reksten. 04-110 means Book 4, Page 110. See following:

Friday, August 10, 2018

Robert Patterson of Linville Creek, Virginia and Three Court Cases v. Thomas Jefferson, Attorney

Robert Patterson of Linville Creek, Virginia and Three Court Cases v. Thomas Jefferson, Attorney

Bio | His Mark R | 1775 Will | Timeline | Sussex DE | Augusta VA | York SC | Thomas Jefferson

Last updated 17 August 2018

The Setting

Distant cousin and fellow researcher, Sam Patterson, recently shared a discovery of his with Harald (Reksten) and me. It involved some court cases from old Augusta County, Virginia from the 1760's involving our ancestor, Robert Patterson, and other men represented by attorney, Thomas Jefferson - future President of the United States of America, and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Sam had located some seven or eight references to our Robert Patterson in the personal notes taken by Jefferson during those years, which have since been published on the Internet.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Vanza Davis Patterson

My mother, Vanza Mae Davis Patterson, passed away on March 15, 2018. This is only good-bye for now. I'll see you soon, Mom.

Wes

Obituary

Vanza Mae Davis Patterson, 78, passed into the waiting arms of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on March 15, 2018.

Vanza was born August 21, 1939, in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, the third child of Lettie Mae Langley and Troy Lee Davis. Vanza was raised in Greensboro, NC. After graduating from Sumner High School in Greensboro, NC, in 1958, she applied to High Point Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in High Point, NC, and was accepted into the nursing program to start in 1959.

She graduated from nursing school on August 8, 1961. During that same year, one of her patients would later become her father-in-law. This was how Vanza met the love of her life, Francis Oliver “Frank” Patterson. They were married on June 1, 1962. Vanza and Frank – who was in the U.S. Air Force at the time - were married in Trinity, NC, and soon thereafter were transferred to Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC.

They had two sons, the eldest being Francis O. Patterson Jr (Chip), born on May 27, 1963, in Goldsboro, NC. The younger was Charles Wesley Patterson (Wes), born on February 5, 1968, in Decatur, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. Vanza continued nursing in hospitals and nursing homes throughout her life. In 1971, Vanza and Frank moved from Tucker, GA, to Winston-Salem, NC, for Frank to attend Piedmont Bible College. Vanza worked at NC Baptist Hospital from 1971 to 1976. Vanza also attended Piedmont Bible College for one year of Bible study.

Their hearts’ desire was to serve the Lord in any capacity, and eventually this led them to become missionaries on foreign fields. In the summer of 1975, they spent seven weeks in Brazil, believing that was where the Lord was leading them to serve full time. Frank graduated from Piedmont in 1976, and the family moved back to Decatur, GA. In 1979, after changing ministry directions from Brazil to opening a new work in Southeast Asia, the family moved to Bangladesh, arriving there on the 4th of July.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Margaret Adams: Mother of Robert Patterson

Margaret Adams: the mother of Robert "R" Patterson


Last updated 27 Feb 2018

In 2010 I wrote an article about the identity (much of which is confused) of Robert Patterson's mother. I speak of the Robert Patterson who was born circa 1705-1711 and married Sarah, and made his mark "R". Robert wrote his will and died in 1775 in York Co., SC.

His mother was named Margaret but last name is not known for certain. She went by the name of Margaret, but did have land records erroneously entered under the name of Mary Adams. She was first married to William Patterson. After his death, she was married to John Adams (aka Addams). She was quickly widowed a second time, and thereafter was known as Margaret Adams or Widow Adams.

For more details on these various names and the misunderstanding of her being named Margaret Donnell... see the article I wrote in 2010.

Wes Patterson

Friday, February 16, 2018

Black Family of Clarks Fork SC and Cooks Creek VA

Matthew and Robert Black of Clarks Fork, York Co SC and Cooks Creek, Augusta Co VA

Last Updated 2018-02-16

During the 1760's, there were several households within the BLACK family who settled along Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek in what is now York Co SC. This location is very close to the NC line just south of Kings Mountain. However, during the 1760's, it was actually claimed by NC, first under Mecklenburg Co, then Tryon Co. Prior to that even, it was known as Craven Co SC, but by the 1770's the boundary line was resurveyed and it was determined this area was inside SC, and the newly formed York County.

Surveys and Land Grants were issued by NC during the 1760's and early 1770's for this Clarks Fork (CFBC) region and has been preserved to this day. Four men acquired land along CFBC during the 1760's named Matthew Black (Jr), Robert Black, Joseph Black, and Gowen Black. For more information on my interpretation of their relationships, so my main page on the BLACK family

How many of these men actually lived in Augusta Co VA just west of Harrisonburg, along Linville Creek and Cooks Creek? For certain, Matthew Black (Sr) and Robert Black. I believe Matthew Sr to have been the father of Robert, Matthew Jr, and Joseph. There was also a Gawin Black in Augusta not far from Matthew and Robert. It is unclear if he was a brother of Matthew Sr, and or a son. It is also unclear if he was the same "Gowen Black" who moved to CFBC in SC, or if that Gowen was another son of Matthew Sr.

The following records are a summary of documented records in VA and NC and SC regarding these Blacks. The Va location today is in Rockingham Co Va. Not all records for all Blacks in York Co SC are recorded. But the ones listed include the ones from Clarks Fork and may possibly include some unrelated Blacks, but that fact is unclear at this time.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Disposition of Robert Patterson Sr's York Co SC Land

Disposition of Robert Patterson Sr's York Co SC Land

CFBC Home  |  Robert Patterson Sr  |  Cravens & John Patterson
Last Updated 2018-01-22

I've written many times regarding the disposition of Robert Patterson's lands on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek (CFBC) in York Co SC. I am tracking well over 50 specific tracts along Clarks Fork - some of which are overlapping. Nonetheless, I believe I am getting much closer to determining what happened to his land - at least over time. All of this is very near Smyrna, SC and just south of Kings Mtn Military and State Parks.

Robert (d.1775) had two known tracts in SC - the 200 ac tract he was granted in 1767 from NC, and the 150 ac tract he inherited from his son James Patterson, formerly owned by Robert Cravens Jr.

I have plotted these tracts in Deedmapper and am continuing to fine-tune the precise placement of these and surrounding tracts. Of the 50+ tracts I've already plotted, many are subsequent transfers of ownership of existing tracts already plotted. But in many cases, I need clearer descriptions. So here's hoping later deeds pertaining to these tracts will be clearer and more accurate. I'm in the process of increasing my field of work to look at over 125 tracts around Clarks Fork and Kings Creek.

Thus far, here is my interpretation of what I've found regarding Robert Patterson Sr's land. His two tracts on my index are #1 (200 ac) and #8 (150 ac). The following image shows the dimensions of the 200 acre tract (#1).



Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek, York Co SC - Cravens & John Patterson

Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek, York Co SC - Cravens & John Patterson

CFBC Home  |  Robert Patterson Sr  |  Cravens & John Patterson

Last updated: 2018-01-17

For years I have tried to determine where Robert Cravens' 150 acre tract was located in relation to Robert Patterson Sr's 200 acre tract. I had assumed that when Cravens' survey was described as adjacent Robert Patterson, it meant Robert Sr, but I always knew there was a possibility it could have been referring to Robert Patterson Jr. Turns out, it was Jr.

Recently, I began working on a presentation for Harald Reksten regarding this very issue. However, the actual process of documenting all of it helped to open several road blocks I had encountered along the way. The major discovery made during this process is that there had been at least two later deeds that made reference to separate deeds being "adj. John Patterson" - and that this Robert Cravens tract has to be the land that was later in the possession of John Patterson. Well, that has to be my ancestor John Patterson, son of Thomas, and grandson of Robert Sr. But there has never been any deeds or grants showing John receiving or disposing of any York Co SC land.

The following map shows seven (7) primary tracts of land and their fairly accurate proximity to each other along Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek in York Co SC.

Clarks Fork tracts, mapped in Deedmapper by Wes Patterson

The Pattersons

Robert Patterson Sr (who died in 1775) was the father of Thomas, Peter, James, Robert Jr, and William Patterson. He also had daughters who married Daniel Ponder Jr, John Black, and Joseph Black.

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