Patterson-Robert-Abigail

Abigail Patterson (b. ca 1740; d. after 1740)

Parents: Robert & Sarah Patterson

Siblings: Mary | Thomas | Abigail | Sarah | James | Peter | Robert | Elizabeth | Lydia | William

By Wes Patterson (Last Revised: 31 March 2017)

Abigail Patterson was baptized in Augusta Co Va by Rev. John Craig on 3 Nov 1740. She was baptized near what was called "The Halfway House", a location that was significant to the person of Jeremiah Harrison (brother-in-law of Robert Patterson). Furthermore, Jeremiah Harrison, "an adult person", was also baptized that same day in the same location. Abigail was listed in the baptism record as a child of Robert Patterson. Given the location of the baptism and the familial significance of Jeremiah Harrison to this family, I am convinced this Abigail Patterson was a daughter of the Robert Patterson who lived on Linville Creek, whose wife was Sarah.

Most of the children baptized by Rev Craig were infants or toddlers, mostly infants, when they were baptized. My assumption therefore is that Abigail was born in 1740, not long before her Nov 3rd baptism.

Abigail was not named in 1775 in her father's will, nor in any other document including her grandmother's will in 1744 (Margaret Adams). However, Margaret Adams only named her oldest granddaughters (one from each of her own children, to wit: Margaret Dollinson [Donelson], Esther Harrison, and Mary Patterson). My hunch is that Abigail was still living at the time, but was the second daughter after Mary. Abigail may have lived to be an adult but never married. But the fact that Robert did not explicitly name her in his 1775 will leads me to believe she was most likely dead by that year, if not earlier as a child.

There is one other scenario that must be considered, however. There was an Abigail Patterson mentioned in a 1797 York Co SC deed. She was a witness to Peter Patterson's sale of three tracts, one of which included 62 acres originally granted to Robert Patterson Sr. This was 1/3 portion of James Patterson's original 150 acres purchased from Robert Cravens in 1774, which in turn passed to James' father Robert upon James' death in 1775. See below.

E-502. 13 July 1797 Peter Patterson of York County to Malcolm Henry of same for £150 sterling, 150 acres on the waters of Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek being Pattersons branch of Clarks fork and also 80 acres adjoining it near 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 on both sides of Clarks fork adjoining and originally granted to Robert Patterson Senior, deceased. Signed: Peter Patterson (Seal).  Witnesses: Robert Love, William Henry, Abigail Patterson.  Proved: 8 April 1801 by the oath of William Henry before Saml Watson J.P.

Was this Abigail Patterson the wife of Peter? If so, why didn't it say that she was privately examined, and/or relinquished her dowry, as usually occurred when land was being sold by a husband and wife. 

Was this Peter's sister? If so, then this is the same Abigail that was baptized in 1740. Apparently she never married if this is her. So it's possible that Abigail did not die young. If that was the case, why was she not explicitly named in Robert's 1775 Will? My take on that is that Robert Patterson could have accounted for her in his statement in the Will that said 

"...my children all and every one of them is now single with my daughter's Elisebeth and Lydia..."

It appears to me that Elizabeth and Lydia were both already married by 1775, as was Sarah. He had already named Sarah in the will, but hadn't named the other two yet. In this way, he could account for all remaining children. Just a theory.