James Patterson (b. 1745/50; d. 1775)
Parents: Robert & Sarah PattersonSiblings: Mary | Thomas | Abigail | Sarah | James | Peter | Robert | Elizabeth | Lydia | William
By Wes Patterson (Last Revised: 7 March 2018)
A few years ago Harald Reksten discovered an 1802 deed from York Co SC that seemed to be the "missing piece" to the puzzle. The following details are laid out in such a manner as to show why I believe James Patterson to have been a son of Robert and Sarah Patterson, and that he died between 1774 and 1775, more likely in 1775 since his father revised his will suddenly in July of that year, just months before he himself died also.
The evidence for James to have been a son of Robert and that he left no heirs
Robert Patterson wrote his last Will & Testament in July of 1775 in York Co SC. He died no later than November that same year. Robert was my gggggg-grandfather. For years, all we knew for sure concerning how many sons he had was the four sons named in his Will, viz. Thomas, Robert, Peter and William.
But were there other sons? Naturally, anyone would agree that there could have been other sons that died young, but how could you ever prove it? There just wasn't any empirical evidence that other sons existed.
It now appears that James can be "confirmed" as another son of Robert and Sarah Patterson. We've known for years there was a James Patterson living close by on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek in what is now York Co SC, but who was he? Why wasn't he named in Robert's 1775 Will? For years I suggested to Harald Reksten that James could have been a son of Robert. But I didn't see enough of the big picture to be able to prove it one way or the other. Eventually, I stopped suggesting this. Then recently, Harald suggested it to me based on the evidence he was finding in the land records.
Harald's theory? James Patterson died before his father Robert died in 1775. He was also single and therefore no estate was administered for dependents. Hmmm... that theory works. But proving it is another story.
Land Records that shed light on the identity of James Patterson
#1. Mecklenburg Co NC, Book 23, Page 163. 26 October 1767 Grant #438 to Robert Cravens 150 acres on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek adjacent Robert Patterson line. Chain Bearers: James Petterson, Newberry Stockton. Plat: 17 January 1767. File #2251.
#2. Tryon Co NC, Book O5, Page 072. 23 February 1774 Robert Cravens of Augusta County, Colony of Virginia and Wife Esther to James Patterson of County of Tryon, North Carolina for £90 Va. currency, 150 acres in the county of Tryon, NC, on both sides of Clarks fork of Bullocks Creek adjacent Robert Patterson's line. Signed: Robt Cravens, Esther Cravens (LS). Witnesses: Robert Patterson, Joseph Dictum , John Quin. Proved by the oath of Robert Patterson 4 June 1774 before Joseph Robinson, J.P. Recorded 15 March 1785.
The Robert Patterson in both records was most likely Robert Jr, the brother of James Patterson. A few years ago I obtained a copy of the 1774 deed and the Robert Patterson did not have the trademark "R" mark that Robert Sr used. So I am convinced it was Robert Jr.
Esther Cravens was born Esther Harrison, daughter of Jeremiah Harrison and Elizabeth Patterson. Elizabeth Patterson Harrison was the sister of Robert Patterson Sr. Therefore Esther was the 1st cousin of James and Robert Patterson Jr.
Furthermore, Joseph Dictum married another first cousin of both Esther Harrison Cravens and James Patterson, that being a daughter of Jane Addams Love (Jane Addams was the younger half sister of Robert Patterson, Sr; Jane married Daniel Love, and one of their daughters, Rachel Love, married Joseph Dictum).
If Harald's theory is true, in that James was a son of Robert Patterson Sr, then James died between February 1774 and July 1775. Robert Sr must have already had a Will in place with as much land as he owned in VA and SC (Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek was deemed to be in York Co SC around 1775). It would stand to reason that Robert would have re-written his Will if one of his sons died unexpectedly. I believe this is why Robert wrote his Will in July 1775 in order to update it.
But still that's not enough to prove anything. If James were single, his assets would have devolved to his father. So the smoking gun question that needs an answer is this. Is there any evidence that Robert Patterson Sr ever came into possession of James' 150 acres he purchased from Cravens in 1774?
The answer... YES.
The smoking gun
#3) York Co SC, Book H, Page 100. 6 June 1802 Robert Wallace of York District to John Wallace of same for $10, (1) 150 acres on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek joining Robert Patterson, being originally granted to Robert Cravens and from said Cravens conveyed by deed to Robert Patterson deceased; (2) 40 acres on Hendersons Branch of Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek joining John Patterson, a part of tract granted to Robert Patterson in the year 1794. Signed: Robert Wallace. Witnesses: Samuel Love, Samuel Brown, Andrew Love. Proved: 18 January 1816 by Samuel Brown before Thomas Simpson. Recorded: 4 March 1816.
So this deed proves the same 150 acre tract passed to Robert Patterson. Which Robert Patterson? Robert Sr died in 1775. Robert Jr died in 1828. This deed was in 1802, so clearly "Robert Patterson deceased" is referring to Robert Sr. We know that Cravens did not sell the land to Robert directly, but rather to James, but the chain of title shows it passed to Robert. The only way that could have happened without James selling it to his father, was for it to pass to him through inheritance. James had to have died after February 1774 since that is when he bought the land from Cravens. And since his father died in 1775 between July and November, James had to have died prior to July 1775.
This is about as solid a case as one could ever present. My hat is off to Harald Reksten for working through the details on this one. He presented the theory to me, and then found this 1802 deed, which to me is empirical evidence.
The sons of Robert and Sarah Patterson at the very least include Thomas, James, Robert, Peter and William.
26 January 2018 Update:
Recent evidence has shed light on the fact that this James Patterson's 150 acres on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek in York Co SC - formerly owned by Robert Cravens Jr - later ended up in the possession of John Patterson, son of Thomas Patterson - and the nephew of said James Patterson. Considering that there was also a James Patterson listed as being a Tory in the Revolution, along with Thomas and William Patterson (these three were brothers), it makes me now believe that James did NOT die in 1775. He must have been alive after that to be considered a Tory in the Revolution. However, when this list was made by Col. Bratton in 1783, James Patterson's name was crossed out - unlike Thomas and William. What does that mean? Had James died by 1783?All of this indicates to me there is a possibility that when James died, Robert was also already dead. But since Robert's estate was not settled until 1790 when his widow Sarah died, that may coincide with the York Co SC court record in January of 1790 when John and Peter Patterson came and took oaths and settled the estate of James Patterson. I had previously believed this court record to indicate another James, perhaps a brother of John. But I now believe it was John and Peter settling the estate of James (who died before 1783) in 1790, in preparation of settling Robert Patterson's estate later in 1790, and James' land being passed on to John Patterson. And the reason Peter would have been involved was that he was one of the executors of Robert's estate.
I now have to consider that this James Patterson, died sometime between 1775 and 1783, probably after 1780 to be more specific. But that he still died without heir. His estate was the one being settled in 1790, so there was no son of Thomas named James.
The other possibility is that this James Patterson may have been a brother of Robert, instead of a son of Robert. There were some cases in SC where land owned by a person who died without heirs, then passed to the deceased's eldest brother. Was James a younger brother of Robert Patterson?
Things to consider...
7 March 2018 Update:
Another theory that has been suggested by Harald Reksten is certainly worth consideration, as to the relationship between James Patterson and Robert "R" Patterson. The most troubling issue to resolve is why James was not identified in Robert's 1775 will if James was a son of Robert and if James was still alive - which it seems he was based on the Tory lists. If James was not a son of Robert, he could have been a brother. But then James would have been about 70 years old when he died circa 1780-83 and to not have any heirs would seem odd.Therefore, Harald has suggested that perhaps James was an illegitimate son of one of Robert's daughters. Were that the case, then he most likely would have been a son of either Mary or Abigail, as they appear to have been the oldest daughters of Robert and Sarah. Harald suggests that Robert and Sarah could have been married as early as 1732 when he bought the land in DE, and I certainly can't refute that. Were that the case, then Mary - who appears to be the oldest based on Margaret Addams' 1744 will - could have been born in 1733 and Abigail by 1735. Either one could have had James by 1750, which I believe to be the latest James could have been born in order to be a chain bearer to Robert Cravens' survey in January of 1767.
I cannot prove any of these three theories, but all seem possible to one degree or another.
Wes
