Lydia Patterson was born circa 1758 either in the Linville Creek area of old Augusta Co Va (modern day Rockingham Co Va) or in old Craven Co SC (modern day York Co SC). Not much is known about Lydia. She was single in 1775 when her father wrote his will. However, she apparently married a John Black shortly thereafter, between 1775-80.

John and Lydia Patterson Black may have migrated to Pendleton District SC and Buncombe Co NC like so many of the Pattersons and Blacks did. However, more careful research needs to be done to try and figure out the identities of the several John Black households listed in 1790 and 1800 in the various counties of SC and NC.