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:

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.