Which Robert Patterson?
Robert Patterson was a very common name even 300 years ago. My 6xG-Grandfather can be distinguished from the others in several ways. The most common way was that he always signed with an “R” mark on documents. At least 4 known documents still exist with that mark. Also, this Robert was known to have lived in three locations – 1) Sussex Co, DE along Pemberton’s Branch, 2) in Augusta Co, VA just to the West and NW of Harrisonburg along Linville Creek, and 3) along Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek in what is now York Co, SC. You will see me describe him as either “Robert (R) Patterson” or “Robert Patterson of Linville Creek“.
Robert Patterson of Linville Creek
Over the last 20 years I have compiled various sets of documentation on the one from whom I descend. The links above will take you to some of those pages.
In summary, however, the Robert Patterson I’m referring to always signed his name with an “R” mark. Some have listed him as Robert R. Patterson, but he did not have a middle initial “R”. That was his signature mark. Robert was born sometime between 1700 and 1711. He was described as a “yeoman” in 1732 in Delaware when he bought 106 acres from Matthew Ozburn Jr, which means he was at least 21 years old. I presume that he was born between 1700-1705, however.
Sometime between 1732 and early 1738 when he sold that same land in DE, he married a woman named Sarah. Her family name is yet to be proven. Possible candidates are Harrison, Cravens, Black, and others. But again, nothing has been proven.
A lot of research has gone into the possibility that Sarah was from any of these families, as well as Ponder, Gum, Smith, Townsend, Stewart, Ozburn, and many others. The ones that make the most sense, however, are Harrison, Cravens, or Black. A case can be made for all three of those families based on circumstantial data, but you can just as easily argue against each of them. Until more data sheds light on the matter, we’ll just have to leave it as last name unknown for Sarah.
Robert and Sarah appear to have had at least 10 children. There may have been more, but no evidence has been found for any others thus far. Much evidence exists for sons Thomas, Robert, Peter, and William; likewise for daughters Sarah, Elizabeth, and Lydia. All seven of these children were named on Robert’s 1775 Will.
Evidence for the other three children (Mary, Abigail, and James), is more sparse. However, it does exist. We know from Robert’s mother’s Will which she wrote in 1744, that Robert’s daughter Mary was alive and well at that point. Based on his mother’s will and the pattern with which she named her oldest granddaughters from each branch of her family, it seems likely that Mary was the oldest living daughter – in 1744. The question still remains, however, was Mary the oldest daughter, or was Abigail? Had Abigail already died before 1744 leaving Mary as the oldest remaining? We’ll never know.
We know that Abigail was alive in 1740 when she was baptized by Rev. John Craig. Based on the description of this baptism, and that it occurred at the “Halfway House“, we know this was Robert Patterson of Linville Creek, and not the one that lived further south toward Staunton, VA. See the image below and look at the entries for Nov. 3, 1740. Right after Abigail Patterson, is Jeremiah Harrison. He was the brother-in-law of Robert Patterson of Linville Creek.
As for James, we get wind of him for the first time in the Carolinas when the family was first getting their Clarks Fork lands surveyed. James Patterson was a chain carrier for Robert Cravens‘ 150 acre tract in 1767. Then seven years later, James bought this same tract from Robert Cravens. There are other land related records that mention James as well. This land was next to Robert Patterson and very near all of the other Pattersons on Clarks Fork in what is now York Co SC. However, it appears that James died between 1774 when he bought the land, and 1775 when Robert re-wrote his Will – likely due to the fact that one of his heirs had just died. We also know that this 150 acre tract was inherited by Robert Patterson, who died later in 1775. We can find later that this tract passed to Robert and was later disposed of after Robert’s death. The only way this land could have passed to Robert from James, was if James had no heirs, and his father Robert was the closest kin.
Evidence has come to light in early 2018 that may indicate James did not die until closer to 1783, and that his land passed into the possession of his nephew John Patterson by 1790. John Patterson was my 4xG-Grandfather, and son of Thomas Patterson.
There were other James Pattersons in Mecklenburg Co, NC and York Co, SC. But this James Patterson was clearly tied to the Robert Patterson clan. As for Robert Cravens, he is better known as Robert Cravens Jr, nephew-in-law of Robert Patterson of Linville Creek. Robert Patterson’s sister, Elizabeth had married Jeremiah Harrison. The Harrisons’ daughter, Esther Harrison (niece of Robert Patterson), had married her 1st cousin, Robert Cravens Jr. Furthermore, the brother of Robert Cravens Jr was William Cravens. He too had ventured south to York Co, SC for several years. He had married Jane Harrison, sister of Margaret Harrison (who had married Thomas Patterson).
We may never know how many other children died at an early age in VA. For now, it appears solid that Robert and Sarah had the following children. I am descended from both Thomas and Sarah.
- Mary (b. 1736/38; d. aft 1744); nothing else known after 1744
- Thomas (b. 1738/42; d. aft 1800); m. 1) Margaret Harrison (Wes’ ancestors)
- Abigail (b. ca 1740; d. aft 1740); nothing else known after 1740
- Sarah (b. 1742/44; d. aft 1793); m. Joseph Black (Wes’ ancestors)
- James (b. 1745/50; d. 1775/83); no heirs at death; apparently died b/w 1775 & 1783
- Peter (b. 1746/49; d. aft 1800); m. ?Sarah _____
- Robert (b. 1748/53; d. 1828); m. Mabel Ponder
- Elizabeth (b. 1753/55; d. aft 1820); m. Daniel Ponder, Jr.
- Lydia (b. 1755/58; d. 1786/88); m. John Black
- William (b. 1758/62; d. aft 1783); nothing else known after 1783
Robert died in 1775 in York Co., SC where he lived on Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek, near the Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain Military Park along the NC / SC border. His wife Sarah died there in 1790.
Parents of Robert Patterson
Who were the parents of Robert Patterson? His father was William Patterson and his mother was Margaret ______. She went by “Margaret”, but entered a survey in Orange Co VA in the 1730’s under the erroneous name of “Mary Adams”, and that name carried forward on all future records for that tract of land. But subsequent court cases after her death prove her name was NOT Mary, but Margaret. Margaret was first married to William Patterson. Together they had at least two children, Robert and Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Jeremiah Harrison in Sussex Co DE.
Nothing is known about William Patterson. We are fortunate to even have a name. We get the name from a 1770 Tryon Co NC record that was entered into the 1770 probate of Margaret Adams‘ last Will in Augusta Co VA. Robert Patterson wrote a letter of disclaimer regarding her land in VA. In this letter, he named his father as William Patterson, but also named his step father as John Adams.
After William Patterson died, Margaret remarried to a John Adams. They had at least three children – a daughter who married Andrew Donelson, then a son Samuel Adams, and a daughter Jane Adams. Jane married Daniel Love.
John Adams died sometime during the 1720’s, and Margaret thereafter was known as Margaret Adams (or Addams), or Widow Adams. She died in 1769/70 in Augusta Co VA. Her original 1744 Will still resides in the court house at Staunton, VA.
Robert Patterson in Sussex Co, DE
Robert Patterson first appears in Delaware when he bought 106 acres from Matthew Osborn Jr in 1732. It was a 212 acre tract, with half being sold to Patterson, and the other half to a man named Thomas Black. Then in 1738 Robert Patterson, and now also his wife Sarah Patterson, sold their 106 acres in preparation for moving to VA. See these three deeds following:
G7-030. 7 November 1732 Matthew Ozbon Jr. of Sussex County, Delaware to Robert Patterson yeoman, of same for 50 pounds, 106 acres on the South side of Pemberton’s Branch, one of the branches that runs into the Broadkill Creek below the county road. Tract was taken up and surveyed for Matthew Ozbon by commissioners warrant granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter of Sussex by proprietors in Philadelphia on 8 December 1718. Robert Lodge sold to Matthew Ozbon dated 2nd day 10th month of 1719. Land was surveyed by Matthew Ozbon and found to contain 212 acres of which half is sold to Robert Patterson. Bounded by Pemberton’s Branch, by a small branch below the county road. Witnesses: Phil. Russel, Robt. Shankland. Acknowledged: 7 February1732/33.
G7-032. 7 November 1732 Matthew Ozbon Jr. of Sussex County, Delaware to Thomas Black yeoman, of same for 15 pounds, 106 acres on the South side of Pemberton’s Branch, one of the branches that runs into the Broadkill Creek below the county road. Tract was taken up and surveyed for Matthew Ozbon by commissioners warrant granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter of Sussex by proprietors in Philadelphia on 8 December 1718. Robert Lodge sold to Matthew Ozbon dated 2nd day 10th month of 1719. Land was surveyed by Matthew Ozbon and found to contain 212 acres of which half is sold to Thomas Black. Bounded by Robert Patterson. Witnesses: Phil. Russel, Robt. Shankland. Acknowledged: 7 February1732/33.
G7-287. 7 March 1738 Robert Patterson, yeoman of Sussex County and his wife, Sarah, spinster to John, Isaac and Jonathan [Jonas] Dunton, late of Summerset County, now of Sussex for 40 pounds, 106 acres on the South side of Pembertons Branch below the County Road and was taken up and surveyed for Matthew Ozburn Jr. by commissioners warrant granted to Robert Lodge, carpenter of Sussex by proprietors in Philadelphia on 8 December 1718. Robert Lodge sold to Matthew Ozburn dated 2nd day 10th month of 1719. Land was surveyed by Matthew Ozburn and found to contain 212 acres of which half is sold to Robert Patterson. Land is bounded by Pembertons Branch below the road, and by the dividing line. Signed: Robart Patterson (mark), Sarah Patterson (mark). Witnesses: Jeremiah Claypoole, James Smith. Acknowledged: 6 March 1738.
Robert Patterson in Augusta Co, VA
Robert was involved with three different land tracts on the waters of Linville Creek, about a mile or two west of the northern end of modern-day Harrisonburg, VA. It was Augusta Co, VA when they moved there around 1739-1740 and later it fell within the bounds of Rockingham Co, VA. The following records are related to these tracts:
15 November 1739 Rob. Patterson, 230 acres survey
12 November 1740 Rob. Patterson, 230 acres survey
1-074a. 19 December 1753 Robert Patterson, 265 acres on lying on a head branch of Linvels Creek joining the land he lives on. Near Hits line.
1-036. 4 February 1755 Robt. Roulston, 400 acres on NW corner of Robt. Pattersons late survey including Dry — —, — Campbell.
1-083b. 12 February 1755 Robert Patterson, 75 acres lying on waters of Linvels Mill Creek joining on So. Side of his own land.
35-516. 27 June 1764 Robert Patterson, 265 acres in Augusta County on one of the head branches of Linvells Creek adjacent the land said Patterson now lives on, near Hills line; £1 10 Shillings.
37-429. 20 September 1768 Robert Rollstone, 400 acres in Augusta County between Linwell’s Creek and Cook’s Creek and on the waters of both, at the head of the bottom on a Lime stone hill, on the top of a ridge near a sink adjacent Thomas Campbell; £2.
1768-1774, Robert Ralston sold 400 acres to Robert Patterson, who in turn sold it by 1774 to Robert Cravens Jr and Henry Ewing. Evidence of this is seen in a later 1825 deed.
D-848. 10 April 1781 John Brown assignee of Robert Patterson, 75 acres by Survey 12 February 1755 in Rockingham County on the waters of Linvells Mill Creek and on the South Side the said Robert Pattersons patent land; Ancient Composition of 10 Shillings Sterling.
1-708. 25 June 1787 Deed of B & S from Pet. and Robt. Peterson [HR: Peter and Robert Patterson]to John Ewin was Prov’d by the Oaths of Hy. Ewin and John Ewin Jun’r & O: to Ly for further proof. Cha.
Robert’s first land transaction on the new frontier was a Land Entry for 230 acres on 15 Nov (no year, but believed to be 1739), in Orange Co VA. Augusta Co had already been formed but did not have its own county seat until 1745, so most of the land transactions and court cases involving this region were still facilitated under the old Orange Co. For whatever reason, many of these presumed 1739 land entries were repeated between June of 1740 and June of 1741. Once again, Robert Patterson recorded a Land Entry for 230 acres in Orange Co VA, this time on 12 Nov 1740. I shall refer to this as “Tract 1”.
“Tract 2” was first recorded as a survey for 75 acres adjacent to Robert Patterson’s first tract. This survey was completed on 12 Feb 1755, and was described as being on the south side of his own land. More details on this tract momentarily.
“Tract 3” contained 400 acres originally patented to Robert Rolestone (Ralston). Ralston recorded his land entry in 1755, although his land patent wasn’t recorded until 1768. We know from an 1825 deed, that this 400 acre tract was sold by Ralston to Robert Patterson, who in turn sold it to Henry Ewing and Robert Cravens (Jr) in 1774. So Robert Patterson bought the land no earlier than 1768 and then sold it by 1774.
Here’s where it gets interesting. In 1781, a man by the name of John Brown recorded a deed for 75 acres (Tract 2 above) and was described as the “assignee of Robert Patterson“. In other words, Robert Patterson assigned Tract 2 to John Brown, sometime before 1781. Since Patterson died in 1775, and moved to SC in the 1760’s, we can safely assume it was in the 1760’s when the assignment took place. More importantly, this 1781 deed described the 75 acres as being on the south side of Robert Patterson’s “patent land“.
Robert Patterson patented 265 acres on 27 June 1764. It was most likely around this time, or within a year or two, that Patterson assigned Tract 2 to Brown, as Patterson and others moved to what is now York Co SC. We also know that Patterson was living on the 75 acre tract according to the 1764 patent which said “adjacent to land Patterson already lives on.”
It’s interesting that when Tract 2 was surveyed in 1755 it did describe Robert’s other land (Tract 1) being north of the 75 acres, but it wasn’t referred to as “patent land”, as in the 1781 John Brown deed. But that’s because he didn’t bother to get a patent for it until 1764. We also can deduce that Tract 1 “grew” from 230 acres to 265 acres in the 25 years that transpired between the Land Entry and the Land Patent. It was not uncommon for patents and grants to differ somewhat from the original Land Entry.
We know that Tract 2 was disposed of in the manner described as “assigned to”, in this case, John Brown. We know this is our Robert Patterson since in 1758, he and John Brown, plus another man named Joseph Bryan, were the appraisers for the estate of Benjamin Copeland who had died a few years prior. In their appraisal record, Robert Patterson made his mark “R”, while John Brown made his mark “J”. Joseph Bryan signed his own name. So we see there was already some history between our Robert Patterson and John Brown. Some will find it interesting that the third appraiser, Joseph Bryan, was the father-in-law of the famous Daniel Boone.
We know that Tract 3 was sold in 1774 to Ewing and Cravens. My theory is that Robert’s son, James Patterson, was living on Tract 3 for several years until 1774. In fact, in 1767, James Patterson was a chain carrier for Robert Cravens Jr in SC where the Patterson clan had moved (Clarks Fork of Bullocks Creek). Turns out, Robert Cravens never lived in SC, but his brother William Cravens did, most likely on his brother’s land. This was very near other relatives such as Thomas Patterson and Nathaniel Harrison. It seems that William Cravens and Thomas Patterson married sisters of said Harrison. It should also be noted that Nathaniel Harrison was one of the witnesses to old Robert Patterson’s will in 1775 in York Co SC. Thomas Patterson was Robert’s son (and my ancestor). And, Robert Cravens Jr was married to Esther Harrison, the niece of Robert Patterson.
Apparently some wheeling and dealing took place in 1773 and 1774. William Cravens and Thomas Patterson both moved back to Augusta Co VA in 1773 (based on deeds and court records in VA). Robert Cravens sold his SC land to James Patterson early in 1774, which was the same time that Robert Patterson sold his VA land (Tract 3) to Robert Cravens (and Henry Ewing). It appears to me that some sort of land swap occured, most likely. Unfortunately, Robert Patterson’s son James died shortly after this 1774 deed, so the SC land sold by Cravens to James Patterson devolved to James’ father, Robert Patterson. (kudos to Harald Reksten for finding the deeds reflecting this)
So what happened to Tract 1? The 265 acre patent was still in Patterson’s possession at the time of his death in 1775. He left his “Virginia claims” to his sons Robert (Jr) and Peter. In 1787, Robert Jr and Peter Patterson sold Tract 1 to John Ewing Jr, son of Henry Ewing. Therefore the majority of Robert Patterson’s land ended up in the Ewing family.
So it seems that Robert Patterson possessed a total of 740 acres on Linville Creek. Tract 1 was 265 acres, although entered in 1739/1740 as 230. Tract 2 was 75 acres, and Tract 3 was another 400. It should be noted that Robert Patterson lived on Tract 2 (75 acres) during the latter years of his stay in VA.
Robert Patterson in York Co, SC
Robert Patterson moved south to the Carolinas around 1764, give or take a year. Following are notes from a couple of posts in the past where I’m trying to consolidate into one summary. This land was originally referred to as Craven Co, SC, then it was claimed by NC – first under Mecklenburg, then later Tryon counties. Later in the 1770’s it was once again claimed by SC under the new county name of York.
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).
Robert’s 200 ac tract (#1) was divided into thirds after his death in 1775 — 62 ac (1A), and 70 ac (1B), and 68 ac (1C). The final disposition of those thirds may not have occurred until 1790 when his widow, Sarah, passed away.
1A (62 ac) can be found in son Peter’s possession as he sold this in 1797 to Malcolm Henry (E-502). The description from when Malcolm Henry sold it in 1801 (G-423) makes it clear that this was land originally granted to Robert Patterson, decd and on both sides of Clarks Fork and also crosses Pattersons Branch (which I believe to be modern day Biggers Branch), and also adjacent Ponder. The description also has some similar features to that described in Robert’s 1775 will. I think it is likely that this may have been the part that was left to son William, but instead passed to Peter. Presumption is that William either died during the Revolution, or left the area never to return. William was described as a Loyalist from York Co SC in 1786. Nothing further was ever recorded of or by him, however. This also lends credence to the idea that the final disposition did not occur until 1790.
1B (70 ac) appears to be the adjoining tract to 1A where it was “adjacent Ponder”. According to G-471 in 1813, Daniel Ponder sold this tract of 70 ac to Peter Galloway, and it described it as part of a survey granted to Robert Patterson and conveyed by him to Thomas Patterson (father of John and my ancestor) and later conveyed by him to Daniel Ponder (son-in-law of Robert Patterson Sr). So this tells me that this tract passed from Robert d 1775 to his son Thomas, originally – and then later he sold to Daniel Ponder. Thomas Patterson and his son John Patterson moved to Buncombe Co NC in the 1790’s, perhaps 1796-98.
1C (68 ac) is trickier to detect and has always caused confusion. But I think I may have found the missing links – at least some of them. According to H-163 John Watson sold 318 acres to Thomas Whitesides in 1816. I have been able to determine that this includes multiple tracts, including a 150 ac tract that Robert Patterson (Jr) obtained in 1765, plus a 100 ac tract that Robert Patterson (Jr) obtained in 1793. This leaves 68 acres, the third tract included in this 1816 deed. That is the precise amount that is missing from Robert Sr’s 200 ac grant. This 1816 deed also describes the boundary tracts, which includes Ponders corner, and then says it (meaning the 318 acres in this 1816 deed) is made up of “Daniel Ponder and Robert Patterson old tracts”. I take this to mean the 150 ac and 100 ac tracts of Robert Jr just described, and that leaves the 68 acres that would have been Daniel Ponder, by elimination. In other words this 68 ac also ended up in the hands of Daniel Ponder, like 1B did. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if 1C actually went first to Robert Jr and that he conveyed it to Daniel, but it doesn’t actually say that so we can’t assume that. All we know for sure is that it eventually went to Daniel. Another possibility is that it could have gone to Joseph Black. Remember the 1775 Will said something about leaving what is “between me and Joseph” to his daughter Sarah whom we know to have been the wife of Joseph Black. Did this 68 ac pass to Sarah and then later to Daniel Ponder?
So at this time I believe Robert Sr’s 200 acres was divided into thirds and they went to Peter, Thomas, and either Robert Jr or Sarah (Joseph Black) or Elizabeth (Daniel Ponder). Peter held onto 1A until 1797, but 1B and 1C ended up in Daniel Ponders hands, no later than the 1790’s. Ponder sold 1B in 1813, and it is unclear when he sold 1C but Watson was already selling it by 1816.
Robert’s 150 acre tract (#8) that passed from Robert Cravens to James Patterson to Robert Patterson Sr.
We know that James Patterson – presumed son of Robert Sr – bought it from Cravens in 1774, and that Robert Patterson Sr inherited it in 1774/75. James Patterson appears to have died in 1775, without heirs, thus his land passed to his father, Robert Patterson Sr. This is what appears to have prompted Robert to rewrite his will in 1775, just weeks before he died. We later learn that Robert’s grandson, John Patterson, appears to have lived on this tract (#8) for some years before moving to Buncombe Co, NC.
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.
In 2018, 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.
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.
Robert Cravens never actually lived in SC according to Cravens researchers. However, he did visit and did acquire a tract of 150 acres “adjacent Robert Patterson”. Apparently, it was Robert Patterson Jr that he was nearest. Cravens was also recorded as a Chain Bearer on nearby surveys, so he definitely visited SC. On the other hand, his brother William Cravens is known to have lived for about seven years in SC, so it is assumed that William Cravens lived on Robert Cravens’ land. William was in turn a chain bearer on Robert Patterson Jr’s survey, so it makes sense that these two tracts were next to each other. Also nearby was a sister of theirs, Magy (or Majey) Cravens Black, wife of Robert Black. These Cravens siblings were children of Robert Cravens Sr and Mary Harrison Cravens.
James Patterson was a chain bearer for Robert Cravens’ survey in 1767, and then seven years later it was sold to said James Patterson. However, it appears that James may have died about that time, and the land actually passed to James’ father, Robert Patterson Sr. The latter also died in 1775. There is no further disposition of this tract of land on record until we get to 1802 when we see a Robert Wallace in possession of it, and he sold it to another Wallace. At that time, it was described as the former Robert Cravens’ tract and adjacent Robert Patterson. At the same time, a 40 acre section of a neighboring tract of land was also sold by Wallace, and it described a stake in the corner of John Patterson’s line.
Later, in 1816, the legatees of Robert Wallace sold both the former Cravens tract and the neighboring 40 acres again, and it described the 40 acres as on the east side of the former Cravens tract. Given the 1802 and 1816 descriptions, it becomes easier to conclude that the Robert Cravens tract had somehow passed into the possession of John Patterson.
We also see the 1791/92 survey and grant for Samuel Swan, and its two NE lines were adjacent John Patterson as well. So it seems that when Robert Patterson Sr died in 1775, the land remained unsettled until his widow Sarah died in 1790. John Patterson was born ca. 1762-65, so he wasn’t old enough to possess land until the 1780’s. Furthermore, John married his 1st cousin, Margaret Black – daughter of Joseph Black and Sarah Patterson – about 1786 or so, the same year John’s father Thomas sold his land north of Robert Patterson Sr, to Robert Jr.
I am inclined to believe the family allowed John Patterson – and possibly Joseph Black’s family too, whose land had been confiscated about 1783 or so – to live on the former Cravens tract. Keep in mind that William Cravens appears to have lived on the Cravens tract from about 1766 until 1773 or so. This would be a good time to also bring to light that William Cravens was married to Jane Harrison. And John Patterson’s father, Thomas Patterson, was married to Margaret Harrison, presumed sister of Jane. If this is true, then William Cravens would have been an uncle to John Patterson. 1789 was when John’s oldest son was born, named Joseph Black Patterson. Later, in 1813, Joseph Black Patterson named a son William Cravens Patterson. In fact, Joseph named his three oldest sons Joseph Black Patterson Jr, William Cravens Patterson, and John Thomas Patterson. Names do matter.
So did John Patterson begin living here on the Cravens tract in the 1780’s? And did it pass into his possession following his grandmother’s death in 1790? Did John Patterson sell it to Robert Wallace around 1796-98, at which time John and his family moved to Buncombe Co NC? These are questions we many never fully answer, but we are certainly closer to understanding the timeline today than ever before.
It seems that Robert Sr’s 200 ac tract passed to Peter, Thomas and Daniel Ponder (or Sarah/Joseph Black?), and the 150 ac tract eventually passed to grandson John Patterson, son of Thomas. Thomas later sold his 1B tract to brother-in-law, Daniel Ponder, and his own 60 acre grant to brother, Robert Patterson Jr. The 1C tract later ended up in Daniel Ponders hands too (his wife being Elizabeth Patterson). The Cravens tract later ended up in the Wallace family no later than 1802.