Person:James Patterson (59)

Advisory

Some researchers have suggested that this James Patterson was born in 1699 and died in 1814, which would have made him 115 years old at this death. Needless to say, this would have been remarkable, and his more likely birthdate is about 1719. His parentage is not proven. Some researchers claim his father was a Robert Patterson, others have attached him to other Pattersons that migrated to Pennsylvania and Virginia from Ireland in the early 1700's. More research is necessary to prove his parentage.

Will Transcript

In the name of God. Amen. I James PATTERSON of Iredell County, and State of North Carolina, calling to mind my mortality knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, and after death the judgment--do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, --- Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of God who give(sic) it, and my Body to be buried in the Earth, in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors; nothing doubting but I shall receive the same again at the General Resurrection, by the mighty Power of God.

And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blefs(bless) me with in this life--I give Devise, and Difpose (dispose) of the same in the following manner and form. first, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Hufton (Huston) Twenty shillings and a smoothing iron.

Next, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Gamel Twenty shillings and two hundered(sic) acres of my land in the State of Tennasee(sic).

Next, I give and bequeath to my son James Patterson, twenty shillings and a large pewter dish.

Next, I give and bequeath to my son Alexander Patterson twenty shillings, and four Hundred Acres of my land in the state of Tennasee, likewife(sic) I give and bequeath to his son James Patterson, one Hundred Acres of my land in the State of Tennasee.

Next I give and bequeath to my Daughter Rebecka(sic) Dicky(sic) Twenty Shillings, and Two Hundred Acres of my land in the State of Tennasee. likewis I give and bequeath to her son James Dicky One Hundred Acres of my land in the State of Tinnasee(sic).

Next I give and bequeath to my Grand Son James Gamel one Hundred Acres of my land in the State of Tinnasee.

Next I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Patterson's two Sons viz. James and Alfred Thomas one Hundred Acres to each of them of my land in the State of Tinnasee.

Next I give and bequeath to my son Alexander Patterson Two Hundred Acres of my land in the State of Tinnasee...etc...then:

I do hereby constitute make and ordain my Son James Patterson and Samuel Dickey (got it right that time!) my sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament...I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ? day of December and in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight Hundred and fourtee. (signed and witnessed. (August 1815, Iredell County. The will was duly proven in open court by Sam'l King and recorded.)

Notes

Some records (in error) said James Patterson was born in 1699 and died 1707. Since his will was proven in 1815, he evidently died that year. Since it highly unlikely he lived to be 116, his birth year is in question!

If it's true that James Patterson volunteered for the Americana Revolution at the age of 62, and we estimate the year to have been 1781, his birth year could have been 1719, which would make him 96 when he died. That sounds more reasonable that the 108 years that were speculated!

His duty in the War was driving a team and wagon around the countryside gathering food from local farmers, i.e., hay, corn, grain, eggs, chickens, meat, etc., to feed the army. For this volunteer service, JAMES PATTERSON was allowed to file for free land located on the edge of the Mississippi River in western Tennessee. He layed claim to 22,000 acres. Those claims, made in 1794 (he would have been about 75), are on file in the Archives in Nashville, TN.

In 1811 (he would have been 92), an earthquake caused 20,000 acres of James Patterson's land to sink 200-30 feed below water level of the Mississippi. Within years, the statute of limitations ran out and the State of Tennessee laid claim to the water-flooded land and called it "Reelfoot Lake." It became a resort for fishing, swimming, camping, etc. (Lake shown on present-day Tennessee maps.)

The 2,000 acres not covered by water were divided among his children via his Last Will and Testament (see above.)

Grant No. 343, Warant No. 2564, 2,500 acres. Grant No. 395, Warrant No. 2537, 500 acres. For services of JAMES PATTERSON for services as Quartermaster in the North Carolina Continental Line.

Rowan County Land Entrys 1778 (R929.37567): 219. Feb. 5, 1778. JAMES PATTERSON enters 300 ac in Rowan Co. on head waters of Lambeth's Cr. and Henderson's Br. of Witherows Cr.; border: his own land where he lives; includes two small improvements (pg. 20).

Ibid: 69. Feb. 4, 1778. Richard Graham enters 145 ac on waters of Second Cr.; between JOHN DICKEY, JAMES PATTERSON, John Cowan & John Lowrance (pg. 8).

Ibid: 815. Claim set up by Elias Loveless "816" May 16, 1778, JAMES PATTERSON enters 250 ac in Rowan Co. on Big Br. waters of Hunting Cr.; between Henry Johnston, William Erwin, Loveless & JOHN PATTERSON; in his own improvement (pg. 66.)

Minutes of Court Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Iredell Co., NC, 1789-1800: I:22 28 June 1790...Grand Jury...Jas PATTERSON...

I:36 29 June 1790...Ord Robt Patton be o/s of rd between Gilbreath Neil's & David Carswell's in rm of Jas PATTERSON.

I:283 17 May 1792...Thos Morris to Burgess Gaither, Esq 65A 30 Nov 1795 Ackd. Robt PATTERSON to Paul Summers 99A 6 Apr 1797 prvn by Thos Hall.

I:286 Geo McKay to Jas PATTERSON 200A 21 Apr 1797, Ackd in Court.

I:314 22 Nov 1797...JOHN DICKEY, Jas Bowman, Joshua Wilson, Hugh McKnight, Thos Beatty, Jos Cook, Thos Cook, SAML DICKEY, Jas Byars...which jury have laid off his dower as follows:...(Dower of the widow of Jas Hughes, decd.)

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Samuel DICKEY was James PATTERSON's son-in-law, the son of JOHN DICKEY. This proves they were in same vicinity.

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Served as bondsman for wedding of daughter, Rebechah(sic) to Samuel DICKEY, 8 Oct 1788. Witness: Max Osborn. Roll C.085 60001, Rowan Co., NC, Marriage Bond Abstracts 1753-1868.

Ref: North Carolina Marriages: Early to 1800, KwikSearch Dataset, Precision Indexing, Bountiful, UT, 1991.

Ref: Family Search, International Genealogical Index, North American Disc 4, Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT, 1993.

Ref: Marriage Records, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, CD#4,Automated Archives, Inc., Orem, Utah, 1994.

Ref: Marriage Records, Southern States, Vol. 1, Early-1850, CD #229, Automated Archives, Inc., Orem, UT, 1994.

From Historical Outline of the Family Dickie (or Dickey), R929.2 D552D, pg. 44, Rowan Co., NC, re: JOHN DICKEY... "His son Samuel (1766-1840) -- I have 1765-1836 -- married a Rebecca PATTERSON, "noted for her beauty and industry," whose father was a noted Catholic Irishman, and whose brother--who had settled in Maryland--became the father of Jerome Bonaparte's wife..."

1790 Heads of Families--North Carolina: PATTERSON, JAMES. 1 free white male 16 yrs old and upward.

                                    2 free white males under 16.
                                    1 free white female.

Scotch-Irish in Virginia, Augusta County Court Records, Vol. II: (not sure same James) MAY 28, 1751. (574) Road ordered from John Davis's mill to Wood's New Cleared Gap, and John King, with Andrew Erwin, John McGill, Wm. McGill, Robert Fowler, Hugh Campbell, John Erwin, Edward Erwin, Robert Carscaden, Francis Erwin, Edward Erwin, Wm. Frame, Benj. Erwin, Charles Campbell, Robert Campbell, Wm. Brown, Michael Dickey, Robert Brown. Henry Smith, Hugh Diver, Charles Diver, David McCummins, John Davis, Danl. Smith, James Anderson, John Francis, Wm. Alexander, Robert Gamble, Andrew Combe, James Patterson, Francis Brown, Gabriel Pickens, keep it in repair.

Notes

Family Group Record FamilySearch® Ancestral File™ v4.19

Husband's Name

James PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-KH)    

Born:  1701  Place:  <, Staunton, VA> 
Married:  1738  Place:  , , VA 

Father:    
Mother:    

Wife's Name

Emmeline MCCORKLE (AFN:RXHS-LN)    

Born:  1718  Place:  , Staunton, VA 
Died:  Aft 1764  Place:   
Married:  1738  Place:  , , VA 

Father:  James MCCORKLE (AFN:K0HJ-Q4)    
Mother:  Jane STEELE (AFN:RXH6-4R)   

Children

1. Sex Name

F  Elizabeth PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-MT)    

Born:  Abt 1739   Place:  <, , VA>  

2. Sex Name

F  Anna PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-N1)    

Born:  Abt 1741   Place:  <, Rowan, NC>  

3. Sex Name

M  Alexander PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-P6)    

Born:  28 Apr 1752   Place:  <, Rowan, NC>  
Died:  1834   Place:  , , TN  

4. Sex Name

M  James Jr. PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-QC)    

Born:  1761   Place:  , Rowan, NC  
Died:  9 Nov 1838   Place:  , Rowan, NC  

5. Sex Name

F  Rebecca PATTERSON (AFN:RXHS-RJ)    

Born:  20 Feb 1764   Place:  , , NC  
Died:  20 Nov 1866   Place:  , Monroe, TN  
Buried:    Place:  New Hope Meth Ch, Sweetwater, TN

1.   .

   "From Viking Glory - the McCorkle Family", Louis W. McCorkle, 1982 - Herff-Jones Publishing Co., Marceline, Missouri p.289