My Patterson Family
Western North Carolina and North Georgia
Introduction - A History of my research on this family
My Patterson Family - Data on my Wright ancestors
Introduction
I first learned of my Patterson ancestry shortly after I began my genealogy quest in 1980. I knew that my Great Grandfather Marvin R. Grant had something of a mysterious origin (mysterious to me, anyway). My cousins and I had always heard he was "left on the Grant doorstep" and was not a Grant by birth, and should have some other surname (no one knew what surname). I finally asked him about this, and he told me that his father's name was Lon Patterson, and that his mother was Hattie Grant. So they mystery was solved. He was born out of wedlock, hence all the misinformation over the years, as the family just didn't want to talk about this.
I knew Marvin Grant was born in Swain County, and now I knew his father was Lon Patterson, so all I had to do was find Lon. It wasn't to hard to find him, since there were only two Patterson families in Swain County, one lived near Ocunalufty, and the other lived next door to the Grants on Grassy Branch, in Nantahala Township. Those who lived next door included a Lon Patterson the same age as Hattie Grant. Mystery solved. There was no other "Lon Patterson" to be found, so this had to be the one, and the fact that he was their neighbor cemented the connection.
I found Lon's parents as Carroll M. Patterson and Lavina Cathey. I found Carroll's parents were Samuel Patterson and Jane Moore. That is as far as I got for a long time.
It wasn't too long before I was in contact with several Patterson researchers who were more than eager to share data, and combine our efforts to sort out the various Patterson families. All of us were from different lines, but they all seemed to be closely related. These researchers were Jennie Vee Pitts, Sharon Welton, Linda McBroom, Evelyn Miller, and Viola Jones and later Valeska Vicars, Mycolynda Updegraff, Jess Markle and Bill Ledford and others, Between this group (and a few others) we pooled our notes, and came up with a pretty good handle on the various families.
Based on a lot of scattered records and brainstorming (by correspondence and phone), we pieced together what I think is a fairly accurate ancestry for our Pattersons. This was all pre-Internet, so I think we did pretty good in those "primitive" times <g>
I wasn't able to convince everyone in the group that we had it sorted out correctly, but I think all are believers by now (though there may still be problems with some of the theories).
Since getting connected to the Internet, I have been contacted by many more cousins, and other Patterson researchers from other lines. I owe them all thanks for data shared, or just for words of encouragement. There are many individuals who should be thanked besides those already mentioned, but if I start, I'll never finish, and undoubtedly leave out someone, so I'll just give an all inclusive "Thank You" here for all who have helped.
My Patterson ancestors
I may be the only one to believe this is our lineage, but based on data shared with me by Valeska Vicars, and combined with data I have found, I believe our earliest ancestor was a Matthew Patterson who was in Tryon County, NC (now Lincoln County) in the 1760's and the last record was dated 1772.
Matthew Patterson (Jr) was also in Tryon County with Matthew Sr, and they were associated, hence my assumption that they are father and son. Matthew (Jr) moved to neighboring Rutherford Co, NC before 1782 and remained there until ca 1792 when he moved to Buncombe Co, NC.
Matthew Patterson seems to be the father of Samuel Patterson. The records seem to point to this fact, though it isn't completely proven. Samuel was born ca 1765/74 and he was also in Rutherford, and moved to Buncombe between 1800 and 1810. He lived in the section of Buncombe that later became Henderson County, and is today Transylvania count. Samuel died there ca 1820/25. I believe his wife was named Elizabeth.
Samuel and Elizabeth would seem to be the parents of my ancestor Samuel Patterson (1805). I have found no direct evidence of this, but the circumstantial evidence seems strong. Samuel (1805) lived in the same area as Samuel (Sr), and later moved just a few miles into Macon County, NC and married Jane Moore there in 1830.. He then moved into Union Co, GA where he remained for many years, finally moving to Huerfano Co, Colorado in the 1870's where he died in 1879.
Samuel and Jane were the parents of Carroll Moore Patterson (1832) who married Lavina Elizabeth Cathey in Union Co, GA, then moved to Swain Co, NC. They were the parents of Carroll Alonso Patterson (1880) who was my Great Great Grandfather.
For information on other Patterson families within my area of interest (Western North Carolina and North Georgia only) but who are not known to be related to my Patterson family, go to my Documented Patterson Families page
My Patterson Family:
Matthew Patterson (Sr) (died after 1772)
Last Updated January 16, 2006
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