I (Marty Grant) am a 7^th Great Grandson of Matthew Patterson, providing that several unproven connections are correct.

Special thanks to Valeska Vicars for data shared on this family.

Matthew Patterson was born sometime probably in the 1720's or earlier. I have no way to pin down his date better than that, but he was the apparent father of Matthew Patterson Jr who was born before 1755, so I think Matthew Sr was probably born at least in the 1720's. I don’t know where he was born, but a family tradition in one branch of our family says our Patterson ancestors came from Scotland. I have no direct proof of this. Many other Pattersons in the same part of North Carolina had Scots-Irish origin (meaning they were originally from Scotland, but migrated to Northern Ireland, then later to America). For now, I’ll just say Matthew’s birth place is unknown, but likely in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

If Matthew followed the most common migration path, then he probably immigrated to American with his parents or with some siblings, and settled first in Pennsylvania, then moved into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, finally coming to Western North Carolina. This is a supposition based on what many of the other Pattersons did. I have noticed several Matthew Pattersons in Augusta Co, VA records and in that area. I don’t know if that is where our Matthew settled first, but he was in North Carolina by 1768 (per Valeska Vicars).

Matthew Patterson probably married by the 1740's, either in Virginia or Pennsylvania or before coming to America. I’ve found no record of his wife’s name.

Matthew Patterson received a North Carolina Land Grant in Tryon County on 24 Dec 1770. The land was surveyed on 8 May 1770 with Matthew Patterson Jr and John Patterson acting as Chain Bearers. The land was described as being 300 acres on north side of Broad River. Chain Bearers were almost always family members or close friends, and in this case the two were probably Matthew’s sons. This was recorded in Patent Book 20 page 624 as shared by Valeska Vicars.

I don’t know where the above land was located. Broad River flows through present Rutherford and Cleveland County before going into South Carolina. In 1770 this entire region was still part of Tryon County, including some of South Carolina (until the state line was resolved). He later lived on Puzzle Creek which was on the north side of Broad River, though several miles north in present Rutherford County.

Killian Creek is in present day Lincoln and Gaston Counties, which was all part of Tryon in the early 1770's. It is on the eastern side of the county very close to what is now Lake Norman. Since Matthew owned land there in 1771, and sold it in 1772, I wonder if he lived there, or if it was just land he bought for speculation purposes. His early grant for land on the North side of Broad River would be many miles from this land, at least 40-50 miles.

In Tryon County Court, July 1772 a deed of sale from Mathias Paterson to Michael Ingle dated 25 Jun 1772 was acknowledged in court. This is the deed referred to above on Killians Creek.

Also in July 1772 Court, a deed of sale from Adam Dick to George Dick dated 19 Jun 1772 was acknowledged by Mathias Patterson.

I found no further records for Matthew Patterson. Some later records in the 1780's were found in Rutherford County, but I’m reasonably sure those are all for Matthew Jr.

Matthew Patterson and wife probably had several children, but I have no proof for any of them. There is a Matthew Patterson Jr and a John Patterson who were Chain Bearers for a 1770 land survey for him, so I strongly suspect those are his sons. There was a Samuel Patterson who died in 1813 in Haywood Co, NC, and although I have no direct evidence, I have a feeling he is part of this family as well, but perhaps not Matthew’s son. If Samuel is Matthew's son, then these are probably also Matthew's children: Phoebe Patterson Dunn (1755/65), Mrs. David Carson (1755/65) and Sarah Patterson Owen. See Samuel's page for more on them.

Matthew Patterson (bef 1749)

John Patterson (bef 1749)

Matthew Patterson was born bef 1749, assuming he was at least 21 in 1770 when he was a chain bearer for a survey for Matthew Patterson. I don’t think you had to be 21 to do this, but I’m using that as a reference point. His 1800 census entry showed him to be born before 1755.

Matthew lived in Rutherford County, and later in Buncombe County. See his own page for additional information.

John Patterson was probably born before 1749, assuming he was at least 21 in 1770 when he was a chain bearer for a survey for Matthew Patterson. I don’t think you had to be 21 to do this, but I’m using that as a reference point.

The 1770 survey is the only record I have for this John Patterson. There is no way to be sure he is Matthew’s son, he could be his nephew, or even his brother.

I have nothing else on this John Patterson past 1770, though there was a John Patterson in Lincoln County in 1790, but I have no way to know if it was this same person or not.