I (Marty Grant) am not related to Samuel Patterson as far as I can prove, but I strongly suspect he is related to my Matthew Patterson (c1720) line.

I have found very little data on Samuel Patterson. I didn’t even know of his existence until Kenneth Patterson sent me his Will a few years ago.

Samuel Patterson as born before 1789, assuming that he was at least 21 when he made a Land Entry in 1810 in Haywood County, North Carolina. This is the first record I have for him, but he only just moved there at that time, and there may be many more records on him elsewhere going much further back. He was probably born much earlier than 1789, possibly as far back as the 1740's.

I do not know who Samuel’s parents are. In his Will he mentions his brother’s son named "Samuel Patterson". He also names several people, most of whom lived in the exact same area as the Matthew Patterson (c1749) family, and since Matthew did have a son named "Samuel", it seems feasible that this older Samuel is a brother to Matthew (c1749). However, that is just speculation on my part, and I have no solid evidence to back it up, just several pieces of circumstantial evidence. If Samuel’s "brother" was Matthew, then that makes Samuel a son of old Matthew Patterson (c1720-c1772). If that is true, then Samuel was born much earlier than ca 1789, probably back to the 1740's or 1750's at least.

Since Samuel died without a wife or children it can be assumed that he never married, or perhaps he did, but his wife and children all died before he did, leaving no heirs of their own.

If Samuel was as old as possible brother Matthew, then he ought to have appeared on the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census somewhere, but I can say he was not in the same area as Matthew (c1749) those years. There is the problem of Samuel’s bachelorhood. Since he was unmarried, then it is very likely that he spent much of his adult life living with other relatives, and therefore would never be listed as a head of household on the census.

In 1790, the only Samuel Patterson in western North Carolina was one in Mecklenburg County. I’m fairly sure that is not this Samuel Patterson. There were three Samuel’s in Abbeville District, South Carolina, but that is not really all that close to North Carolina.

In 1800, there was only one Samuel Patterson listed in Western North Carolina, and that is the one in Rutherford County, Samuel Patterson (1765/74) who is (I believe) the nephew of this older Samuel as named in his 1813 Will. In western South Carolina, there was only one Samuel, and he was in Abbeville District.

For the 1810 census, my Samuel Patterson (1765/74)  was listed in Buncombe Co, NC. He was the only Samuel listed in western North Carolina. In western South Carolina there was Samuel in Abbeville District, and no others.

The only explanation for Samuel’s absence from all these census records is that he probably lived with a brother or married sister all those years.

On 17 Oct 1810, Samuel Patterson made a land entry (Entry # 213) for 150 acres in Haywood County, North Carolina. The land was described as being on the waters of Tuckeseege (River) about half a mile north of the Indian road leading to Tillinoah.

I don’t know exactly where the above parcel of land is located, for the Tuckasegee River is very long. It rises on just in present Jackson County (then part of Haywood) right on the Transylvania County border just about 10 miles from where the Matthew and Samuel Patterson families lived. It flows north westerly all the way across Jackson County into Swain County. I have not located "Tillinoah", which is probably an Indian Village. If I could find that, I could probably narrow down where Samuel Patterson’s land was. If he was near the headwaters of Tuckasegee River, then he was very close to the Matthew Patterson family.

Samuel didn’t get to enjoy his Haywood County land for very long, for on 31 May 1813 he made his Will. Thanks to Kenneth Patterson for sending me a copy of the original Will. Here is a transcript I have made from the original retaining original spelling and punctuation (or lack of punctuation):

In the Name of god amen I Samuel Patterson of Haywood County and State of North Carolina being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be god do this 31 first day of may AD 1813 make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following – that is to say after my funeral charge is paid and just debts satisfied.

First I give and bequeath a saddle and sadle bags unto Samuel Patterson my brothers son

I give and Bequeath unto Salley Owen one bed and furniture and a chest

I give and Bequeath unto David Cason two pair of britches

I give and Bequeath unto Feby Dunn one pot

I give and Bequeath unto Jessey Owen all my money due to me on notes of hand. The mount on the hole different notes 76 dollars and 75 cents also 15 dollars and fifty cents.

I give and Bequeath unto Samuel Patterson Owen one silver watch

and I hearby make and ordain my worthy friends Jessey Owen and Samuel Patterson Executors of this my last will and testament in wittness whereof I the said Samuel Patterson have to this my last will and testament set my hand and Seal the day and year above written. Samuel (his mark) Patterson

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the said Samuel Patterson the testator as his last will and testament in the presents of us who ware present at the time of signing and sealing these presents

Elijah Owen

George Williams

Levy (his mark ) (last name illegible)

Elijah Owens was offered to prove but on his Oath could not say that he ever heard the deceased make or endorse it his will or make a mark

Note: Samuel Patterson’s mark was a poorly written "S. Patterson" that was almost unrecognizable, perhaps due to his health. I also wonder why Elijah Owens signed as a witness, but when it came time to prove the Will he said he never saw Samuel sign the Will.  Click here for a copy of the original will (in PDF format).

He was dead by 21 Mar 1815, for in his Estate file that was the date given for an Inventory made by Jesse Owens, Administrator. In the same file, an Administration bond dated 18 Sep 1815 showed David Carson and Jams McKee as Administrators of Samuel Patterson, deceased. I don't know if this means Jesse Owens excused himself, or was removed (or died). (Haywood County, North Carolina Loose Estates, North Carolina Archives)

It should also be noted that he did not mention his 150 acres of land in this Will. That may indicate that he had already disposed of it previously in a deed, or perhaps that he had not yet been granted the land. The 1810 record was only for the Land Entry. It often took several years before the State actually granted the land. If the grantee had died by then, it usually went to the heirs.

Now, who were all the people that Samuel named in his Will? The only one mentioned with a relationship was Samuel Patterson his brother’s son, so that makes him his nephew. It also indicates age for his nephew Samuel was also made an Executor, so he had to be at least 21. I’d wager that this nephew Samuel Patterson was Samuel Patterson (1765/74 who lived in neighboring Buncombe County. There were no other Samuels around western North Carolina at that time, or rather, none who were old enough.

Since the first named person was a nephew, are the rest also nephews and nieces? The Will does not say, but it seems to be a reasonable assumption. Here is the list, and here is also what I could find out on them.

Samuel Patterson (my brother’s son)

Salley Owen

David Cason

Feby Dunn

Jessey Owen

Samuel Patterson Owen

Samuel Patterson (my brother’s son). Unfortunately, Samuel did not give his brother’s name, but did refer to this younger Samuel as his brother’s son, so that makes him a nephew. Samuel (the younger) was also made Executor. This means he had to be at least 21 by then, so born ca 1792 or before. There is only one Samuel Patterson in Western North Carolina who this could be, and that is Samuel Patterson (1765/74) of Rutherford and Buncombe Co, NC. He lived close enough to the Haywood County line, and the head waters of the Tuckasegee River, so he qualifies in every respect. See his own page for more on him.

Salley Owen was named, but no relationship was stated. There are several possibilities, but the two most likely are that she was a niece or else a married sister. Of course there is also the possibility that she was not related, but a friend. A Jesse Owen and Samuel Patterson Owen were also named, so were Sally, Samuel P. and Jesse Owens siblings to each other, children of an unknown sister of Samuel Patterson who married a Mr. Owens? I have found no additional data on Sally Owen yet. I found no marriage records for a Sally or Sarah Owens in Haywood County, nor did I find her listed as head of household there in 1810 through 1840 census. It should be noted that there were Owens who were neighbors of the Samuel and Matthew Patterson family in neighboring Buncombe County during this time-frame.  I'm partial to the theory that Sally was Samuel's sister and was mother to Jesse Owen and Samuel Patterson Owen.

David Cason was named, but no relationship was stated. He could be a nephew or a brother-in-law. "Cason" could actually be "Carson" instead. David Carson and wife were both born ca 1755/65. That seems to make him too old to be a nephew. That could mean that Mrs. Carson was a sister to Samuel Patterson.

I found no David Cason (or Carson) in 1790 in the area. He was probably in Tennessee based on daughter Jane who was born there ca 1797. The 1790 census for Tennessee is lost.

In 1800 there was a David Carson in Buncombe Co, NC. His 1800 census entry showed him born ca 1755/74 with a wife in the same age category. The 1800 census was alphabetical, so I can’t tell if he lived near the Pattersons.

In 1810, David was still in Buncombe County though not close to any of the Pattersons. He was age 45+ (born before 1765), and his wife was the same age. I can’t be entirely sure, but based on their neighbors, they were living in the same general area as the Pattersons, somewhere in the area that later became Henderson County, but I can’t narrow it down any better than that.

David Carson moved to neighboring Haywood County by 1812 for on 17 Nov 1812 he acted as bondsman for the marriage bond of Benjamin Chastain and Nancy Hooper (daughter of Absalom Hooper).

David Cason was named in the 1813 Will of Samuel Patterson in Haywood County.

An 1819 marriage bond for James Chastain and Jane Carson shows that Jane was a daughter of David Carson.

David Carson was listed on the 1820 census in Haywood County. Both he and wife were listed as age 45+ (born bef 1775). This census was alphabetical, so I can’t tell where they were living or who their neighbors were. There was a Matthew Carson also listed. Coincidence? Or was he named for grandpa Matthew Patterson?

David Carson did not appear on the 1830 census in Haywood County, though Matthew and several other Carsons were listed there that year. I didn’t find David elsewhere that year either. A "David M. Carson" was in Buncombe, but he was much too young, and I think that was actually David McCarson who had been there in previous census records.

I didn’t find them in 1840 either, so it looks like both David and Mrs. Carson died between 1820 and 1830 in Haywood County, or else moved away during that same period.

I have found no additional data so far on David Carson, so I don’t know for sure if his wife was a sister to Samuel Patterson or not, but that is my current theory. Their daughter Jane Carson (1797) married James Chastain and moved to Union Co, GA in the late 1830's. I think they are also the parents of Matthew Carson, and that is another tidbit of evidence tying them to the Matthew Patterson line.

Feby Dunn was named in Samuel Patterson’s Will, but no relationship was stated. There are several possibilities, but the two most likely are that she was a niece or else a married sister. Of course there is also the possibility that she was not related, but a friend. "Feby" is actually Phebe or Phoebe Dunn who shows up near the Matthew and Samuel Patterson family in several records. She is of a similar age to Mrs. David Carson, so she qualifies (based only on that) as a possible sister to Samuel Patterson who died in 1813.

Phoebe Patterson (assuming she was a Patterson) was born ca 1755/65 per census analysis.

I don’t know who Phoebe’s husband was, other than a Mr. Dunn. I strongly suspect that her spouse was Simeon Dunn, and I’ll explain why in the commentary below.

There were no Dunns in the region for the 1790 census, the nearest ones in Western North Carolina were in Mecklenburg and Rowan County. There was a Joseph Dunn in Pendleton Dist, SC in 1790, and that was not very far away.

In 1800, there was a Simeon Dun and an Elizabeth Dunn in Buncombe County. Simeon Dun’s name seems to have "Dr" written in front of it, but is faded or smudged and hard to make out. He had a large household consisting of 10 people, he being aged 26-44, or born ca 1755/74 with his apparent wife the same age. For various and sundry reasons (all circumstantial) I think that Simeon was Phoebe’s husband.

Whomever Phoebe’s husband was, he had apparently died before 1804, for Phoebe Dunn was listed on the 1804 census of Walton Co, GA. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, Walton County was formed in 1803 within the bounds of North Carolina due to various problems with the state lines. Walton County, Georgia covered the same area claimed by Buncombe County, North Carolina, so residents of that area were found in records for both states and counties.

Now, back to the 1804 census. Phoebe was listed in the "Eastern District" of Walton County, just two names from James Irven (Irwin) who was a long time neighbor of old Matthew Patterson (c1749) and Samuel Patterson (1765/74) **lnks**, so this clearly puts Phoebe Dunn in the same area of present day Transylvania County, NC where the Pattersons lived at that time. Phoebe’s 1804 census entry showed her with 8 whites in her household. Remember that Simeon Dunn had 10 whites in his household back in 1800. If he died, that reduced the number to 9, and one more could have died or married and moved out by 1804. This is further evidence that Simeon was probably Phoebe’s husband.

Phoebe Dunn was listed on the 1810 census in Buncombe County. She was listed next to Walter Clayton and John Heath. Other surnames listed nearby were those same ones who had lived near the Pattersons in earlier (and later) years, but I still can’t pinpoint where Phoebe was living at this time, only that it was in that section of Buncombe that later became Henderson, and later Transylvania County. An Elizabeth Dunn (same one from 1800) was still in Buncombe, but not listed near Phoebe.

Phoebe ("Feby") Dunn was named in the 1813 Will of Samuel Patterson in Haywood County.

Phoebe was not one of the signers of the 1813 Walton County, Georgia petition (the same one that Samuel Patterson and Matthew Patterson signed), but a Joseph Dunn did sign, and it is quite possible (but not proven), that he is Phoebe’s son.

Phoebe Dunn was not found on the 1820 census, but her probable son Joseph Dunn was listed in Buncombe County that year next door to Walter Clayton just as Phoebe had been back in 1810.

I did not find Phoebe on the 1830 or 1840 census either, so she must have died after 1813, or else spent the next several years living with other relatives. Her supposed son Joseph was listed on the 1820 and 1830 census in Buncombe County, and the 1840 census in Henderson County (formed 1838 from Buncombe).

So, based on all the circumstantial evidence, I’d say that Phoebe was very likely a sister to Samuel Patterson who died in 1813, and that she was the widow of Simeon Dunn, and the mother of Joseph A. Dunn (c1793). Another interesting tidbit is that Joseph A. Dunn’s grandson Simon Dunn (c1817) married Mary A. Patterson ca 1854 in Gilmer Co, GA. She was a daughter of Enoch Patterson (1802). **link** Does this show a relationship between these two sets of Pattersons? Or is it just a coincidence?

Jessey Owen was named in Samuel Patterson’s 1813 Will, but no relationship was stated. He could be a nephew or a brother-in-law. Jesse was born ca 1774/84 (per census analysis), so he doesn’t seem old enough to be a brother-in-law to Samuel Patterson, so nephew seems more likely. If so, is he a brother to Salley Owen and Samuel Patterson Owen who were also named in the Will? Or is Sally the sister to Samuel Patterson, and Samuel P. Owen and Jesse Owen are Sally’s children? There are obviously several possibilities.

In 1790, the only Owen or Owens in the region was a James Owens in Rutherford County.

In 1800, Jesse Owens was listed in Buncombe County as were several other Owens (Peter, James, Mosbey and Owen Owens). The census was alphabetical, so I can’t tell if any of these Owens were near Jesse, or if any were near the Pattersons. Jesse’s household shows him born ca 1774/84 with a wife the same age, and one child born in the 1790's, thus showing he probably married in the 1790's.

In 1810, Jesse Owen was in neighboring Haywood County. Haywood was formed in 1808 from Buncombe, so it is not clear if the Owens already lived in that section or moved there between 1800 and 1810. Other Owens were in Haywood in 1810 also, including Owen, George and Thomas Owens. The census was alphabetical, so I can’t tell where they were living.

Jesse Owen was named in the 1813 Will of Samuel Patterson in Haywood County.

Jesse Owen was not listed on the 1820 census in Haywood County. William, George, Elijah, Pleasant and Owen Owens were there that year, but no sign of Jesse. I did find several Jesse Owens in Alabama that year.

I did not find Jesse in 1830 or 1840 in western North Carolina. I found several in other states, but no way to know which might be this same Jesse.

Samuel Patterson Owen was named in Samuel Patterson’s 1813 Will, but no relationship was stated. He could be a nephew or a brother-in-law. If he is of similar age to Jesse Owens (1774/84), then he is probably a nephew to Samuel Patterson. If so, is he a brother to Salley Owen and Jesse Owen who were also named in the Will? Or is Sally the sister to Samuel Patterson, and Samuel P. Owen and Jesse Owen are Sally’s children? There are obviously several possibilities.

I have not found any additional records on Samuel P. Owen. He did not appear on any census records in Western North Carolina as far as I’ve found, so I’d guess he moved away or else died shortly after 1813.

Samuel Patterson apparently had no children.