Marty and Karla Grant

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Matthew Patterson (bef 1755-aft 1813) of Tryon, Rutherford, Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Co, NC

[Patterson Home] - [Table of Contents] - Matthew Patterson (Jr)

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The author (Marty Grant) is a 6^th Great Grandson of Matthew Patterson, providing that several unproven connections are correct.

Matthew Patterson (Jr) was born before 1755 per the 1800 census. He was a chain bearer for a survey done in 1770 for his father, so if he was at least 14 then, he was born ca 1756 or earlier, which doesn’t help narrow it down anymore. I used to list him as born ca 1749 on the faulty assumption that he was probably at least 21 in 1770. However, chain carriers didn’t have to be adults, in fact, often weren’t.

Matthew Patterson was probably born in Pennsylvania or Virginia, or perhaps even in Scotland or Northern Ireland. We have no solid evidence on that subject so far.

Matthew Patterson is probably a son of the elder Matthew Patterson for whom he was Chain Bearer (or Carrier) in 1770. When a survey was done, the Chain Bearers were very often close relatives of the person who was getting the survey in order to ensure everything was done in a fair way.

The survey was dated 8 May 1770 and recorded with a land grant dated 24 Dec 1770 for 300 acres of land on the North side of Broad River in Tryon County, North Carolina for Matthew Patterson. Matthew Patterson Jr and John Patterson were the Chain Bearers. 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). Matthew (Jr) later lived on Puzzle Creek which was on the north side of Broad River, though several miles north in present Rutherford County.

Matthew Patterson married someone in old Tryon County ca 1770's. I have found no record of his wife’s name. Census records show that she was also born before 1755.

In 1778-1779, Tryon County was dissolved, and the section where they lived became Rutherford County.

Matthew Patterson was listed on a 1782 tax list in Rutherford County in Capt. Vinsant’s company. He had no land, two horses, eight cattle and was taxed 24 (pounds?). The only other Patterson in Rutherford at the time was James Patterson who was in a different company.

Matthew Patterson was listed on a 1785 tax list in Rutherford County, and taxed for 1 poll (himself), and 300 acres of land. I have not found where he obtained this land, but it seems likely it is the same 300 acres his father got in 1770 on the "north side of Broad River". Puzzle Creek was technically on the north side of Broad River, but several miles north. If this is the same land, then he inherited it between 1772 and 1785.

In Jan 1785 court, Matthew Patterson served as foreman of a jury in Rutherford Co., NC court.

On 14 Oct 1786, Matthew Patterson was among several ordered to serve as jurors for the next term in Rutherford.

On 13 Jan 1787 the Rutherford court ordered William Withrow, Michael Osborne, William Webb, Samuel Swann, Thomas Harrison, Joseph Ashworth, Matthew Patterson, John Camp Senr, Thomas Camp, Mark Suttle, James Kirkes? And Abel Hill as jurors to “lay off and mark a road out of the old road that leads from the court house to the South line about three miles distance near to said road & then come into said road again it being to avoid some bad place in the old road.”

Typically, those who served on road juries lived in the same neighborhood with each other and the area where the road was.

On 9 Aug 1787, Mathew Patterson received a State Land Grant of 100 acres on Puzzle Creek. The land was Entered on 9 Nov 1779. The Revolutionary War must have delayed the granting of this land. The Chain Bearers were Thomas Price and Samuel Patterson. I found this Grant on the card index at the State Archives and it referenced Book 65 page 304. Now the Chain Bearer Samuel Patterson is likely related. I’m reasonably sure that Samuel is Matthew’s son, but I don’t know who Thomas Price was, perhaps a son-in-law or nephew, if related at all. He was just three houses from Matthew on the 1790 census.

Puzzle Creek was a tributary of the Second Broad River and is about 6 miles long, and is just a mile or so east of Forest City. They apparently lived on Puzzle Creek until the 1790's.

Matthew Patterson was listed on the 1790 census in Rutherford County. He was in the 7th Company listed between Micajah Morris (1759) and William Baker. Thomas Price was three houses away. Joseph Patterson and Robert Patterson were also in the 7th Company (six houses from each other, but several houses from Matthew). Another one, Hugh Patterson was also in Rutherford that year, but in a different company.

1790 Census - Rutherford County, North Carolina

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
117	Matthew Patterson	2	~	3	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

2m 16+ (before 1774)              1. Matthew Patterson (bef 1755)

                                                     2. Samuel Patterson (1765/74) son

3f (before 1790)                        1. Wife?

                                                     2. Daughter?

                                                     3. Daughter?

In 1791, Buncombe County was formed from the western part of Rutherford and Burke Counties. Apparently Matthew Patterson moved there almost immediately, but held onto his Puzzle Creek land for awhile. His son Samuel remained in Rutherford for about 10 more years.

I don’t know precisely where Matthew settled at first, but an October 1792 Court record gives us a clue. The Court Record shows that Matthew Patterson (and others*) were assigned to a road jury to lay off a road from the Ford of Benjamin Davidson’s Creek across the mountain to the Head of Saluda. (Buncombe Co, NC Court Minutes, Apr 1792 - Apr 1796 and Jan 1798 - Jan 1804 - Book 1, p. 18).

* The others were: Robert Orr, James Seds, James Blythe, James James. Joshua English, Benjamin Odell Jr., Moses Crawford, Archebald Neill, Drury Robinson, Robert St. Clair; Joseph Chatton, Matthew Patterson, Shadrack Gibbs and Edward Johnson.

The North Saluda River headwaters were in the vicinity of the current tri-county border region where Henderson and Polk Counties, North Carolina join with Greenville County, South Carolina. Now the "head of Saluda" must mean the head of Saluda River, and the head of the North Saluda River is actually in present Greenville Co, SC, but it lies less than a mile from the present state line with the border of Polk and Henderson County (all of which was Buncombe County at that time). The present community of Saluda is situated on the Polk - Henderson border, and the Saluda Mountains are the North Carolina - South Carolina border.

The South Saluda River headwaters are the border between Oconee and Greenville County, South Carolina and the very head of the river is on the state line bordering Transylvania County, North Carolina. This may be the more likely location of Matthew Patterson, for he did later live in what became Transylvania County, but not so close to the state line. I have not identified Benjamin Davidson’s Creek, but there is a Davidsons River that flows into the French Broad River above Brevard, and it was between that River and the South Saluda that Matthew Patterson later lived, so that seems to help narrow him down to already living in the Transylvania County area.

Matthew Patterson received a State Land Grant in 1797 for 100 acres on "Stewards Creek" according to the survey. However, the entry (# 6425) to “Mathew Paterson” was described as 100 acres of land on west side of French Broad River above the mouth of Catheys Creek beginning on the south west corner of Williams land ... north “including my own improvements.” The survey was dated 13 Jan 1797 for 100 acres on Stewards Creek on a gum and maple near Williams SW corner ... Wilson’s line .... The Chain Carriers names were very hard to make out. Perhaps William Allen and Robert Lee.

I have not located a Cathey’s Creek in that area. There is a Cathey’s Creek in north Rutherford County that flows south easterly into Second Broad River east of Rutherfordton. This couldn’t be same creek mentioned in the 1797 survey in Buncombe County.

I also can’t find Stewards Creek, but I once theorized that it was the creek that is now called Patterson Creek which is about 3 miles long, and a tributary of the French Broad River just about 5 miles south of Brevard in present Transylvania County, North Carolina. Donna Patterson Stover informed me that Patterson Creek is where her ancestors lived (Rev. Hampton William Patterson and family), and was once called Stamey Creek. Therefore it is probably named for Rev. H. W. Patterson and not for Matthew Patterson. She pointed out that there is a Stuart's Creek that begins in north western Henderson County (which was part of Buncombe in 1797) and flows into the North Fork of Mills River. This is in present day Henderson County just north of Etowah. I don't know if that is where Matthew's land was or not, but it is certainly possible.

On 23 Oct 1799, Matthew Patterson of "Buncomb" County, North Carolina sold his 100 acres on Puzzle Creek in Rutherford County to David Medlow of Rutherford. The land was described as joining John Kirkornal (Kuykendal?) and Langham including William McGaughy’s improvement, granted to Matthew Patterson on 9 Aug 1787. (Rutherford Co, NC Deed Book 16 page 179).

Matthew Patterson was listed on the 1800 census in Buncombe County. Unfortunately this census was alphabetical, so I can’t tell who his neighbors were, nor determine exactly where he was living. There were five other Pattersons in Buncombe in 1800, but no way to tell if any of them lived near Matthew.

 

1800 Census, Buncombe Co., NC, p. 185, Matthew Patterson, 00001-00001-0-0

I mentioned earlier that the state line in this region was not well defined, and for some reason the Federal Government said that the Headwaters of the French Broad River were in Georgia, and shortly after that, Walton County, Georgia was formed in 1803. The boundaries for Walton are difficult, but it clearly covered a large portion of present day Transylvania County, which was then claimed by Buncombe County, North Carolina. This caused many disputes, and even some bloodshed, and was not resolved until 1813. So in the period between 1803 and 1813 residents of this area were considered residents of Buncombe Co., NC and also residents of Walton Co, GA.

A census of Walton County, Georgia was made in 1804. The Western District commanded by Captain Fane included a listing for Matthew Patterson with 2 whites. This agrees with his 1800 census entry which just showed Matthew and wife in their household. Neighbors in 1804 were Will Raxter and Charles McClure. Alexander Patterson was also listed in that district. I don’t know if he is related to Matthew or not.

In the book "Wayfarers in Walton" (which is a history of the current Walton County, Georgia), the original Walton was mentioned, and "Mathew Petterson" was mentioned several times. I’m confident this was our Matthew Patterson. The first mention of him was that he and others were appointed to watch the roads into Walton and examine any travelers going into their territory. This was an effort to cut down on horse stealing and other troublemakers. No date was given to this record.

Matthew Patterson was listed on the 1810 census for Buncombe County. I would bet he was also listed on the 1810 census for Walton County, Georgia, except that most of the 1810 Georgia census was lost. There were lots of other Pattersons in Buncombe in 1810, but none listed near Matthew. His 1810 neighbors were George C. Neal and George Hefner. Walter Hogshead was just a few houses away, as were many other names that intermarried into the Patterson family including several Glazners and Nicholsons and Erwins and Owens. Matthew’s son Samuel Patterson had moved to Buncombe by then, but was listed several pages away, though had many of the same surnames as neighbors, so obviously in the same general area.

1810 Census, Buncombe Co., NC, p. 269, Mathew Patterson, 00001-00001

In 1813, residents of "Walton County, Georgia" signed a petition requesting that they be put back in North Carolina or that a new county be formed in North Carolina for them. Matthew Patterson signed this petition. Walton was abolished in 1813, and a new Walton County was formed in 1818 well within the proper bounds of Georgia.

The 1813 petition is the last record we have for Matthew Patterson. He must have died after that, but before 1820 for he did not appear on the 1820 census (a much younger Matthew did show up in 1820, but he was a grandson of old Matthew). Mrs. Patterson may have died before 1820 as well.

I have found no record of the disposition of the Buncombe County land that Matthew Patterson owned. The area where they lived became Henderson County in 1838, and finally Transylvania County in 1861.

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Children

Matthew Patterson and wife probably had several children, but none are proven. I am quite confident that Samuel Patterson is their son for he was a chain bearer for a 1779 survey for Matthew, and they owned land bordering each other on Puzzle Creek in Rutherford County. Samuel also followed Matthew to Buncombe County.

The 1790 census entry for Matthew showed him with three females, one being Mrs. Patterson and the other two are probably daughters, but nothing else is known of them. I strongly suspect one of them is Mimy Patterson who married William McGaughey in 1792.

 

1.         Samuel Patterson (1765/74)

2.         Unidentified Daughter (before 1790)

3.         Unidentified Daughter (before 1790)

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Samuel Patterson was born ca 1765/74, probably in old Tryon (now Rutherford) Co., NC. He isn’t a proven son of Matthew, but he was always near him, and seems to have named his oldest son Matthew. See his own page for additional information.

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Unidentified Daughter (before 1790). Matthew Patterson had two apparent daughters home with him in 1790 who were both gone by 1800, so presumably married or dead by then. I’ve found no direct evidence as to the identity of either of these daughters.

However, I have reason to believe that this one was Mimy Patterson.

On 3 Aug 1792, William McGaughey obtained a marriage bond in Rutherford Co., NC to marry “Mimy Patterson.” George Watson was bondsman.

The bond does not list her father’s name, but the reason I suspect she is one of Matthew’s is because William McGaughey was a neighbor of his on Puzzle Creek.

“Mimy” could be a nickname for “Jemima” though I’m not sure if that’s the case or not. She was born ca 1774/84 or 1755/1774 depending on which of the two females in William’s 1800 household is her.

1800 Census, Rutherford Co., NC p. 128, William McGahey, 10010-00110-0-0

Mimy Patterson McGaughey appears to have died before 1810 for William’s wife on that census is too young to be her, so might be a second wife.

1810 Census, Rutherford Co., NC p. 409, William McGahey, 10110-10100-0-0.

William was still in Rutherford for the 1820 census.

1820 Census, Rutherford Co., NC p. 388, William McGaughey, 210010-22010

I didn’t find William on the 1830 census in Rutherford, nor elsewhere.

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Unidentified Daughter (before 1790). Matthew Patterson had two apparent daughters home with him in 1790 who were both gone by 1800, so presumably married or dead by then. I’ve found no direct evidence as to the identity of either of these daughters.

I have no strong clues who this daughter might have been. There were three female Patterson who have marriage records in the 1790s in Rutherford. One of those is Mimy already mentioned earlier. The other two are Sally Patterson who married George Griffes in 1796 and Margaret Patterson who married Samuel Blackburn in 1797.

On 21 Dec 1797, Samuel Blackburn obtained a marriage bond in Rutherford to marry “Marget Patterson.” Robert Patterson was bondsman. The association of Robert Patterson tells me that Margaret probably isn’t one of Matthew’s children since Robert isn’t a known or suspected relative.

On 19 Mar 1796, George Griffeth obtained a marriage bond in Rutherford to marry “Salley Patterson.” John Woodburn was bondsman.

I was unable to find anything else on George Griffeth and Sally Patterson or John Woodburn. They were not listed on the 1800 census in Rutherford or elsewhere as far as I could find, nor in 1810, thus I have no clues yet whether Sally could be a child of Matthew Patterson or not.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Matthew Patterson (Jr).

Revised: January 15, 2025

Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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