Matthew Patterson (c1790) and Nancy (---) of Buncombe and Macon Co, NC; Habersham and Lumpkin Co., GA and Tippah Co., MS

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• 24 Oct 2009 - New page by Marty Grant.

The author (Marty Grant) is a 4^th Great Grand Nephew of Matthew Patterson, providing that he is indeed a brother to my ancestor Samuel Patterson (1805), which isn't proven yet.

Special thanks to Valeska Vicars for data shared on this family. She first came to my attention via an article she wrote for inclusion in The Heritage of Buncombe County, NC Vol II, Article # 439.

Matthew Patterson was born ca 1789/90 per his age on the 1850 census (60). His earlier census records support that approximate birth year. He was born in North Carolina (per 1850 census), probably in Rutherford Co., NC. He was probably named for his grandfather Matthew Patterson.

It seems likely that Matthew is a son of Samuel Patterson (1765/74) and Elizabeth (---). Their relationship is not proven, but Samuel's father was named Matthew, so that works. Samuel did have an apparent son Matthew's age on the 1800 and 1810 census, and Matthew (the younger) was next to Samuel on the 1820 census in old Buncombe County (now Transylvania County). Matthew was associated with James Erwin whose son Thomas married Matthew's probable sister Mary Patterson. None of this is 100% conclusive, but it works very well and is strong for circumstantial evidence.

One problem has surfaced via DNA testing. Two descendants of Samuel Patterson (1805) have tested and they match each other very closely (66 out of 67 markers). However, a descendant of Matthew (1790) has also tested and does not match the Samuel descendants. Perhaps Matthew and Samuel aren't brothers after all, or there could be other explanations for this. The only way to resolve it is to get more test participants from Matthew's lineage as well as from the other alleged Patterson brothers. 

Matthew would have been one year old or less for the 1790 census. His father Samuel wasn't listed on that census. He probably married that year or just a little before and was still living with his parents or his in-laws.

Matthew would have been about 9 or 10 for the 1800 census. Samuel was in Rutherford Co., NC that year and had two boys under age 10 (born ca 1790/1800) one of whom is probably Matthew.

He would have been about 19 or 20 for the 1810 census. Samuel was in Buncombe Co., NC by then and had an apparent son aged 16-25 (born ca 1784/94) which is probably Matthew.

Matthew Patterson married Nancy (---) between ca 1810 and ca 1815, presumably in Buncombe Co., NC. She was born ca 1789/90 in North Carolina (both per 1850 census). I don't know what her maiden name is.

Matthew Patterson is listed as a soldier for the War of 1812 in the 8th Regiment, 15th Company of those raised in Buncombe County.

They are listed on the 1820 census in Buncombe Co., NC. He was listed near several relatives and in-laws including Joseph Dunn, Walter Hogshead, James Erwin and others. He was next door to a Glazner and near several others (his brother William Patterson married a Glazner). Most importantly his father Samuel Patterson was next door.

1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1820 Buncombe Co., NC page 114 Mathew Patterson 200010-00010
Slaves=0000-0000

Analysis:

1 Male 26-44	(1775/1794)	Matthew Patterson (c1790)

2 males 0-9	(1810/1820)	1-William Patterson (c1815) son
				2-Benjamin Patterson (1819) son

1 Female 26-44	(1775/1794)	Nancy (---) Patterson (c1790) wife

0 Slaves

On 22 Dec 1825 Matthew Patterson of Buncombe sold 150 acres to James Hamblin, also of Buncombe. The land was described as being on the west side of the French Broad River on both sides of Graham Branch. Witnesses were James Erwin and Benjamin Wilson. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 15, page 130).

Where did Matthew get the above land? There are no deeds recorded in Buncombe showing him purchasing this land or receiving it as a land grant. This is about the same time his father Samuel died, so was this land inherited? That is quite possible. "Graham Branch" can not be found on modern maps, I think perhaps it is near present day Brevard, Transylvania Co., NC and may be the same creek now known as Patterson's Creek.

In 1828 Mathew Patterson signed a petition requesting the formation of a new county (called Macon) from the south western part of Haywood County. Matthew's household consisted of one male over age 21 (himself), five males under 21, four females for 10 total souls. His signing of this petition indicates he had moved from Buncombe to neighboring Haywood County sometime between 1825 and 1828. The petition was approved and Macon County was formed.

On 23 Mar 1829 the Macon County Court met and began organizing the new county. Justices were appointed and took the oath of office. Matthew Patterson was among them. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1829-1832)

In June 1829 court Mathew Patterson and others were appointed Judges for Elections. Matthew for Fairfield Precinct. I don't know what region that was. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1829-1832 p. 32).

In September 1829 court, Matthew Patterson was among the Justices ordered to appear at the next court. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1829-1832 p. 55).

By 1830 Matthew had moved to nearby Habersham Co., GA and is listed there on the 1830 census. Other Pattersons were listed also, but not nearby. No known relatives were listed nearby, but his next door neighbor was Jesse McMinn (no known relation) and Robert McMinn was a few houses away. Robert McMinn had been nearby back in 1820 Buncombe Co., NC as well. I don't know if they are one and the same person, but it is worth noting.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Habersham Co., GA page 62 Matha Patterson 2210010000000-1100010000000
Slaves=000000-000000

Analysis:

1 Male 30-39	(1790/1800)	Matthew Patterson (c1790)

1 male 10-14	(1815/1820)	William Patterson (c1815) son

2 male 5-9	(1820/1825)	1-Benjamin Patterson (1819) son

				2-Son?

2 male 0-4	(1825/1830)	Warren W. Patterson (1829) son

1 Female 30-39	(1790/1800)	Nancy (---) Patterson (c1790) wife

1 female 5-9	(1820/1825)	Rebecca Patterson (1822) daughter

1 female 0-4	(1825/1830)	Elizabeth Patterson (c1825) daughter

0 Slaves

In 1831 Cherokee County was formed from a portion of Habersham County. The Pattersons may have fallen into the new county or perhaps not. In 1832 Lumpkin County was formed from part of Habersham and Cherokee. It appears the Pattersons fell into the new county or perhaps moved there shortly after its creation.

Matthew Patterson is listed on the 1838 tax list for Lumpkin Co., GA. He was listed with 16 whites in his household. I thought that might be an error, but his 1840 household is pretty large as well with 12 members.

He is in Lumpkin for the 1840 census. There were other Pattersons there as well in 1840, but not listed nearby. None of his neighbors were the same names from 1830 Habersham, so perhaps he moved after all instead of just falling into the new county. His "next door" neighbors were Jonathan Adams and Jonas Edge. Most notably they were all listed in Capt. Patterson's District. Was Matthew the Capt. Patterson in question? Quite probably for he was the only Patterson listed in that district. There were at least three extra adult males in the household, identities unknown.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Lumpkin Co., GA page 263 Matthew Patterson 1110301100000-0102000100000
Slaves=000000-000000

Analysis:

1 Male 50-59	(1780/1790)	Matthew Patterson (c1790)

1 Male 40-49	(1790/1800)	Brother? Brother-in-law?

3 Male 20-29	(1810/1820)	1-Nephew? Boarder?

				2-Nephew? Boarder?

				3-Benjamin Patterson (1819) son

1 male 10-14	(1825/1830)	Warren W. Patterson (1829) son

1 male 5-9	(1830/1835)	Andrew J. Patterson (c1832) son

1 male 0-4	(1835/1840)	Matthew Patterson (c1838) son

1 Female 50-59	(1780/1790)	Nancy (---) Patterson (c1790) wife

2 female 15-19	(1820/1825)	1-Rebecca Patterson (1822) daughter

				2-Elizabeth Patterson (c1825) daughter

1 female 5-9	(1830/1835)	Martha Patterson (c1834) daughter

0 Slaves

In March 1843 in Macon County Court, Matthew Patterson was summoned to appear at the next court as a juror. Did they not know he had moved away 14 years earlier? Or is this some other Matthew Patterson? Or did he move back to Macon for a little while? I'm not aware of any other Matthew Pattersons this could be. I think he did return to Macon briefly before moving to Mississippi. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1838-1855 p. 217).

The Pattersons moved to Mississippi in the mid 1840's. The time line is a little difficult to work out. A daughter married in Marshall Co., MS in Oct 1843, but a son married back in Lumpkin Co., GA in 1844. Marshall and Tippah Counties were next to each other, at least they were back then before new counties were formed in between them. In any event the Pattersons were in Tippah Co., MS for the 1850 census in District No., 2, page 453, house / family # 833: Mathew Patterson, 60, Farmer, $200 NC; Nancy 60 NC; Warner 20, GA; Andrew 18 GA; Martha 16 GA; Mathew 12 MS.

Nancy (---) Patterson died on 22 Aug 1855 and Matthew less than a month later on 20 Sep 1855, both in Tippah or in Marshall Co., MS. I don't know the primary source for those dates.

Apparently there is an estate division in Marshall Co., MS that names the heirs dated Oct 1855. I haven't seen that record yet.

Children of Matthew Patterson and Nancy (---). Matthew Patterson and wife Nancy had eight children as shared by Valeska Vicars. Benjamin, Rebecca, Warren, and Andrew were named in the Oct 1855 estate record, but I'm not positive if the rest were. I haven't seen the original record. The four youngest children are proven by the 1850 census as well. I haven't done much research on Matthew's children yet except some census research on them (1850-1880) to compare to what Mrs. Vicars shared in her article and in correspondence with me back in the 1990's.

• See the Matthew Patterson Researcher List