Jr James Patterson

Notes:

James lived near where Marietta, Pennsylvania now is located.

He served with the 1st Battalion, Pennsylvania Regiment, during the Revolutionary War. This unit was commanded by Colonel Conrad Weiser. He was commissioned May 25, 1748 as a Captain. He also commanded Fort Hunter to protect Paxtang Township. He was commissioned again on December 10, 1756.

James was known by the indians as "Big Shot" and his son Wiilliam was known as "Long Gun".

James and the family servant were made prisoners, along with James Lowe, on November 26, 1732 during the local Cresap War. The instigators were led by a man named Cresap who acting on the instructions of Lord Baltimore tried to claim land above what is now the Mason Dixon Line for Maryland.

The town of Mexico, Pennsylvania was layed out in 1806 near the site of Patterson's Fort. A statue commemerates the site and James, Mary, and son William.

Mary and James established a trading post on the banks of the Juniata River with a deed of 407 acres on the north side of the river on February 3, 1755. This was the first warrent of land issued in what is now Juniata County Pennsylvania, then Fermanagh Township, Cumberland County. The site was known as Patterson's Fort. They eventually owned more than 1,000 acres with 3 additional warrents dated Feb 5, 1755, Feb 6, 1755, and July 10, 1755.

James is buried in the Mexico Town Cemetary in an unmarked grave. The site is about 100 yards from Patterson's Fort. The Cemetary was restored in 1975 by the Juniata County Development Commission and the Juniata County Historical Society. The Cemetary is maintained currently by the Lost Creek Mennonite Congregation. The Cemetary is marked by a sign stating that Capt James Patterson, a pioneer and soldier of the French and Indian Wars (1761-1772) is buried in an unmarked grave at this site. The earliest marked grave is listed as 1804 and the last burial took place in 1871.

James had inherited the lands of his father consisting of about 300 acres in Conycocheek.

York County Pennsylvania Court Records show that a James Ward filed suit against James during the Court Session of July 1957. Another suit dated Jan 1758 was initiated by the Administrators of a Mr. Theopbulus, their names were Mary & William Theopbulus. In July 1758 a suit was started by Susannah Ramsey, the executress of William Ramsey (deceased) against James and it was still an active case in April 1759. A final suit shows the plaintiff as Mary Simonton which was filed April
of 1759. None of the suits whowed any final actions.

His will is dated June 9, 1771 and recorded at the Cumberland County, Pa Courthouse in Carlise, Pa and was probated Jan 22, 1772,


Facts about this person:

Blessing
Mexico Town Cemetary, Mexico, Pa

James married Mary Stuart in 1737. Mary (daughter of George Stewart) was born in 1710; died on 26 Apr 1785 in Middletown, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Patterson was born in 1737 in Donegal, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; died in 1782.
2. Mary Patterson was born in 1739 in Donegal, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; died in 1791 in Penns Valley, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States.
3. Sarah Patterson was born in Bet. 1728 and 1751; died in Bet. 1750 and 1835.
4. Susanna Patterson was born in Bet. 1729 and 1755; died in Bet. 1779 and 1843.
5. James Patterson was born in 1758; died in Bet. 1794 and 1849.
6. Elizabeth Patterson was born in 1760; died in Bet. 1774 and 1854.
7. George Patterson was born on 24 Jul 1762 in Juniata, Pennsylvania, United States; died in 1814.

Notes:

James lived on the Maryland Eastern Shore, near Salisbury, where kin still live, before moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in what was known as the Conestoga Manor. The Pattersons have been in the Maryland and Pennsylvania areas as early as 1660. He was instrumental in the Cresaps War when Marylanders tried to move the State line north. This trouble started in 1681 and in 1683 Lord Baltimore issued a proclamation by which he claimed jurisdiction over the tract of land on the west of the Deleware Bay and River now held by William Penn by deed of the Duke of York. William Penn died in 1718 after requesting that the King settle this dispute. Penn personnally went to England to plead his case, but the King could not reconcile Penn and Lord Baltimore. In 1731 Thomas Cresop obtained grants from Lord Baltimore for the land upon which James Patterson settled. In May of 1732 Lord Baltimore and the Pennsylvania propietaries agreed to a solution. The war ended in 1738, after Jame's death, and the King of England's order in Council of the 25th of May 1738.

James traveled to Lancaster County Pennsylvania from Salisbury, Maryland by canoe on the Susquehanna River with his family. He was warrented 500 acres in Conestoga Manor in 1718, the same year that his benefactor William Penn died. The warrent was confirmed by Thomas Penn. Conestoga Manor consisted of 16,000 acres and was officially formed March 1, 1718 by order of James Logan.



James's name appears on the first assessment list of Conestoga Township. On November 21, 1734 Thomas Penn awarded James and Susanna 200 additional acres where they built their home in which he died and in which his two famous half-brothers General James Ewing and Colonel John Connolly were born.

James and Susanna were Charter Members of the Donegal Presbyterian Church which was founded in Lancaster County, Pa near Elizabethtown and Maytown. The Church was founded by Scottish families who fled their previous homes in Northern Ireland. The Church was founded sometime prior to 1721.

James married Susanna Howard in Bet. 1705 and 1734. Susanna (daughter of Susanna Howard) was born in Bet. 1681 and 1710; died in 1753. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susanna Howard was a remarkable woman. She married a 2nd time in 1736 to Captain Thomas Ewing by whom she became the mother of General James Ewing and Captain John Ewing of the Revolutionary War they also had sons William and Samuel who died at very young ages. In 1742 she married her 3rd husban, John Connolly by whom she became the mother of the notorious Tory, Dr. John Connolly who was born in 1742.

Her brother Gordon was a famous Indian Trader and owned large amounts of land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Notes:

This family was originally from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.


Facts about this person:

Blessing
Donegal Presbyterian Church Old Graveyard

Arthur married Ann Scott in 1705 in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Ann was born in 1683 in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; died on 5 May 1792 in Donegal, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Facts about this person:

Blessing
Donegal Presbyterian Church Old Graveyard

Arthur married Katherine in Bet. 1658 and 1701. was born in Bet. 1641 and 1664; died in Bet. 1686 and 1752. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]