Robert Patterson of the old Craven Co./York Co., SC lived from ca. 1727 to 1791. His oldest son was Thomas Patterson, born ca. 1748, probably around Augusta Co., Va. Thomas sold land to his father Robert Patterson in York Co., SC in 1786, possibly indicating that he was leaving the area as many families were. There was a Thomas Patterson listed in the 1800 Buncombe Co., NC census. I realize that all the land (in NC) west of Buncombe county was Indian lands in 1800, but all white persons in those lands were recorded on the Buncombe county census. Who was this Thomas Patterson? Does anyone have any information to show that he was NOT the son of the York county, SC Robert Patterson? I am open to anyone who will offer corrections to my information, but lately I have (once again) been pouring over the census records of 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, etc. for upper SC, Buncombe, Haywood and Macon counties of NC, and the north Ga counties of Hall, Habersham, Rabun, and Union during the 1830, 1834, and 1840 years (there's an 1834 listing for Union in case some of you didn't know). I believe that Thomas Patterson (son of Robert Patterson 1727-1791 of York Co., SC) was the father of "our" John Patterson, the one who married Margaret Black about 1788 in the old Pendleton District of SC. John and Margaret were in Union Co., Ga in 1840, and Margaret was still living during the 1850 Union Co., Ga census. I DO know that our John (b. ca. 1765-1767 SC, d. 1840s GA) was in the Buncombe Co., NC census in 1800 and 1810. I know that he was involved in land deeds in Buncombe county between 1800 and 1810 involving tracts of land called "Newfound" and "French Broad River", and others. These deeds were with a Richard Morrow and a Reuben Black. The Blacks, Pattersons, Morrows, and Ponders were all involved in land transactions on those tracts of land during those years. Most of these same families/family members were living next to each other in 1810 in Buncombe also. Also, John Patterson married Margaret Black (as mentioned before), and their oldest son was named Joseph B. Patterson. There were quite a few Joseph Blacks in that area, and I have always wondered if his full name was Joseph Black Patterson. As for Thomas Patterson - he was living right next to our John Patterson in 1800! I was just reviewing the original microfilm for that 1800 Buncombe census, and let me tell you - having transcriptions of records available online are great helps, but they don't replace the value of the original. The online versions of this census I have read before are in alphabetical order. But there were several Pattersons in Buncombe then. But when you look at the microfilm of the original you'll see that John Patterson was the last line on page 184 and that Thomas Patterson was the first line on page 185 - right next to him. The other Pattersons in 1800 were much farther away from them in the "P"s section. Thomas was listed as 45+ in 1800 (Robert's son Thomas would have been about 52). John was in the 26-45 category (most records have him as being born about 1766 or 67 - that would make him 33 or 34). We know that Robert's Thomas had a son named John according to the 1775 will of Robert Patterson - most researchers of that family having Thomas's John as being born ca. 1765-1766. Well, the 1810 Buncombe county census lists our John as 45+ which if he was actually 45, that would be a birth year of 1765. So I have modified my records in my database to list his birth year as "about 1765 - 1767". The point being he is definitely old enough to be the same John referred to in Robert's will. Another thing... Robert not only had the son Thomas, but he also had a daughter named Lydia who married a John Black. So we know the Blacks and the York Co., SC Pattersons were together, as well. Also, another daughter of Robert named Elizabeth married Daniel Ponder (Pounders in some records). This is the same Ponders that was involved in land deeds in Buncombe county in 1801. He bought land on the "Newfound" from George Black. The only other thing I know about Thomas Patterson is that he sold land to his father in York, SC in 1786. Was he and his son John on the move at that point? We do know that our John was over in Pendleton District by 1788 when he married Margaret Black, and in 1790 on the census. That was moving NW, and between 1795 and 1798 we know that John and Margaret had moved into the western part of NC. Their son John II was born ca. 1798 in NC. And then we have John and Margaret listed on the Buncombe census in 1800 right next to a Thomas Patterson (and Thomas's wife, by the way). Six months ago when I was first looking at these Craven/York county Pattersons, I felt pretty positive about the possibilities of a link, but since I have been going through the deed records of Buncombe again and the census records (originals) again, it's making much clearer sense. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this line of thinking (Thomas being the father of "our" John), whether you agree with me or not. I will never have all of the facts, that's why I need all of your feedback. Thank you so much. Wes Patterson http://wespatterson.com/patterson.html