Husband Col. James Patterson 1 2
Born: 7 Oct 1775 - Rapho Twp, Lancaster Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died: 30 May 1863 - Mount Joy, Lancaster Co, PA 1
Buried:
Father: Lt. James Patterson (1731-1789) 3 4 5 6
Mother: Margaret Agnew (1745- ) 3 4 5 6 7 8
Marriage: 1805 9
Wife Mary "Mollie" Watson 3 10 11
Born: - East Donegal Twp, Lancaster Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 1866 2
Buried:
Father: Dr. John Watson (1762/1763-1843) 9 12 13 14
Mother: Margaret Clemson ( -1849) 11 13 15
Children
1 M [Unk] Patterson 9
Born:
Christened:
Died: while young
Buried:
2 F [Unk] Patterson 9
Born:
Christened:
Died: while young
Buried:
3 M James Agnew Patterson 4 9 13
Born: 26 Sep 1810 - Rapho Twp, Lancaster Co, PA 13 16
Christened:
Died: 7 Jan 1898 13
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah Margaret Sterrett ( -1858) 13 16
Marr: 14 Nov 1844 13 16
4 M Judge David Watson Patterson 2 9
Born: - Rapho Twp, Lancaster Co, PA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mary R. Slaymaker ( - ) 2
Marr: Dec 1846 2
5 F Harriet B. Patterson 9 17
Born: Abt 1817 - Rapho Twp, Lancaster Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 9 Jul 1900 18
Buried: - Donegal Church Cemetery, Lancaster Co, PA
Spouse: Dr. Jacob Lindemuth Ziegler (1822- ) 9 17 19
Marr: 18 Apr 1848 - Mount Joy, Lancaster Co, PA 18
6 F Rachel Jane Patterson 2 20
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
7 F Anna Mary Patterson 9
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1855 9
Buried:
Spouse: Robert S. McIlvain ( - ) 9
General Notes: Husband - Col. James Patterson
He was born in Rapho township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died, after a brief illness, in Mount Joy, where he spent his last years, after retiring from farming on the 30th of May, 1863, in the 88th year of his age.
He sprang from Scotch-Irish ancestors, and was one of a family of nine children. His father being a farmer, the son was reared to out-door labor and exercise, and in consequence grew up to manhood with a strong and vigorous constitution. In the days of his boyhood, there were no common schools, and the opportunities to obtain even a good common school education, were exceedingly limited. The entire time afforded to him to acquire learning in school was all embraced in the short period of ten months. At the age of about fifteen years, and just on the eve of the troubles incited by the whiskey insurrection in western Pennsylvania, his father died, and he was left without the directing hand and cherishing culture of paternal affection. His older brother, Arthur, and the adult population generally of his native section, being shortly after called out to military service by the United States government, to quell the whiskey insurrection, James was left to take the sole charge and direction of a large farm, and to manage it the best he could. This, and the many incidental responsibilities, threw him quite young in life on his own resources, and gave him a maturity in experience and a decision of character, long before he attained to years of manhood. Although deprived of school privileges, and his time devoted to constant labor, his love of learning made him seek opportunities for acquiring knowledge. This, added to fine natural abilities, gave him great success in acquiring information on all topics. His stock of knowledge and experience made him a wise counsellor and a judicious adviser; and on many occasions, both of public and private interests, his counsel was sought and obtained. On attaining to his majority he took charge of his own farm, and commenced clearing away the heavy timber and erecting the necessary buildings.
When the War of 1812, between America and Great Britain broke out, he immediately left his farm and family and volunteered for the war. A battalion of troops having been raised by his exertions, Gen. Nathaniel Watson, major-general of the division, composed of Lancaster and York counties, commanding, made Col. Patterson (then major) one of the aids on his staff. He remained in the service until peace was declared, having most of that time commanded a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers as lieutenant-colonel, and returned home holding that commission. For a decade after that war, the whole country, encouraged by liberal legislation, were active in developing the militia system, then high in popular favor, for home defence. Col. Patterson took a prominent part in organizing and commanding that arm of the Republic. While his taste led him to take part in military matters, a pure patriotism seemed to be the motor of his action. When the South inaugurated the rebellion, Col. Patterson, although then in his eighty-sixth year, said with all seriousness, "I wish I was a little younger, I would go out myself and defend the life of our government."
In the civil affairs of his native State, he always took a deep interest. Feeling the want of educational advantages in his youth, he expressed the deepest anxiety to see those advantages placed within the reach of all. These convictions made him a warm and active supporter of the common school system, declaring that school-tax was the cheapest tax that any citizen could pay. As all know, the school system was at first left to a vote of the people of the several townships. This feature caused many warm contests at the polls, in which Col. Patterson always took the side of free schools, although his own children were at the time all advanced in their studies beyond the then standard of common school education.
Col. Patterson represented Lancaster County in the State Legislature in the session of 1817-18, and again for two successive sessions of 1832-33 and 1833-34, taking an active part in the political questions of that period. But the occupation of his life-farming-was his favorite pursuit. He largely gave his personal attention and labor to his farms; read extensively on the subject; studied the nature of the soil, and the character of the fertilizers best adapted to produce the highest state of cultivation. And his neat farming and abundant crops, showed the wisdom of his conclusions. His last days, as well as his last moments of dissolution, were calm and peaceful, for the well-grounded faith of the Christian believer did not forsake him. His remains rest in the old Donegal churchyard, with the dust of his fathers; and a long, honorable and useful life came to an end.
He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Donegal, Lancaster County, being elected to this office from 1819 until his death. His remains lie in Donegal Church cemetery.