This is another family that I have not spent a great deal of time researching so please confirm anything below through your own research before basing anything as factual.
-----------------
Our Patton family in Georgia begins with Jacob Patton who appears to have been born in Augusta County Virginia. He then lived in North Carolina before removing to Georgia about 1773. Wilkes County Georgia was not officially created until 1777; However, there is a record for Jacob Patton dated November 9, 1773 where he is claiming 100 acres on Pistol Creek in the "ceded lands".[1] This area is just to the south of the Broad River and east of the Savannah River in what is now Wilkes County. The record indicates a brother, a wife and 7 daughters. The land was located near a trading path, 5 miles from the river. This makes Jacob one of the first white European settlers of Georgia, arriving before the first county (Wilkes) of Georgia was created.
Pistol Creek still exists and with the help of Daniel Crumpton's plat books I have determined this location was probably at the confluence of Pistol Creek and Chapel Branch. Other noteworthy names that can be found claiming land in 1773 are John Favor and Joseph Wise. John Favor of SC claims 200 acres at the mouth of Rocky Creek. He lists a wife and 1 son. Joseph Wise of NC, on January 13, 1774, claims 100 acres on "Long Creek at the dry fork". He lists a wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters under age 6. These names are important to my family history because there are Favor-Jackson marriages and there are Patton-Wise and Wise-Jackson marriages - All of these families lived fairly close to one another while in Wilkes County, Georgia and intermarriages between family members was common. They may have also known one another before moving to Georgia.
Jacob Patton's wife was Jane (lnu) [2]. Two of their daughters married WISE brothers: Margaret married Joseph Wise and Sarah married Sherwood Wise (my line). Jane's 1814 Will (See below) names Sherwood Wise as her son-in-law, Thomas and Benjamin Hill as her sons-in-law, Margaret Wise as her daughter, Susannah Oldham(?) as her daughter and the grandchildren of Barzen Lamar(?). Barzen is presumed to be her deceased daughter. If she and Jacob arrived in Georgia with 7 daughters, one of them died before marriage or before childbirth. No sons are noted in any records.
Jacob appears to have died about 1778 and his widow is noted to be Jane in several documents thereafter. She is noted to be Jean in some documents but this was likely a misspelling of the name Jane.
One of the most notable documents that I found for her is one where she took Elijah Clarke to court over a debt of 50 pounds that he owed her.
It must have been quite an undertaking for an elderly widow to take on such a powerful man. Even Sherwood Wise would have had second thoughts as a witness considering he was a soldier that likely served under Elijah.
However, it is not the only record we have of Jane in court. There is a 1778 record of her being sued for 61 pounds and 5 shillings for part of a crop supplied to her by a man named Elisha Carter Smart.
She is also shown to have aided the Continental Army by providing provisions [3] and there is a record of Elijah Clarke killing some of her cows at Gunnel's Station in 1781 for food - ostensibly for his soldiers.[4]
Her land adjoined some of Elijah Clarke's land near Mack's Creek.
It sounds like Jane Patton was a very independent frontier woman who settled her disputes "toe to toe" without letting any man do her bidding or run roughshod over her. To me, she sounds a lot like the famous Georgia woman Nancy Hart who lived only about 5-6 miles away to the north and west of Jacob's original land claim (see above where I indicated where his Pistol Creek claim was located).
As noted, Jacob probably died about 1778 [5] but his wife was not officially appointed the administrator of his estate until 1783. John Heard was one of the persons who provided bond. John Heard was the father of Stephen Heard who was later the Governor of Georgia. The present day town of Washington Georgia rests on the location of Heard's Fort, a frontier site and later a Revolutionary War landmark.
In the Revolutionary War pension application file of Captain Richard Heard (w4229) there is a document that indicates that Richard Heard was ordered by J Cunningham [6] to meet at "widow Patton's" in September 1782. Other orders in this file contain several mentions of Elijah Clark, a mention of General Twiggs and a mention of Pistol Creek. I have not researched Captain Richard Heard but he may be a son or nephew of John Heard, Sr. Most likely the "widow Patton" referred to is Jane and the location was the original 100 acre land grant of her deceased husband Jacob. Note that Richard Heard can later be shown to own land just to the south of "Jean Patton" near Mack's Creek and highway 77. (See map).
As noted, in the Wilkes County Original Minutes Jacob claimed 100 acres on Pistol Creek. In Daniel Crumpton's plat book there are 2 pages that indicate that Jacob's original land claim might have been at the intersection of present day Pistol Creek and Chapel Creek adjoining land owned by Elijah Clark. [7]
In the early 1780s, Jane removed from the land on Pistol Creek and moved about 14 miles east where she is shown to have owned 400 acres along Mack's Creek near present day highway 77.[8] She likely moved to be closer to one of her daughters or one of her brothers-in-law. This puts her very close to land owned by Samuel Patton, Thomas Patton, Mathew Patton, Joseph Wise, Sherwood Wise, Richard Heard, Isaiah Goolsby, Hugh Ector, Daniel Jackson, John Favor, Gunnels and Clarke - all names that can be found in various documents pertaining to these families. It is presumed that Mathew Patton is her brother-in-law and Samuel Patton and Thomas Patton are here nephews, probably the sons of Mathew. Joseph and Sherwood Wise were her sons-in-law - brothers who married her daughters.
Not that the Wilkes County land that Jane owned along Mack's Creek became Oglethorpe County in 1793 but it was still very close to the Wilkes-Oglethorpe County border. Below are grids of adjoining landowners that I have culled from the books written by Daniel Crumpton. All of these names are pertinent to the Patton family discussion. (Each grit map represents a different time period - see Daniel Crumpton's books).
Sometime in the 1790s, Jane moved farther west to Clarke County, Georgia. On March 4, 1814, Jane created her Will while living in Clarke County, Georgia. The Will lists several beneficiaries/heirs, slaves and land. The land size and location are not specified but it does state that "my tract of land on which I live" which likely puts it in Clarke County.
Her Will lists the following beneficiaries:
Son-in-law Sherod Wise (Sherwood) is given a negro (slave) female.
Daughter Margaret Wise is given a negro (slave) male
Grandchildren of Barzen Lamar/Lamair
Daughter Susannah Oldham/Ordham
Son-in-law Benjamin Hill
Son-in-law Thomas Hill is appointed executor
Interestingly, she clearly states that her negro (slave) named Easter/Esther be made free and requests that her executor use his "best endeavor" to obtain her freedom.
So, it would appear that at least six of the seven daughters of Jacob and Jane Patton that arrived in Georgia in 1773 were noted in Jane's Will.
The witnesses named were Peter Randolph[9],John W. Hooper (Hopper?), James Lawson and Joseph Raybury (Bradbury?).
Based on my brief search of tax records for Clarke County that can be found on FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, Jane is listed on several tax lists. Her land appears to have been on the Barbers Creek branch of the Oconee River. Today, Barbers creek runs mostly west to east to the Middle Oconee River, just below the city limits of Athens. On some of these tax records, her son-in-law Thomas Hill is acting as her agent. On an 1817 tax digest, both Benjamin and Thomas Hill are shown living on Barber's Creek. I did not find the specific plat - more research is needed to locate the exact present day location.
At the time of her death, it appears that Jane had 165 acres of land, a home, cattle and stock and several slaves.
Jane Patton estate sale
Thomas Hill, administrator (her son-in-law)
Athens Gazette, Oct. 13, 1814
Regarding her son-in-law Thomas Hill, I found a 1784 plat for 100 acres on Pistol Creek granted to Thomas Hill. It is quite possible that Thomas was a Revolutionary War veteran.[10]
It appears that Thomas Hill married Phoebe Patton (daughter of Jacob and Jane).
From the Clarke County, Georgia Miscellaneous Deed Book:
(The following two entries are consecutive)
Page 104 - On August 23, 1810, Thomas Hill loans his mother-in-law, Jane Patton, a negro (slave) named Derry.
Page 105 - On August 23, 1810, for $400, Jane Patton sells a negro (slave) named Isham to Thomas Hill.
(The following two entries are consecutive)
Page 188 - On March 4, 1812, Thomas Hill loans a negro (slave) named Moses to his "friend & mother-in-law, Jane Patton" for "love, good will and affection".
Page 188 - On March 12, 1812, for $400, Jane Patton sells a negro (slave) named Perry to Thomas Hill.
On November 6, 1813, in Clarke County, Georgia Jane Patton gifts her "beloved grand daughter Prudence Hill" a negro (slave) woman named Tilda and Tilda's two children Edmond and Mariah.
Clarke County, Misc. Deeds, page 242
(Familysearch.org)
As noted above, Jacob and Jane Patton had 2 daughters that married men with the surname of Hill. I have not seen any proof of the names of these daughters but at least one researcher claims that Thomas Hill married Phoebe Patton and it was Thomas and Phoebe that had the daughter named Prudence. It is highly likely that this Prudence Hill was the Prudence Hill that narried John H. Watts on April 27, 1815 in Clarke County, GA.[11] Shortly after they were married, John Watts and Prudence Hill removed to Alabama where they raised a large family. One of their children was Thomas Hill Watts who became the governor of Alabama and the Attorney General for the Confederacy.
Regarding Prudence Hill, some researchers claim that the Prudence Hill that was the mother of Thomas Hill Watts was the daughter Thomas Hill and Elizabeth Webb. It would be a very odd thing if there were actual two Thomas Hills with daughters named Prudence living in Clarke County Georgia who married about the same time. Most of these researchers seem to have relied on a 1933 newspaper article claiming that Thomas Hill's wife was actually Elizabeth Webb. This article was written by the granddaughter of Thomas Hill Watts (Catherine Watts Collins 1872-1938).
The Montgomery Advertiser, October 4, 1933
So, all of this in quite uncertain; However, we do know that Jane Patton had a daughter named Prudence that married a Hill (either Benjamin or Thomas). It is also possible that Prudence Hill may have died and Elizabeth Webb was Thomas' 2nd wife which of course would make everything nice and neat - I just have not seen the records to support this.[12] Perhaps the Will of Thomas Hill will be found which might clarify some things.
This is where my research ends for my Patton ancestors. Suggestions for further research would be to trace Jacob and Jane prior to their arrival in Georgia in 1773 and then another suggestion would be to search through Fred McRee's books on Oglethorpe County records to possibly aid in the further identification of Jacob and Jane's immediate family members and associated families. Also, one might find the exact location of her land in Clarke County at the time of her death.
-------------------------
PATTON RECORDS
The following relevant abstracts were gleaned from three books: Early Records of Georgia Vol's I & II and Wilkes County, Georgia Deed Books A-VV, 1784-1806
On November 9, 1773, Jacob Patton claims 100 acres on Pistol Creek. He shows a wife and 7 daughters. He lists a brother, unnamed.
On November 16, 1773, Matthew Patton of NC claims 200 acres on the south side of Long Creek adjoining Clarke wagon road (Elijah Clarke?). Mathew and Jacob are likely brothers.
Also on November 16, 1773, Thomas Patton claims 100 acres on Richland Creek on north side of Broad River beginning at Lampikers Cabin. He only lists a wife. It is not known if this Thomas Patton is related to our Jacob.
1777-1778 a Thomas Patton is listed as a debtor. Elijah Clarke is also listed as a debtor on this same record.
Jacob Patton probably died before 1777- 1778. His administrator is his wife Jane/Jean.
A record exists that shows that on Christmas Day 1781, several cows were killed at Gunnel's Station. Among the names of the persons who owned the cows is Col. Clarke (Elijah), Jane Patton and Isaiah Goolsby. Might this record show that Elijah Clarke actually lived on the Long Creek land at tis time?
A tax digest dated 1785 for Captain Elsberry's District lists Jean Patton, Joseph Wise, several Goolsbys, and Daniel Gunnels.
In 1786, Hugh Ector and his wife Eleanor sold 400 acres to Thomas Patton.
In 1788, Thomas Patton and his wife Catherine sold 400 acres on both sides of Long Creek to Samuel Patton. (Note: Per Daniel Crumpton's plat book, Thomas is shown to have owned 400 acres of land just to the north of Daniel Jackson's land near the confluence of Long Creek and Dry Fork Creek (granted in 1785)).
In 1788 a William Wise was a witness to a land sale on Little River in Wilkes County.
In 1789, Jane Patton is listed as an adjoining landowner of James Pye on Mack's Creek.
In 1789, Isiah Goolsby sold 260 acres of land to Samuel Patton.
In 1789 Samuel Patton bought 260 acres from Isaiah Goolsby. The waterway is not noted however, Isaiah Goolsby is shown owning land NE of Joseph Wise on Mack's Creek.
In 1790 Samuel Patton is shown owning land on/near Grove Pond Creek. If this is present day Grove Creek, it is now Oglethorpe County, directly north of the city of Lexington.
In 1790 a Patton Wise witnessed a document between Joseph Patton and James Goolsby - is this his son or is this Patterson/Patton Wise the son of Sherwood (nephew of Joseph)?
In 1790 Thomas Patton bought land that is shown to be adjacent to a WISE man (first name not listed nor is the waterway listed). Daniel Crumpton shows this land to be just south of Indian Creek and the WISE man to be Joseph Wise. This land was just to the west of William Few who is one of Georgia's Founding Fathers.
An early tax list, probably dated before 1790, lists Thomas Patton, James Patton and Sherwood Wise living fairly close to one another.
Mathew and Solomon Patton are listed as drawers in the 1803 land lottery.
Mathew Patton dies about 1798. Children are shown to be Solomon, Samuel, Thomas and Rebecca Winfrey.
Samuel Patton is appointed Constable in 1790.
In 1790, Thomas Patton and his wife Arcady sold 450 acres on Long Creek that was granted to Patton in 1785. One of the adjoining landowners is shown to be Mathew Patton.
In 1791, Thomas and Mathew Patton are listed on the same Long Creek land record.
In 1792 a Mathew Patton is shown to own land adjoining Sherwood Wise on the east side of Long Creek.
In 1797, Thomas Patton's two 1785 land grants on Long Creek are noted and Mathew Patton is shown as an adjoining landowner.
In 1801, Thomas Patton's two 1785 land grants on Long Creek are noted and Mathew Patton's name is listed as an adjoining landowner.
About 1806, Mathew Patton dies. His estate lists Solomon, Thomas, and Samuel Patton and Rebecca Wimpey. Margaret Wise, Sarah Wise, Patton Wise, Mathew Wimpy, Hugh Hammock are listed as buyers. (GA Archives)
Solomon Patton dies about 1814. His David Patton is listed as a son. In a later document, his children are listed as Polly, Solomon, Saberry and Wilfred. Lydia Patton is listed as guardian. Mathew, Benjamin, James and Jacob may also be sons. Lydia is either his daughter or widow.
About 1814, a Benjamin Patton chooses James Henderson as guardian (Benjamin may be a son of Solomon).
Jacob, David and Liddy Patton receive draws in the 1819 land lottery while living in Captain Josey's district.
----------------
The following tax information can be found for Jane/Jean Patton in Frank Parker Hudson's book "Wilkes County, Georgia Tax Records, 1785-1805"
1785 - she owns 400 acres and 4 slaves in Captain Elsberry's District. Another name shown owning land close by is Hugh Ector.
1787 - she owns 400 acres and 2 slaves in Captain Freeman's District. Samuel Patton, Sherwood Wise and Hugh Ector are shown living close. Sherwood Wise is the next consecutive entry.
1791 - she owns 400 acres and 2 slaves in Captain Thomas Patton's District. Thomas Patton and Samuel Patton are listed owning land close.
1792 - she owns 400 acres on/near Mack's Creek in Captain James Sanders District. Samuel Patton, Thomas Patton and Joseph Wise own land close.
1793 - she owns 400 acres on/near Mack's Creek in Captain Sanders's District. Samuel Patton and Thomas Patton own land close.
1794 - Oglethorpe County was created and she is now shown to be living on the same land but now in Oglethorpe County.
1798 - her name is shown to be on a tax list for Oglethorpe County in Captain Hudspeth's District.
------------------
[1] Treaties with the native Creek and Cherokee Indians created "ceded lands" which were no open for settlers.
[2] She is listed in numerous documents as both Jane and Jean but likely simply a misspelling of the name Jane. Her Will is clearly Jane Patton.
[3] May 1786, Annals of Georgia Vol. 1, page 174.
[4] Minutes of the 1st Court; Early Records of Georgia, Vol. II, Page 11-12.
[5] She is referred to a a "widow" in several documents prior to 1783.
[6] Almost certainly Col. John Cunningham who is my maternal 5th great grandfather.
[7] Page 123 and 323: Page 123 shows "Widow Patton" and Page 323 shows "Jean Patton".
[8] Page 54 and 254 both show "Jean Patton" and page 254 shows 1786 as the date the land was transferred to her.
[9] Thomas Hill may be related to Henry Hill whose name can be found living in the same Long Creek area in Crumpton's plat books.
[10] Some researchers show that John H. Watts married an Elizabeth Webb who fathered Thomas Hill Watts but I found no records proving this; However, there is proof of John marrying Prudence Hill.
[11] Peter Randolph is probably the son of Lt. Col. Peter Randolph (1754-1812). In addition to being a soldier, Lt. Co. Randolph represented Amelia County VA in the House of Delegates and when he moved to Georgia, he represented Clarke County in the GA House of Representatives. The son moved to Mississippi.
[12] As researchers, we must keep in mind that we have much better access to records than the generations that came before us. I am not claiming that anything is right or wrong - I am simply stating that there is uncertainty with the family history.
This page was created on 1/1/2024