John Patton (abt. 1720 - abt. 1760)

Born about 1720 in County Londonderry, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (McCracken) Hamilton — married 1753 in Limerick, Ireland

Descendants

Died about 1760 at about age 40 in Rowan, North Carolina

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Biography

John was born about 1720 and passed away about 1760

John Patton, was born (1720s) reportedly in Limerick, Ireland, came to America, married Mary McCracken. She was born in 1730, the daughter of Anthony McCracken (b Ire, died 1774 Penna) and his wife Mary. When Anthony McCracken of Hamiltonbann Twp, York Co. Pa wrote his will (dated 26 Aug 1774, probated 7 Sept), he named his four children, including Mary, wife of Alexander Adams; the latter later moved to Tenn. John died intestate in or around 1763 possibly at Huntington, present Blair Co Penna. The following children are based on research done by Dr. John Kelly of Haverford College between 1931-1955; a synopsis is printed in (581). [His MS papers on file at Southern Historical Coll, UNC Library, Chapel Hill.] The present discussion includes additional details from Penna records where they can be found. It appears that the Patton-McCracken-Adams-Clingan families of Hamiltonbann Twp., York Co intermarried extensively and moved to the same area of Washington Co Tenn in the 1780's. There seems thus to be good circumstantial evidence that the following are children of this couple.^[1]

Robert Patton, b. 1 May 1754 Pa, married Mary Adams (dau of John Adams of Hamiltonbann, will probated 17 May 1786) prior to 1777, as the latter's will was written in 1777. (181) A Robert served during the Revolution in the 11th Continental line of Pa., as did Anthony; it is not certain these men were brothers. He was a landowner in Hamiltonbann Twp, on tax lists with 245 acres from 1779-1783; in the latter year there were nine inhabitants in his household. (Pa Arch Series 3, vol 21) He moved to Washington Co. Tenn ca 1787, following the death of his father-in-law, where he died in Feb. 1824. According to (181) he is buried in an unmarked grave in Old Jonesboro Cemetery. According to one report, Mary Patton died when her son John was five years old, and he was the only surviving child.^[2]

Margaret Patton, b. ca. 1755 [York] Co Pa., died in 1830's in Washington Co Tenn; marr. John McCracken (Jr) ca. 1775 in Pa. He was born ca. 1753, son of John and Mary McCracken, died Jan 1820 Jonesboro, Washington Co Pa. A man named John McCracken is not found in 1779-83 tax lists, nor is he named as a son of Anthony McCracken in the latter's will. John's will mentions a debt due him from the estate of Alexander Adams, dec'd, of Pa, which he apparently claimed through his wife?^[3]

Elizabeth Patton, b. ca 1756 York Co Pa, d. 15 April 1792 ..., married Edward Clingan, said to be a son of George Clingan. Edward is not named as a son in the abstract of George's will (which could be incomplete); Edward was living in 1783 in Hamiltonbann Twp, York Co. Pa. with 6 in his house; the only other Clingan this schedule was Thomas, son and heir of George. Edward is not on the 1790 York Co. Pa. census.^[4]

John Patton Jr., b. ca 1758 (York Co Pa), married Elizabeth Clingan in York Co. Penna. in about 1780. His wife was named as an unmarried daughter of (Capt) George Clingan of Hamiltonbann in his 1777 will (York Co Pa); son Thomas Clingan of Hamiltonbann Tp was exec. John was a resident of Hamiltonbann Twp, on tax lists at least 1779-83 there. He was a soldier in the Revolution, came after 1783 to Washington Co Tenn where he died in the 1820's. Of the following possible children, Mary and Thomas have been documented (551); the rest are supposed to be theirs by family tradition, as noted in (581).^[5]

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Note

THE UNTANGLING OF JOHN PATTONS OF COLONIAL LANCASTER COUNTY

Compiled by Donald C. Taylor

http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?31,595866

John Patton: died about 1760 in Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Section 51 of David V. Agricola’s treatise “A Patton Compendium” is a compilation about the descendents of John Patton of Lampeter Township and his wife Mary McCracken, daughter of Anthony McCracken. Agricola never knew that this John Patton first settled in Lancaster County; consequently, he starts with the children of John Patton in Hamilton Bann Township, York County, Pennsylvania. It is not hard to understand why. To understand, we must note that earlier researchers believed that this John Patton died intestate. They also believed that he was related to the Pattons found in Peters Township of Cumberland County, now Franklin County, and they accepted a claim by a “reliable authority” that this Patton family first settled in that part of Pennsylvania that later became Huntingdon County. Although Dr. Agricola had evidence to suggest otherwise, he chose not to challenge the claim that the patriarch John Patton died intestate. On the other hand, there were other researchers who believed that he left behind a will. The Lancaster County will these researchers cited as John’s was dated 9 Mar 1748 and in this will four children were named, including his son Robert. It is well known that his son Robert Patton was born in the year 1754, so this will seems to imply that John named his son Robert in his will six years before he was born. This fact, together with the knowledge that there were many different early Patton families living in Lancaster County with the same names, should give any researcher pause. However, those researchers were correct. It is his will. But one must explain the apparent contradiction. The microfilm of early Lancaster County wills that one gets from The Family History Center in Salt Lake City or The Lancaster County Historical Society is not a microfilm of the original wills but a microfilm of a nineteenth century hand written transcription of the original wills. To verify the nineteenth century transcription, one must read a copy of the original will found in the Lancaster County Archives. In the case of John Patton’s will, it is clear that it was written on 9 Mar 1758 and was proved on 1 Nov 1762. Furthermore, on the front of the will the year 1760 was recorded. Since the year 1760 was not the year the will was written nor the year it was proved, it is my belief that 1760 was the year that John Patton died.

John Patton of Lampeter Township was born about 1720 somewhere in Ireland. Accord-ing to a Lancaster County deed, John Patton purchased approximately 255 acres of land in Lampeter Township on 23 Nov 1744 (Deed Book RR, Volume 2, pages 220-223); no doubt he came to Lan-caster County before the date of purchase. It is not known to me whether or not John came to Amer-ica as a young boy with his parents or he came singly as a young man. In either case, it is most likely that sometime before 23 Nov 1744 his father died and John inherited enough money from his father to purchase the land. John married Mary McCracken in Lancaster County before 1751. Mary was born about 1730 and was the daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth McCracken of Strasburg Township, Lancaster County. John died testate about 1760 in Lampeter Township and in his will he names his children Elizabeth, Robert, Margaret, and John. He also writes, “Also I give to my loving wife Mary . . . And in case she be now with child . . .” which suggests that John believed Mary was pregnant. On 2 Mar 1762 Mary, and her new husband Alexander Adams, reported to the Lancaster County Orphans Court concerning the administration of John Patton’s estate. The Orphans Court appointed William Hamilton, John Smith, and John Whitehill, as guardians over the estates of Elizabeth Patton, Robert Patton, Margaret Patton, John Patton, and Anthony Patton. So Mary was pregnant when John’s will was written, as shown by the birth of her son Anthony.

John and Mary’s oldest daughter Elizabeth Patton was born about 1753 in Lampeter Township; she married Edward Clingan, son of George Clingan, on 15 Feb 1774 in Hamilton Bann Township, York County. Their son Robert Patton was born on 1 May 1754 in Lampeter Township; he married Mary Adams, daughter of John Adams, prior to 1777 in Hamilton Bann Township. Their daughter Margaret Patton was born about 1755 in Lampeter Township; she married John McCrack-en of Peters Township, Cumberland County about 1773 in Hamilton Bann Township. Their son John Patton was born in 1757 in Lampeter Township; he married Elizabeth Clingan, daughter of George Clingan, about 1779 in Hamilton Bann Township. Finally, their youngest son Anthony Patton was born in October 1758 in Lampeter Township; he married Elizabeth Wood Mathes on 9 Aug 1795 in Washington County, Tennessee. John Patton’s children, along with their mother and stepfather, moved to Hamilton Bann Township, York County, Pennsylvania. It is not clear the exact year that they moved to York County. Alexander Adams purchased land in Hamilton Bann Township as early 1766. Lancaster County Or-phans Court records seem to suggest that they lived in Lancaster County until 1772, however. It is certain that they had moved to Hamilton Bann Township by 1772. Alexander Adams, Mary McCracken’s second husband, died 1 Dec 1776 in Hamilton Bann Township, York County, Pennsyl-vania. According to York County Orphans Court records, Alexander Adams and Mary McCracken Patton had six children: Martha, born in 1765 in Lancaster County, married Andrew McFerrin of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania; Rebecca, born in 1766 in Lancaster County, married George McCart-ney of Mifflin County; Ann, born in 1768 in Lancaster County, married Alexander Dean in 1788 in Huntingdon Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; John, born in 1770 in Lancaster County, married Margaret Kelsey about 1791 in Washington County, Tennessee; Mary, born on 15 May 1775 in Hamilton Bann Township, married William Patterson Chester in May 1792 in Huntingdon Township; Alexander, Jr., born in 1776 in Hamilton Bann Township and died before November 1814 in Washington County, Tennessee. After Alexander Adams died, Mary married, for the third time, Joseph Hamilton about 1778 in Hamilton Bann Township. Joseph died about 1783 and Mary died about 1796 in Hamilton Bann Township. By 1784 all of Mary McCracken’s children, except Margaret, had moved away from Hamilton Bann Township. Margaret, and her husband John McCracken, remained behind and looked after Mary until she died. By the later part of the 18th Century, all living children of Mary McCracken, except the three oldest Adams sisters, had moved to Washington County, Tennessee. For a complete family history of John Patton of Lampeter Township and his wife Mary McCracken, including source documentation, I refer the reader to my paper (62).

John Patton: died 1758 in Manheim Township. In the will of John Patton of Lampeter Township, his wife Mary was named as sole Executrix of his will and he appointed his friend John Patton (really John Patton) and his father-in-law Anthony McCracken as overseers of the will. At the bottom of the will Edward Shippen, a Lancaster County magistrate, writes “BE IT REMEMBERED that on the first day of November AD 1762 the Last Will and Testament of John Patton, deceased, was proved in due form of Law and Letters. Testamentary was granted unto Anthony McCracken, one of the Executors therein named, being first duly qualified well and truly to administer the estate of the said deceased, to exhibit into the Registers’ Office at Lancaster a true and perfect inventory in one month, and render a just account when thereunto lawfully required, the other Executor being dead, given under the seal of the said office the day and year aforesaid.” So his good friend John Pat-ton died before his will was proved. John Patton of Manheim Township died intestate sometime in 1758. I cannot find any record of any John Patton, other than John Patton of Manheim Township that could have been the overseer named in the will of John Patton of Lampeter Township. John Pat-ton of Lampeter Township lived near the Manheim Township border, so it seems reasonable to me to believe that John Patton of Manheim Township was the overseer named in the will of John Patton of Lampeter Township. His friend John Patton died before 18 Apr 1758, which is shortly after Mary McCracken’s husband wrote his will and before it was proved.

The friend John Patton lived in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, where he is found in the 1756 Manheim Township tax records as being a married man. He was married to Isabel Nelson, daughter of James Nelson, and he was survived by a son named John Patton and a daughter named Mary Patton. It is my belief that the two John Pattons were related, but in what way is not clear. My best guess is that they were first cousins. Other Pattons, loosely associated with John Patton of Lampeter Township and John Patton of Manheim Township, were: Robert Patton of Manheim Township; John Patton (really John Patton) of Manor Township; John’s niece Martha Cunningham of Hempfield Township, daughter of James Patton; Mathew Patton of Strasburg Township; and Wil-liam Patton of Leacock Township. These last four Pattons are named in the final account of the es-tate of John Patton of Lampeter Township.

The first record that I could find of John Patton of Manheim Township is the 1756 Manheim Township tax record. No doubt he was living in Lancaster County much earlier than this date. Ac-cording to Lancaster County probate records, John died intestate and his wife Isabel was appointed the Administrator of his estate on 18 Apr 1758. Also on 18 Apr 1758 Isabel, along with James Nelson and James Murphy, posted an administration bond. In the 30 Dec 1767 session of the Lancaster County Orphans Court the following record appears: John Patton, deceased, late of Manheim Town-ship; minor children Mary and John Patton; the Court appoints Adam Reigart and William White, both of Lancaster County, guardians; the Court also appoints the same as guardians over the estates coming to the children from their late grandfather James Nelson. Thus John and Isabel had two children named Mary and John and the father of Isabel was James Nelson. Probably, Isabel died in 1767.

In the 2 Jun 1772 session of the Lancaster County Orphans Court the following record ap-pears: John Patton, deceased, late of Manheim Township; minor child Mary Patton (above 14) chooses uncle Robert Patton of Leacock Township guardian; minor child John Patton (above 14) chooses Robert Patton of Leacock Township guardian. Without doubt this was the Robert Pat-ton of Manheim Township who dies in 1776. In the 27 Apr 1778 session of the Lancaster County Orphans Court it clearly states that Robert Patton of Manheim Township was the guardian of the son of the late John Patton of Manheim Township (Wevodau’s abstract of this Orphans Court record is incomplete). The farm of Robert Patton of Manheim Township was on the Leacock Township border, and there is some evidence that he attended the Leacock Presbyterian Church. These facts may explain why the Court said that the place of residence of Robert Patton was Leacock Township. Anyway, no Patton can be found in the 1760-1770 Leacock Township tax records. Robert Patton first appeared in the Manheim Township tax records in 1757, one year after John Patton appeared. Robert Patton was the only Patton to appear in Manheim Township tax records from 1758 until af-ter 1780. Since the daughter of John Patton named Robert Patton as her uncle, it appears that Robert Patton (1776) of Manheim Township was the brother of John Patton (1758) of Manheim Township.

Robert Patton died testate in 1776. The will of Robert Patton was dated 16 Mar 1775 and proved 9 Apr 1776, and he appointed his wife Jane and James Turbett executors of his will. In his will, Robert only names his wife Jane (a.k.a. Jean), his sister Merion, and his legatee John Patton, mil-ler. Robert and Jane did not have any living children. So it is easy to believe that Robert and Jane raised their legatee as their own son. Also in his will it is written, “… also being my will and desire to be covered by a tombstone.” I know that such a tombstone was purchased for Robert, because Jane, his wife, and James Turbett reported to the Orphans Court the cost of the tombstone. There is a tombstone in the Leacock Presbyterian Church Cemetery with the inscription Robert Patton, died March 24, 1770, aged 52 years. This has to be the Robert Patton of Manheim Township. Recall that Robert Patton’s will is dated 16 Mar 1775 and proved 9 Apr 1776. To explain the apparent contra-diction in the death date one must understand that a tombstone this old is well worn, consequently, the number 0 could easily be taken for the number 6 by anyone transcribing tombstone records. Consequently, I am convinced Robert Patton of Manheim Township died 24 Mar 1776, age 52.

In summary, John Patton of Manheim Township died in 1758 leaving behind a widow, Isabel Nelson, and two children, Mary and John. Without doubt, in 1767 Robert Patton of Manheim Town-ship became the guardian of Mary and John. Moreover, Orphans Court records seem to imply that John and Robert were brothers.

John was born in 1728. John Patton ... ^[6]

John Patton. ^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ http://my.stratos.net/~dvagricola/tenn.51.html mrl
2. ↑ http://my.stratos.net/~dvagricola/tenn.51.html mrl
3. ↑ http://my.stratos.net/~dvagricola/tenn.51.html mrl
4. ↑ http://my.stratos.net/~dvagricola/tenn.51.html mrl
5. ↑ http://my.stratos.net/~dvagricola/tenn.51.html mrl
6. ↑ A source for this information is needed.
7. ↑ Source: #S155 Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=91094339&pid=4130
8. ↑ Source: #S6 Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=91094339&pid=4194

• Source: S155 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; Repository: #R1
• Repository: R1 Ancestry.com
• Source: S6 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; Repository: #R1

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Michael Lechner for creating Patton-1446 on 11 Aug 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Michael and others.