Patterson Family Sketch
An American Adventure
Augusta County, Virginia - When John Patterson died in 1749, he left an infant son also named John Patterson, who went on to raise a strong family of five children. Son George Patterson remained in Augusta County, while other family members left the area. George, as well as daughter Sarah "Sally" Patterson, both married into the Sillin family. Son Adam Patterson became a pioneer in Licking County, Ohio in 1810.

Chart of Adam Patterson, his three wives, and twelve children
Licking County, Ohio - Adam Patterson, 1774-1855, was a Licking County pioneer in 1810, establishing his home in Homer, Burlington Township. It has been said that, "He was obliged to cut his way through the timber from Utica, a distance of five or six miles." Adam Patterson raised a family of twelve children by three wives: Sophia Jones of Augusta County, Virginia; Rebecca Moore or Mohr, who relocated with Adam to Licking County; and Ann Crow, from another Licking County pioneer family.

About 1815 Abraham Morey, 1773-1833, relocated his family from Rutland, Vermont, settling in Homer, near the Patterson family. Abraham and his wife Abigail Stratton are buried in the Homer Cemetery along side the Patterson family. The 1840 census enumeration illustrates the close proximity of the Virginia families (Patterson, Sillin, Moore, Butcher, Dixon) and the Vermont families (Morey, Briggs, Wright, Wheeler) in Homer. Some children of these two families would intermarry; others would move on to Iowa at mid-century.

The children from Adam's marriage to Ann Crow remained in the Licking County area, including Jordan Patterson, Matilda Patterson and husband Van Rensselear Moore, Cordelia Patterson and husband Augustine Householder, as well as Maria Patterson and husband John C. Dixon. All are buried in Homer Cemetery, Burlington Township, Licking County, Ohio. The children from Adam's marriages to Sophia Jones and Rebecca Moore, however, left Licking County for lands further west.

Auglaize County, Ohio - Daughter Rebecca Patterson married William P. Morey, 1814-1852, and moved to Auglaize County, Ohio in the 1840s. William died accidentally in 1852, leaving Rebecca a widow with eight children. Rebecca died in 1893, surviving William by forty years. Daughter Hannah Patterson married John P. Sillin. This couple moved to Auglaize County at the same time as William and Rebecca.

Johnson and Washington Counties, Iowa - Before 1850 siblings Elizabeth Patterson, 1797-1863, Lydia Patterson, 1798-1854, and Ephraim Patterson, 1807-1873 (Adam's three oldest children) were in Johnson and Washington counties in Iowa, residing just a few miles from one another across the county line. Ephraim Patterson and wife Eve Fry settled their family of six (Clarissa, Adam, Jacob, Jane, Smiley, and Bruce) in Johnson County, Iowa. Elizabeth Patterson and Lydia Patterson and her husband Philip B. Moore settled in Washington County. Elizabeth was accompanied by her son Cyrus Patterson, while the Moore's brought their family of five children (John or Jacob, Calvin, David, Elisha, and daughter Sophia and husband William Billingsley) to Iowa. The Iowa families continued a strong relationship with their Auglaize County kin, based on census records showing Auglaize cousins residing in the Iowa households at various times.

Gage County, Nebraska - Ephraim's son John Patterson and his wife Rebecca Middleton settled in Gage County, Nebraska, where he farmed and served as a preacher for the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Butte County, California - Ephraim's sons Jacob Patterson and Smiley Patterson became miners in Butte County, California. Jacob Patterson marred Rachel Fry and Smiley Patterson married Mary McEldowney.