STEPHEN B, WEED^S 
 
 cuss OF 1886; PKO THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UMVERSimY OF NHflRM CAMDIINA 
 TIE WEEKS COLlLECTroN 
 
 ©F 
 
 CB 
 P332p 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00032690829 
 
 This book must not 
 be token from the 
 Librory building. 
 
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 X 
 
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BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 DEAR CHILDREN AND FRIENDS'. 
 
 I HAVE thought it might tend to your advantage, and that of 
 your posterity, to give 3'ou a short and succint history of my ufe^ 
 It is not my intention to extend it to a great length, but merely to 
 state some"^ facts connected with it, whi.h I hope, may prove not 
 only satisfactory, but beneficial to yourselves and those who are 
 to come after you. 
 
 I was born in the North of Ireland, County of Deny and Par- 
 ish of Tamlacht, on the 13th day of February, A. D. 1756, of 
 poor, but respectable parentage. My father was a Farmer by 
 occupation ; he died when I was fourteen years of age. For 
 three years before his death, he was in bad health,^ and was not 
 able to be of any use to himself or his family. After the death 
 of my fither, I continued to reside with my mother, and assist- 
 ed her in supporting the family until I was in the twenty-eighth 
 year of my age, during which time I learned the Weaver's trade, 
 and worked at it for about five years : it was of great service to 
 me afterwards, when I commenced store-keeping, as it enabled 
 me to judge con-ectly of the different kinds of common cloth. 
 
 The death of our landlord, and others coming in and rais- 
 ing the rents, prevented my mother from giving her children 
 more than a very limited education. This, together with the 
 many difficulties we laboured under in Ireland, induced a wish 
 on my part, to try my fortune in some other part of the world. 
 I accordingly, in the 28th year of my age, obtained her consent 
 to come to America for the purpose of procuring the necessary 
 means of bringing herself and family to this land of hberty, where 
 we would no longer feel the oppression of haughty landlords, and 
 where virtue and good conduct give a passport to the highest 
 stations in society. 
 
 I embarked at Lairn, in the County of Antrim, on the 4th day 
 of June 1783, and landed at Philadelphia on the 3d day of Au- 
 gust following. When I left Ireland, my mother furnished me 
 with two suits of clothing, two dozen shirts, and other things 
 necessary, so that I would be enabled to save all the money that 
 
2 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 I might make ; calculating that I would return in two years and 
 bring them to America, but sickness prevented the execution of 
 this plan. After I landed, I remained in Philadelphia ten days ; 
 I then left my chest and clothing at the house where I boarded, 
 and went into the country to the house of a Mr. Green, (a Qua- 
 ker) fifteen miles from the city ; the first night, I recollect, that 
 he observed to me — *' If thee have as good luck as thy country- 
 man Robert Kerr, thee will do well. He rented a small house 
 at an early day in Philadelphia, and worked at hard labour on 
 the streets, and now, by the perseverance of himself and his 
 wife, he owns nearly a whole square in the city." He made 
 many other observations, which occur to my mind, when I am 
 lying on my bed. I told him, that I came to this country for the 
 purpose of amending my condition in hfe, and that I would try 
 to do so. The remarks of Mr. Green, together with my own ob- 
 servations, soon convinced me that the Americans were not com- 
 posed of Lords and Dukes and belted Knights, (as Burns says.) 
 
 The next night I went to the house of Mr. Green's son, and 
 undertook to clear out a small piece of land for him at the end 
 of a field ; and not being acquainted with such work, I hurt my- 
 self so much the first day, that I was not able to do any thing 
 the next. Mr. Green mentioned, that the work could be done in 
 two or three hours, but as I knew nothing about it, I could take 
 no advantage of the grubs, and therefore I spent the whole day 
 at it. From this I went to deliver a letter which I had promis- 
 ed, and then engaged to weave for sometime with a Mr. Chafin ; 
 during the time I was here, an Englishman (a Tinker) came 
 along : he asked me, what I stopped here for? and told me to 
 quit the place ; intimating some unfavorable things respecting the 
 people ; accordingly, I left Chafin's and went to a Thomas Wil- 
 son's and wove sometime for him. During that winter, I worked 
 at different kinds of business, but principnlly threshing. The 
 Americans at this time were generally poor, having been strip- 
 ped of almost eveiy thing by the Britisli during the Revolution'- 
 ary War, consequently the price of labor was very low. 
 
 Not being afraid of sickness, I went the next spring to the 
 Delaware River, where hands were employed in embanking. 
 There I was attacked by the dumb ague (as it was called in that 
 country) and was sick for nearly twelve months ; in consequence 
 of which the small pittance I had earned, and the clothing my 
 mother had given me, had all to go for Doctors' bills and board. 
 When I became able to work again, I had nothing left but the 
 clothes on my back, one shirt, and a dollar in my pocket. 
 
 I bad boarded sometime with a Mr. Shaw, a countiyman of 
 mine, and when I left his house, he took two horses and assist- 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. O 
 
 ed me along tho road for some distance. He inquired where I 
 was going? I told him I was going to Canada, that my mother 
 had told me, she had an uncle and brother in that country, who 
 had become rich ; and that I would endeavor to find them out. 
 But this was not my real motive, I was really afraid that nothing 
 awaited me but misery and poverty, and that news would reach 
 Ireland that I was in a most destitute situation, and being natu- 
 rally of a proud spirit, I wished to go where I would not be 
 known by any person. My health was at this time so bad, that 
 I was unable to do nny thing for myself; but thanks to the great 
 and might}^ God ! I had a mind that enabled me to surmount all 
 difficulties. When Mr. Shaw left me, I went off the road into 
 the woods, sat down by an oak tree, and gave vent to a torrent 
 of tears. 
 
 Just reflect on my situation at this time ; a stranger in a strange 
 land, an ocean rolling between me and every relation I had on 
 earth, without a friend to advise or protect ; health precarious, 
 and funds exhausted ; misfortunes seemed to thicken around me, 
 and in whatever direction I would turn my head, I could see 
 nothing but misery staring me in the face. My situation was 
 truly disconsolate, but the Lord was my strength and my shield, 
 and to him I ought ever to be thankful for strength of mind ca- 
 pable of supporting me under such severe trials. That night, I 
 went to the house of Mr. John McCall, on the Susquehanna 
 River, (a countryman of my own) he treated me kindly, and 
 would have nothing for my lodging, but wished me to stay some 
 days with him ; he had seen me at Mr. Shaw's and knew that I 
 was sick. When I left his house, he advised me to go to a Mr. 
 James Patton's (a namesake of mine) and live with him until I 
 would recover my health ; I accordingly went and found him to 
 be a very friendly man, but he had a young wife of whom I did 
 not form so good an opinion. 
 
 At this time I had but one dollar, and as I could not travel 
 long on that, I went to a canal that had been commenced at the 
 Ball Friar Ferry on the Susquehanna River ; there I engaged to 
 work, and got into a mess of eight men — old soldiers, and the 
 very refuse of the army. It was very disagreeable to me to as- 
 sociate with such people, and therefore applied to the employer 
 for a part of the canal that was clear of rocks, and not so dilfi- 
 cult to work ; I got an Irishman to join me. We worked at it 
 for three months and boarded ourselves. During the summer I 
 enjoyed tolerable health, with the exception of three weeks, and 
 worked about in different parts of the country. 
 
 I was advised to go to some moral and orderly part of the 
 country ; but it will appear from what follows, that I had not 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES COLLINS. 
 
 done with misfortune : yet, on my way to the section of country 
 I had in view, 1 stopped at a Dutchman's house in York County, 
 Pennsylvania, and it then being in the winter, I engaged to work 
 for him for three months at a guinea per month. I dug a well 
 for him 52 feet in depth, in a very short time. When I first went 
 to his house, I handed him all the mone}'" I had, except three 
 dollars. Calculating that he would return the same when I 
 wanted it, and also pay me for my labor hke an honest man. 
 One night when I returned from work, he and others were throw- 
 ing dice and drinking : he kept apubUc house and would always 
 give me spirits when I came in from work. He proposed to me 
 to join their party, and that he would be my partner, and thought 
 it would be a money-making business ; I refused, and told him 
 that I knew nothing about gambling. He said it Avas not gam- 
 bling, that his little son could do it as well as a man. He gave 
 me some more liquor, (that wily destroyer of the human race,) 
 which had the desired effect, and I took my chance among them. 
 He and I were fortunate for some time : at last luck changed, 
 (as gamblers say) and I lost all. Too late I discovered that 
 they had too sets of dice, and instead of those we commenced 
 with, they had a set of their own which threw up twelve every 
 throw. I then found out that my partner had been acting the 
 scoundrel, in connexion with the others. It almost deranged 
 me to think, that I had lost all my hard-earned wages, by the in- 
 fluence of drink, and by the persuasion of a villain in whom I had 
 placed confidence. I accused the company of cheating me. 
 We all became angry, and consequently an affray took place : 
 fearing nothing in my then distracted situation, I took up the 
 tongs and paid some of them in hard coin : the balance of the 
 night I passed without sleep. When we went out to work the 
 next morning, the Dutchman's son appeared disposed to amuse 
 himself at my expense, and I thought proper to give him a little 
 of the same sort of change, and told him to go and tell his father 
 what I had done. 
 
 I then left the house ; having the character of a faithful labo- 
 rer, a great many persons wished to employ me. From this, I 
 went to Yorktown, Pennsylvania, and set into work with an 
 honest Dutchman (Philip Kissinger, a brick-maker by trade) 
 and remained with him during the spring and summer ; during 
 the time I was with Mr. Kissinger, two young Irishmen came to 
 the brickyard on their way to a canal on the Potomac River ; 
 they urged me to go, and said that I could get two dollars per 
 day. I was flattered with the prospect of speedy gain, and re- 
 quested Mr. Kissinger to let me off, as I had but about six weeks 
 to stay with him ; he refused, as I suited his business, but at last 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 6 
 
 agreed, on condition that ho could get hn nds in the place of another 
 Irishman and mj^self ; he got hands and let us go. We got fixed 
 for the journey and made a start. We stopped in Yorktovvn to 
 take a parting glass with our countiymcn and some others, and 
 they all drank freely ; it was almost daylight before I could get 
 them off. We had gone but a few miles IVom town, when they 
 all laid down to take some sleep by the side of the road ; I sat 
 there hke a wild goose watching, while the Hock would be feed- 
 ing. This put me to thinking. I asked myself, if this was the 
 kind of company I ought to keep ? No, said I ! — I will part from 
 such people, and accordingly the next morning started to the 
 Canogege settlement, a rich section of country about 150 miles 
 from Philadelphia, and settled by a moral and orderly people. 
 
 I had now been in America about three years, and through 
 sickness, misfortune and one imprudent attempt at gambling, I 
 had very little more than when I landed. This single act has 
 made me abhor gamblers and swindlers all my life, I consider 
 them no better than pickpockets. 
 
 This Dutchman at the time he cheated me at throwing the 
 dice, had a plantation which at this time would probably sell 
 for twenty thousand dollars. About eight years after this, I 
 was going down with about two hundred head of good cattle, I 
 went ahead and stopped them opposite to the honest Dutch- 
 man's, Philip Kissinger, at whose brickyard I had worked. I 
 asked him who Uved in the Widow Fryer's house ? He said 
 Coffield. I asked him what Coffield ? Said he, don't j'ou know 
 the man who made you lose all your money ? I then said, let 
 us go and see him. He had at this time no way of supporting 
 his wife and two children, but by her making straw hats, and 
 he selling them. When he saw my cattle, he said, good God ! 
 How did you get all these cattle ? I answered, sir, I got them 
 after I quit gambling, and there are plenty more where these 
 came from ; but a man must not gamble if he wants to get them. 
 It was very mortifying to the poor wretch. 
 
 In the Canogege settlement, I made my home at a Mr. Wal- 
 ker's, an excellent man and a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. He was very kind, and would always let me have a 
 horse to ride to preaching with himself and his wife. He would 
 often laugh at me, and say, "Jimmy, you will be a rich man yet! 
 Never mind Jimmy, you will be a rich man yet." Said he, 
 " The grandfather of that young man, (alluding to a young law- 
 yer) came to this country a very poor man ; he had as much 
 money when he landed as bought a bed and a cow in Philadel- 
 phia. He placed his clothes on the cow's back, and milked her 
 at night." He also said, that his own father, Mr. Dickey and 
 
b BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON". 
 
 many others were in the same situation when they came to 
 America. I first cleared ten acres of land for Mr. Walker, and 
 agreed to wait for the payment until he could make it out of the 
 first crop of wheat which he raised on the land. I made my 
 home at his house for three years and worked about in the coun- 
 tr}'', at various kinds of business, such as blowing rocks, digging 
 wells, &c. 
 
 The last time that I drove cattle to Philadelphia, I went 
 somewhat out of my road to reach this settlement where I had 
 hved for three years. I had two objects in view — one was to 
 see my old friends — another, was to indulge a pride of my mind 
 which I always possessed. I wished them to see that I was ri- 
 sing a little in the world. I staid three nights in the settlement, 
 and one of them with my old friend Mr. Walker; and the most 
 of the time I was there, he was in my company. He and his 
 wife were anxious that I should have connected myself with their 
 family, but I had commenced trading and it did not suit me at 
 that time. But to return from this digression : for a great portion 
 of the time, I worked in this part of the country — I got only 
 about 26 cents per day : a hand in the harvest field could not 
 get more than 31^ cents per day. This shows that the price of 
 labor was very low at that time. I made it a rule to be always 
 employed, and for three years w^as scarcely ever seen any where 
 except at my work, or at Church. 
 
 I soon discovered the difficulty of clothing myself decently, 
 and making money merely by hard labor alone ; I would there- 
 fore try to make a little besides when an opportunity offered. 
 I once bought one hundred bushels of rye from a man who need- 
 ed some money and had it distilled, the distiller giving me six 
 quarts and a pint for every bushel I delivered at the mill : I 
 made something by this speculation. I also bought a field of 
 wheat of a man who wished to move away; it was covered with 
 snow when I bought it ; in the spring it looked very yellow, and 
 Mr. Walker would l;mgh and tell me, I was cheated, although 
 he knew belter at the time. 
 
 When the wheat was ready to be cut, the neighbors and their 
 daughters came, and assisted me. They brought plenty of every 
 thing to eat, and I had plenty of rye whiskey, of which I gave 
 them freely. The wheat was ripe two weeks sooner than any 
 in the neighborhood, on account of its being sowed on slate land. 
 I had understood that there was a premium offered in Baltimore 
 for the first load of good new flour that might be delivered in that 
 market, a premium for the second, and also a premium for the 
 third, and 1 was determined to compete for one of them. The 
 neighbors were all anxious that I should be successful, and Mr. 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES TATTON. 7 
 
 Dickey had bis mill put in the best kind of order by die time my 
 wheat was read}-. 1 had it cleaned and gronnd as soon as I 
 possibly could. I hired a young man to haul it, and agreed to 
 give him something extra to huiTy him, but he was so slow in 
 his movements, that I lost the premium by about one hour. The 
 neighbors were much mortified that I did not get it, and ridi- 
 culed the young man ver}^ much, for he could have gotten there 
 in time, if he had pushed his team. 
 
 I had worked hard and used great economy, and all I had at 
 the end of the three years that I had lived in the Canogege set- 
 tlement was two hundred dollars. In the mean time I kept my- 
 self decently clothed, which I alwa3-s would do, if I had nothing 
 left. From the long spell of sickness which I had — the effects 
 of which I can feel to this da}^ — I was unable to work constant- 
 ly at hard labor, (for I could eat no strong diet) and therefore 
 concluded that I would turn my attention to some other business. 
 The first thing that suggested itself to my mind was to get three 
 or four young men to unite their small capitals with mine, pur- 
 chase a boat load of flour, and take it to New-Orleans ; but in 
 this I was disappointed. In the same year that I intended to 
 start, a difference took place between the Spaniards and Ken- 
 tuckians, which prevented all trade from passing down the 
 river. Having failed in this scheme, I (contrary to the advice 
 and wishes of all my friends) concluded to lay out the httle mo- 
 ney I had in diy goods, and vend them over the country as well 
 as I could. The principal objection that was urged against this 
 plan was, the scarcity of money. I told them that I could get 
 something else that would answer in the place of money. About 
 this time I wrote for my mother and family, and mentioned in 
 my letter that I had been unfortunate from sickness, but that I 
 now saw the way clear before me. Accordingly, in the month 
 of November 1789, I went to Lancaster, Penn., and bought my 
 goods of an old German : he told me, that he and his wife had 
 both been servants, and had served out their time, and that he 
 started in the world on very little. The old woman furnished 
 a piece of Russia Duck, took it to the Saddler's and had it made 
 in the shape of saddle bags. The old German wrapped up the 
 goods in the best manner. I paid for the whole of them, taking 
 nothing on credit ; I was so little acquainted with the nature of 
 trade that I did not ask for credit ; neither did I expect that it 
 would be extended to me, as I was poor and had no friends to as- 
 sist me. When I was ready to start, I placed the pack on the back 
 of my pony and drove her before me, with my staff in my hand, 
 whistling and singing in the highest spirits : I thought that I was 
 a very rich man, or was in a fair way to become so ; but misfor- 
 
b BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 tune seemed to await me at every turn : I had not gone more 
 than three miles when I met with an awful defeat at the mill- 
 pond of a Mr. Stoner. The road passed over the end of the 
 mill dam, my pony stopped to drink, after drinking, instead of 
 keeping the road, she dashed into the pond, but could not get 
 through ; she stuck fast in the mud at the bottom of the pond, 
 got her head upon a stump, and thus saved herself from drown- 
 ing. Imagine (if you can) my distress, at seeing my whole for- 
 tune on the back of my pony in the middle of a mill pond, and 
 he stuck fast in the mud and unable to get out ; it looked like a 
 bad beginning to the mercantile business ; there was no time to 
 be lost, so Mr. Stoner procured some kind of a craft for the 
 purpose of rescuing my pony and goods. He wished to release 
 the pony and let her go out widi the pack on her back, but 
 I said no! we will save the goods if the pony should be lost; 
 so we took out the pack of goods first, and then the pony. 
 The goods had been so carefully wrapped up that they receiv- 
 ed no material injury. That night I went to the house of a 
 widow woman, one mile and a half from Mr. Stoner's at the 
 forks of the Road, one leading to Anderson's Ferry, the other 
 to Wright's Ferry (now called Columbia) on the Susquehan- 
 na River. She furnished me with a good room and lines to 
 hang my wet goods upon. I sat up all night dr^^ing my goods 
 and cleaning my buckles and buttons with my brush and chalk, 
 so that they looked as well as they did at first. 
 
 Having put all in good order, I proceeded on my way ; I met 
 witli a young Dutchman who wished to purchase a pair of silver 
 lockets ; he asked me the price of them : I fearing that they were 
 probably too high, asked him the price of such in town. How- 
 ever, I sold them to him at 13 r)r 14 cents advance : this was the 
 first profit that I realized from the sale of my goods. 
 
 The next night I went to the honest Dutchman's, Philip Kis- 
 singer, at whose brickyard I had worked, got all my goods hung 
 upon lines in the stove-room, where he and his wife slept: I 
 went to bed and took a sound sleep. The next morning, Mrs. 
 Kissinger took a dozen of my cotton handkerchiefs and sold ele- 
 ven of them for me at about 13 cents advance on each, and for 
 her trouble and kindness, I gave her the twefth and last one. I 
 had now made about $1.43 on my handkerchiefs, which money 
 I laid out for the same sort, and got as good a bargain as I did 
 for the first. 
 
 I then steered my course for North-Carofina, fifteen miles from 
 the place I had lived ; I met a young man who had been out 
 with S500 worth of goods to the same section of country I intend- 
 ed to go to. I said, hie, hie, Elick, sold all and returning, and 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 9 
 
 I doing nothing ? Yes, said he, it is well T met you here, I would 
 advise you to sell y(nir goods ;ind go t(j work ; there is no money 
 in the back country, and I sold my goods to a merchant in Vir- 
 ginia for the same they cost me in Pliilndeljihia. I said to him, 
 Elick, did you call at eveiy house and all the cabins on the 
 road ? He said, he did not: that he only colled at the best look- 
 ing houses, where he expected to find something. I told him 
 that he was wrong, that money was sometimes to be found in 
 cabins, when there was none to be lind nt fine houses. Sir, said 
 I, you are too finely dressed, you should have gone out in your 
 common clothes; a man should always be dressed to suit his bu- 
 siness, and don't suppose that, show will make money. The 
 people took you for some collegian going to College with a load 
 of books. No Sir, said I, they would laugh at me if I were to go 
 back, if I cannot get money, I will try to get something else, and 
 was determined that I would not be turned by him. 
 
 I proceeded on m}'- way and got in company with Mr. James 
 INIcIntyre, of Morgantown, Burke County, North-Carolina, near 
 Chaml)ersburg, Pennsylvania. We travelled together, and 
 camped out at night, as he had a wagon loaded with goods. 
 My forming an acquaintance with him, was the cause of my 
 coming to this part of the country. I tbrmed a good opinion of 
 him ; he was kind and advised me what to do. We parted in 
 Botetourt County, Virginia, and I took the road to the head of 
 the Holston. After beating about for some time in that part of 
 the country, I crossed the moimtain into the county of Surry ; 
 thence, into Wilkes, Burke and Buncombe. To show how slow- 
 ly I got along in my business, I will inform you that I travelled 
 in the section of country now called Ashe County, for ten days, 
 and got but three dollars in money. I could have purchased 
 fur skins, but was not willing to risk it, as I did not know their 
 value. During this trip I met with poor success in the sale of 
 my goods. 
 
 I will here mention an incident which occurred to me at Mor- 
 gantown ; it will show you the kind of stuff I was made of. An 
 Act of Congress had been passed to pay the Revolutionary sol- 
 diers for their services ; 1 found that the certificates were selling 
 very low, and 1 thought that something could be made by buy- 
 ing them ; accordingly I purchased some of them, and paid part 
 in goods and part in money. When I was going from Wilkes to 
 Burke County, the Entiy Taker of Wilkes, a Mr. Fletcher, re- 
 quested me to take an <£S0 note of his, (as he called it) and dis- 
 pose of it along with my own. When 1 got to Morgantown, I 
 showed it and some other notes to several persons in the public 
 2 
 
10 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES COLLINS. 
 
 square, and they all refused to receive them, as the note I had 
 gotten ot" Fletcher proved to be a raised note from £S to .£50. I 
 then stepped into Mr. Intyre's and had scarcely seated myself, 
 before a man came in and told me to make my escape, that I had 
 bad money and would be taken up in an hour ; said 1, thank you 
 sir, for your information, but I never went to a place yet, where 
 1 would go out of the back door if the front door was open, for 
 any crime which I have ever committed. I told him that I would 
 go immediatel}'' to the gentlemen ; they were not dispersed, but 
 were talking together and probably laying some plan to secure 
 me. I said, gentlemen, I am told that I have bad money, if I 
 have, I don't know it. I am informed thnt this .£80 note is raised 
 from 8 to <£S0, if so shew it to me ; and that you intend to put me 
 in jail : I told them that I hoped they would not do that, that the 
 jail was never made for me ; you can take my horse, my money 
 "and all T have, until I satisfy you better. I had become acquaint- 
 ed with ^Ir. Wallace Alexander, a lawyer of Mecklenburg Coun- 
 ty, North-Carolina, at Wilkes Court, previous to this time: he 
 was in Morgantown : I told him that I had gotten that note from 
 Fletcher in Wilkes County, and that I had no suspicion at the 
 time, that it was not good. He said, gentlemen, I believe what 
 Mr. Patton says ; he then told me that he would take the note, 
 and put it out of their power to do me any harm. I told him he 
 could have it, if he would stand between me and danger, and let 
 Fletcher have the note if he wanted it. Now you see, that I pos- 
 sessed a proud, independent spirit, and was not to be alarmed 
 at trifles, when I was conscious of my integrity; and remember, 
 a clear conscience will carry a person through difliculties when 
 every thing else fails. When 1 returned to Wilkes, I told Fletch- 
 er that he had done veiy wrong in giving me that note ; that I 
 was not only near getting into trouble, but was in a fair way of 
 having my character injured, as I was a stranger in the country. 
 I told him that he could get his note if he would apply for it : he 
 said, let it go. 
 
 I now made preparations to return to the North, which was in 
 the spring of 1790. On my way, I bought 200 pounds of indigo 
 at Fincastle in \'irginia, and made almost as much profit on it, 
 as I had done on my goods. I also bought a few fur skins of 
 different sorts, to see what each kind would bring ; [ shewed them 
 to eight or ten different hatters, told them not to be offended be- 
 fore I opened them. This way of proceeding learned me the 
 value of the different kinds of fur, and was of great service to 
 mc the next year, and many years afterwards, when I had a 
 store in Wilkes. This shows with what caution I acted in my 
 trading ; 1 was unwilling to risk anything, even in the smallest 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 11 
 
 matters, without some CHMMainty of profit. During this trip, I 
 called upon my old friend Mr. Walker, with whom I had lived 
 for three years, as before mentioned. I had at that time two 
 good horses; I took the best en re of them, :ind they were in fine 
 order. I purchased another from Mr. Walker, and went down 
 to the Federal City, and the adjacent country, with an old IMr. 
 McCall, who had a small drove "of horses also. I sold one horse 
 and swapped the other two for an old horse, and got the tliffer- 
 ence in their value : the one that I got was poor but strong. 
 
 I now discovered that there was something to be made by 
 buying feath(n-s and taking them up the country. Accordingly, 
 I purchased some, made a large cloth sack and filled it, and 
 loaded my horse and started. Vou see, children, nothing was 
 too humble for me that was honest ; I was not ashamed of any 
 thing that soap and Vv^ater would wash out. 
 
 On my return I bought an old .Jersey wagon for about S30, 
 which was not worth thirty shillings, except the iron. This 
 shews that a person should not touch on matters of which he is 
 not a judge. It was a bad time for me to pay high for my school- 
 ing, as I had but little to go on ; however, I got my wagon so 
 repaired that I got it to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There I had 
 to get it made almost entirely new, no part of it being worth any 
 thing, except the body and some of the irons. As I was going to 
 the North this trip, (of which I have been speaking) I met two 
 young men on the way ; one of them said to the other, does not 
 that man (alluding to me) favor old Mrs. Patton and family who 
 came in the vessel with us ? I then made some inquiry about 
 them, and asked the men if they could name them ? They soon 
 satisfied me that it was my good mother and family ; this was 
 the first information I had received of their arrival. The next 
 night I arrived at the place they were, and we had a joyful meet- 
 ing. I then went to Philadelphia and bought as many goods as 
 I was able to pav for, and S90 wordi on a credit besides, which 
 I did not ask. When I looked over the bills, I discovered that 
 they would take too much of my money, and prevent me from 
 buying other goods on which I could make more profit, and re- 
 quested the merchants to take some of them back, and told them 
 my reasons. These merchants were Quakers. One of them 
 said to the other, don't thee think James will come back and pay 
 us ? O, Yes, said the other. I thought he was amusing himself 
 with me at the time. I took the goods, and this was the 
 commencement of a credit that would afterwards have com- 
 manded twenty thousand dollars or more, if I had asked it, 
 at that house and others. I happened to see a young man in 
 Philadelphia at this time, who was going to Ireland and to the 
 
12 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 ver}^ neighborhood in which I had hved in that countiy ; I sent a 
 small amount of money by him to defray the expenses of my 
 brother Thomas and family to this country, which he received 
 and came in the next summer. When he arrived, the whole of 
 the family were in this country, except one brother who had 
 gone to the East-Indies. 
 
 I now left Philadelphia witli my goods, for the State of North- 
 Carohna; sold all I could on the road, and would stop a day or 
 two at a place for that purpose. When I came to North River, 
 Rockingham County, Virginia, I stopped at an honest German's 
 house by the name of Jacob Singer, and staid there three weeks. 
 With what I had gotten before and during this time, I had up- 
 wards of three hundred dollars in cash, and also some fur skins 
 and beeswax. The fur skins and beeswax I left at that place 
 until I would return. I laid out what money I had on hands in 
 Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia; this was in the fall of the 
 year ; I bought such goods as I thought would sell readily in the 
 country ; I got them on very good terms, and had at this time a 
 pretty good assortment. The last purchase I thought would 
 help to sell the first. I travelled on by the way of Lexington, 
 Pattonsburg, Fincastle, Pepper's Ferry on New River, to the 
 head of the Holston. On my way I frequently stopped from 
 six to twelve days at a place ; w^ould send out w^ord beforehand, 
 that I would be at such places at the time appointed. By this 
 means the people would get their trade ready, such as fur skins, 
 beeswax, &c., and some money. I sometimes left money with 
 men on whom I could depend, to purchase fur skins, beeswax, 
 &c., for me at such prices ns I directed them to give. This 
 yea,r I took in fifteen hundred skins of different sorts, and made 
 a handsome profit on them, having the 3rear before made myself 
 acquainted with the prices of all kinds, from a rabbit skin to an 
 otter skin. I left my wagon on the south fork of the Holston and 
 packed my goods on horseback ; came to Roan's creek, thence 
 into Ashe, Wilkes, Burke and Buncombe counties. 
 
 I returned to the North the first of the next summer. I left my 
 small wagon and got a light f()ur horse wagon. I purchased as 
 many goods as I was able, and returned the same road that I 
 had travelled the first two years, stopped at the same places, 
 and sold double the amount of goods that I did the first two years. 
 I drove my own wagon, until 1 came to the North River, Rock- 
 ingham County, Virginia ; I then hired a little simple Dutchman 
 and kept him until I got to the head of the Holston ; he was so 
 much of a fool, and withal so lazy, that I would not have him 
 any longer. I now met with Andrew Ervvin, let him have about 
 $150 worth of goods to trade on, sent him into the country and 
 
BIOGRArHY OF JAMES PATTON. 13 
 
 directed him wliore to go, and to meet me at Wilkes Court-house, 
 which he did. He; transacted the business as well as I expect- 
 ed ; I did not calculate on his doing much, as he was only nine- 
 teen years of age, and had little experience ; but I ibund he was 
 honest: this has caused me to overlook many errors of young 
 men, all my life. I have had a great many in my employment 
 from this time until I tjuit business ; for I touched at every thing 
 that I thought would be profitable — gathering ginseng, snake 
 root, purchasing deer skins, bear skins and driving large num- 
 bers of cattle. Having left my wagon at the south fork of the 
 Holston, I hired a man to assist me, and packed a part of my 
 goods on horseback to Wilkes Court-house. Those that I left 
 with the man, at whose house my w;igon was, I directed him to 
 sell during m}' absence, and collect all the fur skins, beeswax, 
 &c., that he could. 
 
 During this and the preceding trips, Iliad frequently stopped 
 at the house of a man by the name of Jonathan Tompkins, in 
 the County of Wilkes, a member of the Baptist Church, and ap- 
 parentl}^ a very pious man. He told me, that his land was un- 
 der execution, and that .£40 would save it ; that his brother had 
 gone to South-Carolina for mono}'', and would be certain to get 
 it, but for fear that he might be detained by high water or some 
 accident, wished me to let him have it, which I did. I knew so 
 little of mankind at that time, that I took no obligation on him 
 for the money, but merely made a memorandum of it in my 
 pocket book. This single circumstance is sufficient to shew my 
 great want of qualification for business at that time. I then at- 
 tended Burke Court, and on my return, this same man came to 
 where I was stopped by high water, and told me that I would 
 lose my mone}', and he would lose his land if I did not pay £40 
 more. He therefore proposed to let me have a part of his land, 
 and he would have a good crop raised on it for me, if I would 
 pay the other .£40, to which I agreed, as I intended to move my 
 mother and family to that part of the country. 
 
 This summer I intended to go to Philadt^lphia to dispose of 
 my turs. and purchase goods to enable me to buy a handsome 
 drove of cattle, but finding it would be too late before I could go 
 and return, I stopped at Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, 
 and employed three hatters to work up a part of my fur into 
 hats, and paid them in fur ll)r their labor. I returned to North- 
 Carohna with my hats in boxes, packed upon horses. I pur- 
 chased all the cattle I was able to pay for, in the counties of 
 Wilkes, Burke and Buncombe, and started for Philadelphia ; 
 stopped at Staunton, Virginia, and took on the balance of the 
 furs which I had left there. I purchased in Philadelphia as 
 
14 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTO?f. 
 
 many goods as I was able to pay for, and returned to North- 
 Carolina with two wngons, one loaded with goods, and the other 
 with my mother and family. We moved to the piece of land 
 which I got of Tompkins, in Wilkes County, North-Carolina, fif- 
 teen miles hom the Court-house on Lewis' Fork, near the foot 
 of the Blue Ridge. This was in the winter of 1792; at that 
 time there was no building of any kind on the place ; but I got 
 the assistance of the neighbors who were very kind, and in two 
 weeks had a comfortable house a story and a half high to move 
 into. It was built of pine logs and covered with clapboards. 
 I put up my goods on the second story of the house. My prin- 
 cipal reason for commencing business at my mother's, was to 
 procure such things as were necessary for the family. We never 
 lived better in our lives, and had plenty of every thing that was 
 comfortable. By this time I had fully seen the value of a good 
 parent who strove so hard for the comfort and the happiness of 
 her children. 
 
 The ensuing fall I moved my goods to Wilkes Court-house. 
 The next year in the fall, I moved m}^ brother Thomas and fam- 
 ily to Wilkes Count}'-, and settled him on the top of the Blue 
 Ridge, ten miles from my mother's. I let him have cattle and 
 horses to make a beginning on, and he lived well though at a 
 distance from neighbors ; he had but three children and they 
 were small : his wife was an excellent woman, I always esteem- 
 ed her highly : she was a high-minded honorable woman, and 
 endeavored to instil pure principles into the minds of her chil- 
 dren. Brother Thomas was a weakly man, but did all he could 
 for his family. I gave them all the assistance in my power, but 
 it could not be expected that I could do much for them in so 
 short a time from my little beginning of two hundred dollars; 
 however, I put them all in a way to support tliemselvcs and 
 raise their families decently. They are now respectable, which 
 is well known by those who are acquainted with them. 
 
 The first year after I moved my mother to Wilkes County, I 
 bought a small drove of horses and took them to the Federal City, 
 and from that to Baltimore. I also bought a house aud lot in 
 Staunton, Virginia, from a man who lived in W^ilkes County, 
 North-Carolina, and agreed to give him two young negroes for 
 it. Indeed, before I bought it, I had sold it on condition that I 
 would make a right to it. If a man will help himself, he will 
 always find friends. The merchants of Staunton saw that I was 
 making a better use of my small beginning, and some of them 
 became my security for a title, before I had bought it myself I 
 made something by the speculation. 1 also bought some other 
 negroes, besides the two that 1 paid for the house and lot. The 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTOX. 15 
 
 money was all paid dov.n for the house and lot, and I Intended to 
 lay it out lor cattle. You will observe how carcllil I was ; I 
 knew how much I would have to pay forncgroes, and also knew 
 what I could get for the house and lot before 1 made the trade. 
 
 About two years from the time that I moved my mother to 
 Wilkes County, I was married to your good and great mother. 
 She was the daughter of Francis Kc^ynolds, a man ot little pro- 
 perty, but as honest and respectable as any man in the County 
 of Wilkes. He was one of the first settlers on the Yadkin River 
 in that county ; he had twelve children, of course he was not 
 able to give her much : all she ever got did not amount to more 
 than three hundred dollars. When we were married, she was 
 in the bloom of youth and very handsome ; amiable and sensible. 
 There was great disparity in our ages; she was twenty years 
 and five months younger than myself. She was ambitious to 
 excel in all the duties of a wife, and assisted me greatly in my 
 business. She saw that I was using all the exertions in my pow- 
 er, and having confidence in my judgment, it gave an increased 
 impulse to her industry. 
 
 Her mother (Mrs. Iteynolds) was a superior housekeeper : it 
 was from the management of her domestic concerns, the neatness 
 of her house, and the nice arrangement of every thing about it, 
 that I took a fancy to my w4fe, and I was not disappointed. She 
 was every thing I expected and looked for — prudent, industrious 
 and economical, ready at all times to receive advice — cheerful, 
 but not ostentatious. I gave it as my opinion, that it would be 
 imprudent for myself and her to appear at Church and other pub- 
 lic places in supei-fluous dress, or to appear at any time above 
 our neighbors ; not onl}'- because I disliked vain show, but my 
 principal reason was, that as we were just starting in the world, 
 and were dependent on the public for our success, it might have 
 an improper influence on their minds, and excite prejudices very 
 much against our interest. My motto was, plainness and neat- 
 ness ; and this is as far as any one should go, however prosper- 
 ous their circumstances may be : a beautiful exterior may dazzle 
 the fancy for a short time, but soUd worth depends entucly on a 
 well trained and virtuous mind. 
 
 1 made it a rule to consult my wife on all weighty and impor- 
 tant matters that I thought she could comprehend, and when I 
 deviated from her opinion, I generally found that I was in error. 
 I would advise all married men to consult their wives in every 
 important undertaking. If they cannot fully understand the 
 whole of any matter that may be presented to their considera- 
 tion, they will be certain to catch at parts, and make some ob- 
 servations that will set their husbands to thinking. My opinion 
 
16 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTOX. 
 
 is, that women have never been allowed their just weight in so- 
 •ciety: were they permitted to use that influence in societ}' to 
 which I consider them entitled, they would contribute much more 
 to the success of business through life, than is generally imagin- 
 ed, and particularly to domestic prosperity and happiness. 
 During the third year after I had commenced trading, I took 
 Col. Andrew Erwin in, to assist me in my business. The se- 
 cond year that he was in my employment, he married my sister. 
 About twelve months after his mn.rriage, I took him into full con- 
 nexion with me in trade, although he had nothing at the-time ; I 
 had two reasons for it, one was, on account o\ the high regard I 
 had for my sister — she was a high-minded honorable young wo- 
 man; the other was, that I wished to encourage him, as he had 
 become my connexion. At this time my capital was greater 
 than his by twenty-eight hundred dollars, after all I had done for 
 my good mother and family. 
 
 It gives me consolation at this time, to think that I did not 
 grasp all, and prevent others from coming foi-ward, which (it is 
 well known) I had no disposition to do. I find fault very much 
 with wealthy men, for not taking poor young men by the hand, 
 and putting them in a way to do well, when they find them ho- 
 nest, trusty and capable. I had now lived in Wilkes Count}-, 
 North-Carolina, twelve years, and my health had become so 
 greatly impaired, that I took a dishke to Wilkesborough, and re- 
 solved to leave the place ;, accordingly, I rented my possessions 
 to Waugh & Finley (merchants) for seven years. We then 
 moved into the county of Bunc()m]:>e in April 1S07, and settled 
 on the farm where my son Thomas now lives, three miles from 
 Asheville, where we lived for seven 3'^ears. We then moved 
 from the farm to Asheville, where we Hved together thirteen 
 years and six months, before your mother died. She had been 
 afflicted with a liver complaint for several years, which finally 
 took her off. I think I can date her indisposition back to the 
 birth of your sister Jane Hardy, who died the past winter in 
 Charleston, South-Carohna: she then took" cold, and was more 
 or less indisposed from thattinif; until her death. From tlie time 
 we were married, until the death of your mother, was thirty-two 
 years and ten months. We had eleven childien, of whom we 
 raised ten. At the time we moved to Asheville my son James 
 was 11 years of age, my second son John 9, Franklin 7, and 
 Thomas 5 years old. You can judge from this that I had to 
 contend with many disadvantages when I connnenced public 
 house-keeping. 
 
 Col. Erwin and myself were in partnership for twent}- years, 
 and made a complete dissolution in one day, to the astonishment 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 17 
 
 of every person of understanding : it was effected in the following 
 manner. As he was the active partner, I told him to make a 
 division of the whole, accomj)anied with a statement on paper, 
 and give me my choice, which he did ; and in this \vay we came 
 to an amicable settlement at once. 
 
 Col. Andrew Erwin was a man of a clear head and a good 
 lieart, but too credulous and too easily imposed upon by bad 
 men. I was like the little boat spoken of by Dr. Franklin, I 
 would always keep near the shore ; I would not venture far out 
 to sea for fear of accidents, therefore, I always endeavored to 
 find out whether a man was deserving of confidence, before I 
 trusted much in his hands. 
 
 I have thought it unnecessary to extend this narrative any 
 further, as my principal object has been to give you some know- 
 ledge of my low beginning in the world, more than any thing 
 else : and my dear children, having thus endeavored to give you 
 a short sketch of the struggles and difficulties which I have 
 passed through in hfe, I can assure you that I have not done it by 
 way of boasting, but quite the contrary. It would be vain and 
 foolish in me to suppose that it would be of any advantage to me 
 as an individual, for at my time of life I have no disposition to 
 indulge an}- such feelings ; but I have thought that if it should 
 never be of any benefit, it would perhaps afford satisfaction to 
 some of my posterity to know from whence they sprang. You 
 could not reasonably expect, that I would be able at my advanc- 
 ed age (being now in my 84th year) to give you an exact and 
 accurate account of the various vicissitudes of my life, merely 
 from memory. I know that I have omitted many things worthy 
 of notice, but I could not from recollection alone, embody them 
 in a way calculated either to please or instruct ; but imperfect 
 as it is, I hope it may be profitably read by some of you when I 
 am no more. You will see that I had many hard trials to en- 
 dure, and difficulties to encounter. You will also observe how 
 much can be accomplished by industry and frugality. To the ex- 
 ercise of these virtues is mainly to be attributed the little success 
 I have had in life, for I was possessed of very moderate qualifi- 
 cations for the business in which I was generally engaged ; but 
 I had a firm mind, which by the assistance of a kind providence 
 enabled me to surmount the many obstacles which were in my 
 way. Besides the many hardships and difficulties which I have 
 before enumerated, I have met with various personal misfor- 
 tunes : the first was, the long spell of sickness which I have 
 mentioned, and which was a serious drawback on me at that 
 time. I have met with various accidents also, but the worst of 
 all was at the Warm Springs where my son John lives. I was 
 3 
 
18 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 giving some directions about making a path to a limestone spring 
 on the opposite side of the river, to the house, when an unthough- 
 ful boy loosed a large rock from its bed, and it rolled against 
 both my legs, fracturing and bruising them very much. I was 
 greatly injured, and in consequence of it was confined to my 
 cabin for several months : I was then in the SOth year of my age. 
 It is however, a consolation to me to think, that these accidents 
 all occurred when I was engaged in some laudable business, 
 that I thought would be of advantage to m}^ children. But with 
 all the trials and misfortunes that have come my way, I never 
 desponded ; I always looked onwards and suffered nothing to ar- 
 rest my progress ; if I met with troubles, I consoled myself with 
 the reflection, that it was the common lot of man, and endeavor- 
 ed to profit by it for the future. The little success I have had 
 in life, was owing (as I before mentioned) to industiy and fruga- 
 lity, for I settled in the upper part of North-Carolina, at that 
 time the poorest part of the country I ever saw to make property; 
 but I do not entertain the same opinion now. Changes and im- 
 provements have taken place, which have convinced me that 
 there are few sections of country superior to the western part of 
 North-Carolina. I am thankful that the Almighty blessed my 
 weak means and enabled me to do as much as I have, and I 
 have the consolation at this day to think, that I never made any 
 thing at the expense of the widow and the fatherless. I have 
 never sold the widow's cow or the poor man's land. You know 
 my character, and I hope that no conduct of mine wiU ever 
 cause you many blushes ; although I cannot that I have been 
 guilty of many errors ; but one thing I will say, that when I did 
 wrong, I always disliked mj'self for it more, than any other per- 
 son could have done, and endeavored to do better for the future. 
 Let me advise you to live in a peaceable and friendly manner 
 with each other. Never encourage family quarrels, but strive 
 against them. If any difference should take place among you, 
 suffer it not to come to the knowledge of the pubHc, if you can 
 avoid it. If you cannot agree among yourselves, refer the mat- 
 ter in dispute to snme of your own connexions, who have no 
 partiality, and are equally interested in your welfare, and if 
 either party should consider himself injured by the decision, let 
 him abide by it rather than expose himself and the family : it is 
 a disagreeble thing for relations to be at variance with each other ; 
 besides, it is certain to injure their characters in public estima- 
 tion ; therefore, be cautious never to give cause of offence, family 
 differences are seldom adjusted, and when a breach is once 
 made, it is scarcely ever effectually closed. If any of you 
 should not be so successful and prosperous as the others, let it 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 19 
 
 not give rise to envy and dissatisfaction, if you encourage such 
 feelings, you will always be unhappN^ ; and on the other iiand, if 
 the exertions of any of you should he smiled upon by fortune, 
 don't look down upon the less fortunate with contempt : in this 
 way, envy and pridi^ will both be avoided and peace and friend- 
 ship insured. In my opinion, it shews a great want of good 
 sense for one person to consider himself superior to another, be- 
 cause he has a httle property, particularly when he knows not 
 how it was earned. All men are not blessed with the same ca- 
 pacity, or the same opportunities to become rich, the situation 
 of some is so fovorable that they appear to prosper without ex- 
 ertion, while others gain nothing by the most constant industry. 
 Therefore, a rich man should be thankful and not high minded. 
 Let all your intercourse with the world be marked by honesty 
 and integrity. If any person should do you an injury, don't reta- 
 liate and do the same to him ; this course of conduct would serve 
 as an apology to others to injure you, who otherwise would not 
 have thought of it. 
 
 Don't strive to be the richest people in the country, by grasp- 
 ing at too much, you may lose all. Therefore, never engage in 
 uncertain speculation. Wealth is generally the result of pa- 
 tience, industry and frugality ; but some persons are so eager to 
 become rich, that they leave the old beaten path, that would 
 certainly lead to success, and take bj^-paths for a short cut. In 
 nine cases out often, they become bewildered and never attain 
 their object ; and it is seldom that they are ever in as prosper- 
 ous condition as when they started. I will give 3'ou an instance 
 to shew how cautious I was in the transaction of my business. 
 
 My partner. Col. Erwin, during a trip to the North, shipped 
 some goods which he had bought to Richmond, Virginia. Hav- 
 ing heard that tobacco had taken a great rise, he wrote 
 to me to purchase all that could be procured in the coun- 
 ties of Wilkes and Burke, he stated that it was $10 per cwt., 
 and it was thought would soon be $12. Before I bought any 
 tobacco, I tried to know how many wagons I could engage to 
 haul it off to market. I procured five or six, loaded them in 
 haste and started them ; they went safe and he got SIO per cwt. 
 for it. As I could not engage any more wagons, I bought no 
 more tobacco. He came home and was much displeased that I 
 had not acted up to his instructions. He then bought 40 hhds., 
 and before the tobacco could be taken to market, the price fell ; 
 he then sent it to l^ayctteville and stored it for some time ; I 
 urged him to ao and sell the toljacco t()r whatever it would brinf?, 
 as we needed the money ; he then took it to Boston and sold it 
 (as he said) at or near the first cost. Taking into view the ex- 
 
20 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 pense of wagons, storage, shipping, &c., I do not believe that we 
 got more than half as much as it cost us, besides being deprived 
 of the use of the money, which we could have laid out for cattle 
 to good advantage, as they were in high demand at that time. 
 Now you see, my children, this was a bad speculation ; had I 
 commenced in this way my $200 would not have counted S2,800 
 in three years, and enabled me to have done something for my 
 family besides. Never touch at speculation unless you have a 
 surplus on hands ; if you then should be unsuccessful you will 
 not feel it so much. I approve of speculation for men in busi- 
 ness, but remember, in the first trade I made in the 100 bushels 
 of rye, the fur skins I bought, and the house and lot, and some 
 others, how much caution I exercised. I would advise you to 
 have your business confined at home as much as possible. A 
 man seldom leaves home but he loses something. The most 
 trusty person that you can have in your employment, can not 
 act with that degree of care, attention and judgment in your ab- 
 sence, as he will when you are present, because he cannot take 
 the libert5^ Make use of all honest and honorable means of 
 gain, and God will give the blessing. Treat every person with 
 kindness and respect, be plain and decent both at home and 
 and abroad, and 3'ou will have the good opinion of your poor 
 relations and neighbors. This was the advice I gave your good 
 mother when we commenced house-keeping. I found the good 
 effects of it. We kept a good table, good beds, and a good sta- 
 ble, and when we went to Church we did not ride in a fine car- 
 riage, or appear in the most stylish dress. Children, you know 
 the above to be true, and the public know it hkewise. It is true, 
 we had not much to be proud of, but enough to have made us 
 vain and foolish, if we had been so disposed. I flatter myself, 
 that I have been more respected by both rich and poor, than I 
 would have been, if I had made a show in the world, as is usu- 
 ally the custom at this day. 
 
 Be charitable to your poor relations and neighbors, and as 
 God has enjoined, that we must earn our bread by the sweat of 
 the brow, we must be industrious. In my opinion, a man can- 
 not be a, good Christian, unless he be industrious ; and I know, 
 without industry he cannot be a good citizen. Do not think 
 from what I have said, that I wish you to be avaricious and co- 
 vetous, and worship wealth as an idol, and hoard it up for your 
 children, who will perhaps make a bad use of it. This is one 
 extreme, as much to bo avoided as that of indolence and stupi- 
 dity ; but I wish you to use all the honest means necessary to 
 enable you to act your parts well in the world, and be useful and 
 respectable members of society. Give your children a good edu- 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 21 
 
 cation, Impress upon their minds principles of industry and mo- 
 rality, but above all set betorc them pious examples and encour- 
 age them to follow the same. I have observed that children of 
 })ious pnrents generally pass through life with less trouble and 
 difficulty, than those brought up by parents of immoral and dis- 
 solute habits. Children may occasionally deviate from the rules 
 prescribed to them by their parents in early Ufe, but it is seldom 
 that first impressions are completely effaced from the mind, es- 
 pecially those that have been made by the mother. To her 
 peculiarly belongs the task of training tlie infant mind and pro- 
 ducing the first conceptions of right and wrong; this I know by 
 experience. 
 
 You who are living in a public way, should have as many 
 tradesmen and others about 3"ou, as will be profitable, and you 
 can attend to ; this will shew the extent of your business and at- 
 tract public attention. Treat them all with kindness and assist 
 them in small matters. Never treat them coolly when they ask 
 favors, and if it should not suit you to comply with their requests, 
 deny them courteously. In this way you will always have their 
 good will, and they will do their duty with pleasure. I have 
 often given my assistance to poor 3'oung men who were begin- 
 ning the world, but I would notice particularly, whether they 
 were making a good use of my kindness. As I have passed 
 through life I have often reflected on my hard lot, and wondered 
 that my father had not exerted himself more for the good of his 
 children when he had it in his power, but he was like many 
 others, he did not think properly until it was too late. He died 
 when his children were all small. I have often felt the conse- 
 quences of his neglect, which has stimulated me to do all that I 
 could for you. If you should properly improve upon what I have 
 done, and leave your children in a more prosperous situation 
 than yourselves, it will shew to the world that you did not abuse 
 the means that were put into your hands ; but that you properly 
 appreciated your advantages. Admonish them to pursue the 
 same course, shew them a worthy example and they will be 
 apt to follow it. I would advise you to avoid litigation as 
 much as possible. There may be instances of honest men ap- 
 pealing to the laws of their country for redress, Init I think they 
 are rare ; there is neither much profit nor much honor attending 
 it ; very often each party is a loser. When the name of any 
 man becomes conspicuous on the Court docket, the public are 
 apt to form an unfavorable opinion of him ; it shews one of two 
 things, either that he is dishonest, or that he is veiy careless in 
 the transaction of his business. When you make a contract even 
 of the most trifling nature, reduce the terms to tiie utmost certain- 
 
22 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 ty at first, and j^ou will generally have little difficulty in your 
 dealings. I was once in company with one of our Superior 
 Court Judges, when a conversation casually took place in regard 
 lo myself. He remarked, that I had been engaged in a great 
 deal of business and had accomphshed much for my time ; I 
 asked him if he had ever heard my name in Court ; he said he 
 had not ; I observed to him that I had never sold the widow's 
 cow or the poor man's land : he then asked me if I had ever 
 sued any one ? I told him that I had sued some persons, but 
 that I always laid some plan to avoid distressing them : I also 
 told him that a Sheriff had never served a process on me for 
 money, and that no man had ever to ask me more than once 
 for any thing I owed him. Now, this was owing entirely to cor- 
 rect calculation before hand, and my own exertions to carry my 
 plans into execution ; and altogether by the means I had within 
 myself, for I never had but one thousand dollars from a Bank in 
 my life. 
 
 There cannot be a stronger argument in favor of industry than 
 the fact, that a man cannot be a useful citizen without the means, 
 and without industry the means cannot be procured. People in 
 moderate circumstances can do but little towards assisting their 
 fellow-men in trouble and distress, or aiding in any important 
 undertaking, however much they may desire it. But if you should 
 follow the advice which 1 have given, and should consequently 
 possess an abundance of the good things of this world, don't ima- 
 gine that you hold them clear of all obligation to appropriate 
 some portion to objects not immediately connected with your 
 own personal interest. We are informed by divine authority, 
 that we are nothing more than stewards, and are bound to ac- 
 count for the talents put into our hands. The rich man who 
 lives only for himself, does not deserve the respect and esteem of 
 his fellow-man. He should alwa^-s be viewed with suspicion. 
 He shews by his conduct that he has in some measure separated 
 himself from the rest of the world, and that he has no feehngs 
 connected with their interest and happiness. 
 
 Be charitable to the poor : it was never intended that all men 
 should be rich, and I have often thought, that it was designed by 
 Providence that some portion of the human family should be in 
 a destitute condition, that the wealthy might have opportunities 
 of performing acts of beneficence. Don't confer acts of kind- 
 ness to be seen of men : pride often prompts persons to bestow 
 favors when their feelings dictate the contrary, for the purpose 
 of increasing their reputation in the public view. In every case, 
 act with cheerfulness and without osientation. One single act 
 ot charity, when it accidentally comes to the knowledge of the 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 83 
 
 world, will add more to your character than a dozen performed 
 with a view to public approbation. 
 
 You should exercise a jrood degree of judgment in determining 
 who are proper objects of chanty, and who are not; there are 
 impostors in the world, and on that account many worthy per- 
 sons have been refused favors when they dcs(>rved them : but 
 because there are such, we are not to withhold, with a ])arsimo- 
 nious hand, from all who seek our assistance. We might with 
 as much ])ropriety, refuse to add anything to the cause of reli- 
 gion, because there are some unworthy members in the Church. 
 And if we should unconsciously shew kindness to the undeser\'- 
 ing, we are not to blame. Favors should not be conferred on 
 those, who we believe, will make a bad use of them ; such as 
 spendthrifts, or persons of dissipated habits. It is only furnish- 
 ing the means to assist them in their career of vice and profliga- 
 cy ; but there is a class of persons, in regard to whom, a course of 
 conduct should be pursued difterent iVom what is customary : I 
 allude to those who have indulged in intoxication and other vices 
 and who evince a disposition to reform. They are generally 
 treated by the community at large, and even b}'' their own con- 
 nexions, in a cold and distant manner. They are told that they 
 are unworthy of confidence, and that none should be placed in 
 them. In one word, the}'^ are treated with the utmost disregard 
 by those who are probably guilty of crimes, which, in comparison 
 w^ith those of the unfortunate drunkard, are as mountains to mole- 
 hills ; but the world is ignorant of them and they go unpunished. 
 This is not the pi'oper way to act towards tliem ; it produces un- 
 happiness and distress of mind, which plunges ihem deeper into 
 dissipation, and hastens them on in tlic road to destruction. The 
 minds of such persons are peculiarly sensitive either to kind or 
 harsh treatment, and while they admire the one, they will resent 
 the other. These unfortunate persons should be taken by the 
 hand and encouraged to do well. They should be kindly and 
 affectionately advised, and when they find your feelings enHsted 
 in their welfare, they may repay your kindness by a complete 
 change of conduct. This I know in some measure by myself. I 
 was often fond of spiriis when a young man, and even after I was 
 married, and frequently drank too muc-h, and never can be too 
 thankful that I did not become the victim of intemperance. It 
 was in a good degree owing to my natural strength of mind 
 and determined resolution, that I escaped ruin and destruction ; 
 but I must confess that it was also in a great measure attributa- 
 ble to the gentle and friendly admonitions of your mother. She 
 did not become irritated but acted with prudence and modera- 
 tion. Had she acted in a different way (as many do) it is more 
 
24 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 than probable that the effect on me would have been very differ- 
 ent. She did not fret my mind, but left it free to think. This is 
 the only way to insure reformation. Can you expect, that a 
 man in a passion will think correctly when he is not in the pos- 
 session of the faculty of reason V No : the only way to cause 
 them to reflect properly, is to act towards them with gentleness 
 and friendship. 
 
 I would advise you to have your names connected in a great- 
 er or less degree with the public institutions of the present day. 
 The destitute condition of the human family in distant parts of 
 the world, is commanding the attention of philanthropists, 
 throughout every part of our Avidely extended country. These 
 institutions cannot be sustained without means, and the means 
 cannot be procured without the aid of individuals. You may 
 think that a small amount from you would have little bearing, 
 and on that account refuse it; but if every person were to act in 
 the same way, there would be nothing done ; it is by the connex- 
 ion of individual means that great objects are accomplished. — 
 Swannannoa is an insignificant stream, but it contributes its part 
 towards making the Mississippi what it has been justly called — 
 the Father of waters. Ever}^ man should be possessed of some 
 portion of public spirit. No day should pass without the conso- 
 lation of having done some good to our fellow-men, and every 
 person who is so disposed can always discover some opportuni- 
 ty of performing some praiseworthy action, either of a public or 
 private nature. What do we live for, but to improve ourselves 
 and be useful to others ? It is a melancholy reflection, that every 
 thing, from the mammoth down to the most filthy reptile answers 
 the purposes of its creation ; but man — possessed of reason and 
 reflection, and a faithful monitor within to distinguish right from 
 wrong — pointing out the advantages arising from the one, and 
 the unhappy consequences resulting h'om the other, is it not 
 strange that he will in spite of all the examples which are daily 
 set before him, pursue a course of conduct, which is certain to 
 produce misery and degradation? It appears to me, that if we 
 were to consult nothing but our individual happiness, that we 
 would endeavor to abstain from all manner of evil. But there 
 are other considerations which should have a powerful influence 
 on all our actions in life — gratitude to the parents who bore us, 
 should ever restrain us from committing any act calculated to 
 render them unhapp}^. How can children ever repay the enor- 
 mous debt whicli they owe to their parents, who watched over 
 them in helpless infancy, who administered to their comfort in 
 sickness and in health, who have followed through good and 
 through evil report, and perhaps deprived themselves of the 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PAITON. 25 
 
 common necessaries of life to advance their interest? The an- 
 swer is easy — by doing right. They ask no pecuniary rewards 
 — they only ask them to pursue that course of conduct, that will 
 render themselves happy in this world, and that which is to 
 come. If children would only reflect on the constant anxiety of 
 their parents for their welfare, they would certainly endeavor 
 to smooth their passage through life by a virtuous course of con- 
 duct. But a parent only knows how a parent feels. 
 
 Don't be too proud to ask advice when you are in doubt on 
 any subject; but take counsel of good men of understanding. 
 You will hnd that the flattering side of a prospect always pre- 
 sents itself first, and the side on which danger lies is dark and 
 silent. Be careful to examine both sid(^s attentively before you 
 make a decision. By following this advice, you will avoid much 
 trouble and difliculty through hfe, save your characters, and save 
 your propert3^ 
 
 Be humane to your servants; give them plenty of nourishing 
 diet and clothing. This will make them esteem you and cause 
 them to do their duty with cheerfulness. Don't keep a servant 
 or white person about your house who is possessed of a bad dis- 
 position, or inclined to mischief; it is hard to change their minds 
 and danger attends their living with you. But don't part from 
 a good servant, or any other person in your employment, for a 
 small fault ; you may get one in his place that will not suit you 
 so well. I have had experience in these matters. . I have had 
 men living with me from one to ten years — storekeepers, labou- 
 rers on the farm, wagoners, blacksmiths, tanners, and others of 
 different occupations, and I would not dismiss them for trifling 
 offences. 
 
 I would advise you to select young men from the middle rank 
 in life, of sober and industrious habits — sons of honest and res- 
 pectable farmers. These are the best citizens in any country; 
 these will consider themselves, in a great degree, dependant on 
 you for their advancement in life, whereas the sons of wealthy 
 parents will not think themselves under the same obligation to 
 do their duty. This is a rule which I have adopted myself, and 
 generally found to be correct; but if the character and capacity 
 of a young man were such as I wished, I would only employ him 
 for a short time at first, at low terms ; because, they are not of 
 much value until they get some experience in business. If I 
 then found that they were honest, trusty and capable, I would 
 engage them for a longer time, and increase their wages. I 
 think it due to Jeremiah Cleveland, George Jones, and Wifliam 
 R. Smith, to state, that they were taken into my employment, 
 from the knowledge which I had of their parents. These men 
 4 
 
26 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 were possessed of honesty and industry. They hved with me 
 from nine to eleven years, and wlien either of them was attend- 
 ing to my business, I was satisfied that all was right. They 
 were obedient and faithful: they did well for me, and they have 
 done well for themselves, and are now wealthy and respectable. 
 Many others have lived willi me who have done well ; but I 
 have mentioned these three, because they were in my employ- 
 ment longer than any others. 
 
 I wish to say a few vv^ords to the female part oi my family: 
 in the business in which your mother and I were engaged, we 
 were often obliged to have the assistance of females. We some- 
 times took the daughters of ignorant parents, who had been 
 raised in extreme indigence. The}'' were frequently (when they 
 first came) in such a condition, that theywere not fit to be seen 
 in company ; but as soon as they were decently clothed, pride 
 would take possession of their minds, and they soon got above 
 their business; and although they had never known any thing 
 but poverty luid want, tliey became wasteful and extravagant 
 as soon as they got where there was plenty. They were so de- 
 plorably ignorant, that they had no idea of economy, or the value 
 of any thing about them; but used ''^very thing as if there never 
 could be an end of it. Such people should be avoided. Employ 
 such as have some smartness and capacity for business, and are 
 descended from honest and industrious parents. Such an one 
 was Nancy McElroy, now Mrs. Clayton. She lived with us for 
 several years until your mother's death ; she was industrious, 
 capable, and attentive to bu-Iness ; her parents were honest and 
 respectable. She is now married to a man of excellent charac- 
 ter and doing well. 
 
 I will soon close my remarks, and will take the liberty of cau- 
 tioning you most seriously against the danger of speculation, 
 when there is any uncertainty attending it. There have been 
 instances of some of you attem})ting speculation, when it ap- 
 peared almost certain that you would realize some profit, but 
 how did it turn out ? It was attended not only with direct pe- 
 cuniary loss, but still greater loss at home in various ways. Dr. 
 Franklin says, that the eye of the Master is worth both his hands, 
 and to employ men to work for you without attending to them, is 
 to leave them your purse open. Besides, the advantage that a 
 man will derive by staying at home and attending to his business 
 — it is a gratification to every person of a well regulated mind 
 to be with his family. When I observe that any man is frequent- 
 ly from home, and appears regardless of the manner in which 
 his business is going on, I come to the conclusion at once, that 
 he is doing no good. And it is the same in regard to women — 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 27 
 
 not that 1 object to occasional visit?, they may be proper and 
 even necessary, sometiin(.^s, but not often. A woman who is 
 much from home, is apt to acquire the character of a gossip, than 
 which there are few more despicable. Home is the place where 
 your ali'ections and your business should be centered, and it it 
 should not be so extensive as to make you conspicuous in the 
 world, it will make you useful and respectable. Many men 
 have reduced themselves and their families from a high stnte ot 
 prosperity to poverty and want, by engaging in uncertain 
 schemes of speculation. They could not exercise a little pa- 
 tience and wait for certain profit, but risked all to save time. — 
 Such men act with about as much sagacity as the boy who killed 
 the goose which laid the golden eggs. He wanted all at once, 
 and for want of proper consideration forever closed the door to 
 future gain. If any of you should be deceived by villains, (as 
 some of you have been) don't be discouraged, but renew your 
 efforts and be more careful for the future : pick up courage and 
 go ahead — -just think of me and you will never yield ; but you 
 must be humble, don't try to cut a figure in the world until for- 
 tune smiles on your exertions again, and the world will honor 
 you lor your energv and perseverance. 
 
 Children, the little property which I have made, I have divi- 
 ded amongst you to the best of my judgment. When you take 
 into view every thing connected with it, I hope you will not think 
 that I have exercised any partiality, for I can assure you that I 
 had no such feeling, but made as just a distribution as I was 
 able, so as to keep the principal property together in Asheville, 
 and prevent it front going into the hands of strangers, for I wish 
 my name to be there when I should be no more, and therefore 
 imposed many burdens on your brother James, with which some 
 of you are unacquainted. When you take into consideration my 
 bad state of health, and the many misfortunes I have met with, 
 I hope that you will think that 1 have acted with as much justice 
 and impartiahty as I was capable of. Without a correct state- 
 ment of every thing, it would be impossible for you to judge with 
 any degree of accuracy ; but I could meet my God and say with 
 a clear conscience, that I intended nothing but justice to each 
 and every one of you. I hope you will all be satisfied, live in 
 peace, and be an honour to each other. You have many advan- 
 tages for which you should be thankful. You are young, bless- 
 ed with common capacities, and have something to start on in 
 the world ; I had none of these. Mv education was very limit- 
 ed; I had no friends to lend m.e a helping hand, and at thirty- 
 four years of age had but two hundred dollars; besides, many 
 misfortunes came in my way which were obstacles to my success 
 
28 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PATTON. 
 
 in life. I now believe, that it was for mj'- good, that I was unfor- 
 tunate in my youth ; had I never met with disappointments, it is 
 probable to me that I would not have effected as much as I have : 
 for they caused me to think and act with caution. Remember 
 that afflictions are sent for our good, and if we were to meet with 
 nothing but prosperity, we would soon forget the source from 
 whence we derive all our comfort and happiness. 
 
 I will mention some other reasons which I had for keeping the 
 Asheville property together : in the first place, it was the wish 
 of your good mother, who had done every thing in her power, to 
 assist you all, that it should remain in the hands of one of the 
 children, and James was the one she named, as he was the old- 
 est son. It was her lot to die and be buried in Asheville ; it is 
 my wish also to lie by the side of her and my mother, in the 
 small space of ground which is laid off for that purpose. Ano- 
 ther was, that when your mother died, ^-our two youngest sisters 
 had not received their education, the youngest being at that time 
 only twelve years ot age. Your brother James gratified my 
 wishes in giving them excellent opportunities of improvement in 
 Salem, Philadelphia and Nashville, which was attended with 
 considerable expense; and his house, subsequent to that time, 
 was the same to them that it had been before your mother's 
 death ; they w^ere both married there without any cost or ex- 
 pense. Besides, it is a pleasant place for the family to meet to- 
 gether and enjoy sociality and friendship, and has been, and is 
 at this time, a place of refuge for some of the connexion who 
 have been unfortunate. These considerations afford me a great 
 deal of pleasure, and at the very moment 1 am writing this sen- 
 tence, I can look through my window and view the spot where 
 I will soon repose ; and how happy would be my transit from 
 this world of toil and pain, if I were certain you would all do 
 well. Altliough I have often erred, still I am pleased that God 
 has blessed my weak means, and enabled me (at the advanced 
 age of 84 years) to give you some advice for your good. And 
 may the God of Grace, cheer and support me until the time of 
 our separation on earth, and give me a life of blessed immortality 
 beyond the grave. That you may live in peace and harmony 
 with each other, and so spend your lives in this world, that you 
 will be prepared for that which is to come, is the wish of your 
 affectionate father, 
 
 JAMES PATTON. 
 
 Asheville, N. C, March 1839. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A LIST OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JAMES PATTON, WHOSE 
 NARRATIVE IS ANNEXED, 
 
 Thomas Patton, his oldest brother, married Jane Shaw in Ireland, 
 came to this country early, by assistance of his brother JairiPs, and 
 died in Coffey County, Tennessee, where his widow is now (1844) 
 still livine^. They had issue, now llvino^, Neely S. Patton of Ten- 
 nessee, James Patton, jr., of Philadelphia, John Patton, of Ten- 
 nessee, William Patton, of Charleston, Daniel Patton and Mary 
 Anne, (Searcy) of Missouri. 
 
 William Pattox, his second brother, lived and died a bacheloi*. 
 
 James Pattox, whose narrative is annexed, was the third brother, 
 
 John Patton, the fourth brother, settledand died in the Calhoun set- 
 tlement, Abbeville District, S. C. 
 
 Daniel Patton, the fiflh brother, died in Bedford County, Tennes- 
 see, leaving two children. 
 
 Neely Patton, the sixth brother, went to the East-Indies, in the East 
 India Company's service, and afterwards returned and lived near 
 London; having a family. 
 
 Joseph Patton, the seventh brother, died in Asheville, N. C. 
 
 George Patton, the eighth brother, died near Franklin, Macon Coun- 
 ty, N. C, in 1843, leaving several sons and daughters; one daugh- 
 ter married to Col. Moore of Franklin. 
 
 The following letter gives the family of his sister, 
 
 Rosanna Patton, who married a Mr. Campbell, of Pcnuoylvania. 
 
 Dear Brother, — You desired me to send you an account of my chil- 
 dren, their wives, &c.; we unite in tendering our thanks to cousin 
 William Patton for his kind -.cs-* in remembering us, may he be blessed 
 in all things that are lawful and right. 1 will now commence giving 
 you an account, as near as I can, according to his request. 
 
 Elizabeth, my eldest daughter, is in her o4th year, married to Alex. 
 Young, their children's names, &c., are John, (married to Ann M'Leod 
 and they have had four children, two living and two dead,) Samuel, 
 (he is dead,) Alexander, William, James, Thomas, Isaac and Hugh, 
 sons ; Elizabeth and Mary, daughters. 
 
 James Patton Campbell, my second, is in his 52d year — Marga- 
 ret Hoover, his wife ; their children's names are Samuel, Susannah, 
 Rosy, Jane, W^ashington, Elizabeth, Archibald, Angeline, and James 
 Franklin. 
 
30 APPENDIX. 
 
 Archibald, my 3d, is in his 49th year — Esther Hutcheson his wife ; 
 their chihiren's names are William Hutcheson, (W. H. is married, to 
 Margaret Meals, daughter of Daniel Meals, &c.) Samuel A., Margaret 
 Moorhead, Robert, Rosy Jane, Euphemia, James Patton, George 
 Washington, David Fowler, (one dead between Jas. P. and Geo. W.) 
 
 Barbara, my 4th, her age is 47, married to Samuel Bell ; their chil- 
 dren are James Campbell, Samuel, Rosy Ann, Archibald, Martha 
 Jane, and Erwin, (five dead, names in part unknown.) 
 
 Jenny, my oth, her age 45, married to Fergus Hutcheson ; their 
 children are William, Margaret Jane, Samuel Campbell, Robert, Rosy 
 Ann, Esther, Isabella, (three dead, names unknown.) 
 
 Polly, my 6th, her age 43, married to Robert Donaldson ; their 
 children are Samuel Campbell, Eliza Jane, Isabella, Rosy Ann, Mar- 
 garet, Andrew Patton, James Campbell. * 
 
 RosANNA, my 7th and last, her age 41, married to Andrew Donald- 
 son, Esq.; their children are Isabella Sprout, Rosy Anne, Samuel 
 Campbell, Margaret Jane, Catherine, Fergus Hutcheson, Henderson, 
 John Bredin. 
 
 Dear Brothe?-, — When you write, I wish you to give some particu- 
 lar account of W. Patton and Andrew ; we are more particularly ac- 
 quainted with them. In particular, Archibald my son, wishes to know 
 how they, W. and A., are employed. 
 
 I now tell you, I send you a remembrance of me, a knot of my hair 
 blossoming for the grave ; it is said the hoary head is a crown of glory, 
 if it be found in the way of" righteousness. May mine so be found. 
 I remain your affectionate sister, 
 
 ROSANNA CAMPBELL. 
 
 Dear Uncle, — I and my wife and children, send our best wishes to 
 you and yours; may we have a joyful prospect in life, and a gloi'ious 
 immortality beyond the grave. Your nephew, niece, and their chil- 
 dren. — Farewell ! 
 
 ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL. 
 James Patton. 
 
 Family of Jane Patton, (sister of .Tames Patton,) living in 1847 in 
 Tennesssee, who married Col. Andrew Erwin, born in Wythe 
 County, Va., August 8th 1773, died in Bedford County, Tenn., 
 April 19th 1834. 
 Mrs. Jane Ekwin, born in Ireland, May 1770. 
 
 John P. Erwin, their eldest son, born in Wilkes County, N. C, 
 Jaimary 8th 1795, was married .lune 13th 1815, to Fanny L. Williams, 
 daughter of Col. Joseph Williams, of Surry County, N. C, and sister 
 of the Hon. John Williams formerly Senator in Congress from Ten- 
 nessee, and the Hon. Lewis Williams formerly Representative in 
 Congress from North-Caro ina. 'J'heir present living descendants are, 
 Frances Laura Erwin, who was born March 2::Jd 1816, and mar- 
 ried in April 1834 to William J. Ledyard, a merchant of Mobile, Al., 
 where she now resides. 
 
APPENDIX. 31 
 
 Rebecca Jane Erwin, Lorn in September 1819, and married in Ju- 
 ly 1S43 to Francis Gofi', Attorney at Law. and Solicitor or States Attor- 
 ney for one of the Judicial Districts of Tennessee, resides at Win- 
 chester. 
 
 Amelia Erwin, born in 1821, and maiTied in the summer of 1838 
 to William T. Yeatman — son of Thomas Yeatman by his first wife 
 Miss Beckwith, they reside m the neighborhood of Nashville. 
 
 Ellen Erwin, aged about 17 years. Mary Erwin, aged about 15 
 years. Caroline Erwin, aged about 12 years. 
 
 Ja:mes Erwix — their second son was born October 21st, 1796, and 
 married to Ann Brown Clay, daughter of the Hon. Henry Clay, Octo- 
 ber 21st, 1823, who died in December, 1835. Their present living 
 descendants, are — 
 
 Henry Clay Erwin, aged about 17 years. James Erwin, aged 
 about 15 years. Lucretia Hart Clay Erwin, aged about 14 years. 
 Andrew Eugene Erwin, aged about 12 years. Charles Edward 
 Erwin, aged about 9 years. 
 
 J.\MES Erwix, was married a second time in Februai'y 1843 to Miss 
 Margaret Johnson — daughter of Capt. Henry Johnson and niece of the 
 Hon. Richard M. J ohnson of Kentucky. They have a daughter named 
 Julia Elizabeth, born in February, 1844. 
 
 Jane Erwin, their eldest daughter was bora October 22d, 1798, and 
 married to Thomas Yeatman, a merchant and private banker of Nash- 
 ville in September, 1817. Mr. Yeatman died on the 12th June 1833, 
 leaving by this marriage the following descendants, viz : 
 
 James Erwin Yeatman, born August 27th, 1818 and raamed in the 
 fall of 1838, to Miss Charlotte Angelica Thompson of Baltimore — 
 he now resides in St. Louis. 
 
 Emma Yeatman, born in July 1822, and married in January 1842, 
 to Col. Thomson T. Player of South-Carolina, a widower, and fonner 
 son-in-law of Gen. Wade Hampton. 
 
 Thomas Yeatma^n, born July 20th, 1827. 
 Henry Clay Yeatman, aged about 13 years. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Yeatman, was married a second time in November 1835 
 to the Hon. John Bell, then Speaker of the House of Representatives 
 in Congress — and since. Secretary at War, by whom she had 2 chil- 
 di'en, (viz:) 
 
 Jane Erwin Bell, aged about 7 yeai-s. Ann Loraine Bell, aged 
 about 4 years. 
 
 Andrew Erwin, Junr., third son, was born May 27th, 1800, and mar- 
 ried October 12th, 1820 to Miss Elvira Julia Searcy daughter of 
 Major Robert Searcy of Nashvillo, who died in August 1820. Major 
 Searcy was an Aid-de-camp of Gen. Jackson, in the Creek War; 
 Clerk of the Federal Court at Nashville, and President of the Branch 
 of the old State Bank at Nashville. Elvira Julia Erwin, the wife of 
 Andrew Erwin, died at Nashville July 6th 1838. They have the fol- 
 lowing descendants now livino-, viz: 
 
 Frances Ann Erwin, born F^duuary 23d 1823, and married in Sep- 
 tember 2d, 1841, to William H. Pope, youngest son of Col. Leroy 
 Pope of Huntsville, Alabama. Elizabeth Jane Erwin, born March 
 12th, 1825. Henry Hitchcock Erwin, born May 13th, 1827. Thomas 
 
32 
 
 APPEXDIX. 
 
 Yeatman Ervvin, born December 21st, 1829. James Porter Erwin, 
 born July 27th 1832. 
 
 Andrew Erwin, had two other sons, and a <i»ughter that died, as 
 follows : 
 
 His eldest son Robert. S. Erwin, born September 9th, 1821, died 
 -December 7th, 1842. 
 
 His yomigest son Andrew Patton Erwin, born August 22d, 1836, 
 died July 19th, 1837. 
 
 His youngest daughter Elvira Julia Erwin, born June 25th, 1838, 
 died June 7th, 1839. 
 
 Anne Erwin, second daughter was born December 30th, 1803, and 
 married on the 11th October, 1821, to Henry Hitchcock, son of Judge 
 Samuel Hitchcock, and grandson of Gen. Ethan Allen of Vermont of 
 Revolutionary notoriety. Mr. Hitchcock was at the time of his 7Tiar- 
 riage Attorney General of Alabama, and afterwards one of the Judges 
 of the Supreme Court of that State. He died of Yellow fever in 
 Mobile in August 1839. Their descendants now living, are — 
 
 Caroline Lorraine Hitchcock, aged about 19 years. Henry Hitch- 
 cock, aged about 15 years. Andrew Erwin Hitchcock, aged about 13 
 years. Ethan Edward Hitchcock, aged about 9 years. 
 
 George Washington Erwin, fourth son was born June 16th, 1805, 
 and has never married. He now resides in Barren County Kentucky, 
 and is manufacturing salt. 
 
 Isaac Hkvlin Erwiiv, fifth son, was born May 1st, 1807, and mar- 
 ried March 2d, 1831, to Miss Rebecca James of Clarke County, Ala- 
 bama. He died in Clarke County Alabama in October, 1843 — leaving 
 the following living descendants. 
 
 Mary Jane Erwin, aged about 12 years. Thomas James Erwin, 
 aged about 10 years. Anna Maria Erwin, aged about 8 years. Char- 
 lotte Erwin, aged about 5 years. Emma Elvira Erwin, aged about 3 
 years. 
 
 Mary Ann Erwin, the youngest daughter was born 9th September, 
 1810, and married to James Porter, brother of Judge Alexander 
 Porter, former Senator in Congress from Louisiana, on the 20th Sep- 
 tember, 1832. She died at Smithland, Kentucky on her way from 
 Louisiana to Tennessee, in July 1836, and her only child a daughter 
 about 10 months old, died about a week after her. Mr. Porter has 
 since married a Miss Walton. 
 
 The great grand-children of iMrs. Jane Erwin, now living, are — 
 
 Francis L. Jjodyard, aged about 8 years. John E. Lcdyard, aged 
 about 4 years. William Ledyjird, aged about 6 months. Thomas 
 Yeatman, son of William T., aged about 5 years. William Eugene 
 Yeatman, aged about 2 years. .Tames Alexander Yeatman, son of 
 James E. Yeatman, aged about 5 years. Charlotte Angelica Yeat- 
 man, aged about 2 years. * Jane l?ell Yeatman, aged about 6 months. 
 Thomas Y. Player, son of T. T. Player, aged about 18 months. 
 
 Recapitulation ot the living descendants of Mrs. Jane Erwin. 
 
 4 sons 2 daughters — Total G. 6. grand-children, descendants of 
 John P. Erwin. 6 do, do. of James Erwin. 6 do. do. of 
 Mrs. Jane Bell. 5 do. do. of Andrew Erwin. 4 do. do. of 
 Mrs. Anne Hitchcock. 5 do. do. of Isaac H. Erwin. — Total 32. 
 
APPENDIX. 33 
 
 3 great grand-children, descendants of VVm. J. Lcdyard. 2 do. do. 
 of Win. T. Yeatman. 3 do. do. of .Tamos E. Yeatman. 1 do. 
 do. of T. T. Playi^^Total 0. Grand Total 47. 
 
 There are also 3 Im^ daughters-in-law ; and 2 living sons-in-law; 
 and 5 living grand sons-in-law ; and 1 living grand daughters-in-law. 
 Total 11. 
 ♦ .July Cth, 1844. A. ERWIN. 
 
 The following extract of a letter fi-om and old old gentleman named 
 John Patton, a resident then of London, who had wiitten to William 
 Patton, of Charleston, to inquire after a son of his ; and of whom Wil- 
 liam Patton made some in(juiry, as to his uncle Cornelius ; gives the 
 family geneaology, which may be amusing to those of the same name. 
 
 "Dalston Rise, near London, 9t7i July 1828. 
 
 # # * # « Ag tjj tijg Pattons, there are others — as Peyton, Payton, 
 an Admiral Peyton, witliout arms. Patin, the Guy Patin, famous 
 French Physician. Patten, the Lancashire and Lincolnshire family, 
 one many years ago Lord of the Manor of Stoke, Newington, and re- 
 paired the Church at his own expense. One within these few years 
 sat in Parhament, and afterwards as Patten Bold. A daughter since 
 his decease, married to an Italian Prince, but not our family arms, 
 motto diiferent. The Pattons or Patons are originally Scotch, found 
 wherever they are ; there are two families — arms the same, one with 
 the addition of a sword, motto to the same effect, one ' virtute adepta,' 
 the other 'virtute Laudando;' one from Kinaldy or Kincaldie, the 
 other Ferrochie — crests, a sparrow hawk perching proper, with wings 
 expanded." — Pout's Manuscript, or Nesbit, 41 & 247. 
 
 " The Pattons have been extended in my time, one was with Nelson 
 in the battle of the Nile, afterwards an Admiral, and Lord of the Ad- 
 miralty. I have not met or heard of your uncle Cornelius. I forgot 
 to say, reading that the Dukes of Devonshire, were from the daughter 
 of John Patton of Suffolk, Lord of Cavendish ; and Roger de Ga.rnon, 
 who came over with William the Conqueror. I referred to the history 
 of the peerage, and the spelling found different in the body and index; a 
 reference to manuscript can only clear that up. His Lordship was a 
 Patton or Patten. It would bo desirable to see the arms of Cavendish 
 at the time." 
 
 The relative who attended to the printing of this Narrative, (which 
 is intended only for the fiimily and a few friends) was desirous of add- 
 ing a more extended list of each brother and sister's family, and wrote 
 to several persons to procure it. Having failed to obtain more than 
 the two which are annexed, he only gave a short account of the others, 
 fearing he might not be accurate, if he attempted more. 
 
 The remains of James Patton are interred in the beautiful burial 
 ground of the Presbyterian Church in the village of Asheville, N. C, 
 which gi-ound he had presented to the Church ; and in the spot he had 
 
34 APPENDIX. 
 
 long before pointed out, which is marked with a plain marble obelisk, 
 bearing this inscription : 
 
 " In memory of James Patton, born 13th ^^^ 1756, in County Der- 
 ry, Ireland; died at Asheville, N. C, 9th September 1845, in the 90th 
 year of his age. He was the fovmder of his family in America ; an ho- 
 nest and persevering man, accumulating much property without grind- 
 ing the poor — prudently assisting his poor relations, as well as bringiif^ 
 forward in the world many deserving young men." 
 
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