Pattinson, James

Published: 10 Feb 2014
Updated: 5 Aug 2017
Editor: Teresa Rust

Name Variations:
Pattison, Patterson, Paterson, Pattershin

SPOW Y-DNA Study:
GOLD for Worcester SPOW on the ketch, John & Sara.
2-A. Patterson, Pattison – James Pattison, Billerica, Massachusetts, 1658; died 1701
Kit #44373, John Paterson, 1763 Gaspe, Quebec, Canada – Haplogroup – R-M269

Descendants and Researchers:
Kevin Patterson – – Direct Descendant
Patrick Patterson – – Direct Descendant

Patrick’s Book, Pattersons and Mareans: Seeding the American Revolution is now available at Amazon.com!

First Generation in the New World

1. JAMES¹ PATTERSON, “Scotchman,” was born in Scotland about 1633 and died at Billerica, Massachusetts on 14 June 1701 (one record says July 14 1700 which is wrong). He married, at Cambridge/Billerica on 29 May 1662, REBECKA STEVENSON.

Biographical Notes:
1. I recently published a book outlining the descendants of James Paterson who arrived in Boston on board the John and Sara, 1652. The title of the book is:
Pattersons and Mareans: Seeding the American Revolution by Patrick Arthur Patterson. The book can be ordered at Outskirts Press at the following site: http://outskirtspress.com/bookstore/details/9781478771241. I’ve outlined the descendants of James Paterson [1633-1701] that eventually moved to western Massachusetts just prior to the American Revolution. I’ve included some information about Mr. Thomas Kembel and his death after the prisoners from the John and Sara were delivered to him, and his activities on the Oyster River Plantation in New Hampshire. Kembel later moved back to Massachusetts and was killed by Indians there. The Patterson descendants from James Paterson, specifically Amos Patterson, eventually moved into south central NY following the American Revolution, and marry into the Thomas Marean family, descending from Dorman Morris Marean who we find in Boston around the same time that James Paterson arrives in Boston. The Patterson and Marean families fought during the French and Indian War, the Colonial Indian Wars, the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the American Civil War and were some of the first settlers in south central New York following the American Revolution as part of the “Boston Purchase” of over 250,000 acres of land there. I’ve also discovered James Paterson’s connection with the Salem Witch Trials as he was a Constable at the time and served some of the process during the trial. I think I have documented the James Paterson family as much as possible, but unfortunately, I was never successful in linking him to a family or particular location in Scotland. I hope the publication will have some interest for this group. ~ Pat Patterson
2. James Pattison Biography by Pat Patterson
3. Will is dated 12 May 1701 and date of death in inventory is clearly 14 JUNE 1701. His “loving brother-in-law” mentioned in his will is Andrew Stevenson. His wife in the will is Rebecka. Probate seems to be administered in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Served in Colonial Military in 1676. “James Patterson 1690” probate record “Record of Deed from George Farley dated June 3, 1690.” In the “Massachusetts: Miscellaneous Censuses Substitutes, 1630–1788, 1840, 1890 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. From records supplied by Ancestry.com)” he is in Billerica in 1661 as “James Paterson.”

Children of James and Rebecka (Stevenson) Paterson:
2. i. MARY PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 22 Aug 1666.
2. ii. JAMES PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 28 Feb 1668; d. at Billerica on 3 Oct 1677.
2. iii. ANDREW² PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 4 Apr 1672.
2. iv. JOHN PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 8 Apr 1675.
2. v. JOSEPH PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 1 Feb 1677.
2. vi. REBECKA PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 18 Jul 1680.
2. vii. JAMES PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 13 Apr 1683.
2. viii. JONATHAN PATERSON, (James¹), b. at Billerica on 31 Feb 1685.

SOURCES AND NOTES:
Children’s births: “Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).” “Billerica Births”

The Last Will and Testament of James Paterson Aged about 68:

Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620-1775. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013).

Added: 11 Feb 2014 by Patrick Patterson
James Pattison Biography

Constructed from the Genealogy of the Patterson Family by D. Williams Patterson [1824-1892][1] of Newark Valley, NY and my rough research notes.

James Patterson was a native of Scotland, and was born about 1633. He was one of the prisoners of ware taken by Cromwell, probably at the battle of Worcester, 3 September 1651. These prisoners were sold as bond-servants by the English government and a large number of them were sent to New England in the ship “John and Sarah,” of London, Captain John Green, master: they embarked 6 November 1651, probably sailed 14 November 1651, and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, probably early in the following May, as on 13 May 1652, the list of servants sent on board the ship was recorded in Boston. In 1658 he was a resident of Billerica, Massachusetts [a small village 20 miles north northwest of Boston], as he then received a grant of land from that town. Between 1658 and 1685 he received sixteen different grants of land from the town of Billerica. In 1651 his name appears upon the town records in a vote of proprietors. He married 29 May 1662, Rebecca Stevenson, before “Thomas Danforth, Esq.” She was the daughter of Andrew Stevenson of Cambridge, and was born about 1642.

“At a meeting of Selectmen & Committee of Militia held October 8, 1675, In pursuance of an order from the Hon. Council sent unto them,” twelve garrisons were formed in Billerica. They appoint James Patersons house for garrison and to entertain John Baldwin, Edward & Thomas Farmer, Henery & John Jeffts & two soldiers. 8 soldiers & 4 families.” He was admitted freeman 18 April 1690. His will was dated 12 May 1701, and he died in Billerica 14 July 1701, aged about sixty-eight years, according to the town records, but his inventory states that he died 14 June 1701. He had eight children, Mary Patterson [4666-1688-9]; James Patterson [1668-9-1677]; Andrew Patterson [1672-aft. 1707]; John Patterson [1675-unknown]; Joseph Patterson [1677-8- abt. 1736-7]; Rebecca Patterson [1680-1683]; James Patterson [1683-aft. 1735]; and Jonathan Patterson [1685-6-1718].

The spelling of James Patterson is found in various forms in the early history of the American Colonies. The first reference I located listed James Pattison [a common derivation of the Patterson/Paterson name][2] was in a list of passengers aboard the English ship John & Sara departing London approximately 11 November 1651 and arriving in Boston early in 1652 [probably May 1652]. James Patterson was one of approximately 272 prisoners onboard the John & Sara that were captured by Oliver Cromwell’s forces during the Battle of Worcester, England 3 Sept 1651. That battle ended the English Civil War and the prisoners were not treated well as a result of the loyalty to King Charles II and their treason to the English king. Following their capture many of the prisoners who survived the march to London and their brief imprisonment there, were sold as indentured laborers and sent to the new colonies in North America, Bermuda, and the West Indies as well as Ireland.[3] The John & Sara was the second ship transporting prisoners from the Battle of Worcester [1651] and the Battle of Dunbar [1650] to Boston. The first ship, the Unity, containing approximately 150 prisoners departed England shortly after receiving their sailing orders 11 Nov 1650. Many of these men were taken to work locations throughout New England.[4] When captured and sold into servitude, James Pattison was merely nineteen or twenty years of age. I am sure none of the men who fought with James Pattison at Worcester ever expected to see London let alone ending up in a strange new land just being developed in the Americas. It must have been like going to the moon in the 1650s in terms of the hostile nature of their new environment in new world.

There were two individuals on board the John & Sara using the names James Pattison and David Patterson. There were no other Patterson name derivations listed in this ship’s manifest or the ship that preceded them from London.[5] He is later referred to as James Patterson in various publications, as well as the spelling Paterson[6] in his death record 14 July 1700.[7] Massachusetts marriage records of James Paterson and Rebecca Stevenson spell the name Paterson[8] and Henry Hazen’s publication on the history of Billerica, Massachusetts [a small village in Middlesex County, MA about 20 miles north-northwest of Boston] spells the name Paterson and Patterson referring to the same individual at different locations in the book.[9] It is fairly clear from the reading of Hazen’s history of Billerica, MA, there is probably only one James Patterson there during the early years of the New England colony, and he figured prominently in the history of Billerica. It is also clear this individual was sold into servitude and arrived in Boston at the end of 1651 to early 1652. I will use the spelling Patterson from this point further in that the spelling of the descendants were consistent from 1700 on, unless written records are specific.

At present I am uncertain to who James Patterson was bonded to once he reached Massachusetts, the manifest only noted the prisoners were to be delivered to a Thomas Kemble of Boston/Charlestown, MA for disposition. The term or servitude was probably around seven years. I am also not able to determine the family he descended from in Scotland.