Age - Age 21-40

Section -

ID - 66
Birth -1780
Death -1814

Gender - Male

Veteran -

Data -

[1] Merchant. John Patterson and Company 3500 wt Cheese
3000 wt Soal Lether
Shirting
80 pairs of shoes
20 boxes candle soap
20 barrels whiskey
Quantity of bar iron

[2 ] “I have in my possession a letter written by Ann J. Carter, great-niece of John Patterson from which I have selected interesting facts, and have not quoted the letter verbatim.

“John Patterson never married but lived with his sister, Mrs. John James, wife of   Captain John James of Matthews County, on what was known then as “Gunnery   Green”.  Captain John James owned three vessels the “Contented”, the “Anne Elizabeth” and the “Delight”.  Most of Captain James’ voyages were to the West   Indian Islands from Cuba down to the smallest.

“There is nothing left at “Gunnery Green” of the lovely gardens which were filled with lilies, roses, larkspurs, hollyhocks, and periwinkle.  These gardens extended to the spring, which is known as “Gunnery Spring” and still furnishes delicious, healthy water.  This spring is southeast of Fredericksburg and on the outskirts of the town.  There is no trace left of the old Patterson home, but in those days the Elite of Fredericksburg would assemble on the “Gunnery Green” and  have pleasant chats and a cup of tea.

“John Patterson was a very successful merchant on Main Street.  In the War of  1812, when the British were expected to land at Acquia Creek and march to   Fredericksburg, John Patterson with a company of volunteers went to repel the invaders.  He was taken with camp fever and brought home ill.  He told Mrs. James (his sister) that he never expected to marry but that he wanted to live for her sake and her children.  He died at the age of thirty-four and had a  grand funeral for he was very popular.

“We can visualize on the “Gunnery Green”, (in 1814) a beautiful garden of flowers the long porch to the house where Mr. Patterson resided, crowded with Masons and other citizens.  Their servants Matilda and her brother Jared with tears streaming down their cheeks, carrying around waiters of wine.  As was the custom at that time, the glasses tied around the stems with crape, and cake in papers sealed with black sealing wax.  In great solemnity, the funeral guest drank the wine and ate the cake.  Then a procession was formed and all that remained of  John Patterson was born to Saint George’ss Episcopal graveyard by the music of the drum and fife playing the sweet mournful strains of “Rosalin Castle” and there interred with Masonic rites.

“John Patterson’s grave is marked by a medium height brown stone with a fluted top, about ten feet from the alley, in the middle of the graveyard, and the following inscription:  marked number 6.”

Sources

[1] Virginia Herald 12/10/1805. 1×1

[2] Sue Gordon on Patterson http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/fredericksburg/cemeteries/stgeorgesch.txt

Notes