James Patterson
James Patterson
| Born | Scotland |
| Died | 1701-06-14 Billerica, MA |
| Constable | |
| In Office | 1692 - 1692 |
| Spouses |
Rebecca Stevenson |
| Children | John (b. 1675-04-08) |
James Patterson (Hazen writes Paterson) was a Scot who became one of the first settlers of Billerica and whose house was the most northerly of the town's garrisons in King Philip's War. He was taken prisoner by Cromwell's army at the battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651, put on a ship for New England two months later, and landed at Charlestown in May 1652. He was born about 1633; his will of 1701 calls him "Aged about 68."
He was in Billerica by 1658, when the town granted him a six-acre right. His house lot was "thirty and two acres of land ... on ye North side of ye Township, on ye West side of ye highway called long street," with John Baldwin on the south and Thomas Hubbard on the north, running back to the Concord River. It took in the later farms of the Abbotts and of William F. Sanborn, the land between Boston Road, La Salette Road and the river. On May 29, 1662, at Cambridge, he married Rebecca Stevenson of Cambridge. Their children, all born in Billerica, were Mary (1666); James (1668/9), who died in 1677; Andrew (1672), a tailor, who married in Charlestown in 1697 and later went to sea and never returned; John (1675); Joseph (1677/8), a tailor in Watertown, who died in 1736; Rebecca (1680); James (1683), who died in Groton in 1737; and Jonathan (1685/6).
When the Council ordered the frontier towns into garrisons in October 1675, the Billerica selectmen named "James Patterson's house for garrison & to entertaine John Baldwin, Edward & Thos. Farmer, Henery & John Jeffs & two soldiers; 8 soldiers & 4 families" (see Patterson Garrison and King Philip's War). The house was never attacked. He was a constable in 1692.
Patterson made his will on May 12, 1701. It left his wife Rebecca the use of the whole estate for four years and then divided it among her and the children, with a double portion to Andrew. The inventory, taken July 9, 1701, begins with "The Homestead 30 acres, with one acre at ye east end of ye house, with the housing, orchard, and ye 6 acre towne privilidg," valued at 50 pounds. The town record of his death reads July 14, "aged about 68," under the year 1700, which cannot be right since he made his will in May 1701; the will was proved on August 13, 1701. In 1707 Andrew sold "The Homested or house Lott" that "formerly belonged unto my Father James Paterson Deceased" to John Wilson Jr., and Hazen found that the family had left the town before 1730.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 107, PATERSON 1
- Vital Records of Billerica to 1850, deaths p. 382 (James Paterson, July 14, a. abt. 68)
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1666 | Deed | Caleb Beal of Hingham | Samuel Manning of Billerica | abutter on the south | Samuel Manning Homestead Pemberton Academy Dr. Harlin Pillsbury House |
3/214 (South) |
For "a valluable Summe of money," "One messuage or tenement ... conteyning one dwelling house with thirty two acres of land, be it more or less, adjoyning to the same, bounded by long street east, James Paterson south, Jno. Rogers Senr North, the great River West, which land was granted by the Towne of Billerica to Thomas Hubbard now deceased," with Hubbard's other upland and meadow lots and the privileges of his six-acre lot, except thirteen and a half acres in the great common field that Hubbard had sold to John Rogers Jr. Dated 1666, recorded 1667. Billerica town book 1, pages 32-33. The deed shows that a dwelling house already stood here by 1666 and that James Patterson's house lot was the next lot to the south.
Title passed to:
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| 1701 | Will | Estate of James Patterson of Billerica, "Scotchman" | His widow Rebecca Patterson (executrix) and children, son Andrew a double portion | Details | Joshua Abbott House William F. Sanborn House |
Probate #17047 |
Will of James Patterson, "Aged about 68," dated May 12, 1701 and proved Aug. 13, 1701: his wife Rebecca to have the use of the whole estate for four years, then the estate divided among the widow and children, "my son Andrew shall have a double portion," the widow keeping half the housing, half the hop-ground and ten barrels of cider a year. The inventory of July 9, 1701 (he died June 14, 1701) begins with "The Homestead 30 acres, with one acre at ye east end of ye house, with the housing, orchard, and ye 6 acre towne privilidg" at 50 pounds. Patterson, a Scot captured at Worcester in 1651, had this house lot from the town; in 1675 his house was the most northerly of the town's garrisons.
Title passed to:
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| March 18, 1707 | Deed | Andrew Patterson of Billerica, tailor, and Elizabeth his wife | John Wilson Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | former owner (father of the grantor) | Joshua Abbott House William F. Sanborn House |
14/244 (South) |
For 95 pounds, several tracts "which formerly belonged unto my Father James Paterson Deceased," first "The Homested or house Lott Containing Thirty acres be it more or less, bounded on ye North by ye Land of Ensign Samuel Manning and John Paterson, and East by ye Country Road, and by ye West End of John Patersons orchard bounded South by ye Land of John Baldwin, and West by Concord River," with an acre east of the road, 25 acres in the common field west of the river, several meadows "With all the buildings, Fences, Trees" and a six-acre town right. Dated March 15, 1706/7; acknowledged and recorded March 18, 1706/7. Billerica town book 1, pages 377-380.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.