Benjamin Patterson

Fought in the American Revolution

see FAMILY TREE

FATHER

John Patterson

MOTHER

Mary Curtiss

WIFE

Elizabeth Abigail Safford

CHILDREN

1. John Patterson 
    b. 16 July 1775
    m. Mar 1797 Jane Burney
    m. 30 Nov 1804 Alley Rice
    d. Aft. 1828

2. Lucretia Patterson 
    b. 02 July 1777
    m. 28 Feb 1795 John Shepherd
    m. 10 Oct 1815 James G Jones
    d. Aft. 1817

3. Benning Patterson 
    b. 23 July 1779
    d. 14 April 1807

4. Elizabeth Patterson 
    b. 02 July 1781
    m. 29 Jul 1799 Francis Hudson
    m. 9 Sep 1823 Robert Rogers

5. Challes Patterson   
    b. 13 Nov 1783
    d. 1793

6. Rebeckah Patterson 
    b. 07 May 1786
    m. 7 Sep 1804 Benjamin Myers
    d. 24 Mar 1807

7. Hiram Patterson
    b. 04 May 1789
    d. 1807

8. Isaac Patterson 
    b. 07 April 1791
    m. Elizabeth Compton
    d. 3 Jan 1833   

9.  Sophia Patterson 
    b. 22 Nov 1794
    m. 4 Aug 1810 David Curtis
    d. 25 Jan 1837

10.Challes Patterson 
    b. 06 June 1799

Benjamin Patterson
by Susan Brooke
April 2023 

Benjamin Patterson is one of our most interesting ancestors.  He lived in seven different states in addition to two years in Canada.  And every time he moved, he reinvented himself.  He was born Jan 15, 1752 in Stratford, Ct., the 12th and last child of John and Mary Patterson. (1) On 27 Jan 1771 he was in Westminster, New Hampshire/New York. Benjamin Patterson, his father, John Patterson and brother Isaac Patterson  all signed a petition to the King pleading for relief from the "poverty, distress and ruin" resulting from having their land deemed in the jurisdiction of New York rather than New Hampshire.  By Nov 1771 he and his brother had moved to Piermont, Grafton,  New Hampshire. (2)  When Benjamin was twenty-two, he married Elizabeth Abigail Safford on July 21, 1774 in Rockingham, VT. (3)  Between 1778 and 1781 there are at least 30 land transactions involving Benjamin Patterson.  For instance in Dec 1778 Benjamin Patterson, Gentleman, bought one piece of property in Peacham, VT for £15 and turned around and on the same day sold that same land for £150.  (4)
Benjamin Patterson was fighting in the American Revolution at that point.  He joined his brother, Ephraim Patterson's, company on April 1, 1778 fighting under Colonel Timothy Bedel. (5)  Col. Bedel had been instructed to go to Upper Coos in 1778, and take proper men to go into Canada, and bring back all the intelligence which they could gather.
Benjamin left the service in March of 1779.  He bought a 400 acre farm on June 5 for £180 which was most likely his homestead. Then things began to change.  He was still purchasing and selling properties at an amazing clip.  He still had turnovers where he made a good profit.   He was a respected member of the community.  However, he was running up creditors.  In March of 1781 he signed an unusual deed  in which he gave his homestead of 400 acres to his father with provision his father keep the land from being attached by his creditors. (4) Then, on the same day his father, John Patterson, sold this same land to Betsey, the wife of Benjamin Patterson and then  Benjamin Patterson, Gentleman, sold the land to Jonathan Moulton. Benjamin Patterson was accused of selling the land twice and landed in jail. (6)  Finally his father, John Patterson,  sold the same land to Jonathan Moulton on condition that they would then be free from all claims and demands. (4) 
When he got out of jail Benjamin left the area and went to Canada.  He had been up there with his army unit in 1778 fighting against the British and already knew about "gathering intelligence."  This time he was gathering intelligence for the British. Vermont was in a turmoil after the Revolution and the Pattersons were caught in a land dispute between Vermont and New York. As stated,. he and his father and brother had signed a petition in 1771. (7)  Vermont would not be allowed to join the Union unless they ceded land to New York.  The people in Vermont also feared the Canadians would try to take over their land.  Thus some men in Vermont were sent to Quebec as spies.  Benjamin Patterson may have been in Quebec as a spy for the people in Vermont. However, in June of 1781 he wrote a memorandum detailing the combat readiness in Vermont.  (8) He was also listed as a loyalist ranger at Fort St Johns with a wife and four children receiving Canadian government goods from Dec 25, 1781 to Jan 24, 1782. (9) In May  of 1782 Col. Bedell (Benjamin Patterson's military commander) and Isaac Patterson (brother to Benjamin Patterson) were among those accused of doubtful loyalty to the American cause.  (10)  On July 28,1782 Benjamin Patterson gave a certificate of his loyalty (to the King) at St. John's. (11) And, he acted in a manner that was loyal to the Canadians. (12) On the other hand, in 1782 Benjamin Patterson wrote to his brother Isaac "Don't fail the Rev."  (13)  He may have been in Quebec simply because of all his debts.
By 1783 Benjamin had left Canada and moved to Athens, Bradford County, PA. He was the only white man in the area. (14) He was probably an Indian trader. (15)   He purchased some land on June 8, 1785. (16) And once again he was involved in a land dispute.   The land had been claimed from both Pennsylvania and Connecticut grants.  There was unrest and riots that became known at the "Pennamite Wars."  Thomas Pickering was sent to settle the disputes and after careful scrutiny sided with the Pennsylvania grants. Benjamin Patterson's land had been part of the Connecticut grants and Benjamin became so angry that he "with two other men took Mr. Pickering from his bed at night, and conveyed him three or four miles into the woods, and bound him fast to a while oak sapling, and left him there to die of starvation.  After two or three days Patterson's conscience so worried him that he relented and unknown to his companions, he went and unbound him, setting him at liberty. " (17) On 7 Nov 1788 he sold his land for less than half the price he had paid for it and moved to Belpre. OH. (16)
The Ohio Company was creating settlements in Ohio and they recruited Benjamin Patterson as one of their rangers to help protect the settlers.  The rangers earned a dollar a day as opposed to the eighty-four cents standard pay of the United States government.  Benjamin Patterson and John Shepherd both joined the settlement at Belpe as rangers in 1790 shortly before the Indian massacre at Big Bottom, another settlement just 30 miles north of Belpre.  When news of this massacre reached Belpre the settlers decided they needed to build a group of block houses.  "There were thirteen in number, arranged in two rows, with a wide street between the upper story expending out over the lower floor thus forming a defense from which to protect the doors and windows below."   They were enclosed within a garrison and they named their community, "Farmer's Castle."  Benjamin Patterson and family lived in Cabin #12 along with three rangers, one of which was John Shepherd.  Benoni Hurlburt and his wife and four children also lived in Cabin #12.  Benoni was killed by the Indians in 1791. (18) In 1793 Benjamin's 10 year old son Challes died of small pox. (19) The Indian War was settled in 1794 and Benjamin Patterson left Belpre and settled in New Madrid, Missouri.  John Shepherd may have travelled with him for he married Benjamin's daughter Lucretia in Feb 1795 and their first son was born about 1796 in Missouri.

Benjamin Patterson had been a soldier in the American Revolution, a land speculator in New Hampshire, a British scout in Quebec, an Indian trader in Athen's, PA and a ranger hired to protect Belpre from Indian raids.  Then in 1797 Benjamin Patterson was in New Madrid, a Spanish Territory, where he opened the first farm on the road between Little Prairie and New Madrid. New Madrid had been formed in 1789 in the Spanish Territory.  It was ceded to France in 1801 and transferred again in 1804 to the United States.  Patterson settled on a grant on Lake St. Isidore. The document below shows that he owned 400 arpents. (20)   He had probably received this grant from the Governor of the territory subject to making improvements.
The 1797 crop failed and Benjamin Patterson was so sick in Sep 1800 that he asked Laforge to represent him when asking for title to his land. (21) Patterson apparently borrowed money from Richard Jones Waters and then couldn't repay him.  So, on 5 Dec 1801, he mortgaged his land for $400. (22).  But he had not understood all the additional interest and penalty clauses attached.  There were numerous lawsuits recorded at the Missouri Archives starting in 1803.  He couldn't make a payment so he signed an agreement to fence in 8 acres and to plow round the same, on a tract of land bought by Richard Jones Waters. This was to be done before May 1, 1803 under penalty of another $200. By April 30, 1803 the Louisiana Purchase was signed making Missouri a US Territory. Benjamin's lawsuits continued.  He was selling 25 bushels of corn, a heifer and 2 steers to Waters, but it was never enough.  (23) Then in 1804 Benjamin Patterson was brought to court "for having committed a breach of the peace in trespassing on and despoiling a house, the property of Richard Jones Water.  (24) (25)
In the meantime Benjamin Patterson's children were growing up.  John Patterson and Lucretia, married to John Shepherd, had gone to Breckinridge County, KY by 1799.  Benning was on the tax records in New Madrid in 1800.  Benjamin's daughter Rebecca married Benjamin Myers in 1803. (26)  This is interesting in that it is rumored that Benjamin Myer's mother had previously had an affair with Richard Jones Waters producing a son named Richard Jones Waters Myers.  A record taken in 1803 reported that Benjamin supported 4 of his children plus four other children. (27) Three of Benjamin Patterson's children died in 1807: Benning, Hiram and Rebecca.  Elizabeth married Francis Hudson in 1799 but he is supposed to have deserted her. (28)
Then New Madrid got hit with three powerful earthquakes.  The first one on 16 Dec 1811 hit at 2:00 a.m. with aftershocks lasting until 7:00 a.m.  Then there were intermittent aftershocks until the 2nd big quake hit on 23 Jan 1812 with a third quake following on 7 Feb.  The town of New Madrid was almost totally destroyed.  The riverbeds rose with Lake St. Mary being destroyed.  Farmland disappeared under waves of water, sand and charcoal. Supposedly all but two families left the area. (29) It is presumed that Benjamin Patterson, wife and his youngest two children, Isaac aged 20 and Sophia 17 married to David Curtis, moved to Breckinridge County, KY. (30) At stated, his children John Patterson and Lucretia Shepherd were already in Breckinridge County.  Benjamin Paterson had lost everything.  But then the United States Congress passed the New Madrid Relief Act on 17 Feb 1815.  It was the first federal disaster relief act in U. S. history. (31) However, news of this relief did not reach New Madrid for months. The Pattersons in KY did hear of the Relief Act by Nov 10th of that year when Benjamin's son, John Patterson gave his brother Isaac power of attorney to lay claim to and sell any lands.  David Curtis followed suit two months later when he too gave power of attorney to Isaac. (32) By 9 Mar 1816 Benjamin's deceased sons Benning and Hiram had already been granted 750 arpents of land each.  (33) At least three of these claims are a bit questionable.  John Patterson left New Madrid by 1799. He was on the Breckinridge tax records consistently until 1826 with no indication he was ever farming in New Madrid. Benning and Hiram were both deceased and when their heirs made claim they said these two men died in New Madrid. Benning was in the KY tax records from 1800 to 1807.  Hiram was in New Madrid but the claim stated he was over 21 in 1802 with a wife and three children when he was only 13 years old. (34) Many people were making fraudulent claims. (31) With all these claims, the family prospered. (35) Benjamin Patterson remained on the Breckinridge tax records until 1822.  His sons John and Isaac remained on the tax records through 1828, but after that there is no tax, deed or census record for any Patterson in Breckinridge County.  David Curtis was on the record through 1840.  Benjamin Patterson died 9 Feb 1837 at the age of 84. (36) His wife Betsy had died in 1828.  None of his children can be accounted for after his death. (37)
Benjamin Patterson began his adult life with land speculation in Piermont, New Hampshire and went to prison for selling some land twice.  He then went to Quebec where he may have been a spy. He then got caught up in some land disputes in Pennsylvania and got so angry to took Thomas Pickering out and left him to die, but then changed his mind and rescued him.  Patterson then went to Belpre, OH as a ranger.   A man who roomed with him was killed by the Indians and his son died of smallpox.  When he left Belpre, he went to New Madrid in the Spanish Territory, got sick and had to mortgage his land to Mr. Waters. He got so mad at Richard Jones Waters that he "despoiled the house and property" of Mr. Waters. Two of his sons and a daughter died in1807. A monumental earthquake destroyed all his land in 1811/12 and he lost everything.  He moved to Breckinridge County, KY to be near his remaining children.  His family heard about the New Madrid Relief Act and obtained many acres.  He must have been pretty happy when at the age of sixty-seven in 1819 he sold some land in New Madrid for $2,560. (38) 

Sources

(1) Andrew Patterson of Strattford, Conn., by Elisha G Patterson, 1892 page 23
Benjamin Patterson b. 15 Jan 1762

(2) Grafton County Deed Bk 3 page 155 24 Nov 1771
Joseph Smith to Isaac and Benjamin Patterson of Westminster, Cumberland, NJ for £20

(3) Marriage Record
Benjamin Patterson to Elisabeth Safford
21 Jul n1774 Rockingham, Vermont

(4) Grafton County Deed BK
Deed BK 5 is FHL film 15801

Deed BK 3 pg 155  24 Nov 1771
Joseph Smith to Isaac and  Benjamin Patterson of Westminster, NY for £20
Deed BK 3 pg 158  21 Jun 1774
Jonathan Moulton to Benjamin Patterson lots #21, 22, 27 for £50
Deed BK 5 pg 95   22  Jun 1774
Isaac and Benjamin Patterson to Jonathan Moulton lot #7 containing 8 acres for £28
Deed BK 8 pg 439 14 Sep 1775
Isaac Patterson to Benjamin Patterson House Lot 28 for £15
Deed Bk 5 pg 100  1 Apr 1778
Benjamin Patterson to Jonathan Moulton land I bought of Richard Jenness
Deed BK 8 pg 378  18 Nov 1778
Benjamin Patterson to Thomas Russell lots 27 and 28 for £1600
Deed BK 5 pg 18 3 Dec 1778
Elijah King to Benjamin Patterson one lot of land in Peacham, VT (originally granted to Joseph Bart) for £15
Deed BK 5 pg 469   3 Dec 1778
Benjamin Patterson to Joseph Hutching lot in Peacham, VT originally in the right of Joseph Bart for £150
Deed BK 5 pg 19  24 Dec 1778
Joseph Chamberlin to Benjamin Patterson 100 acres in Newbury for $100
Deed BK 5 pg  20 7 Jan 1779
Joshua Barron to Benjamin Patterson two 50 acre lots of £22
Deed BK 5 pg 52   5 Jun 1779
Michael and Martha Wentworth to Benjamin Patterson 400 acres for £280
Deed BK 5 pg 106 5 Aug 1779
Benjamin Patterson to Josiah Little land in Worcester by right of Sherman Patterson in 1763 for £300
Deed BK 5 pg 102   17 Aug 1779
Benjamin Patterson to Jonathan Moulton land in Middlesex for £100
Deed BK 3 pg 538  25 Aug 1779
Benjamin Patterson to Josiah Little land originally in right of Humphrey Colby for £300
Deed BK 7 pg 602  3 Oct 1779
Benjamin Patterson to Elijah Steel lots # 5 & 6 for $750
Deed BK 6 pg 168  11 Jan 1780
Benjamin Patterson to Samuel Wetherbe for £140  (original right of John Goff)
Deed BK 9 pg 376  5 Mar 1780
David Armine to Benjamin Patterson Lot # 1 for £2400
Deed BK 4 page 108   13 Mar 1780
John Lawyer to Benjamin Patterson 15 acres in Mooretown for £100 
Deed BK 5 pg 23-24  12 Apr 1780
Benjamin Patterson to George Gregg 38 1/2 acres for 200 Spanish Mill Dollars
Deed BK 6 pg 169  12 Apr 1780
Benjamin Patterson to John Lovrin 100 acres for 150 Spanish Mill Dollars (original right of George Levies)
Deed Bk 5 pg 14  15 May 1780
Benjamin Patterson to Enos Fish  Lot # 1 for 300 Spanish Mill Dollars
Deed Bk 4 pg 224-25  24 May 1780
Benjamin Patterson to James Lucas 100 acre lot for 300 Spanish Mill Dollars
Deed BK 6 pg 173  22 Jul 1780
Simon Jennes to Benjamin Patterson lot # 37 for £100
Deed BK 12 pg 233   22 Jul 1780
Benjamin Patterson to Benjamin Garland 22 acres on lot # 15 for £150
Deed BK 6 pg 174  28 Aug 1780
Benjamin Patterson to John Richards Lot #37 for £30
Deed BK 5 pg 423  14 Dec 1780
Benjamin Patterson to Broadstreet Spafford Lot #41 for £45
Deed BK 5 pg 53  11 Jan 1781
Moses Stevens to Benjamin Patterson 40 acres of land for £400
Deed BK 5 pg 50-51 3 Mar 1781
400 acres to his father with provision his father keep the land from being attached by his creditors.
Deed BK 5 pg 125-126 3 Mar 1781
John Patterson to Betsey, the wife of Benjamin Patterson, but with a caveat that he retained title until the delivery of £1000.
Deed BK 5 pg 104-105 10 Apr 1781
Benjamin Patterson, Gentleman, to Jonathan Moulton for 3352 silver dollars
Deed BK 5 pg 127-128 24 May 1781
This is to certify I deed to Col Jonathan Moulton my home place in Piermont, the same farm land I had before then deeded to my father, John Patterson, with the sole view of securing it from being attached by my creditors.  And I do hereby declare that I never received any consideration from my said father for said deed, but was given altogether for the reason aforesaid without any consideration whatever received by me from him.   And furthermore as my said Father Deeded the same to my wife Betsey Patterson with the same view of securing it from the creditors which deed I & my wife have signed over to the said Moulton. I do thereby declare that the true intent and meaning of the conveyance from him to my father & from him to my wife was only to secure the same from being attached as above said.  May 24, 1781
Deed BK 5 pg 417 24 Jul 1782
John Patterson of Piermont selling 500 acres of land which had been sold to him by his son Benjamin Patterson which he then sold to Bestey Patterson.   Selling to Jonathan Moulton for £10 with condition would be free of all claims and demands
Deed BK 6 pg 151  17 Mar 1783
Benjamin Patterson to Samuel Young 15 acres in Moorestown for £150

(5) American Revolution

(6) In March of 1781 Benjamin Patterson signed an unusual deed  in which he gave his homestead of 400 acres to his father with provision his father keep the land from being attached by his creditors.  Then, on the same day his father, John Patterson, sold this same land to Betsey, the wife of Benjamin Patterson, but again with a caveat that he retained title until the delivery of £1000. The next month on April 10, 1781, Benjamin Patterson, Gentleman, sold the land to Jonathan Moulton for 3352 silver dollars and the next month  the land was sold, by Benjamin and Betsey Patterson (no title mentioned), once again to Col. Jonathan Moulton.  Benjamin Patterson was accused of selling the land twice.  Finally John Patterson sold the same land to Jonathan Moulton on condition that they would then be free from all claims and demands.  (See deeds above)

Haldimand Collection at Canadian Archives   H-1736  B 176 pg 154 (image 475)
Letter from Col Johnson to Captain Sherwood.

St. John's 14 July 1781

Joseph White who left Coos about 12 days ago, he says that Benjamin Patterson (now in the province in Quebec) has exited that part of the country for willfully selling his farm to two different persons ---first to his father, & afterward to a Col Molton.  When Molton discovered the deceit he apprehended and put into Prison the said Patterson; where he remained till his father became his security.  On suspicion that he (Mr. Patterson) who was guilty of actions similar to the above, he became obnoxious to the people and on that fact (and not his loyalty) he took his flight to this province.

(7) The northern part of Vermont had been in constant turmoil from the Revolution.  The Colonial governor of New Hampshire had issued land grants between 1749 and 1764 on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River- Vermont.   At the same time the Province of New York was also issuing land patents in the same area. The Patterson family was caught up in this land dispute.  They had been living in Westminster, New York in 1771 and John, Benjamin and Isaac Patterson all signed a petition to the King on Jan 27, 1771 pleading for relief from the "poverty, distress and ruin" resulting from having their land deemed in the jurisdiction of New York rather than New Hampshire. Two years later on Dec 7, 1772, John Patterson signed a subsequent petition from "the People of Cumberland County" requesting the right to elect a representative, but by this point his two sons, Benjamin and Isaac, had moved to Piermont, New Hampshire.
1771 Petition to the King

All the people caught up in this problem resented New York.  Vermonters on Jan 15,  1777 sent delegates from 28 towns and formed their own independent nation, The Republic of Vermont.   Among other things they outlawed slavery in their new constitution. 
Even though they were an independent province, when the 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain, the Vermonters and the others with the same issues joined their cause.  Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys fought for Independence.  And thus when Benjamin Patterson fought in the regiment of Timothy Bedel, he was fighting against the British.
The American Revolution officially ended with the Battle of Yorktown on Oct 19, 1781, but the Continental Congress had passed an act two months earlier saying they would recognize Vermont only if it would renounce its claims to the territory east of the Connecticut River and west of Lake Champlain.  They offered no military protection from the British Empire to the north and many feared an invasion from Canada.  These people had few choices.  Some were so upset with New York that they may have been considering rejoining the British Empire.  Families were divided.  Some wanted nothing to do with New York.  Some wanted to join the newly formed nation.   And now that Cornwallis had surrendered, the British up in Canada were trying to persuade many Vermont gentlemen that they would be better off as a province of Canada..  The southern colonies could not afford to send troops that far north to defend northern Vermont. The only weapon they had was subterfuge.  A small group of  patriots loyal to the American cause decided to let the British authorities in Canada think they were agreeing to a truce. Loyal patriots were sent to Canada as spies to find out what the British were up to.  Some of the Vermonters up in Canada were actually true Loyalists.

(8) Haldimand Collection at Canadian Archives H-1453  B 134 pg 53 (image 723)
       Benjamin Patterson.  memorandum of the present situation of the United States, etc.  The manner and cost of raising new levies; the dissatisfaction caused.  the scarcity of provisions.  New Hampshire has only 150 men to guard the frontiers and are building a 7 1/2 at Portsmouth.  Vermont voted to raise 900 men; the details of the towns, etc. from whence drawn and names of commanders.  No expedition against Canada, but a motion by Whitcomb to send a party to St. Francis.  No troops at Cohos but a scouting party.

(9) Haldimand Collection at Canadian Archives  C-1415  page 105 (image 521) 
Loyalists in Canada 1781-1782

(10)   "History of Newbury, Vermont" by Frederic P. Wells, 1902

(11) Report on Canadian Archives

(12) The British Secret Service and the Attempt to Kidnap General Jacob Bayley of Newbury, Vermont, 1782 by J. Robert Maguire.  (online)  pg  153  taken from B 177-1 pg 310 

White and his guide, Cornelius Miller of Sherwood's company of Jessup's Rangers, were delayed on their journey by two days of bad weather, as a consequence of which they were overtaken by Patterson and two others who fired upon them as they came in sight,  In alarm, White threw away the letter for Porter and was unable to find it again.  "the first that Mr. Patterson spoke to Mr. White was as follows, 'you are going to Coos, and I am sent by Capt. Sherwood to order you to turn back immediately.'" White refused, at which Patterson threatened to take Miller back at any rate to be tried by court martial as a suspected person.  When questioned as to his destination, White replied 'he was going on his own business but did not know where,  Patterson replied he knew, he was going to Squire Chamberlain, and likewise knew his business, but he need not proceed, for Maj Roger's plan of business was publically known all over Coos,, and the whole would come to nothing.  Mr. White replied he knew nothing of Maj Rogers business or of his being out, but he would proceed on his own. Patterson then began in a wild confused manner to tell before the whole party that he had seen Mr. Stevens (Roger Stevens Jr one of Sherwood's agents) correspondents in the woods and that Maj Rogers whole plan of business was defeated, for it was made public in Coos, and the woods was full of scout."  After an "abundance of such wild kind of talk, which was accompanied with all the looks and gestures of a mad man." Patterson permitted White and his guide to continue on their way, after directing White "to proceed a due east course, which if he had done, Patterson well know would have carried him at least 20 or 30 miles out of his way, and thereby hindered him at least four days."

(13) Letters written by Benjamin Patterson

Letter from Benjamin Patterson to his father, John Patterson    written from Quebec May 1782 delivered via Levi Sylvester to Col Thomas Johnson.  Before passing this letter on to John Patterson, the letter was copied and sent General George Washington Library of Congress George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence:  Benjamin Patterson to John Patterson, May 30, 1782         57,26  I beg of you to take all the papers you have of mine in your house of what matter so ever & seal them up & deliver them to Isaac Patterson & give him orders not to mettle as it can't any meaning for you to mettle with my affairs in no respect. If you think best move off the farm.  Don't go to settle with no men. This is my positive orders. You will here to Isaac & move to his house & quit the law and have nothing to do with my affairs & leave out with Moulton what he shall give you and not have much to say in the offer yourself.  The 15th of May the arbitration to be at W R.   I depend on you in taking a my advice & let every man take what he please & you not interfere. You may stay on the farm or move to Isaac but don't mettle on my account. Quit the law.

Letter from Benjamin Patterson to his brother, Isaac Patterson       written from Quebec May 1782 delivered via Levi Sylvester to Col Thomas Johnson.  Before passing this letter on to John Patterson, the letter was copied and sent to General George Washington Library of Congress George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence:  Benjamin Patterson to John Patterson, May 30, 1782         57,25 You will be so kind as to take all my papers & ? father to your house without fail as it will not do for him to go to law on any account nor have anything to do with my affairs.  You will advise him not to sign papers on any account. You will, I dare say, do this as it is my desire.  You will tell father it is my request that he quit all business & you provide for him.  I shall take care:  You advise Mr. Phelps to send Moulton word that father will leave the afore to men.  Be safe & no mettle yourself rather let father say much on the afore.  Don't fail the Rev.

.

(14) History of Bradford County by 1770-1878 by Reverent Mr. David Craft , 1992 pg 266
"The first settler after the war of whom there is any documentary evidence was Benjamin Patterson.  The deposition of Joseph Kinney, Esq., states that he came to Sheshequin in 1783, and that Patterson came up with him and settled opposite Athens.  The narrative of Elisha Forsythe states that at the time he removed from Wyoming to Choconut, in the year 1783, he passed by Tioga Point, where but one white man, by the name of Patterson, then lived, and that he met no others between that place and Choconut."  Patterson "took up" land on the east side of the Susquehanna, on the lands embraced in the surveys of 1773.  He was born at Stratford, Conn., Jan. 15, 1752, removed about 1770 with his father's family to Piermont, N. H., was in the war, probably in Sullivans's expedition, and settled here, as above stated, in 1783.  Nov. 7, 1788, he sold his possession here to Robert Mcilhoe, removed first to Chenanago Forks, N. Y., thence to Belpre, near Cincinnati, Ohio, then to New Madrid, MO., and died somewhere in Kentucky, about the year 1840."   

(15) A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania by Louise Welles Murray, 1908
Benjamin Patterson in 1783 settled on land already owned by William Patterson, no relation.  Benjamin was said to have been an Indian trader.

(16) Luzerne Co PA Deeds

1785 June 8 Luzerne Deed BK 4, pg 192
      Waterman Baldwin of Pittstown, Gentleman, for 20 pounds. to Benjamin Patterson, yeoman,  of Athens. A Certain right of land in Athens at Tioga Point "one of said Lots laid out to me and on my Right on the East side of the River Susquehanna opposite the Island and in No 49 as by the survey Athens - Reference has thereunto been had To have and to hold the said Granted premises together with the privileges therunto belonging unto the said Benj'm his heirs and assigns forever and I the said Waterman thereby promise to engage to serve the same to the sd Benj'm against all Claims in the Connecticut Claims in Witness my hand and seal this 8th June 1785."

Luzerne county Pennsylvania 8th of June 1788 then personally appeared Waterman Baldwin signed and sealed to the within Instrument and acknowledged the same to be his voluntary act Before me.  Recorded Apr 19, 1796"

1788 Nov 7 Luzerne Deed BK 4 pg 431-432 Land Sale Benjamin to Robert McAhose

       Benjamin Patterson of the County of Luzerne, Gentleman, and Robert MacAlhose of the same place of the other part, Farmer, witnessed that the said Benjamin Patterson aforesaid hath granted bargained and sold all that certain tract Piece or parcel of Land with the Improvements (that is to say) houses ways waters and every kind of Buildings belonging to the Premises containing four hundred acres more or less to Robert MacAlhose his heirs & assigns for and in consideration of nine pounds fourteen shillings Lawful and current money of the State of Pennsylvania well and truly in hand paid to him the said Benjamin Patterson his heirs or assigns by him the said Robert MacAlhose lying opposite the stores of Hollenback & Harris Merchants at Tioga Point being formerly the plantation occupied by John Miller Esq lying on the east side of the Susquehanna River as will appear by a Grant of Waterman Baldwin dated and signed by Nathan Kingsley Belinda Baldwin as witness in behalf of the Connecticut title the 8th Day of June 1795.  And the said Robert MacAlose to have and to hold the said Tract of Land in the yearly rent of four pounds with sufficient Deed Given and Granted by him the said Wilson to Benjamin Patterson and therefore him the said Patterson to give the said Robert MacAlose the said Deed by the first Day of May next with peaceable possession.  In witness to these present I have  hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of November one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.  Witnesses John Jennings and John Harris
Made oath 20th day of Sep 1796  Recorded Nov. 23, 1796

(17) Athens County Ohio, Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio.  by S P. Hildreth, M.D. and Colonelk R. J. Meigs, 1852

"After naming and describing the persons of a number of the rangers, he says, "Two men, Benjamin Patterson and John Shepherd, from the state of New York, were employed as rangers three of the first years of the war, and then moved down the river. At the time of the controversy between Pennsylvania and Connecticut relative to their conflicting land claims on the Susquehanna river, the state of Pennsylvania appointed Timothy Pickering, of Salem, Mass., the honest old Federalist, to go upon the ground and meet others to adjust the difference. While there, this same Benjamin Patterson was one of two or three men who took Pickering from his bed at night, and conveyed him three miles into the woods, and bound him fast to a white-oak sapling and left him there to starve to death; but after two or three days Patterson returned, and went and unbound him, setting him at liberty, for which outrage he fled from Wyoming to the state of New York, and from thence to Marietta. It was not uncommon for such characters to call at our settlement, but finding neither plunder nor speculation, and their characters soon pursuing them, they floated down the river."

Benjamin Patterson purchased some land on June 8, 1785  from Waterman Baldwin for £20.  Waterman promised to engage with Benjamin  "against Claims in the Connecticut Claims."    Once again Benjamin had become involved in a large, public land dispute which became known as the "Pennamite Wars."  Both Connecticut and Pennsylvania were claiming this strip of land from overlapping charters from King Charles II.  Benjamin Patterson's land seems to have been claimed from a Pennsylvania grant since there is a reference to the "Connecticut Claims," in his deed.  However, no one was quite sure how the claims issues would get resolved.  In 1787, the United States Assembly sent Timothy Pickering to negotiate a peace.  After listening to the issues, Pickering sided with the Pennsylvania claims and attempted to evict the Connecticut settlers.  The Connecticut settlers then raised such havoc that there were many eruptions of violence.  Pickering was even captured and held hostage for 19 days.  He understood that there were law abiding people caught up in this mess, and on July 28, Pickering recommended that the "possessions" of the former Connecticut settlers "be restored" in order to "establish peace."  He went down in history as a good and just arbitrator, going on to become secretary of State under Presidents Washington and Adams.
Benjamin Patterson must have been emotionally caught up in these disputes.  Patterson sold his land in Athens on Nov 7, 1788 for £9 14s with a yearly rent of £4 and may have stayed in the area for a short time.  However, he next showed up in Belpre, OH in 1790.  And wouldn't you know it, there was a land dispute going on there too, between Pennsylvania and Connecticut.   And, Timothy Pickering was sent to settle that dispute.  A Judge Parker who was born in Belpre in 1790 wrote in his remembrances, "While there, Benjamin Patterson, with two other men took Mr. Pickering from his bed at night, and conveyed him three or four miles into the woods, and bound him fast to a white oak sapling, and left him there to die of starvation.  After two or three days, Patterson's conscience so worried him that he relented, and unknown to his companions, he went and unbound him, setting him at liberty."  

(18). Williams History of Washington County, Ohio 1788-1881 pg. 510 "Prowling Indians were sure to be caught by these wary rangers, and hence to a great extent the woods were kept clear of the foe, and the inhabitants were permitted to cultivate their farms in comparative safety.  However, as subsequent events proved, this mode of defense, though measurably effective, was not sufficient. It was on the morning of the twelfth of March, 1791, that Aaron W. Putnam, accompanied by Nathaniel Little, visiting his farm, a half mile below the garrison, for the purpose of milking and feeding his cows, was attacked by Indiana and had a very narrow escape from death. The second attack by the Indians resulted in the death of one of the spies, Benoni Hulburt, on the twenty-eighth of the following September." Print of Farmer's Castle found on Wikipedia

(19) Pioneer History: Being an Account of the First Examinations of the Ohio Valley by Samuel Prescott Hidreth  (google book)

page 391  - 'In September, 1793, the small pox was introduced within Farmers Castle, who walls could not protect them from this insidious foe, by Benjamin Patterson one of the spies.  He was at Marietta where it prevailed and thinking himself exposed to the contagion was inoculated by Dr. Barnes who was then there, and engaged him to inoculate the rest of his family. - Of those under the care of Dr. Barnes in Major Goodales garrison, a colony which moved out of Farmers Castle in the spring, two or three died; among them was a child of Mr. Patterson..  The cause of its fatality was the failure of those first inoculated to take the disease, probably from deteriorated matter; and several took it in the natural way, so that on the whole they got through with this pest very favorably." 

Seventeen people lived in this block-house # 12.  It was a twenty-two foot square on the upper floor. 

page 464 The "spies" or rangers made a circuit of the area, 25-30 miles, every day.  When there were signs of Indians the domestic animals were driven within the gates.  And at sunset the avenues were closed.  Mostly it was peaceful but one of the settlers on the way to his farm to feed his cows was attacked by Indians in March 1791 and had a narrow escape.  

page 371 Benoni Hurlburt, who shared space with the Benjamin Patterson family in Block-House # 12, had gone out on September 28th of that year to examine some traps they had set, heard some "gobbing" of wild turkeys, got out of his canoe was immediately shot by the Indians.

The community consisted of highly educated and responsible people.  A settler's daughter taught the children reading, writing and arithmetic.  And during the winter months a male teacher was employed for the larger boys and young women.  There was no minister, but they met every Sunday and sang hymns and had someone read a part of a scripture. Sabbath was observed but not with the strictness common in New England.

All of the settlers had been granted at least 100 acres of land.  Benjamin Patterson's land was in Lot #7 on the West Branch of Wolfe Creek.  John Shepherd had a grant in Lot #9 Northwest of Wolfcreek Mills about two miles.

(20) Missouri State Archives, New Madrid Instrument #1343, Dec 27, 1804 reel C12235 The land is described in a subsequent court document of 1804, Instrument #1343 Benjamin Patterson was showing the court evidence of his ownership of the land which was surveyed 10 Apr 1797 For Benj Patterson four hundred arpents of land north east side of Lake St. Izidro in the front leading or connecting with said lake of Lake St Mary which is surveyed as followeth, April 10, 1797.

MO Archives Instrument # 1343

(21) Waters 1st Claim Missouri Archives Instrument #353 Benjamin Patterson of American nationality & inhabitant of the place of Nuevo Madrid to you with the greatest respect declares and wishes to establish and beseeches you to concede the grand hacienda 400 arpents that has in front the bayou of St. Isidro next to the Kings Highway on one side, lands of John Lewis on one side and Thomas Caulk at a distance of 19 "leguas" from the fort of the village.  The concession that the supplicant expects to receive of you in Nuevo Madrid.  2 Sep 1800.  I am representing the supplicant because he is sick and cannot sign.       P.D. Laforge Knowing of the supplicants circumstances that under right his instruction, I find him to be worthy of what he is asking for.  Yo will do what is convenient.  Nueva Madrid  2nd Sep 1800. Signed Henry Peyroux

(22)  Missouri State Archives, New Madrid Instrument #1347, April 5, 1803 reel C12236  pg 1

Patterson had not understood all the additional interest and penalty clauses attached.  "As for any Escro being in the sum just put into the mortgage, made to me on the 5th day of Dec, 1801, I know of none, nor is it presumable for none was ever pointed out to me, nor mentioned till lately." Waters reply, "The time of signing was the time to object."

(23)  Missouri State Archives, New Madrid Instrument #1341, Feb 11, 1804 reel C12236

Benjamin Patterson was in debt to Waters.  He was relating how Waters wanted him to sell but he said he could not sell the land.  Waters says he would give me $400 and reduce the interest that he put in when he took the mortgage. Benjamin Patterson had a bond for $200 in which he promised to fulfill his farm and fence in 8 acres.  "He told me the mortgage must stay till the lighthouse was done."   He told me he would give up my bond for 25 bushels of corn and a heifer.  Ben  mentions 2 steers which I gave him in security and 2 barrels of flour.  But Waters still "holds my bond."  He mentions a saddle I bought the August before for $6 and he gave me credit for 2 days work in 1800. In one of his responses to the court he mentions a saddle he had bought just the August before for $6. and "he gave me credit for 2 days work in 1800."  As a ranger in Belpre $6 was almost a week's pay. From 1803 to 1808 Benjamin Patterson was in the New Madrid Court records which referenced a land and mortgage dispute between him and Richard J. Waters.  There are about 36 pages of court records as found at the Missouri Archives, half of which are in French.  From what I can decipher, they are arguing over a mortgage to the land.  At right is the testimony of Benjamin Patterson in 1804 as taken from Instrument # 1341  The 4th page shows his signature. The History of Saint Louis City, Vol 1 pg 267 refers to this Richard J. Waters as "quarrelsome."

Page 1 of testimony MO Archives Inst. 1341

Page 2 of testimony MO Archives Inst. 1341

Page 3 of testimony MO Archives Inst. 1341

Page 4 of testimony MO Archives Inst. 1341

(24) Missouri State Archives, New Madrid Instrument #1343, Dec 27, 1804 reel C12236
Benjamin Patterson had been fine $1 plus cost of prosecution of $34.
 But with the special instance and prayer of the said Benjamin Patterson the Court granted a stay of Execution for 3 months on condition that he should within 10 days file a bond with good and efficient security of $100.  Still satisfy and discharge the fine aforesaid.

Command goods and chalets of Benjamin Patterson late of the district aforesaid, yeoman, plus sum of $21 imposed upon him as a fine for having committed a breach of the peace in trespassing on and to despoiling a house the property of Richard Jones Waters.    $37.50 cost of prosecuting.  convicted as appears to us of record.

He has to pay before March 4, 1804
Richard Jones Waters Esquire first Justice of court in New Madrid.

Benjamin sells pair of oxen for   $24
                        one black mare   $35     Jan 23, 1805
                        one red (barn?)    $8 

(25) Richard Jones Waters had been one of the first justices of the court of New Madrid.  He was rich and successful and he was involved in endless litigation. "By reference to the archives of the post, it is found that he was a party to more than one-half of the civil suits before the commandant. - At the time of his death in 1807, his personal property alone was valued at over $65,000."  He is also referred to as 'quarrelsome.'  Part of that personal property was the 400 arpents of land that had been surveyed for Benjamin Patterson and then mortgaged and then transferred to Waters.

(26)  "The History of Missouri, History of Exploration & Settlement,"  Louis Houck, Chicago 1908.  It mentions Benjamin Patterson as a settler. "Five miles north of New Madrid, on the highest point of lake St. Mary's, Benjamin Myers, a carpenter, leased a plantation, and probably lived there, though he was a resident of the village in 1793. (Benjamin Myers, German, native of Pittsburg, Pa, son of Jacob Myers and Helen Ventricle; in 1804 married Rebecca Patterson, native of New Brunswick, daughter of Benjamin Patterson and Betsy Safford." --- "Benjamin Patterson settled on a grant on lake St. Isidore in 1797."

(27) On June 22, 1808 Benj. Patterson, sworn, says that premises were improved in 1798 & 1799, in which yrs they were cultivated & inhabited, & constantly for the 3 following yrs, as the property of the claimant.   In 1797 one crop was raised and abandoned, after which, in the year 1800, it was again inhabited and cultivated for claimant's benefit, and constantly till this time, (July 30, 1808) twenty or twenty-five acres now in cultivation.. "Early Settlers of Missouri as Taken from Land Claims in Missouri Territory, by Walter Lowrie" pg 486  This same sworn statement states that Benjamin Patterson in 1803 provided for and supported four of his own children plus four other children.  John, Lucretia, Benning, and Rebecka  were all off on their own by 1803.  The four children living at home would have been Hiram, Isaac, Sophia, and Challes. The other four children could be the children of daughter, Elizabeth Hudson. Her husband is supposed to have deserted her in New Madrid.   Daughter, Lucretia Shepherd, had a son, Hiram, born in MO in 1797 but the rest of her children born in 1800 and later were all born in KY.

(28)  The Spanish Regime in Missouri: a collection of papers and documents.  Edited by Louis Houck.  "Francis Hudson came from Richmond Virginia, was a locksmith.  He deserted his family at New Madrid."

(29) Goodspeed's History of South East Missouri 1887 Section 4: the New Madrid District Earthquakes
 [Transcribed by Tara R. Barrett, 1999, p. 1

In 1811 and 1812 the inhabitants of New Madrid District experienced a series of the most terrific earthquakes that have ever occurred on the American continent.
The center of the disturbance seems to have been in the vicinity of Little Prairie, as it was there the greatest damage done.  Mr. Godfrey Lesieur, then a boy living at that place, wrote a description of phenomena, from which the following is condensed:  The Earthquakes spent their greatest force in Pemiscot County.  The first shock occurred at 2 o'clock A. M., on December 16, 1811, and was very hard, shaking down log houses, chimneys, etc.  It was followed at short intervals by comparatively slight shocks until about 7 o'clock in the morning, when a rumbling noise was heard in the west resembling distant thunder, and in an instant the earth began to shake and totter to such a degree no one was able to stand or walk.  This lasted about one minute.  At this juncture the earth was observed to be rolling in waves of a few feet in height, with a visible depression between.  Soon the swells were seen to burst, throwing upward large volumes of water, sand, and species of charcoal, some of which was covered with a substance having a sulphurous odor.  When these swells burst, large fissures were formed, running north and south, parallel with each other for miles.  The rumbling noise and the waves seemed to come from the west and travel eastward.  Slight shocks were felt at intervals until January 23rd, 1812, when the country was visited by another earthquake, equally as violent as the first, and characterized by the frightful results.  Then it was the cry arouse among the people, "Sauze qui peut!" ("Save Himself Who Can"), and all but two families left the country.
After the terrible shock of the 7th of January slight ones were from time to time experienced, until the 7th of February, when another very severe one, having the same effects as the other occurred, and caused great injury to land, in forming more extensive fissures, sinking high lands, and forming it into lakes, and making deep lake high land.

It is a remarkable fact that so few casualties occurred during these terrible convulsions.  Among the citizens there were but two deaths.  Mrs. Lafont died from fright, and Mrs. Jarvis received an injury from the fall of a cabin log, from which she died a few days later. 

(30)  Breckinridge County Deed BK C 498 on March 16, 1816 names Benjamin Patterson of Breckinridge County selling the land he bought of Elisha Jackson to his son Isaac.  The 1813 tax lists for Breckinridge County include Isaac Patterson and David Curtis.  Their daughter Elizabeth was married to Francis Hudson and shows up later in Louisiana. 

(31)  Far Outliers by Joel   

On February 17, 1815 [three years after the strongest earthquakes in U.S. history], Congress passed the New Madrid Relief Act, the first federal disaster relief act in U.S. history. Unfortunately, the act itself turned out to be a disaster.
The legislation provided for residents whose land had been damaged in the earthquakes to trade their land titles for a certificate that would be good for any unclaimed government land for sale elsewhere in the Missouri Territory. The only restriction was that the new grants had to be between 160 and 640 acres, regardless of how much or little land a person had previously owned. Well-intentioned though the legislation was, it did little to help the residents of the New Madrid area.
Communications being what they were, word of the New Madrid Relief Act did not reach the New Madrid area for months. News did reach St. Louis and other places, however, and speculators were soon beating a hasty path to New Madrid and buying up land for a pittance from unsuspecting locals. Of the 516 certificates issued for redemption, only twenty were held by the original landowners. Three hundred and eighty-four certificates were held by residents of St. Louis, some of whom had as many as forty claims. Adding insult to injury, many banks in Missouri failed, making the Missouri banknotes used to pay for these claims worthless. Governor Clark himself was not above profiting from the situation, as he authorized two of his agents, Theodore Hunt and Charles Lucas, to purchase land in the New Madrid area. Meanwhile, opportunists in New Madrid caught on to what was happening and began selling their land titles many times over. Before too long, the term “New Madrid claim” came to be synonymous with fraud.
Litigation over the resulting land claims tied up the courts for over twenty years, with hundreds of fraudulent claims being pressed. Over the next three decades, Congress passed three more pieces of legislation to try and straighten out the mess. The last case stemming from the New Madrid Relief Act was finally settled in 1862, fifty years after the earthquakes of 1811–12—by which time the frontier had moved a thousand miles west.

(32) Breckinridge County KY Deed BK C pg 423, Nov 10, 1815.
John Patterson appoints Isaac Patterson his attorney in fact, for the purpose that in result of the Congress of the United States by an Act approved July 17, 1815 entitled An Act for the Relief of Inhabitants of the late County of New Madrid in the Missouri Territory who suffered by the Earthquake, provides that those whose lands have been materially injured by earthquake shall be authorized to locate the like or a greater quantity on any of the public lands of the Missouri Territory, the sale of which is authorized by law and buy of those who are in possession of this land.  John Patterson appoints Isaac Patterson to locate in said territory land he may be entitled to thus, and to sell and convey the same to any person whatsoever for such price and consideration he shall think fit, and to sell and convey to the United States or any officer under its government who receive the same his rights to land in the County of New Madrid and Territory of Missouri, a further reference being had to Joseph Story's survey of land in the said Territory.  Witness, David Curtis, Recorded Nov. 10, 1815

Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book C, page 469  Jan 8, 1816
David Curtis appoints Benjamin Patterson his attorney in fact to demand, sue for, collect and receive all debts which may be due him in the Missouri Territory, to prosecute and defend any suits, and to execute such conveyances as may be necessary in the Missouri Territory.  January 8, 1816.  Witness, John P. Oldham.  Certified and recorded January 10, 1816.

(33)  Breckinridge County Deed BK C 501-502. 
Whereas our sons Benning Patterson and Hiram Patterson being actual settlers on lands in New Madrid County, Missouri Territory, by liberty from the commandant of the county aforesaid, on and before the 13th day of September 1803, were entitled by an Act of Congress to 750 arpents of land each, and whereas both died at New Madrid in the year 1807 without issue and since their death their lands have been confirmed to them or their legal representatives by the Commissioners appointed by Congress to decide on the land claims in the Missouri Territory agreeable to the laws of said Territory, the father of such son or sons is the real heir of any real property belonging to such son or sons, Now whereas our son Isaac Patterson has bought of the heirs of the said deceased Benning Patterson and Hiram Patterson their claims that they should be entitled to on the death of the father and mother of the deceased, now be it known that we, Benjamin Patterson and Betsey his wife, father and mother of the deceased for and in consideration of $20.00 paid to us by the said Isaac Patterson our son, we do acknowledge as full satisfaction a quit claim to said lands, to our son Isaac Patterson.  Recorded March 29, 1816

(34)
Benning Patterson is on the Breckinridge County, KY tax records as "Bening" in 1800, "Ben" in 1801, "Benning" in 1802 and "Bennington" in 1803.  No record for 1804 or 1805, but he is again listed as "Benj" in 1806.

Hiram Patterson was in New Madrid in 1802.  However, he was born 4 May 1789 and the testimony stated he was "over 21" in 1802 when he was actually only 13 years old and he did not have a wife and three children.

American State Papers  testimony

American State Papers  Claims granted

    
(35) The Patterson family seems to be using Isaac Patterson to represent them.  Isaac was 24 in 1815 when John Patterson and David Curtis gave him power of attorney.  The family was also selling various land claims to Isaac, including the claims from their deceased children, Benning and Hiram.  Isaac also purchased 4000 arpents of land in Cape Girardeau from his father for $500  and in another deed 100 arpents in New Madrid for $199 from David and Sophia Curtis, followed by an additional 750 arpents in New Madrid for $640.  In turn Isaac was also selling land to his brother John Patterson. Isaac seems to have been reselling these lands to  various other people.  We know that in 1819 he was entitled to $400 paid by the executors of the estate of Charles Lucas, the governor's agent who, as stated above, was involved in the land speculation.
The family seems to have prospered.  There is a record of Benjamin selling 400 arpents of land in Little Prairie, MO for  $300.   And he was getting his debts paid.  In 1809 he had a bond with Joshua Humphrey for $232.42.  That debt was paid off by Isaac Patterson. (21)  And there is another record of a land claim being adjusted as late as 1823. (22)  But the largest sale found so far is for $2,560 for 640 acres on Nov 13, 1819. That is about 750 arpents which is the amount of land claimed for each of the two deceased sons.  
Benjamin was also purchasing some land in Kentucky.  In 1818 he was the highest bidder on 4000 acres.  The Breckinridge County Sheriff was selling off the land from an estate that had debts.  Benjamin purchased this land for $370 and then sold that same land to his son Isaac for the same amount.

Deeds involving a Missouri Land transaction

Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book C, page 467-468  Jan 9, 1816
David Curtis and Sophia his wife late Sophia Patterson, and Isaac Patterson, of Breckinridge County, and James Jones and Lucretia his wife late Lucretia Shepherd, widow and relict of John Shepherd, dec'd of the Indiana Territory, to Benjamin Patterson of Breckinridge County, whereas Benning Patterson and Hiram Patterson late of New Madrid County, Missouri Territory, died seized in fee of a tract of land each situated in said New Madrid Territory, Territory of Missouri, the said two tracts being the only land confirmed and granted to the said Benning or Hiram in the said county of New Madrid, and whereas the said Sophia and Lucretia, sisters of the said Benning and Hiram, and Isaac Patterson, brother of the said Benning and Hiram, are each entitled to 1/6th part of the same tracts as heirs and legal representatives, now the said David Curtis and Sophia his wife, James G. Jones and Lucretia his wife, and Isaac Patterson, for and in consideration of $5.00 paid by the said Benjamin Patterson, have sold to the said Benjamin Patterson their undivided 3/6ths parts of the said two tracts of land, to which they may be entitled as heirs and legal representatives of the said Benning and Hiram Patterson.  Certified and recorded Jan 9, 1816

Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book C, page 498 March 28, 1816
Benjamin Patterson of Breckinridge County to Isaac Patterson of same county, for $500.00, 4,000 arpents of land in the township of Cape Girardeau, Missouri Territory, which tract of land Benjamin Patterson bought of Dr. Elisha Jackson as recorded in the records of the District of Cape Girardeau as it was called at the time the deed was recorded, lying and being on Cape Louise adjoining the Mississippi and lands granted to Capt. Launcy which tract of land was granted to Dr. Elisha Jackson by Baron DeCourdelit (Decoulet) his Catholic Majesty's Governor of Louisiana under the direction of Col. DeLafax commandant of the district of New Madrid, and Captain Guardoux.  Certified and recorded  March 29, 1816.

Deed Book C, page 502-503, March 28, 1816
David Curtis and Sophia his wife, to Isaac Patterson, for $100.00, 100 arpents of land French measure in the township of New Madrid, Missouri Territory, about 2 miles from the town of New Madrid (purchased by said Curtis of Joseph Charpentier by deed January 8, 1809, recorded in New Madrid records book No. 3, page 85-87.  Certified and recorded March 30, 1816.

Deed Book C, page 504, March 30, 1816
David Curtis and Sophia his wife, to Isaac Patterson, for $640.00, 750 arpents of land in the country of New Madrid, Missouri Territory, about 5 1/2 miles westwardly from the town of New Madrid, adjoining land of Francoise Godfrey and Thomas Ward, sold to said David Curtis by Thomas W. Caulk and Thomas Lan__? as recorded in New Madrid Record Book No. 6 on pages 278 and 279, February 23, 1806.  Said David Curtis also appoints Isaac Patterson his attorney in fact for the purpose, whereas the Congress of the United States passed an act for the relief of the inhabitants of New Madrid that suffered by earthquake allowing those whose lands were so much injured as to be unfit for cultivation to locate the same on any public lands in said Territory, now Isaac Patterson is given power by David Curtis to convey to any person that Congress has or may appoint to received the same a deed of his right to the aforesaid land and to locate as replacement land to which Curtis may be entitled, for the use and benefit of said Isaac Patterson.  Recorded March 30, 1816.

19. Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book D page 2-3 March 12, 1816
Isaac Patterson of Breckinridge, attorney for Richard Hazle of Perry county, Indiana, to John Patterson of Breckinridge.  200 arpents of land in Missouri for $150

20. Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book D page 4-5  July 19, 1816
Benjamin Patterson of Breckinridge County, Kentucky is selling to Robert Wash of St. Louis, MO 400 arpents of land in Little Prairie, MO for $300. MO. Land 2 miles from Mississippi River, which had been granted to Benjamin by Capt. Lashire.

21 Deed Book C, page 505-506, dated March 30, 1816
Benjamin Patterson and Betsey his wife, to Isaac Patterson, whereas said Benjamin Patterson was indebted to Joshua Humphrey by bond dated September 9, 1809 in the sum of $232.42 with legal interest on same until paid, to secure the payment of which sum to Joshua Humphrey the said Patterson mortgaged to said Humphrey several tracts of land some of which the said Patterson claimed the whole tracts and others an undivided moiety, said land being in the district of New Madrid district.  Now in consideration of Isaac Patterson having paid to said Joshua Humphrey the said debt and interest, and to secure the payment of which the mortgage was given, $325.84, Benjamin Patterson and Betsey his wife grants and sells to the said Isaac Patterson a tract of land in the county of New Madrid, Missouri Territory, about 9 miles below the town of New Madrid, beginning at John Neals corner on the Mississippi, being 750 arpents or one mile square.  Also Benjamin Patterson nominates and appoints Isaac Patterson his attorney in fact for the purpose, whereas the Congress of the United States passed an act for the relief of the inhabitants of New Madrid that suffered by earthquake allowing those who lands were so much injured as to be unfit for cultivation to locate the same on any public lands in said territory, now Benjamin Patterson gives to Isaac Patterson the power and authority to convey to any person or persons that Congress has or may appoint to receive the same, a deed of his right and title to the aforesaid land, and to locate as replacement land to which said Benjamin Patterson may be entitled, for the use and benefit of the said Isaac Patterson.  Certified and recorded March 30, 1816

Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book D page 2-3 March 12, 1816
Isaac Patterson of Breckinridge, attorney for Richard Hazle of Perry county, Indiana, to John Patterson of Breckinridge.  200 arpents of land in Missouri for $150

Breckinridge County, Kentucky Deed Book D page 4-5  July 19, 1816
Benjamin Patterson of Breckinridge County, Kentucky is selling to Robert Wash of St. Louis, MO 400 arpents of land in Little Prairie, MO for $300. MO. Land 2 miles from Mississippi River, which had been granted to Benjamin by Capt. Lashire.

(36) The Massac County IL historical society is inside the home of Elijah Patterson Curtis. A granddaughter, Mignon Amelia Curtis Woodson, donated items. The historical society has date of death for Benjamin Patterson, Feb 9, 1837

(37)  John was off the Breckinridge tax records in 1828.  Lucretia had moved to Perry County, IN but is untraceable after 1817.  Benning, Rebecca and Hiram all died in 1807. Both of the Challes sons died young.  Elizabeth was in Louisiana and not traceable after 1823. It is interesting that she was not mentioned when the lands of Benning and Hiram were being sold in 1816.  (18)  Isaac died in 1833.  And Sophia, his daughter married to David Curtis, died Jan 25, 1837 just two weeks before Benjamin Patterson died.

(38) Letters of Hon. J.B.C. Lucas from 1815 to 1836, Missouri 1905 by John B C Lucas (google book)

pg 322

New Madrid certificate of the Recorder for 640 acres of land in the name of Benjamin Patterson, Senior, (No. 338) for the sum of 2560 Dollars, conveyed to C. Fisher by Col. Ashley, his Atty., on the 13 of Nov. 1819. Obligation to return the money with interest in case the title proves bad.

.

.

)
 Luzurne C