"Robert Patton was born in Ireland in 1741, the son of John Patton and his unidentified wife. In 1755 John and two sons, Robert and Elijah, came to America, eventually moving inland to Rowan County, NC. From there they moved into Burke Co., and Robert moved to Swannanoa in Burke County (now Buncombe County) in the 1780’s. He and his wife Rebecca, established a home on the site of the present Laura Shuford’s home, near the present Swannanoa Elementary School. They owned 1000 acres of both sides of the Swannanoa River. Robert and Rebecca Patton were Presbyterians, and donated the land for the Patton Meeting House (Presbyterian) which is believed to be the first church established west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The couple also donated the land for the Patton Cemetery, located 100 feet east of the Meeting House, and believed to be the first white cemetery in Buncombe Co. The Patton Meeting House was later moved about a mile away and became the Swannanoa First Presbyterian Church (Piney Grove). Robert and Rebecca had a family of eight children, 2 sons and 6 daughters. Rebecca Patton died sometime between 1820 and 1830, and is believed to be buried in the Patton Cemetery."
