Tristram Patton, Sr., was the progenitor of one branch of the Monroe family bearing that name. He was called senior because of there being another of that name, his cousin, living in that district, who was known as Tristram Patton, Jr. Both were known by a nickname, Trussy Patton.
Tristram Patton was born on his father's estate, County Tyrone, Ulster Plantation, Ireland, about the year 1758, and came to America about 1777 at the age of 19.
It is said that this estate had come into the possession of the Pattons early in the reign of James I, after the conspiracy of some of the landed proprietors in Ulster to dethrone the king. One of them was Lord Tyrone, for whom Tyrone county was named. The plot was discovered, the lords fled from the country and their land, one-half million acres, was confiscated and taken into possession by the Crown. These lands were surveyed and allotted to new proprietors, Scotch and English, who were favorites of the king, on account of services already rendered or expected, among the latter being to hold the natives in subjection and "to civilize them."
The Patton family is supposed to have come from Scotland. In a book on Scotch Clans the name Patton is found in the Douglas Clan, but it is not mentioned in any other. Some authorities indicate that the name is English-Irish instead of Scotch-Irish. From the same name is derived Paton, Peyton, Peytonne, Patten, etc. The name is found in the Irish Period as Baron Wilmarliegh, extincteth-Ulster. The name Patton is now extinct in Tyrone County and probably in all of the Ulster Plantation.
Tristram Patton taught school several years in Philadelphia, and while living there it is said he served in the Continental army, and was, at one time, a member of Washington's bodyguard.
He came to Greenbrier County (now Monroe) some years after the Revolutionary war. Hardesty's History says he was born in 1764, and came direct from Ireland to Greenbrier in 1780, which information was incorrectly given.
TRISTRAM AND HIS BROTHER ROBERT
Before coming to Greenbrier he persuaded his younger brother, Robert, to join him, telling him he could never be successful in Ireland, while America was rife with promise. Their eldest brother, William Patton, had, of course, inherited their father's estate.
In the Old Greenbrier county court records, June 26, 1798, Tristram and Robert were granted leave to make an inclusive survey of the lands whereon they lived. From this it is known that they had lived at least three years on their lands on Second creek.¹
There is also a record in the court house at Lewisburg of Robert Patton's receiving a warrant from Governor Lee, in 1797, for land on the Greenbrier River. April 21, 1797, shows the record of Robert’s marriage to Eleanor Gray, Rev. John Alderson officiating. [However, the marriage record here, shows the minister as B. Grigsby.]²
Tristram and Robert owned a large tract of land on Second Creek, whereon was a powder mill. They divided their holdings, Tristram taking most of the land, and Robert the remainder and the mill. Patton's powder mill was below Hamilton's mill (no longer in use) and on the site where Curry's mill (now owned by J. M. Rodgers) was later erected — not near Nickell's mill, as has been stated. It is said to have been built by Frederick Gromer.
About 1800, Robert Patton and a Negro man, one of their slaves, were in the powder mill when an explosion occurred, which wrecked the mill and killed both men.
Tristram Patton owned a large grist mill and a sawmill just above Hamilton's mill, about a mile above the powder mill, and about a mile below the macadamized road. He spent thousands of dollars building races and building and rebuilding dams, because of their being washed out by floods. He owned about 2,000 acres of land on Second Creek and near Mt. Pleasant Church. While he gave his attention to his mills and other matters, his farming was carried on by his son and his slaves, one of whom was "Old Shaderack.” He superintended the farming in Mr. Patton's old age. He taught the boys how to work, while he lay in the shade and slept. For some time Mr. Patton held the office of high sheriff.
On May 24, 1808, when he was about 50 years of age, he married Jane Nelson³, who was born April 15, 1786, Rev. William Adair, pastor of the Old Lebanon Seceder church, officiating. The Pattons belonged to his church.
Tristram Patton, Sr., died July 7, 1843. Jane Nelson Patton died March 20, 1860, and they are buried near Old Lebanon Church.
"Look, ye strangers, passing by; As you are so once was I; But as I am, so you must be; Prepare for death and follow me."
To Tristram and Jane Nelson Patton were born fourteen children, all of whom lived to adulthood; all married and reared families except one. List of children:
William Madison, born March 12, 1809; died January, 1878
Mary Brown, born June 10, 1810
James Nelson, born November 4, 1811
Elizabeth Simpson, born January 24, 1813
Robert Miller, born July 17, 1814
John J. P'atton, born October 5, 1816
Louisa Amelia, born July 19, 1818
Nancy Nelson, born June 28, 1820
Thomas Beirne, born December 1, 1822
Washington LaFayette, born May 7, 1824
Edwin Franklin, born March 26, 1826
Margaret Jane, born March 9, 1828
Columbus Marion, born March 9, 1828
Sidney Ewing, born September 25, 1830
Not long before Tristram Patton's death he was notified to return to Ireland and claim his estate, his elder brother, William, having died without children. He was then too old to make the journey, and at his death the estate descended to his eldest son, William M. Patton, who made no effort to claim it. After fifty years the property reverted to the Crown.
After the death of Robert Patton (brother of Tristram), the widow, Eleanor Gray Patton, who was a sister of John Gray, of near Pickaway, moved with her two sons, William and Robert, to Kentucky, where she married a man named Dyer. She had one son, Albert Dyer, who died in early manhood. Her son, William, returned to Monroe County, where he married and lived for many years. Her son, Robert, married in Kentucky and lived at Elkton, Todd County. He left some children, but the family name has become extinct.
