James Patton

James Lynn Patton, (1690 or 1692 – 30 July, 1755) was a merchant, pioneer frontiersman, and soldier who settled parts of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Between his immigration to Virginia in 1740, and his death there in 1755, he was a prominent figure in the exploration, settlement, governance, and military leadership of the colony. Patton held such Augusta County offices as Justice of the Peace, Colonel of Militia and Chief Commander of the Augusta County Militia, County Lieutenant, President of the Augusta Court, commissioner of the Tinkling Spring congregation, county coroner, county escheator, collector of duties on furs and skins, and County Sheriff. He also was President of the Augusta Parish Vestry and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was present at three important treaty conferences with Iroquois and Cherokee leaders. Patton was killed by Shawnee warriors in July 1755. James Patton was distantly related to US General George S. Patton (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945), both being descendants of the Rev. William Thomas Patton (1590 – abt. 1641), who was born in Freuchie, Fife, Scotland. Birth and early life Little is known about Patton's early life. Much published biographical information is based on hearsay or speculation. He was born in 1690 or 1692 in Ireland, probably County Donegal, and may have spent some of his early years in Derry. Henry Patton is frequently named as his father and Sarah Lynn as his mother, but there is no reliable or primary source documentation to support this. Letitia Preston Floyd says that Patton had four sisters. Patricia Givens Johnson reports family traditions that Patton's grandfather was born in Scotland, that James had an older brother and was therefore not eligible for any inheritance, which motivated him to become a sailor. She notes that Patton is said to have served in the British Royal Navy in Queen Anne's War, which ended in 1713, and that soon afterwards he "procured" a passenger ship and began trading in Virginia.