Born in 1692 in Newton, Limavaddy, not slated ot inhearit any of the Patton estates, so he went to sea when very young. "A very impressive ship's master he must have been, as he was a 'man of gigantic statue, handsome and dignified and of remarkably commanding powers'. He was dark-haired and brown-eyed and over sis feet two inches tall." it is said that James took part in theWar with France called "Queen Anne's War" which terminated in 1713.
James married Mary Borden (some accounts say Mary Osborne and others Burden) and had two daughters, Mary Patton b. 1728 and Margaret Patton. James was Captain of a ship called the "Warpole", one of Henry Patton's ships. It is said that James made as many as 20 or 25 passages from Northern Ireland to America, specifically, Hobbe's Hole, Virginia on the Rappahannock Ruver.
He carried Ulster immigrants to Virginia and returned with peltries and tobacco. In about 1738, James Patton received a grant of 120,000 acres of land in America. The King's only stipulation was that the land should be west of the 'Blue Mountains', and that settlements should be established for worthy and dependable British subjects.
James Patton made one last voyage along with Alexander Breckinridge and his wife Jane (according to MPG, sister of John Preston), there were McCues, McClungs, McPheeters and many other Scottish names. James Patton brought his wife and two daughters, John Preston and his wife Elizabeth Patton Preston, their three daughters, Letitia, Margaret, and Mary and their one son, William Preston (founder of the Smithfield Preston). John’s fourth daughter, Ann or Elizabeth Ann Preston was apparently born in this country in 1739.
Others were John Buchanan and his two sisters Margaret and Martha, John Preston's sister, Mary Preston who later married Phillip Barger. The Walpole arrived in Belhaven, near Alexandria on the Potomac on August 26, 1736. There were supposedly 56 passengers aboard the Walpole on this trip and it is believed 30 of them were imported to settle a 30,000 acre tract, 1000 acres each. Patton, Lewis (a relative and land speculator) and William Beverley had entered a joint venture to obtain land from thr Councle of Virginia. The Pattons and Prestons settled adjacent to Tinkling Spring in the southern part of Beverley Manor (near what it now Staunton). See how the Beverley Manor was divided.
They were among those who in the fall of the same year formed the Triple Forks of the Shenando Congregation, which later became the Tinkling Spring Meeting House Congregation. Patton later built on the upper waters of the James River two villages and two forts. One was called Pattonsburg and the other, Buchanan.
After the organization of Augusta County, Patton became county lieutenant, justice, sheriff, burgess and general leader in county affairs.
He also took large numbers of acres in Botetourt County, VA. His own home he names "Spring Farm", which is now within the corporate limits of Staunton, VA. The other place was called ,"Spring Hill" near Waynesboro, Virginia. Young John Buchanan soon married Patton's oldest daughter, Margaret, and they lived for years at Buchanan's Fort. Martha Buchanan, John's oldest sister, married a cousin newly arrived in the colony, another John Buchanan. John's youngest sister Margaret Buchanan married Major Charles Campbell. They became parents of General William Campbell, the hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain.
James Patton took up several thousand acres on the New River, in what is now Montgomery County, Virginia. Here, on the river, Phillip and Mary (Preston) Barger built a fort and began a settlement. To this day it is known as the "Barger's Fort, and across the ridge Patton built a fort and began a settlement known as "Draper's Meadows".
Here the Drapers, Ingles, McDonalds, Cloyds, etc. made their first home in the new New World. Patton’s home was called "Solitude" and it was here, on July 8, 1755, James Patton met a tragic death when much of the settlement was wiped out on a bright Sunday morning by the savage tomahawk. It is said that Patton had sent his nephew William Preston on an errand to Sinking Spring (near present day Newport). William had left early that morning. Draper Meadows is now known as Blacksburg, the home of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Currently the largest (and best) college in the state of Virginia. Four generations of Pattons lived here (at what is now known as "Solitude") as well as Governor John Floyd.
Patton uses nautical terms. Pilot/pilotage is his term for guide/guiding.
Patton is bullheaded. In 1751 he leaves Cresap's station without the agreed upon interpreter, Andrew Montour, and is deceived by his interpreter at Logstown.
He is contemptuous of Indians and has little use for them beyond their land.
He is cheap. He didn't use all the wampum he bought from Cresap in 1751 returning some for a refund.
Bears ill will towards Cresap. He knows of the letters Cresap sent to Dinwiddie denigrating his performance after his 1751 trip to Logstown.
Patton is only remaining delegate to the Lancaster Treaty which probably explains his selection as leader rather than some of the more prominent Tidewater gentry.
The trade goods sent by the British government to Fredericksburg for the Logstown Treaty were sold and replaced with cheaper goods with the difference pocketed.
