Pvt. George Patterson

Pvt George Patterson was born in Franklin County Virginia in 1820. He worked as a miner until he enlisted on August 13th, 1864, in Rutland, Ohio. Rutland was known for coal mining. On his muster paperwork, he was described as 5’5” tall, having black hair, black eyes, and black skin color.

​

At 44 years old, Patterson was officially mustered into the 9th United States Colored Heavy Aartillery, Company B, on September 25th, 1864, Camp Delaware. While his company was encamped in March 1865 about three miles from Nashville, Tennessee, they were attacked in the dead of night by Confederate soldiers. “As we were without arms (not having drawn them yet) we retreated to Nashville.” According to his pension application, Patterson ran into a stump while running through brush, injuring his left knee. He was sent to a hospital about one mile from Nashville for 3 weeks to recover from his injury.

​

On August 11th, 1865, the 9th United States Colored Heavy Artillery was dissolved and Patterson was transferred to the 13th regiment, Company I, of the United States Colored Heavy Artillery. The 13th regiment was responsible for garrison duty in Ohio until February 1865, and additional garrison duty near Lexington, Kentucky, until the regiment mustered out on November 18, 1865. Since Patterson’s contract was only 1 year, he officially mustered out on September 25th, 1865, in Nashville, Tennessee.

​

George Patterson married Hannah Early on March 4th, 1867, in Meigs County, Ohio. The marriage certificate states George is no nearer of kin to Hannah Early than second cousin. Early is a family name common to Franklin County, and later Census records confirm she was born in Virginia, so they might have known each other before the war.

​

At the time of the 1870 Census, George Patterson was listed as 60 years old, living in Rutland, Ohio, and working as a farm laborer. He's living with his wife, Hannah Patterson, 70, and Sarah Patterson, 4, born in Ohio. The census taker wrote "age doubtful" in the age column for George and Hannah. In the 1880 Census, a decade later, Sarah Patterson is 15 years old and identified as a granddaughter. George’s age is recorded as 65, Hannah’s as 80. Sarah is described as suffering from consumption or tuberculosis. No records were found of either Hannah or Sarah after 1880.

​

According to a pension application filed in 1884, George Patterson remained partially disabled due to the injury he sustained outside of Nashville. On 14 Oct 1892, George executed a will stating he had no widow or surviving kin. Patterson died on 9 June 1893. The will was filed in probate on 7 Aug 1893, leaving his home and all possessions to Georgianna Warner “for her loving care.”

​

Georgianna Napper Warner (born 1862 in OH) was married to Alpheus Warner (born 1827 in VA) 29 Jul 1880. Alpheus was also an USCT soldier (3rd USC Heavy Artillery) who was substantially older than her. Her family was free in Ohio with some census records describing her family as white, others colored or mulatto.

​

Contributors: Toni Smith, Mackenzie Jackson, Sarah Plummer, Cathie Cummins, Zach Howard, AJ Krugh, Nolan McGill and Chris Nunn