Manuscript Notes

The Patton Manuscript

 

     John J. Davis compiled a typewritten manuscript genealogy of the Patton family which he occasionally updated with a new typewritten version, but also added to with handwritten notes, apparently as he received updates from family members.

 

     The main body of the manuscript which I presently possess appears to have been typed in the late 1960’s, as there is one reference to 1968. The earlier versions have notes from the 1940’s, and more notes from the early 1960’s.

 

     There are several page numbers which do not exist in the original, including pages 15, 16, 17, and 22. In several instances pages were added by the author with letters a, b, etc. to accommodate new information without renumbering the entire manuscript. However, an occasional page has a different number in different versions of the manuscript. Additionally, where an old version of a page differs significantly from the newer version, I have included a link to that page so they can be compared.

 

     I have prepared these pages for the web by scanning them using OCR software, then converting these to Word and cleaning them up there. The OCR software frequently converted 3’s to 5’s and interchanged commas and periods. It could not read the handwritten notes on the pages, so I have added them using a font that looks like handwriting to help distinguish the notes from the original typing. If you notice any errors that I did not get corrected, please bring them to my attention.

 

     Mr. Davis passed away some years ago in California, and his manuscript found its way to an antiques dealer, apparently unwanted by any relatives. I am making it available on the internet only in the spirit of sharing, as I would hope any genealogist would want to do. I do not believe Mr. Davis ever sold copies of his manuscript, and I am not profiting in any way by publishing them on the internet, so I do not believe I am infringing on any copyright or similar laws. If anyone can convince me that I should not be publishing this material on the internet, I will take it down.

 

     What I have scanned so far goes through page 32 of the manuscript. These pages are nearly all in the updated version from the late 1960’s, and contain relatively few handwritten additions. They scan well and convert well via OCR. The next group of pages, 33 to 43, are not in the newer format. Within that group is Mr. Davis’ immediate family, and the pages are covered with handwritten additions. These pages don’t convert well at all and will probably have to be scanned as photographs. Also, these pages have photos and newspaper clippings taped on the backs which will have to be scanned separately. It will take some time before these are ready to upload, but check back in a couple weeks.

 

     In the interest of privacy and security, I have removed the birth dates, if given, for anyone born after 1910 and not also clearly marked as deceased. If anyone whose name is listed here would like their name replaced with “living” I will gladly do so.

 

Click here to begin reading the manuscript starting with the introductory pages.

Click here to go to the list of Robert and Mary’s children, with links to their pages.

 

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