Danforth Patterson

     Danforth Patterson was born circa 1770 at Barre, Worcester Co, Massachusetts.¹ He was the son of John Patterson Jr and Rebecca (?). Danforth Patterson was baptized on 3 June 1770 at First Church of Barre, Barre, Worcester Co, Massachusetts.¹ He filed a marriage intention to Chloe Smith, daughter of Moses Smith and Lydia Smith, on 22 April 1792 at Barre, Worcester Co, Massachusetts.² Danforth Patterson married Chloe Smith, daughter of Moses Smith and Lydia Smith, on 30 May 1792 at New Braintree, Worcester Co, Massachusetts.³ Danforth Patterson died on 23 March 1832 at Noyan, Missisquoi Co, Quebec; His death comes from gravestone; no church record found yet.⁴ He was buried at St George's Anglican Cemetery, Clarenceville, Missisquoi Co, Quebec.⁴
     It appears that immediately after their marriage, Danford & Chloe moved to Vermont, most likely in the area of Franklin County. According to census records their son Frederick was born about 1793 in Vermont, although no substantiating record can be located at this time (1990). By 1797, Danford and family were living in Caldwell's Manor.
In 1830, before the notary J.E. Faribault (#781), Danford Patterson of Noyan, "being desirous of promoting the elementary education & Christian knowledge in the third district of schools in the parish of St Thomas..." gave to Briggs Wait, Jacob Derick and Augustus Longeway in the name of that district "twelve perches of ground off Lot No. 2 in Third Concession of Noyan...without any reservation..." Danford did specify that the gift was made with the condition that the land be used for no other purpose than "elementary school, Sunday School, & used as a place of worship". Another document from Faribault's files in July 1831 (#865) show Danford and Chloe "bind themselves under the mortgage of their present & future property unto Louis Menard" for 25 pounds currency. This land was known as Lot No. 3 in the 3rd Concession of Noyan, being west of Little Creek on Lot No. 2 in Faddentown, bounded on the south by Briggs Wait and to the north by Joseph Longeway. By this time Danford "by reason of infirmities...could not write". His death occurred only eight months later, perhaps giving a clue that he was already in declining health at this time. His date of death comes from the gravestone that once stood at St George's Anglican Cemetery. No record has been located within the church registers of the area.
In March of 1835, before Leon Lalanne, notary, Chloe Smith Patterson states that her husband "made and published his last Will & Testament, which she says she cannot produce, it lying yet in the office of the notary before whom it was executed". It does not say who that notary was. She acknowledges that her late husband willed his entire half of their mutually owned property to her upon his death. She, in turn, is donating to her "beloved son Frederick" all property with the condition that he must pay off all debts, support and maintain her until her death, and after her death divide the property according to Danford's last wishes between himself and the other co-heirs.⁵