William Gillies Patterson

     William Gillies Patterson was born on 9 December 1842 at Merigomish, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia. He was the son of Nicholas Perdue Patterson and Catherine Nelson Copeland. William Gillies Patterson married Rachel Campbell Kerr Howard, daughter of John Howard Jr and Rachel Campbell Kerr, on 9 May 1869 at St Andrew's Church, Saint John, Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; William G. Patterson, Esq., was of Pictou, Nova Scotia.¹ William Gillies Patterson died on 10 April 1920 at Millville, Cumberland Co, New Jersey, at age 77. He was buried on 14 April 1920 at Siloam Cemetery, Vineland, Cumberland Co, New Jersey.²
     William Gillies Patterson was a preacher for a Baptist Church. He appeared on the census of 12 June 1880 at Hartford, Hartford Co, Connecticut; William G. Patterson, 37, b. NS, Rachel C., 41, b. NB, Carlotta K.M., 9, Harry H., 7, Barret C., 6, Grace M.D., 4, all b. NS and Wm M., 2, b. CT. William was an Ink Manufacturer.³ He and Rachel Campbell Kerr Howard appeared on the census of 11 June 1900 at Vinita, Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; W.G. Patterson, 57, Rachel C.K., 63, Gracie M., 22; W.M., 22. The family had come to the US in 1877. William was a minister, and Gracie was an art teacher. Rachel had eight children, with only six living.⁴ According Ben Cornatzer, William and Rachel moved to New Jersey in 1919 along with daughter Grace Cornatzer and her family.²