The ancestor of this branch of the Patterson family in America was James Patterson, born in Scotland about 1633. He was one of the prisoners of war taken by Cromwell, probably at the battle of Worcester, September 3, 1651. These prisoners were sold as bonal [probably should be "bond"] servants by the English government and a large number of them were sent to New England in the ship "John and Sarah" of London, Captain John Green, Master. They embarked November 6, 1651, sailed about November 14, 1651, and arrived at Boston in the May following. In 1658 James Patterson was a resident of Billerica, Massachusetts, where he received a grant of land from the town followed by sixteen other grants issued between the years of 1658 and 1685. He was admitted a freeman, April 18, 1690. At a meeting of the selectmen and committee held October 8, 1675, an order from the honorable council sent them was read "twelve garrison's were formed in Billerica." "They appoint James Paterson's house for garrison, etc." His will was dated May 12, 1701, and he died in Billerica, July 14, 1701, aged about sixty-eight years. He married, May 29, 1662, Rebecca Stevenson, before married to Thomas Dantforth, Esq. She was born about 1642, daughter of Andrew Stevenson, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Children: Mary, James, Andrew, John, Joseph, Rebecca, James and Jonathan.
(II) Andrew, son of James and Rebecca (Stevenson) Patterson, born in Billerica, Massachusetts, April 4, 1672, was a mariner and tradition says "was lost at sea." He was alive March 27, 1707, as appears by deeds. He married, 1697, Elizabeth Kebbe, of Charlestown, Massachusetts. She died in Reading, Massachusetts, June, 1738. Child: James.
(III) James (2), son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Kebbe) Patterson, was born in Medford, Massachusetts, October 5, 1707, died at Princeton, Massachusetts, May 4, 1766. He was a blacksmith and in 1730 purchased a homestead in Sudbury where he resided till 1763, he later was of Princeton where he died. He married, October 14, 1730, Lydia, born in Lexington, daughter of Deacon Jonathan and Abigail (Reed) Fisk. Children: Jonathan, David, Andrew.
(IV) Andrew (2), son of James (2) and Lydia (Fisk) Patterson, was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, April 14, 1742. He later lived in Princeton and then removed farther west. He married (first) in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 21, 1761, Elizabeth Bond, who died September 13, 1772, aged thirty-six years. He married (second) Mrs. Anne Russell, a widow. Children of first wife: Sarah, James, died young. Children of second wife: David and perhaps others.
(V) David, son of Andrew (2) and Anne (Russell) Patterson, was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, August 31, 1778. He married and had a son Levi.
(VI) Levi, son of David Patterson, was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, in 1800, died in Ohio. He removed to Ohio where he was postmaster and a man of prominence. He married Abigail Chapin, of the Massachusetts Chapin family, so largely interested in the Boston and Albany railroad. Children:
- Augusta, who married Theodore Kline, and
- David Chapin.
(VII) David Chapin, son of Levi and Abigail (Chapin) Patterson, was born at Mt. Washington, Massachusetts, February 17, 1829, died August 2, 1907, at Newark, New Jersey. He resided in Hudson, New York, where he was engaged as a contractor. During the civil war he enlisted in the Forty-ninth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served in the quartermaster's department for one year. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Universalist in religious belief. He married Catherine Ann Doty, eighth child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sanford) Doty, of North Egremont, Massachusetts, later of Milan, New York, where Catherine Ann was born, a direct descendant of Edward Doty, who came in the "Mayflower," and his wife, Faith (Clarke) Doty. The descent is through Isaac, fifth son and seventh child of Edward and Faith, who lost his father when he was six years of age. Isaac settled at Oyster Bay, Long Island, where he owned a great amount of land. He married Elizabeth England and had six children. Their son Samuel, born at Oyster Bay, married Charity, daughter of Jarvis Mudge, and had eight children. Their son Charles, born at Oyster Bay, about 1730, removed to the town of Clinton, now Hyde Park, Dutchess county, New York, in 1755, where he died 1803. He is buried in the Quaker burying ground but was not a member of the Friends Meeting. He married Sarah Baker and had nine children. Their son Samuel (2), born in Clinton, Dutchess county, New York, in 1764, died at Milan, New York. He married (first) Sarah Shaw; (second) Mrs. Rebecca Coppernail. Ten children by first wife, three by second. Samuel (3), son of Samuel (2) and Sarah (Shaw) Doty, married Elizabeth Sanford and had ten children. Their daughter Catherine Ann, born in Milan, New York, June 12, 1833, married David Chapin Patterson and died at Hudson, New York, 1899. Children:
- Agnes, married Rector Stickles; children: Lloyd and Blanche.
- Merritt Smith.
- Imogene, married William Reitz and lives in New Jersey.
- Nettie, married (first) Arthur Holley and (second) Luther Shute.
- Ezbon, married (first) Meda Pierce, child Edward; married (second) Julia Martin.
(VIII) Merritt Smith, son of David Chapin and Catherine Ann (Doty) Patterson, was born at North Haven, Massachusetts, November 18, 1853. He received a good education, and joined his father in the contracting business which he still continues in Hudson, New York. He is an energetic, successful business man and held in highest esteem. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans and affiliates with the Democratic party. He is an efficient member of the Hudson board of health and deeply interested in all that pertains to the public welfare. He is prominent in his party and is frequently a delegate to county and state conventions. He married, January 20, 1888, Elizabeth Perks, born in London, England, September 28, 1862, died in Hudson, May 25, 1910. Children:
- David Chapin (2), born January 24, 1889, at Hudson, educated in public and private schools, now associated with his father in business. He is a Democrat and member of Christ Episcopal Church, having been a member of the choir of that church since he was a boy.
- Florence Beatrice.
- Imogene Blanche. Mr. Patterson is best known as Smith Patterson, that being his business and official signature.