Ancestor Birthday - February 17 - Nancy Patton - 1791-1866

On 17 Feb 1791 or 1792 my 4th great-grandmother, Nancy Patton, was born to John Patton and Martha (Sharp) Patton in Rockbridge County, Virginia. She was their eighth and youngest child.

Nancy was named as an heir in her father's will written in 1809. A special bequest to her stated "I bequeath to my daughter Nancy such quantity of property so as to be equal in value to what any of my other daughters has received of my estate." Nancy had three older sisters. Jane never married and also had a special bequest along with her mother as apparently Jane had special needs. The other two: Martha "Patsy" and Mary "Polly" had married before 1809. Did Nancy's bequest indicate they had something like a dowery when they had married? I don't know, but maybe.

Nancy did get married 2 Oct 1812 to William Milligan in Rockbridge by Daniel Blaine, a Presbyterian minister. Soon Nancy and William moved to Adams County, Ohio as their first child may have been born there (reports are conflicting) and certainly their second child in 1815. Nancy's siblings as well as her mother moved to Adams County before 1820.

Her mother's will written in 1819, named Nancy as an heir. Nancy got a share of her mother's books, household effects and wearing apparel. I wonder if the books had originally belonged to John since Martha signed with her mark. Maybe she could read and not write.

William, Nancy's husband, died in the 1840's. She was enumerated on the 1850 US census in Wayne Township, Adams County, as the head of household, with real estate valued at $1200. Also living with her were her youngest son, William Steele Milligan, and her sister Jane Patton.

By the 1860 census, Nancy was living with her son William his wife and 3 children in Oliver Township, Adams County. Nancy was shown as a housekeeper. Her sister Jane, who was marked idiotic, was also living there. This listing helps explain the special bequest from their father. I was glad to see that Nancy appears to be taking care of her sister.

Nancy (Patton) Milligan died 19 Jun 1866 and was buried in Unity Cemetery, Unity, Adams County, Ohio. I was glad to find an entry on Find A Grave website which shows a photo of her "old" barely readable gravestone.