"Mr. Bob Brawley, of Virginia, sent to me a package that contained a collection of articles concerning the original owners of the Arlington Plantation in Lake Providence, La., the Thomas Patten family.
Part of the collection sent to me:
(1) Notes from Mr. Bob Brawley explaining various things concerning the Patten Family members.
(2) "Legacy to My Children", a journal written by Selina Wheat. Within her journal she shares a very interesting and scary story; she tells of a time, in her young adult years, when she and some younger family members journeyed to a northern section of Carroll Parish by themselves, read "The Fearful Stranger".
(3) It also contains charts & family trees of the Wheats, Seays, Roberdeaus, Wolfes, etc. handwritten and sent to me by Brawley. Other info came out of the book written by Roberdeau, "The Geneaology of the Roberdeau Family", by Roberdeau Buchanan, and also from "Gentle Tiger", by Charles L. Dufour. I will add these here also. I hope that Mr. Brawley likes what I have done with his collection & some of his notes that he sent to me."
by Sandy Guthrie Moore
(1)
Mr. Brawley's Notes:
The original owner of Arlington Plantation, Thomas Roberdeau Patten, at 12 years old, sailed to Europe with Capt. Crowell. Upon their return at New Orleans Captain Crowell died of yellow fever. From an account in "The Genealogy of the Roberdeau Family", printed in 1875, by Roberdeau Buchanan, it was stated that Thomas Roberdeau Patten quite by accident met his brother, Joseph May, on the Red River personally after his trip to Europe.
Selina's account has T. R. Patten going with their father, Thomas Patten, who died in 1820.Selina Wheat (Seay) Pilcher, born in Lake Providence, [as noted above] married April 5, 1874 to Charles Morehouse Pilcher, of Carroll Parish, a native of Tennessee. His mother was a sister of Mrs. Joseph M. Patten. Mr. Pilcher is a promising lawyer in Lake Providence.Their child is Selina Wheat, born July 27, 1875.
I'm well acquainted with Heriot [Harriet] Rozier Patten. She was a sister to Joseph May, Thomas Roberdeau, as well as Selina Patten Wheat. She married John Miller, of Winchester, VA.. They moved to L. P. around 1840, died in 1853.
Their children I'm not so familiar with.Thomas Patten, the old man, owned a plantation called Monroe, according to this book. Selina said in her journal that T. Patten moved to "Ft. Miro, now called Monroe". [Carroll Parish was once was a part of Ouachita Parish, Monroe was once referred to as Ft. Miro. Monroe, the Ouachita Parish city, maybe started as Monroe Plantation]. Thomas Patten died in 1820.
Salina's Journal is 72 pages long. I know there is a lot there. It consists of Selina's remarks about her family, ending with the story about the fearful stranger.There is a section written by my father's grandmother, grand-daughter of Selina Wheat. She remarked that she found the journal in 1918 and mentioned some painted portraits of "Aunt Narcissis". That would have been Narcisses Williams, daughter of Joseph May Patten [Sherwood] and a portrait of Mrs. Morgan, Mary De Neal Wolf.
This is not a Lake Providence Memoir, it is from a woman who’s brother lived in Lake Providence.
Wheeling W. VA.*
Little Rock, AR.
Nashville, TN.
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Salibury, N.C.
The ones with stars are mentioned in this memoir.
In a final section of her journal, Mrs. Selina Wheat wrote "The History of C. R. Wheat". I suspect she copied it. It does not have much of that babble a mother would talk about a son. It facts, facts, facts. Charles Dufour borrowed from it, heavily, in writing his book.
It is not going to remain in a cupboard as a family heirloom to be lost in an unidentified cardboard box on passing to the next generation. It's part of a collection, whether an intack or scattered collection. Now it's scattered."
Robert A. Brawly, Leesburg, Virginia,
Thus for Robert Cunningham gives an account of himself and family under his own signature and it appears by other records that the first born son died at an early age, Mary the 4th child and oldest daughter married to Isaac Roberdeau (1), a native of Rochelle, in France, who with many others left their native country under the Edict of Nantz, their children are Elizabeth, Anne, Daniel.
On the death of their father and during the infancy of the son, Daniel, the family removed from St. Christopers to Philiadelphia in North America. Elizabeth died about 1794 unvarried. Ann married William Selymer, by whom she had one son, Daniel Cunningham, who died in Berks City, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Roberdeau, the son, was born in the Island of St. Christophers and came at an early age to Philadelphia and became a merchant of that city. He married Mary, the daughter of the Rev. David Bostnick, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the city of New York. Their children are 1st Isaac, 2nd Mary, 3rd Ann, 4th Daniel B., 5th Mary, and 6th Selina.
During the war with England Mr. Daniel Roberdeau came identified with the American cause and on the arrival of General Lafayette was made a member of Gen. Lafayette’s family, as his aid and for his military prowess was raised to the rank of general, became at the close of the war a resident of Alexandria, VA., where he often met Gen. Washington, visiting him at Mt. Vernon and in return Gen. Washington often came to spend nights accepting hospitality at the Roberdeau house, it is still standing in Alexandria. Gen. Roberdeau was ever a devoted Mason as was Gen. Washington. Thus they meet as Brothers in lodge.
General Roberdeau (2) married a second time to Miss Milligan a native of Scotland by whom a second family of children of his old age are still living in Winchester, VA. Whether he removed in 1800 or later I do not know the date. It is in Winchester he is buried near General Morgan of Revolution history, in the church yard of the old Presbyterian Church.
The children of General Roberdeau’s 1st marriage remain in Alexandria, where they had married. The son, Isaac (3), was at West Point a graduate filled some high office there, and afterwards in Washington was Chief Engineer in the topographical department. He resided in Georgetown where I last visited him when Roberdeau, my 1st born, was an infant.
Colonel Isaac Roberdeau married in the city where he was born in Philadelphia to Miss Susan Shippin Blair, daughter of Rev. Francis Blair of Germantown. Ann Roberdeau married Jonathan Swift (4), the nephew of Dean Swift of historical memory. Selina Roberdeau married Scotimore Nicholls (sic) of Norfolk, VA.. Mary Roberdeau married Mr. Thomas Patten. She (5) was buried inn the church yard of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Alexandria in 1808, near her sacred ashes lie buried two infant daughters, Susan and Catharine. Her oldest son, Roberdeau, lies buried in the new grave yard.
Joseph May and Thomas Roberdeau Patten are buried where they died on their plantation in Louisiana, near Lake Providence (6). The 1st (Joseph), in 1841, the younger (Thomas) in 1852. Both daughters of Mary Patten who have died, the eldest, Mary, wife of Dr. Thomas Wolfe, is buried in Faquier, VA. and Harriet Rozier (sic) lies near her brothers at Lake Providence. Only Selina Blair Wheat is left to write this record now in her 66 year, married in 1825 to Reverend John Thomas Wheat, of Washington City, clergyman of the Nolestant (sic) Episcopal Church, who besides the Mother shall write of these beloved one’s gone to Heaven.
The children of Colonel Isaac Roberdeau are Mary, Susan, and Selina. The last two.. Susan and Selina are living. Selina married McShean Buchaham Turner, in the U. S. army and lives in Charleston, Ma?? (sic) having two children; Seletia and Roberdeau. Mary and Susan never married. Ann Swift, who was married to Jonathan Swift, lived in Alexandria VA.. She had 5 children whom I can remember: William Roberdeau, Daniel, Ann J., Mary, and Foster 3rd son. Selina Nicholls had three daughters: Martha, Selina Ann, and Mary, the last two are still living.
Mary Patten had in all 7 children: two daughters, who died in their infancy. Isaac Roberdeau, oldest son, was born in Alexandria, and Joseph May, second son also. Mary Ann, Heriot, and Selina. Isaac Roberdeau died at the age of 19 in Alexandria of vane piety and promise. Mary Ann died in Faquier Co., VA., while attending Rector Springs for her health. Joseph May died on his plantation in Louisiana in 1840, a devout member of the church, as was his sister Mary Wolfe.
Heriot Miller (sic) (7), second daughter of Mary Roberdeau, had four living daughters and one son at her death. Her eldest, Mary Dunn (8), died of the same disease of her Mother, Yellow Fever, in 1853, after nursing her father, mother, husband, and sister, she lived only a few days and is buried in Greenville, Mississippi. Mrs. Miller survived her husband only 4 days, who also died of the same dreadful disease - five members of the family died in less than a fortnight at Lake Providence, La., where they are buried. Three daughters still live: Laura, Ann, and Fannie, all married. Thomas Patten (9) left no children. He is buried on his plantation in La. called the “Arlington” (10), after the old Arlington, where he often was as a boy. Joseph May left two daughters: Selina Ann and Narcisa (11), who still live on her father’s plantation. Married to Major John Brands Williams, she had seven children all young. Selina died soon after her marriage, leaving one child who also died. Mary Ann Wolfe (12) had three children, her oldest still lives to bless her mother’s memory.
Mary De Neale Wolfe, now Harrison, is the oldest child of Mry Ann Wolfe, lived during the life time of her first husband Judge T. N.(?) Morgan in New Orleans. She had four children; Thomas, Mary, Fannie, and Selina, and only Thomas survives. He lives in California where he married Mary Harrison. His mother resides in California. She has 3 children by Mr. H.(space). Thomas Wolfe (13), my sister’s 2nd child, married Maria Temple in Fredericksburg, VA. Where he died leaving five daughters and one son. Three daughters still live now in Baltimore with their mother.
Lewis Wolfe (14) died young at his Uncle Joseph Pattens’ in Louisiana. It was remain for me the very poor writer of this memorial of my beloved family to add what will interest my dear children. He who made the request with this book, my first born son, he is gone from Earth, but she, his sister, Selina, who has asked the same I must for her sake.
September 12, 1872
I do begin on this my Natal Day, to record for my dear children, take what I can reveale (sic) of my childhood days. None are left who can do this, but myself. I am last of my family.
I was just 3 years old when my dear mother was called from earth, young as I was my father impressed my young mind and heart with her image for us as she lay in the arms of death he raised me to kiss her cold lips and he after many years told me I said “Momma so cold”., also remember papa holding one side of a cup of tea as I carried it to the bedside of my sick mother.
One other incident I remember in my fathers home of a large bird which had been sent to papa from South America. I stooped to stroke its neck of vane and beautiful plumage and the bird struck its bill in my eye. It was thought for a long time I would lose the sight, but strange to say I can now, in my 67 year, see better with it than the other can see it without glasses.
[pg. 147]
When I was but five years old my Father decided to go see after a large body of land in Louisiana which he owned and some military lands given to my Grandfather for his service in the Revolutionary War. It was “The Great Bastrop Claim” in the county of Ouachita, LA., which turns out, though he purchased 20,000 acres and paid taxes for more than 30 years - has never been of use to his children. The U. S. Government sold it. We were then all young. My sister, Mary, was sent to Philadelphia to school, my sister Harriot and myself with our younger brother, quite a babe, was sent with our dear old nurse “Mammy Betsy”, of whom I must write - dear faithful friend and Foster Mother, as she was. Papa always preferred a white nurse for his children and she and Elizabeth Lutney had lived as my Mother’s housekeeper, overlooking the negro nurse ‘Delia’ for years since the birth of my son Roberdeau, when she was young.
[pg. 148]
More than half a century did this faithful servant live with the children of my Mother whom she promised on her death bed “she won’t never forsake”. So did my Father send her with the three youngest children to Winchester to my Aunt Nickolls who was in charge of the Winchester Academy (15) under Rev. Dr. ??? Hile, a Presbyterian clergyman much esteemed. My mother and aunt were of that church, not the Puritan brands, but the old Hugonnot, our Mammy (?) was a Methodist. Then how well I remember the many songs of her church.
We lived in Winchester going to school till the death of our father who died at Fort Muro, now Monroe, La, where our brothers, Joe May and Thomas, were with him and then afterwards are sister, Mary Ann married Dr. Thomas Wolfe. She went to Culpeper to reside and took me with her.
[pg. 149]
Heriot had married at an early age of 15 to John W. Miller of Winchester. Our brother Thomas (16) went on a voyage to Europe at an early age of 12 with Captain Crowdell, an old family friend of Papa’s, a sea captain, and brother was with him on board his ship in 1818 when Captain Crowdell died of yellow fever at New Orleans. Papa was then at Monroe and sent for my brother who remained with him till his death in 1820. I was with my sister Mary in Culpeper, VA.. She was a mother in every respect to me and on her death bed requested her husband “never to separate her daughter, Mary de Neale, from me.”
So I was taken by Dr. Wolfe to Alexandria, where Mary was with our Aunt De Neale, who had been with my sister at Rector Springs when she died and took Mary to Alexandria with her.
[pg. 150]
I took the dear child from her father’s arms who said “I will leave Mary with you for the present”, and so I had the darling, my sister had given to me and never were we separated. She was on Culpeper on a visit to her father, I went to her on my wedding ?? and brought her to my home in Alexandria, where I had married only a few months before on 10th of March 1825, and it was in July. I visited my brother-in-law, Mary’s father he took leave of her with fondest kisses - for he loved her dearly.
How often I recall parting of father and daughter, they were never to meet on faith again for on Christmas morning following he was returning on a visit to a patient he was thrown from his horse and killed.
Mary was then mine forever and no mother was ever more loved than she loved me through all our sad and happy changes. Mary has been to me a daughter fond and true.
It was in 1825 when I was married that as we journed, my young husband and I, we met or rathered we journed the same road, returning to Alexandria, that we were honored to ride n company for a day, a move to the village of Warrenton, VA. with General Lafayette (17) and his sorte - once when our horses ….
[pg. 151]
...were being watered the General observing in the rear or Gig (on then such a two wheeled vehicle was called) he walked to greet us. I had before seen him but he knew it not. I told him I had married since I had the honor of handing him a rose from Mr. Vernon the winter before. He remembered for I had told him I was the graddaughter of General Roberdeau, he then kissed my little niece, Mary, who knew not who he was. She was then 4 years old. So often since did she say to me “it was General Lafayette who kissed me, was it not?” She ten calle me Aunt having in her infancy said only ‘Nena’, but afterwards called me as she taught my children “Ma” sweet word for Mother.
[pg 152] - I’m leaving a suitable space blank to accommodate page 152 which I (Brawley) mapped off my computer never to be found again.
[pg 153]
….. Baptism of my 1st born son who asked me so earnestly for this memoir. We lived in Alexandria the 1st year and a half after our marriage when after several calls elsewhere my husband decided to go with our little family to Maryland at Elk Ridge. My true good friend and nurse Mammy joined me there. She had bee housekeeper while I was unmarried for Mr. Bushrod Washington and I persuaded her to return to her first cave of me and mine. She was to me what she had been to my mother. It was while living here that Mr. Lewis Wolfe (18) invited me to see his brother’s children and he said to me “Selina, (for he had known me in my childhood), let me take the boys home with me and I will send them to school.” I consented for I had then another sweet babe in my arms and thus I parted from the little boys.
[pg. 154]
My 1st daughter, Selina Patten, who was baptized by Rev. Dr. Wyate (sic), of Baltimore, and the following winter we removed to that city, Baltimore, to live. My husband still in charge of the two Bountry (?) Charlis Ellicott (sic), Mith Ch (sic), and Elk Ridge Landing. It was while living in Baltimore my husband was ordained a priest by Bishop Kemp of Maryland. Up to this time my life was one of uninterrupted happiness for though poor I was surrounded by many friends and felt myself rich in God bounty - for my husband was a good provider of many creature comforts. I remember how often we fed our oysters in the cellar and how Mammy knew how to prepare them often. At every meal were they roasted in the kitchen where only logs of wood were used to cook with. For well I remember when cooking stoves were first used in America….
[page. 155]
... as well do I remember when the 1st railroad. It was when we lived on Elk Ridge that my husband was invited to dine at Carrollton, the home of ‘Charles Carroll of Carrollton” (19), signer of what was then called our Independence. (Atlas! Alas!, where is that independence now) It was at this dinner at Carrollton that when the meal was over and the bountiful table had been cleaved that as the guest waited for the head of the table to use a basket was brought, so profusely filled with flowers, that not till it was just before the honored host that he introduced to the wondering guests his grandson, Charles Carroll the 4th generation, for it was on the 91st birthday of the Master of the Manor, Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
[pg. 156]
It was in the year 1829 that we removed to Wheeling, West Virginia. It was to me a sad removal for I lost the sweet and genial circle of friends which ever make life so dear. It had been for years a fond desire of my father-in-law to remove West and my good husband offered to pioneer - we went there to hardship. We could not have dreamed of for there it was that aboliticrist reigned and freedom was not to either white or black; time has proven what a fallen race we are. We had giants in those days, now are we dwarfs. No Washington, no Lafayette are left. Revolutions do but produce the scum of men, the Lincolns and the Grants. This country will be e’er another generation shall pass away another Mexico - worse still Africa is to reign in our Congress and on the supreme bench were some already rule.
[pg. 157]
It was in 1830 that your brother John Thomas (20) was born 30 Dec. He was baptized by Bishop Meade of Virginia, and it was in Wheeling. My brother Thomas (21) invited me with the request of my brother, Joseph (22), to let our Mary (23) go to spend some time with him in Monroe, La. I could not refuse for I knew the pleasure such a trip would give the child, and this dear brother repeatedly had aided me in the care of our sister’s children. Mary was gone about one year when I visited my sister, Mrs. Miller, in Winchester, to look after Mary’s brother, for their uncle, Mr. Wolfe (24), had died. I found them a burden to maiden Aunt Mrs. Wolfe, and I put Thomas (25a) to school. My sister offering to look after Joseph (25b). On my return I told my husband of their destitution and he said “Why did you not bring them home with you my dear. “ So did he even offer his home to my dear relations.
Soon after I wrote for them to be brought to me at Wheeling. My brother glad to hear I had their dear boys with me sent me the means to bring them to him, or to go to school as I chose. My hear husband was already teaching them. When in my desire to see Mary and to visit my brother I left home taking Selene and my baby John Thomas, my good mother-in-law took charge of Roberdeau and his father, and I spent the winter of 1831 in Louisiana. My brother had removed to Bunches Bend near Lake Providence. There I met my niece Mary, who I had determined to bring home with me leaving her brothers to my brother’s care.
Mary was at an age to receive the higher branches of education. My brother, Joseph, had sent her to an excellent school in Washington, MS. To Mrs. Thayer, but I had far better advantage for her. My husband was teaching at Wheeling a school of the first order and it was here the dear child shone her great proficiency in music.
While I was with my brother my husband was urged to visit Marietta, Ohio, and he found a more desirable position as Rector of St. Luke Church. He had been in Wheeling the Rector of Christ Church, but it only gave him the promise of 5.00$(sic) salary , never paid, while at Marrieta more was offered with a house to live in. So in 1832 he decided to accept and after the birth of Josephine May (27), my 2nd daughter, we went to move Salubrian diane (written in pencil) and pleasant home to live in, but it was not congenial in many respects. My brother, Joseph, came that summer to visit us, and he, during his absence from home, was elected to the legislature of his state and that without being a candidate. He accepted, if my husband, whom he loved as a brother indeed, would to New Orleans and I to stay with his wife in his absence. This was more than we could promise, but ‘No man orderth his own steps‘.
Brother-in-law Lauler (???) Wheat, had just returned from Texas when he was taken with Small Pox in Wheeling and died. In the spirit of the son and brother, my husband went to be with his parents at such an hour - and though he staid (sis) to avoid bringing the disease home should we have it, or did the children though they of course were removed from our home, yet it did become necessary for him to go to a milder climate to recover and to my brothers went to New Orleans, and it was only to hear him in the soul (???) of his great calling to have all men to want him for their Pastor. So was he called to that city with a salary the same for a month as was given him in Ohio for a year to New Orleans we went.
NOTES: (From Bob Brawley from along side the text)
(1) As you’ll see there is a bunch of Isaac Roberdeaus. There is Gen D. Roberdeaus father mentioned above here. There is Col. Isaac Roberdeau, grandson of the above mentioned Isaac and son of Gen. Daniel Roberdeau, and there is Isaac Roberdeau Patton, a brother to Selina Wheat, who died at 19 years old.
(2) General Roberdeau was a member of the Continental Congress.
(3) Isaac Roberdeau assisted Lafant (sic) in laying at the streets of Washington, oversaw the installation of water pipes being installed in the Whitehouse from a spring, and constructed barricades before the British Invasion in 1812-1814.
(4) Jonathan Swift was a well-known merchant in Alexandria, VA. He bought Thomas Patten’s inventory when he left for Monroe, LA., in 1812. [From Artisan and Merchants of Alexandria, VA. 1780-1820, Vol. 2]
(5) “I went to the church grave yard at the Presbyterian Meeting House, in Alexandria”, writes Mr. Brawley, “… never could find Mrs. Mary R. Patten grave, but in the list of cemeteries she and 2 infant daughters are listed. The new grave yard is huge. It’s over at the National Grave Yard, west of Henry Street.”
(6) The Pattens and Dunns are buried in the ‘white’s only’ cemetery in Lake Providence, LA..
(7) Heriot Miller, described as Harriet Rozier Patton, married John W. Miller, of Winchester. Thomas R. Wolf papers at the Southern Historical Society at Wilson Library. UNC Chapel Hill. [Abstract on the Web - type in Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe]
(8) Mary Dunn reference to the Dunns of L. P., La. Via website - type in Lake Providence history.
(9) This Thomas Roberdeau Patten is the son of Thomas Patten, Alexandria, VA. merchant that moved to Monroe, La. in 1812.
(10) The Arlington Plantation house is still standing, privately owned. Built in 1841, the same year Patten died.
*Note: I’m presuming that Thomas Patten’s 2 sons got the proceeds of the 20,000 acres unbeknownst to Selina and ??? (left blank). They both moved to Lake Providence in 1831, both living at Sherwood Plantation at Bunches Bend, about 9 miles from Lake Providence. Later in 1841, the younger brother built Arlington Plantation, just outside of L. P.. [Not fact, just a guess]
(11) Joseph Mays daughter is listed in the Lake Providence Cemetery records as Narcissa Willliams. The entry says she was born at Sherwood. I presume Sherwood Plantation.
(12) Mary Ann Wolfe, oldest, is Mary de Neale (sic)
(13) Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe was born May 1819 in Culpeper, married Maria Bernard Temple, and move to New Orleans and practiced law for 13 years.
(14) Joseph Lewis Wolfe, born 1821 and died 1833. [from the Abstract of the Thomas R. Wolfe papers ( #461), Wilson Library, UNC at Chapel Hill]
(15) The Winchester Academy is still going strong in Wincehster, established about 1796.
(16) Brother Thomas is Thomas Roberdeau PATTEN. NOT Wheat nor Wolfe
*Note: Look here! Remember me talking about the photo of Arlington Plantation at the Library of Congress? It said on the back Thomas R. Patten, well ever since I’ve been calling John Thomas.
(17) The Rev. J. T. Wheat tells about LaFayett’s triumphal return visit to Alexandria. A parade, songs, and speeches in his published poem “Rememberence”, which he wrote on his Golden Wedding anniversary (1875)
*A Handwritten draft in James S. Brawley’s collection, also one in Wheat/Shober Papers. The Wheat/Shober papers at UNC Chapel Hill Wilson Library. Type in John Thomas Wheat on ‘search’ you get there, type in ‘Southern Historical Collection’, never get there.
(18) Mr. Lewis Wolfe’s brother was the deceased Dr. Thomas Wolfe, father of Mary de Neale Wolfe, Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe, and Joseph Lewis Wolfe.
(19) Charles Carroll of Carrollton was in history the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
(20) The uncle, Mr. Wolfe, I assume is Lewis Wolfe, his father was also called Lewis Wolfe, an attorney in Winchester VA., a state senator from 1804 - 1811.
(21) John Thomas is the Reverand and Mrs. Wheat's 2nd son, John Thomas.
(22) Brother Thomas is Mrs. Selina' Wheat's younger brother, T. R.
(23) Joseph is Joseph May Patten, Selina's older brother.
(24) Mary is Mary de Neale Wolfe.
(25a, 25b) Mary de Neal Wolfe's brothers were Thomas Roberdeau and Joseph Lewis Wolfe. So the upshot is that Selina Wheat (older) put Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe in school and Mrs. Miller took in Joseph Lewis Wolfe to live with them.
(26) The uncle , Mr. Wolfe, I assume, is Lewis Wolfe. His father was also called Lewis Wolfe, an attorney in Winchester, VA., a state senator from 1804-1811.
***Charles L. DuFore wrote in his book “Gentil Tiger” that C. Roberdeau Wheat applied to his cousin to ‘read the law’. That cousin was Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe, the same 11-yr old boy that Selina put in school in Winchester, VA. So it seems they were well acquainted with each other.
The reason Thomas Roberdeau Wolfe rejected C. R. Wheat’s application was a loathing Mr. Wolfe had for Roberdeau ??? Mr. Wheat. (Just a guess)
(27) Josephine May and May Wheat Shober are the same person. Josephine married the Honorable Francis E. Shober / 1853.
***Read also the book "The Roberdeau Family", by Roberdeau Buchanan.
"The Fearful Stranger"
by Selina Wheat
…and here I will record an incident known only to the older children-- It was too early in the search for my husband to take his family to the city - and according to promises we made -- I was to wait at my Brother’s plantation till he should go to the city at a meeting of the Legislature.
I was to be left with the children at Pilchers Point, as no boat could go into the Bend where my Bro. lived. Early after dinner it was when we landed, it being Sat. evening the hands in charge of the wood yard were off duty, and the overseer, a young white man, was glad to yield his cabin to us, and went to visit a neighbor, miles off. I knew nothing of this, but expecting my Bro. to meet us. I was willing to wait. Mary, however, getting tired said “May I go ((unreadable) Aunt Sally these overseers books) and let Uncle know you are here?” My sister-in-law, Mary Wheat, secured the request saying “I will go with Mary.” Soon the horse was saddled and the two girls, with Aunt Sally to guide them, were on their way through a Cane Brake.
It was so new to Mary Wheat. She had never before been out of a city, but my Mary, was expert on horseback-- thus did they on one horse attempt a ride of 7 or 8 miles, late in the evening-- and did not reach my Brother’s till after night fall. He was preparing to retire with his feet in a warm bath-- having been quite sick for several days before -- But said “I will go to Sister.” “No, indeed you will be ill.” “Oh!” said Mary-- Uncle must go for Ma in these (unreadable).” “No,” said his wife, “the overseer is there.”
Who never same thinking it best for him to leave the entire use of the cabin.(?) It was quite dark, I had no light, but 5 huge logs were near. So did my dear boy Roberdeau, bringing in enough for the night, which I laid on plentifully. I found plenty of milk & butter. Sally had put some sweet potatoes in the ashes for our supper, which was a great treat for us. And when I spread the tables we were all too afraid to eat. So I said, “Let us, my children, ask God to take care of us, now that Papa is so far away.” With infinite comfort I had since from prayer -- when seeing my scared Leon was still kneeling-- and weeping with fear. His young sister, may, about 4 years old, went to him saying “Buddie, don’t cry, ain’t the Lord taking care of us?” So did I take courage also -- and bade the children to come and eat, for God was near us taking better care of us than Papa could at that moment.
Then there was a knock at the door -- I knew it was not my brother, so who had come -- So I asked “Who is there?” A man’s voice asked for a nights lodging. I said to go to Mr. Patten’s, who was coming soon again. The knock was repeated -- I knew it was best to open for only a (unreadable) fast even ever the door. A man asked me and presented me with a string of thimbles saying “Do you want to buy a thimble?” I said “No.” “Will you give me a nights lodging?” he asked. “I knew it was best to let him in -- So I told him, Mr. Patten & the overseer would do for him, what I could not, and seeing him looking at the table I had spread I asked him if he would eat supper, and he was ravenously hungry, ate all that was there, taking the pan of milk to his mouth for he said, “I have not eaten all day long.” So he said.
My frightened Leon (unreadable) had gone to sleep on my knee, and Joe & Mary was asleep in my arms -- the two older children were too frightened to sleep -- So kept watch with me, while the strange man ate -- and then laid before the fire and slept till a boat stopped to get wood, then he left much to my relief. My Brother came at dawn, saw at once my situation, and we wept in each others arms. All was now well, we were soon on our way to safety-- and to plenty-- this incident had taken more time and space than I thought.
We spent a month or more, with my Bro. before joining my Husband -- who was prepared for us in a house on (unreadable) -- and it was there that “Judge Morgan” renewed his offer to Mary, my dear Mary. She had known him, the writer, previous and he was well worthy of her -- being a pious man -- and his Parents were delighted with his choice. In March of 1835 they were married. It was the year of the crash in business, where all whom any husband was engaged with in building a Church -- for it was St. Paul’s Church, which had been organized by organized by Dr. Wheat.
3.
Charts & Family Trees
Thomas Patten, the old man, owned a plantation called Monroe, according to this Roberdeau Family history book Selina Wheat (the journal writer and daughter of T. Patten) said he moved to “Ft. Miro, now called Monroe”.
Roberdeau lineage connected to Lake Providence, La.
Roberdeau - Patten - Wheat - Seay - Pilcher - Williams - Brinton - Miller -
Dunn - McCraw - Cochran - Grebbeau - Annan
Daniel Roberdeau married Mary “Polly” Bostwick in 1761.
Their daughter, Mary Roberdeau was born May 6 1744.
Mary married Thomas Patten on Nov. 14, 1793.
Mary died Oct. 31, 1808, VA.
'a miniature of Mrs. Patten (Mary “Polly” Bostwick) on ivory, taken about the time of her marriage, and said to be an excellent likeness, is a most beautiful picture' [believed that in possession of the late Archibald Craige of Charlottesville, VA in 1972]Thomas Patten was a merchant in Baltimore, MD, and also a merchant in Alexandria, Virginia. He was engaged in the flour and produce trade in partnership with Col. Joseph May, who conducted the business in Boston. The firm of Patten, May & Co. failed about 1798, owing, it is said, to speculations in Georgia lands. His failure was also partly caused by loss of his ships at sea; relocated to Louisiana, taking his eldest son, Joseph May Patten (born 1799), following the death of his wife and the failure of his mercantile business. He established the plantation of 'Monroe' on the Ouachita River [ later the site of the town of Monroe, Louisiana. ]
He was accused of the murder of Andrew Youngs Morehouse, 1815 due to hiscontinual harassment - found innocent due to self-defense.
Thomas Patten died 1820 at Monroe Plantation.
date on tombstone, February 20, 1820 [burial date] - City of Monroe Cemetery [tombstone inscribed, 'Native of Watertown, Mass.'
There he died at Monroe, La., Feb. 6, 1820, and was buried on the banks of the Washita. On her mother's death the care of the children fell on Mary Ann, and after her marriage her husband became their guardian and adopted them.
See: “Roberdeau Genealogy" , pp. 125-127
Thomas Patten and Mary Roberdeau Patten’s children:
(1) Mary Ann Patten (1795-1822) (married Wolfe)
(2) Isaac Roberdeau Patten(1796-1814)
(3) Susan Shippen Patten (1797-<1801)
(4)*Joseph May Patten (1799-1841)
(5) Elizabeth Catherine Patten (1801-1802)
(6)*Harriet Rozier Patten (1803-1853) (married Miller)
(7)*Selina Blair Patten (1805-1896) (married Wheat)
(8)*Thomas Roberdeau (1807-1850)
See: "Roberdeau Genealogy" , pp. 142
Note:*Joseph, Harriet, & Selina, all stayed in Lake Providence, La.
Thomas Roberdeau Patten, moved to LA, sometime before 1837.
(4)Joseph May Patten (born May 26, 1799), son of Thomas & Mary Roberdeau.
His father’s failure of his mercantile business, along with the loss of his ships at sea, and also with his mother‘s death Joseph May and his father, Thomas Patten, relocated to Louisiana. Joseph May Patten settled down and became a planter. He married Ann M. Morehouse of Washita Parish (Ouachita), Louisiana., on Nov. 9, 1826. Ann M. Morehouse was born Sept. 9, 1807)
Joseph May Patten died 1841 at Sherwood Plantation.He died of consumption at his home called Sherwood Plantation on June 23, 1841 with his widow, Ann M. Morehouse Patten, dying Aug. 6, 1872. Buried beside Joseph May in the little burial ground on their plantation.
Joseph May Patten and Ann M. Morehouse Patten’s children:
(All born at Sherwood Plantation)
(1)*Selina Ann Patten (b. July 12, 1829) (She married in 1851, at N.O., La., Isaac Newton Kent, formerly and editor, but now a planter in La., She died Nov. 30, 1853, leaving an only child )
(2)Eliza Cornelia Patten (b. Feb. 17, 1832; d. Sept. 20, 1837)
(3)Joseph May Patten (b. Nov. 13, 1834; d. Nov. 9, 1837)
(4)*Narcissa Matilda Patten (b. Jan. 5, 1837) married John Branch Williams on February 1856, at Sherwood Plantation, near L. P., La.. He was a planter at Sherwood where he died on July 29, 1873. Mrs. Narcissa Matilda Williams still lives at the homestead where her children were born.
(a) Rebecca Branch Williams, b. Feb. 16, 1858.
(b) Joseph Patten Williams, b. May 21, 1859
(c) John Branch Williams, b. May 21, 1861
(d) Annie May Williams, b. Dec. 23, 1863
(e) Robert White Williams, b. Oct. 1, 1865, in Texas
(f) Charles English Williams, b. Sept. 24, 1868; d. Aug. _?_, 1873.
(g) Narcissa Patten Williams, b. Jan. 16, 1872.
(5 )Josephine May Patten (b. Mar. 7, 1841; d. Sept. 30, 1842)
(6)Harriet Rozier Patten (born Nov. 12, 1803) , daughter of Thomas & Mary Roberdeau.
Harriet Rozier Patten married, on Jan. 29, 1819 in MD, to John W. Miller, living in Winchester, VA, where all their children were born. They moved to Lake Providence, La. in 1840., where they lived until their death in 1853.
Mr. John W. Miller & Harriet Rozier Patten Miller, and daughter, Selina Matilda Miller, died of yellow fever in 1853 on their plantation.
Harriet Rozier Patten and John W. Miller’s oldest child, Mary Catherine Miller, takes children to Mississippi.
Harriet Rozier Patten & John W. Miller’s oldest daughter, Mary Catherine Miller, married Dr. Thomas Dunn, lived in L. P., La., took her six small children and her brother and sister, Fannie Morgan Miller and Albert Patten Miller (the eldest being under 10 years old) to Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi, after the yellow fever in 1853 killed her mother, father, and sister. Her husband (Dr. Thomas Dunn), died soon after, in Oct., at Greenville, MS., and Mary Catherine Miller died soon after him, of a broken heart. (She lost her mother, father, sister, and husband because of yellow fever)
John W. & Harriet Rozier Patten Miller’s children all stayed and lived around Greenville, MS.
(7)Selina Blair Patten, born Sept. 12, 1805, daughter of Thomas & Mary Roberdeau.
Born in Alexandria, Virginia. Married March 10, 1825 to Reverend John Thomas Wheat, of Washington City. He was a chaplain in the Confederate army in 1862. Selina and her husband celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1875, on which Mr. Wheat published a poem, dedicated to his wife, entitled “Reminiscenses of My Pre-Nuptial Life”, containing many interesting incidents.
Selina Blair Patten & John Thomas Wheat’s children:
(a) Chatahm Roberdeau Wheat (b. April 9, 1826)
(b) Selina Patten Wheat (born June 12, 1827)(see Selina Patten Wheat below)
(c) Infant Wheat (died at birth)
(d) John Thomas Wheat (b. Dec. 3, 1830)
(e) Josehine May Wheat (b. Feb. 22, 1833) ( Mrs. Shober)
(f) Infant Wheat (died at birth)
(g) Reginald Heber Wheat (b. LA., Jan 25, 1837; d. June 7, 1839)
(h) Leonidas Polk Wheat (b. May 5, 1841)
(b) Selina Patten Wheat born June 12, 1827, in Maryland; married Dec. 21., 1847, to Dr. John Seay, of L. P., La, where she died Nov. 8, 1972. Her children, all born at L. P., La.:
*John Thomas Seay b. Sept. 27, 1848
*Samuel Seay b. Sept. 29, 1850: de. Dec. 20, 1859
*Selina Wheat Seay b. Mar. 19, 1852; married Charles Morehouse Pilcher, a lawyer of Carroll Parish, on April 5, 1874. His mother was a sister of Mrs. Joseph M. Patten. Charles & Selina Pilcher had a daughter named Selina Wheat Pilcher, b. July 27, 1875.
*Mary DeNeale Seay, b. Jan. 26, 1854, married C. H. Brinton, on Oct. 11, 1874 at L. P., Louisiana.
*George Wharton Seay, b. Sept. 7, 1855, married in July 1873, to Mary Grebbeau, both being very young. George & Mary Grebbeau Seay had a daughter, Selina Wheat Seay.
*Roberdeau Wheat Seay, b. June 24, 1857
*Jane Wharton Seay, b. Apr. 13, 1859; d. Sept. 17, 1861.
*May Wheat Seay, b. Sept. 23, 1861
*Leo Wheat Seay, b. Apr. 13, 1864; d. Apr. 25, 1864.
*Leonore Wheat Seay, b. July 31, 1867.
(8)*Thomas Roberdeau Patten (born Jan. 7, 1807) , son of Thomas & Mary Roberdeau.
Thomas had left Alexandria at an early age and went to sea. 3 or 4 years after, he met his elder brother on the Red River in Louisiana, and then moved to LA. In 1837 married Mrs. Matilda M. Childers. She had a daughter, Narcissa, when they married, who died at about 16 years old, shortly before her father.
Thomas Roberdeau Patten died at his plantation.
Thomas died of consumption on Oct. 27, 1850. Matilda died in 1862.
Thomas Roberdeau Patten and Matilda M. Childers’ (nee McCraw) had no children.
Other family members that lived at Lake Providence:
Sarah Ann Roberta (Annan) McCraw-
Born March 16, 1806, for a time lived with her relative, Mr. Thomas R. Patten, in that state, at whose house she was married, March 6, 1843, to Samuel Dalton McCraw, (a nephew of Mrs. Matilda M. Patten). Samuel McCraw was born in Surrey County, La. On Dec. 10, 1810. He was a planter. Died March 6, 1849. Mrs. McCraw formerly resided in Monticello, at Lake Providence, and now in Midway, Richland Parish, La.
Samuel & Sarah Ann (Annan) McCraw had one child:
Sallie Jean McCraw born Feb. 27, 1845 in Carroll Parish, married at Monticello, Carroll Parish, Louisiana on Feb. 27, 1866, on her birthday, to Thomas M. Cochran. Colonel & Mrs. Cochran had lived in Midway, Richland Parish, but now in Delhi, Louisiana.
Thomas M. & Sallie Jean McCraw Cochran’s children:
(1) Thomas Stuart Cochran b. Jan 14, 1868; d. Aug. 2, 1873
(2) Mary Emma Cochran b. Aug. 8, 1874
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