John Paterson
Encyclopedia
John Paterson sometimes Patterson (1744 – July 19, 1808) was born in New Britain, Connecticut
and graduated from Yale
in 1762. After graduation John practiced law, and was a justice of the peace
at New Britain until 1774 when he moved to Lenox, Massachusetts
. He married Elizabeth Lee and had at least one son and one daughter. He was elected to the Massachusetts
General Court in both October of that year and in 1775.
In April 1775 when work reached the Berkshires
, Col. John Paterson marched with his militia
unit to besiege the British Army
at Boston, Massachusetts. Col. Paterson regiment now called the 1st Massachusetts Regiment
saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill
. After the British evacuation of Boston, Col. Paterson and his regiment were ordered to take part in the Invasion of Canada
and the battles of Trenton
and Princeton
in New Jersey
. On February 21, 1777 John Paterson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Continental Army
.
In 1777 during the Saratoga Campaign
Gen. Paterson commanded a brigade
of General Horatio Gates
' army consisting of the 10th
, 11th
, 12th
, 14th Massachusetts Regiment
s and 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment
that joined as reinforcements.
General Paterson served under George Washington
at the Battle of Monmouth
in 1778. In September 1783, at the end of the war, he was brevetted a major general
in the Continental Army.
During Shays's Rebellion in 1786 Paterson, a major general in the Massachusetts militia, commanded a unit of militia that stayed loyal to Massachusetts. Afterwards he moved to Lisle, New York
where he was a member of the New York Assembly and a member of the United States Congress
from March 4, 1803 until March 3, 1805. Died in Lisle, July 19, 1808; interment in Lenox Cemetery.
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
and graduated from Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
in 1762. After graduation John practiced law, and was a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
at New Britain until 1774 when he moved to Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Set in Western Massachusetts, it is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,077 at the 2000 census. Where the town has a border with Stockbridge is the site of Tanglewood, summer...
. He married Elizabeth Lee and had at least one son and one daughter. He was elected to the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
General Court in both October of that year and in 1775.
In April 1775 when work reached the Berkshires
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, Col. John Paterson marched with his militia
Massachusetts militia
Militia of the Colony and later Commonwealth of Massachusetts.-List of Massachusetts militia units of the American Revolution:*Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts *Cogswell's Regiment of Militia...
unit to besiege the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at Boston, Massachusetts. Col. Paterson regiment now called the 1st Massachusetts Regiment
1st Massachusetts Regiment
The 1st Massachusetts Regiment was authorized on 23 April 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Paterson's Regiment under Colonel John Paterson and was organized at Cambridge, colony of Massachusetts during the spring of 1775 constiting of eleven companies of volunteers from Berkshire,...
saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. After the British evacuation of Boston, Col. Paterson and his regiment were ordered to take part in the Invasion of Canada
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
and the battles of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
and Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. On February 21, 1777 John Paterson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
.
In 1777 during the Saratoga Campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
Gen. Paterson commanded a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of General Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
' army consisting of the 10th
10th Massachusetts Regiment
The 10th Massachusetts Regiment was authorized on 16 September 1776 in the Continental Army under Colonel Marshall at Boston, Massachusetts as eight companies of volunteers from Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Bristol, Hampshire, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties of the colony of Massachusetts and...
, 11th
11th Massachusetts Regiment
The 11th Massachusetts Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776 under Colonel Ebenezer Francis at Boston, Massachusetts. The 11th Mass. would see action at the Battle of Hubbardton, Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth...
, 12th
12th Massachusetts Regiment
The 12th Massachusetts Regiment, also known as 18th Continental Regiment, was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel Phinney outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Valcour Island, Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth...
, 14th Massachusetts Regiment
14th Massachusetts Regiment
The 14th Massachusetts Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776 under Colonel Gamaliel Bradford at Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781 at West Point, New York.-External links:*...
s and 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment
Ashley's Regiment of Militia
Ashley's Regiment of Militia also known as the 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment was called up in Berkshire County, Massachusetts in July 1777 and sent for a month to Fort Edward and on September 19, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign...
that joined as reinforcements.
General Paterson served under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
at the Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
in 1778. In September 1783, at the end of the war, he was brevetted a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Continental Army.
During Shays's Rebellion in 1786 Paterson, a major general in the Massachusetts militia, commanded a unit of militia that stayed loyal to Massachusetts. Afterwards he moved to Lisle, New York
Lisle, New York
Lisle, New York may refer to:*Lisle , New York*Lisle , New York...
where he was a member of the New York Assembly and a member of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from March 4, 1803 until March 3, 1805. Died in Lisle, July 19, 1808; interment in Lenox Cemetery.