John Paterson was an American Revolutionary military and politician.
Background
John Paterson was born in 1744 in New Britain, Newington Parish, Wethersfield, Connecticut, United States (now, New Britain, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States). He was the son of Colonel John Paterson and his wife, Ruth Bird, and a grandson of James Paterson who emigrated from Scotland to New England some time prior to 1704. John Paterson's taste for military life was doubtless derived from his father who served in the provincial forces during King George's War and the French and Indian War.
Education
John Paterson graduated from Yale College in 1762, and after teaching school in New Britain for several seasons began the practice of law.
Career
In 1774, in company with his family and his wife's father, John Paterson moved to Lenox, Massachussets. His gifts for leadership were at once recognized. He was a member of the Berkshire county convention in July 1774 at which the "Solemn League and Covenant" was adopted, whereby the people promised to refrain from consumption of English goods, and he represented Lenox in the first and second provincial congresses in 1774 and 1775. In the meantime he was engaged in raising a regiment from the middle and southern parts of the county in anticipation of hostilities with England. When the news of the battles of Lexington and Concord arrived, he marched at once to Cambridge, his men being armed and almost completely uniformed.
John Paterson was commissioned colonel on May 27, 1775, and his regiment, after being reorganized and enlarged, presently became the 15th Continental Infantry. He built and garrisoned Fort No. 3, near Prospect Hill, and during the battle of Bunker Hill protected the American forces from attack in the rear. During the siege of Boston his men had several brushes with the enemy and were complimented by Washington for their alacrity in meeting the foe. In March 1776 he accompanied the army to New York. He was presently ordered to the relief of the American troops in Canada, and after participating in the battle of "The Cedars, " retreated by way of Crown Point to Ticonderoga where for a time he was engaged in fortifying Mount Independence. He rejoined Washington's army on the Delaware and participated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
On February 21, 1777, John Paterson was commissioned brigadier-general and in that capacity took part in the operations which resulted in the capture of Burgoyne. He came near to losing his life when his horse was shot under him by a cannon ball. He wintered at Valley Forge, 1777 - 1778, and was engaged in the operations culminating in the battle of Monmouth. Thereafter till the end of the war he was stationed for the most part in the highlands of the Hudson, commanding West Point at various times, and during these years he formed a close friendship with Kosciuszko. He was a member of the court martial appointed to try Major André. On September 30, 1783, he was brevetted major-general, and shortly afterwards retired from the army.
Resuming the practice of law at Lenox, John Paterson was elected to various civil offices, including those of moderator, selectman, collector of taxes, member of the school board, and representative in the general court. He helped to organize the Society of the Cincinnati and the Ohio Company. As commander of the Berkshire militia, he assisted in the suppression of Shays's rebellion. He had in the meantime become one of the proprietors of the "Boston Purchase, " comprising 230, 400 acres in Broome and Tioga counties, New York. In 1791 he emigrated with his family to Broome County. Here, as in Lenox, his talent for public service was soon acknowledged. Besides being chosen to several town offices, he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature (1792 - 1793), in the constitutional convention of 1801, and in Congress (1803 - 1805). In 1798 he was appointed to the bench and served as judge of Broome and Tioga counties. He died on July 19, 1808 in Lisle, New York.
Achievements
John Paterson became famous for his service to his country through the whole of the war and during Shay's Rebellion.
Politics
John Paterson was a member of Democratic-Republican party.
Membership
John Paterson was a charter member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Personality
John Paterson was a man of commanding presence, being over six feet tall and of athletic build. When a county judge, he would often walk eighteen miles to court rather than go to the pasture and catch a horse to ride. His success in both military and civil life was due to the confidence which his probity, ability, and good judgment everywhere inspired.
Connections
On June 2, 1766, John Paterson married Elizabeth Lee of Farmington. They had seven children.
