As part of local commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville worked with the Buncombe County Register of Deeds to compile a database of documents recording the trade of people as slaves in Buncombe County. A video created as part of this project has won two national awards. At buncombecounty.org/slavedeeds you can view this video, as well as the database of Buncombe County slave transfers from 1776 to 1865. This summer Pack Library hosted Forever Free, an exhibit featuring books from the office of the Register of Deeds which contain the actual deeds and wills that record slave transfers. A typical example is from the will of James Patton, who died in 1845.
“I further give and bequeath to my son James W. Patton the following male slaves to wit – Bob, Sam, Leope, Hardin, Felix, Austin, Peter, Anthony, John and Russel & the following female slaves to wit – Celia, Rhoda and her five children, and the future increase of the females.”
The history of the Patton Family [CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO EXHIBIT], taken from materials in the NC Collection, helps us understand the history of slavery in Buncombe County. The sad truth is that the rich and powerful families of Buncombe County were slave owners, and that their wealth depended in large part on their “ownership” of other human beings. James Patton, a penniless immigrant laborer from Ireland, came to Asheville in 1814 and opened Asheville’s second inn, the Eagle Hotel. After the construction of the Buncombe Turnpike in 1828, Patton expanded his resort interests by building with his sons a 350 room hotel in the town of Warm Springs (later renamed Hot Springs) in Madison County. His son James Washington Patton, who inherited the slaves named in the passage above, became one of the largest slave holders in Buncombe County. He helped build Patton Avenue, the first major east-west road in Asheville and in 1857, he built an imposing new home, the first Asheville residence with indoor plumbing.
The Henrietta, named for Patton’s second wife, stood on Main Street (later Biltmore Avenue) south of the Eagle Hotel, about where the French Broad Co-op is today. Many of Patton’s slaves worked at the Eagle Hotel and lived behind the Henrietta in an area that evolved into the Black neighborhood later known as East End. Patton depended on the labor of slaves to run his hotels and build his roads. By the time of his death in 1861, he owned 78 slaves.
In January, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation brought an end to slavery in the South. Thomas Walton Patton, son of James Washington Patton, enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of 19. Both his older brothers died during the war, and he returned to Asheville the head of his family, struggling to care for the survivors and to repair the family fortunes. In the hard days after the Civil War, his young wife and two small children died.
Patton also struggled to understand the total redefinition of life as he had known it before the war. When he left to join the Confederate army, he was accompanied by Sam Cope, one of the Patton slaves. The two young men had grown up together, and Cope continued to serve Patton throughout the war. Patton wrote about his lifetime companion, “The law said he was my slave but often law makes error. Indeed and in fact he was my devoted and loving friend and companion.”
The lower left corner of this 1891 Sanborn map shows the former Patton slave quarters, now labeled “Negro Tenements.” Former slave Isaac Dickson bought land there from Thomas Walton Patton, and the area became known as “Dickson Town.” A man known for service to his community, Patton donated land for Saint Matthias Episcopal Church, the first Black Episcopal church in Asheville.
Very interesting – I descend from Daniel Patton, brother of James the immigrant. I was surprised to see the long-lost portrait of James Patton included in your exhibit- can you tell me its present whereabouts? Thank you.
Susan, did you ever receive a reply regarding location of the James Patton portrait? I descend from another brother of James the immigrant, Thomas Patton who later moved to Coffee Cty, TN. Would be interested to exchange info if of interest.
Clark
No, I still have not heard where James Patton’s portrait is located – hope it’s safe and in good hands, however.
I think we’ve corresponded previously, Clark. I have visited the rural Patton family cemetery in Coffee County, but it’s been a few years. It’s a few miles north of Manchester, near Noah (a tiny settlement). Thomas has many descendants. I will answer your email and will be happy to share what I know (most likely after the New Year).
Good luck with your research – and if anyone is still reading here who knows the answer to the location of the James Patton portrait, please share!
Just tried to reply, but it has not appeared – Clark, I believe we’ve corresponded via email previously. I do not want to post my email publicly, so check your address book for someone with my first name.
I still do not know the present location of the James Patton portrait – hope it’s in good hands.
I am writing you from the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library. The portrait of James Patton is in our collection. If you go to our website at ncroom.buncombecounty.org and type in the keyword search box at top right L636-8, it will take you to information and a photo of the portrait we have. If you’d like to email us about it write us at packnc@buncombecounty.org. Zoe Rhine, librarian
Thank you so much – I am glad the portrait is where it will be protected and appreciated, and hope that someday the “restoration” can be undone and re-done more accurately.
Best wishes,
Susan
(James Patton’s g-g-g-niece via his brother Daniel Patton)
[…] [10] From a Buncombe County Special Collections blog titled: Patton Family Online Exhibit, Friday, November 01, 2013. https://specialcollections.buncombecounty.org/2013/11/01/patton-family-online-exhibit/ […]
I need to do some research on the Veach family up there. Found an obituary of Jack Veach and he looks just like my grandfather. They(Veitchs/Veachs) mainly came to Oil City Pennsylvania when they left Scotland.