John Nelson Patterson

     John Nelson Patterson was born on 9 December 1845 at Clarenceville, Missisquoi Co, Quebec.¹ He was the son of George Owen Connelly and Matilda Jane Patterson. John Nelson Patterson was baptized on 24 August 1853 at Clarenceville, Missisquoi Co, Quebec.² He married Clarissa Jane Eaton, daughter of John Eaton and Susan J. Sawyer, before 1867. John Nelson Patterson died on 30 March 1916 at Manchester, Bennington Co, Vermont, at age 70; He died of valvular heart disease.
     John Nelson Patterson was also known as John Nelson Connolly. He appeared on the census of 1861 in the household of Frederick Patterson at Clarenceville, Missisquoi Co, Quebec; Frederick Patterson, 68, Nancy, 68, John N. Conaly, 16, Jane Conaly, 16, twins. They were all members of the Church of England.
     Apparently, Matilda's twins by George Owen Connolly were living with her parents in 1861, while she and her husband Timothy Thompson were living in Williston, Vermont. It is likely that within a few years they started going by the name Patterson.³ John Nelson Patterson appeared on the census of 13 June 1900 at Manchester, Bennington Co, Vermont; John N. Patterson, 54, born Canada, Clara M., 54, born Vermont; John J., 18, and Susan J. Eaton, 76, mother-in-law. John and Clara had been married 33 years, had six children, but only one still living, which would be John J. John had come to the States in 1865.¹ He appeared on the census of 6 May 1910 at Manchester, Bennington Co, Vermont; John N. Patterson, 64 as well as wife Matilda C., also 64.⁴