Bryan Handley Pate Sr (abt. 1786 - bef. 1856)

Born about 1786 in North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before Feb 1856 before about age 70 in Wayne, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Bryan Handley Pate Sr was born about 1786, ^[1] the son of Isham Pate and Barbara Cummings, although no direct proofs exist at this time regarding his parents.

Bryan's first marriage was to Zilpha Ballard, about 1814. She was apparently the mother of perhaps all of his children, according to a Rootsweb Pate genealogy: Descendants of James Pate, Sr family tree.

The earliest census record we find appears to clearly be associated with Bryan Handley Pate Sr: it is unlikely that this could be his son's household, and is more than likely the Sr Bryan's household, given 1) that Bryan's namesake was only 19 at the 1840 Waynesborough, Wayne County census,^[2] and, 2) given that the same son was in his father's family household in the 1850 census.^[1]

Bryan married second, Zilpha (Elmore) Croom, widow of Elijah Croom; they married sometime after the death of Elijah Croom, but clearly before the 1850 census.^[1] Zilpha (Elmore) Croom had seven children from her first marriage, born between 1825 and about 1836, as shown on the census. Her first husband, Elijah Croom, died 27 Dec 1837, Wayne County North Carolina (will probate date Feb Court 1838). She is sometimes shown as the mother of Bryan H Pate's children, but this does not line up with her first marriage to Elijah Croom, nor with her Croom children. For more on Croom genealogy, a website is listed in the section Family Tree and Other Related Websites on Bryan.

Returning to the first record we find, the 1850 census shows Bryan with his apparent second wife, children and stepchildren, though the designations on the census form do not make a clear case for precisely describing the family:^[3] Several children are named in a Bryan H Pate Sr recorded Feb 1856 will document that are additional to those present in the 1850 household, so this analysis by the two documents presents an intersectional view of the family constellation.^[4][5]

• Bryan H Pate, 64
• Zelpha Zilpha Pate, 45^[4]

1. Bryan H Pate,^[4] 27 This Bryan and his two siblings appear to be by Bryan Sr's 1st wife, Zilpha Ballard (ca. 1792-1834), who is discussed briefly in sites named in Family Tree and Other Related Websites on Bryan. More research is needed, to include review of the estate probate file that may provide some answers.
2. Coor Pender Pate,^[4] 25.
3. Zelpha Zilphee Zilpha^[4] (Pate) Goris Holland, 9. The following Pates appear to be children of Bryan's second spouse, also named Zilpha: Zilpha Elmore (ca. 1805-1881). More research is needed, to include review of the estate probate file that may provide some answers. who married Unknown Goris, and then Enos Holland 6 Mar 1869^[6]
4. Avy Jane^[4] Pate, 7
5. James K Pate,^[4] 5
6. Thomas J D Pate,^[4] 2
7. Harriet Croom, 21 These Croom children were children of Zilpha (Elmore) Croom Pate, whose husband, Elijah Croom, died in 1837.
8. John Croom, 18
9. Isaac Croom, 16
10. Elijah Croom, 14

Slaves

The following enslaved persons were named in the will.^[4]

Slaves Bequeathed to Wife, Zilpha Pate and Secondarily to children Zilpha, Avy Jane, James K P and Thomas J D Pate

1. Hannah
2. Dick
3. Needham
4. Alexander

Slaves Bequeathed to Wife, Zilpha Pate

1. Hack, minor male

Bequeathed to Major I Pate

1. Georg
2. Patrick

Slaves Bequeathed to Dewit Clinton Pate

1. Allen

Slaves Bequeathed to Coor Pender Pate

1. Woodard

Slaves Bequeathed to Bryan H Pate

1. Alfred

Slaves Bequeathed to Matilda (Pate) Howell

1. Kedar / Kidar, minor male

Slaves Bequeathed to Mary (Pate) Lancaster

1. Jess, minor male

Slaves Bequeathed to Apsilla (Pate) Lancaster

1. Eliza, minor female

Will and Probate Record of Death

Bryan H Pate died circa 1856 in Wayne, North Carolina with an estate probate file that remains to be abstracted.^[5]

The will document also names several children not captured in the 1850 census;^[4] it is uncertain where they fit among the above named children by age, but it is highly likely that they were not in the 1850 household due to being independent or married by then.

1. Major I Pate
2. Dewit Clinton Pate
3. Matilda (Pate) Howell, wife of Charles Howell
4. Mary (Pate) Lancaster, wife of Levi Lancaster
5. Apsilla (Pate) Lancaster, wife of Daniel Lancaster

Research Notes

• Pate's Delight Update:

Those familiar with the Wayne County Pate family may note the names Bryan, Boone, Boddie, Blount, Williams, Wyche, and Elliot in the will of Dr. Samuel Peete. Some evidence exists (proofs to be determined) regarding ancient connections of the Peetes of Northampton County to the Pates of Wayne County.^{[citation needed]}

Additionally, Captain Campbell's Confederate forager's map, identifies the western shore of Chowan River, in the area of the meander of Potocasie Creek (in what is now known as Pattie's Delight), formerly known as Petty Shores Landing, apparently referencing a large tract of land.^{[citation needed]}

That tract would be a highly probable location of Pate shipbuilding interests in large tracts of virgin oak, pine, cyprus and cedar timber. Cypress was important in shipyard and dock construction.^{[citation needed]}

While a forum provides this speculation (refer to: Pate's Delight Update, primary sourcing is needed before establishing a connection between Pattie's Delight or Petty Shores Landing and the Pate family, as well as confirmation of Peete connections. We need further investigation for this to be considered a documented affiliation.

• Family Tree and Other Related Websites on Bryan:

1. Croom genealogy John Croom website; Descendants of Jesse Croom
2. Broken Link: memory.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2007/20070619049am/20070619049am.pdf The Pate Family
3. Geni Profile for Bryan Handley Pate Sr. Accessed 15 Apr 2021.
4. The descendants of Edward Pate of Eye-Kettleby in Leicestershire a Master of the Mint to Henry VIII, born 1503 -- died 1593.
5. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Material for this note came out of study of Pate boatbuilding in the context of the Pett Shipbuilding Dynasty heritage in America, that was active in Yorktown, Virginia, and Bertie County, North Carolina, involving Pates. The Pate Boatyard at Hobucken, North Carolina, was founded by Herman L Pate, son of William Samuel Pate. Pett dynasty

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "United States Census, 1850." Database with images. FamilySearch: indexed 31 Oct 2018. Citing NARA microfilm publication M432. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch: indexed 17 Aug 2017, Bryan H Pate, Waynesborough, Wayne, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 213, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 374; FHL microfilm 18,098.
3. ↑ FamilySearch: indexed 12 Apr 2016, Bryan H Pate, Wayne county, Wayne, North Carolina, United States; citing family 1064, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9} Pate, William Snyder Chip Jr, transcriber. Wayne County, North Carolina 1855 Will of Bryan Pate. Bryan Handley Pate Sr Will. USGenWeb Archives. In the transcription, it says "recorded Feb 1856," please see also the Estate file: note also that at the end of the will (incompletely transcribed, reads as: In witness whereof I, the said Bryan H Pate Sr, do hereunto set my hand & seal this 18th day of A.D. 1855. A primary source for this record has not been located, and should be among Wayne County records.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} See also, to be transcribed and reconciled with the USGenWeb transcription: "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch: indexed 16 Mar 2018, Bryan H Pate, 1856; citing Wayne County, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,258,433.
6. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch: indexed 4 Nov 2017, Bryan H Pate in entry for Enos Holland and Zilphee Goris, 06 Mar 1869; citing Wayne, North Carolina, United States, p. 10, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 508,745.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Greg Rose for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Greg and others.