Martha Jane PATTERSON
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: Feb 26, 1865 - Henderson County, North Carolina
Christening:
Death: Apr 26, 1950 - Greenville, SC
Burial: in New Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, Greenville Co, SC
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: John A. PATTERSON (1834-1910)
Mother: Nancy Ann HAMILTON (1840-1896)
Spouses and Children
1. *John Henry STAMEY (Feb 22, 1860 - Sep 9, 1935)
Marriage: Apr 1, 1882 - Henderson County, North Carolina
Status:
Children:
1. William Luther STAMEY (1883-1957)
2. James Anderson "Jimmy" STAMEY (1885-1910)
3. George Henry STAMEY (1887-1937)
4. Dorishia Ellen "Docia" STAMEY (1890-1974)
5. Dollie STAMEY (1893-1918)
6. Mark Homer STAMEY (1895-1934)
7. Donia "Donie" STAMEY (1897-1983)
8. Lula STAMEY (1900-1992)
9. Orrie STAMEY (1904- )
10. Irie STAMEY (1904-1904)
11. Mack Harold STAMEY (1906-1907)
Notes
General:
Martha was married by J. M. Anderson at her parents home with M.F. Radford, S.D. Osteen, and J.S. Hamilton as witnesses.Marriage Notes (John Henry STAMEY)
[Eugenia Lindsey Osteen.FTW]
Twins were born about 1894 but died.
Tribute to John and Martha by Orris Stamey Vaughn, daughter
A very proud young man was John Henry Stamey as he rode up to the home of the Patterson's in Henderson County, twelve miles from Hendersonville, NC, for tomorrow, April 9, 1881, he would be married to the beautiful daughter, Martha Jane. She was tall, slim, brown hair and gray blue eyes, always a beautiful smile. John had black hair, mustache and black eyes; very handsome, strong, well built and true as the blue of heaven. But here I go, getting ahead of my story.
The story really began back in February 22, 1855, the day John was born. He was born in Haywood County, just a few miles from Canton, NC. His father died a short time after he was born leaving his mother with the family to support, which wasn't easy in those days. Especially that far back in the mountains. His mother, Clara Ann Massey Stamey worked hard and tried every way she could to keep the children together, but she couldn't make a go of it. One day when John was still a very small boy , a rich man by the name of Bazz Henson wanted to adopt John. Mr. Henson owned so much land the place where he lived was called Henson Cove. John's mother hated to give him up but knew her son would have a good home and everything he needed.
Mr. Henson adopted John. When he got home he told his wife, Sarah, " I have brought a little helper." He can help do the chores around the house. John was too small to work in the fields, but what Mr. Henson didn't know was that John would love Mrs. Henson almost as much as he loved his mother.
John was taught to call them Aunt and Uncle. John stayed with them until he was over twenty years old. Uncle Bass said that John was the best worker he had ever seen, and could do as much work as any two men.
One day Uncle Bazz said, "How would you like to go on a trip with me?" Of course John said he world like very much to go, for people didn't do to much going in those days. Uncle Bazz, "John you have worked hard since you have been with me so I have a surprise for you." "I am going to give you one of my best saddle horses." You see, John was very fond of horses and had become a good rider. In fact,
he was a trick rider. He could stand on a horse and ride and get out of his saddle, go under the horse and up on the other side while the horse was still running. He could stand on his head on the horse and swing around his neck with the horse running at full speed. He also trained horses to do tricks. If anybody had a horse they couldn't ride John would ride that horse and when he got through the horse would be gentle enough for a child to ride. He later became a horse trader. But here I go, getting ahead of my story again.
Uncle Bazz and John started on their trip. There were no roads the way they were going, only a path. Uncle Bazz said it would take two days hard riding to get to where they were going. Little did John know that Uncle Bazz was taking him on this trip for a special purpose. When they arrived, Uncle Bazz introduced John to the most pleasant looking man he had ever seen. His name was John Patterson. The Pattersons were well-to-do people. They were good Christain people and the parents of Martha Jane. This was love at first sight with John but not so with Martha Jane or at least she pretended it wasn't. You see, Uncle Bazz was Martha Jane's great uncle and knew that Martha Jane was a fine young girl. That was the reason he took John to the Patterson home. He wanted John to meet Martha Jane. On the third trip John asked Martha Jane to marry him and she said, "yes." She was as much in love with him as he was with her. He asked her to walk to the gate with him when he started to leave. At the gate he asked her to kiss him good-bye. She said, "no, wait until we are married." He didn't get to kiss her, even though he wanted too.
On April 8, 1881, he arrived at the Patterson home for the next day was to be their wedding day. Bright and early the next morning they were married and had a wedding breakfast. It was a beautiful wedding. Her gown was made by hand with thousands of little stitches you couldn't see. Martha Jane's mother was a seamstress. The wedding gown was high-necked with long sleeves. It had ruffles, tucks and lace all over. I believe Martha Jane said it took over a week to make it.
On the same day they were married, John started back home with his bride. He had gotten a house and had it ready for her. It took them two days to get home. When they arrived home, they found a fire had burned their fence. They had to go right out and build another one. John split the rails and Martha Jane helped him. As he split the rails, she made the fence. You see, back in those days, people fenced their crops and turned out their cattle. They both worked hard but were very happy. To John's surprise, Martha Jane could ride a horse almost as good as he could. She could ride standing up with the horse running at top speed too. They had so much in common, they made a wonderful couple. John was also a champion banjo player. They went to all the social gatherings and community parties. Martha Jane was a very graceful dancer and John's wonderful personality made them the life of any party.
John's father was John Henry Stamey. He was English Decent and his mother was Dutch. Martha Jane was English, her mother's father, Joseph Hamilton came from Dublin, Ireland. Her grandfather on her father's side was also English. He was Rev. H.W. Patterson, a baptist minister. Her father, John Patterson was a captain in the army. Martha Jane's mother, Nancy Ann Hamilton Patterson was a beautiful lady, sweet, king and everybody loved her. All of Martha Jane's family was musical; some composed music, some were professors. She had a beautiful soprano voice.
On December 17, 1883, their first son was born. They were very proud parents for they both loved children. In the spring of 1885 they moved to Henderson County near Hendersonville. John worked at sawmills. He would buy a tract of land and build a house on it. He was a first class carpenter. He also built furniture. When he got the house built and fixed the way he wanted, he would sell and make a big profit. He kept buying land, building houses to sell and was also a horse trader. He made a good living for his family. He had eleven children and it took hard work to provide for a large family. Martha was an excellent housekeeper, cook and seamstress. In the spring of 1901 they moved to Pelham, SC, and then a short while later they moved to Greenville, South Carolina. The twins were born August 10, 1904, and they lived in Greenville until after their last child was born on October 10, 1906. In 1908 they moved to Travelers Rest, SC. They bought a place just across the Buncombe Road form New Liberty Baptist Church. They were both Baptist and attended church regularly with the family. John knew most of the Bible by memory. He had a brilliant mind and a wonderful memory. He could answer any Bible questions usually telling you, which book chapter and verse to read. When there was a revival in the community, the preachers always stayed at John Stamey's home because they enjoyed the Bible discussions.
He could entertain any age person and would keep children spellbound for hours telling about his life in the mountains near Waynesville, Canton, and Pisgah Forest, NC. He also told stories of the bears, panthers and snakes. He was reared around the Indians. They were his friends. He also told interesting things about his experiences with the Indians. He learned to speak some of the Indian language. He could talk to any of them
In 1911 they moved back to Greenville, SC. In September 1913, they bought a farm in Travers Rest, which is now Stamey Valley and they lived there until John's health got bad. They stayed with their children until John's death 9 September 1935. He was laid to rest in New Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery,
John Henry Stamey was a wonderful husband and one of the best fathers a child ever had. Everybody loved him. Never had an enemy and was missed by all the family, especially his wife. They had been so devoted to each other that Martha was lost after his death.
Martha was always trying to help someone in need. She was a nurse and people from all over town and in the country would send for her when they were sick. Lots of people preferred her to the doctor. She also delivered babies when the doctor could not be there.
Martha suffered a stroke in 1942 that paralyzed her right side and she was confined to a wheel chair for the rest of her life. She lived with her daughters for the rest of her life, passing away 26 April 1950.
Orrie Stamey Vaughn wrote this tribute and ended by saying that her world almost ended when her mother passed away. Martha Jane stayed with her five of the eight years that she was an invalid. She said her mother was like an angel to her, always sweet with a wonderful smile. She states that the Stamey name is one to be proud of and should be worn with dignity and in loving memory of her parents.