William Paterson is a local legend to the City of Daphne, Alabama.
The woman who wrote his beautiful epitaph remains a mystery.
Baldwin Co. Property Book records show that Mr. William Patterson was a land owner; possessing at least of at least three different parcels in the area, which was then known as The Village.
This is the original slab also known as a 'grave ledger' from Mr. Patterson's grave site,
but it is largely believed that his body is not actually interred beneath it.
The most prevalent passed-down story tells us that his grave used to lie in the center of the old dirt road, and that this flat marker was moved out of the way when they began paving the roads in the 1930's.
According to information shared by the City Of Daphne, his ledger was discovered, once again, during the 1998 construction of the new sidewalks along Main Street. At that time, Mr. Richard Merchant (the former City of Daphne Building Official), constructed the small brick tomb on which the engraved ledger now rests.
The many stories of Mr. Patterson are too numerous to share here. Some of the legends can be disproved easily with dates, but some can not. This is how Folklore is born. In the July 2013 issue of 'The Quarterly' an official publication from The Baldwin County Historical Society, Mr. Joe Baroco wrote a 3-page article called "The Lonely Grave" and he did a wonderful job of providing further details about the many different tales of William Patterson.
The woman who wrote his beautiful epitaph remains a mystery.
Baldwin Co. Property Book records show that Mr. William Patterson was a land owner; possessing at least of at least three different parcels in the area, which was then known as The Village.
This is the original slab also known as a 'grave ledger' from Mr. Patterson's grave site,
but it is largely believed that his body is not actually interred beneath it.
The most prevalent passed-down story tells us that his grave used to lie in the center of the old dirt road, and that this flat marker was moved out of the way when they began paving the roads in the 1930's.
According to information shared by the City Of Daphne, his ledger was discovered, once again, during the 1998 construction of the new sidewalks along Main Street. At that time, Mr. Richard Merchant (the former City of Daphne Building Official), constructed the small brick tomb on which the engraved ledger now rests.
The many stories of Mr. Patterson are too numerous to share here. Some of the legends can be disproved easily with dates, but some can not. This is how Folklore is born. In the July 2013 issue of 'The Quarterly' an official publication from The Baldwin County Historical Society, Mr. Joe Baroco wrote a 3-page article called "The Lonely Grave" and he did a wonderful job of providing further details about the many different tales of William Patterson.
William Paterson is a local legend to the City of Daphne, Alabama.
The woman who wrote his beautiful epitaph remains a mystery.
Baldwin Co. Property Book records show that Mr. William Patterson was a land owner; possessing at least of at least three different parcels in the area, which was then known as The Village.
This is the original slab also known as a 'grave ledger' from Mr. Patterson's grave site,
but it is largely believed that his body is not actually interred beneath it.
The most prevalent passed-down story tells us that his grave used to lie in the center of the old dirt road, and that this flat marker was moved out of the way when they began paving the roads in the 1930's.
According to information shared by the City Of Daphne, his ledger was discovered, once again, during the 1998 construction of the new sidewalks along Main Street. At that time, Mr. Richard Merchant (the former City of Daphne Building Official), constructed the small brick tomb on which the engraved ledger now rests.
The many stories of Mr. Patterson are too numerous to share here. Some of the legends can be disproved easily with dates, but some can not. This is how Folklore is born. In the July 2013 issue of 'The Quarterly' an official publication from The Baldwin County Historical Society, Mr. Joe Baroco wrote a 3-page article called "The Lonely Grave" and he did a wonderful job of providing further details about the many different tales of William Patterson.
The woman who wrote his beautiful epitaph remains a mystery.
Baldwin Co. Property Book records show that Mr. William Patterson was a land owner; possessing at least of at least three different parcels in the area, which was then known as The Village.
This is the original slab also known as a 'grave ledger' from Mr. Patterson's grave site,
but it is largely believed that his body is not actually interred beneath it.
The most prevalent passed-down story tells us that his grave used to lie in the center of the old dirt road, and that this flat marker was moved out of the way when they began paving the roads in the 1930's.
According to information shared by the City Of Daphne, his ledger was discovered, once again, during the 1998 construction of the new sidewalks along Main Street. At that time, Mr. Richard Merchant (the former City of Daphne Building Official), constructed the small brick tomb on which the engraved ledger now rests.
The many stories of Mr. Patterson are too numerous to share here. Some of the legends can be disproved easily with dates, but some can not. This is how Folklore is born. In the July 2013 issue of 'The Quarterly' an official publication from The Baldwin County Historical Society, Mr. Joe Baroco wrote a 3-page article called "The Lonely Grave" and he did a wonderful job of providing further details about the many different tales of William Patterson.
Inscription
Sacred to the memory of
William Patterson
who departed this life
May 29, 1847
aged 30 years
When sorrow weeps o'er virtue's sacred dust,
Our tears become us, and our grief is just;
Such were the tears she shed, who grateful pays,
This last sad tribute of her love and praise.
Gravesite Details
*NO VEHICLE PARKING ALLOWED* Mr. Patterson's marker lies on the edge of private property. Located near the sidewalk on Main St, just south of Village Point Park Preserve. Please be respectful when visiting. You may park at the nearby library and walk
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