John Paterson (politician)
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John Paterson sometimes Patterson (1744-1808) was born in New Britain, Connecticut and graduated from Yale in 1762. After graduation John practiced law, and was a justice of the peace at New Britain until 1774 when he moved to Lenox, Massachusetts. He married elizabeth Lee and had at least one son and one daughter. He was elected to the Massachusetts Provincial congress in October of that year and in 1775. In April of 1775 when work reached the Berkshires Col. John Paterson marched with his militia unit to besiege the British Army at Boston, Massachusetts. Col. Paterson regiment now called the 1st Massachusetts Regiment saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill. After the British evacuation of Boston, Col. Paterson and his regiment were ordered to take part in the Invasion of Canada and the battles of Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey. On February 21, 1777 John Paterson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Continental Army. In 1777 during the Saratoga Campaign Gen. Paterson commanded a brigade of General Horatio Gates' army consisting of the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th Massachusetts Regiments and 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment that joined as reinforcements. General Paterson would also serve under George Washington at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. In September of 1783 John Paterson was again promoted to Major General in the Continental Army. During Shays's Rebellion in 1786 Gen. Paterson commanded a unit of militia that stayed loyal to Massachusetts. Afterwards he moved to Lisle, New York where he was a member of the New York Assembly and a member of congress until his death March 3, 1808.
