Oliver. Paterson & Jemima Morris

Separation Agreement

Nov. 23, 1824

State of South Carolina

Barnwell district

Oliver C. Patterson married Jemima Morris, daughter of Elisha and Rachel Morris of Barnwell District. They were married for 4 years....and not being able to live agreeably and in peace and harmony together, we have both agreed to part and live forever separate from each other....and relinquish all claim to his property and to her dower....and also in consideration of three dollars paid to Oliver C. Paterson by Henry Fisher and Jemima Morris. Oliver C. Patterson promised to never trouble or molest her or any person with whom she may live. And I, Oliver C. Patterson acquit and discharge Henry Fisher (who is a free person of Color) and a suit which he commenced against him by a writ of damage of $500. dated Nov. 1, 1824 by his attorney W. W. Dunn for Criminal Conversation with Jemima and Henry. Henry pays the present cost of $3.

Witness this 23 day of Novemeber, 1824 by Malcolm Bowers & Barnwick Owens.

Henry paid the $3 on the same day.

Oliver C. Patterson

(signs his name)

(All 4 of Jemima's children are entered as Pattersons in the Pineola Bible by Stephen Bassett and Jane Morris Bassett, Jemima's sister. When Jemima died, she is listed in the Bible as Jemima Fisher, so she obviosly did marry Henry. What the reason would be, we can only speculate, as the 3 younger children were born after her split from Oliver. Was Oliver still the "legal" father for her children? Was the Colored aspect unacceptable? We don't know)

Copyright ©2003, Dr. Frank Oliver Clark. These documents may be freely used for private purposes, and included in your own genealogy. However, this document is copyrighted and may not be sold, nor given to anyone who may attempt to derive profit from same.