The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-06
WHO STRUCK
BILLY PATTERSON?"
SOME FACTS ABOUT A MUCH
TALKED OF INDIVIDUAL.
Author of Famous Question: WHO
Hit Billy Patterson ?''-His Will
Recently Discovered in Court
Records At Gainesville.
.Au~llsta Chronicle.

Augusta nlOnlclc.
70 those who have always heard
and wondered and yet repeated that
query, ''Who hit Billy Patterson
and who have always desired to know
the why and wherefore Of that mystic
rious but certainly powerful blow. will
be interested to know that the will OF
''Billv" Patterson has been unearth-
ed in the archives Of the F.aTtl;lln
county, Georgia court house. together
with certain surprising and interest
ing knowledge concerning "Billy.'
The following from the pen Of MI.
Luther Roberts, editor of the Lavonla
Times, which is published in Frank
lin county, is self explanatory, be-
sides containing the desired informal
ton.
"Frcm the time when the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary
this unanswered and dimly mystic
rious query has stalked the breadth
of our land like some unquiet, accus-
ing specter, seeking its revenge. Vol
unes have been written, tales have
been spun and myths and legends i'll
Vulnerable have sprung up around
this parent stem. It's fame has spread
abroad. The bellicerent Irishman: the
calculating Englishman, the phleemat-
ic Dutchman and mayhap the hungry
Hottentot has pondered long and
gravelv over the surreptlous swat: the
echo of which, like that Of the patl1-
otic 1nusket at the opening OF the
American revolution, was heard round
the world. And, after all, the thought
ful genius who observed, Il don t
know who hit Billy. but it must have:
been 4 devil of lick,' has voiced the
sentiment of MS all. even to this very
day.
with deep-seated desire to know
something more of Billy Patterson:
and to see with our own eyes what
ever of record there was OF this re-
markable man. who expressed HIM
self as dissatisfied when his daught-
er married the younger brother of the
great Napoleon, who brought powder
to the. Continental army when Wash
ington, before Boston, had not enough
to fire salute. and who after rowing
the seas unawed under the flags of
four governments, came to Franklin
eounty-and got hit; we set forth IN
search Of first hand knowledge.
"Aud in all gravity It's a wonder
full tale, even after being divested of
the elamor Of tradition. For there
are those who claim the story Of the
hitting Of Billy Patterson to be OF
haphazard origin. And it is equally
true that others with whom we talk
ed, as stoutly contended that the
phrase had foundation in fact, and
declared that Billy Patterson was
struck while on visit to his property
in Franklin county, and offered re-
ward for his assailant.
Through the kindness of Mr. Al.
Neal, who, by the way, knows the re-
cords of Franklin county as we'll as
any man in it, we were shown the
will of William Patterson, as 1t is re-
corded in all it's quaintness Of com
position and photography. It IS doubt
less one Of the most remarkable doc
uments ever recorded in the state. 1t
possesses exceeding historical and
literary value Contrary to all old
and cherished tradition there IS no
record in will Of fund having been
left in trust for the solution Of the
question of who hit Billy Patterson,
but there is much to repay the reader
for the time spent in peruslng II.
In 1883, at meeting in Augusta.
the Creek Indians ceded to Georgia
territory north Of Wilkes
county, and when the legislature met
in, 1884, from the lately acquired ter
ritory was created the county OF
Franklin. The land court awarded
grants to more than four thousand
tracts of land in this and Washington