History Of Patten

Amos Patten, the sixth of ten children, and his older brother Moses migrated to Maine as young adults. They were among the first to draw property lots as Bangor was opened for settlement, receiving their deed in June 1802. Patten filled various town positions, including town clerk, selectman, assessor, town moderator, notary public, justice of the peace, surveyor of highways, and overseer of the poor. He served on the school committee, committee to hire a minister, committee for the Kenduskeag bridge, and one examining fishing rights. In 1804 Amos Patten joined a group of nine men who successfully ascended Katahdin, probably the first people to do so. He was an agile businessman, successful in the burgeoning lumber industry. In 1814 he accompanied Gen. John Crosby to Halifax, NS, where they pleaded the grievances of Mainers. In 1828 he purchased a wilderness township in northern Penobscot County, hiring two surveyors to assess the property. The area soon attracted settlers, and was incorporated in 1841 as Patten, Maine. In 1834 Amos Patten helped solicit subscriptions for Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery, and became president of the cemetery corporation. Patten was involved in organizing the Bangor Fire and Marine Insurance Company and became President of the Bangor Savings Bank. In the 1830s a Maine sailing vessel was christened the Amos Patten. Patten continued business ventures and traveled to Mobile, Alabama. In an unsolicited nomination for state representative, he was described as "a man of talents, of general information, well educated, of unsullied reputation, one of the oldest residence in this County, and perfectly confident to judge of what would be beneficial to the County and its local concerns."In 1806 he married Susan Hatch, daughter of a ship captain and innkeeper. Their son Amos, Jr. died at the age of 17. Patten was the son of Deacon Willis Patten (1738-1816) and Hannah Sargent Patten (1743-1814)