William Harvey Patterson (February 3, 1810 – May 24, 1888) was a farmer, Baptist preacher and Republican politician from New Kent County, Virginia.
[6] As the Civil War neared its end in 1864, troops under General Sheridan occupied and damaged Patterson's farm, and in 1874 he filed a successful claim for those damages, as well as testified on behalf of a neighbor's similar claim.
[9] Like his mother, Patterson was a member of Emmaus Baptist Church before the war, but restricted to the balcony during worship.
[12][13] However, in the next election, Benjamin W. Lacy, a former Confederate cavalry officer and lawyer from St. Peter's district of New Kent County, won the seat and would win re-election many times, until he resigned in order to become a judge.
[14] His eldest son, John W. Patterson (1850–1880) become a minister in 1872 and led the First Baptist Church (Colored) in Danville, Virginia until his death, as well as published several sermons.