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Name: PATTEN, William George
Nee: son of George Robert Brown Patten
Birth Date: 6 Mar 1892 Canterbury
Death Date: 30 Jan 1945 Gilgil, suicide
Nationality: British
First Date: 1915
Profession: DC. Farmer to N and E of Lake Olbolossat
Area: 'Lokolan Farm', Gilgil, 1930 Ol Bolossat, Thomson's Falls, Rumuruti
Married: Agnes Mary Knight b. 15 Feb 1898, d. 1 Mar 1956 Ol Kalou (dau of R.W. Knight)
Book Reference: KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Red 22, Pioneers, Gazette, Barnes, Web, Red 19, KFA
School: Wellington College and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
General Information:
KFA - When wheat was becoming established, the farmers of this district started their own co-operative to market their crop. A meeting held at the house of Mr W.G. Patton led to the formation of the Gilgil Produce Association.
Pioneers - Ol Kalou - 1916 - ……soon afterwards W.G. Patten, an ex-DC built a small log cabin on another of the farms.
Gazette - 25/8/15 - W.G. Patten, appt. Asst. DC arrived Mombasa 14/8/15; 8/9/15 Asst DC Kisumu; 30/8/16 ADC S. Kavirondo
Web - Patten family - William Fletcher {Patten} left no children and the direct Patten line is represented by those of George R.B. His elder son, William George was born on 6 March 1892, the year after his parents' marriage and while George was still stationed in Canterbury. As we saw in 1901 at the age of 9 he was at preparatory school in Colwyn Bay with his younger brother. In the Michaelmas term of 1905 he entered Wellington College, where he was in the Hill dormitory. He remained at the College until 1911 at which time he was in the sixth form and a school Prefect. In October he went up to Cambridge, to Sidney Sussex College where he studied mathematics and mechanical science. In the Easter Term 1913 Sciences College examination he passed part 1 and was awarded a prize and a £50 scholarship. He graduated BA in June 1914.
During his time at Cambridge he was Secretary of the Musical Club. He also played Rugby and captained the college team in 1913-14. He is described on the Rugby field in the 1914 College Annual as: "An indefatigable forward always on the ball. He never spared his opponents. He filled his side with what he called the smell of battle and so proved an excellent captain." He had clearly inherited a strong part of his Ulster-Scots ancestors' sense of purpose and determination.
On leaving Cambridge he joined the Colonial Service and in 1915 was posted to British East Africa as an Assistant District Commissioner. I have no details of his life in East Africa during and immediately after the First World War but between 1922 and 1940 he gave his address as Gilgil, Ol'Kalou. ……… It is not clear whether he was still employed by the Colonial Office or had retired to join the farming community.
Family tradition is clear that during the later period of his life he did indeed run a farm. Moreover, it is also said that his farming activities were not particularly successful but it may have been merely the increasingly disturbed society in Kenya after World War 2 that gave rise to his problems. Whatever the truth behind the family myths, on 30 January 1945, he was found dead, seemingly having committed suicide. He died in an area called Ol Bolossat not far from Gilgil and which could be the site of his farm.
He married Agnes the daughter of R.W. Knight Esq. I think it unlikely that they had any children, particularly as the family is not mentioned in his father's will. William George's English will was proved at Llandudno and probate was given to Barclays Bank, attorneys for Lazarus Kaplan and Frank Cecil George Stratton, his executors still living in Kenya ..
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - W.G. Patten - Farmer - Gilgil
Nakuru North cemetery - W. George Patten, died at Ol Bolossat, Ol Kalou, 30/1/1945 aged 52
St Peter's Church, Ol Kalou cemetery - Mary Patten, 15th Feb 1898/1st Mar 1956
Gazette 29 May 1956 probate