Rodney,

Forgive the multiple replies. Keep in mind that if you are unable to get Rush's death certificate, you may be successful obtaining his sister, Celeste's death certificate, which may provide the names of the parents for both. I found no free black Pattons listed on the 1830 census for Tennessee, but there is a Dilcy Childress, 36-55 yrs old, a free black female head of household of 4, in Davidson county (Nashville is the county seat), Tennessee. Could she be related to your Celeste? If so, searching her may provide you more answers (or questions, we all know how genealogy goes :-).