Mystery Monday: Sarah Clifton Patrick's Family

There are a number of mysteries and holes in my family research that I need to explore, but questions about Sarah's family have come up recently, so I have decided to write about her today while it is fresh in my mind.  

My fourth great-grandmother was Sarah Clifton Patrick.  She was born, from what I can gather, in Virginia (although I have one source that states that she was the "daughter of a wealthy Richland planter" - Tried by Fire by Archie Vernon Huff, Jr. page 12). I have seen 2 different Virginia county possibilities, Richmond and Southampton, but have no proof for either.  I do know that she married Andrew Muir Wallace and raised her children in Columbia, South Carolina.  I know nothing about Sarah's parents, siblings, or possible aunts/uncles/cousins and have no ideas about where anyone else could have settled if and when they left Virginia, BUT....... I have come across a possible clue and am pulling my hair out trying to see if it could help me find out more about her family.

Background/Quick note: Sarah and Andrew Wallace were members of the church that my husband, son, and I are now members of (Washington Street United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC).  She and Andrew, along with some other family members, were originally buried at Washington Street in the church cemetery, but when the church built a new building "that was to be erected in the churchyard, the church agreed to move graves for families which made the request...... Among the graves moved were those of the Andrew Wallace.....families." (Tried by Fire by Archie Vernon Huff, Jr. page 90)

One Sunday, while I was waiting for the church service to begin, I walked through one of the small courtyards located next to the choir room/back entrance to the sanctuary.  I pulled out my iPhone (gotta love technology!) and began to take pictures of the headstones in that area so that I could upload them to findagrave.com later.  While I was uploading the photos, I realized one of the graves was for a Claiborne Clifton, born in Virginia.

This Claiborne was buried within 8 graves of Sarah Clifton Patrick Wallace's original grave site.  What were the chances of finding a "Clifton," born in Virginia, buried that close to her?  I have no idea of how he could be related to her, but I feel like there has to be a connection.  I have searched Ancestry.com and have found plenty of information on Claiborne and his family.  He does have a sister named "Sarah Clifton," although it does not appear that any of his sisters married a "Patrick."  Could he have been a cousin of her mother's, though, or is this a complete fluke?  I feel as if there has got to be some connection, but what is it?????  If only I had that magic wand to summon the information I need.

If you are reading this and know ANYTHING about the Clifton or Patrick families from Virginia or South Carolina, I would love to hear from you!  OR if you have any ideas about where I could begin searching, I am all ears!

Our Line of Patricks:

Lake Hawthorne Barrett

Ronald Hawthorne Barrett - Jenna Elizabeth Aldridge (mother)

Marion Douglas Aldridge - Sarah Marguerite Craig (mother)

William Rhett Craig, Jr. (grandfather) - Elizabeth Ann Barnes

William Rhett Craig, Sr. - Sarah Lou Wallace (2nd great grandmother)

John Witherspoon Wallace (3rd great grandfather) - Joella Septimer Milner

John Wallace (4th great grandfather) - Rebecca Elizabeth Witherspoon

Andrew Muir Wallace - Sarah Clifton PATRICK (5th great grandmother)