Individual Details

Database online gives baptism in Warwick, Lancashire, England, 4 Sep 1607.
"In 1635, Humphrey, his wife, and their three young children immigrated from Bristol, England, to Dorchester in New England. Nine more children were born in New England; all 12 lived well into adulthood."

A descendant of his, Charles H. Atherton, said that Humphrey Atherton, his wife and three young children arrived at the colony in the ship James, August 7, 1635, but there is no record of this His descendant further said that Atherton and his wife were each about 15 years old when they were married.
There is a record of Nathaniel Wales having voyaged on the James. Wales referred to Humphrey Atherton as his "brother-in-law" in his will, so it has been assumed that Atherton's wife, Mary, was Wales' sister. However, the term may have been used because Atherton's daughter, Isabel, was married to Nathaniel Wales, Jr. The identity of his wife is unknown.

Humphrey Atherton was admitted as a freeman at Dorchester on May 2, 1638. He began his Massachusetts military career as a member of the artillery company in 1638, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1645, to Captain in 1650, to Major 1652,and to Major General in 1661.

Wikipedia:
Major-General Humphrey Atherton, ( ca.1608 – September 16, 1661) an early settler of Dorchester, Massachusetts, held the highest military rank in colonial New England.[1][2] He first appeared in the records of Dorchester on March 18, 1637 and made freeman May 2, 1638.[2] He became deputy governor, a representative in the General Court, in 1638 and 1639–41. In 1653, he was Speaker of the House, representing Springfield, Massachusetts. He was chosen assistant governor,[1] a member of the lower house of the General Court who also served as magistrate in the judiciary of colonial government,[3] in 1654, and remained as such until his death."[4] He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and held the ranks of lieutenant and captain for several years before rising to the rank of major-general. He also organized the first militia in Massachusetts.[1][2]

There is a record of Nathaniel Wales having voyaged on the James. Wales referred to Humphrey Atherton as his "brother-in-law" in his will, so it has been assumed that Atherton's wife, Mary, was Wales' sister. However, the term may have been used because Atherton's daughter, Isabel, was married to Nathaniel Wales, Jr.[13] The identity of his wife is unknown.

Humphrey Atherton died, September 16, 1661, from head injuries sustained in a fall from his horse. He was traveling through Boston Common, on his way home after drilling his troops when his mount collided with a cow.

The death of Major Humphrey Atherton, is recorded in Dorchester, 17 of the 7th month [Sep], 1661. From Epitaphs at the First Burying-Place in Dorchester: Humphrey Atherton, Major General, Sept 16, 1661.

Humphrey Atherton, whose wife, Mary died in 1672.[13] is interred at the Dorchester North Burying Place in Boston. Engraved upon his tombstone are the following words:

Here lies our Captain & Major of Suffolk was withall;
A godly magistrate was he, and Major General;
Two troop horse with him here comes, such worth his love did crave
Two companies of foot also mourning march to his grave,
Let all that read be sure to keep the faith as he has done
With Christ he lives now crowned, his name was Humphrey Atherton.[1]

Some references to check:
Adams, William Frederick, William Richard Cutter. Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume 4. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 1910. pp. 2646–2647
Pope, Charles Henry. The History of the Dorchester Pope Family, 1634–1888. Published by the author, 1888. p. 322
Drake, Samuel Adams. The History of Middlesex County Massachusetts. Estes and Lauriat. 1880. p. 555
Hall, Charles Samuel. Hall Ancestry. G.P. Putnam and Sons. 1896. p. 74
NEHGS Register: Vol. 35, p.67

Humphrey Atherton and his wife, Mary, had twelve children. Jonathan was their first born and was probably born in England, as was Isabel, who married Nathaniel Wales, Jr. Elizabeth was married to Timothy Mather and Margaret was married to James Trowbridge. Rest was born 1639 and married Obadiah Swift. Increase was baptized February, 1641 and died at sea. Thankful was born 1644 and married Thomas Bird of Dorchester. Their son, Hope (Hopestill), was born 1646. He was minister of Hadley, Massachusetts and married Sarah Hollister. Their son, Consider, married Ann Anibal. Watching, who was born 1651, married Elizabeth Rigbee. Patience, born in 1654, married Issac Humphrey. Mary was married to Joseph Weeks.

The estate of Humphrey Atherton was not finally settled until Oct 1730. His grandson, namesake, Humphrey Atherton, son of Consider, was the administrator de bonis non.


Cornelius Atherton came in from Pennsylvania in 1803 or ‘4. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1736, and was the fourth in descent from Gen. Humphrey Atherton of Boston, from whom all the Athertons in America are descended. He married Mary Delano and with her removed to Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1763. He was a blacksmith by trade, and having discovered the process of converting iron into American steel, in 1772 he entered into a contract with the Messrs. Reed, merchants of that place, to superintend the erection of steel works, to be constructed by them, and to instruct their workmen in the art. The works were erected and were in successful operation during the war of the Revolution. From Amenia he returned to Cambridge, where he superintended an armory belonging to John and Samuel Adams and John Hancock, which was burned by the British soldiers during the Revolutionary war. Thence, in 1775 or ‘6, he removed to Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Pa., where he worked at his trade. He was drafted at the time of the Wyoming massacre, but his place was filled by his eldest son, Jabez, who volunteered to become his substitute, and was accepted and mustered in. The youthful patriot fell in that sanguinary engagement and his name heads the list on the Wyoming monument. Atherton’s wife, by whom he had seven children, died soon after the Wyoming massacre. He afterwards re-married and had seven children by his second wife. After his removal to Afton he continued to work at his trade till his death, December 4, 1809. Humphrey, his oldest son by his second wife, was a miller. He married a widow lady named Wicks, but had no children, and died in Afton, December 11, 1849, aged 62. Charles, his second son, was a blacksmith. He married a lady named Bramhall, with whom, a few years after, he removed to Friendship, Allegany Co., where he worked at his trade several years, till the death of his wife, when he sold his property and went with a friend to Emporium, Cameron Co., Pa., where he died May 13, 1869, aged 76. He had no children. Hiram, the third son, married Miss Lovina Sisson, of Plymouth, and followed his trade of wagon-maker a few years in Afton and subsequently for several years in Norwich, from whence he removed to Greene, and engaged in the cabinet business, which he pursued till his death, March 19, 1870, aged 73. They had five children, all of whom are dead, except one daughter, who is living with her mother in Norwich. William, the fourth son, was a shoemaker. He married Miss Jane E. Hamlin, by whom he had two children, both of whom died in infancy. They finally removed to Paterson, N. J., where both died, he August 2, 1879, aged 77. Cornelius, the youngest son, is still living in Afton. He has one son who is a telegraph operator on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R.
Smith, James H. History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. 1880.

Death

17 Sep 1661

Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Spouse	Mary Kennion ( - 1672)
Child	Elizabeth Atherton ( - 1678)
Child	Consider Atherton ( - 1690)
Child	Watching Atherton (1651 - 1689)

Webtags

Notes