... represented by Humphrey Atherton of Dorchester and his brother James of
Milton and Lancaster. [Ref.: New England Historical Register, Vol. 35, p. 67]
Robert de Atherton lived in the time of King John 1199–1216.
From this we trace down through the centuries to Humphrey Atherton who was born
Lancashire, England, about 1609, and came with his wife (Mary Wales) and their t
young children, in the ship, James, from Bristol, England, in 1635, to
Dorchester, in New England. ...
At about the time when Humphrey Atherton arrived with his young family in
Dorchester, the larger part of the Dorchester Church, with its pastor, removed
to Windsor, Connecticut, and Humphrey Atherton, with his brother-in-law,
Nathaniel Wales, assisted Richard Mather, (Rev) (who came in the
same ship with them) in nurturing the Dorchester Church back into thrifty life
again. As the years went on, Humphrey Atherton became more and more a
prominent in the town and the colony, ...
In 1644 there were "wardens" appointed to take care of and manage the affairs
of the first public school in Dorcheser. Blake in his Annals says that "they
were to see that both the master and the scholar performed their duty, and to
judge of, and end, any difference that might arise, between master and scholar,
or their Parents, according to sundry rules and directions there set down."
Humphrey Atherton was one of the first wardens, who were chosen for life.
Thus was inaugurated the public school, which had no precedent in America.
In 1645, £250 was raised to build a new meeting house, to replace the
earlier one (which was a rude building, thatched with straw, with a stairway
on the outside), and Humphrey Atherton was one of those chosen to attend to
this matter.
He had decided taste for military affairs, organized the first training band
in Dorchester in 1664, was early a member of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company, was its captain 1650 to 1658, commanded the Suffolk
regiment with title of major general, was chief military officer in New
England, many years Selectman and Town Treasurer, deputy to General Courts
1638–1641, in 1659 was Speaker, and had great experience and skill in
treatment of the Indians.
Capt. Johnson in his "Wonder-working Providence" speaks of Humphrey Atherton
as a "lively courageous man," and says:— "Altho he be slow of speech, yet
he is down right for the business, one of cheerful spirit, and entire for the
country."
In 1645 the commissioners of the United Colonies appointed a council of war,
placed Capt. Miles Standish at its head, with
Humphrey Atherton as one of his colleagues. He is said to have been
"a man of courage and presence of mind," for when he was sent with 20 men
to Pessacus, an Indian sachem [chief] to demand the arrears to the colony
of 300 fathom of wampum, Pessacus put him off for some time with dilatory
answers, not suffering him even to come into his presence. Atherton finally
led his men to the door of the wigwam, entered himself with pistol in hand,
leaving his men without, and, seizing Pessacus by the hair of his head, drew
him forth from the midst of a great number of his attendants, threatening,
if any of them interfered, that he would despatch them. Pessacus paid waht was
demanded, and the English returned in safety.
Gen. Humphrey Atherton had a grant of 500 acres at Nonotucke, beyond
Springfield, Mary 26, 1658 — given to him by the General Court in
recognition of his public service, Nonotucke being the Indian name for the
region about Hadley and Hatfield. This grant interfered with other grants
previously made, and so, in Nov. 1659, the Court granted an additional
200 acres (700 in all) which were relocated at Waranoke, now Westfield.
The estate of Gen. Humphrey Atherton after his death, included in the
inventory a "Farme of seven hundred acres at Waronoco."
The death of Major General Humphrey Atherton, by accident, in 1661, deprived
the colony of one of its principal men.
"While returning home in the dark after reviewing his troops on Boston
Common his horse was struck by a stray cow. In the collision he was thrown
and killed. Sept. 16, 1661."
Epitaph on his tombstone at Dorchester:
Here lyes our Captaine, & Major of Suffolk was withall;
A Godly Magistrate was he, and Major Generall,
Two troops of Hors with him heare came, such worth his love did crave;
Ten companyes of Foot, also mourning, marcht to his grave.
Let all that Read be sure to keep the Faith as he as don,
With Christ he lives now Crowned, his name was Humpry Atherton.
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