Humphrey Atherton, 1608-1661
From History of the Town of Dorchester, Massachusetts. By a Committee of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society. (Boston, 1859), 102-103.
Humphrey Atherton. The first occurrence of his name on the church Records is in 1636. Farmer says he came from Lancashire, but gives no authority for it. One of his descendants, Charles H. Atherton, says he arrived in Boston in the ship James, Capt. Taylor, August 7, 1635, and states he was married when between fourteen and fifteen years of age, his wife then being between thirteen and fourteen, and that they brought children with them, but does not give any authority for the statement. No record by which his age could be ascertained has ever been found; but as he was admitted freeman, and was a grantee of the Neck lands, in 1637, he must have arrived at his majority at that time.
He early showed a decided taste for military affairs, and soon became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, was its captain from 1650 to 1658, and commenced the first train band formed in Dorchester in 1644. He commanded the Suffolk Regiment, with the title of Major General, and was the chief military officer in New England. He served many years as Selectman and town Treasurer, and was Deputy to the General Court in 1638 and ’41. In 1659 he was chosen Speaker while he represented the town of Springfield (inhabitancy not then being requisite for a deputy). He was afterwards an Assistant.
He was much respected for his religious character and public spirit, and often employed by the colonial government in civil and military affairs. He had great experience and skill in the treatment of the Indians, with whom his public duties brought him in frequent contact. He manifested much humanity and sympathy for their ignorant and degraded condition, but exercised great energy and decision of character when necessary. His efforts to instruct them were referred to in the New England Confederation, and Eliot applied to him in behalf of the Neponset tribe. He assisted Lieut. Clap in laying out for them a tract of land at Punkapog, not exceeding six thousand acres. In 1644 he was sent, with Captains Johnson and Cooke, to Narraganset, to arrest and try Samuel Gorton for heresy. It is hoped that Gorton’s complaint of his treatment on his way to Boston is exaggerated; for he says, in passing through Dorchester, a large concourse of persons assembled, with several ministers, to witness the passage of the troops, and that the prisoners were stationed apart, and volleys of musketry fired over their heads as a token of victory.
He was employed in several expeditions against the Narraganset Indians; and when they became tributary to Massachusetts, he was several times sent to collect the tribute of wampum. He and Edward Tomlins were sent to treat with Miantinomo, a sachem of the Narragansets, and questioned him on the Ten Commandments.
In 1645 the commissioners of the United Colonies appointed a council of war, and placed Capt. Standish at its head. Mason of Connecticut, Leverett and Atherton, of Massachusetts, were his colleagues.
Captain Johnson, author of the Wonder-working Providence, speaks of Atherton as a lively, courageous man, and says, “Altho he be slow of speech, yet is he down right for the business, one of cheerful spirit, and intire for the country.”
His death occurred Sept. 16, 1661 …
[described by Orcutt below]
He lived on the south side of the way to the Calf Pasture, now Pond street, near where that street intersects with the Turnpike. [now intersection of Pond and Dorchester Avenue]. His children were—Jonathan; Rest, born 1639, married Obadiah Swift, 15 (1) 1660-1, Increase, baptized 2 (11) 1641, died at sea; Thankful, born 1644, married Thos. Bird of Dorchester, 2 (2) 1665); Hope, born 1646, was minister of Hadley; Consider, married Ann Anibal, 19 (10) 1671; Watching, born 1651, married Elizabeth Rigbee, Jan. 23, 1678; Patience, born 1654,; Mary, married Joseph Weeks, 9 (7) 1667. Charles H. ways there was a Katherine, and that were twelve children in all. Administration was granted to his oldest son Jonathan, and Timothy Mather, James Throwbridge and Obadiah Swift, three of his sons-in-law. His inventory was 900 pounds.
From: William Dana Orcutt. Good Old Dorchestert. (Cambridge, 1893), 69-70.
The death of Major-General Humphrey Atherton, by accident, in 1661, deprived the Colony of one of its principal men. Energetic and firm in character, he proved very useful to his fellow-colonists. An incident illustrating his great courage and presence of mind is that which occurred when he was sent to Pessacus, an Indian sachem, with twenty men, for the purpose of demanding three hundred fathom of wampum, arrears due to the Colony. For some time Pessacus refused to allow him to come into his presence, putting him off with evasive answers. Finally, however, Atherton led his men to the door of the wigwam, and leaving them outside, entered, pistol in hand. He then seized Pessacus by the hair, and dragged him out from among a large number of his attendants, threatening to kill the first one who attempted to interfere.
“Here lies our Captain, & Majr. of Svffolk was withal;
A Godly Magestrate was he, & Major Generall.
Two Troops of Horses with him here came, such worth his loue did crave;
Ten Companies of foot also mourning march’d to his Graue.
Let all that Read be sure to keep ye Faith as he hath done.
With Christ he liues now Crown’d, his name was Humphrey Atherton.
He Died ye 16th of Sepr. 1661.”
From James Blake. Annals of the Town of Dorchester. 1750. Collections of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society No. 2. (Boston, 1846)
James Blake tells us that “he was killed by a fall from his Horse at ye So end of Boston as he was coming homewards (I think in ye Evening) his Horse either Running over, or starting at a Cow that lay down in ye way.” The following inscription is to be found upon his tomb.: —
Hear lyes our Captaine, & MAJOR of Suffolk was withall,
A godley Magistrate was he, and MAJOR GENERALL
Two Troops of Hors with him here 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 has don,
With Christ he lives now crownd, His name was HUMPHREY ATHERTON
He Died ye 16th of Sepr. 1661.
From 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. He first appeared in the records of Dorchester on March 18, 1637 and made freeman May 2, 1638. He became 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, a member of the lower house of the General Court who also served as magistrate in the judiciary of colonial government, in 1654, and remained as such until his death.” 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.
It is unclear where and when Atherton was born. It is presumed he came from Lancashire, England. He was active in the governance of the colony, taking part in the acquisition of Native American lands, the persecution of Quakers, and the apprehension and convictions of heretics. His accidental death was seen by the Quakers as a punishment from God for his persecution of them, an idea repeated in a play by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was one of the most successful land speculators in the New England colonies. He and his wife, Mary, had a number of children and several New England families have traced their ancestry to them. He is interred at Dorchester North Burying Ground, one of the oldest cemeteries in New England.