Cornelius Atherton, was an iron manufacturer, an inventor and an active gunmaker for patriot cause during the American Revolutionary War.
20 Facts About Cornelius Atherton
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2.
Cornelius Atherton became closely involved in the first large scale production of "American Steel".
3.
Cornelius Atherton was the son of John Atherton of Harvard, Massachusetts.
4.
Cornelius Atherton was a blacksmith by trade and was the first to forge steel in Colonial America.
5.
Cornelius Atherton discovered the process of converting iron into 'American steel'.
6.
Cornelius Atherton entered into a contract with two merchant brothers, James and Ezra Reed, to superintend the erection of steel works in Amenia, and to instruct their workmen in the art of making steel.
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Cornelius Atherton relocated temporarily to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1769, after entering into a partnership with Samuel Adams, John Adams and John Hancock.
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Cornelius Atherton superintended an existing armory and commenced the manufacture of cutlery and firearms.
9.
Cornelius Atherton settled in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in 1773 with his family, where he made farm tools and bells.
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Cornelius Atherton went to Florida, Orange County, New York, in the summer of 1773 and remained there during the war and remained there until 1783.
11.
In 1778 Cornelius Atherton was drafted, however his place was filled by his eldest son, Jabez, who volunteered to become his substitute, and was accepted and mustered in as a private.
12.
Cornelius Atherton finally gave them a twelve pound carronade and two gunners, with ammunition a plenty.
13.
Cornelius Atherton cast her cable and took her way down river, out of the way of the guns on the heights.
14.
Cornelius Atherton moved to Keyser Creek in 1782 and lived on a hill overlooking it.
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Cornelius Atherton relocated one final time, returning to Afton, New York, in 1803, where he traded until his death 6 years later.
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Cornelius Atherton chose to relocate numerous times, since his skills were in demand, relocating with his young family to Amenia, NY in 1763.
17.
However his uncle, James Cornelius Atherton had moved further west, to what is known as Wyoming, Pennsylvania.
18.
Cornelius Atherton's uncle was one of the first settlers to arrive from Connecticut, and was likely to have been either a cousin or uncle.
19.
Cornelius Atherton relocated to South Bainbridge, now known as Afton, New York, in 1803 with his second wife and young children.
20.
Cornelius Atherton was buried at Vallonia Springs Cemetery in Colesville, New York.