1. Humphrey Atherton was chosen assistant governor, a member of the lower house of the General Court who served as magistrate in the judiciary of colonial government, in 1654, and remained as such until his death.
22 Facts About Humphrey Atherton
1. 2.
Humphrey Atherton 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.
3.
Humphrey Atherton was one of the most successful land speculators in the New England colonies.
4.
Humphrey Atherton is interred at Dorchester North Burying Ground, one of the oldest cemeteries in New England.
5.
However, Duane Hamilton Hurd, in History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts stated that Humphrey Atherton was 36 years old when he died in 1661.
6.
Humphrey Atherton further said that Atherton and his wife were each about 15 years old when they were married.
7.
Humphrey Atherton had a very active public life having power and taking part in the law making, enforcing and interpreting affairs of the colony.
8.
Humphrey Atherton was "long a justice of the peace, and solemnized many marriages".
9.
Humphrey Atherton was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and he organized the first trained band in Dorchester.
10.
In 1644 he [Humphrey Atherton] was sent, with Captains Johnson and Cook, to Narragansett to arrest and try Samuel Gorton for heresy.
11.
Humphrey Atherton was involved in the persecution of Quakers and there are two incidents in particular that the Quakers wrote about in relationship to Humphrey Atherton.
12.
Humphrey Atherton was sentenced to death, but the law was changed soon after, and he was not executed.
13.
Humphrey Atherton was the last Quaker to be sentenced to death in Massachusetts.
14.
Humphrey Atherton manifested much humanity and sympathy for their ignorant and degraded condition, but exercised great energy and decision of character when necessary.
15.
Humphrey Atherton was sent by the commissioners of the Four Colonies, with twenty armed men, to enforce the payment.
16.
In 1658, Humphrey Atherton came into contact with Native Americans again when he was appointed by the General Court to the post of Superintendent of Indian Affairs, overseeing the praying Indians; Nipmuck Indians who had been converted to Christianity by John Eliot.
17.
Humphrey Atherton's predecessors were Thomas Dudley, John Endicott, Edward Gibbons and Robert Sedgwick.
18.
Humphrey Atherton owned a share in what became Milton, Massachusetts.
19.
Humphrey Atherton was traveling through Boston Common, on his way home after drilling his troops when his mount collided with a cow.
20.
Hope Humphrey Atherton, was minister of Hadley, Massachusetts and married Sarah Hollister.
21.
Humphrey Atherton continued to be revered by his community after his death.
22.
Joshua Humphrey Atherton journaled the Humphrey Atherton family origins in the 18th century.