Cornelius Atherton

1750 - The Iron Act was passed with the aim of eliminating the import duty on colonial pig iron. However it barred the manufacture of steel or of iron plate in the colonies. The law was widely ignored by colonial governments.

1774 - Colonists establish the First Continental Congress, as Great Britain closes down Boston Harbor and deploys troops in Massachusetts

1775 - American Revolution: George Washington leads Continental Army to fight against British rule

1776 - At least 80 iron furnaces throughout the American colonies were producing about as much iron as Great Britain. See History of the iron and steel industry in the United States

1776 - Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress; colonies declare independence on July, 4

1778 - Battle of Wyoming

1781 - Rebel states form loose confederation after defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown

1783 - Great Britain accepts loss of colonies by virtue of Treaty of Paris

1787 - Founding Fathers draw up new constitution for United States of America. Constitution comes into effect in 1788

1789 - George Washington elected first president of USA

1791 - Bill of Rights guarantees individual freedom

1803 - France sells Louisiana territories to USA

The Massachusetts Convention of Towns sat during September 22–29, 1768. Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, wanted to organize an armed local resistance. In 1769 Atherton left Amenia, NY, for Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he superintended an armoury belonging to John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock and commenced the manufacture of cutlery and firearms. The site was burned down after operating just 6 months by an incendiary, likely to have been placed by British troops who were quartered in Boston, since the colonial authorities suspected their patriotic intentions arming the local population during the time of the Boston Massacre.

Atherton played a role in preparing for the siege of New York.[27][28]

In November 1775 Atherton in his role as a gunsmith in Amenia, NY concluded an agreement with Alexander McDougall and Peter Curtenius of the City of New York, acting with authority of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York.

On September 21, 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold met with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word “traitor.”

His son Cornelius Jr recounted the incident [29]:

“I was informed by my mother years ago, when I was a young man, that on his learning the British ship Vulture was anchored in the river below West Point, my father Cornelius Atherton, with another man (name forgotten) went to a Colonel Livingston, in command of a small battery , five or six miles below West Point, asking him to send a small detachment up on the Heights, and drive the Vulture away, but the Colonel dare not weaken his small force. He finally gave them a twelve pound carronade and two gunners, with ammunition a plenty. In a short time they had their gun in position on the highland banks, within easy range of the Vulture and perfectly safe from her guns. After trying a cold short a few times without effect they improvised a furnace and made the balls red hot, and at the first fire struck a red hot ball in the deck of the vessel. A second and third were equally successful. She cast her cable and took her way down river, out of the way of the guns on the heights. This I believe to be a true statement of the cause of Major Andre’s capture, and saving West Point from falling into the hands of the British. Cornelius Atherton”

Colonel James Livingston (American Revolution) of the 1st Canadian Regiment was in command of Verplanck's Point on the Hudson River in September 1780, and played a crucial role in the unmasking of Benedict Arnold's treachery. While on guard duty, his troops fired on the British sloop of war HMS Vulture (1776), forcing that vessel to retreat southwards. This ship had brought Major John André to meet with General Benedict Arnold, who was then in command at West Point, New York. Since the ship was driven off, André was forced to attempt travel by land to New York, when he was captured not far from the British lines near Tarrytown with incriminating papers in his possession. André was hanged as a spy, and Arnold, his plot discovered, managed to escape to the British lines.

• Jebez Atherton (1761-1778) born in NY. He was a Private in the Revolutionary War and was killed in the Battle of Wyoming, also known as the Wyoming Massacre, aged 16.[32][33]

• John Daniel Atherton (1762-1841/ or 1845), married Mary Fulkerson of Six Mile Run, New Jersey. He had 12 children. He died in 1841. [34]

• Eleazer Augustus Atherton, Sr., born December 1764 in NY; died March 3, 1852 in Taylor, PA. [34]
• Elisha Atherton, born c. 1765. He married Martha Delaney.
• Mary (Polly) Atherton, born c. 1765 in PA; died c. 1829.
• Parthenia Atherton, born Bet. 1765 - 1771; died September 24, 1845.
• Prudence Atherton, born 1772. She married Raynesford Hoyt.

and 2 others that did not reach adulthood.

• Humphrey Atherton (1787-1849). Born July 20th, 1791; he was a miller. He married and died without issue in Afton, NY on December 11, 1849, aged 62.
• Angelina Atherton Church (1791-1847). Born Jan 27th, 1791; died July 15, 1847. She married Col. Ira Church.
• Charles Atherton (1793-1869). Born May 23, 1783. He was a blacksmith. He married Experience Bramhall, and relocated 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, PA, where he died May 13, 1869, aged 76. He had no children.
• Hiram Atherton (1796-1870). Born Jun 16, 1796. He married Lovina Sisson, of Plymouth, and followed his trade of wagon-maker a few years in Afton, NY 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.
• Christina Atherton Clapper (1799-1842). Born Jan 8, 1799; died January 24, 1842.
• William J. Atherton (1802-1879). -Born May 25, 1802; died August 2, 1879 in Patterson, NJ. He was a shoemaker. He married Jane E. Hamlin and had two children, both of whom died in infancy. They relocated to Paterson, NJ, where he died on August 2, 1879, aged 77.
• Cornelius Atherton Jnr (1805-1881). Born December 7, 1805. He lived in Afton and died October 10, 1881. He was appointed as postmaster of Afton in 1855 [35]. He had one son, William Monroe Atherton (1855-1905) who was a telegraph operator on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R, and who died in Chicago but was buried in Indiana. Cornelius Atherton Jnr was present at the Centenary of the Wyoming Massacre [36]

His sisters married his future business partners.

Lois Atherton, sister of Cornelius Atherton married Dr Reuben Allerton painted by Ammi Phillips; American artist (1788–1865)

He nephew was Cornelius Allerton [37]