Joshua Atherton attended Harvard College and afterward resided at Litchfield & Merrimack, New Hampshire. In 1773 he was appointed Register of Probate for Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and moved to Amherst. During the early years of the American Revolution Joshua Atherton was a loyalist and "fell under the popular displeasure." In 1776 he refused to sign the Association Test, an oath of allegiance to the new American government. He was imprisoned at various times in the Amherst jail, his own home, and the jail at Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1779 he took the oath of allegiance and an attorney's oath, then was allowed to return to his law practice. "The good will of his fellow citizens began to return to him." In 1783 he was elected delegate to the New Hampshire state constitutional convention. He served the state in many ways, including as state Senator in 1793-94. [abstract in part from Secomb 857-860]
DIED - In this town [Amherst, NH], Tuesday the 4th instant, JOSHUA ATHERTON, Esq., aet. 73. [The Farmers' Cabinet, 11 Apr 1809, page 3]
DIED - In this town [Amherst, NH], Tuesday the 4th instant, JOSHUA ATHERTON, Esq., aet. 73. [The Farmers' Cabinet, 11 Apr 1809, page 3]
Joshua Atherton attended Harvard College and afterward resided at Litchfield & Merrimack, New Hampshire. In 1773 he was appointed Register of Probate for Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and moved to Amherst. During the early years of the American Revolution Joshua Atherton was a loyalist and "fell under the popular displeasure." In 1776 he refused to sign the Association Test, an oath of allegiance to the new American government. He was imprisoned at various times in the Amherst jail, his own home, and the jail at Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1779 he took the oath of allegiance and an attorney's oath, then was allowed to return to his law practice. "The good will of his fellow citizens began to return to him." In 1783 he was elected delegate to the New Hampshire state constitutional convention. He served the state in many ways, including as state Senator in 1793-94. [abstract in part from Secomb 857-860]
DIED - In this town [Amherst, NH], Tuesday the 4th instant, JOSHUA ATHERTON, Esq., aet. 73. [The Farmers' Cabinet, 11 Apr 1809, page 3]
DIED - In this town [Amherst, NH], Tuesday the 4th instant, JOSHUA ATHERTON, Esq., aet. 73. [The Farmers' Cabinet, 11 Apr 1809, page 3]
Inscription
Joshua Atherton died 1809 aged 73 years / Abigail Atherton died 1801 aged 52 years / Charles Humphrey Atherton died 1853 aged 79 years / Mary Ann Atherton died 1817 aged 37 years / Here also rest the remains of five of their children. / "In thee Oh! Lord do I put my trust." //
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