I was cruising through Daniel Johnson‘s transcriptions today and found these newspaper transcriptions pertaining to the Atherton Family in Fredericton. This is just some of what I found, there’s lots more!
Daniel F. Johnson: Volume 68 Number 1754
Date: January 8 1887
County: York
Place: Fredericton
Newspaper: The Fredericton Evening Capital
Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.
George R. ATHERTON breathed his last. He was in his 77th year and had been for some days been prostrated by an attack of apoplexy so that his death was not unexpected. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, W.G. GAUNCE and was buried Sunday in the Methodist cemetery. Rev. Dr. McLeod, of whose church the deceased had been a member, conducted the ceremonies at the house and grave. Mr. Atherton was a descendant, in the third generation, of one of the United Empire Loyalists who after the Revolutionary war preferred the wilderness of New Brunswick. His name was Benjamin ATHERTON, an officer in the British Commissariat. He came to Fredericton and received a grant of a lot of land on which the Government House now stands. Here he continued for some time, engaging in the fur trade with the Indians who made St. Anne’s (Fredericton) their periodical rendezvous. After a residence of some years he was offered his choice of lots between Fredericton and Woodstock in exchange for his grant. He chose Bear Island whither he removed to engage in farming and trading. He had five sons, one of whom, Stephen ATHERTON was the father of the man laid to rest last Sunday. Stephen also had five sons, three of whom are still alive, namely, Israel ATHERTON and John ATHERTON of Fredericton and Stephen now in Nebraska. Benjamin, the other brother, died a few years ago, shortly after establishing the Royal Hotel. George R. Atherton had 12 children by his wife Rebecca Anne McKEEN d/o John McKEEN of Mactaquack. Four of these are still living – Robert ATHERTON in the civil service in St. John; William ATHERTON in British Columbia; Eliza ATHERTON wife of William Grant GAUNCE and George L. ATHERTON, Fredericton druggist. In early life the subject of our sketch was engaged in the lumber business up the river Saint John. When chopping near St. Francis (Madawaska) the head of his comrade’s axe flew off and inflicted a severe gash on his knee. Blood flowed freely. Four miles from camp, the case seemed desperate, but nothing daunted, he dispatched his mate for assistance. Tired of waiting, after some time he tried to crawl toward camp on hands and one knee, but was soon met by a party of rescue and carried on the back of a stalwart friend to shelter. A surgeon was procured with difficulty and the gaping wound stitched up. Israel Atherton, his brother, went up from Fredericton and brought him here where, during an interval of six years, he has since remained. These things happened 44 years ago. He then rented the Commercial Hotel on York St. which he afterwards gave up to his brother and commenced the livery stable business by which he is best known to the general public. The Atherton Stables on York St. were for many years noted headquarters for horseflesh. He contracted to carry the mails from Fredericton to Woodstock and had often more than one hundred horses engaged in that business alone. During the stirring times of the Trent affair, when British troops were being sent to Quebec through Fredericton, he rendered the military authorities valuable assistance in horses and sleds. A few years after this warlike period he went to Halifax where he remained for six years. Returning to Fredericton he has spent the happy eve of his life in the society of his own kith and kin. The descendants of Benjamin Atherton are now very numerous. In Dr. ATHERTON, now of Toronto, the medical profession has a distinguished member.
Daniel F. Johnson: Volume 96 Number 1629
Date: April 24 1895
County: York
Place: Fredericton
Newspaper: The Gleaner
Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.
It was with surprise that citizens heard of the death of George F. ATHERTON’s serious illness this morn. and they were far more surprised when it became known that Mr. ATHERTON passed away about 2 o’clock this afternoon. It was only the day before yesterday that he was walking about the street looking quite well and as happy as usual. Yesterday morn., however, he arose feeling rather unwell and as eve. approached he became completely prostrated. Medical aid was at once summoned and everything possible was done to revive him, but he gradually grew weaker until this afternoon when death claimed himn as his own. Mr. ATHERTON has been suffering for the past 3 or 4 years from diabetes, but heart failure resulting from this disease was the direct cause of death. Deceased was well known in York and Carleton counties having done an extensive business in both counties. He carried on a large grocery business in the city on Queen Street, just opposite the Peoples Bank of for many years. About 12 years ago he removed to Woodstock and carried on a successful business along this line until about three years ago when failing health forced him to retire from active business life. He then returned to Fredericton where he has been living quietly ever since. He was stout and robust and always wore a happy expression. He entered the Free Baptist Church in this city about 50 years ago, since which time he has been an active member of that denomination and held the ofice of senior deacon. He was also president of the Y.M.C.A. in this city some years ago. Mr. ATHERTON was a native of York Co., being born in Queensbury 59 years ago and for 50 years, with the exception of nine years he was absent in Woodstock, has been a resident of Fredericton. A wife, two daughters and one son survive him. His son, Edward R. ATHERTON is now a resident of British Columbia. Dr. ATHERTON, formerly of this city and now practicing in Toronto, Ontario, is a brother of the deceased. His surviving sisters are Mrs. Thomas W. SMITH, formerly of this city, but now living in California and Mrs. George CLIFF of this city. An aged mother also survives him. The funeral will take place at 2:30 Friday afternoon from his late residence on York Street to the old burying ground on Brunswick Street.
Daniel F. Johnson: Volume 96 Number 2353
Date: October 26 1895
County: York
Place: Fredericton
Newspaper: The Gleaner
Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.
The friends of Mrs. Sarah E. BROWN, Brunswick street, widow of W.C. BROWN, Esq., were shocked to hear of her death, which occurred at about 5 o’clock this morn. Mrs. Brown had been in failing health for some time but recently she rallied somewhat and her death was unlooked for at this time. Mrs. Brown was born at Bear Island in 1816, being 79 years old. She was a d/o late Stephen ATHERTON of that place, her brothers being Geo. R. ATHERTON, Deacon Israel ATHERTON and John ATHERTON late of this city. Early in life Mrs. Brown professed religion during an extensive revival at Bear Island and joined the Free Baptist Church at that place at its organization. Her funeral takes place Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from her residence, Brunswick Street. Rev. F.C. Hartley and Rev. Dr. Mcleod are to attend and undertaker John G. Adams will have charge of the arrangements.
Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 96 Number 2409
Date November 5 1895
County York
Place Fredericton
Newspaper The Gleaner
Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson .
Thomas C. ATHERTON died suddenly this afternoon at his home on Queen Street. He had been ill for the past year or two with heart disease, but up to the time of his death was able to be about town. This morn. he ate a light breakfast and about 11 o’clock walked down front street as far as the City Hall. Returning to the house he complained of not feeling as well as usual and called for a drink of warm milk which was brought to him and only a small quantity of which he drank. He continued to grow weaker in spite of everything that could be done and at 2 o’clock he passed away. Deceased was 80 years old and leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters. One of the sons, Barry ATHERTON is manager of the R.B. Atkinson Furniture Co. and the other son, Burtt ATKINSON is living at home. The daughters are Mrs. George LUGRIN, Miss Electra ATHERTON, Lewiston and Miss Amelia ATHERTON living at home. The deceased was engineer at the Normal School from the date of its opening until last year when he was dismissed by Mr. Blair to nake room for one of his friends.
Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 28 Number 97
Date: November 24 1869
County: Saint John
Place: Saint John
Newspaper: Morning News
Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.
On Saturday afternoon, three boys, viz., James SENTELL, aged 16, Robert NOBLE, about the same age and Frank ATHERTON, age 10, went out to the Tower woods, NOBLE having a fowling piece and some powder and shot. They amused themselves for some time firing at trees and other objects. After their supply of shot was exhausted, they found a piece of copper which they used instead, searching for it after each discharge and replacing it in the gun. In the meantime, NOBLE strayed from his companions leaving the gun with them. SENTELL loaded it with powder only, he says, and placed it on the ground and went in search of NOBLE to get some caps, obtained them and returned. ATHERTON, standing about 60 feet off, told SENTELL he might fire at him. Believing, SENTELL says, that the gun was only charged with powder, he fired at ATHERTON who staggered, fell and died immediately. Two other boys who were rambling in the woods happened to come up and saw the shot fired. The frightened boys ran to the city and told what had occurred. A number of persons were soon on the scene and it was found the piece of copper had entered ATHERTON’s heart. Frank ATHERTON, the deceased, was s/o G.R. ATHERTON, formerly of Fredericton, N.B. and a brother of W.T. ATHERTON, proprietor of Halifax Livery Stables. Jas. SENTELL, who fired the fatal shot, is a s/o James SENTELL, keeper of the County Court House. He is in jail awaiting further proceedings – Halifax ‘Chronicle’
York Sunbury Historical Society 