Atkinson Family Genealogy of Saco Valley

The Atkinsons were English, and the ancestors of the New England families came from Bury, in County Lancaster, in 1634. Theodore Atkinson, the emigrant, settled in Boston and was owner of a good estate there. Atkinson street, where he had land, was named for him, and Berry street, for the place of his nativity. Hon. Theodore Atkinson, a grandson, settled on Great island, in Portsmouth harbor, and engaged in trade and fishing. He was appointed clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the province; was a man of great fidelity, held in high esteem. John Atkinson, son of the first Theodore, b. in Boston in 1636, m. Sarah Myrick, Apr. 27, 1664, and lived on the side of the “Upper Green,” in Newburyport, Mass. His son, John Atkinson, m. Sarah Woodman, in 1693, and had Thomas, b. Mar. 16, 1694, who m. Mary Pike, of Salisbury, Aug. 5, 17 19. He was the father of:

Humphrey Atkinson, b. June 12, 1720; m. Sarah Hale, of Newburyport, May 25, 1743, and lived in that town until 1760, when he came to Buxton. He had purchased land in the township previously; was a shipwright. He d. in 1775, and with his wife was buried at Pleasant Point. Children named as follows, being born in Newbury:

1. Sarah Atkinson, b. June 25, 1744; m. Jabez Bradbury.
2. Joseph Atkinson, b. Aug. 24, 1745; m. Olive, dau. of Capt. Joseph Woodman, Dec. 18, 1767, and in 1769 his father conveyed to him forty acres of land, upon which he settled and died. He was deacon of the Baptist church. He and his brother m. sisters, and tradition says they exchanged sweethearts after being engaged, one paying the boot in shingles. He d. Feb. 18, 1823; his wife d. Jan. 26, 1828. Children:
   1. Elizabeth Atkinson, b. Nov. 21, 1768.
   2. Sarah Atkinson, b. Jan. 26, 177 i.
   3. Mary Atkinson, b. Jan. 29, 1773.
   4. Abigail Atkinson, b. Feb. 22, 1775.
   5. Anne Atkinson, b. Aug. 14, 1777.
   6. John Atkinson, b. July 26, 1779; m. Paulina Harmon and settled on the homestead. He d. Dec. 22, 1857; his wife d. Mar. 24, 1855. These had issue, a son:
      1. Charles Atkinson, who sold the old home and removed to Gorham, where he was living, in 1872, with two children.
         1. Tabitha Atkinson, b. Sept. 4, 1805; pub. with Benjamin L. Deering, Mar. 25, 1851.
         2. Charles Atkinson, b. Sept. 26, 1811; he and wife Clarissa had children, b. in Buxton, named as follows:
            1. Jane Atkinson, b. Feb. 16, 1832.
            2. Elizabeth Atkinson, b. May i, 1835.
            3. Joseph T. Atkinson, b. Sept. 9, 1838.
            4. Frances E. Atkinson, b. June 16, 1841.
            5. Charles H. Atkinson, b. Dec. 9, 1843.
            6. Henrietta Atkinson, b. Nov. 3, 1848.
            7. George M. Atkinson, b. Sept. 10, 1853.
   7. Samuel Atkinson, b. Dec. 23, 1781.
   8. Moses Atkinson, b. Apr. 9, 1784; m. Olive, dau. of James and Mary (Hancock) Woodman, of Buxton (she living in 1872 in Saco), July 31, 1816. He d. Oct. 26, 1858. Children, b. in Buxton:
      1. William H. Atkinson, b. Nov. 27, 1816; m. Mrs. Mary Pitts, Mar. 8, 1868, and had issue:
         1. Henry N. Atkinson, b. July 29, 1869.
      2. Sarah A. Atkinson, b. Feb. 5, 1819; m. Joel Towle.
      3. James Atkinson, b. Dec. 19, 1821.
      4. Joseph Atkinson, b. Dec. 5, 1823; d. Aug. 18, 1825.
      5. Mary E. Atkinson. C, b. Nov. 21, 1825; d. Aug. 20, 1825,
      6. Joseph Atkinson, b. May 29, 1826; d. 1828 (?).
      7. Rebecca Atkinson, b. Nov. 18, 1828; m. Richard M. Sykes, of Biddeford; d. May 11, 1849.
      8. Mary Atkinson, b. Jan. 9, 1830.
      9. Almeda Atkinson, b. Sept. 19, 1835; d. Aug. 30, 1866.
      10. Frances O. Atkinson, b. June 23, 1839.
   9. Susanna Atkinson, b. Apr. 20, 1786.
3. Moses Atkinson, b. Nov. 17, 1747; m. Rebecca Woodman, Sept. 13, 1770. His father gave him forty acres of land adjoining his brothers’ lots. He lived at one time near the meeting-house, and his old well, in rear of Spofford’s blacksmith shop, is still in use. He d. in the army. According to the statement of Colonel Lane, he left his home at Bar Mills in 1812, unknown to his family, and went forward until he found the regiment commanded by his two nephews, between Plattsburg and the river St. Lawrence. He wanted to be equipped and to enter the ranks. The general was consulted and consented to give him a gun, asking the Lanes to look after him. While on the march for winter quarters the regiment encamped in the woods. He lay down in a tent between the Lane brothers and was well covered with blankets. Colonel Lane got up to stir the fire some time in the night and found Lieutenant Atkinson dead. Rough boards were procured, a box made, a deep grave dug, and he was buried in the woods. Some rude stones were placed at his head and feet. His children:
   1. Joseph Atkinson, m. Anna Lane in 1790.
   2. Moses Atkinson, m. Betsey Woodman, Aug. 14, 1794.
   3. Thomas Atkinson, m. first, Bethia Hopkinson, Nov. 14, 1797; second. Widow Alice Billings, Mar. 6, 1808. He lived in Hollis and had a family there. I suppose Billings Atkinson was his son, and that Bethia, wife of Mighill Hobson, and Achsah, wife of William Hopkinson, were his daughters. Billings left issue.
   4. James Atkinson, m. Polly, dau. of Ezekiel Barnes.
   5. Anna Atkinson, m. Elihu Howard, Jan. 4, 1801.
   6. Olive Atkinson, m. Samuel Hodgdon.
   7. Polly Atkinson, m. Joses Palmer, June 19, 1799.
4. Thomas Atkinson, b. Dec. 21, 1749; m. Anna Safford, Sept. 12, 1782. He received sixty acres of land from his father, in Buxton, in 1771. He sold to John Haines, of Scarborough, in 1777. He lived on the homestead; died instantly in a store at Union Falls, Sept. 23, 1833, and two sons died as suddenly. Children:
   1. Molly Atkinson, b. July 12, 1784.
   2. Stephen Atkinson, b. Sept. 7, 1786; m. Eliza Seavey, of Scarborough.
   3. Amos Atkinson, b. Nov. 23, 1788.
   4. Enoch Atkinson, b. July 14, 1791.
   5. Sarah Atkinson, b. June 22, 1793. Lived on homestead in Buxton.
   6. Susanna Atkinson, b. July 22, 1795. Lived on homestead in Buxton.
   7. Eunice Atkinson, b. Mar. 4, 1798. Lived on homestead in Buxton.
   8. John Atkinson, b. Mar. 31, 1800.
   9. Humphrey Atkinson, b. Oct. 21, 1802.
   10. Nancy Atkinson, b. Mar. 28, 1805.
5. John Atkinson, b. in Buxton, m. Olive Haley, Nov. 1, 1792, and removed to Eaton, N. H., in the winter of 1813. He became the owner of four hundred acres of land. His issue, b. in Buxton, was as follows:
   1. Samuel Atkinson, b. Sept. 8, 1795, in Buxton; m. a dau. of John March and long resided in Eaton, now Madison. He was on board a privateer during the war of 1812; was taken prisoner and exchanged, and to keep him from entering the service again his father moved from the coast towns to the wilderness of Eaton. To him the father gave the land where Snowville now is, and there he made the first clearing and built the first house. He was a merchant, and in Madison owned and conducted a respectable hotel. He was prominent in town affairs and much in official life. He had a family of noble children, All dead but two youngest.:
      1. Washington Atkinson.
      2. Webster Atkinson.
      3. Abigail Atkinson.
      4. Elizabeth Atkinson.
      5. John Atkinson.
      6. Mary A. Atkinson.
      7. Caroline Atkinson.
   2. Betsey Atkinson, b. Dec. 11, 1798; m. James Robertson, of Eaton; settled in Brownfield; five children.
   3. Sally Atkinson, b. Nov. 21, 1800; m. Joseph Snow and had a large family, several of whom are now living at Snowville in Eaton.
   4. Isaac Atkinson, b. Dec. 19, 1802; m. Mary A. Baker, of Conway, for second wife; no issue; farmer in Eaton, where he always resided.
   5. Joseph Atkinson, b. Apr. 21, 1805; m. Hannah Haley and was a resident of Eaton, N. H., during life; a farmer; had six children, born in Eaton, named as follows: (i) Ira, (2) Kinsman, (3) Austin, (4) Nancy, (5) Jane, (6) Charles, (2), (5), (6), dead; married a second wife when old and died at her home in Fryeburg.
      1. Rev. Kinsman Atkinson, b. Oct. 26, 1829, in Eaton, N. H.; d. Feb. 15, 1894, in Glenwood, Iowa. He was m. in 1853, to Lydia Stackpole, of Biddeford, and that year commenced preaching; united with the Maine Conference of the Methodist church, in 1854, and continued a successful minister until 1889, when he became a superannuate. He was a man of strong intellect, and possessed of a remarkably retentive memory which enabled him to recite almost any chapter in the New Testament. He was a firm friend, hospitable and cordial. His last hours were triumphant. He left a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Fannie, wife of Rev. Hayward, a Methodist preacher in the Iowa Conference.
   6. Theodore Atkinson, b. in 1806; m. Nancy Trueworthy and settled in Windham, Me., as farmer. He had issue, two children:
      1. Edwin Atkinson, recently died;
      2. Mrs. Smith, of Windham, living.
   7. Rev. Kinsman Atkinson, b. Oct. 16, 1807, in Buxton, Me.; m. Dorothy M. Woods, niece of Dr. Woods, in June, 1839, and had ten children, of whom more hereafter. When six years of age he was carried by his parents to Beaton, N. H., where he lived until his eighteenth year, working on the farm in summer and attending school in winter. In 1825 he studied at Fryeburg Academy, and the following year entered the academy in Atkinson, N. H. During that year, while at Wenham, Mass., seeking for a situation as teacher, he was converted. From that time he became a diligent student of the sacred volume and an ardent advocate of the gospel. He prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, and entered Bowdoin College in 1831; he joined the Junior class of Harvard in 1833, and was graduated in 1834. He studied theology at Andover. It is a tribute to his energy and perseverance, as well as to his abilities, that he paid his way through college and the seminary by teaching and yet maintained his standing in his class. Dr. Leonard Woods, who was professor at Andover while Atkinson studied there, paid him this tribute: ” Kinsman Atkinson is a young man of refined feelings, ardent piety, and the best scholar in his class.” He was ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1838, and was settled with churches of that denomination at Mendon and Washington, Mass. Not finding his station congenial to his views, he united with New England Conference of the M. E. church in 1843; was an active pastor until 1861, when he became a superannuate. He located in Cambridge, Mass., to afford his children superior advantages for education, and during his residence there served as chaplain of the city almshouse and supplied for churches in Northville and Woburn. He was a man of vigorous intellect and a diligent reader of general literature all his life; was extremely conscientious in all relations, and was considerate of the rights and happiness of all his associates. He was held in high esteem by his acquaintances. His most attractive characteristic was his deep humility and his unwavering faith in God. He died in Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 23, 1889.
      ” When standing at last on the cold river shore,
      Where voices beloved could gladden no more,
      Even then in the gloom of the gathering night,
      His last breath could whisper, ‘The Lord is my Light.’ ”
      Children surviving in 1879 as follows:
      1. Henry M. Atkinson, grad. of Harvard Coll., 1861. He did business in New York and resided in Passaic, N. J. He d. leaving eight children, five by first wife, three by second wife.
      2. Mary Atkinson, m. Rev. S. H. Noon; educated in Cambridge, Mass.; now living in Weston, Mass.; four children, one graduate, two under-graduates, of Yale Coll.
      3. Rev. Herbert Atkinson, minister in Vermont Methodist Conference; no children; married; educated at Harvard, but left two months before getting his diploma, in 1875.
      4. Margaret Atkinson, educated at Cambridge; m. Thierry and has one son. She is missionary for Berkeley Temple in Boston.
      5. Leonard W. Atkinson, educated at Cambridge and Boston University; graduated in medicine in 1884; practiced in Leicester, Mass., and Conway, N. H., where he now resides. He married a dau. of Edwin Snow, of Eaton, her grandmother being a dau. of John Atkinson; one dau., Leona Belle, six years old.
   8. Eld. King Atkinson, m. Sally Sanborn, of Gorham, Me., and lived in Eaton, where he was for many years an active minister of the gospel, and his contemporaries now living speak of him as one of the best of men; his memory is indeed “blessed.” He was an advocate of civil and religious liberty, and dared to preach what he believed to be the truth. Six children, only one of whom, William P., a graduate of Dartmouth, is now living; the latter a physician and preacher, now residing in Eaton, N. H.
6. Eunice Atkinson, b. Nov. 16, 1757; m. Samuel Woodsum, May 28, 1783.
7. Theodore Atkinson, b. June 2, 1760; m. Polly French, Nov. 23, 1786, and settled in 1786, on a tract of land in the “seven hundred acre” division in the south part of Buxton, near Saco line. The following records are all we have found concerning his descendants:
   1. True Atkinson, son of Theodore Atkinson, m. Eleanor , and had children born in Buxton, named as follows:
      1. Mary A. Atkinson, b. Nov. 18, 1822.
      2. Paul R. C. Atkinson, b. Oct. 8, 1827; d. July, 1822.
      3. Charles Atkinson, b. May 8, 1829.
      4. Jane Atkinson, b. Jan. i, 1831.
      5. Susan A. Atkinson, b. Jan. 25, 1833.
      6. Julietta Atkinson, b. Apr. 3, 1837.
      7. Sally E. Atkinson, b. Jan. 23, 1840.
   2. Bradbury Atkinson, son of Theodore Atkinson, m. Eliza Peavy, of Hollis, Nov. 18, 1827. He d. Dec. 28, 1863. Children b. in Buxton, as follows:
      1. John S. Atkinson, b. Dec. 13, 1828; m. Orinda A. Atkinson in 1860.
      2. Mary E. Atkinson, b. Dec. 9, 1830; m. Joseph W. Burrows.
      3. Charles T. Atkinson, b. Sept. 29, 183 1; d. Mar. 22, 1823.
      4. Charles T. Atkinson, b. Oct. 4, 1838; d. Aug. 28, 1849.
      5. Levi B. Atkinson, b. Mar. 15, 1841; d. in 1891.
      6. Alpheus W. Atkinson, b. June 15, 1843.
      7. Cordelia Atkinson, b. July 4, 1845.
      8. Sarah O. Atkinson, b. Mar. 14, 1846; d. June 15, 1847.