to some sources he chose to convey his lands in Lancaster to his eldest son, James (a weaver) in 1698. However, in 1704, both he and his two surviving sons, James and Joshua were ordered to strengthen their garrisons in Lancaster. Ancestry He was related to Major General Humphrey Atherton, who up until his death in 1661 was the most powerful military leader in the colony. It was Humphrey's father who owned land in the parish of Wigan. Humphrey sat on the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was instrumental in getting the settlement of Lancaster incorporated as a town in 1652. Atherton Bridge, Massachusetts The sign commemorating Atherton Bridge states: Death Atherton died in Sherborn, Massachusetts on August 6, 1710, at the home of his only surviving daughter Deborah, wife of Captain Samuel Bullard. He is buried at the Old South Cemetery in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Probate occurred a few months after. His wife died 3 years later. Notable descendants Lizzie Aiken (1817–1906), a Union Army Civil War nurse Alfred Atherton (1921–2002), former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Alfred Bennison Atherton (1843–1921), Canadian physician Blaylock Atherton (1900–1963), a 20th century politician from New Hampshire Charles G. Atherton (1804–1853), an American politician and lawyer from New Hampshire Charles Henry Atherton (1932–2005), FAIA, was an American architect and former secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1960 to 2004 Charles Humphrey Atherton (1773–1853), an American Federalist politician, banker and a distinguished attorney from New Hampshire. Charlie Atherton (1874–1935), a Major League Baseball third baseman. Nicknamed "Prexy" Cornelius Atherton (1737–1809), an iron manufacturer, gunmaker for the American Revolutionary War and an inventor Faxon Atherton (1815–1877), businessman, trader and landowner in Chile; and then in San Mateo County, California George Washington Atherton (1837–1906), soldier and educator. He was president of the Pennsylvania State University Henry B. Atherton (1835–1906), a soldier in the American Civil War from Vermont, a lawyer and state legislator for New Hampshire during the late 19th century. Henry F. Atherton (1883–1949), American business executive, Lawyer and Harvard Alumni. Member of the New York State Bar Association from 1909. Henry Valpey Atherton (1911–1967), a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials Joshua Atherton (1737–1809), a lawyer and early anti-slavery campaigner in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Joseph Ballard Atherton (1837–1903), 19th century businessman Peter Atherton (1704–1764), an 18th century colonial leader from Massachusetts Simon Atherton (1803–1888), was an early American Shaker, who