Charles Humphrey Atherton

He was the son of Joshua Atherton and Abigail (Goss) Atherton.[5]

He graduated from Harvard University in 1794,[6] and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[7]

Atherton had a law practice in Amherst, New Hampshire, having been admitted to the bar in 1797.[8]

He served as register of probate for Hillsborough County from 1798-1807.[9]

He delivered a eulogy on George Washington, who died on December 14, 1799; at Amherst.[10]

He was elected as a Federalist candidate to the United States House of Representatives in the Fourteenth United States Congress, he served in Congress from March 4, 1815 to March 3, 1817.[11] He declined to run for reelection in 1816 and instead served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1823-1839.

He was president of the board of directors of the Farmers' Bank when it was formed in 1825 and served during the existence of the corporation.

After leaving the State House, he resumed the practice of law and was one of the founders of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society.[12]

Atherton was a prominent figure in the local Unitarian movement, he later helped establish The Christian Society in Amherst.[13]

He was a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society,[14] and was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.[15] He prepared various papers for the New Hampshire Historical Society.[4] He delivered an address in Concord at their annual meeting on June 8, 1831.[16]

In his final years he published his father's memoirs titled “Memoir of the Hon Joshua Atherton“, published in 1852, by Crosby, Nichol and Company of Boston.[17]

He was painted by artist Gilbert Stuart in Boston in 1823.

On October 30, 1803, Atherton married Mary Ann Toppan.[18] They had seven children, and their son Charles Gordon Atherton was a United States Senator.[19][20] Atherton's brother-in-law William Gordon was also a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire.[5]

He became a widow after the passing of his wife Mary, who died on October 15, 1817, just five months after childbirth and left four surviving children: James (aged 4), Mary (aged 7), George (aged 9) and Charles (aged 13).

Atherton who had not sought re-election in 1816, is likely to have focused on his family's needs. He returned to politics, albeit at State level in 1823.

Atherton died in Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on January 8, 1853 (age 79 years, 147 days). [21] He is interred at Old Cemetery in Amherst, New Hampshire, along with his wife Mary (died on October 15, 1817) and five of their children.[22] He had accumulated one of the largest estates ever left in Amherst.[23]

The following 4 children died young

[24]

• Mary Anne Atherton (July 11, 1806 - September 24, 1807, aged 14 months).
• Christopher Atherton (Aug 6, 1815 - May 3, 1816, aged nine months).
• Henry Atherton (May 19, 1817 - May 19, 1817, aged 1 day).
• George Atherton (September 25, 1808 - April 10, 1825, aged 16). He was a member of the Junior Class of Harvard College.

All were laid to rest in the family grave at Old Cemetery, Amherst, NH.

The following children died after the death of Charles Humphrey Atherton:

• James Humphrey Atherton (1813-1837, died in New York, aged 24)
• Mary Ann Toppan Atherton (December 18, 1810 - January 26, 1853, aged 42). She survived her father by just 18 days.
• Charles Gordon Atherton (July 4, 1804 – November 15, 1853, aged 49)

His grandfather was Colonel Peter Atherton.

He is a direct descendant of James Atherton,[25][26] one of the First Settlers of New England; who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630s.

• New Hampshire Historical Society
• Historical Society of Amherst

• United States Congress. "Charles Humphrey Atherton (id: A000324)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.