Biographical Sketch of Grace ATHERTON (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881); pg. 466 ATHERTON, Grace, late of Liverpool, England, was married 11,15,1712/3, in Whiteland township, to Richard Thomas, of that place. She was the daughter of Henry and Jennet Atherton, who had not then come to this country. Her parents, writing to her not long after, mention, among other things sent to her, a "Brass bible; I mean a large Bible whose cover is studded with Brass, which was your Grandfather Thelwall's, which we desire thee keep for thy little son." This Bible, which was printed soon after the King James version was authorized, is still in the family of Thomas, but contains no early records. The parents also wrote, "We have sent over thy Brother William and sister Mary; thy Brother William is come over free, and has brought his clearance along with him, and as to thy sister Mary, she is come on the Charges of John Holand, and he is to give her 50s by the year, and she is to serve him 4 years, but she is not bound to him." John Holland appears to have arrived in 1714, and these probably came with him. Mary married William Taylor, of Caln, early in 1715. After this the parents came to this country with other children. Henry Atherton, second son of Henry Atherton, late of Whiteland, deceased, and Susanna Garrett, daughter of Thomas, of Willistown, deceased, were married 8,14,1731, at Goshen Meeting, his mother and two brothers being present. Thomas Atherton, another son, was married 9,4,1741 at Nantmeal Meeting, to Abigail Marsh, and about 1763 went to York County. Henry and Susanna had children,--Henry, b. 10,10,1732; William, b. 9,14,1734; Caleb, b. 12,12,1736. William, Sr., was probably the husband of Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Buffington.