BIO: Robert AUCHMUTY, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 354-355. _______________________________________________________________ AUCHMUTY, ROBERT, M.D., the son of Samuel Achmuty, was born near Sunbury, Northumberland county, Pa., in the year 1785. He was descended from an old Celtic family of Scotland. Robert Auchmuty, the first of the American family of that name, an eminent lawyer, was in practice at Boston, Mass., as early as 1719. He died in 1750, leaving several children. Among these, Robert, who in 1767 became judge of the Court of Admiralty at Boston; Samuel, who was rector of Trinity church, New York City; and Arthur Gates. The latter came to Pennsylvania as early as 1765, and located in then Lancaster county. In that year we find him commissioned as an Indian trader, "with permission to trade with the natives at Penn's creek, Shamokin, and such other forts as may by his Majesty or the Provincial authorities be established." He first settled at the mouth of Penn's creek, on the Isle of Que, and from thence removed to the opposite side of the Susquehanna, a few miles below Fort Augusta, in what is now Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county. During the war of the Revolution, Samuel Auchmuty, one of his sons and father of the doctor, entered the patriot army and was in service from the winter at Valley Forge until the close of the war. The veteran's remains rest in the old burial ground at Millersburg unmarked, and the spot unknown. Dr. Robert Auchmuty received a good education, studied medicine, and began the practice of his profession at Millersburg about 1830-31. Apart from the duties of his profession he served many years as a justice of the peace, being first commissioned by Governor Ritner. He was an enterprising, active citizen, and a warm advocate of the common school system, when that noble measure was adopted, and was a gentleman beloved and respected by his fellow-citizens. He died at Millersburg in 1849, at the age of sixty-four, and is buried in the new cemetery at that place. He was the father of the late S. P. Auchmuty, of Millersburg.