Name: Cornelius
ATEN
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Birth: 18 Jan 1766 Readington, Hunterdon (or
Somerset?) Co., New Jersey
Death: 21 Mar 1857 Princeville, Peoria Co., Illinois
(or Stark Co., IL)
Father: John (Jan?) ATEN
(1732-1790)
Mother: Elizabeth BADYN (1733-)
Misc. Notes:
Hendrick ATEN
Adrian Hendrickse
ATEN* (abt 1630 - Apr 1700) & (Unknown)
Hendrick ATEN
(abt 1661 - 17 Jul 1750) & Maria DEMOTT (1678 - )
Adrian
(Aderyon?) ATEN (4 Sep 1695 - 10 Dec 1757) & Jacobje MIDDAGH (1693 - 1782)
John
(Jan?) ATEN (22 Dec 1732 - 1790) & Elizabeth BADYN (1733 - )
Cornelius ATEN (18 Jan 1766 - 21 Mar
1857) & Sarah (Sally) BELL (13 Feb 1770 - Jun 1856)
Aaron Kimble ATEN (18 Feb 1812 - 9 Sep 1901) & Dorcas GLASS (25 Jan
1814 - 20 Nov 1892)
Ellen Arminda ATEN (17 Dec 1849 - 6 Mar 1919) & Moody ROBINSON (1850
- 1938)
Adelia Gertrude
ROBINSON (12 Sep 1878 - 16 Jan 1973) & Newton COFFEY (1875 - 1969)
Leo Newton
COFFEY (1901 - 1998) & Elsie Maureen WALKER (1903 - 1983)
Fred
Coffey
MEMO: Image
of his baptism record from Dutch Reformed Church Records, North Branch,
Somerset, NJ. Note it is spelled “Auten”, suggesting a different pronunciation
than we are used to!
_files/image002.png)
Just before
he died, Cornelius Aten had a long sketch published in the Presbyterian
Banner and Advocate.
‘Mr. Editor-
It is pleasant to converse with those, who, as Daniel Webster said in his
address to the survivors of the Battle of Bunker Hill, have come down to us
from a former generation.
The writer
has been acquainted for almost five years with the aged father, a sketch of whose
life is contained in the following narrative, and from whom it was obtained a
few weeks since for publication, that we of the present generation may see
something of the "travels of a pilgrim". who has been engaged in the
service of our Master for more than three score years.
Cornelius
Aten was born 18 January 1766 (baptized 23 February 1766) in what is now the
state of New Jersey, on the Raritan: but exactly at what point he cannot
remember. His memory has somewhat failed, so that some points his history must
ever remain in obscurity. Yet in many respects, he is a sprightly old
gentleman. He walks to church or rides on horseback 2 or 3 miles and returns
the same day.
When he was
but 8 years of age, his father, John Aten, emigrated to York county, Pennsylvania,
near to the village of Hunterstown, now in Adams county. This was 2 years
before the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Aten
remained 12 years in York county and then emigrated to the Western part of
Virginia, and settled on the Ohio River, about 30 miles below Pittsburg. Here
he remained 5 years, when Cornelius was 25 years of age, he married Miss Sarah
Bell, and after remaining 2 years with his father, removed across the line into
Pennsylvania. He remained there about 2 years, and then returned to his
father's in Virginia. Remained there again about 2 years and then removed to
Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided 25 years. He then emigrated to
Richland county, Ohio, where he resided about 18 years. Next he emigrated to
Fulton county, Illinois, remained about 7 years; thence to Stark county where
he still resides. He has for some years made his home with his son Aaron Aten.
he still retained until last June, the wife in whose companionship he commenced
the career of his manhood, at the age of 25 years and who for the period of 65
years had been his faithful companion.
When in New
Jersey, his parents were connected with the Dutch Reformed Church; but sometime
after they came to York county, Pennsylvania, they connected with the
Presbyterian church at Hunterstown, of which Reverend Mr. Henderson was the
minister. Cornelius connected with the Presbyterian church in Virginia soon
after his marriage. After the family came to Virginia, they did not have
regular ministers but several served them.
When
Cornelius was about 31 years of age, he removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania
and united with the church at Four Corners, under Reverend Mr. Eaton. Father
Aten was then chosen elder. He was an elder at Ashland in Richland county,
Ohio. Reverend Lee, Reverend Matthews and Reverend Hare were the ministers
here. Father Aten lived there 13 years, then to Fulton county, Illinois -
Lewiston- about ten miles distance. He united with the church. Reverend G.
McGinnis adn Reverend R. Steel ministered here. Father Aten removed to Stark
county and settled on the borders of the congregation of Rochester (Elmore),
then under Reverend Robert Breese, who was then laboring with the churches of
Elmore, Princeville, and West Jersey. Reverend Breese served the organized church
until his death in 1851. Father Aten was an elder of the church when organized
at West Jersey and he still serves in that capacity. In the summer of 1852,
while laboring as a licentiate missionary among the destitute portions in the
bounds and under the care of the Peoria Presbytery, I became acquainted with
Father Aten. In the Autumn of that year, I commenced laboring as a Stated
Supply in the churches of West Jersey and French Grove and continued 18 months.
Reverend John Turbitt served then 18 months, resigned and Reverend James
Ferguson hs been supplying that church about the same length of time and the
congregation has made a call for his pastoral labors, and Father Aten, now 91
years old, signs the call as a member of Session, in behalf of the congregation.
During the time of my labors there, he was seldom absent from public worship,
but since that time, he has not always attended in bad weather. He has been an
Elder more than 40 years and is a good elder yet. John C. Hanna.
(Note by
Pearl Aten Kennedy who copied this in July of 1938. It is almost an exact
copy of the printed words which Ed Aten Junior of Leon, Iowa had in his
possession and was originally the property of his brother A.K. Aten now
deceased. The clipping was sent to A.K. Aten by Henry J. Aten of Hiawatha,
Kansas, a distant cousin who was not as near to Cornelius as we are) More about
Cornelius Aten is found in a letter written by Henry J. Aten to A.K. Aten,
which was owned by Barbara Hemmerling's father) Henry J. Aten had seen Cornelius
at his father's in Fulton county when Henry was a small boy.
Below is from the letter from Henry J. Aten to A.K. Aten.
The only
Dutch church in Pennsylvania, west of the Delaware, was at Conewago in York
county (now Lancaster) and there his youngest sister Ann was baptized 10
January 1773. When this church was given up, all of its members on the advice
of the authorities of that church, became Presbyterians.
"New
Netherlands" became a British province in 1664. Descendants of its people,
who went west in between 1750 and 1800 found no Dutch Reformed Church west of
the Delaware, save in the 2 colonies on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania
and Salt River in Kentucky. Even these ere long became Presbyterian, the latter
by express direction of the Classis of New Brunswick. The doctrines and usages
of these churches are practically identical and individuals pass from either of
them to the other as my be convenient for them." The Reverend J.B.
Thompson.
Yes, that
was a wonderful people who went out from around about the Flats, Pughtown or
Fairview, as it is or has been known. The Allisons from whome Mrs. William
McKinley descended were of that neighborhood and one of them Thomas Allison,
married Jane Aten, a full cousin of mine.
(Note by
Pearl - The above copy mentions Fairview of the East. Fairview, Illinois, 30
miles or so south of Galesburg has the only Dutch Reformed Church I have ever
found. They celebrated the 100 year anniversary in 1937. I wonder if the
settlers at Fairview, Illinois came from Fairview, Pennsylvania near the
Delaware or New Jersey. I think the Flats, Pughtown and Fairview were in
Pennsylvania.) This note was typewritten in 1938 by Pearl Aten Kennedy.
From Timothy Peterman TEPeter100@aol.com
Cornelius
Aten appeared in every tax list of Brooke Co., Virginia from 1801 to 1807.
Listed next to him were John Aten Jr. and John Aten Sr.
Deeds: On May 10,
1799, Benjamin Johnston of Jefferson Co., KY sold to Cornelius Aten 134 acres
in Brooke Co., Va. On Apr. 22, 1800, Cornelius Aten and Sally his wife of
Brooke Co., Va. sold to John Aten Jr. of Brooke Co., Va. 134 acres. On Feb. 24,
1804, John Atten Jr. and Charity his wife of Brooke Co., Va. sold to Cornelius
Aten 134 acres. On June 25, 1804, Cornelius Aten of Brooke Co., Va. sold to
John Aten Sr. of Brooke Co., Va. for $5 a life estate in 134 acres. Then
without a deed back, on Aug. 28, 1809, Cornelius Aten and Sally his wife of
Brooke Co., Va. sold 134 acres to Mathias Hook of Beaver Co., Pa. I suspect
that they may have been borrowing money from each other between 1799 and 1809,
causing all of the transfers.1810 census index for Pennsylvania for Eaton ...
Cornelius Eaton lived in Erie Co., PA. 01001-32020- people named Spry lived
nearby
1810 CENSUS, PENNSYLVANIA, ERIE CO.,
ERIE TWP:
Name is spelled
“Eaton”, but clearly the right person. He has one male age 10-15, one (himself)
26-44, 3 females under 10, 2 females 10-15, and 2 females 26-44. He lives near
his brother John, and also near the Law and Spry families, which his daughters
married into.
1830 CENSUS, OHIO, RICHLAND, MILTON:
Found
Cornelius Aten and his wife. There are 2 males age 15-20, which would fit
nicely with Aaron and Samuel. One female age 20-30, which would fit any of the
4 youngest daughters. Puzzling, however, is that there is also a female age
5-10. Perhaps the child of a relative? Note also that in 1830 they are living
next to Samuel Stevenson, who married Cornelius’ daughter Sarah.
1840 CENSUS, OHIO, RICHLAND CO., MILTON TWP:
They are
apparently living on the same farm as in 1830. Also still present is the
mysterious female noted above for 1830, now age 15-20. Living on an adjacent
farm is his son, Aaron ATEN. The ages of household members are consistent with
Aaron and Dorcas and their children.)
1850 CENSUS, ILLINOIS, STARK CO.
He is found
in the 1850 Illinois census, Stark County next door to the Stevenson's, the
elder Aten's live with their son Aaron and wife. (Sarah Sally Aten Stevenson is
a daughter of Cornelius Aten.)
Marriage: 1791 Washington Co., PA
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Spouse: Sarah
(Sally) BELL
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Birth: 13 Feb 1770 New Jersey
Death: Jun 1856 Princeville, Peoria County,
Illinois
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Cornelius ATEN (18 Jan 1766 - 21 Mar 1857) & Sarah
(Sally) BELL (13 Feb 1770 - Jun 1856)
Elizabeth ATEN (4
Nov 1792 - )
John ATEN (17 Sep
1794 - )
Anna ATEN (7 Oct
1797 - )
Polly ATEN (17 Aug
1799 - )
Sally ATEN (10 Feb
1802 - 1802)
Rhoda ATEN (1804 -
)
Lanna ATEN (17 Feb
1806 - )
Sarah “Sally” ATEN
(18 Aug 1808 - 3 Jul 1898)
Aaron Kimble ATEN
(18 Feb 1812 - 9 Sep 1901) & Dorcas GLASS (25 Jan 1814 - 20 Nov 1892)
Samuel R ATEN (1814 - 1848)
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