caption branch commands death_date death_place birth_place image_size birth_date rank image article_title name
tomb ground , boston , ma . august 8 , 2010 of major-general humphrey atherton at dorchester north burying militia ancient -rrb- and honorable artillery company of massachusetts -lrb- militia september 16 , 1661 boston , massachusetts possibly lancashire , england 200 ca. 1608 major-general humphrey atherton resized.jpg humphrey atherton
 humphrey atherton
humphrey atherton

major-general humphrey atherton , -lrb- ca. 1608 -- september 16 , 1661 -rrb- an early settler of dorchester , massachusetts , held the highest military rank in colonial new england .
he first appeared in the records of dorchester on march 18 , 1637 and made freeman may 2 , 1638 .
he became a representative in the general court in 1638 and 1639 -- 41 .
in 1653 , he was speaker of the house , representing springfield , massachusetts .
he was chosen assistant governor , a member of the lower house of the general court who also served as magistrate in the judiciary of colonial government , in 1654 , and remained as such until his death . ''
he was a member of the ancient and honorable artillery company of massachusetts and held the ranks of lieutenant and captain for several years before rising to the rank of major-general .
he also organized the first militia in massachusetts .
it is unclear where and when atherton was born .
it is presumed he came from lancashire , england .
he was active in the governance of the colony , taking part in the acquisition of native american lands , the persecution of quakers , and the apprehension and convictions of heretics .
his accidental death was seen by the quakers as a punishment from god for his persecution of them , an idea repeated in a play by henry wadsworth longfellow .
he was one of the most successful land speculators in the new england colonies .
he and his wife , mary , had a number of children and several new england families have traced their ancestry to them .
he is interred at dorchester north burying ground , one of the oldest cemeteries in new england .
