William Henry Atkinson I (abt. 1767 - 1829)

Born about 1767 in Lumberton, Robeson, North Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1829 at about age 62 in Lumberton, Robeson, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bruce Langley [send private message]

Biography

William Atkinson I was born in ~1767 in Lumberton, Robeson, North Carolina. His parents were Samuel Atkinson (~1740 - ) and Sarah (UNKNOWN) Atkinson ( - ).

William married Celia Walters (~1771 - >1840) in 1792.^{[citation needed]}

Their children were...

1. James Atkinson (1793 - 1849)
2. William Atkinson II (~1796 - 1860)
3. Benjamin Atkinson (1800 - )
4. John Atkinson I (~1809 - ~1878)
5. Henry Atkinson (~1811 - )
6. Elias Atkinson (~1813 - 1890).

William died in 1829 in Lumberton aged ~62.

Research Notes

William Atkinson: I apparently was a moderately prosperous, land owning farmer in Robeson, North Carolina as evidenced by several land transactions of up to 300 acres among his brothers between 1793 and 1896, though he is not directly involved in these transactions. His sons emigrate to MS and some ultimately to TX. This suggests their economic prospects looked better further afield than at home. Though a paternity suit against two of the sons may also have provide motivation for emigration. This suggests the father was affluent enough to make such a suit worthwhile.

Mary Atkinson Letter 8 has:

"I do know that James, William, Henry, John,Benjamin and Elias went to Hinds Co. Ms in 1830 partly because a girl ;had brought charges of Bastardy against John and Elias.in 1829. The court book didn't say how Celia settled the charge. "

I suppose 'Celia" refers to the widow of William Atkinson. In 1829 John would have been 20; Elias about 16. I suppose both would have been minor children under NC law at that time. So the defendant in the paternity litigation would have been the surviving parent.

It would be interesting to know the girl's name? It would appear she had a child but did not know for certain who the father was. So she just went after all the candidates. It would also be interesting to know more about the child?

GENCOM Mary Atkinson 3 says William has 5 sons all of whom went to MS after his death. But GENCOM Mary Atkinson 3 lists 6 sons.

Death date is from GENCOM Mary Atkinson 3.

Mary Atkinson Letter 1 locates brother Joseph (Atkinson-189) and stepmother Mary (UNKNOWN-30588) in Southampton, Virginia in 1785, and Robeson, North Carolina in 1785 so the place of birth may be Southampton County, VA.

In this letter there is talk of plantations, buying / selling land. Both locations are littoral. These are not "hillbillies".

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQL1-39Z.
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-1YD : accessed 30 June 2021), William Adkinson, Fayetteville, Robeson, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 359, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 32; FHL microfilm 337,908.
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLM-5P4 : accessed 30 June 2021), Wm Adkison, Robeson, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 237, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 38; FHL microfilm 337,911.
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGH-F7Y : accessed 30 June 2021), William Atkeson, Robeson, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 320, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 84; FHL microfilm 162,800.
• IGI Individual Record_18. Text: Individual Record FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19 William ATKINSON (AFN: WHX4-6F) Pedigree Sex: M Family Event(s): Birth: Abt. 1767 <Lumberton, Robeson, North Carolina> Death: Nov 1829 Lumberton, Robeson, North Carolina Parents: Marriage(s): Spouse: Celia (Seally) (AFN: WHX4-7L) Family Marriage: Abt 1792.
• William, Joseph, John, and Lucy Atkinson were in Robeson Co in 1787. Mother Mary md 1st Atkinson, 2nd John Bell. Joseph had son Kinchen, William had 5 sons who moved to Ms after his death in 1829. Any help on their father or any other Atkinsons in that time period will really be appreciated. Samuel and William witnessed deeds for them.

Mary Atkinson Letter 8

Text: I do know that James, William, Henry, John, Benjamin and Elias went to Hinds Co., MS in 1830 partly because a girl had brought charges of Bastardy against John and Elias.in 1829. The court book didn't say how Celia settled the charge. John later went back to Robeson Co and married Susanna Purvis there and had 2 children there before going to Choctaw Co., MS. Celia was in Montgomery Co census of 1840 and died before 1850. James went to Pike Co. and Marion Co., MS. William went first to Bienville, Louisana and then to Texas. Elias went to Texas. I think Benjamin Atkinson who married Ann Lupo was the Benjamin in Cumberland Co., NC a very few miles from Lumberton in Robeson Co. NC. This is not our Benjamin but could be related. Mary.

Mary Atkinson Letter 1

Author: Mary Atkinson

Text: Giles is definitely the son of John Atkinson, son of William Atkinson, son of Mrs Mary Atkinson of Robeson Co., NC, Giles is a veteran of the Confederacy Army, 30th MS Inf. He was born in Robeson Co., NC but moved to Choctaw Co., MS where he was raised. He was married 2 or 3 times. lst Elizabeth Ann ____ in abt 1856 b 1839 in Georgia. ch: Emma b Feb 1857 Choctaw, MS., Sarah b. 1859 Choctaw, MS. Mary b. 1860 Choctaw, MS., & Forrest Silaus b.1863. 2nd wife Ann (Could be same as Elizabeth Ann--no proof either way so far). ch: Nanice b. 1867 Choctaw, MS. and Calvin b Jun 1870 Choctaw, MS. 3rd wife: Sarah R Gray d/o William and Katherine Gray. Sarah b. 10 Aug 1840 d, 9 Jun 1905 ch: Martha b.1877 Choctaw, MS., Jack b. 1879 Choctaw, MS., Eunice Estelle b. 30 Jun 1881 Choctaw, MS., d. 5 Jan 1960 Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee. She married William Henry Stevenson in 1903 Choctaw, MS. I have recently found Joseph and Mary selling land in Southampton Co. VA in 1785 and traveling with Samuel Atkinson family to Robeson Co., NC and buying land there in 1787. They had a plantation on a swamp in VA so they knew how to drain it in NC and make plantations there. I think Mary was a step mother to Joseph, William, and John and only Lucy was born to her and Mr. Atkinson. Welcome family researcher! Do you want sources, etc? Mary Atkinson.

GENCOM Mary Atkinson 1

Text: Re: Atkinson--Nash Co. (& Robeson Co.?) NC Posted by: Mary Atkinson Date: August 14, 2000 at 14:20:42 In Reply to: Atkinson--Nash Co. (& Robeson Co.?) NC by Donna Sarchet of 3937.

James Atkinson in Marion Co., MS did indeed come from Robeson Co. but is not the Atkinson family you seek. His father is William Atkinson md Celia ? and brothers John, Benjamin, Elisha, Henry,William who all did go to MS. I looked in my Nash Co records and did not find Susanna. My John married Susanna Purvis d/o Henry Purvis in Robeson Co but I have all their children, all of William, all of Elisha and James family. They were born 1793 thu 1816. William Sr had 2 brothers and a sister. Joseph who md Elizabeth Barnes, John and Lucy who married James Barnes. Their mother is Mary ? who 2nd married John Bell. I have quite a few Atkinsons in Nash Co. if you want me to send them. Lets keep in touch as those Robeson families are very familar.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.