Thomas J. Atkins (1797 - 1882)

Born 4 Mar 1797 in Middlefield, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Lucy (Miller) Atkins — married 1827 in Middletown, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 13 Jan 1882 at age 84 in Port Chester, Westchester County, New York, USA

Biography

Thomas Atkins was born in Middletown, Connecticut, March 4,1797 and died at Port Chester, New York on January 13,1882.

He was the son on Ithamar Atkins, grandson of Thomas Atkins, and great-grandson of Ephraim Atkins, who settled in Middletown in the reign of Queen Anne. He was one of twelve children, six sons and three daughters of whom lived to old age. His mother was Anna Hubbard (daughter of Nehemiah Hubbard). He was born on the morning of the day George Washington went out of office; was married in 1827, and settled with his bride, Lucy Miller (daughter of Jacob Miller and lineal descendant of Thomas Miller the 1st, of Middletown), in the Society of Middlefield, about two miles from his own birthplace in Long Hill. To them were born five children, three of who lived past his death.

The characteristic of self-dependence was peculiarly strong in him. Nothing that he could do for himself did he wish others to do for him. Even in old age was this apparent. Physically he was a man of rare endowment. He could run, jump, hop, and skip in his old age, and very often, after he was eighty, was he seen playing running games with the children.

His health was almost uniform until after he reached four-score. He laughed at dyspepsia and all kindred ills, and his last sickness seem untimely, even at his age, for it was produced by a long walk in bad weather - such as a young person would hardly undertake. A violent cold was the result, which developed malarial fever. In character he was gentle and kindly, always ready to render assistance to the helpless and dependent; of strict integrity, and proud of his long line of honest ancestry. In his love of nature, he was as faithful as Thoreau. Not a flower blossomed, or a bird sung, but he knew and welcome them all. He watched for the first blue-bird as lovingly as the Arctic traveler watches the returning sun, and the fringed gentian of the Autumn woods was sought by him in its native nooks. Of a poetic temperament, the English classics were especially liked, but he found delight in all true poetry. His own hand held "the pen of a ready writer," and many and varied were his contribution to local literature. It would seem fitting to say, for the sake of the young who knew him, that a vast amount of happiness of his long and happy life came from his pure taste and the love of nature. We must not forbear to mention his great lover for the children. He was called "The children's Friend." At his own home or where-ever he was, they sought him and with quick instinct of attraction.

During a long life of uninterrupted activity, he served with fidelity the interest of society, of government, of law, and education. As a country "Squire", he was often sought to settle the vexed questions arising in all communities. "What is right" was always the standard of settlement. He was a member of the Methodist denomination, and for more than fifty years a regular attendant on divine service. Bound by no sectarianism, he was at home with all who gathered in his Master's house. From youth to manhood and old age he was a staunch and earnest advocate of temperance. Born in an age when temperance as a principle was not widely taught, he was an example of total abstinence from strong drink. His Christian serenity and his temperate life carried into old age much of the joy and vigor and activity of youth. Life's setting sun shone full upon his years, and some of his pleasantest were spent after he was fourscore.

His daughter, Lucy Atkins Dowd finished his manuscript as it was published a year after his passing.

Sources

• History of Middlefield and Long Hill by Thomas Atkins. Published 1883.
• https://archive.org/details/historyofmiddlef00atki/page/n13
• Find a Grave: 43775194
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43775194/thomas-atkins