John Atchinson

Atchinson & Packard

April 30, 2023 by Jill Holman

Here we have some updates for the Atchinsons, plus a whole new section for the Packards, who were colonial settlers in Massachusetts. For the earlier generations, I have relied on the source Samuel Packard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts and His Family. Note that there are three possible earlier generations discussed in this other source, but the author himself says on page 6 that it is “based on family lore and sketchy records”. If you want to read an early history of the area from 1897, check out: History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Timeline with Sources

25 Feb 1703 – John and Dorcas marry (certificate)

6 Feb 1722 – Deliverance born to John and Dorcas (vital record)

4 Jul 1728 – George Packard married Mary Edson Bridgewater, Plymouth MA (certificate)

20 Jul 1758 – Deliverance and Mercy married Springfield MA (vital record)

28 Jun 1762 – John born Springfield MA (certificate)

15 May 1766 – George Packard married his second wife Abigail Bridgewater, Plymouth MA (certificate)

12 May 1767 – George Packard born (findagrave)

1 May 1786 – Lydia Packard born Jericho Chittendon VT (cousin Linda, findagrave)

1787 – John born North Adams Berkshire MA (cousin Linda, family Bible)

1790 – John died Hampshire MA (will)

22 Jan 1807 – John and Lydia married Jericho VT (register)

4 Apr 1813 – George Packard died Brockton Plymouth MA (findagrave)

25 Sep 1813 – John enlisted, served 1 month 23 days (Roster – War of 1812-14, more details here)

14 Jun 1817 – Buel born VT (family Bible)

1820 – John with 9 people in household Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

12 Sep 1832 – Almira born Franklinville NY (family Bible)

1840 – John with 6 people in household Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

5 Aug 1840 – Lydia died Jericho Chittendon VT (cousin Linda, findagrave)

9 Mar 1843 – Buel married Philena Whitten Jericho Chittendon VT (register)

13 Apr 1846 – George Packard died Jericho Chittendon VT (findagrave)

1850 – John with Lucy and John jr Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

1850 – Buel with Philena and Mary and Lucien living with brother George’s family Underhill Chittendon Co VT (census)

31 Jan 1855 – John died buried Underhill Chittendon VT (findagrave, index)

1 Feb 1858 – Buel got 80 acres in Monroe WI (index)

1860 – Buel 43, Philena, 38, Mary 15 and Alsam-maybe a cousin? Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

Dec 1863 – Philena died Little Falls WI (family Bible)

31 Jan 1865 – Buel married Almira Little Falls Monroe WI (certificate)

14 Mar 1866 – Nellie born Little Falls WI (family Bible)

4 May 1868 or 67 – Efner born Little Falls Monroe WI (family Bible, census)

1870 – Buel 53 VT, Almira 37 NY, Nellie 4 WI, Efner 2 and Nellie Hotchkis Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

25 Dec 1875 – May born Beaver Dam, WI (obit, MN Death Index)

1877 – Buel & HH next door in business in Little Falls WI (Monroe Co WI Pictorial History 1976)

1880 – Buel 63, Almira 47, Nellie 14, Efner 12 Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

13 June 1886 – Almira died Little Falls WI (family Bible)

4 Mar 1891 – Ruben & Nellie married Spart WI (family Bible)

1895 – Buel is with Nellie Kilts & husband & Susan Hecyes is head of household? [hard to make out] Todd Co MN (census)

6 May 1896 – Buel died Todd Co MN (family Bible)

27 Oct 1897 – Efner and May married Thomastown, Todd MN (family Bible)

2 Sep 1898 – Clara born to Mary and EM in Todd Co MN (certificate)

4 Mar 1891 – Reuben Kilts married Nellie Atchison Sparta Monroe WI (certificate)

1900 – Efner 33 born 1867 WI, May 24 born 1875 WI, Clare 1 born 1898 MN Staples, Todd Co MN (census)

1905 – Efner 37 WI, Mary 28 WI, Claire 7 MN, Glenn 5 MN Todd Co MN (census)

19 Feb 1908 – Milton was born (death index)

28 Oct 1909 – Efner died Minneapolis (certificate)

1910 – Mary 34, Claire 12, Glen 10, Milton 2 Todd Co MN and brother Edward Williams. It says she was divorced!? (census)

1910 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

1916 – Mary 39, Claire 17, Glen 15, Milton 8 Sasman Saskatchewan! Came from USA in 1913. Methodist. (census)

1919 – Pete and Claire married Hendricks MN (Fran & Margaret)

1920 – Pete 24 MN, Claire 21 MN Deuel Co SD (census)

1920 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

1930 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

5 Nov 1939 – Ruben died Staples MN (family Bible)

29 Nov 1942 – Nellie died Staples MN (family Bible)

30 Aug 1951 – Claire died Ramsey Co MN buried Staples (certificate)

15 Dec 1971 – May died Todd Co MN (MN Death index) “May was one of Staples oldest residents when she died” (obit)

17 Aug 1990 – Milton died Minneapolis MN (MN Death index)

Lastly, if you want to see some pictures of the younger Atchisons, check out this post.

Military Service

May 26, 2014 by Jill Holman

Military research is hard! I don’t claim that this is complete, but here are the bits that I have gathered so far. If anyone knows more, please tell me! (These are in reverse chronological order by death date.)

Dennis Holman
Oct. 8, 1946 – Sep. 5, 2015

SP5 US ARMY Vietnam
In Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Grave info: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152138373/dennis-dean-holman

Boyd Holman
Jan. 31, 1938 – Jul. 23, 1994

SP4 US ARMY
In Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=holman&GSiman=1&GScid=82339&GRid=801008&

Veikko Laitala
13 June 1919 – 23 Feb 1991

Enlisted 28 Jun 1944 in the Army at Fort Snelling, MN.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=laitala&GSfn=Veikko+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=84500205&df=all&

Arvid Laitala
27 Aug 1916 – 24 Apr 1986

Served 27 Aug 1941 – 15 Oct 1945. Sergeant in the Army.
Grave info: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6487974/person/-1279989499/mediax/2?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7CpgNum

Luvern Holman
4 Jan 1914 – 6 Feb 1970

PFC US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Enlisted 10 Feb 1941 in Ortenville, MN.
In Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=holman&GSiman=1&GScid=82339&GRid=3452618&

Robert Louis Fjerstad
28 Sep 1921 – 22 May 1966

AMM2 US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Service Start Date: 25 Feb 1942. On a muster roll for the ship Hollandia 30 Nov 1944.
In Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=fjerstad&GSiman=1&GScid=82339&GRid=652639&

Renie Middendorp
April 7, 1882 – May 4,1961

PVT CO F 2 Infantry
Enlisted Jan 4 1906. Served in the Philippines & was an excellent marksman. Discharged Jan 3 1909 Fort Thomas KY. Got a veterans headstone.
Grave info: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~saintanthonycemetery/Sort_by_marker.htm

Paul Leroy Fjerstad
14 Jun 1927 – 7 Jun 1950

S1C US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Service Start Date: 5 Feb 1945
In Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=fjerstad&GSiman=1&GScid=82339&GRid=652638&

James Taylor
Sep. 26, 1834 – 1880?

Co A 155/OHIO NG INF
Yikes, there were a lot of James Taylors in Ohio at the time! I don’t find him in this roster: http://www.civilwarindex.com/armyoh/rosters/155th_oh_infantry_roster.pdf
He is in both the service index & pension index – has anyone ordered the documents?
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=taylor&GSiman=1&GScid=94644&GRid=58503511&

John Atchinson
1787 – Jan 31 1855

John fought in the War of 1812, enlisting 25 Sep 1813 in Captain Elijah Birge’s Company, Col. Dixon’s Regiment of Vermont Detached Militia, serving one month and 23 days. He was a corporal. You can see more details, including a muster roll in book 2 of The Atchinson Book compiled & written by Court Atchinson.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=atchinson&GSfn=john&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=49&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=99166180&df=all&

Aaron Van Benschoten
April 27 1746 – January 18, 1836

He served the first year of the Revolutionary War under Captain Van Benschoten, his cousin; later under the command of General George Washington. Because of his passionate liking for horses, he was detailed to care for Washington’s saddle horses. For awhile he was in the Honor Corps and served as George Washington’s body guard. He didn’t receive compensation for his services in the war. He was pensioned at the age of 86.
That is from Ray Seely McWhorter’s book: Van Benschoten, Benschoten, Seeley, Seely : the Benschoter line of Alice Esther Benschoter Seely.
And there are more details in this book: Concerning the Van Bunschoten or Van Benschoten family in America.
There are approved SAR applications for Aaron.
Grave info: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Van+Benschoten&GSfn=aaron&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=38645870&df=all&

Henry Ingalls
Oct 12 1738 – Jun 1813

He joined May 5 1775, Lieutenant, Captain Caprons Company, Ashley’s Regiment, Militia, New Hampshire. They marched to the relief of Ticonderoga.
He is in the DAR Patriot Index.

John Atchinson
28 Jun 1762 – 1790

There were two John Atchinsons at the time, but it is likely that this is the right service record for this John Atchinson. See The Atchinson Book for more details.
He enlisted 15 Mar 1779 as a Private in Capt. John Carpenter’s Company (Carpenter was from Brimfield, Mass.), and was discharged 15 June, having served three months with the guards at Springfield. This would appear to be the same John Atchinson “of Brimfield,” said to have served 4 Jul to 10 Oct 1780 in Capt. Abel King’s Company (King was from Wilbraham), Col. Sears commanding. And, finally, he is probably also the John Atchinson who enlisted 20 Aug 1781 and was discharged 20 Nov 1781, also under Capt. King and Col. Sears, having served three months at Saratoga.
That is from book 2 of The Atchinson Book compiled & written by Court Atchinson.

Elias Van Bunschoten
November 23, 1679 – 1757

As a lieutenant on the Canadian expedition in 1709, he survived, and later served in the second attempt on Canada in 1711. He was made Lieutenant of the Militia at Kingston and served also as Captain of the Dutchess Co. Militia, and later became a major.
That is from Ray Seely McWhorter’s book: Van Benschoten, Benschoten, Seeley, Seely : the Benschoter line of Alice Esther Benschoter Seely.
And there are more details in this book: Concerning the Van Bunschoten or Van Benschoten family in America.

Early Atchinsons in America

May 26, 2013 by Jill Holman

Buel Atchinson's Pedigree — Buel Atchinson’s Pedigree Chart

Wow. I never thought I would be able to trace my ancestors to colonial Massachusetts!
I have just been reading The Atchinson Book compiled & written by Court Atchinson. If you are an Atchinson descendant, you should really check it out. There is a lot of detail! So much he did it in three volumes! And it is available online:

Of course, I have not verified this all myself, but here are a few things I wanted to highlight . . .
The origin of the name is not known for sure, but one theory is that we are descendants of King Arthur! How fun is that!?

John & Deliverance Atchinson
Not much is known about them, but he was killed by Indians 19 Sep 1677 Hatfield MA. It is likely that she was a Puritan because of her name & those of her children. It is likely he had Scottish heritage because several descendants from different branches of the family heard that story and it was not a desirable thing to claim then. The majority of the Scots that were shipped here were criminals & political prisoners. It is likely that John was an indentured servant with a 6-8 year term. If so, it is surprising he was allowed to marry & if he was done with his term, why didn’t he request land? A mystery we may never get solved.

The Burts
Henry Burt was a prosperous clothier from Harberton Devonshire who died in 1617. His son Henry became prominent in Springfield MA. His wife, Ulalia, was nearly buried, but showed signs of life at her funeral. Then she went on to have 19 children! As Court puts it, “Two daughters had close encounters with witchcraft.” And there were some famous descendants as well: President Grover Cleveland, Ethan Allan & Oliver Wendell Holmes.

John & Dorcas Burt Atchinson
John was born 23 Mar 1675 or 1676 Hatfield MA. In 1702, he requested land in Longmeadow MA. Dorcas was born 10 Feb 1680. John & Dorcas married 25 Feb 1703 Springfield MA. John was active with community service for 18 years in Springfield MA. Then went to Brimfield, which was later called Monson. He died 26 May 1731 or 1732 and she returned to Longmeadow MA. She died 21 Oct 1770. (From what we guess about his father, it looks like the Atchinsons went from “criminal” to prominence in one generation!)

Deliverance & Mercy Warriner Atchinson
Yes, a boy named Deliverance was born 6 Feb 1722 or 1723 Longmeadow MA. Deliverance & Mercy married 20 Jul 1758. Her parents were Benjamin Warriner & Mercy Bartlett of Wilbraham MA.

John & Phebe Kibbe Atchinson
He was born 28 Jun 1762. He probably served in the Revolutionary War, but there are 2 of them and not enough information to be sure. John & Phebe married 5 Oct 1783. She had been born 6 Nov 1765 in Somers CT to Joseph & Phebe Wright Kibbe. He died in 1790 & she remarried.

John & Lydia Packard Atchinson
He was born 1787. John & Lydia married 22 Jan 1807 in Jericho VT. Lydia was born 1 May 1786 to George & Margaret Prouty Packard. John enlisted in the War of 1812 25 Sep 1813. He served 1 month 23 days. Lydia died 5 Aug 1840 Underhill VT.
If you want to see more on the younger generations, see this post.

You might also be interested in:

Three Generations of Atchisons

April 14, 2013 by Jill Holman

May & Efner Atchison in Staples MN (maybe their 1897 wedding?)

This has been a long time coming! These Atchisons were rather messy and some of the information was from way back at the beginning when I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t keep track very well. Here is what I have pieced together so far . . .

There were several more spouses, but for now, let’s focus on these 3 families!:

John & Lydia had these children:
Buel Goodsell ATCHISON
Orett ATCHISON
Zebedee ATCHISON
George ATCHISON
Milton ATCHISON

Buel & Almira had these children:
Ephner (Efner M) ATCHISON
Nellie P ATCHISON

Efner & May had these children:
Claire (Clara) ATCHISON
Glen ATCHISON
Milton ATCHISON

Nellie & Ruben Kilts probably Staples MN

Notes & Questions

1) I have heard that Ruben & Nellie Kilts helped care for the kids (Claire, Glen & Milton) when they lived near each other.
2) Who was Alsam in 1860?
3) Who was Susan in 1895?
4) There is a brief mention that Philena married Buel Atchinson, had one child, Mary, and moved to Wisconsin. (They had another but he died young.) And also that John Atchinson took the Freemen Oath in 1808. That is in the History of Jericho VT from 1916. It is available online (just a text file version or pdf version that stops after page 319)
5) Thanks to cousin Linda for her enthusiasm & generosity!

P.S. A note about the spelling – Atchison v. Atchinson . . .

I did a quick survey of the official records I have and we seem to have lost the ‘n’ during Buel’s watch. He waffled during this time period:

1860 – did not have the n
1865 – did not have the n
1870 – had the n
1880 – did not have the n
1891 – had the n

Before this, we consistently had the n and after this we consistently did not have the n.

A Four Generation Picture with Uncles! Sam Williams on the right with his nephew Milton Atchison with his nephew Dean with his niece Carol (maybe 1944?)

The Basic Facts:
John ATCHISON (also married Lucy Story & Rosina Wells)
b. 1787, North Adams, Berkshire, MA
d. 31 Jan 1855, Underhill, Chittendon, VT
& Lydia PACKARD
b. 1 May 1786, VT
d. 5 Aug 1840
m. 22 Jan 1807, Jericho, Windsor or Chittendon, VT

Buel Goodsell ATCHISON (also married Philena Whitten)
b. 14 Jun 1817, Underhill, Chittendon, VT
d. 6 May 1896, Staples, Todd, MN
& Almira S McNALL (also married Benjamin Hotchkip)
b. 12 Sep 1832, Franklinville, Cattaraugus, NY
d. 13 Jun 1886, Little Falls, Monroe, WI
m. 31 Jan 1865, Cataract or Little Falls, Monroe, WI

Ephner (Efner M) ATCHISON
b. 4 May 1868, Little Falls, Polk, WI
d. 28 Oct 1909, Wadena, Wadena, MN
& May (Atchie) (Mary E) WILLIAMS
b. 25 Dec 1875, Beaver Dam, Dodge, WI
d. 15 Dec 1971, Staples, Todd, MN (Mary Rondorf home)
m. 27 Oct 1897, Staples, Todd, MN

You might also be interested in:

John Atchinson

Timeline with Sources

Notes & Questions

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