This is a copy of a 4-page typed letter sent by Nicholas Harris to Harry Freeman Aten after the death of Henry J. Aten in March, 1913.
Belvidere, N. J. July 19th 1913.
Mr. Harry F. Aten,
My Dear sir:
In reply to
your letter of June 24th I desire to
say as follows:
You say you are a great grandson of Aaron Aten, if that is so
and I believe it is, then you are descended of Dirck Aten, because it is well
known that Henry J. Aten of Kansas was a direct descendent from Dirck.
The Aten family have been well traced as having first come from
near, or at Utrecht, Holland, in the Netherlands. The first to come over was Adriaen Hendrickse Aten, who settled
on Long Island. Then his son Thomas Aten was found living near New Brunswick,
N. J. His history is quite well known. Thomas’s son Adrien Aten lived in
Reading’s Town, Hunterdon County, N. J., and his wife’s name was Jacobje
(Middagh) Aten, who was born Oct. 24th 1693.
The children
of Adrien and Jacobje were
as follows.
Antje Aten, born August 25,
1719
Dirck, (Derrick or Richard),
born Aug. 22, 1721. [Note
written in margin—
“brother of Aaron”]
Hendrick Aten, born Sept. 3,
1723.
Cathalyne Aten, born Jan.
27th 1726, who as the history shows died in early life, single.
Maritje Aten, born Jan. 15th
1728
Cathalyntje Aten, born July 29th 1730, who died childless and is buried in the old Episcopal Graveyard at Ramsayburg, along the Delaware River in this, Warren Co.
Jan and Gerradus Aten, twins
born Dec. 22, 1732.
Judick Aten, born July 9th
1735.
Adriaen Aten, born Nov. 7th
1737.
I am descended in part from Dirck (or Richard). My wife is descended from Hendrick.
There are a great many of the descendents of the different members of the family living here in New Jersey and through-out Pennsylvania. Some descendents of Gerradus (Garrett) live in and about this place. I have seen Henry J. Aten of Kansas and have talked with him a great deal about the old family history. I have made copies of the Wills of several of the older members. The Will of Adrien is on file in Trenton, New Jersey. The last Will of Jacobje Middagh Aten is on record in Easton, Penna. I had hoped that our friend Henry J. Aten of Kansas might be able to compile and finish the history of the Aten family, in which he took great interest.
So many of the
numerous kinsfolk seem to care so little about the matter that we have always
doubted if it would even pay to go on and have the history completed and
published in book form.
Death has stepped in
and removed so many of our dear friends who were interested in the case,so that
very few remain who seem to have any interest in the matter.
First John Aten McMurtrie (sic: John McMurtrie Aten) who was descended from Dirck died in Denver, Col., some years ago. He was well to do and intended to help defray the expenses of printing the book. Then our friend Rev. Dr. John B. Thompson who was descended from Judick Aten, and was greatly interested in the matter died and his valuable services were lost.
Then Prof. Jacob D. Kirkhoff of Mt. Airey, Penna., who was
descended from Hendrick, said he would put in $50 to help in the matter and he
died about two years ago.
Our friend Henry J.
Aten of Hiawatha, Kan., who was the leading spirit in the movement died March
9th of this year, and that leaves but very few of us who are interested to go
on and finish the subject.
Henry Aten of Hope,
N.J., who was descended from Hendrick
died on Feb. 27th of this
year and his help is also gone.
I have spent a good deal of
time in making copies from the records in Trenton, N. J., Harrisburg, Pa., and
various other places and have also been to some expense in the matter.
I do not care to purchase
the manuscript of Mrs. Aten of Kansas, as I already have copies of, or
memoranda of the larger part of what Henry J. Aten had. It would be a very fine
thing to have that great mass of history printed in book form so that it might
be read and studied by all who are in anyway interested, But I am not going to
put much money in the matter, as I have had some experience in family history
in other lines, and it is generally a labor of love and hard work for those who
go on and carry the thing through. As I said, so many of the members of this
large family seem so backward about giving any information or help, some even
going so far as to refuse to give the information touching their branch. If you
could buy that manuscript of Mrs. Aten it would of course be very interesting
to you. If you desire any more information about the family history you might
let me know and if I can give you any assistant I will do so.
Mrs. Aten is right when she said, There are over a thousand
persons interested in and connected with this large old Dutch family history,
and they are scattered nearly all over the United States, many of them holding
high positions in life. I will say to you and to your father that I have often
stood by the grave of your father’s grandfather (sic- great grandfather) Dirck
Aten who is buried in the old Aten Family graveyard along the Delaware River in
Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton Co. Penna, it was at this point that
Dirck established a Ferry in about 1760 which is still spoken of as Aten’s
Ferry.
There on the bank near the ceaseless flow of the
beautiful river he laid out
and dedicated a burying ground which was to be a resting place for himself and
his descendents forever. There Dirck
and his brother Hendrick who owned adjoining farms and many of their
descendents lie buried. On an old dark crumbling stone at the head
of Dircks grave with the letters D. A., and figures 1809, rudely cut, are still
easily read. Near by on another plain
stone the letters ----drick, remain to
point out the resting place of Hendrick Aten.
I send kind regards as a distant kinsman to your venerable
father who you say is aged 80 years and still works every day. I also send kind regards to you and all the
friends out about where you live. I am
yours,
Very Respectfully,
(written)
Nicholas Harris