Until Death Do Us Part

About 1742 (ten years after being deported from London, England, to America as a thief at the age of 22) at the age of 32 William Atterberry married the third generation American born 22 year old Sarah Mitchell. By 1746 they were living on Prince Spring Plantation, a 50 acre farm which he owned there in Prince George County, Maryland, "on the north side of the White Marsh, being a draught of the Eastern Branch of Potomack River."

There in Maryland William and Sarah had seven children including Richard Atterberry (born about 1748), Charles (c.1747), and John (c.1751-55). On August 16, 1746, William sold his plantation for 3000 pounds of tobacco to John Riddle, Jr., and moved across the Potomac River to Loudon County, Virginia.

According to family tradition passed down through several family lines: "The father [William Atterberry] of the brothers was a wealthy land owner, and very loyal to the crown. Then the dissatisfactions began to materialize [as the American colonies began to demand independence]. I suppose that this situation increased until there was a break in his health. Anyway, he sent the boys out one morning to round up the horses. Upon the return of one of them, the father met him at the door and said, 'Me and the devil have killed your mother.' Upon investigating, the boys found their mother’s body rolled under the bed. Upon this the father tried to escape, but the boys caught him and held him for the authorities. He was tried, found to be insane, and released."

2011-03-14 21:56:30 Baxter

See additional information on the Individual Data Info Page for William Atterberry, III.