A records history for the family of
Amos Gilbert Atkinson and Anna Maria Louisa Kirk
by Conrad W. Terrill, last modified 25 Nov 2023
Some of the links provided are FamilySearch links (a free LDS web site which requires registration—those marked "(FHC)" can only be viewed at an LDS Family History Center. Some (Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com) require a paid subscription. All other links are public and free.
Frequently cited sources:
Kirk Bible: The Amos G. Atkinson family Bible, with the family records in its center. It originally belonged to a Thomas Kirk. It appears that the Kirk family entries have been cut out. They would have been just above the Amos Atkinson entries at the top of the 1st page of the middle pages.
1788 marriage certificate: The marriage certificate for Joseph Atkinson and Rachel Child, married 22 May 1788. The family records were kept on the back of this certificate.
St. Paul's Church: St. Paul's Church and Parish, Ellicott City, Maryland : its origin and development : a sketch, by Brother Fabrician of Jesus, Professor of English Literature, Rock Hill College, 1910. (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/25655/)
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Amos Gilbert Atkinson
1806 Apr 27: Birth of Amos Gilbert Atkinson, prob. Ellicott's Mills, MD, son of Joseph & Rachel (Child) Atkinson [1788 marriage certificate]
1806 Apr 27: Isarel [sic] and Amos Atkinson, children of Josh and Rachel Atkinson, b. 1 Mo 11 1801 and 4 Mo 27 1806, respectively, removed to the western district. [Ancestry.com: U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 / MD / Baltimore / Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Eastern District / Births and Deaths 1793-1812 / image 172 of 206]. (This Monthly Meeting was split into two parts, Eastern and Western Districts, on 9th Mo 9th 1807. All of the members of Elk Ridge Preparative Meeting were among the many others removed to the Western District. [(Same as above]/ Minutes, 1804-1808, image 405 of 432])
1832 Jan 18: Amos Atkinson, age 26, merchant, of U.S.A, arrived in New York on the ship Columbia, from London. [FamilySearch: New York Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1820-1891 / 015, 2 Jul 1831 to 31 Jan 1832, image 845 of 894. NARA M237 roll 15, list 35, line 1.]
1834: Washington DC city dir: There was no Amos G. Atkinson listed, so he may not have started his saddlery business in D.C. this early.
1836 Apr 5: Marriage of Amos Gilbert Atkinson to Anna Maria Louisa Kirk [Kirk Bible]
1836: Anna Maria was excommunicated by her Church and ostracized by her family for marrying a Quaker. [Interview of Margaret (Atkinson) Brady, early 1980's]
1837 Jun 22: Birth of son Robert Mitchel Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1838 Aug 18: Birth of son George Edward Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1840 Jun 1: US Census, Washington, DC: Amos Atkinson: 1 FWM (free white male) 30-39, 1 FWF 20-29 {Anna Maria}, 2 FWM < 5 {Robert and George}, 1 female slave 36-54, 1 person employed in Manufacture and Trade. [Ancestry.com: District of Columbia / Washington / Washington, image 81 of 328, line 10]
1840 Aug 24: Birth of son Joseph Ellis Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1841 Sep 21: Death of son Joseph Ellis Atkinson, aged 1 yr 28 da [Kirk Bible]
1841 Sep 21: Death of son Joseph Ellis Atkinson: "In Washington, on Thursday morning, the 21st inst., Joseph Ellis, infant son of Ann Maria, and Amos Atkinson, aged 1 year and 28 days." [The [Balto.] Sun, 28 Sep 1841, Tues, p. 2]
1841 Oct to 1842 Jan: [Ancestry.com: U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 / Maryland / Baltimore / Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends (Stony Run) / Minutes, 1824 -1848, starting with image 400 of 560]
(p. 394): "At Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Western District held 8th of 10th month 1841 ......
"Western District Preparative informs that Abner Brown has had his marriage accomplished contrary to the order of our Society, Isaac F Dinow and Edward Needles were appointed to visit him on account thereof and report to the next meeting
"Also that Amos G Atkinson has had his marriage accomplished contrary to the order of our Society and has removed to Washington City, referred to the same friends"
(p. 395): "At Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Western District held 5th of 11th month 1841 ......
"The friends to treat with Amos G Atkinson were continued"
(p. 397): "At Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Western District held 10th of 12th month 1841 ......
"The committee to treat with Amos G Atkinson reported they have received no communication from him since last meeting, the committee was continued"
(p. 398): "At Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Western District held 7th of 1st month 1842 ......
"The committee to treat with Amos G Atkinson produced from him the following offering which was considered and accepted and the committee directed to inform him thereof viz
Washington City 1st Mo 2nd 1842
Dear friends, Having had my marriage accomplished contrary to the order of our Society and feeling a desire to retain any right of membership, I sincerely hope friends will look over the deviation and retain me among them
Amos G Atkinson"
1842 Apr 14: Birth of daughter Virginia Ellen Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1843 Aug 1: Death of daughter Virginia Ellen Atkinson, aged 1 yr 3 mo 18 da [Kirk Bible]
1843 Aug 1: Death of daughter Virginia Ellen Atkinson: "In Washington, on Tuesday, the 1st inst., Virginia Ellen, infant daughter of Anna Maria and Amos G. Atkinson, aged 1 year, 3 months and 18 days." [The [Balto.] Sun, 24 Aug 1843, p. 2]
1843: Washington DC city dir: Atkinson, Amos G., saddler, w side 7 w, btw Va av and D s, near D.
1846: Washington DC city dir: Atkinson, A. G. w side 7 w, btw Va av and D s. (DC did not publish city directories very often at that time.) (This is today [2022] the site of the Department of Homeland Security, atop the L'Enfant Plaza DC Metro station.)
1844 Oct 23: Birth of son Washington Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1847 May 12: Birth of son Charles Hough Atkinson [Kirk Bible]
1848 Dec 7: [Ancestry.com: U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 / Maryland / Baltimore / Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends (Stony Run) / Minutes, 1848-1879, image 10 of 554 (p. 2)]
"12th month 7 1848
"At Baltimore Monthly Meeting for the Western District, the representatives were Wilson Balderston, Richard Plummer, Amos G Atkinson, Wm Gawthrop and Joseph Naynes, who were all present."
1848-1851: Amos G. Atkinson's Howard District Justice of the Peace docket. Amos served as JP from 13 Mar 1848 to 7 Mar 1851, handling about 100 cases per year, mostly Pleas of Debt, plus a very few Pleas of Damage.
[Maryland State Archives, MdHr 20, 367-15 / 1-69- 7- 38, his docket for those years]
1850 Feb 21: Birth of son Amos [Gilbert] Atkinson Jr. [Kirk Bible]
1850 Jun 1: US Census, Ellicotts Mills, Howard District of Anne Arundel Co., enum. 29 Jul 1850: Amos G. Atkinson, 44, saddler, value of R.E. owned:
[Ancestry.com: Maryland / Anne Arundel / Ellicotts Mills, image 4 of 25, line 1]
1850 Sep 2: Death of son George Edward Atkinson (drowned in Patapsco River at Ellicotts Mills) [Kirk Bible]
1850 Sep 6: "A son of Mr. Amos G. Atkinson, of Ellicott's Mills, aged 13 years, was accidentally drowned by falling into the Patapsco river on Monday last. The river was very high from the rain of the previous night, and he and his brother had gone to the wall which supports the bank on the margin of the railroad, close to the bridge to Carroll and Gambrill's Mills. They had amused themselves for some time by catching at the drift wood, when the younger brother fell into the boiling current, and in an instant was out of sight. Although diligent search had been made for his body it had not been recovered at the latest accounts." [(Balto.) American & Commercial Advertiser, Friday morn., 6 Sep 1850] (The older brother was Robert.)
1850 Sep 9: DROWNED.—George, aged 12 years, son of A.G. Atkinson, Ellicott's Mills, accidentally fell into the Patapsco at the time of the high freshet on Monday, the 2nd instant, and was drowned. Notwithstanding every exertion has been made by sympathising friends and neighbors his remains have not been recovered. As the water was high and the current rapid, it is possible that his body may have been carried down into tide water, or it may have lodged along the shores of the Falls. Should it be found it would be an act of the greatest kindness to his afflicted parents, at Ellicott's Mills, to apprise them thereof. Any information concerning him will be thankfully received by I. S. ATKINSON, West Baltimore street. Description—Slender and delicate for his age; dark hair; a small scar on the centre of his forehead; two or three dots of Indian ink on his wrist. Necessary expenses incurred in recovering his body, or forwarding it to his parents, will be paid.
[The (Balto.) Sun, 9 Sep. 1850, p. 2]
1850 Sep 10: (Exactly the same wordage as above except with "or C. A. HOUGH, No. 164 West Pratt Street" added after "I. S. ATKINSON, West Baltimore street".).
[The (Balto.) Sun, 10 Sep. 1850, p. 2]
1850 Sep 23: "BODY FOUND.—The body of the son of Mr. Amos Atkinson, of Ellicott's Mills, who fell into the Patapsco river, during the freshet on the 2nd instant, was found on Monday morning last below the toll bridge, on the Washington turnpike.
[The (Baltimore] Sun, Monday, 30 Sep 1850, p. 2]
Note: The Washington and Baltimore Turnpike, chartered in 1812, ran along the route what is now (2022) U.S. Route 1 Alternate.
[Wikipedia: "List of turnpikes in Maryland"] This turnpike crossed the Patapsco River about where the Harbor Tunnel Thruway (Interstate 895) intersects with U.S. Route 1 today. {6.4 miles downriver from Ellicotts Mills as measured with Google Earth.}
1852 Feb 1: Death of Amos G. Atkinson, Sr.: "At Ellicott's Mills, on the 1st instant, after a lingering illness, which he bore with christian and manly fortitude, AMOS G. ATKINSON, in the 46th year of his age, leaving a wife and four young children." [The [Balto.] Sun, 16 Feb 1852, p. 2.]
1852 Feb 25: Baptized by Right Reverend Bernard J. McManus of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Ellicotts Mills:
Joseph Washington, aged about 7 yrs, Sponsor: John Fahey
Charles, aged about 5 yrs. Sponsors, Mrs. Naylor of Balto? ...
Amos Gilbert aged about 2 yrs, Sponsor: Mary Fahey
Lawful Children of Amos Gilbert Atkinson + Anna Maria his wife
[Maryland State Archives: St Paul's Parish, 1838-1891, R.C., Ellicott City, film M2907, p. 58]
1860 Nov 1: US Census, Ellicotts Mills, 2nd District, Howard Co., MD (P.O.: Ellicotts Mills): Ann M Atkinson, 40, F, b. MD, value of personal estate: $50; Robert, 20, M, laborer, b. MD; Washington, 14, M, factory hand, b. MD; Amos, 11, M, b. MD; Charles, 12, M, factory hand, b. MD. Amos attended school within the year. [Ancestry.com: Maryland / Howard / Ellicott, image 5 of 37, line 8]
1867 Jun 1: Marriage of Georg Washington Atkinson to Marry Jane Galven [Kirk Bible]
1868 Apr 11: Death of son Washington Atkinson (killed on railroad) [Kirk Bible]
1870 Jun 10: US Census, 2 Election District, Howard Co., MD (P.O.: Ellicott City): Ann M Atkinson, 45, F, seamstress, b. DC, father and mother of foreign birth; Chas, 20, M, W, blacksmith, b. MD; Amos, 18, M, bar keeper, b. MD. [Ancestry.com: Maryland / Howard / District 2, image 8 of 55, line 14] Note: The second household enumerated before Ann's was that of a priest, W. H. Philip, age 35. Just after his household was an annotation, "Saint Peters Church." And in the household enumerated just before Ann's a clergyman, W. E. Starr, age 29, was living (perhaps boarding). Rt. Rev. Starr was the pastor of St. Paul's Church from 1870 to 1873. So Ann's household was perhaps close to St. Peters Episcopal Church, which was across the street from St. Pauls Catholic Church, not far from the Ellicott City Railroad Station.
[1871] Dec 3: Marriage of son Charles Hough Atkinson to "Elizey Els" [Kirk Bible]
1871 Dec 3: Marriage of son Charles Hough Atkinson to "Lizzie Els": "Married / ATKINSON—ELS—On the 3d of December, by the Rev. Father Duggan, C. ATKINSON, of Ellicott City, to Miss LIZZIE ELS, of Baltimore county.— [Washington papers please copy.]" [The [Balto.] Sun, 5 Dec 1871, Tues, p. 2]
[1874?] Death of Anna Maria Louisa Atkinson, "the 64 year of her age" [Kirk Bible]
1884 Dec 26: Death of son Amos G. Atkinson Jr. "in the 35 year of his age" [Kirk Bible]
1884 Dec 26: Death of Amo G. Atkinson: "Died. / ATKINSON.—At Ellicott City, December 26, 1884, AMOS G. ATKINSON, in the 35th year of his age. / Funeral services on Monday next, at nine o'clock, in St. Paul's Church, Ellicott City. His friends are respectfully invited to attend."
[The [Balto.] Sun, 27 Dec 1884, p. 2]
1918 Feb 8: Death of son Charles Hough Atkinson: "Died / ATKINSON. On February 8, 1918, CHARLES HOUGH, beloved husband of Elizabeth Els Atkinson and son of the late Amos Filbert [sic] and Anna M. Atkinson. / Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the house of his daughter, Mrs. Albert Matthews, No. 706 Columbia avenue, on Monday, at 8 A. M. Requiem Mass at 9 A. M. Interment in Loudon Park Cemetery."
[The [Balto.] Sun, 9 Feb 1918, Sat., p. 9]
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Anna Maria Louisa (Kirk) Atkinson
Kirk family Bible: published 1790, "The Clementine edition of the scriptures" ("The Clementine Vulgate (1592) is a standardized edition of the medieval Vulgate, and the second official Bible of the Catholic Church" [Wikipedia: "Vulgate"]) On flyleaf is "Mr. Tho.s Kirk's Bible / Alexa 30th apl 1797". In the list of subscribers is the name John Kirk. The Kirk family records in the middle of the Bible appear to have been cut out.
1790 US Census: There was a Thomas Kirk household in Anne Arundel Co., MD (Howard Co. was a part of Anne Arundel Co. before 1851; it was the Howard District of A.A. Co. from 1839 to 1851): 1 FWM (free white male) >= 16, 1 FWM < 16, 1 FWF. There was no John Kirk head of household in either MD, VA or DC.
1800 US Census: There was no Thomas Kirk household in A.A. Co., but there was one in Georgetown, DC: 1 FWM 26-44, 3 FWM < 10; 1 FWF 26-44, 2 FWF < 10.
1810 US Census: There was a Thomas Kirk household in Baltimore, Ward 8: 2 FWM >= 45, 61 FWM 26-44, 30 FWM 16-25; 2 FWF 16-25, 2 FWF < 10.
1820 US Census: There were no Thomas Kirk households in the Baltimore/Washington area.
1820 US Census, Alexandria (city), DC: Reubin Kirk, age 45 or older and (wife)?, of age 26 to 44, plus (a son)? of age 10 to 15, a (daughter)? of age 10 to 15 and two more under 10. Anna M. could have been one of the daughters under 10. Reubens wife could have been Eleanor (see below). Could Reuben Kirk have been a saddler, and could Amos G. Atkinson have been an apprentice of his?
1830 US Census, Georgetown, D.C.: Eleanor Kirk, age 50 to 59, with two (daughters)? of age 15 to 19. Anna M. could have been one of those daughters.
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We continue this records history with those of the children who raised families:
Robert Mitchel Atkinson & Mary Holt
Washington Atkinson & Mary Jane Galvin
Charles Hough Atkinson & Elizabeth Ells