One of my 64 great-great-great-great-great grandfathers was John Aten, also known as Jan Aten (Aaten or Auten), who was born on Dec 22, 1732 in Readington, Hunterdon Co, NJ., the son of Adrian Hendrickse Aten and Jacobje (Middaugh) Aten. His ancestors were Dutch and French Huguenot settlers of the Amsterdam Colony, who came to America during the mid-17th centry. Notable among his ancestors was Sarah Rapalje, the first white female born in the Middle Colonies (1625). Actor Humphrey Bogart was also descended from Sarah Rapleje.

John Aten Married Elizabeth Boydn (Bodine) in about 1758. She was of French Huguenot ancestry. There are some genealogies that claim her maiden name was Sutphen, an error caused by confusion with John Aten’s first cousin, once removed, also named John Aten (b 1701), who did marry Elizabeth Sutphen.

In 1774, our John Aten and his family moved to Hunterstown, PA located in York Co, PA during the Revolutionary War, but is now in Adams Co, PA. The settlement of Reformed Dutch and French Huguenots at Hunterstown was known as the Conewago Colony. Several members of the Bodine family were part of this settlement.

In 1786, John Aten and his family moved to the northern part of Ohio Co, VA. The settled far to the north of Wheeling, along the south bank of the Ohio River, within a few miles of the PA line. The farm is now located in Brooke Co, WV.

John Aten died in Brooke Co, VA between 1804 and 1809. Evidence of this can be found in the deed records of Brooke Co., WV. On June 25, 1804, Cornelius Aten of Brooke Co, Va sold for $5 to John Aten, Sr, of Brooke Co, Va , a life estate in 134 acres (Brooke Co, WV Deed Book 3, P 251). Within 5 years, Cornelius regained ownership of this land. On Aug 28, 1809, Corenelius Aten and Sally his wife of Brooke Co, VA, sold the same 134 acres for $620 to Matthias Hook of Beaver Co, PA (Brooke Co, WV Deed Book 4, p 286.)

There have been several reports of alternate death Years for John Aten. “An Aten Genealogy”, by Alan J Lamb, on P 31 states, “Jan Aten died some time before 1775 as indicated in the will of his mother Jacobje Middaugh Aten prepared 13 Nov 1775. In it are listed Derick as eldest son, Hendrick and John deceased, and Adrian.” This conclusion was derived from a misreading of the will. the will actually stated: “ to my sd son Derick one equal share [,] the heirs of my son Hendrick, deceased, one - share to be equally divided amongst them [,] my son John Aten one equal share [,] & my son Gerret Aten one equal share & Adrian Aten one equal share...”

Several DAR applications show that John Aten died in 1790. These applications also show him with the wrong wife, Elizabeth Sutphen, but with the correct children.

Several DAR applications and an early SAR application show that John Aten served as a soldier during the Battle of Long Island (Aug 27, 1776). Some have tried to identify him with A John Auten who served in the New Jersey Militia. However, the only NJ service was that of a relative, John A Auten (1762-1841) .

An important consideration is the fact that our John Aten lived in York Co., PA from 1774 until 1786, so if he had Revolutionary War service, we should find it there. The Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol IV, p 461-462 and Sixth Series, Vol II, p 642-643, show that John Auter was a private in Capt Andrew Foreman’s Co, of York Co, Pa Militia. Some of the other names on the payroll are those of settlers in the Conewago Colony. The service on the payroll extended from Oct 10, 1781 to Dec 10, 1781. John Auter was a transcribed misspelling of John Auten. Another soldier in Capt Andrew Foreman’s Co Was Aron Auten, who has been identified a s a son of John Aten and Elizabeth Boydn. Could this John Auten have been John Aten, Jr (1764-1851), son of John Aten and Elizabeth Boydn? This is unlikely for the following reason: If the John Auten with York Co, Pa service had lived until 1832, he would have been eligible to have applied for a pension. He never did, which suggests that the veteran died before 1832. John Jr lived until 1851 and never applied for a pension. All of this indicates, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the service on York Co, PA was that of John Aten (1732- before 1809)

Family: (Generation 8) The 1790 census for Ohio Co., VA no longer exists. The 1800 census of Brooke Co., VA no longer exists. John Aten died intestate prior to 1809. Alice H. Kennedy wrote a manuscript about the Aten family in 1962, which contained a listing of John Aten’s children, based on baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church.
John Aten and Elizabeth (Bodyn) Aten had seven children:
1. Elizabeth (baptized Apr. 29, 1759-?), married John Sanford.
2. Aaron Prince Aten (born Nov. 22, 1760, died Jul. 14, 1832 in Preble Co., OH), married Johanna Montfort. He has also been shown by some with a second wife, Marie Montfort. He is sometimes identified as Adrian, but this appears to be in error.
3. John Aten Jr. (born Mar. 4, 1764, died Dec. 20, 1851), married 1) Charity Elizabeth Vanderbilt (born 1774, died Jan. 15, 1819) and married 2) Sally Hart.
4. Cornelius Aten (born Jan. 18, 1766, died Mar. 21, 1857 in Stark Co., IL), married in 1791 to Sarah Bell (born Feb. 13, 1770 in New Jersey, died Jun. 1856 in Stark Co., IL).
5. Magdalena Aten (baptized Dec. 13, 1767, died ?)
6. Antie Aten (baptized Jan. 10, 1773 in Conewago, PA, died ?), married Samuel Carson.
7. Christina “Tyne” Aten, married Henry Kirkendall.