The family of Atlee reached distinction very early in
the history of England. Contemporaneous with Richard
Cœur de Lion was Sir Richard Atte Lee, who appears
conspicuously in the ballads of Robin Hood, and who is
represented in the “Lytell Geste” as saying —
| “ | An hondreth wynter here before |
| Myne Aunsetters Knyghtes have be.” |
Antiquarians mention others of the name who lived later, and were of almost equal note. As to what was the connection between these ancient knights and the Pennsylvania hero, whose career I have undertaken to sketch, genealogists give us no certain information. His father, William Atlee, of Fordhook House, England, married against the wishes of his family Jane Alcock, a cousin of William Pitt, and being, perhaps for that reason, thrown upon his own resources, obtained, through the assistance of Pitt, a position as secretary to Lord Howe. He came with Howe to America, landing in Philadelphia, in July, 1734.[2]
Samuel John, the second child of the runaway couple,
- ↑ This paper was written at the request of the Committee on the Restoration of Independence Hall, for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the passage of the resolution respecting independence, and the original was deposited in Independence Hall, July 1st, 1876.
- ↑ For materials for this sketch I am much indebted to Samuel Yorke AtLee, of Washington, D. C, and to the article of John B. Linn, in the American Historical Record, vol. iii, p. 448.
