Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William Augustus ATLEE
William Augustus Atlee, born 1735, died 1790, married in 1763, Esther Bowes Sayre. In 1791 he was appointed President Judge of the First District Court of Pennsylvania. Studied law under Judge Edward Shippen. Admitted to Bar of Lancaster Co., Aug. 3, 1758.
ATLEE, William Augustus, brother of Samuel J. Atlee, was born at Philadelphia, July 1st, 1735. He moved to Lancaster at an early day, and read law under the instruction of Edward Shippen, Esq. He was admitted to the bar, August 3rd, 1758, and soon became prominent in his profession as one of the leading lawyers of his day. He was elected Chief Burgess of the Borough of Lancaster, September 15th, 1770, to which position he was thrice subsequently chosen, and administered the duties of said office up to September, 1774. Upon the breaking out of the American revolution, he became an active and leading Whig, and in 1776 was chosen chairman of the Committee of Public Safety of Lancaster. He was appointed August 16th, 1777, by the Supreme Executive Council, second Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, his associates being Thomas McKean and John Evans. During the years 1777 and 1778, he held the position of Commissary of the British prisoners confined at Lancaster. he was re-appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, August 9th, 1784; and on the 17th of August, 1791, he was appointed President Judge of the district, composed of the counties of Chester, Lancaster, York, and Dauphin, which position he filled up to his death, September 9th, 1793. As a member of the Supreme Bench of Pennsylvania he rendered efficient service; and it is somewhat notworthy, that remarkable uniformity of opinion is observable in the proceedings of the Supreme Court at that early day. Lord Manfield, speaking of Dallas' Reports in 1791, used the following language: "They do credit to the Court, the bar and the reporter. They show rediness in practice, liberality in priciple, strong reason and legal learning."
In private life Judge Atlee was a man of easy and very gentlemanly deportment, and noted for his high-toned integrity and strong adherence to his sense of right.
[BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY - 1872]
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