Historically Speaking: The life of William King Atkinson in Dover
Tony McManus
Even his name sounds impressive: William King Atkinson. Except that this wasn t his original name. He was born in 1765 in Portsmouth as plain old William King, son of William King, but over the years he made a name for himself in more ways than one.
He apparently had some degree of intelligence and initiative. Graduating from Harvard in 1783 he opened a law practice in Dover in 1786. Almost immediately he made his mark, becoming Register of Probate a year later, a position he held until 1819, the year before his death. He served as Justice of the NH Supreme Court from 1803-05, and was state attorney general from 1807-12. Somewhere in those years he married Abigail Pickering, of the Newington Pickerings, a prominent family on the other side of the bay.
Historically Speaking: Pine Hill offers view of Dover past and present
By Tony McManus
Here is more about Dover s hills. Moving south from Tuttle Square and the top of Plato s Hill is Pine Hill. We associate this now with the cemetery, but there is actually a height of land on the northerly side with a fine view over the city leading the eye to Garrison Hill at the far end.
As mentioned recently, this was the site of the third Meetinghouse in 1710, and in 1731 one and a half acres adjacent were set aside by the town as a burial ground. This was also the location of an early schoolhouse. Over the years additional land has been purchased and added to the cemetery, reaching out beyond Watson Street and along Court Street to the foot of what has been known as Mt. Pleasant, the highest point at the end of Henry Law Avenue. Now a residential development, there are fine views to the north and east from the top. (For many years there was a city playground, Mt. Pleasant Park, at the