Background
Atherton was born in 1598 in Somerset, England.
Atherton was born in 1598 in Somerset, England.
He studied at Oxford University and joined the ranks of the Anglican clergy.
He and John Childe (his steward and tithe proctor) were both tried and executed for buggery in 1640. In 1640 Atherton was accused of buggery with a man, John Childe, his steward and tithe proctor. They were tried under a law that Atherton himself had helped to institute.
They were both condemned to death, and Atherton was executed in Stephen"s Green, Dublin.
Reportedly, he confessed to the crime immediately before his execution, although he had proclaimed his innocence before that. More recently, some historical evidence has been developed that shows Atherton might have been a victim of a conspiracy to discr him and his patrons.
Unfortunately for Atherton, this alienated him from large landowners, who then allegedly used his sexuality to discr him. Posthumous accusations of sexual wrongdoing also include allegations of "incest" with his sister-in-law, and infanticide of the resultant child, as well as zoophilia with cattle.