Letter addressed to
Mrs Atkinson
Highland County
Ohio

John Atkinson married Jane Leech in 1826.  Jane was born in Warrington Township, York County Pennsylvania. Genealogy says that John was robbed and thrown overboard. The Captain and eight others on the boat signed the letter notifying Jane that John was missing. Later, when the boat was moved, his body was found underneath. Cephus Atkinson, John's brother, claimed the body but his money and the gold watch he was carrying were missing. John Atkinson was burried in Potter's Field, Cincinnati, and later a stone with his initials, chiseled by Jan Atkinson, was placed to mark his resting place.
"Atkinson-Fisher English Quaker Emigrants with William Penn" by Thema Fisher Fisher, 1978.
 

To Mrs Atkinson
               It is the opinion of all the 
Deck passengers on Board the steam Boat 
Swiss Bay from St. Louis to this place on which 
Your Husband John Atkinson was passenger in 
Company With two Young men by the name of 
West-- that he must fell over board last Evening 
and drowned he Was Missing about the time 
the boat Landed her passengers at this place -- 
and could not be found. We think it impossible 
for him to gone ashore for he could not Walk 
the plank from the boat to the Shore - his 
Coat and hat and Likewise his Sadlebags 
Which The Men West - have in their possession. Mr. Atkinson 
appeared to be not in his right himd whether 
it was caused by Liquor or not we cannot 
say - the Mrs Wests say he was taken Sick - 
the day they started from the West Homeword 
and did not have an appitite to Eat as usual 
and appeared Very Strange the- 
opinion of the undersigned

M     Vandbur
Charles Sec
Jacob    ter
Richard    billand
John    ill
Gabriel Maujism
Joseph Chandler
David Luevying
Gilbert Dean