A POTTER-RICHARDSON MEMORIAL the Ancestral Lines
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A POTTER-RICHARDSON MEMORIAL the ancestral lines of William ,v. Potter of Michigan a11d his wife, Margaret (Richardson) Potter Compiled by Doreen Potter Hanna and Louise Potter Justice Willian1 i'. Potter Let us now praise famous men and our fathers that begat us •••• There be of them that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. And some there be which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been born; and their children after them. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth forevermore. -------· Ecclesiasticus xliv. The genealogical material presented here was gathered by Louise Potter and Doreen (Potter) Hanna, daughters of \rilliam W. and Margaret ( Richardson) Potter. i\-tost of it may be found in published records, and genealogies; some is found only in local records of town clerks, and in cemetery records. Family tradition and circumstantial evidence have been considered when actual proof has been unavailable. This study revealed a common ancestry in several family lines. This is not surprising considering that most of these families settled, first, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and spread from there into Connecticut and Rhode Island. In ever widening circles the migrations carried them into New York, New Jersey, and Vermont, and after the Revolutionary War and the opening of the Erie Canal, into Ohio and Michigan, where they were reunited. An effort was niade to trace each ancestral line to its beginnings in America. Whenever this was possible the generations are numbered: the emigrating ancestor as the first generation, his children as the second gen eration, and so on to the present. A short biography is given of each individual person under the surname of his birth, and references given as to the source of the information. When the surname changes through marriage the line of descent to the present is given, indicating the individuals involved in each succeeding generation. Line of descent from Nathaniell and Dorothy (---) Potter, emigrating ancestors, to William W. Potter: N athankl Potter 1 I m. Dorothy -------- Ichabod Potter2 m. Martha Hazard John Potter3 m. Sarah Wilson John Potter4 m. Mercy Robinson Christopher Potter5 ul. Mary Segar Joseph Potter6 m. Esther Champlin Elias Champlin Potter1 m. Esther Thompson Elias Thompson.. Potter8 m. Sophronia Ladd Lucien Bonaparte Potter9 m. Clarinda Louisa Trimmer \'C'illiam W. Potterl0 m. Margaret Richardson NATHANIEL POTTERl emigrated from England about 1638; became an early settler of Portsmouth, Rhode Island; was a signer of the Rhode Island Compact. He died in South Kingston in 1644. His widow, Dorothy, 1617-1696, married Major John Albro, and died in 1696. Children: 1. N achaniel, d. 1709, m. Elizabeth Stokes 2. Ichabod, 1639-1676, m. 1661, Martha Hazard2 (Thomas I) References: Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by Austin Potter Families in America by Potter ICHABOD POTTER2 (Nathaniel 1), born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1639, married in 1661, Martha Hazard2, daughter of Thomasl and Martha(___ ) Hazard of Portsmouth. He died in 1676; his widow married Benjamin Mowry2 (Rogerl), by whom she had several children.* Children: 1. Thomas, 1663-1728, m. 1. Susanna Tripp 2. Lydia (Wilcox) Sherman 2. John, 1665-1715, m. 1690, Sarah Wilson2 (Samuell) 3. Robert, 1670-1745, m. Elizabeth Wells 4. Ichabod, d. 1750, m. Margaret Helme ( Rouse) 5. Susanna, m. -------- Grousley 6. Sarah, m. James Wells References: Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by Austin Potter Families in America by Potter Vital Records of Rhode Island, North Kingston Hazard Genealogy JOHN POTTER3 (lchabod2, Nathaniell), born in Kingston, Rhode Island, in 1665, married about 1689/90, Sarah Wilson2, 1666-1739, daughter of Samuell and Mary (Tefft) Wilson of Portsmouth and Kingston. He died in North Kingston in 1715; his widow died there in 1739. Children: 1. Martha, 1692-1725, m. William Robinson2 ( Rou·land I) 2. John, 1695-1739, m. Mercy Robinson2 ( Rou·landl) 3. Samuel, 1699-1701 4. Sarah, 170 2· 1722, unm. 5. Susannah, 1704-1756, m. George Babcock 6. Mary, 1706/7-1764, m. Stephen Tallman 7. Samuel, 1715-1734, m. Sarah Grinnell References: Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by Austin Potter Families in America by Potter Vital Records of Rhode Island, Kingston, by Arnold "'Mowry children: Roger, unm. Joseph, m. Sarah ---- Benjamin John, m. Mary ------- 3 JOHN POTTER4 (]ohn3, Ichabod2, Nathaniell) is listed in birth records of North Kingston, Rhode Island, for 1695. This was, probably, a baptismal date since at his death in 1739, he was said to be 50 years old, thus making his birth date, 1689/90. He married in North Kingston, October 28, 1714, Mercy Robinson2, 1690-1762, daughter of Rowland 1 and Mary ( Allen) Robinson. They lived in North Kingston, and South Kingston. He is called Colonel John Potter, and died in South Kingston, April 11, 1739. His will, dated January 27, 1739, mentions his mother, Sarah; his widow, Mercy; and four of his children: John, William, Mercy, and Sarah. His widow made her will in 1756, and died November 29, 1762, in South Kingston. Children: Born in North Kingston: I. John, 1715-1788, m. 1. Mary Perry 2. Elizabeth Hazard 2. Christopher, 1717-1717 3. Christopher, 1719-1747, m. 1740, Mary Segar 4 •.Mary, 1721-1757, unm. Born South Kingston: 5. William, 1722-1814, m. Penelope Hazard 6. Samuel, 1724-1808, m. Sukey Bennett 7. Mercy, 1727, m. James Perry 8. Sarah, 1730-1785, m. -------- Waterman References: Potter Families in America by Potter Vital Records of Rhode Island by Arnold Kingston, R. I. Probate Records: Will of John Potter, and Mercy Potter CHRISTOPHER POTTERS (John4, John3, Ichabod2, Nathaniell) was born in North Kingston, Rhode Islandp November 8, 1719, and is said to have married in 1740, Mary Segar, and to have died in 1747. It is probable that his widow remarried. She may have been the Mary Segar, born 1715, daughter of John Segar3 (John2, Richard 1) and Alice ( Hull) Segar of Kingston, and as a widow married Thomas Gould. This Mary Segar is called Mary Gould in 1757 when her father's estate was probated. She lived in Charlestown, Rhode Island, where also records are found of the Joseph Potter thought to have been her son by her first marriage.* Children: 1. joseph, 1740/1-1770, m. Esther ChamplinS (Joseph4, William3,2, Jeffreyl) Perhaps others References: Potter Families in America by Potter Kingston and Charlestown, R. I., Town Records JOSEPH POTTER6 (Christophe,5, John4, John3, Ichabod2, Nathaniel 1), born about 1740-1, probably in Kings ton or Charlestown, Rhode Island, married by 1758/9, Esther Champlin5, daughter of Joseph4 and Deborah (Burdick) Champlin of Charlestown, Rhode Island.** He died before March 19, 1770, as indicated by land *Potter Families in America is the source of the informaticn concerning the marriage and death of Christopher Potter, born 1719. The parentage or remarriage of his wife, Mary Segar, have not been proven, nor any evidence found of names or numbers of children born to them. **That a Joseph Potter married Esther Champlin, daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Burdick) Champlin of Charlestown, R. I. is established by land records of Charlestown in connection with the settlement of the estate of Joseph Champlin. Book 3, p. 15: "Esther Potter, relict of Joseph Potter late of Charlestown, deceased, and Amy Champlin, single woman, both of Charlestown in Kings County and Colony of Rhode Island, and both daughters of Joseph Champlin, yeoman alias weaver, late of said Charlestown, deceased, being co-heirs, etc.", dated March 19, 1770. 4 records connected with settlement of the estate of Joseph Champlin of Charlestown, which say: ccEsther Potter, relict of Joseph Potter, etc." Family tradition says there were three children; two sons and a daughter.* Children: I. Elias Champlin, 17S8/60-1855, m. 1. -------- -------- 2. Esther Thonipson ( Elias, Elias, Isaac) 2. Joseph 3. daughter References: Land Records of Charlestown, R. I. Family tradition; Obituary of Elias T. Potter, Vermontville, Michigan, Hawk, April 6, 1881 Deposition of John ]. P. Potter to his children ELIAS CHAMPLIN POTTER7 (]o_seph6, Christopher5, John4, ]ohn3, Jchabod2, Nathaniell) was born in Charlestown, Rhode Island, in 1758/60. ** In April, 1777, he enlisted in a company raised in Charlestown, to guard at Watch Hill, R. I., under command of Captain Samuel Thompson of Westerly. He served one year, and later, served a month under Colonel Thomas Potter at Newport. He is said to have enlisted in the American navy; been captured and held prisoner by the British until peace was declared. It is known that for a consid erable part of his early life he followed the sea. The census of 1790 indicates there were in his household; one male over sixteen (himself), two males under sixteen, three females.*** He married before 1800, Esther Thompson, 1776-1859, daughter of Elias, Jr., and Mary (Stanton) Thompson of Westerly. Until 1806 they lived in South Kingston, and removed then to Lebanon, Connecticut. January 1, 1841, he applied for a Revolution ary War pension; was living then in Hartford, Connecticut. The pension was denied, probably because his service had not been in a regularly organized military corps as required under the Act of 1832. He is thought to have died about 185S although his name does not appear in Hartford directories after 1850. His widow died in 1859 in New York State. Children: By first marriage: 1. Christopher Champlin, 1795-18S2, m. Esther Smith (David, David) By second marriage: 2.