Potts, originally a German name, is given an English origin by some. In
this regard, it is noted:
Pott English:
from a medieval given name, an aphetic form of Philpott.
topographic name for someone who lived by a depression in the
ground, from ME pot (cf. Potter) used in this transferred sense, or
habitation name from one of the minor places deriving their name from
this element.1
The Potts in succession are:
- JOHN & WALBURG SMITH POTTS
- RICHARD & ANNA ASHE POTTS
- THOMAS & JONI PLATTS POTTS
- THOMAS & MARY BORDEN POTTS
- JOSHUA & ANN BORDEN POTTS
- JOSHUA & MARY BUNTING
POTTS
- WILLIAM &
MARY PATIENCE PEARSON POTTS
- WILLIAM P. & DORCAS MITCHELL POTTS
- HENRY L. & MELISSA RAIL POTTS
- JOHN & WALBURG SMITH POTTS
This is per Vice from Darby, Chesterfield records. John married first
Elizabeth Newsom. When John died (1613), Walburg married George Columbell in
1616.
Parents of Thomas Potts of the Shield - and said to have been residents
of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.2 Anne Ashe was the daughter of Godfrey
and Allis Clay.3
SOURCES - RICHARD & ANNA ASHE POTTS
VITALS:
Rich. DOBa:
DOD: br. 09/12/1650, Chesterfield Co., Derby, England (Potts, POTTS
FAMILY p. 126)
Anna DOBa: 02/08/1617, ____________________ (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
DOD: br. 09/02/1673, ____________________ (Potts, POTTS FAMILY p. 126)
DOM: 05/15/1636, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Stracke, STRACKE
BOOK, p. 19)
CHILDREN:
Elizabeth ba. 04/05/1637, ___________ England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p.
126)
d. 02/02/1638/9, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Vince Potts data
sheets)
Thomas ba. __/__/____
br. 07/12/1641, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY,
p. 126) (died in infancy)
Mary ba. 03/27/1642, ___________ England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 126)
m. __/__/1678, Thomas Revell, England (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
d. __/__/____ (Will Proven 11/18/1715) (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
Samuel ba. 03/19/1642, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Potts, POTTS
FAMILY, p. 126)
Joshua ba. 05/13/1645, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Potts, POTTS
FAMILY, p. 126)
d. 01/15/1653, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p.
19)
Thomas ba. 07/12/1647, ___________ England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 126)
m1. __/__/_____, Joni Platts (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
m2. __/__/_____, Ann _______ (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
m3. __/__/_____, Grace Farmer (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
m4. __/__/_____, Alice Pusser (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)
d. 09/04/1726, Philadelphia, PA (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)4
Anna ba. 06/11/1649, ___________ England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 126)
d. 11/22/1677, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England (Vince Potts notes)
The above is from the reprint of the Chesterfield Registers in Potts,
POTTS FAMILY, p. 126. Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 19, suggests there was also a
Richard who died young in 1650. V. Potts agrees and includes Richard, b.
1638, d. 02/02/1638/9, both events in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, as
well as another, Edmund Potts, b. 1639, Derbyshire, m. Elizabeth Sympson, no
date, in Stretton, Derbyshire, England.
OTHER:
Burr, THE BORDEN FAMILY (1981, self published) ("BORDEN FAMILY")
Potts, HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS RELATING TO THE POTTS FAMILY IN GREAT
BRITAIN AND AMERICA (1901, Self Published, Cannonsburg, PA) ("POTTS FAMILY")
Stracke, THOMAS POTTS AND RELATED FAMILIES (1994, private printing, San
Francisco, CA) ("POTTS BOOK")
THOMAS POTTS
Thomas was baptized July 12, 1647 in England, the fourth son of Richard
Potts. At the age of 3 his father died. Thomas was a tanner, a skill he must
have learned in England, practiced throughout his life and passed on to his
children.5
JONI PLATTS
Joni Potts, in FAMILIAE MINORIUM GENTIUM, is referred to as the daughter
of ________ Platts of the Peak. "The Peak" was generally considered the high
country of northwest Derbyshire.6
The reasons for the Potts leaving England are yet to be found. Might they
have come across the book by John Ogilby, declaring New Jersey a
"terrestrial paradise."7 Was it the Concessions and Agreements authored by
Sir William Penn, promising religious freedom, self government and the
abolition of imprisonment for debts and capital punishment?
Whatever the reason, in December of 1678, after over a month at sea, the
Thomas Potts family arrived in America on the ship Shield, landing at what
was to become Burlington, New Jersey.8 This was not the first stop for the
Shield in the new land. This ship had for a short time stopped at Fenwick's
colony near the mouth of the Delaware, but rejected the area for settlement
as the proprietor, John Fenwick, had no clear title.9
The family came to America from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.10
Accompanying them on the voyage was Thomas' sister, Mary, then Mrs. Thomas
Revell.11 Joani may not have survived the journey, and even if she did she
lived but a short time after arrival of the family in America.12
The reasons for leaving England are a mystery, and the selection of West
New Jersey even more so. The journey was not inexpensive.13 Burlington was
wilderness established a year and a half earlier with the arrival of the
ship Kent, bringing Friends from London and Yorkshire, England.14 Thomas &
Joni, however, were not Quakers - but of the first Baptists to come to West
Jersey.15 With the Quakers, the Potts family endured the hardships of coming
to a new territory.16
In 1680, Thomas had 30 acres surveyed out for him "upon lazy point side
of Aƒsisunck" next to Thomas Eaves.17
The area, with sacrifice, permitted settlement.18 In 1680, Thomas
purchased from John Woolston two acres along the Delaware river for his home
and tannery.19 The settlement grew, and by 1681, it was the "chief town" of
West Jersey. All ships were required to clear its port, and weekly markets
were held as of 1682.20
By 1682, records indicate that Thomas had remarried.21 A Baptist in a
Quaker colony, he appears to have got on well with the Friends,22 and opened
a tavern the following year.23 Whether it was the tavern, the cost of the
journey on the Shield, or just hard times, however, Thomas found himself in
serious debt. From 1683 to 1685, several individuals sued him for recovery
of their funds, including his brother-in-law, Thomas Revell, and the
Governor, Thomas Ollive. These actions resulted in a levy on Thomas'
personal property and tanning implements.24
Despite the several suits against him, Thomas was still extended the
privileges of a freeman, and served on both the local and grand jury during
this time.25 He also was permitted to sue others, which he did on two
occasions.26
The bottom for the Potts family appears to have come in 1686, however,
when Thomas' wife, Anne, admitted stealing from several persons in the
community. Thomas agreed to repay all four fold the loss as was required by
law.27
In 1688, one Walter Pumphary found himself in court by several
individuals who claimed debts due to them from him. At a later session,
James Creeke attested that a bond believed to be in the possession of
Pumphary from Thomas Potts was paid "but for a trifle," the attestation
being made in court to assure that Thomas did not fall into trouble by
reason of the outstanding bond.28
In 1690, Thomas was called as a witness by John Calow in a suit against
Thomas Wright for the stealing of a horse.29 The controversy escalated, and
Calow next sued Wright for slander for calling him a rogue (indeed, a
"forsworn rogue!"). Thomas was also a witness in the slander action.30
In 1693, Thomas was listed as a creditor to Thomas Lambert.31
Thomas was chosen constable for Burlington in 1696/7, however another
served in his place.32
In 1696, Thomas was a bondsman for Mary Ingram widow and administratrix
of the estate of John Ingram.33
Thomas sat on the Grand Jury of the Burlington Court of Sessions in
1698.34
Thomas was a Freeholder or Inhabitant of Burlington in 1698.35
In March, 1699, Thomas and his wife Ann sold for £100 the 2 acres he
purchased from John Woolston in 1680 on "the island of Burlington" bounded
by the Delaware river and the land of Daniel England, and being a 1/8 part
of a lot of land called Thomas Ollives Lot to Christopher Wetherill
"together with dwelling, bark mill, tanyard, &c."36 Also referenced in this
deed is 30 acres "on the Leƒse point side of Aƒsiƒanunk Creek" which appears
to be conveyed by the deed but almost as an afterthought. The deed was
accompanied by a bond by Thomas and Thomas Jr. to Wetherill for £200
assuring to Wetherill the quiet possession of the land, indicating there was
some question about the title to the same.
In November, 1699, Thomas appeared in court as Jeremiah Reading's
bondsman. Jeremiah was sued by Martha Wearing. She lost case by nonsuit as
her papers were deficient.37
Sometime around 1699, Thomas moved to Philadelphia.38
In 1700, Ann Potts testified in an action against John Dewberry by the
estate of Anna Salter to recover payment for goods sold. Because she was no
longer in Burlington, her testimony was taken before a Philadelphia court.39
In 1705, Thomas, along with Samuel Richardson, Richard Townsend and
Samuel Cart, may have purchased 50 acres in Germantown.40
Thomas was listed as indebted to John Bowne as of Bowne's death in
1714.41
Thomas died in Philadelphia on September 4, 1726, at the age of 79. In
his will he left his wife, Alice, an annual stipend of £12 and the
furnishings of one room. His grandson, Thomas, received his lot in Gilberts
Alley which he purchased from Arthur Wells, and each child received £5.
Twenty shillings were left each to minister Thomas Griffiths and his
daughter, and the balance of his estate was given to son Thomas who was also
appointed executor.42
In an undated and unpublished manuscript by Martin Cox, a Potts
Genealogist who I am not sure has published, he notes "Thomas Pott.... The
(s) was added to the name when they came to America."
Koleda writes the following of Thomas:
The Shield was the third or fourth boat load of emigrants to leave
England for New Jersey. Our Thomas Potts is the only one of the name who
was known to have come to America at the time of William Penn.
The Baptist church at Burlington was established about 1690 among its
members were Thomas Potts and Anne his wife. This church ceased in 1699
and Thomas and wife joined the Pennypeck Baptist Church on October 9,
1699.43
He sold the two acres tract on 'Burlington Island' on March 14, 1699,
his son Thomas Jr. joins in the bond. By this time he had apparently
built a dwelling, barkmill and tanyard. This should be the Christopher
Wetherall deed.
Thomas Potts married first in England Joani and secondly Ann whose
death is reported as follows: Ann Potts, wife of Thomas Potts, tanner
died 9 day 7 month 1714 in the Friends records of 3rd and Arch Streets
at Mt. Holly.
Thomas Potts married thirdly Grace Farmer reported at the Pennypack
Baptist Church 1715 as follows: Thomas Potts and Grace Farmer were
married, and again the Friends records of 3rd and Arch Streets reported
her death as follows: Grace Potts, wife of Thomas Potts, tanner died 15d
6m 1715.
He married fourthly at the same Baptist Church, Allis Pusser in 1716.
One might observe he wasted no time between marriages and had he been a
Quaker, as sometimes reported, I am sure we would have found
condemnations for such hasty action...There were no issue by his other
three marriages....
Thomas Potts removed to Philadelphia in 1699 where he was admitted as a
freeman in 1702 paying twenty-two shillings and six pence. He was buried
in Friend's Graveyard in Philadelphia.
Stracke has the following
Late in 1698 Thomas Potts and his step-son-in-law Thomas Bibb [who
married Ruth Kettle, Joni's daughter from a prior marriage] signed a
letter, as in the footnote,44 written after certain disputes arose among
some Protestant groups in Lower Dublin, as found in Rev. David Spencer's
book Early Baptists of Philadelphia:
Stracke also notes that Joani Potts died early after the arrival in
America, as she notes "There were two Quaker marriages in Burlington county
where Thomas and Anne Potts (his second wife) are named among witnesses:
John Antrom and Frances Butcher on 3 mo. 15, 1682, and Jonathan Stevenson
and Mary All on 5 mo 17, 1684, in the records of the Burlington Monthly
Meetings.
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS RELATING TO THE POTTS FAMILY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND
AMERICA45 has the following:
- (p. 128-9) "Thomas Potts does not appear to have been identified with
any religious denomination until 1686, when both he and his wife united
with the Baptists, and were baptized at Burlington, West Jersey, by
Elias Keach. They were among the founders of the first Baptist Church at
Burlington, and when that Church ceased to exist in 1699, they joined
the Pennypack Church in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, and there
continued in membership during his life."
- (Page 128) Thomas Potts and Anne Potts were subscribing witnesses to
several early marriages, among which was that of John Antrim, on the
15th day of the 3rd month, 1682, as appears by the records of the
friends Meeting at Burlington
- (p. 130) Thomas Potts removed to Philadelphia, probably in the Spring
of 1699.
- (p. 130) - as subscribing witness to Will of John Bolt of Phil. PA -
with picture of signature.
- (p. 130) minutes of the Common Council of Philadelphia Feb. 2, 1702 -
"Thomas. Potts is admitted ffreeman of this City, paying for his
ffreedome twenty-two shillings and sixpence, which he had paid for his
ffreedome."
- (p. 130) Tho: as executor to will of Richard Sparks of Phil by will
made Sept. 9, 1711.
- (p. 130) On Aug. 26, 1712, subscribing witness to will of James
Kennison of Phil, a saddler.
- (p. 130-31) "Pennypack Baptist Church records the death of Ann Potts
in 1714, and the Friends Monthly Meeting at Third and Arch Streets,
Philadelphia shows that Ann, wife of Thomas Potts, tanner, was buried in
the Friends graveyard on 7 mo. 9, 1714. He did not long remain a
widower, as the Pennypack Baptist records show that he married Grace
Farmer in 1715. She had been baptized at Pennypack in 1699, by John
Watts. She did not long survive her marriage, as the Friends records
show that she was buried in the Philadelphia graveyard on 6 mo 15,
1715.. In 1716 he married Alice Pusser. She had been baptized at
Pennypack by Thomas Griffith in 1705. The baptism and marriage are both
entered upon the Pennypack Church records.
- (page 131) Mary Powell of Phil, by will dtd. September 13, 1718,
mentions Thomas and Thomas Jr., "tanners" and Thomas Bibb, tanner. She
is the grandmother of Judith Morgan, who was the daughter of Thomas
Griffith, and late wife of Abel Morgan - who was a minister at
Pennypack. Thomas Potts made a bequest to her in his will.
SOURCES - THOMAS & JONI PLATTS POTTS
VITALS:
Thomas DOBt: 07/12/1647, ___________ England (Koleda MANUSCRIPT)
DOD: 09/04/1726, Philadelphia, PA (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 19)46
Joni DOB:
DOD:
DOM:
CHILDREN:
Anna bt . 12/05/1675, ___________, England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 133)
br. 10/26/1676, ___________, England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 133)
Thomas bt. 12/30/1677, ___________, England (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 126)
m1. 06/20/1698, Mary Records, d/o Nathaniel Records, Burlington, N.J.
(Stracke BOOK, p. 74)
m2. __/__/____, Mary Borden, d/o John & Mary (Earl) Borden (Potts, POTTS
FAMILY, p. 126)
m3. 03/08/1742, Rebecca (Stacey) Wright, d/o Mahlon & Rebecca Ely Stacey,
Burlington, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 74)
d. 02/02/1754, Bordentown, NJ (Woodward & Hageman, p. 484, Southampton
Church Records)
Ann bt. __/__/____, ___________, England (Koleda MANUSCRIPT)
br. 09/09/1701, Philadelphia, PA (Potts, POTTS FAMILY, p. 133, place from
Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 32)
Joseph bt. 12/__/____, ___________, England (Koleda MANUSCRIPT)
d. young (Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 32)
OTHER MARRIAGES/CHILDREN:
Joan - 1st. Husband - _______ Kettle, 1 daughter, Ruth Kettle (Stracke,
STRACKE BOOK, p. __)
Tom. - 2d wife Ann _______, DOM._____________ Ann died 07/09/1714 (Koleda
MANUSCRIPT), had one daughter, Anne, b. Mar. 1701, Buried 11/8/1701
(Stracke, POTTS AND RELATED FAMILIES)
3d wife Grace Farmer, 1715. Grace died 06/15/1715 (Koleda MANUSCRIPT)
4th wife Alice Pusser, 1716
LAND:
Two acres along the Delaware River in Burlington
Woolston to Potts, 12/23/1680 (West Jersey Deeds Book B, p. 23)
Thomas to Christopher Wetherill, 03/14/1699 (West Jersey Records, Lib. B,
Part 2, p. 678) (£100)
Lot in Gilberts Alley which he purchased from Arthur Wells
Arthur Wells to Thomas
Thomas to grandson Thomas (will)
OTHER:
Burr, THE BORDEN FAMILY (1981, self published) ("BORDEN FAMILY")
COLONIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY (1899, The Press Printing & Publishing Co., Paterson, NJ), ser. 1,
vol. 21 ("NJA")
COLONIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY (1913, The Union-Gazette Association, Somerville, NJ), ser. 1, vol.
30 ("NJA")
Davis, HISTORY OF BUCKS CO. (1876, Democrat Book & Job Office Print,
Doylestown, PA) ("HISTORY OF BUCKS CO.") (LDS Film 1598001, item 4)
Egle, EARLY PENNSYLVANIA LAND RECORDS, (1976, Gen. Publishing Co.,
Baltimore, MD) ("BOARD OF PROPERTY MINUTES") (THIS IS ALSO PENNSYLVANIA
ARCHIVES, SER. 2, VOL. 1)
Peare, REMEMBER WILLIAM PENN
Potts, HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS RELATING TO THE POTTS FAMILY IN GREAT
BRITAIN AND AMERICA (1901, Self Published, Cannonsburg, PA) ("POTTS FAMILY")
Raum, THE HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY, Vol. 1 (1877, John E. Potter & Co.,
Philadelphia, PA) ("NEW JERSEY HISTORY")
Reed & Miller, THE BURLINGTON COURT BOOK OF WEST NEW JERSEY, 1680-1709
(1944, Kraus Reprint Co., Millwood, NY) ("BURLINGTON COURT BOOK")
Stracke, THOMAS POTTS AND RELATED FAMILIES (1994, private printing, San
Francisco, CA) ("POTTS BOOK")
Woodward & Hageman, HISTORY OF BURLINGTON AND MERCER COUNTIES (1883, J.B.
Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, PA) ("BURLINGTON/MERCER HISTORY") (LDS Fiche
6045941)
THOMAS POTTS
Thomas Potts was less than a year old when the family came to America on
the ship Shield.
In March, 1697, Thomas Potts bought 144 acres in Mansfield township from
George Porter for £30.47
On June 20th, 1698, Thomas Potts and Mary Records were married at his
father's home.48
Thomas Potts served on the Grand Jury of the 1698 session of the Court of
Pleas at Burlington.49 He again served in 1699.50
Thomas filed actions to recover a debts from Anthony Ashmore and Randal
Simmons in 1698, but later withdrew these action.51
In 1699, Thomas served on the jury for the trial between Thomas Wetherill
and James Wills.52
In March, 1699, Thomas joined his father on a Bond to Christopher
Wetherill concerning the sale of his fathers home.53 The bond describes
Thomas as being "of Springfield township, Burlington county."
In 1701, Thomas served on the Petty Jury for the Court of Pleas of
Burlington county.54
In the winter of 1705-6, Nathaniel Records, the father of Thomas' wife
Mary, died and Thomas was appointed administrator of his estate.55
In 1706, Thomas served as Constable for Mansfield township.56
In 1707, Thomas was baptized into the Baptist faith at Cold Spring by
Reverend Evan Morgan.57
In 1709, a Thomas Potts was appointed by the Grand Jury of Burlington to
assess and collect taxes for Mansfield township.58
In November, 1715, Thomas, then of Mansfield, purchased for £10 from
Collum McGuire 1/2 acre in Mansfield township, Burlington, on Crafts creek
and close by on the north side of Pumpheries Landing and next to Collum's
other lands.59
In May, 1717, Thomas, then of Mansfield, purchased for £37 10s from
Collum McGuire 72 1/2 acres in Mansfield township, Burlington, on the Great
Creek and next to Joseph English and a 1/2 acre parcel Thomas purchased
earlier from Collum.60
In June, 1724, Thomas purchased 300 acres in Mansfield on the Delaware
River and adjacent to Thomas Biddle, Rowland Powell, William Hammills and
Jeremiah Bates.61
In February, 1725, Thomas purchased for £225 12 1/2 acres in Mansfield
township and an adjacent parcel (but in Chesterfield township) of 5 acres
with a grist mill from Daniel Farnsworth, Isaac Horner and his
father-in-law, Joseph Borden.62 The property was sold to Thomas after the
three previous owners fell into dispute over the constructing of an iron
works on the property, and he, the same day, sold a 1/2 interest in the
property and water grist mill to Daniel Cox for £112 10s.63 Thomas
ultimately built the iron works with Daniel Cox and John Allen.64 The three
purchased for £23 water rights in February, 1725, as copartners in the grist
mill on the property.65
In April 10, 1725, Thomas purchased from John Alburtis a 1/2 interest in
4 acres in Nottingham township, Burlington county adjacent to Nathan Allen &
William Beards lot, now held by Matthew Champion.66
In 1726, Thomas inherited his father's estate.
Per Potts, in 1728 Thomas conveyed the Chestnut St. property inherited
from his father to George House.67 In the deed he is referred to as a
tanner.
Thomas Potts was part owner of an iron works and grist mill near
Bordentown with Daniel Coxe.68
In July, 1732, Thomas with Joshua Quicksall sold to Thomas' son Thomas
Jr. for £12 divided equally between Thomas Sr. and Joshua 4 acres in
Nottingham township, Burlington county, Thomas' 1/2 being acquired by him in
April, 1725, from John Alburtis and adjacent to Nathan Allen & William
Beards lot, now held by Matthew Champion.69
In November, 1737, Thomas, then of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, for £70
sold to William English the 72 1/2 and the adjacent 1/2 acre parcels that
Thomas purchased from Collum Macgurie in 1717.70
By 1739, with the death of Daniel Cox in 1737, the iron works that
Thomas, Daniel Cox and John Allen built was up for sale.71
Thomas was normally a resident of Burlington county, but spent the years
17__-44 in Southampton township, Bucks county, where he was instrumental in
founding the Southampton Baptist Church. In 1741 he purchased several lots
in Hatboro and moved there that year.72
In September 24, 1741, Thomas purchased from Isaac Walton for £19 6s, 5
acres, 60 perches in Manor Moreland from Isaac alton and Sarah his wife of
Byberry. Being lots 13 and 14.73
In October, 1741, Thomas, along with Samuel Wright and Benjamain Shreve,
filed an inventory in the estate of Thomas Newbold.74
In 1742, Thomas' son, Thomas, died, who had carried on the family
tradition of being a tanner.75
In March, 1742, Thomas, then of Southampton, Bucks county, PA, married
for a third time. His wife Rebecah Stacy, widow of Joshua Wright, had six
children from her previous marriage.76 She also became one of the heirs of
the estate of her brother, Mahlon Stacy, who had inherited all of the lands
of their father.77
In September, 1744, a part of the lands inherited by Rebecah Potts from
her late brother Mahlon Stacy were divided among the heirs by the casting of
lots. Rebecca Potts and her children (each for a 1/7th share based upon
Rebecah's previous grant to her children) received three parcels of land and
a 1/5 interest to unlocated proprietary lands. The first parcel was 1500
acres on the Whippazy River, the second a one acre lot in Trenton on the
Assumpsik River and the third approximately 27 acres, a part of 370 acres
outside of Trenton, all for the nominal sum of five shillings and for their
share in other lands evidenced by separate deeds.78 These separate deeds
allocating other lands from the Mahlon Stacy estate to Thomas Atkinson,79
Mahlon Kirkbride,80 and Amos Janney81 were executed the same day.
In December, 1745, the successors to the Estate of Mahlon Stacy Jr.,
including his sister Rebecca (Stacey) Potts "of the county of Burlington"
appointed Samuel Atkinson and Joshua Wright as their attorneys for the sale
of lands inherited from the Estate of Mahlon Stacy consisting of lands in
Salem county, land with a 1/3 interest in the iron works in Northampton
township of Burlington county, and what interest they had in an iron ore
mine in Bucks county, Pennsylvania.82
By December, 1745, Thomas had removed from Southampton and was living in
Burlington county New Jersey.83
In 1747, the successors to the Estate of Mahlon Stacy Jr., including his
sister Rebecca (Stacey) Potts "of the Province of New Jersey" sold to John
Denormandie for £300 a 1/3 interest in 345 acres with iron works on the
Anchokos creek in Northampton township, Burlington county, NJ, along with an
iron ore mine in Bucks county, Pennsylvania.84
In 1750, for £40, the successors to the Estate of Mahlon Stacy Jr.,
including his sister Rebecca (Stacey) Potts sold to John Munrow in
Northampton township in Bucks county two contiguous parcels of meadow land,
one of four acres and the other of seven acres.85
1749 - was a witness to the will of Peter Imlay.86
On January 1, 1754, a month before he died, Thomas deeded to his son
William for £500 his 400 acre plantation on the York road in Mansfield where
he lived,87 and to son Nathaniel for £200 his 300 acre plantation that he
purchased in 1724 from Mary Wilson, Rowland Powell and Aaron Phillip on the
Delaware river in Mansfield where Nathaniel lived.88
Thomas Potts died February 2, 1754 and is buried in the Baptist graveyard
at Bordentown.89 In his will wife Rebecca was given wood, milk, the use of
the "Parlor" room at the home, and the use of his slave angelica until she
remarried. The wood and milk were to be provided by son William, who,
according to the will, "had already been well provided for." He made
specific monetary bequests to his children and the children of his deceased
daughter Rebecca Potts Cox. His son, William was given his personal effects
and implements to use for 10 years, after which the same were to be sold and
the estate was to be divided amongst his children. His tombstone
inscription: "Here lieth the Body of Thomas Potts
who departed this Life February the 2nd 1754 aged 76 years one month."90
In his will, he left to his daughter Ann Folwell and to the children of
his son Thomas Potts and daughter Rebecca Cox one hundred pounds. Nathaniel
and William each received five shillings as they were "already well provided
for." Joshua received £250 and the lot of land deeded to him in Burlington.
Wife Rebecca received such fire wood and mild as she might need, the use of
his Negro Agjegelica, and the use of the room called "Parlor" for as long as
she remained his widow, or in lieu thereof, £5 a year. All implements and
personal effects were given to son William, including the use of his other
Negro Jack, for 10 years, at which time they were to be sold, combined with
the residue of his estate, and the balance was to be divided among his
children and survivors of his deceased children, except his deceased son
Thomas.91 His executors were his sons Joshua and William Potts and his
son-in-law Thomas Cox.92 The inventory of the estate was valued at £836.93
The Koleda MANUSCRIPT states as follows:
In 1699 he is mentioned as living in Springfield township, Burlington
Co., West Jersey.
Nathaniel Records of the township of Mansfield deeded to his son-in-law
in consideration of his marriage to his daughter Mary two tracts of land in
Mansfield township. One of 50 acres and one of 165 acres. Nathaniel reserved
to himself 1/2 interest during his life time.
Thomas Potts, Jr. married secondly Mary Borden who was born 7-7-1684 and
was the daughter of John and Mary Earle Borden, a second cousin of Joseph
Borden the founder of Bordentown, N.J. and a granddaughter of Richard Borden
who came to Rhode Island on May 20, 1638 from England. She is buried at
Southampton Baptist Church, Pennsylvania near her son Joshua Potts, her
stone reads "In memory of Mary, wife of Thomas Pots died April 2, 1741, age
56 years 8 months 26 days"
Thomas Potts conveyed to Joshua (his son) on 2-13-1743 the property he
had acquired in 1741 being a lot of land in Hatborough in the Manor Moreland
on York Road and later the 45 acre tract (Deed Book I 15 page 382)
On January 1, 1754 Thomas Potts lends moneys to his son Nathaniel Potts.
This cemetery (GMAJ of American Ancestry Vol III 91) is now neglected and
was known as the Bordentown Baptist Cemetery.
Stracke questions the marriage to Mary Borden, stating at p. 74 of her
work:
This is under the assumption that "Mary Potts" buried in Philadelphia in
1741 is Mary Borden Potts and not Mary Records Potts. No solid proof of the
Potts/Borden marriage has been uncovered. The date Sep. 1684 is given on the
Philadelphia tombstone as the date of "Mary's" birth. One argument goes that
if Mary Records was the only Mary that Thomas married, she would have only
been 15 at the time of their first child's birth. Since this is not
impossible, certainly it cannot be used as "proof" and thus this compiler
leaves it open to you and welcomes any documentation to help resolve this
controversy. In her original publication, Stracke notes after the Potts
write-up from THE POTTS FAMILY by WW Potts that "This compiler is convinced
that Thomas did not marry a Mary Borden as is stated here with a question
mark. His last two sons, Joshua and William, were born well before Mary
(Records) Potts died in 1742, and they each married a Borden, both of whom
were daughters of a prominent pioneer family, after whom Bordentown was
named. I did find where "a" Thomas Potts had married a Borden, but this was
not our Thomas.
SOURCES - THOMAS & MARY BORDEN POTTS
VITALS:
Tom DOBa: 12/__/1677, ___________, England (Koleda MANUSCRIPT)
DOD: 02/02/1754, Bordentown, NJ (Woodward & Hageman, p. 484, Southampton
Church Records)
Mary DOB: 07/07/1684, ___________ (Koleda MANUSCRIPT, Stracke SUPPLEMENT
has September)
DOD: 04/02/1741, ___________, PA (Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 9, Stracke has
this as Mary Records)
DOM:
CHILDREN:
Joshua b. 01/04/1719, ___________ (Tombstone, Southampton Baptist
churchyard, Southampton, PA)
m. 08/16/1742, Ann Borden, Burlington Co., NJ (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p.
74)
d. 06/16/1761, Hatboro, PA (Southampton Church records)
William b. __/__/1721, ___________ (tombstone, Baptist Graveyard,
Bordentown, NJ)94
m. 12/10/1755, Amy Borden (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74, has 1756 for the
marriage)
d. 07/25/1783 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74, Stillwell, HISTORICAL
MISCELLANY, p. 270)95
OTHER MARRIAGES/CHILDREN:
Tom. - 1st. wife Mary Records, d/o Nathaniel Records, DOM: 06/20/1698,
Burlington, N.J. (Burlington Records, 1680, p. 44)
Children:
Richard b. 12/17/1699 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
d. young (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
Rebecca b. __/__/1701 (Stracke BOOK, p. 74)
m1.__/__/1725 Thomas Cox (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
m2. __/__/____, ______ Pownell (this is per Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 33.
The marriage is not included in Stracke.)
d. before 175496
Anne b. 11/26/1704, Mansfield Twp. (Tombstone, Southampton Baptist
churchyard, Southampton, PA)
m. 12/06/1727 William Folwell of Burlington, West New Jersey (Burlington,
NJ, Lic. 1727-34, p. 21, also at NJA, vol. 22, p. 315)
d. 02/20/1788 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
Tom III b. 07/10/1706 (Est. from tombstone, Old Yellow Meeting House,
Cream Ridge, N.J.)
m. 10/29/1730, Sarah Beakes, Chesterfield Meeting House, Burlington Co.,
NJ (Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 34)
d. 07/__/1742 (Stracke BOOK, p. 74, Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 33 has 1740)
Mary b. 1710 (Koleda MANUSCRIPT, Stracke, POTTS BOOK has 1702)
m. __/__/1737, John Cox (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
d. 08/15/1798 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)
Nathaniel b. __/__/1710 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74, Burr, BORDEN FAMILY,
p. 33, has 1711 in Mansfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ)
m lc.11/30/1741 Susanna Kallum (Kellan) of Chesterfield, Burlington Co.,
NJ (New Jersey Marriage Book 1727-34, p. 70 1/2)97
d. 06/__/1761 (Stracke, POTTS BOOK, p. 74)98
3rd wife lc: 03/08/1742, Rebecca (Stacey) Wright, of New Hanover,
Burlington Co., NJ, widow, d/o Mahlon & Rebecca Ely Stacey, Burlington - no
children from this marriage (New Jersey Marriage License Book 1727-34, p. 87
1/2) (Rebecca's children from her prior marriage: Joshua Wright, Mahlon
Wright, Nathan Wright, David Wright, Elizabeth Wright and Rebecca
LAND:99
2 acre & 114 perch lot in Hatboro, Manor Moorland, Philadelphia Co., PA,
bounded by the York Road and the lands of John Bond, John Jones and David
Rees (but earlier John Croasley's) to Jacob Tomkins.
Thomas to son Joshua Potts, 02/03/1743100
144 acres in Mansfield Township from George Porter
George Porter to Thomas, 03/05/1697 (West Jersey Records, Lib. B, Part 2,
folio 613) (£20)
12 acres in Mansfield township, Burlington Co., and 5 acres with a grist
mill in Chesterfield township, Burlington Co., NJ (also known as Lots on
east & west side of Blacks Creek101)
Joseph Borden, Isaac Horner & Daniel Farnsworth to Thomas, 02/01/1725
(Trenton, Deed Book D pp. 139-43) (1/3 of £225)
Thomas to Daniel Cox for a 1/2 interest, 02/01/1725 (West Jersey Deeds
Book D, pp. 144-6) (£112 10s with a 1/2 interest in an adjacent 5 acre
parcel and the Water Grist Mill on the same)
Thomas to Daniel Cox for a 1/4 interest, 02/01/1725 (_________)
1/2 acre in Mansfield township, Burlington Co. on the Great Creek and
next to Collum Macgurie
Collum Macguire to Thomas, 11/19/1715 (West Jersey Deeds, Book A-D, pp.
236-40) (£10)
Thomas to William English, 11/24/1737 (West Jersey Deeds, Book A-D, pp.
240-2) (£70, with one other parcel)
72 1/2 acres in Mansfield township, Burlington Co. on the Great Creek and
next to Joseph English and a 1/2 acre parcel Thomas purchased earlier from
Collum Macgurie
Collum Macguire to Thomas, 05/28/1717 (West Jersey Deeds, Book A-D, pp.
236-40) (£37 10s)
Thomas to William English, 11/24/1737 (West Jersey Deeds, Book A-D, pp.
240-2) (£70, with one other parcel)
1/2 interest in 4 acres in Nottingham township, Burlington county
adjacent to Nathan Allen & William Beards lot held by Matthew Champion
John Alburtis to Thomas, 04/10/1725 (_________________) (____)
Thomas to son Thomas Jr., 07/20/1732 (West Jersey Deeds, book Y, pp.
419-24) (£6)
Chestnut St. property Philadelphia, PA
inherited from his father (_____________________)
Thomas to George House, 03/10/1728 (Philadelphia Co., PA, Deed Book H,
page 78) (£25)
Power of Atty. to sell Mahlon Stacy lands in Salem, Burlington & Bucks
Co.
Thomas & Rebecah (Stacy) Potts with others to Samuel Atkinson & Joshua
Wright, 12/12/1745 (West Jersey Deeds Lib. G-H, pp. 380-1)
1/7 Interest in 1,500 acres on Whippazy River from Mahlon Stacy Estate
Estate to heirs including Rebecca Potts (_____________)
Heirs to Rebecca & Thomas Potts & children of Rebecca, 09/19/1744 (West
Jersey Deeds, Lib. G-H, pp. 381-3)
1/7 Interest in 1 acre in Trenton from Mahlon Stacy Estate
Estate to heirs including Rebecca Potts (_____________)
Heirs to Rebecca & Thomas Potts & children of Rebecca, 09/19/1744 (West
Jersey Deeds, Lib. G-H, pp. 381-3)
1/7 Interest in 27 acres part of 370 acres outside of Trenton from Mahlon
Stacy Estate
Estate to heirs including Rebecca Potts (_____________)
Heirs to Rebecca & Thomas Potts & children of Rebecca, 09/19/1744 (West
Jersey Deeds, Lib. G-H, pp. 381-3)
1/7 In Unallocated lands from Mahlon Stacy Estate
Estate to heirs including Rebecca Potts (_____________)
Heirs to Rebecca & Thomas Potts & children of Rebecca, 09/19/1744 (West
Jersey Deeds, Lib. G-H, pp. 381-3)
1/3 part of 345 Acres with iron works in Northampton Twp, Burlington Co.,
from Mahlon Stacy Estate
Mahlon Stacy Estate to Rebecca Potts & others _____________________
Potts & others to A. Denormandie, 04/17/1747 (West Jersey Deeds Lib. H,
pp. 115-20)
2 parcels of meadow land in Northampton Twp., Bucks Co., one 4 acres and
the other 7 acres
Mahlon Stacy Estate to Rebecca Potts & others _____________________
Potts & others to John Munrow, 10/17/1750 (West Jersey Deeds Lib. L, pp.
56-60)
400 acre plantation on York road in Mansfield where he lived.
__________ to Thomas, ________ (___________)
Thomas to son William Potts, 01/01/1754 (West Jersey Deeds, Lib. A-D, pp.
164-169) (£500)
300 acres in Mansfield on the Delaware River and adjacent to Thomas
Biddle, Rowland Powell, William Hammills and Jeremiah Bates.102
Mary Wilson, William Rowland and Aron Phillip to Thomas, 06/04/1724
(_________________________________)
Thomas to son Nathaniel, 01/01/1754, (West Jersey Deeds, Book M, pp.
385-8) (£200)
50 acres in Philadelphia Co., PA103
Isaac Walton to Thomas, 09/24/17____ (_________________________________)
Thomas to son Joshua, 01/01/1754 (_________________________________)
OTHER:
Burr, THE BORDEN FAMILY (1981, self published) ("BORDEN FAMILY")
COLONIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY, vol. 21, 22 (1899, The Press Printing & Publishing Co., Paterson,
NJ) ("NJA")
COLONIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW
JERSEY (1913, The Union-Gazette Association, Somerville, NJ), ser. 1, vol.
30 ("NJA")
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, SOUTHAMPTON BAPTIST CHURCH, 1687 -
1842 (Self Published, 1895) ("SOUTHAMPTON BAPTIST RECORDS")
Smith, COLONIAL LAND TENURE IN HATBORO AND VICINITY (Bulletin of the
Historical Society of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, October, 1941 - April,
1943, pp. 268-313) ("COLONIAL LAND TENURE")
Stillwell, HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MISCELLANY DATA RELATING TO THE
SETTLEMENT AND SETTLERS OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY vol. 2 (1914, Lyons
Publishing Co., NY, NY) ("HISTORICAL MISCELLANY")
Stracke, THOMAS POTTS [SHIELD] AND RELATED FAMILIES (1994, Private
printing, San Francisco, CA) ("POTTS BOOK")
Woodward & Hageman, HISTORY OF BURLINGTON AND MERCER COUNTIES (1883, J.B.
Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, PA) ("BURLINGTON/MERCER HISTORY") (LDS Fiche
6045941)
JOSHUA POTTS
Joshua Potts, born January 14, 1719 to Thomas and Mary Borden Potts in
Mansfield, Burlington county, New Jersey. His father was a tanner, as was
his grandfather. This was not to be for Joshua. He was crippled and without
one arm, and had an incurable internal ailment.
The family was Baptist, and Joshua followed his father and was baptized
at the age of 19, September 2, 1738, in Philadelphia.104 At 21, he moved to
Pennsylvania with his parents, where he served as the first village school
master at Southampton.105
ANN BORDEN
Ann Borden was the eldest child of Joseph and Susannah Grover Borden.
Joseph was a prominent man, the owner of a ferry boat servicing travelers to
Pennsylvania from New York, and a large landowner in the town bearing his
name, Bordentown, on the Delaware river in New Jersey. A family of wealth,
no doubt Ann was raised in relative comfort for the day.
An associate of her father, Thomas Potts, was a tanner in nearby
Mansfield, New Jersey. Thomas had married Ann's aunt Mary Borden, and was
involved with her father in a few business ventures. No doubt through this
contact she came to know Thomas' son Joshua. When the Potts relocated to
Southampton in 1741, Ann was already smitten. They married the following
year.
Of the first items on the agenda when Ann married Joshua was her faith.
Ann was baptized a Baptist faith in 1742, the year she married Joshua.106
At the time Joshua and Ann married Joshua had not found his calling. This
changed as his faith grew under the guidance of the Pennypack Baptist
Church. Joshua was first called to minister in the church at the age of 25
in 1744, and was accepted in this position.107 Private and public ministry
were the first steps to becoming a minister, considered a position of great
importance in the community and one to which Joshua was drawn.108
Members of the Pennypack church living in Southampton township held
church meetings at members homes in Southampton given the distance they were
from the church. As Southampton grew the membership in the surrounding
community desired to form their own church and the congregation, including
Joshua and Ann, and his father Thomas and Mary, petitioned Pennypeck to do
so. Pennypeck granted the request,109 and on April 8th, 1746, Southampton
Baptist Church became the first and oldest Baptist church in Bucks county,
PA.110
Joshua became Southampton's Teaching Elder.111 The following month, on
May 29th, 1746, Joshua was ordained Pastor of the church. The first duties
of Joshua as the new church included taking up collections to support a
pamphlet in defense of infant baptism,112 and determining the fitness of
elected members.113 Of course his duties included baptizing new members into
the congregation114 and performing marriages among the members.115
In 1763, Ann, apparently as an executrix, satisfied a mortgage made to
Thomas Marsden in 1748.116
In April, 1749, Joshua secured a loan of £49 from the Pennsylvania
General Loan Office, mortgaging a 2 acre, 114 perch improved parcel in
Hatborough township, Philadelphia county.117 Later, in June, 1749, Joshua
secured a additional loan of £58 10s from the Pennsylvania General Loan
Office, mortgaging a 66 acre, 100 perch parcel of unimproved land in
Mooreland township, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania.118
In the 1700's, sickness of any kind was a serious matter. In February,
1748, measles struck the Potts house, and Joshua was unable to attend to his
duties for the next few months.119 Returning to his duties the following
spring, Joshua again attended to the congregation at Southampton.120 Joshua
was not free from fault in his position as minister. He was admonished at
one point for permitting a marriage to be published between church members
when the church had not been previously advised of the intentions.121 Still
his position grew, and by 1749 he was one of the members appointing new
ministers.122
He served as a co-administrator of the estate of John Harrison in
1748.123
Joshua was one of the four organizers of the Union Library Company.124
The Union Library Company stands as the second oldest library in the state.
Joshua Potts with three others held a preliminary meeting to organize the
library July 19, 1755.125 Hatboro, where Joshua lived, had less than a dozen
homes at this time. Nevertheless Joshua with three others met and determined
a plan to start a partnership, and after given public notice of the plan, a
"partnership" for the formation of a library was formally organized a few
days later at a local establishment - The Crooked Billet Tavern.126 Joshua
served as secretary from 1756 to 1758.127 The library's first books were 59
volumes ordered from London, which arrived in August, 1756, and were housed
at his home128 until later transferred to the David Rees residence across
the street in 1759.
Of all things, education was paramount to Joshua throughout his life. In
addition to serving as Southampton's first schoolmaster, he was a trustee
for the Latin Grammar School operated under the Southampton Baptist
Church.129
In 1756, Joshua's brother William married Ann's sister, Amy Borden.130
In 1760, Joshua, then of the Manor of Mooreland, Philadelphia County,
sold for £250 a lot in Hatboro, Manor Mooreland, of 2 acres & 114 perches
and bounded by the York Road and the lands of John Bond, John Jones and
David Rees (but earlier John Croasley's) to Jacob Tomkins.131
Joshua lived in the old Yerkes house at the time of his death.132 He died
June 18th 1761.133 In his will, he gave his clothing to his brothers
Nathaniel and William, and several specified household goods and "one white
Servant Maid Named Magdalena Slowgar" to his wife.134 The balance of his
estate, including his books, were to be divided equally in seven parts among
his children.135 Brother William and father-in-law Joseph Borden were to be
guardians over his children, who also served as executors.136 In the records
of the Southampton Baptist Church, his death is memorialized as follows:
In this Interregnum Departed this Life the Revd Mr. Joshua Potts. He was
our Minister from our first Constitution, to the Day of his Death. He was
afflicted for some years with a very painful disorder, which the Doctors
said was the Gravel in his Kidneys which he bore with no less fortitude then
Resignation; and Continued to Preach to the last, notwithstanding he was
obliged frequently to walk a foot not less than five Miles to Meeting, not
being able to bear the motion of a Horse & Carriage. He was truly Pious, yet
Genteel, gay and Cheerful, a most agreeable Companion, a Good Neighbour a
kind Husband, a tender parent and an accomplished Preacher.137
In 1762, Joshua's widow Ann along with Joseph Hart sold to William
Folwell.138
Five years later, on July 5, 1766, Ann Potts left the Southampton Church
and removed to the Baptist church at Crosswicks.139
The Koleda MANUSCRIPT states as follows:
Joshua Potts, son of Thomas Potts and his second wife Mary Borden Potts
was born in Mansfield township, Burlington Co., N.J. on January 4, 1719. He
was the elder of the two sons of Thomas and Mary.
On February 3, 1743 Thomas Potts conveyed to Joshua his son, property he
had acquired in 1741, being a lot of land in Hatborough in the Manor
Mooreland on York Road.
Southampton belongs to the second group of townships formed which
includes Warminster, Newtown, Wrightstown, Buckingham and Solebury. In 1692
Southampton and the lands about it with Warminster were one township. It was
recognized as a township in 1703 and in 1711 petition to separate it from
Warminster was made. Just over the southeast border of Warminster in
Mooreland township, Montgomery Co., is the village of Hatborough, in 1710 it
was called "Crooked Billet" probably taken from the Tavern. Montgomery
county was once a part of Bucks county. Hatboro, or Hatborough, situated on
the Old York Road took its name from the labors of John Dawson, a hatter,
who plied his trade there in an old stone house, which later became the
"Crooked Billet Tavern," a name borrowed from the famous old Philadelphia
inn on Water Street. The name Hatborough occurs as early as 1749. It is 14
miles from Philadelphia on the Willow Grover Turnpike. During the
Revolution, General Lacey was surprised by the British in a wood just above
the Baptist church.
Joshua purchased of Isaac Walton 190 Acres (Deed Book I 10pg 147) in
addition to the lands he received from his father.
From THE POTTS FAMILY comes the following additional information on
Joshua to be found:
n Morgan Edwards' Materials towards a History of the Baptists, etc.,
speaking of the Southampton Church is this notice: "Rev. Joshua Potts. He
was born Jan 4, 1719, at Mansfield, in the Jersey. Baptized Sep. 2, 1738.
Ordained May 29, 1746, at which time he took the care of the church, and
continued therein to his death, which came to pass June 18, 1761, and was
buried at Southampton. Mr. Potts is said to have been endowed with a very
uncommon share of those qualifications which render the civil and
ministerial life amiable. He married Ann Borden by whom he had children,
Mary, Amy, Abigail, Rebecca, Hannah, Joshua, Thomas, All single except two
who married into the Edwards and Taylor families.
SOURCES - JOSHUA & ANN BORDEN POTTS
VITALS:
Josh DOB: 01/04/1719, Mansfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ (Koleda
MANUSCRIPT)
DOD: 06/16/1761, Hatboro, PA (Southampton Church records)
Ann DOB:
DOD: Before 1794, Bordentown or Philadelphia, PA (Koleda Chart)
DOM: 08/16/1742 (Stracke BOOK, p. 74)
CHILDREN:140
Mary b.__/__/1743, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
Amy L. b.__/__/1744, Southampton, Bucks Co., PA (Stracke BOOK, p. 76,
location is from Vince Potts data sheets)
m. 01/05/1767, Lawrence Taylor, Princeton, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76,
location is from Vince Potts data sheets)141
d. 10/05/1788, Cream Ridge, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76 location is from
Vince Potts data sheets)
Thomas b.__/__/1746, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
m. 09/13/1777, Alice Bunting (Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 21, date is from
Vince Potts notes)
Abigail b. __/__/1748, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
m. 03/23/1771, William Coffin (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
d. __/__/____, __________________________
Rebecca b. __/__/1750, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
m. 01/26/1780, Lewis Forman, Burlington Co., NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76,
location is from Vince Potts data sheets)
d. __/__/1786, Bordentown, Burlington, NJ (REBECCA FORMAN WILL)
Anne b. __/__/1752, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
d. bef. 1786, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
Hannah b. __/__/1755, __________________________ (Stracke BOOK, p. 76)
Joshua Jr. b. 09/17/1757, Hatboro, PA (Koleda Chart)
m. 01/17/1785, Mary Bunting (Stracke, BOOK)
d. 08/27/1828, Pope Co., AR (Koleda CHARTS)
OTHER MARRIAGES/CHILDREN:
Ann - __/__/1766, Joseph Mitchell of Brockley, Philadelphia Co., PA
(Burr, BORDEN FAMILY, p. 33)142
LANDS:
2 acre & 114 perch lot in Hatboro, Manor Mooreland, Philadelphia Co., PA,
bounded by the York Road and the lands of John Bond, John Jones and David
Rees (but earlier John Croasley's) to Jacob Tomkins.
Thomas Potts (father) to Joshua, 02/03/1743
Joshua to Jacob Tomkins, 02/07/1760 (Philadelphia Co., PA, Deed Book
H-11, p. 451)
Lot on North-West side of Preserve Browne's lot, fenced in formerly by
John Flinthing 5 rods wide and appx. 12 rods in length
Joseph Borden to daughter Ann Borden Potts, 09/22/1765 (Will)
Chesterfield plantation
Joseph Borden to daughters Amy Borden Potts, Ann Borden Potts, Hannah
Borden Lawrence, 09/22/1765 (Will)
Land on both sides of a brook or run between land of Joseph Borden Jr. &
Joseph Wood
Joseph Borden to daughters Amy Borden Potts, Ann Borden Potts, Hannah
Borden Lawrence, 09/22/1765 (Will)
Field in Bordentown bounded by Aaron Watson, Walnut Street & Prince
Street & John Edwards
Joseph Borden to daughters Amy Borden Potts, Ann Borden Potts, Hannah
Borden Lawrence, 09/22/1765 (Will)
House & Land in Mansfield
___________Allen to Joseph, ______________ (______________________)
Joseph Borden to daughters Amy Borden Potts, Ann Borden Potts, Hannah
Borden Lawrence, 09/22/1765 (Will)
50 acres in Philadelphia Co., PA143
Father Thomas Potts to son Joshua, 01/01/1754
(____________________________)
Ann Potts/Jos. Hart as executors of Joshua Potts to Wm Folwell,
05/20/1762 (Philadelphia Deeds Book I-10, pp. 247-51) (£1,160 - with three
other parcels) this deed purports to convey less land than appears to be
described. The meets and bounds need to be checked with the deeds referred
to so that the difference can be reconciled.
32 Acres of Land in Philadelphia Co., PA144
Isaac & Sarah Walton to Joshua, 03/03/1752
Ann Potts/Jos. Hart as executors of Joshua Potts to Wm Folwell,
05/20/1762 (Philadelphia Deeds Book I-10, pp. 247-51) (£1,160 - with three
other parcels)
78 Acres 42 perches of Land in Philadelphia Co., PA145
Isaac & Sarah Walton to Joshua, 05/02/1753
Ann Potts/Jos. Hart as executors of Joshua Potts to Wm Folwell,
05/20/1762 (Philadelphia Deeds Book I-10, pp. 247-51) (£1,160 - with three
other parcels)
8__ Acres and 40 perches of Land in Philadelphia Co., PA146
Isaac & Sarah Walton to Joshua, 03/31/1755
Ann Potts/Jos. Hart as executors of Joshua Potts to Wm Folwell,
05/20/1762 (Philadelphia Deeds Book I-10, pp. 247-51) (£1,160 - with three
other parcels)
NEWSPAPERS:
PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, 06/09/1748 (John Harrison estate notice)
OTHER:
Battle, HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (1887, A. Warner, Chicago,
IL) ("BUCKS COUNTY")
Bean, THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (1884, Everts &
Peck, Philadelphia, PA) ("MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY")
Burr, THE BORDEN FAMILY (1981, self published) ("BORDEN FAMILY")
Duffin, Guide to the Mortgages of the General Loan Office of the Province
of Pennsylvania, 1724-1756 (_____, Gen. Soc. of PA, Monogram Series No. 1,
________) ("PA MORTGAGE GUIDE")
Fackenthal, A COLLECTION OF PAPERS READ BEFORE THE BUCKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, vol. I (1932, Fackenthal Publication Fund, Bucks Co.,
PA) ("BUCKS COUNTY PAPERS")
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, SOUTHAMPTON BAPTIST CHURCH, 1687 -
1842 (Self Published, 1895) (LDS FILM 0388568) ("SOUTHAMPTON BAPTIST
RECORDS")
Koleda, BUNTING GENEALOGY (1980, Self published, Prineville, OR)
("BUNTING BOOK") (LDS Book 929.273 B886k)
Koleda, OHIO & IOWA PIONEERS (1973, Private printing, Prineville, OR)
("O&I PIONEERS")
Maring, BAPTISTS IN NEW JERSEY (1964, Jusdon Press, Valley Forge, PA)
("NEW JERSEY BAPTISTS")
Smith, COLONIAL LAND TENURE IN HATBORO AND VICINITY (Bulletin of the
Historical Society of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, October, 1941 - April,
1943, pp. 268-313) ("COLONIAL LAND TENURE")
Stracke, THOMAS POTTS [SHIELD] AND RELATED FAMILIES (1994, Private
printing, San Francisco, CA) ("BOOK")
UNION LIBRARY, FOUNDED 1755, HISTORIC SKETCH OF ONE OF THE OLDEST
LIBRARIES IN PENNSYLVANIA (1924, self published, Hatboro, PA) ("UNION
LIBRARY")
Will of Rebecca (Potts) Foreman, New Jersey Wills, Lib. 28, pp. 32-5
("REBECCA FORMAN WILL") (LDS Film 0522727, item 2)
JOSHUA POTTS
Joshua was three years old when his father, the Rev. Joshua Potts Sr.,
died. The family was then living in Southampton Township, Bucks county,
Pennsylvania. His mother move the family back to New Jersey when he was 9
years old: where her parents and in-laws lived.
Joshua was 18 at the start of the Revolutionary War, but there is to date
no evidence of service by him in this conflict.147 Surely he was impacted by
the war, for his mother's home town, Bordentown, was occupied by Hessions
under British control in 1776,148 and if she were still in Crosswicks at
that time they were within three miles of the old home and subject to the
Hessions' plundering. His uncle was Colonel Joseph Borden, and two of his
children, and therefore cousins of Joshua, married signers of the
Declaration of Independence (Mary, who married Thomas McKean, also a
president of the Continental Congress and governor of Delaware, and Amy, who
married Francis Hopkinson).149 Two years later, in 1778, The English
traveled up from Philadelphia and burned only two homes in the area: the
house of his uncle, Col. Joseph Borden, down the road in Bordentown, and
directly across the river the house of his uncle, Col. Joseph Kirkbride.150
At the close of 1776, Bristol was just across the river from the
southwestern front of the Revolutionary War. The British under General Howe,
and his brother, Admiral Howe, had taken and occupied New York city and the
surrounding area in the late summer and fall, opening what was the first
real offensive of the Revolutionary War. Washington was in retreat, from
Fort Lee on the Hudson, to Newark, to New Brunswick and finally to Trenton.
By late December, Bordentown was Howe's most southern and western position
under General Cornwallis, just across the Delaware from Bristol, and was
occupied by 2,000 Hessian troops under Count von Donop. Another 1,500
Hessians occupied Trenton under Colonel Johan Räll. The Continental Army had
to this point suffered only defeat and was down to 3,000 men. As Christmas
approached, the British and Hessians decided no further movement was
permissible in the winter of 1776-7, and made camp along the Delaware
anticipating resumption of hostilities when the winter was over.
Washington's Continental army had been strengthened with New Jersey and
Pennsylvania Militia, and he was not content to sit across the Delaware for
the winter with the Hessians just across the river. A plan was devised to
simultaneously encircle Trenton and Bordentown on Christmas. Daniel's role
in these events remains to be determined, but on Christmas eve, Washington's
forces, instead of going into winter quarters, crossed the Delaware,
captured Trenton, and forced the evacuation of Bordentown.151 Five days
later, Washington again came to the New Jersey side, successfully engaged
English troops at Princeton, NJ, and forced Howe to withdraw his troops from
western New Jersey and permitting Washington to winter over at Morristown in
northwest New Jersey.
ANN BUNTING
Joshua was a Wheelwright.152
In 1786, Joshua's sister, Rebecca Forman died, providing in her will £50
to Joshua.153
In 1790, Joshua sold to Andrew Baish for £10 2 acres in Chesterfield, New
Jersey, a part of the 15 acres he was gifted by his brother in 1785.154
In March, 1791, Joshua and Mary, then of Chesterfield township,
Burlington Co., NJ, sold for £19 10s to William Luke in Chesterfield
township on Pine Swamp being 6 acres of land part of 50 Acres conveyed to
Joshua Potts by his Brother Thomas Potts by deed of gift dated 1-7-1785.155
Colonel Joseph Kirkbride, left a remainder interest in his estate to the
children of his sisters, including his sister Elizabeth Kirkbride Bunting,
whose daughter was Mary (Bunting) Potts. In December, 1808, Joshua and Mary
executed a power of attorney in favor of Jonathan Rhea to handle the sale of
the properties included in this remainder interest. In the document, they
are noted as being from East Windsor, Middlesex county, New Jersey.156
Koleda believed that Joshua and Mary moved to Pope county in Arkansas in
1820.157 It is possible that Joshua and Mary followed their son Kirkbride to
Arkansas, as he moved there in 1826 and had established a large colonial
mansion there built with slave labor,158 however the only Potts in Pope
county in 1830 is Kirkbride.159
The following is form the Koleda MANUSCRIPT:
His children were all born in N.J. Sarah and Ann apparently remained in
Bordentown or Chesterfield township.
Joshua with his wife Mary and two sons, Joseph and Kirkbride and daughter
Lydia moved westward first stopping about 1820 in St. Louis Missouri where
Joseph remained for a while, the rest of the family moved on to Pope county
Arkansas.
The following is written about Joshua and Mary in the Koleda, BUNTING
BOOK, P. 241:
In 1785 Joshua Potts received a deed of gift from his brother, Thomas
Potts for 50 acres of land in Chesterfield Twp., Burlington Co., N.J. This
undoubtedly is the land his brother inherited as lawful heir at law from
their mother Ann (Borden) Potts Mitchell, which she in turn inherited from
her father Joseph Borden.160
Joshua and Mary begin conveying out parts of this tract in 1790 and 1791.
SOURCES - JOSHUA & MARY BUNTING POTTS
VITALS:
Josh DOB: 09/17/1757, Hatborough, PA (Koleda CHARTS)
DOD: 08/27/1828, Pope Co., AR (Koleda, BUNTING BOOK, p. 241)
Mary DOB: 1757, Bucks Co., Falls Twp., PA (Koleda, BUNTING BOOK)
DOD: 1835, Pope Co., AR (Koleda, BUNTING BOOK, p. 241)
DOM: 01/17/1785 (Stracke BOOK, p. 84a)
CHILDREN:
William M. b. __/__/1788, Burlington Co., N.J. (Stracke BOOK, p. 84a)
m. __/__/1808, Mary Patience Pearson (Stracke BOOK, p. 84a)
d. __/__/1837, probably Ohio (Stracke BOOK, p. 84a) (1828 in Iowa per
Koleda, BUNTING BOOK, p. 241)
Joseph b. __/__/1789, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 85)
m. __/__/____, Sarah _______ (Stracke BOOK, p. 85, per Koleda, BUNTING
BOOK, p. 241, spouse is Mary Burton)
d. 06/01/1872, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR (Stracke BOOK, p. 85,
location from V. Potts data sheets)
Ann Potts b. __/__/1800, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 85)
m. none (Stracke BOOK, p. 85)
d. __/__/1872, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 85)
Sarah I. b. __/__/1802, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 85)
m. 02/01/1842, John Ewing, Pope Co., AR (V. Potts data sheet)161
Kirkbride b. 03/24/1803, NJ (KIRKBRIDE POTTS OBITUARY)
m. 02/10/1829, Pamela A. Logan, d/o Robert A. Logan, Galla Creek
(Pottsville), AR (PAMELA LOGAN POTTS OBITUARY)
d. 11/24/1876, Pottsville, Pope Co., AR (KIRKBRIDE POTTS OBITUARY)
Lydia b. __/__/1805, NJ (Stracke BOOK, p. 86)
m. 10/28/1832, Stephen Decator Lewis, Pulaski, AR (Stracke BOOK, p. 86)
d. 12/29/1851, DeQueen, Pope Co., AR (Stracke BOOK, p. 86, location is
form V. Potts data sheets)
LANDS:
15 Acres in Chesterfield, NJ
Thomas Potts to Joshua, 01/07/1785
Joshua to Andrew Baish, 07/01/1790 (New Jersey Deed Book A-R, p. 29) (£10
- only 2 of the 15 acres)
CENSUS:
1830 Census, Pope Co., Illinois Twp., AR, p. 133 (Kirkbride Potts only -
no other family)
OTHER:
1823/1829 Missouri Territory Sheriff's Index (No Potts in the Territory)
Glazner & McLane, POPE COUNTY, ARKANSAS UNITED SATES CENSUS OF 1850 AND
MARRIAGE BOOK A APRIL 1830 - November 1849 (1966, self published) ("POPE
MARRIAGES")
Jackson, ARKANSAS 1830-39 TAX LISTS (1980, Accelerated Indexing Systems
International, Inc., North Salt Lake, UT ("ARKANSAS TAX LISTS")
Koleda, BUNTING GENEALOGY (1980, Self published, Prineville, OR)
("BUNTING BOOK") (LDS Book 929.273 B886k)
Lemley, CEMETERIES OF POPE COUNTY ARKANSAS, 2ed. (1981, Privately
Printed, Little Rock AR) (Joshua & Mary not Found)
Ohio Genealogical Society Report, vol. 24, #2, p. 118 (summer, 1984)
Koleda Notes
Obituary, Pamela Logan (Mrs. Kirkbride) Potts, Rusellville Democrat, Pope
Co., AR 08/22/1878 ("PAMELA LOGAN POTTS OBITUARY")
Obituary, Kirkbride Potts, _________________, Pope Co., AR 11/25/1879
("KIRKBRIDE POTTS OBITUARY")
Pope Co. Hist. Assoc., POPE CO. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY,
1972-1974, Vol. 6, #4 (June, 1972, Pope Co. Hist. Assoc., Russelville, AR)
("POTTS FAMILY OF POPE CO.")
Stracke, THOMAS POTTS [SHIELD] AND RELATED FAMILIES (1994, Private
printing, San Francisco, CA) ("BOOK")
Will of Rebecca (Potts) Foreman, New Jersey Wills, Lib. 28, pp. 32-5
("REBECCA FORMAN WILL") (LDS Film 0522727, item 2)
According to the family chart of Elizabeth Koleda, these are the parents
of William Pearson Potts.
The family relocated to Ohio in 1825.162 They settled in the central
portion of the state, on the Scioto river in Ross county. Ohio had been a
state for twenty years by this time, but aside from the river areas, was
still fairly uninhabited.163 The family most likely traveled first the
Cumberland Road, one of the first national projects, which ended at that
time at Wheelright, Ohio, on the Ohio river.164 From there, they must have
made the overland trek to mid Ohio.165
Granddaughters Susan remembers Mary as being very strict - a "great
scold" as she would say. In writing her uncle, she recalls:
[S]he was a great scold and went out in the kitchen after Aunt had
scrubbed it to see if it was done right and slipped and fell and broke her
hip and she never recovered (too old).166
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