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I have covered 9 generations of POTTS' in Australia from
Daniel Stephen Jason POTTS (born 26/03/1993) to
George POTTS, born in 1780. George Potts' son,
George Wilson POTTS, was born at Livingston, Columbia, N.Y., U.S.A. on the
9th August 1801 and died on 12th August 1845, Linlithgo, Columbia, N.Y.. George
Wilson married
Maria VAN HOUSTEN on the 11th February 1821 in Linlithgo, Columbia, N.Y.,
U.S.A. . George and Maria's son,
John Henry POTTS, migrated to Australia in 1849. John Henry POTTS is my
Great Great Grandfather. John Henry had 6 siblings who all stayed in the U.S. so
my best chance of finding more family would be to find descendants of any of
John Henry's brothers or sisters.
John
Henry POTTS
was born at Sober (now Johnstown) State of New York, U.S.A., on August 6, 1825.
He died 6th July, 1891. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
George Wilson POTTS. His mother’s maiden name was
Maria Van Housten
and she was of Dutch descent. John Henry Potts had eight Dutch uncles (on his
mother’s side). They gave young John a rough time, and that was one of the main
reasons why he came to Australia at the age of 24 years in 1849 from California,
U.S.A.
He trekked overland from Sydney to Yackandandah, Victoria, armed only with
tobacco, which he presented tho the Aboriginals to keep them friendly. The
natives must have appreciated such a gift, as he was unmolested unharmed by the
natives as he made his way on foot across the inland. He accepted an occupation
as a miner at Yackandandah. He did not become a school teacher until January 1,
1864.
John
Henry Potts
married Maria Ann Toomath, at Beechworth on 13th November, 1856.
The marriage was solemnised in the temporary church of the United Church of
England and Ireland. The Minister was the Rev. Thomas Powell. The bridegroom was
31 years of age and the bride was 22 years. Best man was John Carter and
Bridesmaid was Ruby R. Witney. (A coincidence as that their son,
Oliver Henry Potts, was married on the same day and month 27 years later).
Maria
Ann Toomath
was born in County of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, on 10th January, 1835. She
died 4th February, 1884.
John Henry Potts - A School Teacher
Mr. Neville Drummond, Publications Branch, of the Education Department of
Victoria, has supplied the following particulars:-
- The first details shown in the personal record of John H. Potts are
-
- a) that he was born in 1825 and
- b) that he was Head Teacher of School 712 Napolean Lead (1/1/1864)
“subject to examination”. There is a note (dated 1/9/1864) stating that
“his appointment cannot be sanctioned to any school until he obtained a
certificate.” He was given temporary permission to act as Head Teacher,
and apparently he remained at 712 until 1868. (Napolean Lead was later
renumbered as School 1072).
- Mr. Potts was “approved” as Head Teacher from 1/6/1869 and was in charge
of School 623 Tootgarook (later named Rye, 1667). He left 623 in 1871.
- He taught at 846 Mordialloc from 1872-7 (during which time the Education
Department as such came into being, replacing the former Board of Education
as from 1/1/1873.
- From March to July, 1877, Mr. Potts was Head Teacher of 1466 Keysborough,
while from 1877-8 he was Head of 1464 Frankston.
- From Frankston he went to 1248 Mount Pleasant Creek (near the Elmore
district, and later known as Creek View). Here he was Head until 1882.
- His final school was Shepherd’s Creek, No. 2447, in the Castlemaine area.
Mr. Potts left the Department on October 28th, 1882.
There is a Potts Road at Skye, named after this venerable old gentleman.
This article in its entirety was taken from "History and
Genealogy of the Potts-Carr Family" compiled and written by
J.J. Potts, M.B.E., J.P. Kaniva in 1967
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