CHAPTER I
THE EARLIEST POTTS EMIGRANTS.
During the first half of the seventeenth century several persons named Pott or Potts emigrated to America, but the accounts that have come down to our time are in most instances very meager and unsatisfactory. It is not known that any of these early emigrants left descendants, or that they all continued to live in America.
Richard Pott or Potts is the first person bearing this family name know to have come to America. He came with the "First Supply of Passengers, perhaps in January 1607-8," to Virginia. He was the author or compiler of the Proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia, from 1606 to 1612, Oxford, 1612. See Preface of "A Trule Relation of Virginia by Captain John Smith, with an Introduction by Charles Deane." Boston, MDCCCLXVI, pp. xxiv, xxv, "Richard Pots Clarke of the Councill," Page xliv, Richard Pots is designated among the settlers who came 1607-8, as "Gentleman."
"The Virginia Magazine of History and Biegraphy," Vol. I, page 484, says "The history of the first administration is given in the Oxford Tract, published 1612, which was written by Richard Pott, one of the Colonists, etc."
Dr. John Pott, with Elizabeth his wife, came to Virginia, in 1620, and settled at James City or Jamestown, and was physician to the Colony. He served as a Member of Council and was Governor of the Colony for some time. A more complete sketch will be found in the next Chapter.
Capt. Francis Pott, brother of Dr. John Pott, was also an early settler, and was for some time the Commandant at Point Comfort. A fuller account will be found in the next Chapter.
John Pott, Jr., a nephew of Dr. John and Capt. Francis Pott, was a contemporary resident of the Colony, and will be further mentioned in the next Chapter.
Hallet Pott received a grant of 700 acres of land near "James Cittie," September 4, 1641, as we learn from Book I, folio 758, Virginia Land Registry Office.
Anthony Potts. In "Hotton's Lists of Emigrants to America," among the passengers in the Paule of London, Leonard Betts, Mr., "vj Julij 1635," bound for Virginia, with Certificate from the minister of Gravesend of their conformity to the Church of England, is the name of Anto. Potts, aged 27 years.
William Potts. In "Hotton's Lists," among the passengers in the Alexander bound for Barbadoes, '20 Maij 1635," is the name of William Potts.