CHAPTER IV

THE POTTS' OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

A family of Potts, of good repute, is found in Middlesex County, New Jersey, before the time of the Revolutionary War, but nothing is now definitely known of its origin or the time of its first settlement. The family seems, however, to be quite distinct from that of Thomas Potts, (Shield). Eugene F. Potts, of Fuerti, Sinaloa, Mexico, says he has heard that his family is descended from one of "three brothers" who came from England and settled in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. D. Barton McKinne, Esq., of New York writes that it is his understanding that his ancestor, Samuel Potts, came from England sometime prior to the Revolution.

The Family Bible of Samuel Potts passed by will to his son John Potts, and is still preserved by his descendants. It contains some family records, but through age, wear, accident or careless mutilation, they can only be partially deciphered. Through the courtesy of Alpheus Potts, Esq., of Jeffersonville, N. Y., we are able to give below a copy of the fragmentary remains of these Bible records. The blank spaces left in this printed copy only partially correspond to those in the original entries. (NOTE: This printed transcribe may be found on pages 185 -186 of the text and are not reprinted here.)

It is very unfortunate that this record is so imperfect. The reader is left to his own conjectures. Samuel Burtes Potts may be identical with that Samuel Potts who married Amy Baylis in 1776. Samuel Burtes Potts, Maria Potts and William Potts may have been brothers and sisters. From Stryker's "Jerseyman in the Revolution," it is learned that both Samuel and William Potts, of Middlesex County, served in the Revolutionary army. Such an account of Samuel Potts and his descendants, as could be obtained, is here given.

FIRST GENERATION

1. Samuel POTTS was born about 1750 in England or America. He died in 1821/22 in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. He married Amy Baylis (or Bayles) April 23, 1776 (NOTE: This is the date of marriage license. Lee Leber M, in the office of the Department of State at Trenton, New Jersey.). His residence was then given as Cranbury. He served in the Revolutionary army. He is said to have been a wagon-master, but at the battle of Monmouth fought in the ranks, while his brave young wife carried water to the soldiers during and after the battle.

He was a prosperous and influential citizen, and at the time of his death, in 1821 or 1822, he possessed a considerable estate. about 1808 he purchased lands in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. His will is dated March 7, 1821, and was probated in the Surrogate's Office of New Brunswick, on September13, 1822. He gives his residence as South Amboy Township. Hemakes bequests to "my well beloved wife Amy;" to son John, $100, and large Bible, after his said wife's decease; to son Thomas, $100; to daughter Eliza, wife of Seth Dey, interest of $500; to son William. $400, and remainder of my land in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York, adjoining lands already conveyed to sons John and Thomas: to deceased daughter Susanna's son James Herbert, $200, William Potts was under twenty-one years of age. Sons John and Thomas appointed executors and empowered to sell lands in New Jersey for $4,000.

He was married to Amy BAYLES on Apr 23 1776 in New Jersey. Samuel POTTS and Amy BAYLES had the following children:

+2 i. John POTTS.

+3 ii. Susannah POTTS.

4 iii. Sarah POTTS died on Sep 3 1783 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. She was born on Apr 11 1784 in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

+5 iv. Thomas POTTS.

+6 v. Elizabeth POTTS.

+7 vi. William POTTS.

SECOND GENERATION

2. John POTTS was born on Mar 21 1777 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. He died in 1864. John Potts settled on a farm in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York, which his father had purchased for him. Here he engaged in farming and spent the remainder of his life. page 188

He was married to Mary VOORHEES (daughter of Garret VOORHEES) Mar 21, 1777 (?). John POTTS and Mary VOORHEES had the following children:

+8 i. Amy POTTS.

+9 ii. Elizabeth POTTS.

+10 iii. Samuel POTTS.

+11 iv. John POTTS.

+12 v. James N. POTTS.

13 vi. Lydia POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. She died unmarried.

+14 vii. Martha POTTS.

+15 viii. William POTTS.

+16 ix. Mary POTTS.

17 x. G. Voorhees POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. unmarried

18 xi. George POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. He died unmarried.

3. Susannah POTTS was born on May 15 1779 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. She died before 1821.

She was married to Daniel (?) HERBERT. Susannah POTTS and Daniel (?) HERBERT had the following children:

19 i. James HERBERT.

5. Thomas POTTS was born on Apr 11 1784 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. He died in 1865/66 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was married but the name of his wife has not come to the notice of the compiler (Thomas Maxwell Potts). He settled on land purchased by his father, in Sullivan County, New York, but he tired of the forest, and returned to Middlesex County, New Jersey, where he lived until his death in 1865 or 1866. He reared a family and accumulated a considerable estate. His will, dated Feb. 21, 1865, and proven Feb. 15, 1866, is recorded in the Surrogate's Office at new Brunswick. He mentions eash of his seven children, and seven grandsons bearing the name of Thomas, sons of each of his children. He makes a bequest of the interest of $800, to the widow of his son James W. Potts, deceased, and at her death the principal to go her children, provided they apply for it within twenty years, otherwise they were to be considered as dead. Page 188-189

Thomas POTTS had the following children:

+20 i. Rev. James W. POTTS M. D..

21 ii. Joseph POTTS. He was married and had children. One son was named Thomas, Two-sons said to be Baltimore merchants.

+22 iii. Susan POTTS.

+23 iv. Eliza Ann POTTS.

+24 v. Amy POTTS.

+25 vi. Rebecca POTTS.

+26 vii. Sarah POTTS.

6. Elizabeth POTTS was born on Oct 27 1799 in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

She was married to Seth DEY on Jan 9 1819 in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. Elizabeth POTTS and Seth DEY had the following children:

27 i. John Burtes DEY.

28 ii. Amy Potts DEY.

7. William POTTS was born on Jan 4 1804 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. He settled on the land in Sullivan County, New York, left to him by his father, but is said to have returned to New Jersey. The name of only one child has been given, but there may have been others.

He was married to Eliza MCCHESNEY.

THIRD GENERATION

8. Amy POTTS was born in Bethlehem Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey.

She was married to Reuben CARPENTER. Amy POTTS and Reuben CARPENTER had the following children:

29 i. William CARPENTER.

30 ii. Elizabeth CARPENTER.

31 iii. John CARPENTER.

32 iv. James CARPENTER.

33 v. Martha CARPENTER.

34 vi. Oliver CARPENTER.

35 vii. Augusta CARPENTER.

9. Elizabeth POTTS was born on Aug 22 1802 in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York.

She was married to D. LANFIER.

10. Samuel POTTS was born on Dec 15 1803 in Middlesex County, New Jersey. 1895: Residence, Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. In 1896, the children were reported all living and married. Page 189

He was married to Louisa DUBRON. Samuel POTTS and Louisa DUBRON had the following children:

36 i. Alonza POTTS.

37 ii. John POTTS.

38 iii. Margaret POTTS.

39 iv. Alpheus POTTS was a Lawyer in Jeffersonville, New York.

40 v. Dr. Edgar POTTS was a Physician in Port Jervis, New York.

41 vi. Mary POTTS.

42 vii. Janette POTTS.

11. John POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York.

He was married to Susan.

12. James N. POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York.

He was married to Clarissa JORDAN.

14. Martha POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York.

She was married to William ROPER. Martha POTTS and William ROPER had the following children:

43 i. John ROPER.

15. William POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. He has three sons.

He was married to Martha COOTS.



16. Mary POTTS was born in Bethel Township, Sullivan County, New York. She had several children.

She was married to David B. KINNE. Mary POTTS and David B. KINNE had the following children:

44 i. D. Barton KINNE was an Attorney in New York City, New York.

20. Rev. James W. POTTS M. D.. Mr. potts was practicing physician and a minister of the Methodist Church. He is said to have been a fluent and eloquent speaker. Soon after marriage he settled at Port Deposit, Maryland, where he founded a Methodist Church. He subsequently removed to the southwest preaching and practicing medicine in Missouri and Texas. In 1856 he started on a trip to California, leaving his family in Texas. On reaching Tucson, Arizona, he was the first man to read the Declaration of Independance and deliver a patriotic address. After visiting California he started home, but was taken ill and died at Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1856 or 1857. There were eight children, but the names of only four of them have been furnished. Page 190

He was married to Frederica M. FICKHARDT. Frederica M. FICKHARDT was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. Her father came from Westphalia, Germany. Her brother Dr. Augusta Fickhardt, was still living at Bethlehem, Penna., a few years ago. Rev. James W. POTTS M. D. and Frederica M. FICKHARDT had the following children:

45 i. Rev. Thomas Augustus POTTS was born in 1832. He died before 1901. He was a Baptist Minister.

+46 ii. Emma Elizabeth POTTS.

47 iii. Eugene Fickardt POTTS was born in 1844. He resided in Fuerti, Sinaloa, Mexico.

48 iv. George Albert POTTS was born in 1847. He died before 1901.

22. Susan POTTS.

She was married to BROWN. Susan POTTS and BROWN had the following children:

49 i. Thomas BROWN.

23. Eliza Ann POTTS.

She was married to Jacob BURT. Eliza Ann POTTS and Jacob BURT had the following children:

50 i. Thomas BURT.

24. Amy POTTS.

She was married to BERGEN. Amy POTTS and BERGEN had the following children:

51 i. Thomas BERGEN.

25. Rebecca POTTS.

She was married to DEY. Rebecca POTTS and DEY had the following children:

52 i. Thomas DEY.

26. Sarah POTTS.

She was married to WYKOFF. Sarah POTTS and WYKOFF had the following children:

53 i. Thomas WYKOFF.

FOURTH GENERATION

46. Emma Elizabeth POTTS was born in 1834. She is a widow, and lives in Mount Vernon, Texas.

She was married to MOORE.

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