CHAPTER XII

JOAN, OR JONE POTTS, WIDOW.

Joan, or Jone Potts, is first noticed in Pennsylvania in the year 1700, when her name appears as a witness on the marriage certificate of Lewis Lewis, of Newton, Chester County, bachelor, and Mary Powell, of Bristol Township, Philadelphia County, sinister, on 10 month 13, 1700. (NOTE: See records of the Abington Monthly Meeting.) The witnesses in the right hand column are Gwen Powell, Lydia Harry, Sarah Shoemaker, Joan Pott, Catharine Morris, Martha Pott, and others. Thomas Potts' name appears among the witnesses signed in the third column.

Her name is found variously written as Joan Pott, Joan Potts, and Jone Potts with four daughters, from Wales, landed at Philadelphia, and settled at Germantown, where she supported her family by her profession of a female physician, having brought her diploma with her. She taught each of her daughters her profession. Her husband sailed for America (probably before her) in a separate vessel and died at sea." Perhaps Joan Potts came in the ship "William Galley," 1698, with the Powells and others.

John Roberts, of Chester County, blacksmith, made his will 7 mo. 26, 1702. It was proven January 5, 1702-03, and recorded in Will Book B, at page 251, at Philadelphia. He made bequests to his daughter Margaret, wife of Thomas Kenderdine, and her children Richard, Thomas, Margaret and Mary; to son John and daughter Elinor Jenkins, living in Wales; to friend Joan Potts, widow; and to friend John Kinsey. It will be remembered that Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale), sold 235 acres of land to this John Roberts, blacksmith, by deed dated March 7, 1699-1700 (see page 236, ante).

The account book of Francis Daniel Pastorius, of Germantown, for 1700 to 1719, contains the following charges against Jone Potts, in the year 1712.

Jan......Jone Potts for 21 yds Worsted at 8d

Feb......Jone Potts 10yds linsey wolsey and 2 yds Linnen a 8d 6s

April...Jone Potts 12 yds linnen and cotton at 6d 5s 5d

Apr.....Jone Potts 12 yds ******* 6s 10d

On 4 mo. 24, 1714, Jone Potts' name is among the signers to a certificate, issued by Abington Monthly Meeting, to Henry Cunnard and wife.

At the marriage of Ellis Lewis, of Upper Dublin, and Mary Tyson, daughter of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson, on 10 mo. 18, 1729, Jone Potts signs the marriage certificate in the middle column immediately following the signatures of John Tyson and Henry Tyson.

There seems to be nothing definite as to the children of Jone Potts, except the tradition that one of them was that Margaret Potts, who married Richard Cox, in 1712. Joan Potts died about 1740. She was an acceptable minister among Friends. "The Friend," Volume 30, at page 13, contains the following brief memorial of her.

"Joan Potts, of Germantown, Philadelphia County, who deceased about 1740, was for many years an acceptable minister of the Gospel. Her communications were brief, but they were, her friends say, "well received." She was "innocent and exemplary in life and conversation."