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CHAPTER XIX.
Kinship of the Potts' of Pennsylvania.
That the early Potts settlers of Pennsylvania were of kin and nearly related there can be no doubt. They not only resided near together, but are found signing marriage certificates together after the manner of near relatives, and were more or less associated in business transactions. It is, however, quite true that very little has been discovered, wherein the exact relationship is clearly stated.
The late Mr. William John Potts, who made much original research and gave the subject much study, long ago became convinced that Thomas Potts, (Miller), Jonas Potts and David Potts, all of Philadelphia County, were brothers, and, if so, then brothers of John Potts, of Wales, whose orphan children were sent to Pennsylvania in 1698. It will be the purpose of this Chapter to point out some of the evidences of kinship. This data is arranged in chronological order, as nearly as possible.
In 1686, Thomas Potts and Jonas Potts sign the marriage certificate of John Austin and Jane Potts immediately after the stepfather and mother of the bride, and just before Elizabeth Potts, who is supposed to have been a sister of the bride. [See page 198].
1692. David Potts was a bondsman of Elizabeth (Potts) Bennett, as the executrix of Edmund Bennett, her late husband. [See page 196].
In 1693-4, Thomas Potts and Jonas Potts were the first subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of David
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Potts and Alice Croasdale. This marriage was accomplished within the bounds of Middletown Monthly Meeting, some twenty miles or more from Bristol Township, Philadelphia, County. If Thomas and Jonas were not near kinsman, why did they go so far to attend this wedding?
1695. David Potts was a subscribing witness to a deed made by Thomas Potts. [See page 203].
1698. Several orphan children of John Potts, of Wales, were sent over to the care of Friends in Pennsylvania. The minutes of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting show that Thomas Potts, (Miller), was their uncle. John and Mary Potts, mentioned in Chapter XI, were undoubtedly two of these children.
1699. Jacob Shoemaker, in a deed, calls Thomas Potts, (Miller), his brother-in-law. As Thomas Potts, seems to have then been a single man, Jacob Shoemaker's wife must have been Potts' sister. [See foot-note on page 203].
1701-2. The minutes of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends show that one of the orphan children, a daughter, of John Potts, of Wales, was in the care of a family, who do not seem to have been of Friends faith. An effort was made to have her placed elsewhere, which was unsuccessful. In 1709, the records of Christ (P. E.) Church show that one Margaret Potts married Evan Morgan. This is the only female of the Pennsylvania Potts', up to this time, who was not married according to the custom of Friends. In 1714, Evan and Margaret Morgan conveyed 252 acres of land, by deed, to Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale). May it be that Margaret was one of the orphan children?
1707-8. Jonas Potts was one of the bondsmen of Jane (Potts) Austin, as administratrix of John Austin, her late husband.
Some of David Potts' children, as also Thomas Roberts, had business transactions with Thomas Potts, (Miller). [See pages 210-211].
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1719. Some of the children of David Potts attended marriage of the two daughters of Jonas Potts, at Gilbert Manor, and were subscribing witnesses to the marriages certificates. [See pages 227-229].
1719. Thomas and Jacob Shoemaker, sons of Jacob Shoemaker, Sr., were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of the two daughters of Jonas Potts. [See pages 227-229].
1719. Samuel and Mary Austin, and John Channel, the son, daughter and son-in-law (?) of John and Jane (Potts) Austin, were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificates of the two daughters of Jonas Potts.
1722. Jonas Potts was a subscribing witness to the marriage certificate of Peter Cleaver, Jr., and Elizabeth Potts, daughter of David Potts, signing next to the bride's father and before her brothers and sisters. Thomas and Mary Roberts, Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson, and Judith Potts, the widow of Thomas Potts, (Miller), was also subscribing witnesses among relatives.
1729. Thomas Potts, (Colebrookdale), and Magdalen, his wife; Thomas and John Roberts, sons of Thomas and Eleanor (Potts) Roberts, were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of William Hallowell and Margaret Tyson, daughter of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson. [See page 254].
1730. John Channel, son-in-law (?)of John and Jane (Potts) Austin, was a witness to the will of David Potts.
1731. David Potts, son of Jonas, through an advertisement in the "Pennsylvania Gazelle," offers a reward for the recovery of a stolen horse, and directs that notice be given to Jacob Shoemaker, at Philadelphia. This Jacob Shoemaker is believed to have been a son of Jacob, Sr., and probably XX a cousin of he said David Potts. [See Chapter XX].
1733. Ezekiel Potts, son of David, was a witness to the
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will of Jane (Potts) Austin. The testatrix names Jacob Shoemaker as one of her executors. [See page 200].
1734. Among subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of John Potts, son of Thomas Potts, Jr., (Colebrookdale), and Ruth Savage, were Thomas and John Roberts, sons of Thomas and Eleanor (Potts) Roberts; and Reynier and John Tyson, sons of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson. [See page 243].
1739. Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale), his sons John, Thomas and David; and Thomas Roberts, Jr., son of Thomas and Eleanor (Potts) Roberts; were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of Reynier Tyson, Jr., son of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson. [See page 254].
1749. Judith Sharp, formerly widow of Thomas Potts, (Miller), in her will, names Thomas Roberts Jr., and John Roberts, sons of Thomas and Eleanor (Potts) Roberts, as joint executors, with her son Thomas Potts, Jr., [See page 213].
1753. Several members of the Tyson family were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of Thomas Potts, (son of John and grandson of David), and Elizabeth Lukens.
1754. Isaac Tyson, son of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson, and Esther his wife, were subscribing witnesses to the marriage certificate of Isaac Shoemaker and Elizabeth Potts, daughter of John and granddaughter of David Potts.
1755. John Potts, probably son of David and Alice, was a subscribing witness to the marriage certificate of Matthew Tyson, son of Matthias and Mary (Potts) Tyson, of Upper Dublin.
It is especially noteworthy that many of the same family names are so frequently repeated, particularly among the descendants of David Potts, Jonas Potts, and Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale).
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A study of the foregoing facts seems to justify the following conclusions: That John Potts, of Wales, Thomas Potts, (Miller), Jonas Potts, David Potts, Jane (Potts) Austin, Elizabeth Potts, (died 1690), and Margaret (Potts) Shoemaker, were brothers and sisters. If this be altogether correct, then they were children of Elizabeth (Potts) Bennet by her former husband.
The evidence also seems to warrant the conclusion that Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale), John Potts, (Ship-carpenter), Eleanor (Potts) Roberts, Mary (Potts) Tyson, and Margaret (Potts) Morgan, were the orphan children of John Potts, who were sent over from Wales in 1698.
At that day, it was a custom almost universal to name the first born son for his paternal grandfather. Thomas Potts, (Miller), and David Potts, each named his first born Thomas. If the above conclusions are correct, then the eldest son of John Potts, of Wales, also bore the name Thomas. Perhaps Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdale) also followed the same custom in giving to his eldest son the name John
The Potts' settlers of Pennsylvania were Friends, and all the traditions agree that they came to Penn's colony from Wales. John Potts, father of the orphan children was undoubtedly the John Potts, of Llangirrig, the persecuted Friend. Thomas Potts, of Llangirrig, who was also persecuted, is supposed to have been the father of John.
The Potts', of Wales, were closely associated with the Hamers, Jarmans, and other families. In Pennsylvania they are found associating with the same families.
The Chart facing this page exhibits a pedigree of the family, which, while not absolutely proven, is thought to be, correct in the main, and is such as accounts for the numerous associations of the different members of the family. Joan Potts, widow, and Rees Potts, were also evidently near relatives, but their kinship is not clear.