CHAPTER XXVII
SOME EARLY POTTS SETTLERS IN NORTH CAROLINA *
* NOTE: The compiler of this Chapter is indebted to the late Rev. Elijah F. Roswell, D. D., for much of the information contained herein. Dr. Rockwell, in Iredell County in 1840 and died in 1888, aged seventy nine years.
About the middle of the eighteenth century, many families removed from Pennsylvania and adjoining states and settled in North Carolina. Sometimes considerable numbers from the same community removed in a body. Among those from Pennsylvania, many settled in Rowan County, which originally included all the western part of the state. Many of these early settlers were Scotch - Irish Presbyterians. About 1750, Fourth Creek Presbyterian Church was organized at the place now occupied by the town of Statesville. About 1773, a map of the territory occupied by this Congregation was constructed, embracing a section within a radius of ten or twelve miles around the Church. The names of more than one hundred heads of families, including many of the original settlers appear upon this map. On Fourth Creek, some four or five miles above the Church, was Moses Potts. Henry Potts was a little farther up, and a few miles farther was James Potts. James M. Potts, a grandson of Moses Potts, informed the writer hereof, that Moses Potts had a brother John, who came with him, first to Pennsylvania and later to North Carolina.
Upon the organization of Iredell County, the Potts' were included within the new County. Moses and John Potts removed to Georgia, Henry Potts died in Rowan County, and James Potts seems to have removed to Mecklenburg
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County, which adjoins Iredell on the south. Tradition alleges that these Potts' were Scotch - Irish. This may have grown out of the fact that they lived among and intermarried with these people, or they may actually have come from the north of Ireland, where a number of Potts's have long been settled. These north of Ireland Potts' seem however to have gone there from English Counties.
The early settlers of Rowan County suffered much from the attacks of hostile Indiana. The following sketch was written by the late Rev. E. F. Rockwell, D. D., in 1847.
The most disastrous attack of the Indians, during the time of Fort Dobb, (1) (1755-1763), of which tradition gives us any account, was when a party went out to forage at the old Moses Potts place, a house that stood near where the little branch, back of John H. MacLelland's enters Fourth Creek, and above the Nesbit place. It is said that in this company, there were fifteen or twenty men, some young, some old. The Indians attacked them suddenly at the house. One mortally wounded and scalped, crept back into an out-building and died. Some fled across the Creek and up a steep ravine, pursued by the foe. Of these some escaped to the Fort; but one wounded man ran until within sight of the Fort and fell dead. He was buried on the spot where he fell, bu the side of the road, in front of where the Huggins place now in. (2)
At this time Smith Billy Morrison fell in jumping the Creek, just as the Indian in pursuit shot his arrow, which missed him and passing over struck on the opposite bank before him. Rising from the water he caught it, and raising his gun, not loaded, he pointed it at the Indian who fled. Some say that Fergus Sloan was in the company and finding at the house a colt of his that had been turned loose, and converting a rope he had to tie fodder with into a halter, he put it on the horse. Not being able to guide the horse when the Indians began to yell, he ran down the other side of the Creek through the muddy bottom. Morrison ran after him with an Indian in pursuit. Mr. Sloan would stop occasionally and point his gun at the Indian and wait for Morrison to come up, when he would go on again. At length the Indian threw his tomahawk, but Morrison happening to
(1) Note: Fort Dobb was located about three miles above where Statesville is now built.
(2) Note: Dr. Rockwell says he saw the grave in the forties. The road is now changed and all traces of the grave have disappeared.
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stumble at that moment, the weapon went over his head. Recovering this feet he seized the weapon, and now as the Indian was disarmed he mounted the horse with Sloan and both escaped.
Among those killed on this occasion, was one by the name of Ray and two McKnights. A scouting party went out into what is now Catawba County and came upon a party of savages in a deserted house. The whites got behind a stack of straw and threw pine torches on the roof of the house and set it on fire. The Indians ran from the house and some of them were killed. The scouting party recovered the clothes and scalps of those killed at the Potts place, which were identified by the friends of the slain.
At an early day a store was kept by John Nesbit about three miles north of the present Statesville, in close proximity to the Potts families. This store was continued until the founding of Statesville in 1788, when it was removed to the new town. Some of the old ledgers, still preserved, fell into the possession of the Late Rev. E. F. Rockwell, D. D. Numerous accounts with different Potts' are found, such as
James Potts, Sr., and James Potts, Jr., 1792-4.
William Potts Sr., and William Potts Jr., 1792-4
Robert Potts, son of William, saddler, 1791-4
William Potts, saddler, 1794.
Henry Potts, son of James, 1791
William Potts, son of James, 1793.
Widow Potts, 1791, and Ann Potts, 1793.
As some of these names were common to all the families, it is not always possible to identify individuals mentioned here and elsewhere, from time to time. Among those not positively identified, mentioned by Dr. Rockwell, was one William Potts, who had children Eli, James, (called Lame James), Pamelia, Sophia Emeline and Dora. Sophia died from exposure on the cold Saturday in February, 1835, while winnowing oats in the barn. Emeline married one Summers and died before 1885. Several members of the Potts family married Halls.
These families of Potts all seem to have been of the same
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connection. There were other Potts' in the County who seem to have been quite distinct.
Thomas Potts appears as a Justice of the Peace to Rowan County about 1753 or 54. He is thought to have lived in Jersey settlement, where Potts' Creek,* empties into the Yadkin River. This locality is now included in Davidson County and is north east of Salisbury.
Jeremish Potts, of Rowan County, died about 1822 or 23, leaving a will dated May 9, 1822, and proven May 1823, in which he mentions his wife Verlider. Among his personal effects are included a lot of cooper and carpenter tools. [See Will Book HP, page 280, at Salisbury].
George Potts, of the same County, died about 1825 or 26, leaving a will dated July 20, 1823, and proved February 1826, in which he names his children Hamblin, Jeremiah, Josiah, Crescey, Nancy, Rebecca and Sally. [See Will Book HP, page 328, at Salisbury].
It is possible that Moses, John, Henry and James Potts were near kin, possibly brothers or cousins. They and their descendants will be treated of in the next succeeding Chapters.
* Note: In Davidson County, which was formed from Rowan County, are two small Streams still known as First and Second Potts Creeks.