SUPPLEMENTARY RECORDS - Chapter XXXI
THE POTTS' OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Beside the foregoing, there were at least two heads of families in Mecklenburg County - John Potts and James Potts - who were undoubtedly descendants of James Potts, but the connection is not clear to the compiler (Thomas Maxwell Potts). They may have been children of James Potts, Jr. (No 4). The following account of John Potts and his descendants is founded, mainly, upon information furnished by the late John Grier Potts, of Pineville, North Caroline.
FIRST GENERATION
1. John POTTS was born about 1760. John settled on a plantation on Six-Mile Run, then in Mecklenburg County, but now included within the limits of Union County. This land is still owned (1901) and occupied by descendants. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was engaged in the battle of Hanging Rock, in South Carolina. He married Nancy Houston, who is said to have been ten years of age when her parents emigrated from Ireland. The will of Agnes Potts, dated 1830, is on record in Mecklenburg County. Whether she was identical with Nancy Houston, or was a second wife of John Potts, is not clear in the light of present information. In the will she mentions each of her eight children. page 392
John POTTS had the following children:
+2 i. William POTTS.
+3 ii. Jane POTTS.
+4 iii. Gracie POTTS.
+5 iv. Margaret POTTS.
+6 v. Susan POTTS.
+7 vi. Elizabeth POTTS.
+8 vii. Mary POTTS.
+9 viii. Nancy POTTS.
SECOND GENERATION
2. William POTTS was born on Sep 10 1788 in Mecklenburg Co., Virginia. He died on Jun 20 1856. His father's farm descended to him, and he spent his life upon it. He acquired considerable wealth. His will is said to be on record in Union County. TMP page 393
He was married to Levica CROCKETT. William POTTS and Levica CROCKETT had the following children:
+10 i. John McKnight POTTS.
+11 ii. Robert Crockett POTTS.
+12 iii. Nancy POTTS.
13 iv. Isaac POTTS was born in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina.
14 v. Jane POTTS was born in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina.
15 vi. William POTTS was born in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina.
He was married to Mrs. Eleanor DUNN.
He was married to Mrs. Elizabeth WRENN. William POTTS and Mrs. Elizabeth WRENN had the following children:
16 i. William Marcellus POTTS was born on Nov 2 1844 in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina. He died on Jun 21 1863. He was killed in the Civil War.
He was married to Rebecca DANIELS.
17 i. William ROBINSON.
18 ii. James ROBINSON.
19 i. Margaret HOUSTIN.
20 ii. Hugh HOUSTIN.
THIRD GENERATION
10. John McKnight POTTS was born in 1810 in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina. He died in Mar 1875 in Six Mile Run, Union Co., North Carolina. After attaining his majority, he spent some time in the west, but returned to Mecklenburg County, and settled on Still Creek, and engaged in farming. He was a person of fine presence and a man of more than ordinary ability. He was successively elected Captain, Major and Colonel in the State Militia before the Civil War, and was commonly known as "Major Potts." He was a Justice of the Peace for thity years, and Assoicate Judge for a considerable time. He was a member of the Legislature in 1860 and 1861. He accumulated a considerable fortune, and was one of the largest farmers and tax-payers in the County. TMP page 394
He was married to Martha Isabella GRIER. John McKnight POTTS and Martha Isabella GRIER had the following children:
+21 i. John Grier POTTS.
22 ii. James Walter POTTS. He married and raised a family.
23 iii. William Pinckney POTTS.
24 iv. Levica Jane POTTS.
25 v. Dorcas Lucinda POTTS.
He was married to Ann. Robert Crockett POTTS and Ann had the following children:
26 i. William Thomas POTTS.
+27 ii. Margaret Elizabeth POTTS.
He was married to Louisa. Louisa died in Jul 1899.
She was married to Dr. William MCILWAIN. Nancy POTTS and Dr. William MCILWAIN had the following children:
28 i. Charles Cincinnatus MCILWAIN.
29 ii. William Erskine MCILWAIN.
30 iii. Jefferson MCILWAIN.
31 iv. John Alexander MCILWAIN.
32 v. Mary Lavinia MCILWAIN.
33 vi. Robert James MCILWAIN.
34 vii. Margaret Jane MCILWAIN.
FOURTH GENERATION
21. John Grier POTTS was born in 1842 in Still Creek, Union County, North Carolina. He died before 1889 in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
He was married to Margaret Rocinda ARDRY (daughter of Dr. William A. ARDRY and Lydia POTTS) in 1864. John Grier POTTS and Margaret Rocinda ARDRY had the following children:
35 i. POTTS was born in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
36 ii. Ada Bell POTTS was born in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
37 iii. James Walter POTTS was born in Pineville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.