Thomas Potts

Notes:

"He was a miller by occupation, and was party to numerous land conveyances, owning lands and mills in Bristol Township, Philadelphia County and New Jersey. He was a member of the Society of Friends and attached to the Abington Monthly Meeting. He was an acceptable Public Friend, as ministers of that society are termed, and after 1700, traveled much in the Truth. He was referred to as 'Thomas Potts, the Quaker Preacher'. In this work he will be designated, when necessary, as "Thomas Potts, (Miller)."

He is first noticed in Pennsylvania, as a witness to the marriage certificate of John Austin and Jane Potts, on 9 mo. 11, 1686. At the marriage of Friends it was customary for those present to sign the marriage certificate as witnesses, the relatives of the contracting parties, signing first and following each other in the order of nearest connection. In this instance, Thomas Potts signs immediately after the mother of the bride, which is a strong evidence of near relationship.

His first purchase of land seems to have been, 150 acres on the west side of the Schuylkill River, bought 10 mo. 5, 1692, from John Blunston, attorney for William Shardlow of London, England. The deed recorded at Philadelphia in Deed Book E. 7, Vol. 9, page 53

On 2 mo. 2, 1695, "Thomas Potts, of Philadelphia, Yeoman, for ye consideration of 75 pounds current silver money of Pennsilvania, to him paid by David Hugh, of Merion in Welch tract, yeoman," conveyed "all that tract of land with buildings and improvements," scituated on the west side of Skoolkill," etc., containing 150 acres formerly purchased of John Blunston, the 5th day of the tenth month, 1692. The witnesses to this letter were Thomas Pritchard, David Potts, and ffrancis Cooke.

The earlier public records are frequently quite deficient, as in many instances the recording of deeds was long delayed or they were not recorded at all. The Deed-Books at Philadelphia, show at least some of the land transactions of Thomas Potts. He built two water corn mills or grist mills on a brach of Franklford Creek, not far from Germantown, that were long known as "Potts's Mills," or "Potts' Mills." Among land conveyances, aside from the foregoing, are the following.

On 4 mo. 28, 1699, Thomas Potts, yeoman, purchased 100 acres of land in Bristol Township, from Jacob Shoemaker(or Shoemaker), (NOTE: On June 17, 1699, Jacob Shoemaker made a deed to John Moore for land in Bristol Township, which is partially described as "Bounded Easterly by former land of said John Moore,
Southerly by the City Liberties, Westerly by the said Jacob's Land sold to his Brother-in-law Thomas Potts, and northerly by Land of Samuel Richardson, as the same is actually divided." As Thomas Potts was then unmarried, (we believe), to have been brothers-in-law, Jacob Shoemaker must have married Thomas Potts' sister. This view is supported by the fact that Jacob Shoemaker's children signed Potts marrige certificates among relatives, and were in other ways associated with the Potts family. Jacob Shoemaker's wife's name was Margaret. He came to
Pennsylvania in 1685, a single man.) and on Sept. 6, 1705, he bought another tract in the same Township, from the said Shoemaker.

On "29, September, 1705," Heifert Papen of Germantown, conveyed two tracts of land in Germantown, one parcel of 211/4/ acres and another of 28 3/4 acres, containing together 50 acres, to Samuel Richardson, Richard Townsend,
Thomas Potts, Sr., and Samuel Cart, all of the County of Philadelphia, yeomen. Thomas Potts, Sen., by a deed dated Oct. 2, 1707, sold and set over his interest in these two tracts to the other three partners. On October 8, 1711, Samuel Richardson. Richard Townsend and Samuel Cart, in considersation of L200, executed a deed, conveying this same 50 acres in German Township, to Thomas Potts,Sr., Thomas Canby, John Cadwakkaderm David Potts, Isaac Delaphine, Morris Morrs, Henry Cunnards, William Lukens, etc. These were Trustees of the Friends Meeting, who purchased it for a Meeting House lot. On 2 mo. 18, 1712, the signing of the deed was confirmed by Peter Shoemaker and Isaac Shoemaker. (See Deed-Book, E. 7, Vol 8, p. 175. Philadelphia.)

In 1706, Thomas Potts, of Bristol Township, yeoman, sold to Everard Bolton a one fourth interest in certain lands and two water corn mills or grist mills in Bristol Township, commonly known as 'Potts's Mills." In the same year Thomas Potts, Sen., of Bristol Township, miller, and George Gray, of the City of Philadelphia, merchant, were parties to several real estate conveyances of lands, etc., in Bristol Township.

On Dec. 26, 1717, Thomas Potts, Sen., of Bristol Township,yeoman, purchased two small tracts of land in said Township from Joshua Fincher and Elizabeth, his wife, On the same day Thomas Potts and Judith, his wife, made a deed to Joshua Fincher for a lot in the same Township.

Among public records are to be found a number of original signatures of Thomas Potts. They are marked by certain characteristics that make them readily recognized and easily distinguished from those of any of his contemporaries who bore the same name.

The papers relating to the decedant's estate are in the Register's Office at Philadelphia.

Thomas Potts and David Potts were witnesses to the will of William Howell, of Cheltenham Township, Philadelphia County, made 12 mo. 20, 1709.

Thomas Potts was an earnest and active member of the religious Society of Friends, being attached to the Germantown Prerparative Meeting, which was under the care of the Abington Monthly Meeting. From the minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting (NOTE: The early minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting are very meager
and evidently imcomplete. It is possible that the original minutes were written upon separate slips of paper andsubsequently copied into a book, when some of the slips may have been lost.) and other sources, it appears, that from about 1705 to the end of his life, he devoted himself very largely to the duties of a public Friend or
religious minister, traveling and visiting Friends in the service of Truth, in Maryland, Virginia, New England, the West Indes, England, Ireland, and other places.

In "Hazard's Register," it is stated that "About this time (1705) or the last year, Thomas Potts of Pennsylvania went to pay a visit to Friends in England and Ireland," and in 1705 William Penn, writing from England, mentions Thomas Potts as about to return to Pennsylvania. Two years later he again visited England and Ireland, having been granted a Certificate for that purpose by Abington Monthly Meeting on 3 mo. 26, 1707. In the same year Thomas Chalkley mentions Thomas Potts, in his journal, as a companion of himself and Anthony Morris, on a visit
to Friends in the West Indes, from whence they sailed for England. Rutty's "History of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers in Ireland, etc., Dublin, 1751," has the following, " In 1707, James Farmer, from Essex, John Bradley, from Cheshire, Thomas Potts, from Pennsylvania, also divers other ministering Friends from this nation, were diligent in the exercise of their gifts, both in meetings held among Friends and strangers."

In 1711, he made a visit to Maryland, and on his return immediately prepared for a journey into New England, as it appears from the following entry in the Abington Monthly Meeting minutes of 4 mo. 25, 1711.

"Our friend Thomas Potts lately returned from Maryland upon ye Service of Truth, & recommended to good Service from Tredevan Creek & now the said Thomas having declared that he finds a concern on him to Visit friends at New England, requests a Certificate In order for ye Said Service, which allso was granted."

He was accompanied by Thomas Chalkley upon this visit, and it is probable that they visited Friends on Long Island and at other points on the route of travel. it may be that it was upon this, or a similar journey, Thomas Potts first met Judith Smith,of Flushing, whom he married in the next year. The minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting for 5 mo. 28, 1712, show that, " A Certificate was granted Thomas Potts in order to proceed on towards Marriage with Judith Smith of Long Island."

The marriage was accomplished not long afterwards, as shown by the following abstract from the Friends records of marriages at Long Island. (See New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,Vol. VI, page101.)

"The foreteenth day of the Sixth Month Ano One thousand seven hundred & twelve. At flushing - Thomas Potts of Bristol Township in ye county of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania and Judith Smith of Flushing, &c."

In a latter part of the year 1712, he again visited Friends in Maryland, and on 2 mo. 25, 1715.

"A Certificate was granted Thomas Potts, in order to go to visit Friends in Barbadoes, upon ye Service of Truth."

Sometime after his return he made arrangements to settle in Maryland, and on 11 mo. 30, 1715, "A Certificate was granted Thomas Potts in order to Settle in Maryland."

He removed to Talbot County, Maryland, where he continuued to live for some time. While a resident of Maryland, he issued a letter of attorney to Joseph Kirkbride of Bucks County, empowering him to sell his land, house and mills in Somerset County, New Jersey. The original document remains on file in the office of the
Department of State at Trenton.

No deeds of conveyance of this property have come to the notice of the compiler, and neither the date of purchase nor sale can be given. Stony Brook is a short distance south of the Town of Princeton, and within the limits of the present County of Mercer.

Thomas Potts returned to Pennsylvania from Maryland in about a year and a half, and on 6 mo. 25, 1717, the minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting contain this record, "Thomas Potts produced a Certificate from Treadevan in Maryland which was read and accepted."

He subsequently made one or two other visits to Friends to the southward. On 6 mo. 25, 1718, a Monthly Meeting minute shows that, "Thomas Potts acquainted friends that he is minded to travail Down Towards ye Capes of Delaware & Desires a Certificate: The Meeting Do appointed Dennis Cundras & John Lucan to make
Enguiry how he leaves his Business."

He was frequently appointed to attend Quarterly Meetings, and on 12 mo. 23, 1718, he was appointed "to visit families."

On 1 mo. 30, 1719, this entry, which probably refers to an intended visit to the southward.

"At this Meeting things was found Clear Relating to Thomas Pots and a Certificate was granted him."

On his return this minute was entered on 5 mo. 27, 1719.

"At this Meeting Thomas Potts having lately Returned from: traveling in Meryland & Virginia Produced a Certificate from Treadaven Monthly Meeting.

Thomas Potts did not survive long after his return from this visit, as he died before October (8mo), 3, 1719, the date on which his will was probated. He was undoubtedly a man of rare worth and exemplary character. William Penn calls him "honest Thomas Potts," and an estimate of his character may be gathered from the Penn and Logan Correspondence.

The age of Thomas Potts has not been ascertained. As he signs as a witness to a marriage certificate in 1686, it is probable that he was then a well grown youth or a young man. When he purchased land in 1692, he must have been above twenty one years of age. It seems reasonable to conclude that he was at least forty years old when he married Judith Smith in 1712, and fifty years or over when Thomas Potts left a will, dated 3 mo. (May), 6, 1719. It was proven October 3, 1719, and is recorded in the Register's office at Philadelphia in Will-Book D, p. 133."


Historical Collections Relating to The Potts Family in Great Britian and America, Published by the Compiler, Canonsburg, PA, 1901, Thomas Maxwell Potts, p. 201
-Richard A. Clark

Thomas married on 28 May 1712 in Abington, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Elizabeth Potts and Jane Potts, her daughter, came to Pennsylvania in 1683, as shown by a deed recorded in the Recorder's Office of Philadelphia, in Deed-Book E3, Volumn 6, page 42. They were the first of the name known to have settled in that state. Elizabeth Potts seems to been a widow when she came to Pennsylvania, and it is believed that others of the family, besides her daughter Jane, came with her. They were Friends and in 1685 were under the care of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. In 1684 they obtained a grant of one hundred acres of land, which was supposed to be laid out in Philadelphia County, but a subsiquent resurvey showed it to be in Chester County."

Historical Collections Relating to The Potts Family in Great Britian and America, Published by the Compiler, Canonsburg, PA, 1901, Thomas Maxwell Potts, p.195.
-Richard A. Clark II

Thomas married Elizabeth in ABT. 1657 in Wales, United Kingdom. Elizabeth was born in 1636 in Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom; died on 1 Aug 1707 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Elizabeth Potts and Jane Potts, her daughter, came to Pennsylvania in 1683, as shown by a deed recorded in the Recorder's Office of Philadelphia, in Deed-Book E3, Volumn 6, page 42. They were the first of the name known to have settled in that state. Elizabeth Potts seems to been a widow when she came to Pennsylvania, and it is believed that others of the family, besides her daughter Jane, came with her. They were Friends and in 1685 were under the care of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. In 1684 they obtained a grant of one hundred acres of land, which was supposed to be laid out in Philadelphia County, but a subsiquent resurvey showed it to be in Chester County."
Historical Collections Relating to The Potts Family in Great Britian and America, Published by the Compiler, Canonsburg, PA, 1901, Thomas Maxwell Potts, p.195.
-Richard A. Clark II

Notes:

John and Anne Potts place of residence seems to have been Nantgnernog in the Parish of Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, Wales.

John married Anne Pott in ABT. 1630 in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom. Anne (daughter of Thomas Pott) was born in ABT. 1612 in Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom; died in UNKNOWN in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales, United Kingdom. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anne was the daughter of Thomas Pott.

Notes:

"Thomas POTT was born about 1590 in Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Thomas Pott the eldest of the family of Llangirrig so far as we now know, was evidently an aged man at the making of his will in 1654, as his children were then all married and had children of their own, and as he speaks of some of his grand-children as unmarried it is fair to suppose that some of them were grown up and of marriageable age at that time. He calls himself yeoman which, from the English usage of the word, would indicate that he was a landowner. He was a resident of the Parish of Llangirrig, in Montgomeryshire, above described. His will was made in 1654, and proven in 1661, but as the inventory of his personal effects was filed in 1658 he probably died in that year. ( His will is on file in the Consistory Court at Bangor. It is much eaten away by the decay of the paper from age and damp.)
Some if not all the family became members of the Society of Friends. There probably was a Friends Meeting established in this vicinity, but no records are known to be in existence at this day. It is well-known that many Friends came to Pennsylvania from that section of Waltes in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and they may have carried such records as they had with them, as was sometimes done where the whole membership removed in a body. These devoted people suffered persecution in common with those of other sections."
-Historical Collections RELATING TO The Potts Family in Great Britain and America, WITH A HISTORIC-GENEALOGY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF David Potts, AN EARLY ANGLO-WELSH SETTLER OF PENNSYLVANIA INCLUDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE LATE WILLIAM JOHN POTTS
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COMPILED BY Thomas Maxwell Potts, Author of The Carter Family, Our Family Ancestors, etc., Cannonsburg, Pa. Published by The Compiler 1901