John Potts

Notes:

"John POTTS was born about 1658 in Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Chapter XI - The Orphan Children of John Potts, of Wales. The Potts Family in Great Britain and America - 1901 - Thomas Maxwell Potts page 250

In the year 1896, several orphans, children of John Potts, deceased, and late of Wales, were sent over to the care of Friends in Pennsylvania. It seems very probable that they were passengers in the good ship " William Galley," (Note: See page 234, ente) which brought so many Friends from the Welsh Counties of Radnor and Montgomery, and in which Thomas Potts, Junior, (Colebrookdatle), came a passenger to Pennsylvania. The JOHN POTTS is believed to be identical with John Potts, the persecuted Quaker of Llangirrig, Montgomeryshire, in Wales, of whom some account is given on pages 67 and 68, in this work. He was a brother
of Thomas Potts, (Miller), of Bristol Township, Philadelphia County.

Neither the names nor the number of all these children are given in any record so far discovered. It is, however, quite certain that John Potts and Mary Potts were two of these orphan children. The Friends of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting had the care of these children, and the Meeting minutes contain several references to them, of
which the following are copies:

"5 mo. 26, 1699. Whereas John Austin proposed to this meeting that seveal Children of John Potts of Wales, came here last year, their passage being paid, this meeting desires Edward Shippen and Anthony Morris to Speak with the persons concerned, and see for convenient places in order that the Children be bound out apprentices by the next Orphans Court.

1 mo. 29, 1700. John Kinsey reports that there are two Orphans, Children of One John Potts to be put out, Thomas Potts also desiring (be their uncle) that this meeting would appoint some friends, to put them out to friends. John Kinsey & Anthony Morris are desired to see it done.

2 mo. 26, 1700. John Kinsey & Anthony Morris are desired to continue their care in putting out John Potts's Children.

11 mo. 30, 1701. Isaac Shoemaker laying before this meeting,That a friend's Child named Mary Potts having been with him more than two years, the time agreed is near out, and she wants learning. In order therefore that she may have what learning is suitable, he desires to have her bound with him for some longer time. Whereupon Samuel Carpenter & John Kinsey are desired to take care therein, making report thereof to the next monthly meeting.

12 mo. 27, 1702. John Kinsey & John Parsons are desired to use their endeavour to get Thomas (John) Potts's (NOTE: Mr. William John Potts examined these records very carefully, and was fully convinced that the name "Thomas" was a clerical error, written in mistake by the Clerk or transcriber, Instead of "John.") Child from the place where it is, upon as easy Terms as they can, in order to have it placed with a friend.

1 mo. 27, 1702. John Kinsey & John Parsons are continued to take care concerning the Child of Thomas (John) Potts, (See Note above) decease, to place it out with some honest friend. It being thought that William Rutledge's may be a fit place for her.

2 mo. 24, 1702. John Parsons reporting that the persons with whom the Child of Thomas (John) Potts, (See Note Above) is not willing to part with it. He and John Kinsey are desired so try a little further what they can do therein.

1 mo. 26, 1703. John Austin lays before this Meeting that John Potts, who was bound aprentice to him to learn the Carpenter's Trade, doth not like it, but had rather have some other emplyment, Therefore Anthony Morris (who was concerned in the binding of him) and William Hudson are desired to do what is needful in the matter,
and give an account therof to the next Monthly Meeting.

1 mo. 25, 1708. John Potts, who was an Orphan bound apprentice to John Autin by approbation of this Monthly Meeting, Complains that he hath Served out his apprenticeship, and his mistress, will not discharge him, and desires assistance. In order thereto this meeting appoints Edward Shippen, Nathan Stanbury & David Lloyd to enquire into the matter and if they find he hath severed out his time, that then they Endeavour to see him discharged, and Report their proceedings to the next Monthly Meeting.

2 mo. 29, 1708. Report they cannot understand that he hath served out his time, therefore could not discharge him.

These records make it quite certain that John Potts and Mary Potts were two of these orphan children. It is also evident that another orphan daughter was under the care of some family who were not members of the Friends meeting. In another Chapter, entitled "Kinship of the Potts' of Pennsylvania," it will be suggested who the other children are thought to be."

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