Harry Potter (1841 - 1914)

Born 1841 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Laurina Margretta (Kirby) Potter — married 1865 in Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 20 May 1914 at about age 73 in Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Harry Potter was born in Bermondsey, Surrey, England.

Birth Harry Potter was born in 1841 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, son of George Augustus Potter (about 1816–1891) , a police man, and Mary Ann Stone (about 1815–about 1847).

Baptism Harry was baptised on 5 December 1841 in the parish of St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. ^[1]

Harry Potter migrated from England to Australia.

Immigration Henry Potter, aged 13, arrived in Victoria, Australia in October 1855 on the Statesman with his step mother, brother George, and half-siblings Sophia and James. ^[2]

Marriage Harry and Laurina Margretta Kirby were married in 1865 in Heathcote, Victoria, Australia.^[3]

Death Harry died on 20 May 1914 in Caledonia Gully, South Heathcote, Victoria, Australia, aged 72. ^[4]

From The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, 4 June 1914, page 3:

Obituary.
On Wednesday, 20th ult., at his residence, Caledonia Gully, South Heathcote, there passed away a very old McIvor resident, namely, Mr Harry Potter, son of the late Mr George Potter, also of Caledonia Gully, for a number of years in the early days, and brother of Mr James W. Potter, of Rushworth, and Mrs A. Smith, Elmore. The cause of death was colic, ending in heart failure, after only two days' illness. Mr Potter was a native of Oxford, England, and was 72 years of age. He arrived in Australia with his parents when a lad, and attended the school at Heathcote in the fifties, with his brother Mr George Potter, jun., who died many years ago. Mr Harry Potter was for over 20 years engaged in the Criminal Investigation Department, being stationed in Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat, etc., and was widely known as Detective Potter, and an efficient officer, and noted for his clever captures. Mr Potter's various appointments were as follow:— Joined police force, February, 1866; appointed 3rd class' detective, August, 1869; 2nd class detective, February, 1875; 1st class detective, March, 1880; 1st class sergeant, November, 1881; and resigning his position in May, 1887. In November, 1879, he received from the Board of Directors of the Queen's Birthday Quartz Gold Mining Co., Dunolly, a handsome illuminated address for his services in obtaining evidence that led to the arrest of robbers of copper plates and amalgam from the company's workings at that time. He afterwards had an hotel business at Ferntree Gully, later the Antimony Hotel at Costerfield, and Gold Miners' Arms, Caledonia Gully, Heathcote. As a youth he was engaged in several of the leading workings on the M'Ivor goldfields, including the Butlers and Alabama reefs, afterwards joining the Police Force, and subsequently the Criminal Investigation Department. He was of a very genial and kindly disposition, and his decease will be a source of regret to his many friends. He was married at Heathcote to Miss Laurina M. Kirby, who predeceased him. He leaves three sons and two daughters, grown-up, living, and much sympathy is felt for them in their bereavement, two sons being deceased. The funeral took place on the Friday, and was numerously attended, the place of burial being the Heathcote Cemetery. The burial service was read by the Rev. W. M. Madgwick, and the funeral was conducted by Messrs. Perry Bros. ^[5]

Burial Harry was buried on 22 May 1914 in Heathcote Cemetery, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923", database with images
   London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, United Kingdom, London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P71/Mmg/019
   Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1558 #4893592 : accessed 3 May 2024)
   Harry Potter baptism on 5 Dec 1841, son of George Potter & Mary Ann Potter, in St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, Southwark, England.
2. ↑ Immigration: "Unassisted passenger lists (1852-1923)", database with images, Public Record Office Victoria(https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/passenger-records-and-immigration/unassisted-passenger-lists : accessed 3 May 2024), entry for Henry Potter, age 13, arrived Oct 1855 aboard the Statesman; citing Public Record Office Victoria, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (VPRS 947).
3. ↑ Marriage: "Historical index", database, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria(https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/- : accessed 3 May 2024), entry for marriage of Harry Potter and Laurina Magretha Kirby, 1865/3588; citing marriage certificate of Harry Potter and Laurina Magretha Kirby, married 1865, Victoria, Australia. Family name: POTTER, Given name(s): Harry, Event marriages, Spouse's family name: KIRBY, Spouse's given name(s): Laurina Magretha, Reg. year: 1865, Reg. number: 3588 / 1865.
4. ↑ Death: "Historical index", database, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria(https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/- : accessed 3 May 2024), entry for death of Harry Potter, 1914/5872; citing death certificate of Harry Potter, died 1914, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia. Family name: POTTER, Given name(s): Harry, Event: death, Mother's name: Mary Ann, Mother's family name at birth: STONE, Father's name: Potter Geo, Place of birth: - , Place of death: Hcote, Age at death: 72, Reg. year: 1914, Reg. number: 5872 / 1914.
5. ↑ Newspaper: "Obituary.", The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, 4 June 1914, p. 3, col. 1; digital images, National Library of Australia,Trove(https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74748003 : accessed 3 May 2024).
6. ↑ Burial: "Australia Cemetery Index, 1808-2007", database
   Compiler Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies, Reference M188
   (Ancestry au Record 1266 #126996 : accessed 3 May 2024)
   Harry Potter burial (died in 1914) on 22 May 1914 in Heathcote, Victoria. Born in about 1842.