Samuel Potter (abt. 1838 - 1897)

Born about 1838 in Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Harriet (Getson) Potter — married 26 Jul 1860 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1897 at about age 59 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Samuel was born about 1838. According to his Death Certificate, and Marriage Certificate, he was born in Suffolk, England, and arrived in Victoria, Australia in about 1854 (refer research notes). He was about 16-20. According to his marriage certificate, his parents were Thomas Potter and Mary Arnold.^[1]

Samuel Potter Esq., married Harriet Getson in Geelong, Victoria Australia on 26 July 1860 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.^[2][3]

A Carrier's license was issued to Samuel Potter at the Central Police Court on 21 October 1890.^[4]

He died at 63 (or 59 - refer research notes) years of age on 9 September 1897 in Bay Lane, off Western Beach, Town of Geelong, County Grant. He was noted as being a Carter. His parents were listed as "unknown". His place of birth was recorded as Suffolk, England, and it was noted that he had been in Victoria for 43 years (putting his arrival in Victoria at about 1854). His children were recorded as;^[1][5][6][7]

• Harry, 34
• Frank, 32
• Emma (Stott), 30
• James Arthur Arthur on the death certificate, 27
• Minnie (Cox), 24
• Walter, 22
• Frederick, 20
• Selina Alice Alice on the death certificate, 18
• Lily (Thom), 15
• William, 13

Research Notes

Was he a convict who changed his name?

• Birth year calculated from the birth certificate of son James Arthur which says he was 32 in 1870 when James was born. However, his death certificate says he was 63 when he died giving a birth year of 1834. I have gone with the son's birth certificate as it was closer to the time. Potter-10870 05:49, 2 February 2023 (UTC)
• He possibly arrived in Adelaide from Plymouth in 1856 via the Aliquis, though the Samuel on the Aliquis had his place of birth recorded as Somserset, and
  • this Samuel's death certificate recorded he was born in Suffolk, England and that he'd been in Victoria, Australia for 43 years which would mean he arrived in 1854, not 1856. He was recorded as a farm servant and on his marriage certificate his father is recorded as a farmer, so it perhaps fits.
  • His son James Arthur's birth certificate has a place of birth for the 32 year old Samuel, a carter, as Suffolk.^[8]
• Could this be this Samuel Potter? There do not seem to be any other Samuel Potter's in the Geelong area at the same time.
  • Selection of 20 Acres in the parish of Moolap^[9] and it's forfeiture?^[10]
  • Fined for an unregistered dog?^[11]
  • Fined for not sending one child to school?^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Death Index (Victoria Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 14 Apr 2022). Index entry for Saml POTTER, Year: 1897; Parents: Unknown and Unknown UNKNOWN; Spouse: ; Death Place: Glong; Birth Place: ; Age: 63; Reg. Number: 8976/1897; Reg. Number: 8976/1897
2. ↑ Marriage Index (Victoria Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 14 Apr 2022). Index entry for POTTER, Samuel and GETSOM, Harriet; Year: 1860, Reg. number: 3051/1860
3. ↑ "Family Notices" Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 4 August 1860: 2. Web. 14 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148884920>.
4. ↑ "TOWN TALK." Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 22 October 1890: 2. Web. 18 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150706651>.
5. ↑ "Family Notices" Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 11 September 1897: 1. Web. 18 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150376898>.
6. ↑ Original copy of Death Certificate in the possession of ~~~~
7. ↑ Burial: "Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current"
   Ancestry Record 60528 #2534838 (subscription required, accessed 15 April 2022)
   Samuel Potter burial (died on 9 Sep 1897) in Geelong West, Greater Geelong City, Victoria, Australia.
8. ↑ Passenger List: "South Australia, Australia, Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Lists, 1845-1940"
   State Records of South Australia; Gebbs Cross, South Australia, Australia; Records Relating to Official Assisted Immigration - Crown Lands and Immigration Office - Official Assisted Passage Passenger Lists-1845-1886; Series: GRG35_48_1
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry Record 62304 #96235 (subscription required, accessed 16 April 2022)
   Departure Age: 26; Others Listed: Samuel Potter; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Single; Record Type: Arrival; Birth Date: abt 1830; Departure Date: 1856; Name: Samuel Potter; Arrival Date: 1856; Occupation: Farm Servant; Arrival Age: 26.
9. ↑ "CURRENT TOPICS." Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 28 June 1869: 2. Web. 15 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148882485>.
10. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148912001?searchTerm=samuel%20potter
11. ↑ "CURRENT TOPICS." Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 22 March 1870: 2. Web. 15 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148794220>.
12. ↑ "POLICE COURT." Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 9 March 1878: 4. Web. 18 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149822592>.