William Potter Sr (bef. 1745 - bef. 1800)

Born before 1745 in Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Alice (Waite) Potter — married [date unknown] in Coventry RI [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 4 Mar 1800 at about age 55 in Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carolyn Adams [send private message]

Biography

From Coventry RI. He married Alice Waite and had ten children. They moved from Coventry RI to Pownal VT with other relatives. Buried on the Eunice Wilcox farm in Pownal VT.

OBITUARY "On Sunday last departed this life, Mr. William Potter, of this town. He was suddenly seized with an apoplectic fit, as was supposed, a few days before his death, as he was at work in his barn, but recovered a little after being conveyed to the house; he however soon relapsed into a state of insensibility, and lay from Thursday the 27th ult. until the day abovementioned, when he breathed his last. It is remarkable that Mrs. Potter his wife, was seized in an equally sudden manner in December last, after having attended to the usual business of her family, in the morning, and was a corpse before night." [Source: Vermont Gazette, March 17, 1800, p. 3.]

Notes

Mrs. Joseph Wilson (Hazel Armstrong Wilson++), Bennington, VT, notes copied by Earl Pine Osborn These stones on Wilcox Farm at North Pounal: In memory of William Potter who died March 4, 1800 in the 66th year of his age In memory of Mrs. Alice [Wait] Potter, wife of Mr. William Potter, who died Jan. 4th, 1800 in the 53rd year of her life. Bennington Probate Records, Vol. 3 page 4, copied by Earl Pine Osborn, 7-20-51 Report Comrs. Division(?) Estate of William Potter, Dec. 30, 1800 $400 each to: 1. Phebe Potter, wife of David Potter, second daughter of the deceased William Potter 2. Hannah Potter, wife of Shadrack Potter, oldest daughter of the deceased William Potter 3. Sally Eldridge, wife of Thomas Eldridge, third oldest daughter of the deceased William Potter 4. Olive Eldridge, wife of Daniel Eldridge, Jun., fourth daughter $800 each to: 5. Andrew Potter, fifth son 6. Honeyman Potter, 2nd son 7. Amos Potter, eldest son 8. William Potter, youngest son 9. Caleb Potter, one of the twin sons 10. Joshua (crossed out) John (crossed out) Potter, one of the twin sons. 1800 Apr. 2Appointment of appraisers Oct. 6Appraisers inventory Oct. 14Appt. Coms. Divis(?) Dec. 30Report Coms. Divis. Administration Account John & Honeyman Potter, Adms. More About William Potter: Estate Administration: 30 Dec 18007322 Residence: Bennington, Vt..7323 Children of William Potter and Alice Wait are: +Sarah Potter, b. 3 Jun 1772, Pownal, VT7324, 7325, 7326, 7327, d. 23 Dec 1795, New Lisbon, NY7328, 7329, 7330, 7331, 7332.

Estate transcribed by Janet M

ESTATE OF WILLIAM POTTER

29 Mar 1800 - John Potter [sic, s. b. William Potter] Administration of Estate Hunneman Potter of Bennington, John Potter of Hoosick [NY], and Ichabod Paddock of Bennington issued a bond for $20,000 “for the sd. Hunneman & John’s faithful administration upon the Estate of John Potter late of sd Bennington deceased.” [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 292]

16 July 1800 Eliezer Hawks and Aaron Hubbell appointed to administer estate of William Potter late of Bennington deceased. [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 287]

6 Oct 1800 Total: $5,706.10 Inventory included: 460 Acres of land, valued at $4,000 30 bushels of oats & 140 bushels of corn 5 cows, 1 yoke of oxen, a 12-year old bull [and more livestock, including numerous heifers and steers, but page is so stained that writing is illegible]. Signed: Aaron Hubbel & Eliezer Hawks, Appraisers [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 288-91]

13 Oct 1800 Amos Potter and Honeyman Potter appointed guardians of Andrew Potter, son of William Potter, late of Bennington. [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 294]

13 Oct 1800 Amos Potter and Honeyman Potter appointed guardians of William Potter, son of William Potter late of Bennington. Bond: $1,600. [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 294]

14 Oct 1800 Thomas G. Wait, Aaron Hubbell, and Jonathan Winters, all of Bennington, appointed to administer estate of William Potter late of Bennington deceased. [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 2, p. 294]

25 Dec 1800 Distribution of estate included: $400 to the daughters and $800 to the sons. To Phebe Potter, wife of David Potter, second daughter of the deceased William Potter, household items, livestock & cash valued at four hundred dollars, as follows: 1 Iron Tea kettle without a cover, 1 Iron Tongs, 1 Copper Mug, 1 Bronze ?, 1 Tin Ladle, 1 Bed, 1 under bed, 1 bed turkey feathers, 1 under bed ticking, 1 Rag coverlid, 1 red black and white cover lid, 1 white kersey sheet, 1 white flannel sheet, 1 old flannel sheet, 1 jhersey sheet, 1 red blue and white coverlid, 1 striped sheet, 1 blue and white birds eye coverlid, 1 new flannel sheet, 3 sheets, 4 ? sheets, 8 pillow cases, 3 table clots, 1 double towel, 1 towel, 3 red chairs, Cherry bed stead and cord, 1 old Aunt, 2 basins, 1 old basin and plate, 1 quart pot, 2 tin bottles, 1 coffee pot and tin basin, 1 warming pan, 14 table spoons, 8 tea spoons, 3 chamberpots, 2 tubs and one pail, 2 clothes baskets, 1 old sleigh, 1 case of spectacles, 1 plough and irons and 2 old irons, 30 bushels of oats, 1 set of horse harness, 1 black cow, 1 white-tailed black cow and calf, 1 geese and [illegible], 2 white yearling heifers, 12 sheep, 1 bay Roberts horse, 1 yellow sweep horse, 1 Note against John Potter, 1 old white mare, 5 new bags and one old one, 1 silk handkerchief, 1 old sled, 1 old yoke and irons, 3 hoes, 1 small whippletree, 1 pair of silver knee buckles, 1 old set of teeth instruments, cash received of William Potter her brother [$2.58], and $58 paid to her by her father before his death. To Hannah Potter, wife of Shadrach Potter and eldest daughter of William Potter, household items, livestock, and $49 paid to her by her father before his death, total valued at $400. To Sally Eldridge, wife of Sherman Eldridge and third daughter of William Potter, items and $64 paid to her by her father before his death, total valued at $400. To Olive Eldridge, wife of Daniel Eldridge and fourth daughter of William Potter, household items, livestock, and $4.25 paid to her by her father before his death, total valued at $400. To Andrew Potter, fifth son of William Potter, items, and 65 acres of land lying in Bennington, total valued at $800. To Honeyman Potter, second son of William Potter, household items and 39 acres of land lying in Bennington, total valued at $800. To Amos Potter, eldest son of William Potter, $495 given to him by his father before his death, plus a tract of land in Bennington containing 28 acres, total valued at $800. To William Potter, youngest son of William Potter, household items, livestock, and 78 acres of land in Bennington, total valued at $800. To Caleb Potter, one of the twin sons of William Potter, household items, livestock, and 104 acres of land in Bennington, total valued at $800. To Joshua Potter, one of the twin sons of William Potter, household items, livestock, and 139 acres of land in Bennington, total valued at $800. Signed: Thomas G. Wait, Jonathan Wentworth, & Aaron Hubbell, Commissioners [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 3, p. 4-21]

2 Feb 1801 For appraising and settling the estate of William Potter, administrators John Potter & Honeyman Potter paid to Aaron Hubbell and Jonathan Wentworth $13 each; to Thomas G. Wait $7; and to Eleazer Hawks $4. Paid to Andrew Selden, Register $6 for services concerning the estate. [Source: Bennington County, Vermont, Probate Records, Bk 3, p. 52-4]

Note on birth date

Having no known birth record, the best evidence of his birthdate would be the gravestone, which is believed to be missing or destroyed. The records of it are in conflict. Was he in his 56th year (in 1800) or his 66th? A birthdate of 1744-45 seems more consistent with the ages of his known siblings and his wife, but a birthdate in the 1730s has not been ruled out. The identification with the William Potter born 19 June 1733 in Providence seems to be to the wrong parents, named John Potter and Phebe Potter, but not the John and Phebe Potter of Coventry, where the deeds and probate records of this William and his family are found.

Note on daughter Sally

Transcriptions above are both incorrect for daughter Sally. Her husband was Solomon Eldred. Their graves are pictured on Findagrave # 109627555 (Sally) and # 109627531 (Solomon Eldred), buried in Butts cemetery in West Laurens, Otsego Co. NY. Adams-21565 07:29, 29 April 2016 (EDT) ____________________ Andrew was born about 1757. He passed away about 1827. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Richard Sheldon Sr.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9744723/william-potter
• Pownal VT death records, accessed via FamilySearch.org

*Vermont Gazette, March 17, 1800, p. 3.

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9744723 (birth date of 1745 not supported by Pownal death records, showing circa 1734)
• ++ Hazel Armstrong Wilson was the Registrar of the DAR in Bennington VT for many years (circa 1940s through 1970s) and known for genealogical work.
• Bennington Probate Records, Vol. 3 page 4, copied by Earl Pine Osborn, 7-20-(19)51