Isobel (Callender) Potter (abt. 1655)

Born about 1655 in Scotland

Wife of John Potter — married 6 Jan 1676 in Uphall, Linlithgowshire, Scotland

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Biography

Research for this narrative was undertaken by Alan Runciman who by family lore is a descendant of Isobell & her husband John Potter through their only child, whose name is not known.

Birth & Baptism

Isobell was probably born around 1655. No baptism entry can be definitively attached to Isobell. Although in the likely period of birth only one person of that name (including spelling inconsistencies) was indexed on Scotland’s People^[1], there was nothing conclusive that it referred to the future Mrs Potter. The father’s name was 'Johne' (sic) with no mother’s name recorded.

Marriage

Place - Uphall, Linlithgowshire, Scotland

Date - 6 January 1676.

As is often the case in old Scottish church records the date shown in the register is the date the Banns were read in church as opposed to the actual date of marriage.

John Potter & Isobell Callender^[2]. The OPR is shown below.

Given the developing Covenanter story it’s surprising to find their marriage banns recorded in the Church of Scotland but perhaps this was to ensure the status of legitimacy of the marriage & of future family.

' Januarie 6, 1676 This day John Potter in this parish & Isobell Callender in the parish of Libertoun gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage '

Residence/Loaninghill

John was a tenant farmer of Lord Cardross at Loaninghill. The judgement which sentenced him to hanging also forfeited his assets and belongings. While legally the farm wasn't his to lose any rights to tenancy would have been sacrificed^[A]. It's not known where 'wife & child' lived thereafter. An interesting description of Loaninghill is contained in Strathbrock or the History and Antiquities of the Parish of Uphall by Rev James Primrose (pp67/68)  :

Family

Sadly no baptism has been found with them as parents although it is known the couple had a young child at the time of his imprisonment in 1680. Family lore records it was a daughter and there are two written references to a child. One is contained in John Potter’s own testament before he is hanged. He makes a lengthy statement which concludes as follows:

‘Farewell wife and child, parents and relations, and all friends and acquaintances. Welcome heaven, angels and saints! Welcome God and Father! Welcome Jesus Christ! Welcome Holy Spirit of Grace; into Thy hands I commend my soul and spirit.’

The Gibbites

An interesting passage ^[3] reveals that Isobel Callender was equally as strong as JP in her religious views, quite possibly more so - or perhaps became more so following his hanging.

Shortly after she lost her husband Isobel joined a band of fanatical Covenanters who became known as Gibbites (also as the Sweet Singers), named after their founding leader John Gib. Whether this was a reaction to JP’s hanging or whether Isobel would have participated had the group been started in JP’s lifetime can be only be conjecture. To quote from the Biblical Studies article ‘the story of the Gibbites is one of the curiosities of Scottish Church history’.

There is much of general interest within it but the extract below is what tells us of Isobell & daughter.

'Isobel Calender whose husband had been executed, presumably as a martyr, and who had abandoned her tiny child [in order] to follow Gibb'.

This sad passage informs the reader JP’s poor daughter was abandoned as ‘a tiny child’. As the group was short-lived^[B] one can hope mother & child were reunited after a few months. Hopefully there was a loving Granny or Auntie who stepped up. It is frustrating there is still no confirmation that the child is indeed a daughter, or her name.

Life for Isobell after her husband’s hanging

The verdict handed down to her husband John Potter included the forfeiture of all his assets & possessions. This was common practice in the punishment of captured Covenanters condemned to hang. Although legally John didn't own the farm he held the tenancy contract so presumably Isobell & her daughter were ejected from the tenanted farm at Loaninghill. Nothing is known of where they went on to live.

It’s possible, indeed probable, Isobell remarried. In those times a young mother with young child needed a financial provider. A scan of the Index of Church of Scotland Banns & Marriages lists several Issobel Callender marriages but there’s no way of telling if any are John Potter’s widow. Further research is possible by viewing all the entries for any supporting reference such as ‘relict of John Potter’ or similar. Of course there’s also the possibility that any such marriage was conducted in a non-conformist church.

Death & Burial

No record has been found.

Notes

[A] Rights to property were held only by males in the family. When a male tenant died leaving no other male heirs the usual line followed would be that the tenancy would pass to the husband of the closest female relative, perhaps providing accommodation for the widow. JP’s wider family is not known but whatever it was it’s unlikely to have applied by this judgement, leaving Isobell & daughter homeless or dependant on a relative .

[B]An extract from the website of Biblical Cyclopedia tells that the group were only active for a few months until April 1681: 'They finally undertook a pilgrimage to the Pentland Hills, where they remained some days, with a resolution to sit till they saw the smoke of the desolation of Edinburgh, which their leader had predicted. They were committed to prison in Edinburgh in April. 1681, but were soon, released.'

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Filing Ref Births & Baptisms, Parish of Newbattle, 695/10/74
2. ↑ Married in Uphall Ref Old Parish Registers Marriages 672/ 10 221 Uphall or Strathbrock
3. ↑ https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/srshj/02_085.pdf (Refer to Note 40 on Page 95)

• Scotland's People OPR Banns & Marriages