Samuel Potter (abt. 1833 - 1897)

Born about 1833 in Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Harriet (Getson) Potter — married 2 Aug 1860 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1897 at about age 64 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Susie Officer [send private message]

Biography

According to his Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate, Samuel was born in about 1833. As his Marriage Certificate is the first available record, this is assumed to be the most reliable birth year, especially given it lines up with his Death Certificate. However, according to his children's Birth Certificates^[1], he was born in about 1838. According to his Marriage Certificate, his parents were Thomas Potter, farmer, and Mary Arnold however they were recorded as Unknown on his Death Certificate. Hariett his wife was still alive then and about 53. All the certificates record he was born in Suffolk, England. His Death Certificate records that he arrived in Victoria, Australia in 1854. Refer Research Notes.

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

Their marriage notice reads:^[3]

Potter—Getsom—On the 2nd August, Samuel

Potter, Esq., of Geelong, to Harriet, third

daughter of James Getsom, of Geelong.

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

He died on 9 September 1897 in Bay Lane, off Western Beach, Town of Geelong, County Grant. He was noted as being a Carter. His children were recorded as;^[5][6]

• William Potter, dead
• 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

His death notice reads:^[7]

POTTER.—On the 9th September, at his resi-

dence, Bay Lane, off Western Beach, Samuel,

dearly beloved husband of Harriet Potter,

aged 63 years.

The funeral will leave his late residence,

Bay Lane, off Western Beach, on Sunday, the

12th inst., at 2.30 p.m., for the New General

Cemetery.

Friends please accept this intimation.

Research Notes

Was he a convict who changed his name? He is a Brick Wall as nothing can be found about him prior to his marriage to Harriet Getson in 1860. No records of a Samuel Potter with parents Thomas Potter & Mary Arnold have been found. No records of a Samuel Potter arriving from Suffolk in the time frame either free or as a convict have been found.

• There is this record which isn't this Samuel. Samuel a farm servant from Somerset (not Suffolk), arrived in Adelaide (not Victoria) from Plymouth in 1856 (not 1854) via the Aliquis.^[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 its forfeiture.^[10]
  • Fined for an unregistered dog?^[11]
  • Fined for not sending one child to school?^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Several digital copies of images in the possession of Susie Officer ~~~~.
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. Digital copy of image in the possession of Susie Officer ~~~~.
3. ↑ 1860 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Sat 25 Aug 1860, Page 3 : Family Notices.
4. ↑ "TOWN TALK." Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) 22 October 1890: 2. Web. 18 Apr 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150706651>.
5. ↑ 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. Digital copy of image in the possession of Susie Officer ~~~~.
6. ↑ 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.
7. ↑ 1897 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Sat 11 Sep 1897, Page 1 : Family Notices.
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. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Mon 28 Jun 1869, Page 2 : CURRENT TOPICS.
10. ↑ 1876 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Wed 26 Apr 1876, Page 3 : LAND BOARD.
11. ↑ 1870 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Tue 22 Mar 1870, Page 2 : CURRENT TOPICS.
12. ↑ 1878 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 21 May 2024); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Sat 9 Mar 1878, Page 4 : POLICE COURT.