Cuthbert Potter (abt. 1620 - bef. 1690)

Born about 1620 in Colony of Virginia

Died before 4 Jan 1690 before about age 70 in Barbados

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Biography

John Robinson b. abt 1614 Hewick, Cleasby Parish, N. Riding, Yorkshire, England d. abt 1651 Hewick, Cleasby Parish m. Elizabeth Potter bef 1645 Cleasby, England b. 1619 Cleasby, near Darlington, Yorkshire, England d. 1688 Cleasby [d/o Christopher Potter Sr of Cleasby, N. Riding, Yorkshire, England, b. abt 1586, Will proved Jul 6 1642 Cleasby, and m. Isabell _. Their other children: Christopher Potter Jr; John Potter; Dorrithe Potter; Mary Potter who m. William Ayensley; and Col. Cuthbert Potter b. bef 1637 Cleasby, d. bef Jan 4 1690 Barbados. Isabel had two children before she married Christopher, Allice _ and Margaret _]^[1]

WILL OF CHRISTOPHER POTTER OF CLEASBY, YORKSHIRE Contributed by John G. Hunt, Arlington, Virginia Christopher Potter of Cleasby, Yorkshire, was the maternal grandfather of Col. Christopher Robinson or Middlesex Co., Va., the progenitor of a large and noted Virginia family. His will, from the Archdeaconry of Richmond, Yorkshire, wills, which are now retained at the Central Library, Leeds, Yorkshire, was proved 6 July 1642. The daughter Elizabeth mentioned in the postscript married John Robinson of Cleasby and died in 1688. She was the mother of Col. Christopher Robinson. The son Cuthbert Potter also was in Virginia. See The American Genealogist, v. 36, pp. 121-22, for information relating to him.^[2]

He practiced law in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, as early as 1653, and three years later his name appears among the justices of the Lancaster County Court.

Cuthbert was mentioned in tax assessments in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, 16 Dec 1657,^[3] and 31 Oct 1658.^[4] Lancaster County assessed him the next year, 30 Nov 1659, for eight tithables,^[5] and for seven tithables, 15 Nov 1660.^[6]

He was assessed in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, 22 Nov 1668, for fourteen tithables on the county’s "southside,"^[7] i.e., the part of the county that was then south of the Rappahannock River.^[8]

In later years he was one of the large landholders of Middlesex County and was closely associated with Ralph Wormeley, a leading member of the Council. The narrative of his journey to New England shows that he was an advocate of strong government. Wrote a journal of a Journey from Virginia to New England in 1690, resolved to send a messenger north ward with instructions "to ascertain the truth of matters in New England and New York." Colonel Cuthbert Potter was forthwith named for the mission and on the 24th of the following month Governor Nicholson announced to the Council that the Colonel had agreed to perform the service for £60. Shortly after making that journey he removed in his own sloop, the Hopewell, to the Island of Barbados, where, as stated in his will, dated June 20, 1691, he was "suddenly seized and taken with bodily sickness." In return for his ill treatment in Boston the Governor and Council of Virginia warned the Government of Virginia warned the Government of Massachusetts that as "contrary to the Acts of Parliament divers goods are imported into New England not directly from England, and that no Collector is in New England, we have ordered that any ships bringing European goods hither from New England must produce their cocquets from England or be proceeded against at law." ^[9]

MR. CUTHBERT POTTER, 1200 acs. Lancaster Co., 14 Dec. 1655, p. 13, (20). On S. side of Rappa. Riv, upon branches of Burnhams Cr. Trans. of 24 pers.^[10]

MR. CUTBERT POTTER, 1200 act. on S. side of Rappa. Riv., behind land of Mr. Rowland Burnham. No date; p. 46, (69). Formerly granted by patent.^[11]

TO ALL TO WHOME &c. Whereas by ye Artickles date &c. Now Know yee yt: I ye sd RICH BENNETT Esqr wth ye consent of ye Councell of State acordingly give & grant unto RICHARD MERIWETHER a tract of Four hundred acres of land scituate or beinge in ye Countye of Lancaster on ye South side of Rapa: River & about six myles up ye same & is bounded as followeth, vizt., ENE on Rapa: River, NNW on ye land of NICH: DALE, SSW into ye Woods & ESE on a Creeke devidinge this land & ye land of JAMES BONNER, the sd Land &c. dated at JAMES CITTYE the 10th of Febry: 1653 RI: BENNETT WM. CLAYBORNE, Secr. Recognitr: 6th Febry Recordr: 11th die 1654 BE IT KNOWNE unto all men by these pr:sents yt: I NICH: MERIWETHER for a valuable consideracon indented for doe bargaine sell assigne & set over unto HUMP: HAGETT his heirs & assignes for ever one p:cell of land contg: 400 acres in Rapa. River as by a Patt: to him delivered, ye bounds more plainly is described, To have & to hold ye sd land wth: all rights & priviledges in as large ample and effectual) maner & forme to all intents & purposes as to me granted in ye sd Patt: warantinge ye premisses from any p:son or p:sons yt: shall claime or p:tend any interest by from or under me. Witness my hand & seale this 3d of 8ber 1654 Teste ANTHONIE ARMELL NICH: MERIWETHER THO HUMPHREY Mr. PHILIPS Recognitr 6th Febry: & recordr 11th die 1654 Pray of HUMPH. HAGETT desire it acknowledged for me ye sale of a Patt. wch: he can p.duce of 400 acres the which I allow for good & rest Yor: Humble Servant NICH: MERIWETHER Recognitr 6th Febry: & recordr 11th die 1654 BE IT KNOWNE unto all men by these pr:sents yt: I HUMPHREYE HAGETT for a valuable consideracon already indented for wch: bargaine sell assigne & set over unto CUTH POTTER his heirs or assignes for ever a p:cell of land containinge Foure hundred acres in Rapa: River as by Patt: to him delivered ye bounds more plainly is described To have & to hould ye sd land wth all rights & priviledges in as large ample & agst all manner & forme to all intents & purposes as is to me assigned in ye sd Pattent, warrantinge ye p:misses from any person or persons whatsoever yt: shall claime any title or interest to any pt: or p:cell of ye aforesd. Tract of 400 acres of land Witness my hand ye 30th of 8ber: 1654 Witness RICHD; COLE HUMPHREY HAGGETT Recognitr 6th Febry: 1654 & record 11th die.^[12]

In 1659, Cuthbert Potter received 5380 acres of land in Lancaster County, Virginia. In April 1680 Wormeley repatented his 2,000 acres, "formerly Indian inhabitation called Nanzattico," which lay between Porteus (Jetts) and Chingoteague (Gingoteague) Creeks (Nugent 1969-1979:II:208-209). Two years later, Wormeley acquired from Cuthbert Potter 2,000 acres (or approximately half) of the 5,275 acre Nansemond-Mangakemoxon Indian Town tract, which lay just upstream from his property at Nanzattico.^[13]

March 1673/4 By the Governor & Capt. Genll. of Virginia. Whereas the high Sherriffe place of Middlesex County doth this ensueing yeare properly belong to Coll. CUTHBERT POTTER and att the request of said COLL. POTTER att his departure for England humbly desires it might be transferred to Mr. RICHARD ROBINSON, I doe therefore hereby nominate & appoint ye said ROBINSON as Sherriffe for said County of Middlesex for this eneueing year and that he be admitted & sworne accordingly aft the usuall tyme. Given under my hand this thirtieth day of October 1673 WILLIAM BERKELEY Mr. RICHARD ROBINSON in pursuance of the above written Mandate did take the Oath of Supremacy Allegiance & high Sherriffes Oath & was admitted high Sherriffe of this County. Capt. ROBERT BEVERLEY and Mr. JOHN VAUSE became Security for said ROBINSON in open Cort for the true management of his high Sherriffe place.^[14]

TO ALL XPIAN PEOPLE to whome this prsent writing shall come, I CUTHBERT POTTER of the Parrish of Christ Church in the County of MIDDLESEX in Virginia send Greeting. Whereas THOMAS CHETWOOD (by the name of THOMAS CHETWOOD of the County of LANCASTER Gent.) did by his Deed Poll or bargain e & sale bearing date ye fowerteenth day of Novembr: 1668 (for the consideration therein mentioned) grant unto me the said CUTHBERT POTTER my heirs the full moyety of one halfe i part of a tract of land contaying Five thousand Two hundred Seaventy five acres in the whole taken up and Pattented by the said THOMAS CHETWOOD and JOHN PROSSER in their names equally in Copartnership but under both their hands & seales dated ye Sixth and Twentieth day of July 1667 the said land being scituate and being in the Freshes of the Rappahannock River on the North side thereof and known by the name of NANZEMUND INDIAN TOWNE in the County of Rappa: aforesaid, wax said land (amongst others) by Pattent from Sr. WILL: BERKELEY dated at JAMES CITTY ye Twenty eighth day of September 1667 and under the Seale of the Collony was granted unto the said THOMAS CHETWOOD and JOHN PROSSER as by the said Pattent & certain articles of Agreement between the said THOMAS CHETWOOD and JOHN PROSSER may more at large appeare. Now Know ye that I the said CUTHBERT POTTER for divers valluable causes me theretunto moveing have sold unto RALPH WORMLEY Esqr , his heirs and assigns forever, Two thousand acres of land part of the said moyety or one half part the said Five thousand two hundred seaventy five acres and soe held at ye dividing lyne adjoyning to the lands of Mr. ANTHONY SAVAGE, WILLIAM STROTHER & SYMON MILLER, and soe runing up Rappa: River including NANZEMUND TOWNE & the Plantation thereunto belonging as by the said Pattent and Survey thereof may more fully appeare. To have and to hold the said Two thousand acres of land with the due share of mines and mineralls with all rights and privilidges and all proffitts & hereditaments whatsoever belonging and all the Estate right to the same unto the said RALPH WORMLEY his heirs in as full manner as the same was pattented by the said CHETWOOD & JOHN PROSSER and by the said THOMAS CHETWOOD settled upon to me the said CUTHBERT POTTER as aforesaid upon speciall Trust nevertheless to the uses & purposes hereafter expressed and declared (yt. is to say) to the use of KATHERINE WORMLEY, second Daughter of the said RALPH WORMLEY and KATHERINE his Wife, for and during the term of her natural! life and in case of the death or departure out of this life of the said KATHERINE the Younger to the use and behoofe of ELIZABETH WORMELEY, one other of the Daughters of RALPH WORMLEY and KATHERINE his Wife for and during the term of her naturall life and in case of the death of the said KATHERINE and ELIZABETH shall be by the said RALPH WORMLEY begotten on the body of the said KATH: his Wife Successively as they shall be in Seniority of age and priority of Birth and in default of such issue to the use of the sd RALPH WORMLEY his heires forever and I the sd CUTHBERT POTTER doe grant to said RALPH WORMLEY his heires as followeth that I the said CUTHBERT POTTER doe for me my heires the said lands unto RALPH WORMLEY his heires against all persons claiming to ye same warrant and defend forever and that I the said CUTHBERT and my heirs shall within the space of seaven years at request costs and charges in the Law of the said RALPH WORMLEY make further assurances unto the said RALPH WORMLEY as shall be reasonably required. In Witness whereof the said CUTHBERT POITE..R have hereunto sett my hand and seale this fifteenth day of March 1682/3 Sealed and delivered in the prsen ts of us ROBERT GILHAM, CUTHBERT POTTER RICHD: FARMER RICHD. LAKELAND Recognitr in Cur Com Rappa: 6th die Junii 1683 et recordatr xi die.^[15]

Reaseach Notes

https://walterfitzgilbertdehamilton.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/cuthbert-potter/

• http://www.ancestraltrackers.net/va/resources/virginia-county-records-v6-p1.pdf

Sources

Footnotes

1. ↑ http://sites.rootsweb.com/~deschart/z0001176.html
2. ↑ The Virginia Genealogist Volume 4, 1960 [John Frederick Dorman]; page 147
3. ↑ 1657 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 16 Dec 1657. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book, 1655-1666, pp. 40-44. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 30 Mar 2024. To see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
4. ↑ 1658 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 31 Oct 1658. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 60-64. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 24 Jan 2024. To see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
5. ↑ 1659 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 30 Nov 1659. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 100-105. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 25 Jan 2024. Visit Lancaster County Tax Records to see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces.
6. ↑ 1660 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 15 Nov 1660. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 131-132. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 10 Apr 2024. Visit Lancaster County Tax Records to see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces.
7. ↑ 1668 Assessment. Assessment, 22 Nov 1668. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1, 1666-1680, pp. 86-87. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 1 Jan 2024.
8. ↑ Lancaster County today lies entirely north of the Rappahannock River. Until 1669, in which year Middlesex County was formed, Lancaster County straddled the river, thus leading the assessors to differentiate between the county's north and south sides. Sources:
   1. Wikipedia contributors, "Lancaster County, Virginia," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed January 22, 2024).
   2. Wikipedia contributors, "Middlesex County, Virginia," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed January 22, 2024).
   3. Iberian Publishing Company's On-Line Catalog: The Growth of Virginia, 1634-1895 (1651-1660). Available online here.
9. ↑ An official copy of this journal has been preserved in the Public Record Office, London: Colonial Office, Class 5, No. 1305, pp. 176-179. Source: Travels in the American Colonies
10. ↑ 1655-1664 Cavaliers and Pioneers, Patent Book No. 4; [Nell Marion Nugent]; Page 325
11. ↑ 1655-1664 Cavaliers and Pioneers, Patent Book No. 4; [Nell Marion Nugent]; Page 334
12. ↑ 1652-1657 Lancaster County, Virginia Deed & Wills [Antient Press]; Page 179-180
13. ↑ Old Rappahannock Deeds 1682-1688:36-38; 1668-1672:65-66; Nugent 1934-1979:II:46
14. ↑ 1673-1677 Middlesex Co Va Order Book; Antient Press: Page 10
15. ↑ 1682-1686 Old Rappahannock County, Virginia Deed Book 7, Part I; [Antient Press]; Page 36-38