THE POTTS FAMILY GENEALOGY¶

Researched, Compiled and Written by Frances McIntosh

POTTS SURNAME¶

This family originated in England and is listed in Burke’s PEERAGE under various spellings, along with their coats of arms, crests and family coats. One of the most detailed and valuable books of the family was compiled by Thomas Maxwell Potts in 1901, a copy of which is in the Library of Congress (and probably in other libraries throughout the country) but as it is genealogical material it is not subject to interlibrary loan.

It is true that the particular couple from which my family is descended came from Germany but only as the Pilgrims came from Holland. No doubt they contracted marriages during their stay there but all of my researches point to Britain as their place of origin. Some of the crests were granted as early as 1583 and provide a fascinating study. The language of heraldry is French, though the mottoes are Latin, and usually they contain a veiled threat against usurpers and despoilers. According to the College of Arms, London, “To bear and use Arms with authority one must either prove and record male line descent from an ancestor whose name and Arms have already been registered, or apply for a grant of Arms and Crest by Letters Patent.”

RAYNARD AND CATHERINE POTTS¶

Many of our pioneers seem to have dropped an iron curtain behind them when they stepped off the gangplank onto our shores. No doubt they had reasons, personal and political, but it is there and so far has resisted all my efforts to pierce it. There is nothing particularly distinctive about the name “Potts” which would make it easy to identify in genealogical material. It is unbelievable, however, that family stories would not have come down to us from the first ancestors I have been able to find in this country – Raynard and Catherine (?) Potts, who landed at Baltimore in 1759 or 1760. There is much material of interest and value concerning their lives after they landed, but nothing before. What did they talk about on the long winter evenings in their pioneer cabin? Nothing is more to be expected from older people than reminiscence about their youth, such as “…a boy about ten…” or “…Father always took us to the fair in…” “…wasn’t more than twelve when I pulled weeds for…” and so on and so on. In fact, you can’t keep old folks from doing it, and those family stories stick—and grow and grow. Nothing at all has come down to us from Raynard and Catherine, however except some brief sketches written by James Henry Potts, great-grandson of Raynard and Catherine, in his book EVERY LIFE A DELIGHT, published in 1914. Pedigree of the author is as follows:

Raynard Potts (1725-1790’s)

Jacob Potts (1761-1838) (30 years with father)

Philip Potts (1819-1873) (19 years with father)

James Henry Potts (1848-1942) (25 years with father)

It is apparent that each of the above sons spent enough time with his father to hear and remember any number of family stories, stories that would be repeated over and over within their hearing. It is well to consider, also, the extreme scarcity of secular reading matter at the time, and the difficulty of any publication finding its way to a remote pioneer settlement.

In Egbert A. Owen’s SKETCHES OF LONG POINT SETTLEMENT, a long chapter is devoted to the Potts family, and between this book and that of James Henry Potts we get an interesting account of the early life of Raynard and Catherine Potts in their adopted country:

Raynard had no money in his homeland but he had the courage and strength for any venture, his chief desire being to emigrate to America where there were boundless opportunities for anyone not afraid of work and sacrifice. He sold himself as an indentured servant for a period of seven years to earn a ticket across the Atlantic Ocean. This was a rather common practice, often hard and bitter servitude if the owner were a man determined to get his last pound of flesh, but the only way many fine, stalwart young men and women could get here. Before his seven years were up he had met and fallen in love with a girl named Catherine (or Cathran), surname unknown. Accordingly, he had his period of servitude extended three years in order to bring her with him. In this, he was excelled only by Father Jacob, who served fourteen years and a week for his beloved Rachel, having been tricked into marrying the squint-eyed Leah first.

The young couple worked on board ship without compensation during their entire voyage, as part of their passage money. When they landed, their sole worldly goods, saving the clothes they wore, consisted of a pen-knife, carried in Raynard’s vest pocket. They walked in the forest about twenty miles from Baltimore, staked a claim, and began in labor of carving out a home. No doubt the neighbors assisted each other, as did all pioneers, and it is reasonable to think, too, that Raynard had friends or relatives in the small settlement who gave the new family a welcome and all the help they needed or would take.

By dint of incredible work and thrift, Raynard and Catherine established a home and in a few years they had a surplus of farm produce to sell or trade in town. Raynard would load his ox as heavily as the beast could bear and start in the evening for market, after working in the field all day, leading the ox and reaching Baltimore about daylight next morning when the market opened.

So life went on for the family, enduring without complaint all the hardships and deprivations of pioneer life but rejoicing, as did all emigrants, in their freedom of religion.

Raynard became an overseer on a Maryland plantation, with many slaves under his command, upon whom he never used the cruel “blacksnake” to enforce discipline. It was his firm belief that blacks were human beings like himself, not withstanding “Noah’s curse on his son Ham.” This glib phrase, in the opinion of Southerners, was a Divine Directive and hence complete justification of slavery. In many ways it is so considered. Power is corruptive; absolute power is absolutely corruptive and carries within itself the germs of its own ruin, ruin of the slave owner as well as the slave. It is erroneous to maintain that the curse was pronounced on Ham in the first place. It was instead pronounced upon his son Canaan, founder of the wicked, cruel Canaanites (Genesis 9:25), who were utterly destroyed by the Israelites when they invaded the Holy Land.

Needless to say, Raynard’s “soft line” toward the slaves resulted in instant, infuriated dismissal by his employer. Whether this experience influenced Raynard’s decision to emigrate to Ontario is unknown but in 1789 he moved his family there, with the exception of his wife, who had died in Maryland. Ontario at this time was fortunate in having as governor Sir John Craves Simcoe, a strong, resolute, far-seeing man who held the growth and welfare of his country to be his chief concern. He began very early to do away with slavery in all its hideous forms, and it was completely abolished in 1834, a generation before our Civil War.

Another “family story” concerns the first meal of this little group in Canada, after their long, arduous trip from Maryland:

Their supplies were long since exhausted and they had lived on game and what few berries they found on the way, arriving ragged and starving. There were no markets where they could go for supplies, even if they had money to buy them, but a kindly settler allowed them to cut just one sheaf of his scanty wheat crop, ripening toward harvest. The sheaf was cut, shelled by hand, one kernel at a time, chaff blown away carefully by the breath of the sheller, and the green kernels boiled like soup. To bitterly hungry, tired people it could taste like nectar and ambrosia.

The family prospered, living frugally and working hard, until about 1800, when they decided to move farther west, to the Long Point area, about a hundred miles away on the shore of Lake Erie, reported to be more fertile than the Niagara district and with a mild equable climate. There was plenty of game, so it was said, wild fruits and nuts grew in abundance and, most prosperous gift of Nature, excellent water bubbled in perennial springs and rivulets toward the Lake. Truly it seemed what it was called -- “The terrestrial paradise of Canada.”

In the early part of 1800 Jacob Potts and family (minus Raynard, who had died in the Niagara district) made the long trek to Long Point, in crude paddle-boats of their own construction, rowing all the way. A few other families, among them John Misner and Jeb Slaght families, went with them for mutual protection and assistance. At night the men would carry the women ashore, kindle a fire and cook a meal, sleeping on the ground until morning. Their livestock was driven along the shore, what few animals they had. It was not known how long the trip took but they finally reached their Shangri La and found it as delightful, rich and fruitful as their eager fancy had pictured. There were a few white settlers, land was almost for the asking, timber was in abundance, and the Indians were friendly and peaceable. Beulah Land at last!

In Rupp’s “30,000 Names of Immigrants” is a notation reading: “Between 1756 and 1761 German immigration was suspended due to hostilities between England and France.” All of the immigrants listed by Rupp (from 1727 through about fifty years) sailed from Rotterdam and landed at Philadelphia. Many people, however, came into this country “through the back door” as it was called: that is, by way of the Barbados where immigration was not restricted or watched very closely. A William Potts came to America in this way, settled in Maryland and rose to wealth and fame. Raynard may have known or been related to him.

THE SECOND GENERATION OF POTTS FAMILY¶

Harford County, Maryland, formed from Baltimore County, took a very comprehensive census of its citizens in 1776. This is considered one of the best early census records, and the family of Raynard Potts is listed: (2 more daughters were born after 1776)

Age (Est. date of birth)*

Raynard Potts 51 1725

Cathran 46 1730

Catherine 17 1759

Jacob 14 1761

John 10 1766

Elizabeth 2 1774

*My estimate, not in census

Cathran Potts, wife of Raynard, died in Maryland between 1776 and 1789, date unknown.

Catherine, the daughter, born 1759 or 1760, probably en route or in Maryland, married Joseph Reese on 1-22-1777 in Harford County and very little is known of her after that, although the Reese family appears to have been numerous and well-to-do. The name is spelled Rees and Reece. Most names were spelled like they sounded, and many people could neither read nor write so it is always risky to ASSUME the identity of any individual or family. In addition to poor spelling, there was a maddening repetition of names in families, not only from one generation to another but also among closer relationships – brothers, nephews, cousins, etc.

Of the other two daughters of Raynard and Cathran Potts, nothing whatever is known. Raynard died sometime in the 1790’s and is said to have been buried at Drummondsville (the old name for South Niagara Falls, Ontario) but this is not authenticated.

In 1790 our Federal Government ordered a nation-wide census to be taken, which was duly carried out and preserved in Washington. Unfortunately, few, if any, of the States retained a copy so that when the British burned Washington in 1814, the entire census roles were destroyed. In that fire, our gallant little Dolly Madison, wife of the President, saved the original Declaration of Independence, Stuart’s picture of George Washington, and some of her husband’s personal papers. Most of the newly-created states caused duplicate records to be compiled from tax, election, church and school rolls but these reconstructed records are not, of necessity, complete nor entirely reliable. New Jersey has no census records before 1820, although there are land records that give some reliable information.

Before 1850 only the head of the house is named in the census, the various classifications being (with only slight variation):

Free white males over 16
Free white males under 16
Free white females (including heads of families)
All other free persons
Slaves

In the 1790 Maryland census, page 74, a Joseph Reese is listed as follows: 1. One (probably himself) 2. One (probably a son) 3. Two (could be wife and daughter). (4) and (5) were blank. Since Joseph and Catherine (Potts) Reese were married in 1777, this could reasonably be their record, but only two children in thirteen years would be unusual. It is entirely possible, considering the fearfully high rate of infant mortality in pioneer times, that more had been born but had died.

The 1776 Harford census contained a John Reese family, with a son named Joseph, age 20 years, making him born ca 1756. There were other families of Reese but none that seems to fit conditions.

Search was made in McGroder’s BOOK OF MARYLAND WILLS but no Rees, Reece, or Reese was found.

The first son of Raynard and Cathran Potts was Jacob, whose life is given in detail below.

John Potts, second son of Raynard and Cathran Potts, remained in the Niagara Falls area when the rest of the family moved to Long Point. He married and raised a family but very little is known of him or his descendants. There are many Potts families in the district and I have made strenuous efforts to get in touch with them through letters, advertisements in local papers, church records and the services of an accredited research agent of the Maryland Historical Society, but totally without results. The few letters that I have received dealt invariably with later generations. It is amazing how few people are really interested in their forebears – many not even answering letters of inquiry although return postage is always enclosed.

The use of roman numerals in the following charts is necessary because of the duplication of names. They are for identification only, and do not indicate father and son.

JACOB POTTS I. first son of Raynard and Cathran Potts:

Jacob Potts I was born in Maryland on January 14, 1761, and died January 27, 1838, in Woodhouse Township, Ontario, having lived a rich, colorful life of pioneer hardships, work and the fear of God. He had married Susannah Coard (also spelled Cord and Corde) on October 31, 1782, in Harford County Maryland. Six children were born to them before 1789, when they moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario. This date (1789) is fully authenticated by Jacob’s own statement in his Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown dated 7 October 1796, in which he says that he had been “settled here since the year 1789” and further, that his family at that time consisted “of a wife and six children.” He was officially declared a British subject and given the acreage he asked for.

I have been unable to learn the parentage of Susannah Coard but in the 1776 census of Harford County, previously mentioned, a Cord family is listed:

Cord, Elizabeth Age 55 Widow (Est. date of birth, 1721)

Susana Age 24 (Est. date of birth, 1752)

Xeomie (Neomie?) Age 14 (Est. date of birth, 1762)

Jacob Age 11 (Est. date of birth, 1765)

The Cord family is listed on the same page as the Raynard Potts family, both in the Susquehanna Hundred, page 188. If the above Susana is the Susannah who married Jacob Potts, she would be ten years older than he.

On the Annie Burns Bell volumes on MARYLAND COLONIAL STATISTICS AND INDICIES, several Cord wills are listed but only that of Isaac Cord, Harford County, died 1776, seems to fit the circumstances. However, there is no digest of the will, so there is no way to learn the names of his family. Efforts are being continued to secure this information.

There is no record of Susannah (Coard) Potts’ date of death, and no certain date of her birth.

Of this first marriage of Jacob Potts I, there were six children, probably the same six who accompanied their parents to Ontario (assuming their dates of birth are correct). They are: (Third generation in this country)

Raynard Potts II Born 1783/d. 5-18-1869
Jacob Potts II Born 1785/d. 2-7-1867
William Potts Born 1787/d. ?
John Potts Born 1788/d. 2-12-1813 single
Elizabeth Potts Born 1784/d. 5-4-1866
Hannah Potts Born 1786/d.

(Note: Girls are always listed last in old records, except official census rolls, so the age of Hannah is an estimate only, by comparing it with the established ages of the other children. All six were born between 1782 and 1789, since the latter date is when the family arrived in Canada. Hence, as Raynard II was born in 1783, Elizabeth in 1784, Jacob II in 1785, William in 1787, John in 1788, only one year is left – 1786).

SECOND MARRIAGE OF JACOB POTTS I: No information on this marriage has come to light other than that there was no issue of record.

THIRD MARRIAGE OF JACOB POTTS I:

The third and last marriage of Jacob Potts I was to a widow, Mrs. Catherine Duff (nee Richards), born in the United States ca 1778, died 11-3-1853, who outlived Jacob by about fifteen years. In the 1851 Canadian census she is listed in the household of her son Phillip as being seventy-three years of age. It is not known when Jacob’s second marriage began or ended but he must have married Catherine Duff about 1812 or 1813, as George Potts, said to be the first child of this union was born in 1814, estimating from census records. However, it is possible that Catherine Potts, daughter of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts, was older than George; or she could have been born between George and Phillip, second son of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts (born in 1819). At the time of George’s birth, his mother was ca thirty-six years of age; and forty-one years old when Philip was born, estimating from census records.

Children of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts:

George Potts Born 1814/died 7-5-1899
Philip Potts Born 4-10-1819/died 1-25-1873
Catherine Potts Born Unknown/died 1855

THE THIRD GENERATION OF POTTS FAMILY¶

FIRST MARRIAGE OF JACOB POTTS I¶

Raynard Potts II¶

Eldest son of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts:

Born 1783, died 5-18-1869. Married (first) ca 1805 to Esther Austin, third daughter of Solomon Austin. Esther was born 1788, died shortly after 1812, partial census gives her age as 24 years.

Children of Raynard and Esther (Austin) Potts:

#1. Jacob Potts III Born 1806/died 3-11-1894, age 88 years, 1 month six days. Married Charity (Charety) DeCou, who was born 1806, died 3-25-1894 or 1-3-1894.

Children of Jacob III and Charity (DeCou) Potts:

.....A. John IV Potts No data on him

.....B. Isaac Potts Born 1826, died ?. Married Mary _____, born 1830 or 1831. Census of 1871. Townsend, lists children as follows: (Isaac, 45; Mary, 41)

Children of Isaac and Mary ( ) Potts:

Name - Age - Est. date of birth

..........B1. Mary Potts 18 - 1853-4

..........B2. Martha Potts 13 - 1858-9..........B3. Emma Potts 11 - 1860

..........B4. Carrie Potts 9 - 1862

..........B5. Lucy Potts 7 - 1864

..........B6. Charles Potts 5 - 1866

.....C. Samuel Potts Born 1828, died ?, Married Rebecca ( ), born\1828.

Census of 1871: (Samuel, 43; Rebecca, 43)

Children of Samuel and Rebecca ( ) Potts:

..........C1. Mary Potts 19 - 1849-50

..........C2. Esther Potts 11 - 1860

..........C3. Rial Potts 7 - 1864

..........C4. Ethelinda Potts 2 - 1869

In the 1861 census, an Ethelinia is given, age 2. She may have died and they named a succeeding child Ethelinda, as was a common custom, or there may be an error somewhere.

.....D. Jeremiah Potts Born 1835, died 1917. Mar. Esther Potts, cousin who was born 1833, died 1- 28-1894, age 60 years. Census of 1871: (Jeremiah, 35; Esther, 37)

Children of Jeremiah and Esther Potts: (1971 census)

Name - Age - Est. date of birth

..........D1. Oliver Potts 10 - 1861/died 1929

..........D2. Edith E. Potts 8 - 1863/died 10-28-1888 (25 yrs.)

..........D3. Celista Potts 1867/died 9-4-1868

(Note: No data on Edith E. Potts, apparently did not marry. Oliver married Lillian Brown, and they had (probably several, no data on them). Clarence Potts born 1900, married Katie Kennedy, born 1902, England.)

(Note: John E. Potts, born 1926, married Audrey Baily Bedford, also born 1926. John K. and Audrey (Bedford) Potts have five children, Diane, Murray, Nancy, David, Barbara, said to be adopted. If this is a fact, they do not properly belong in a Potts chart, since their natural parents might later wish to include them in their own genealogy.)

#2. John Potts III Born 1808/died ? Mar. Ann_____: One child, Robert, born 1842. No further data.

#3. Jonathan Potts Born 1810. No further data.

Second marriage of Raynard Potts II was to Mrs. Catherine (Baumwort) DeCou (also spelled DeCew and Decue) who was born in 1783, died 1-3-1864 (or 1-30-1864). (Both dates are given). She was the widow of Isaac DeCou.

Children of Raynard II and Catherine (Baumwort)(Decou) Potts:

#4. Margaret Ann Potts Dates of birth and death are unknown. On 1-11-1840 she married James Doan, of Woodhouse; witnesses were Jacob Potts Jr, (Which Jacob?) and ?

The Decou family was so intermarried with the Austin, Bucks, Lemons and Potts that it is next to impossible to be absolutely certain as to generations, without an exhaustive study of Canadian records. The family of Lawrence and Jacqueline DeCou, Huguenot refugees, emigrated to this country in the early 17th century. In the sixth generation we find one Abner Decow born 1742, died 1826, age 84 years, four months, twenty days. He married Elizabeth Flummerfelt, born 1750, died 1823, are 73 years, five months, seventeen days. Their children were: Eber, John, Isaac, Abner, Charity, Samuel. Only Isaac will be followed through here.

Isaac DeCou, born 1781, died 3-12-1814. About 1800 he married Catherine Baumwort born 1783, died 1864. As mentioned above, there are two stones in the cemetery for her, bearing different dates. She was a daughter of Henry Baumwort. Children of Isaac and Catherine were Frederick, Samuel, Henry, Charity, Susanna, Elizabeth. One record adds a Catherine but this is not proved. (Only Frederick will be followed through here.)

Frederick Decou was born on Dec. 16, 1802, died June 10, 1842. Married to one Mary Lemon (this Mary Lemon born 2-9-1804/d. 9-16-1843), said to be the daughter of Jacob I and Elizabeth (Potts) Lemon. I can find no confirmation of this marriage and believe it to be a mixup in generations. (pg. 12)

At some time during the next few years following the death of Isaac DeCou (1814) his widow, Catherine (Baumwort) Decou married Raynard Potts II, eldest son of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts, and they had one known child, Margaret Ann Potts (Page 9) probably born ca 1820. This was a second marriage for both Raynard and Catherine (Baumwart)(Decou) Potts.

Jacob Potts II¶

Second son of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts:

Born 1785/d. 2-7-1867. Born 1785, buried on 2-17-1867 (or 2-13-1866, both dates given), age 82 years. Married Helen Wyckoff in 1809 (born 1787/died 2-18-1873).

Children of Jacob II and Helen (Wyckoff) Potts:

.#1. Edwin Lockwood Potts Born 10-10-1810/ died 1876

.#2. Sarah Ann Potts Born 1811/died ?

.#3. Mary Potts Born ? (From St. John’s Anglican Church Register, Woodhouse, Ontario: Confirmed on 9-1-1840. Married to David Smith Ross, of Toronto, on 3-27- 1845. No further data.

.#4. Elisa Potts From same church register: Confirmed on 9-1-1840, married to James Graham Wilson on 12-13-1849. No further data.

.#5. Harriet Potts Born 1822 (estimated from same church register; confirmed 9-1-1840. age given as 18 years.

Later Information on this fourth daughter of Col. Jacob Potts and Helen (Wycoff) Potts shows that she was married first to Dr. Joseph Culver: (second to Lt. Col. Duncan McPherson, on May 5, 1873, at her home in Simcoe.)

In her father’s various wills, she is listed always as Harriet, though Owen gives a Helen as one of Jacob’s daughters, and no Mary or Harriet. Wills are always considered completely reliable, however. It is possible that this girl was named Harriet Helen. The latest will in my possession was dated 1852 (although Jacob died in 1867) and the names are the same as in his other wills. This would indicate that Harriet made her first marriage after 1853.

.#6. Rebecca Ann Potts From the same church register: Confirmed on 7-20-1845, age given as 18 years. (Est. date of birth, 1827/died on 9-25-1882.) Wife of John Wright.

In the 1851 census for Charlotteville, where this family lived, they are given as above except for Rebecca. There is also a William Potts named but who he is I do not know. Rebecca is listed merely as Rebecca, age 22 years, which would make her born ca 1830. In the will of Jacob Potts II of 1827 all six of these children are given so if the 1851 census is correct as to Rebecca’s age (22 in 1851) she must have been another and later daughter, also named Rebecca which was a fairly common custom. In Owen’s Sketches of Long Point Settlement Mary and Harriet are omitted but they may have had two names; also, Owen lists another daughter – Helen – Identity unknown. He may have mixed the mother (Helen (Wycoff) Potts) with the children. It must be remembered that he recorded what the various families chose to tell him.

Children of Jacob II and Helen (Wycoff) Potts, Continued:

#1. Edwin Lockwood Potts born 10-10-1810/ buried on 9-10-1876, age 65 years. Married Martha Bell (born ca 1808)/died 7-24-1889). Ages in 1851 census: Edwin, 42 years. Martha 44 years.

Children of Edwin L. and Martha (?) Potts: (From 1851 census)

Name - Age - Est. date of birth

.....A. T. R. Potts Not in census

.....B. Francis Potts 15 - 1835-6

.....C. John E. Potts 13 - 1838-9

.....D. Robert Potts 11 - 1841 *

.....E. Thomasita Potts 9 - 1842

.....F. Euphemia Potts 7 - 1844

.....G. Henrietta Potts 4 - 1847

*From St. John’s Anglican Register, Woodhouse: Baptized 2-14-1841 Thomas Robert, son of Edwin / and Martha Potts, Vittoria, born 1-9-1841. Is reported to have died on 3-11-1866, age 26. In the 1861 census for Charlotteville, this family is listed:

Potts, E. L. Age 51

Martha 53

Francis 24

Robert 19

Albert 18

Henryett 15

#2. Sarah Ann Potts**; Born 1811-12, died ?? On Jan. 28, 1835 she was married to Peter Wycoff Rapelje, witnesses being A. A. Rapelje and Jacob Potts, Jr. (Sounds as if he were a cousin – Wycoff) ceremony being performed by Rev. Francis Evans, Episcopalian Rector, Woodhouse.

Children of Peter W. and Sarah Ann (Potts) Rapelje: (From 1851 census)

Name - Age - Est. date of birth

.....A. John H. Rapelje 16 - 1836

.....B. Helen (Kloika?) Rapelje 14 - 1838

.....C. Sarah Rapelje (At school)(Mar. Isaac K. Taylor)

.....D. Arthur Rapelje 11 - 1840-1

.....E. Clara Rapelje 4 1847-8

In 1851 census, Peter is listed as 50 years; Sarah as 40 years (Col. Abraham A. Rapelje, born 1776. Married ? and had (13 children; only Peter, 3 brothers and 4 sisters grew up. One sister, (Helen, married Duncan McGregor. (Owen’s SKETCHES, pg. 230)

William Potts¶

Third son of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts: Born 1787 died ? Married Jennie Davis (No Date)

Children of William and Jennie (Davis) Potts:

#1. Susan Potts No data on her

#2. Nelson Potts Born 1815/died 1-27-1889. Married Mary ( ) about 1826-7. Mary born 1820-21.

Children of Nelson and Mary __ Potts (From 1851 census)

Age (est. date of birth)

.....A. Sarah Potts 14 1837

.....B. Lucy Potts 11 1840

.....C. Jane Potts 7 1844

.....D. Walter Potts 6 1845

.....E. Elisa Potts 5 1846

.....F. Electa Potts 1 1850

In the 1861 and 1871 census a family is listed that might be the same as above but in Windham Township, ages and names not identical but very similar. In 1871 three more children are listed: Charity, age 14 (b. 1857): Lewis, age 12 (b. 1859) Mary, age 6 (b. 1865). In 1861, Jane, Walter, Eliza, Charity and Lewis are listed but the parents are given as Nelson, age 40; Polly, age 39. Many girls named Mary are also called Polly. Perhaps later and more exhaustive research will clarify this seeming discrepancy. However, in the 1871 census, where this family is listed, the wife’s name is again Mary, age 50 years; Nelson’s age is 56 years.

John Potts¶

Fourth son of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts:

Born 1788/d. 2-12-1813 Single

Elizabeth Potts¶

First daughter of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts:

Born 1784/died 5-4-1866, age 82 years. Married Jacob Lemon I ca 1800. Jacob was born in 1775/ died 10-28-1851, age 76 years, 8 months. (Dates taken from their tombstone).

The Lemon family also intermarried with the Potts family and like many pioneers were exceedingly prolific as well as given to the endless repetition of names. One John Lemon (born 1790) married Christina Buck (1795), both of Townsend Twp. and one of their sons – Alanson-married Anne Austin, daughter of _____Austin, probably about 1858 or so. Alanson Lemon was born ca 1838-9. Died 1896. There were twelve children of this union, as follows: (Little is known of them except the first) Edna Jane Lemon (Page 16 of the McIntosh chart); Alice, Laura, Sara, Mary, John, Harry, Clarence, Bertha, Warren, Russel, Annie, May.

(Mary Lemon had a daughter named Olive (Bowyer), no further data on her.)

Children of Jacob I and Elizabeth (Potts) Lemon:

#1. Catherine Lemon Married David Duff (No data)

#2. Levina (Lovina, Lavinia) Lemon No data on this girl at all, except in Owen’s

Sketches where seven daughters and one son are given for Jacob I and Elizabeth (Potts) Lemon, six of the daughters listed with their husbands. Only Lavina appears alone.

There is an official record of one Harriet Lemon, born 1823, married on January 1, 1845 to B. Park. She is mentioned in the will of Jacob Lemon II, who married Mary Ann Wheeler, as “my sister Harriet”, and wills are accepted as valid and authentic. She is listed with the Park family in the 1851 census and appears in their genealogy. If these dates are correct, Elizabeth (Potts) Lemon would have been 39 when Harriet was born and 42 when Jacob II was born.

#3. Charity Lemon Married Jacob Lemon, cousin, son of Joseph Lemon. No further data.

#4. Elizah (Elizabeth) Lemon Born ? /died 1859. Married Henry DeCou, son of Isaac and Catherine (Baumwart or Baumwort). (DeCou) later Potts. Henry was born ca 1812, died 1848. They are said to have been married ca 1836.

Children of Henry and Elizah (Elizabeth) (Lemon) Decou:

.....A. Maria DeCou Born 1838/ died in youth

.....B. Moses Stanford DeCou Born July ____. 1840/ died ?

.....C. Jane DeCou Born 1843/ died ? Married James Buckley on Jan. 3, 1865, at Cheapside (now Garnett)

Children of James and Jane DeCou Buckley:

..........C1. Henry Buckley Mar. Constance Stewart No further data

..........C2. Mary Buckley Mar. William Dawes No further data

..........C3. Norman Buckley Mar. Louisa Hurst No further data

..........C4. Ernest Buckley Mar. Alice Hurst No further data

..........C5. Allen (Ellen?) Mar. Albert Silverthorn No further data

..........C6. Percil (Percival?) Mar. Jane McNulton No further data

..........C7. Elnie Buckley No data on her

..........C8. Stanford Buckley No data on him

..........C9. Egerton Buckley No data on him

..........C10. Nora Buckley No data on her

#5. Sarah Lemon Fifth daughter of Jacob I and Elizabeth (Potts) Lemon, married Caleb Smith. No data

#6. Matilda Lemon Mar. Joseph Lemon (cousin). No data

#7. Rebecca Ann Lemon Mar. Philip Pegg. No data

If Jacob I and Elizabeth (Potts) had a daughter Harriet, and she cannot be identified as one of the above seven girls, she would belong here, No. 8, as she was 3 years older than Jacob Lemon II. He identifies her by her full name, Harriet Lemon. Jacob II would then be No. 9 instead of No. 8.

#8.

#9. Jacob Lemon II Mar. Mary Ann Wheeler, age unknown. Jacob Lemon II was born on 1826, died 6- 1-1854, Age 28 yrs. 20 days (data taken from tombstone)

Children of Jacob II and Mary Ann (Wheeler) Lemon:

.....A. Isaac Lemon There is no data on any of these children

.....B. Esther Lemon

.....C. Sarah Ann Lemon

.....D. Rebecca Ann Lemon

.....E. Elizah (Elizabeth) Lemon

Note: Page 20, McIntosh chart, shows an Esther Lemon married to Alphaeus Elliott. Her identity is unknown. There are several girls named Esther Lemon in the census records but without sufficient data to identify them.

Hannah Potts¶

Second daughter of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts:

Born 1786, married Jonathon Austin (born 1784?), son of Solomon Austin I, name of wife unknown. Jonathon Austin and Esther Austin (first wife of Raynard Potts II (pg. 9)) were brother and sister, Hannah Potts, wife of Jonathon Austin, was a sister of Raynard Potts II, both being children of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts. Their children were therefore double cousins.

Children of Jonathon and Hannah (Potts) Austin:

#1. William Austin No data

#2. John Austin No data

#3. Charlotte Austin Mar. John Wheeler, no data

#4. Mary Austin No data

#5. Joanna Austin Mar. John Hinds, No data

#6. Catherine Austin No data

#7. Elizabeth Austin Mar. Thomas M, England, no data

#8. Rebecca Ann Austin Mar. Robert Lanning, no data

In the 1851 census of Woodhouse Township, where many Potts families settled, we find the following:

Austin, Abraham No age given

Hannah No age given

Isaac E. Age 7 (Est date of birth, 1844-5)

Owen Age 5 (Est date of birth, 1846-7)

Sarah F. Age 1 (Est date of birth, 1850 )

In the same Household

Potts, Elizabeth Age 20 (Est date of birth, 1830)

Esther Age 18 (Est date of birth, 1832)

Rynard Age 16 (Est date of birth, 1834)

William Age 13 (Est date of birth, 1837)

Joshua Age 10 (Est date of birth, 1840)

Woodhouse census, 1871: (Actual age supposed to be given)

Potts, Rynard Age 34 (Est date of birth, 1835-6)

Sheila M. Age 30 (Est date of birth, 1840-1)

Emily Age 8 (Est date of birth, 1862-3)

Martha Age 3 (Est date of birth, 1867-8)

There is no sure way at present of identifying the Potts children in the Austin home, but they were probably relatives.

The grand-ancestor of the Austin family came from Wales and settled near Chesapeake Bay. Here on the Austin estate, was later founded the city of Baltimore (1729). The Austins were Loyalists (or Tories) and when the Revolutionary War was over they had been reduced to poverty through bitter persecution and confiscation of their property. Like many of their fellow Loyalists, they migrated to Ontario and there remained.

The Austin family was as prolific and prominent as other settlers and married into the Potts family to such an extent that the consequent mix-up in names and generations is hard to unscramble. In the Potts chart, only those Austins who married into our family have been listed, there being a complete account in Owen’s sketches. The first identified name in this family appears to be Solomon I, date of his berth and name of wife unknown. He had four sons.

Solomon II, born 1782, Married Sarah Slaght; (2) Jonathon, born 1784, married Hannah Potts; (3) Philip, born 1790, died 1877, married Mary Slaght, and they had seventeen children; Moses married Mary Wisner. More Austin-Potts marriages must have been made as the years went on but we have no available record of them. Four daughters were born to Solomon II and Sarah (Slaght) Austin but little is known of them. In addition to the four sons above listed, Solomon Austin I also had five daughters, one of whom was Esther, married to Raynard Potts II.

In the Potts cemetery near Simcoe is a stone for Mary Alice, daughter of Abraham and Hannah Austin, died 7-21-1853, age 10months, 24 days. Another stone reads: Idarcea, daughter of Isaac and Georgeana Austin, died 12-25-1872, age ten months eighteen days.

Solomon II and Sarah (Slaght) Austin also had six sons, one of whom, Abraham, became a Baptist minister. He may have been the Abraham whose daughter, Mary Alice, is named above; also the family listed in the 1851 Woodhouse Township census, sounds reasonably like them.

End of first marriage of Jacob I and Susannah (Coard) Potts.

SECOND MARRIAGE OF JACOB POTTS I¶

No information on second marriage of Jacob Potts I.

THIRD MARRIAGE OF JACOB POTTS I¶

When Jacob Potts was about fifty years of age, he was married to a widow, Mrs. Catherine Duff (nee Richards) who was born in the United States about 1778. Whether she had any children by her first marriage is unknown. Three children were born to Jacob I and Catherine Potts; George, Philip, Catherine as follows:

George Potts ¶

Eldest son of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts:

Born 1814-5, died 7-5-1899. Married on 1837 to Mary Buck (b. 10-26-1817, died 5-20-1891), daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Pattison) Buck, both buried in Potts Cemetery in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Ontario.

Children of George and Mary (Buck) Potts: (Census of 1851: George 38/Mary 34)

Age Est. date of birth

#1. Martha Potts 14 1838 (married ( ) Wheeler)

#2. Ambrose Potts 13 1839

#3. Amelia (Orilla, Arilla) Potts 11 5-3-1841 (_____)

#4. Helen Potts 10 10-11-1842 (_____)

#5. Eliza (Elizabeth) Potts 7 1845-6

#6. Samuel Potts 3 1849-50

#7. George Potts, Jr. b. 1861/d. ? Mar. Mary Ann Adams. No data on her.

A George Potts (1860/1949) married Mary Ann Adams.

Children of George, Jr. and Mary Ann (Adams) Potts:

.....A. Percy Potts No data, but he was married.

Children of Percy and ( ) Potts:

..........A1. Norma Potts

..........A2. Harold Potts

..........A3. Marjorie Potts

..........A4. Evelyn Potts

..........A5. Allan Potts

..........A6. Albert Potts Married Jean ( ).

.....B. William Potts No data on him

#8. Mary Potts Born 1857-8/died ? Not in 1851 census. No data on her other than that she married William Waddle

(Note: In the 1971 census for Woodhouse Township, this family is given (without Ambrose and Helen. George and Mary are listed:

George 10 1861

Mary 13 (so given in census 1857-8(?)

Mary Buck died at the home of her daughter Mary (Mrs. William Waddle)

Philip Potts¶

Second son of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts:

Born 4-10-1819, died 1-25-1873. Married on 2-5-1840, by Joseph Messmore, Crowland Twp. near Simcoe, to Fanny Ann Buck, sister of Mary Buck who married George Potts, brother of Philip. They were daughters of Adam and Elizabeth (Pattison) Buck. Fanny Ann was born 12-7-1821, died 1-25-1864. nine years to the day before her husband, Philip Potts. The family of Philip and Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts is fully chronicled in a hand-written FAMILY REGISTER down through the birth of the tenth -- and last – child. 1863

About a year after Fanny Ann’s death, Philip Potts re-married a widow named Rebecca Osborne, who outlived him. No issue. Philip became a citizen of the United States on 11-18-1863, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and his children – being minors – were declared citizens by deriving. He was a farmer, store-keeper, real estate broker and a circuit rider in the Methodist Church. The family settled near Kalamazoo when they moved from Canada (1857), just sixty-eight years after his father and grandfather had emigrated to Canada. Kalamazoo was an important depot on the slave route from the South and it is highly probable that Philip was an active member in the “underground” that helped many a poor black to Canada and freedom. He was that kind of man.

Children of Philip and Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts: (All but the last two born in Canada)

#1. Anson C. Potts Born 12-13-1840/died 6-9-1841

#2. Emily Potts Born 5-18-1842/died 3-11-1845

#3. Charity Ann Potts Born 1-30-1844/died 3-22-1845

#4. Nathaniel Potts Born 10-27-1845/died 1-24-1924.

Buried in Masonic Cemetery, La Grande, Oregon.

First marriage was to Sarah Odell (born 11-3-1848/died 5-15-1873) on 2-12-1868.

Children of Nathaniel and Sarah (Odell) Potts:

.....A. Walter Potts Born 9-12-1869/died 8-10-1870

.....B. Ardie Octa Potts Born 5-24-1871/died 3-20-1901

.....C. Clarence Potts Born 3-4-1873/died ?

Second marriage of Nathaniel Potts was to Mariana McIntosh (born 11-9-1849/died 9-28-1940), daughter of John E. and Elizabeth (Coliver) McIntosh, in the town of Scotland, Ontario, on 12-4-1875.

Children of Nathaniel and Marina (McIntosh) Potts:

.....A. Arnold Bruce Potts Born 11-28-1876/died 2-11-1958.

Married on 3- 12-1937 to Beulah Bennett (born 2-2-1882/died 6-7-1965).

Children of Arnold Bruce and Beulah (Bennett) Potts:

..........A1. Muriel Beulah Potts Born 10-17-1908/died ? Married on 6-23-1937 to Orson Grant Pemberton (born 1-28- 03/died ). Their children (1) Douglas Bruce, born 4-12-1935; (2) John Orson, born 3-5-1939; (3) Nancy Kay, born 9-21-1944.

..........A2. Willard Bruce Potts Born 7-22-1914/died ? Married on 12-25-1938 to Barbara Jane Meyer, born 9-6-1918/died ? Their children: (1) Alan Dennis, born 8-21-1941; (2) David Keith (born 10-23-1942; (3) Alberta Jean, Born 6-25-1947.

.....B. Rose Ludell Potts Second child of Nathaniel and Marinda (McIntosh) Potts. Born 10-27- 1878/died 6-30-1881.

.....C. Mable Clare Potts Born 2-20-1880/died 3-6-1965. Married on 12-29-1908 to Joseph Henry Bellam, born 5-20-1853/died 7-20-1928. No children.

.....D. Beulah Belle Born 5-21-1882/died 1-26-1942. Married on 7-5-1905 to Percy Addison Rublin, born 5-22-1881/died 9-6-1952.

Children of Percy A. and Beulah (Potts) Rublin:

..........D1. Gwendolyn Lenore Rublin Born 12-3-1906/died ? Mar. on 3-26-1932 to Harold F. Lowe, born 8-25-1900. One child; Richard Harold Lowe born 3-26-1939.

..........D2. Willard Gordon Rublin Born 6-16-1912/died ? Mar. on 8-9-1903 to Vineta Elizabeth Nail, born 9-4-1914. One child S. B.

..........D3. Robert Percy Rublin Born 10-31-1917/died ? Mar. ca 1951 to Mary ( ) One child, Jeanette?

.....E. Sabie Dell Potts Born 9-26-1884/died 6-7-1918. Mar. In 1907 to Lynn Daniel Wehmer, born 12-6-1887/died 4-26-1921.

Children of Lynn D. and Sabie (Potts) Wehmer: Adopted by KOON, name changed

..........E1. Mary Elizabeth Wehner Born 4-18-1908/died ____. (See KOON)

..........E2. Charles Arnold Wehner Born 11-26-1910/ died ____. (See KOON)

.....F. Evalena Potts Born 9-12-1886/died 8-6-1969. Mar. on 7-3-1907 to Edward Francis Dailey, born 10-13-1882/died ?

Children of Edward F. and Evalena (Potts) Dailey:

..........F1. Frances Genevieve Dailey Born 5-12-1908/ S. B.

..........F2. Edward Lee Dailey Born 3-6-1911/died ? Mar on 6-30-1942 to Dorothy Jean Arnor, born 7-30-1914/died ___. Their children: (1) Stephen Lee, born 8-30-1943; (2) Diane Jean, born 11-27-1946.

..........F3. Clarita Ceoelia Dailey Born 6-7-1913/died 11-20-1961. Mar. on 5-3-1937 to William Vernon Jeffers, born 9-11-1904/died __. Their children: William Lee, born 10- 16-1938.

.....G. Mary Ethel Potts Born 6-26-1888/died 6-6-1955. Mar. on 2-7-1914 to Lemuel Mayrick Koon. born 11-28-1886/died 6-6-1949. Adopted the two Wehner children and changed name to Koon.

Children of Lemuel M. and Mary (Potts) Koon: Since Sabie Dell Potts and Mary Ethel Potts Koon were sisters, there is the same blood line for the two children – Mary Elizabeth Wehner Koon and Charles Arnold Wehner Koon. Hence, they are properly entered in this Potts genealogy, even though adopted.

..........G1. Mary Elizabeth Koon Born 4-18-1908/died ? Married on 4-30-1932 to Clarence Herbert Wick, born 8-28-1907/died 7-12-1970. One child: Janet Elizabeth Wick, born 8-25-1833.

..........G2. Charles Arnold Koon Born 11-26-1910/died ? Mar. on 8-31-1944 to Virginia Marie Bryan, born 12-2-1915/died ? Their children: (1) Jean Virginia Koon. Born 10- 23-1946; (2) Steven Charles Koon Born 4-11-1949; (3) Richard Bruce Koon, born 10-5-1950.

#5. James Henry Potts Born 6-12-1848/ died 3-11-1942

James Henry Potts was married on 9-8-1869 to Alonza Cordelia Cole by Rev. Thomas Lyon. She was the daughter of Lysander Cole, and she was born in Climax, Michigan, on 12-13-1847, died on 2-8-1922. James Henry Potts was a Methodist Divine, an author, lecturer editor and poet, soldier in the Civil War.

Children of James Henry and Alonza (Cole) Potts:

.....A. James Riston Potts Born 4-21-1871/ died 10-24-1945. Mar. in 1896 to Angie E. Dewey. No record of children.

.....B. Florence Alonza Potts No data

.....C. Alice Elna Potts No data on dates of birth or death. Married (first) to one Fox; (second) to Prescott E, Ross. Two daughters, Margaret and Jean.

.....D. Oscar Ferdinand Potts Died in infancy

.....E. Arthur Ninde Potts Died in infancy

#6. Philip Austin Potts Sixth child of Philip and Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts: Born 7-20-1850/died 4-17- 1903 (or 1904). Married on 5-8-1872 to Marion Rose Wilcox, born 12-8- 1853/died 8-16-1921. She was called Minnie by her family.

Children of Philip Austin and Marion R. (Wilcox) Potts:

.....A. Warren Potts Born 7-20-1873/died 3-24-1944 (born in Canada). Mar. Mamie Boyles, no data on her. No children.

.....B. Pluma F. (F?) Born 1-21-1879/died 5-30-1943. Married (in the Philippines) to William Floyd Armstrong on ?. William born 3-211878/died in 1960.

Children of William F. and Pluma (Potts) Armstrong:

..........B1. Marion Virginia Armstrong Died in infancy (1912?)

..........B2. Mildred Iwalani Armstrong Born 12-31-1913/ died ? Married to William Donald Shagg (born 3- 6-1915).

Children:

...............a. Patricia Louise Shagg (born 11-9-1940, married to Allen Lee Benson, born 3-28-1937.

...............b. William Donald Shagg, Jr., born 1-14-1944.

.....C. May Helen Potts Born 4-23-1883/died 1-16-1970. Mar. on 9-26-1901 to Byron Wells, born 7-16- 1878/died 5-15-1949. No issue.

#7. Jacob Leland Potts Born 10-13-1853/died 11-10-1945. Married to Nellie Blodgett. No data on her.

Children of Jacob Leland (Lee) and Nellie (Blodgett) Potts:

.....A. Madge Potts Married to Floyd Barnes. No further data (on him)

Children of Floyd and Madge (Potts) Barnes:

..........A1. Ruth Barnes Married William Penn Mott, Jr. No data. Children (1) William Penn Mott III (2) Nancy Mott, born 3-19-1941

#8. Sabria Ann Potts 8th child of Philip and Fanny Ann, was born 9-20-1855/died 6-17-1944. Married Will Knapp, born 2-16-1858/died 5-17-1944. No Issue. One adopted daughter, Zora, Not included in genealogy.

#9. George Potts Born 10-2-1857, in Pavilion, Michigan/died 6-1-1945.

Married (first) on 12-29-1880, to Carrie Bickhart. Her date of death is unknown. Married (second) to Elizabeth ? No record of children.

Children of George and Carrie (Bickhart) Potts:

.....A. Edna May Potts Married Calvin V. Green, one son (name unknown). No further data.

.....B. Wilma Potts Married D. F. Black. No further data.

#10. Frank Eugene Potts Born 3-19-1863/died 2-?-1926

This child was only nine months old when his mother, Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts , died. He was taken for care by some friends of the family – John and Appelonia Kedeija(?) Wheeler – but whether he was adopted and his name legally changed to Wheeler is unknown. He was called Wheeler until he reached his majority, when he took his own name again, and so continued until his death. The Potts and Wheeler families lived within a few miles of each other so it is reasonable to assume they kept in touch. Frank was married to Ella Hall Miller (born 4-13-1864/died 6-22-1950) about 1893.

Children of Frank E. and Ella Hall (Miller) Potts:

.....A. Philip Orland Potts Born 8-23-1894/died 12-16-1970. Married on 4-291920 to Elna Armstrong (born 8-22-1896/d. ? One child, Dorothy, born in 1924/d. 12-29-1963. Never married.

.....B. John Hartly Potts Born 11-11-1895/ died ? . Married to Mildred Reed, No data on her. Two sons: Frank Evers, Jack Stanley Potts.

Catherine Potts¶

Only daughter of Jacob I and Catherine (Duff) Potts:

Born Unknown/died 1855.

Date of birth for Catherine is unknown, whether between George and Philip or after them. There was a space of five years between the two boys; their mother was 36 years old when George was born, about 41 years when Philip was born; If Catherine was born between them, it be on 1816-17 but there are no official figures for her. She married Edward Powers on 1840 and they are said to have lived in Elgin County, Ontario, where Edward was a shoemaker. How long they lived there is unknown. They both died in 1855, date or dates of death unknown, and their two children were taken into the home of Philip and Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts.

Edward Powers was the son of Thomas Powers, of Newbry, Ireland and Mary Campbell, born in Scotland. The family migrated to Vermont in 1800. Thomas was drowned in the St. Lawrence River in 1834 when moving his family to Montreal. And Mary died in 1864. They had three sons: Felix, Edward and Thomas Powers.

We have in our possession two little Sunday School cards issued to Catherine Potts, Wesleyan Methodist Church, Fourth Quarter, 1841; second card to the same, Fourth Quarter 1852. No way to identify the receiver of the first card, mother or daughter, as the mother would be 63 years of age (born 1778) and able to attend Sunday School. She died in 1853, age 73 years.

In 1857 Philip and Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts moved to Michigan, as detailed on page 17, bringing the two little Powers girls with him, and the 1860 census for Pavilion, Michigan, where they lived lists them as follows:

Melissa Powers Age 17

Serena Powers Age 9

Inasmuch as Philip’s family is given correctly on the date of enumeration, July 12, 1860, we may assume that the girls’ ages are correct also, making Melissa born in 1843 and Serena in 1851.

Under date of September 3, 1832, Jacob Potts I executed a partial revision of his will in which he mentions his three daughters: Elizabeth Lemon, Hannah Austin, Catherine Potts. This would indicate that Catherine was still unmarried and probably a minor (legal age being 21 years) since he made some provisions for her during her minority. He provided very generously for his widow “during her widowhood” but not after its termination.

Children of Edward and Catherine (Potts) Powers:

#1. Melissa Powers: First (recorded) child of Edward and Catherine Powers. Born in 1843, brought to Michigan by her uncle, Philip Potts, with his own family. After the death of Philip’s wife, Fanny Ann (Buck) Potts, Melissa kept house for his family until he married, about a year later, Mrs. Rebecca Osborne. Carla Osborne, Rebecca’s daughter, also lived with the Potts family. Nothing is known of her after Philip’s death.

Melissa married Harvey Freer, whose age is unknown, and they lived on a farm near Galesburg, Michigan. Melissa died when their children were in their teens.

Children of Harvey and Melissa (Powers) Freer:

.....A. Nettie Freer Married one Russell; one son, name unknown. He was still living in 1929, in California.

.....B. Rena Freer Married to Fred Goodwin, lived near Kalamazoo, Michigan. No data on children.

.....C. E. L. Freer Married, no data on family

#2. Serena Powers: Second daughter of Edward and Catherine (Potts) Powers, born 8-10-1851/died 10-23-1928. After Philip Potts remarried, Serena lived with Harvey and Melissa Freer and taught school until 1871, when she went to Port Hope, Ontario, to attend the wedding of her cousin, Eunice Powers, daughter of Felix Powers. The wife of Felix (name unknown) had died some time before, leaving three young children: Eunice, Thomas, Edward. Eunice kept house for the family until her marriage. Thomas never married. Edward married and lived part of his father’s farm, had a family. No data on them. In 1875 Serena Powers married Malcolm Brand. No data on him.

Children of Malcolm and Serena (Powers) Brand:

.....A. Maud Brand Married Walter Roebuck; one son, Carl Roebuck

.....B. Olga Brand Married C. L. Brewer, no children

.....C. Carl Brand Never Married

.....D. Edna M. Brand Never married, lived in Port Hope, Ontario; is a registered nurse.

.....E. Helen Brand Married James Ham, lives in Ottawa, Canada. Children: (1) Alan Ham; (2) Marguerite Ham, married Norman Martin.

THE BUCK FAMILY PEDIGREE¶

The Buck family came originally from Holland, the Dutch variation being both BOK and BOCK. Some of them migrated to England, others came to this country and settled chiefly in Pennsylvania. Four Buck men were killed in the Revolutionary War, presumably on the British side, and after the War many of them moved to Ontario, as did large numbers of Loyalists.

Philip Buck, Sr., born about 1732, is the first name identified with any certainty (in a list of Loyalists dated 1783). He had at least twelve children, one of them becoming the father of Adam Buck, with whom this outline begins. It is not definitely known whether Adam’s father was Henry or Peter Buck, or possibly someone else altogether. A Henry Buck married Elsey (Elsay) Buchner and they had (at least) two sons – Adam and John – possibly more. Henry is said to have died in 1816, and his widow may have married Peter Buck then. Perhaps further research will clarify this apparent tangle, as well as other errors that exist in the record.

However, according to present knowledge, the Buck pedigree begins with Adam, born ca 1790, died in the summer of 1832. About 1816 he married Elizabeth Pattison (born 3-17-1799/died 1-15-1879), daughter of John and Ester Ricard (Rikard, Richard) Pattison. John Pattison came from Ireland, died in 1836. Esther Ricard was Pennsylvania Dutch and is said to have never learned to speak English.

Children of Adam and Elizabeth (Pattison) Buck were as follows: (I will follow through on Mary and Fanny Ann, since the Buck line crosses only with those girls)

Mary Buck Born 10-26-1817, married George Potts
Katherine Buck Born 5-19-1819, died young
Fanny Ann Buck Born 12-7-1821, married Philip Potts
Susan Buck Born 2-14-1823, married John Barnhardt
Peter Buck Born 2-13-1825, married Mary Ann Misner
James Henry Buck Born 2-27-1827, married Mary Downs
John Buck Born 7-6-1830, died young
Sarah Rebecca Buck Born 2-10-1832, married John L. Secord, was still living in 1910

After the death of Adam Buck, (1832) his widow, Elizabeth (Pattison) Buck, married his brother, James Buck, who died 1-18-1876, one year and three days after Elizabeth.

Children of James and Elizabeth (Pattison) Buck:

Abner Buck Born 2-9-1837, died at age 4 years
Edward Buck Born 6-21-1838, married Belle Millard
Elizabeth Buck Born 8-28-1840, married John Lade

(Note: Later research has confirmed HENRY Buck as the father of Adam Buck, not PETER Buck. This seems to settle the disputed question permanently. F. McI., 1-21-1970) (From: McIntosh, Frances. The Potts family genealogy.)