Potts Family

Anne and John Pott’s son Thomas Pott, Sr. married Elizabeth. Elizabeth married second to Edmund Bennet. Thomas and Elizabeth had the following children:

• John Potts Was persecuted for his faith. He had five children: Thomas, John, Mary, Margaret, and Eleanor.
• Thomas Potts, Jr. was a miller. He died 1719. He married Judith Smith and had a son Thomas Potts. Judith married second to Thomas Sharp.
• David Potts died 1730 and married Alice Croasdale. They had Thomas, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Mary, Stephen, Rebecca, Ezekiel, and Nathan.
• Jonas Potts, Sr. (See below)
• Margaret Potts married Jacob Shoemaker and their children were George, Thomas, and Jacob.
• Jane Potts married John Austin and had Samuel, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. Elizabeth Potts died in 1690.
• Son Potts married Jone and had one daughter.
• Roes(?) Potts married three times to Elizabeth, Lydia King, and Christina Rambo.

It has always been said that Jonas Potts, Sr. wed two women named Mary. There is some question whether there was in fact two Marys or which children might have been descended from which Mary. Mary of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania was Jonas’ second wife. Tradition of descendants allege that the family came to Pennsylvania from Wales. This Jonas, hereafter referred to as Jonas, Sr., was first noticed in Pennsylvania as a witness to the marriage certificate of John Austin and Jane Potts, September 11, 1686. He was a resident of Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and vicinity for a number of years, where he sometimes held local offices under the government. Later he settled on land in Gilbert’s Manor, not far from the present town of Tyersford in Montgomery County. He was a party to several transactions in the purchase and sale of lands in Philadelphia County. He was also party to a land transaction in Cheltenham Township, County Hereford, England.

Jonas Potts held the office of Range for the County of Philadelphia, his term of office expiring in 1702. He also held the office of Court Sheriff for Germantown at one time. He seems to have been a man of determination, and perhaps of an impetuous temperament, as upon one occasion, in making arrest, it is said that he handled the man so roughly as to have almost killed him.

He was a member of the Society of Friends, but does not appear to have been very active in meeting affairs. The imperfect records of the early Meetings do not show a very clear record of his consecutive connection with the Society. He seems to have been under the care of Abington Monthly meeting, but later in life may have resorted to Gwynedd, or some Meeting in that vicinity.

About the year 1703, Jonas Potts seems to have been straitened circumstances, perhaps by reason of his wife’s long continued illness. Radnor Monthly meeting minutes of 1703 show that “Jonas Potts and his wife being poore, and haveing divers small children, want assistance to buy a Cow.” He was granted the cow.

Among different lines of descendants are several traditions, which probably have some elements of truth in them as well as inaccuracies. One tradition alleges that Jonas Potts came from England in the sixteenth (seventeenth) century and settled in Pennsylvania. Another claims that the first of the family came to Pennsylvania with William Penn. Another alleges that the first Potts settles in Pennsylvania came from Wales, emigrating from there on account of religious persecution. All agree that the first settlers were Friends or Quakers.

Jonas married twice and both women were named Mary. Children with the first Mary:

• David Potts was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in 1768 in Virginia. He married Ann Roberts and had Rachel, Susanna, Christian, Elizabeth, Nathan, Ezekiel, Samuel, and David. He married second to Elizabeth Lane and had Jonas, Mary, Ann, and Jonathan.
• Rachel Potts was born 1702 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in 1752 in Loudoun Heights, Loudoun, Virginia. She married Joseph Burson, Sr. and had Joseph Burson, Jr.
• Elizabeth C. Potts was married August 15, 1719 in Pennsylvania to William Heald.
• Hannah Potts

Children with the second Mary were:

• Deborah Potts died July 24, 1718.
• Jonathan Potts was born 1714 and died in Mercer County, Kentucky. He had two wives: Emma and Amy (1718-1790)
• Jonas Potts, Jr. (see below)

Notes from other researchers:

Jonas Potts, Jr. (Thomas, Anne, Thomas Jr., Jonas, Sr.) was born in 1716 in Pottsgrove, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died December 18, 1814 in Georgetown, Beaver, Pennsylvania. Jonas was a blacksmith by trade and purchased 270 acres from his half-brother David in Loudoun County, Virginia where he later removed to. Later he and his wife, Mary sold 122 of those acres to James Thomas on May 9, 1761. Jonas obtained a patent from “the proprietors office of the northern neck of Virginia,” on August 20, 1761 for a tract of land on or about Round Hill. He married Mary Heckathorn who died in 1812. Jonas and Mary’s children:

• John Potts (see below)
• David Potts was born 1756 and died May 31, 1837 in Ohio. He married Milly Adams.
• Jonas Potts, III was married to Hannah.
• Jonathan Potts (see below)

Jonathan was born in 1744 in Pennsylvania and died July 4, 1831 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married to Elizabeth English in 1788 at Loudoun, Virginia. She was born in 1762 in Loudoun, Virginia and died January 14, 1814 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Jonathan served in the Virginia Continental Line in the Revolutionary War. On account of his patriotic services, he was granted a pension on March 17, 1819. He was a blacksmith by trade, but was probably also engaged in farming. He removed from Loudoun County, Virginia, to Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he lived for several years. In 1800, his name appears in the assessment list for Hanover Township, when he is designated as “blacksmith.” Shortly after this he removed to Jefferson County, Ohio. Jonathan and Elizabeth had the following children:

Joshua Potts was born April 12, 1789 and married Catherine Chayser.

Thomas Potts was born February 12, 1791 and married to Rosana Jackson and second to Elizabeth Wallace.

David Potts was born February 11, 1793 and married to Susannah Jackson and second to Margaret Penny.

John Potts was born March 6, 1795 and married March 4, 1819 to Rebecca Harris.

Nathan Potts was born August 6, 1797. Burned to death.

Anna Potts was born June 28, 1799 and married to John Goodwin.

Jonas Potts was born June 15, 1801 in Jefferson and married October 31, 1822 same place to Elizabeth Johnson.

Samuel L. Potts was born 1803 in Jefferson and died August 31, 1867. He married March 29, 1825 in New Jefferson, Harrison County, Ohio to Elizabeth Barnes. Elizabeth was born to Thomas and Mary Barnes in 1799 in either Maryland or Virginia and died March 17, 1873 in Jefferson, Harrison County, Ohio. I have an original letter sent by Samuel to his niece Lydia in 1844. They had six children:

• Nancy Potts born September 21, 1826 in Jefferson, Harrison, Ohio, married October 16, 1845 in Jefferson to Dr. Alexander H. Taylor. Their children: Orville, Samuel, Robert, William, Lizzie, and Margaret Taylor.
• Jonathan Smith Potts born May 1, 1828 in Jefferson (or German Township, Harrison, Ohio) married Nancy Vandegraft.
• Elizabeth Potts born February 9, 1830 in German, Harrison County, Ohio married on June 28, 1854 in Jefferson to Dr. A.W. Guthrie and died on November 8, 1877. Their children: James D., Elizabeth J., William Potts, Ettie Guthrie. Elizabeth married second to John A. Croskey.
• Dilla Ann Potts born October 24, 1831 in German married Ross James Roberts and died Mach 15, 1856. Their children: Elizabeth E., Samuel R., and Richard Roberts.
• William O. Potts born September 19, 1836 in Jefferson married Ella F. Warren/Wharton?.
• Sarah C. Potts born May 16, 1839 and died March 1, 1840 in Jefferson.

Mary Potts was born August 1, 1805 in Jefferson, Ohio or Arismon, Ohio and married September 28, 1826 in Jefferson to Osmond Ryan.

Lydia Potts was born September 28, 1807 in Jefferson, Ohio and married Thomas Rowland. She died June 2, 1892 in Spring Hill, Henry County, Illinois. Lydia married John Cain. See Cain family below. Lydia’s second marriage was to Thomas Bollen. See more about Lydia and Thomas’s family>>>

William Potts was born February 11, 1810 in Jefferson, Ohio and married Cecelia Hurd in Portage, Ohio, and then Mary H. Morris.

Elizabeth English was the daughter of William Thomas Ingles born September 18, 1728 in London, Greater London, England, and died August 1782 in Ingles Ferry, Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia. Her mother was Mary Elizabeth Draper born 1732 in Scuylkill River, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in February 1815 in Drapers Meadown, Ingles Ferry, Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia. The Ingles’s had two other children: Thomas W. E. Ingles 1751-1829 and Rhode Ingles 1762-1829.

Sources

Illinois Ancestors Bollen Database retrieved from http://www.illinoisancestors.org/henry/bollendatabase.html

Clifton-Bolen Family Bible (in the possession of Ruth Ellis)

Kain-Potts-Bollen Family Bible (in the possession of Mary Laura Bollen (Middleton))

Personal research done by Cora Pearl Glass Sand, granddaughter of Lydia Bollen Martin.

John Potts was born in 1751 in Loudoun County, Virginia and died October 20, 1820 in Columbiana, Columbiana, Ohio. He married March 14, 1782 in Berkeley County, West Virginia to Susanna Hibbens. Susanna was born March 16, 1763 in Berkeley Parish, Spotsylvania, Virginia and died in 1853 in Fox, Carroll, Ohio. Their children:

• Mary Potts was born in February 1783 in Pennsylvania and died in 1839 in Ohio. She married Thomas Bollen, Sr. Their son, Thomas Bollen, Jr. married his second cousin, Lydia Potts. (See Lydia’s line below)
• Jonathan Potts was born in 1785 in Falls, Berkley, Virginia and died April 23, 1857 in Lawrenceville, Lawrence, Illinois. He married Elizabeth Triplet and had Sarah, John, Hester, Abraham, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Joshua, Lucinda, Wesley, Joseph, and Thomas Wilson.
• Sarah Potts was born in 1787 in Jefferson, Ohio and died January 24, 1863 in Scipio, Meigs, Ohio. She married Daniel Brickles.
• Jonas Potts, IV was born in 1787 in Pennsylvania and died December 29, 1813 in Lake City, Erie, Pennsylvania.
• Ruth Potts was born in 1789 and died young.
• John Potts was born in 1790 in Jefferson, Pennsylvania and died November 9, 1876 in Webster, Vernon, Wisconsin.
• Nathan Potts was born in 1792 in Hickory, Washington, Pennsylvania and died April 23, 1858 in Lawrence, Lawrence, Illinois.
• James Potts was born August 16, 1796 in Hickory, Washington, Pennsylvania. He married Jane Mapel and had one son, Benjamin Franklin Potts.
• Ruth Potts was born in 1798 in Pennsylvania and died October 22, 1872 in Franklin, Indiana.
• Margaret Potts was born about 1800 in Ohio.
• Deborah Potts was born in 1802 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died in 1873.
• Rebecca Potts was born August 8, 1804 in Hickory, Washington, Pennsylvania and died August 7, 1892 in Webster, Vernon, Wisconsin. She married Warren Post and had two children: Martin V. and Sarah.
• David Potts was born March 20, 1807 (twin) in Jefferson County, Ohio and died in Carroll, Ohio.
• Thomas Potts was born March 20, 1807 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died in Carroll, Ohio.
• Sarah Potts was born in 1809 in Hickory, Washington, Pennsylvania
• Margaret Potts was born in 1813 in Washington, Ohio. (probably Pennsylvania)

Mary Potts was born in February 1783 in Pennsylvania and died in 1839 in Ohio. She married Thomas Bollen, Sr. Their son, Thomas Bollen, Jr. married his second cousin, Lydia Potts. More on Mary Potts Family>>>

The following is taken from the Tri-State Genealogical Society (East Liverpool, Ohio) January-February-March 1994 newsletter. I am not sure that they exist any longer and do not see a copyright. So, I hope I’m not breaking the rules! This article was written by Catherine Banicki. Any spelling or grammatical errors are verbatim.

The earliest records of the Heckendorn family as of this date are from the CHURCH BOOK OF SOULTZ DATED 1684-1746, BAS-RHIN GERMANY with the regions of Retschweyler and Memmelshoffen. This area is now part of Alsace-Lorraine, France. In this book we find the baptisms of some of our ancestors.

Reinhard Jacob Heckendorn, the earliest proven ancestor, was baptized at Memmelshoffen on 6 Sept 1715. Parents were Hans Martin and Anna Maria Heckendorn (P 81). Reinhard Jacob Heckendorn and Margaretha Culmann, of Retschwiller have their son Philipp baptized on 3 Apr 1738 (P 84).

It is before 1741 that Margaretha died, because in 1741 we find Reinhard Jacob Heckendorn and Anna Barbara Jung of Retschwiller baptize their daughter Maria Magdalena on 27 Nov 1741 (P 87). Jacob Heckendorn and Barbara Jung, citizens at Saltzwerk, baptize their daughter Maria Barbara at Sulz on 2.3 Oct 1746. (P 99) Johann Jacob was born 22 July 1744 in Retschwiller, Germany, now France. His birth is recorded in the CHURCHBOOK OF KUTZENHAUSEN Lutheran KB, Kutzenhausen, Alsace-Lorraine.

Today, Retschwiller is a very old village. It looks as though nothing new has been built since the mid 1700’s. All the houses are built of timber and plaster (or mud) fronts, and look like the houses you would see in Switzerland. Many are sagging and near collapse.

Reinhard Jacob boarded the ship Patience with his family and sailed to America. arriving in the port of Philadelphia on 11 Aug 1750 (PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN PIONERS, PP 426,487) All foreign males over the age of 16 were required to take the Oath of Fidelity upon arrival in the British Colonies. R.J.Heckendorn was among those listed who took the oath.

The family then moved on to Frederick Co. MD. On 1 Apr 1761, Johann Jacob presented a communion certificate in Frederick Co., claiming limited citizenship. Communion was administered at the Lutheran Church on Thame Creek, 22 Mar 1761 (COLONIAL MARYLAND NATURALIZATIONS, P 30. Johann Jacob’s Communion Certificate is the first documentation we have of the Heckendorn’s presence in Frederick Co. MD.

After the break from England by the colonies, newer requirements regarding naturalization were made. Since there was only one Jacob Heckathorn (notice the new anglicization of the name) appearing on the list of persons who took the Oath of Fidelity to the State of MD. in 1778 in: Frederick Co., it seems likely Reinhard was already deceased (REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS OF MARYLAND, P 23).

Other possible children of Reinhard Jacob, which have been submitted by others arc: Mary m Jonas Potts Jr, Philopena m Peter Mottos 2 Jun 1778; George m Maria Elizabeth ?; Martin. I have concentrated my efforts on Johann Jacob, who eventually settled in Columbiana Co., OH.

HECKENDORN’S THEN HA’E’CKATHOR’S NOW

Johann Jacob’s first marriage was to Anna Maria Banz(in) on 14 Nov 1771 at Apples Lutheran & Reformed Church in Thurmont. MD (LUTHERAN MARRIAGES & BURIALS 1743-1811, P3). Children of this marriage are: Barbara d Aug 1855 (m Noah Potts – 1800); Jacob b ~1773 Frederick Co. MD., d ~1830 Washington Co. OH. (m Elizabeth Sadler bef 1797); Katharine (m Jacob Bast 11 Oct 1796 Frederick Co MD.);

Johann Jacob’s second marriage was to Salome ? before 1779. Children of this marriage are: Johannes (John) b 2 Jul 1779 MD.; George b 3 Aug 1781 MD. d 23 Mar 1867 Washington Co. OH (m1 Elizabeth Sadler, widow of his bro Jacob) (m2 Anna Martha ? Washington Co OH); Charles b 1785 MD. d Feb 1886 Pleasant Co. WV. (m Francis Draper); Christian Christopher) b 10 Apr 1787 MD. d 6 Feb 1853 (m Catharine Phillis); Rebecca b 26 Dec 1788 MD. d young.

Four other children whose mother has not been determined are: Daniel, Henry, Polly and Margery.

Johann Jacob is listed in the 1790 Census of Frederick Co. MD. Then in 1800 we find him in Hanover Twp. Beaver Co. Pa. In 1810 he is in Chenango Twp. – Beaver Co. Pa. In 1813 he crossed the Ohio River to Columbiana Co. OH, where he purchased land in Wayne Twp. We find the deed at the Columbiana Co. Courthouse in Lisbon. Early Columbiana Co. history mention Jacob as one of 12 settlers living in Franklin Twp. in 1814. The others mentioned were John Morrison, Wm. Laughlin, Phillip Willyard, John King, J McElroy, J McQuilkin, Enos Ferguson, Samuel Brown, Adam Knauff, Adam Custard, and Mr. Lucey.

In the 1820 Census of Col. Co. OH we find Jacob [in] Franklin Twp. where he is the 80-90 age group. On 3 Sep 1831, Johann Jacob made his Last Will Testament. We find it recorded in the Col. Co. Courthouse, 14 Sep 1831. The value of his estate was _05.96. Those listed in his will were: Katharine _st, Margery Sterret, Sharlotta Davis, Barbary Potts, John Hackathorn, Christopher, Jacob, Daniel, George, Henry, Polly and Charles.

It is unknown where Johann Jacob is buried, it is most likely somewhere in Franklin Twp. possibly at the Bethesda Church in Milport, as there are others buried there. We also find some of our ancestors buried at the following cemeteries: Spring Grove, ELO; Cloverdale Cem. St. Marys WV; and the Hackathorn Cemetery in Grandview near New Matamoras Washington Co. OH, which is now part of the National Forest.

There is a “To be continued” at the end of this article.