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 1607 - 1662 (55 years)
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| Name |
William Potter |
| Suffix |
The Immigrant |
| Birth |
9 Jan 1607 |
Moreton Hampstead, Devonshire, England  [1, 2] |
| Gender |
Male |
 Immigration |
1635 [3] |
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| Religion |
Quaker [3] |
- History of the Quakers. The Religious Society of Friends began as a movement in England in the mid 17th century in Lancashire.
Members are informally known as Quakers, as they were said "to tremble in the way of the Lord".
The Religious Society of Friends began as a movement in England in the mid 17th century in Lancashire. Members are informally known as Quakers, as they were said "to tremble in the way of the Lord". The movement in its early days faced strong opposition and persecution, but it continued to expand across the British Isles and then in the Americas and Africa.
The Society of Friends, while always small in membership, has been influential in the history of reform. The state of Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn in 1682, as a safe place for Quakers to live and practice their faith. Quakers have been a significant part of the movements for the abolition of slavery, to promote equal rights for women, and peace. They have also promoted education and the humane treatment of prisoners and the mentally ill, through the founding or reforming of various institutions. Quaker entrepreneurs played a central role in forging the Industrial Revolution, especially in England and Pennsylvania.
During the 19th century Friends in the United States suffered a number of separations which resulted in the formation of different branches of the Society of Friends. The Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) estimated in 2012 there were 377,055 adult Quakers.
Read more ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Quakers
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| Death |
6 Jun 1662 |
New Haven, Connecticut [1, 2] |
- "...he was hanged for 'ye sin of bestiality with sundrie creatures."
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| Person ID |
I33767 |
The Hennessee Family |
| Last Modified |
15 Jan 2019 |
| Father |
John Potter, b. 1579, Speldhurst, Kent, England d. 2 Oct 1623, (Speldhurst, Kent) England (Age 44 years) |
| Mother |
Hannah Mead, b. 1584, Speldhurst, Kent, England d. 5 Apr 1658, New Haven, Connecticut (Age 74 years) |
| Married |
~ 1595 |
(Speldhurst) Kent, England [3] |
| Marriage |
1607 |
(Speldhurst, Kent) England [4] |
| Family ID |
F12387 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Frances Childe, b. 0___ 1609, Lydd, Kent, England d. 19 Mar 1661, New Haven, Connecticut (Age ~ 52 years) |
| Married |
14 Apr 1630 |
Fairfield, Connecticut [2] |
| Marriage |
10 Aug 1636 |
New Haven, Connecticut [1, 5] |
| Children |
| | 1. Joseph Potter, b. 0Nov 1635, (Moreton Hampstead, Devonshire, England) |
| | 2. Thomas Potter, b. 0___ 1637, New Haven, Connecticut d. 10 Feb 1704, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey (Age ~ 67 years) |
| | 3. Hannah Potter, b. (New Haven, Connecticut) |
| | 4. Sarah Potter, b. 0___ 1639, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colony of America |
| | 5. Mary Potter, b. ~ 1640, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colony of America |
| | 6. Hope Potter, b. 3 Oct 1641, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colony of America |
| | 7. Rebecca Potter, b. 0Jan 1642, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colony of America |
| | 8. Nathaniel Potter, b. 0___ 1644, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colony of America |
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| Family ID |
F12386 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
30 Apr 2023 |
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| Notes |
- The following was found at the website of "America's First Families" and was submitted by Joyce Lee Wiggins Kaufman of Dallas, Texas, 13th grt-granddaughter of William Potter.
WILLIAM POTTER
NEW HAVEN COLONY, CONNECTICUT
(1608/09-1662)
William POTTER arrived at Boston aboard the "Abigail" from London in July of 1635. Traveling with William were his wife, Frances CHILDS?, and his 20 week old son Joseph.
William's Mother (Hannah POTTER BEECHER), step-father (John BEECHER), and brother (John POTTER) followed William to America two years later. They were part of the company that arrived aboard the "Hector" that included the very prominent Puritans Rev. John DAVENPORT and Theophilus EATON.
The party had intended to settle within the Massachusetts Colony, but upon their arrival, decided to found a new colony elsewhere because of what they perceived to be a tainted religious climate in Boston. The families made arrangements for temporary housing in Boston while a site was being
selected.The BEECHERS and John POTTER probably moved in with William and his family during this period.
Shortly before the arrival of the "Hector", an army from the Massachusetts Colony had raided and slaughtered the Pequot Indians at their village of Quinnipiac on Long Island. The returning soldiers told stories of an abundant land and a favorable harbor. Hearing the glowing reports, Rev. DAVENPORT dispatched Rev. EATON with a party to explore the area.
The party included John BEECHER, William's step-father. They arrived in the Quinnipiac area in early autumn and found it quite suitable for the establishment of acolony. Fearing the approach of winter, however, EATON thought it prudent todelay attempting the establishment until the following spring. He decided to leave seven men to winter at Quinnipiac, further explore the area, and to prepare for the arrival of the main colony.
John BEECHER was one of the seven men left behind. He died sometime during that winter and was buried in an unmarked grave. The colony that became established the following spring was New Haven Colony. John BEECHER'S remains were discovered some years later while digging a cellar.
William POTTER, his family, Hannah (his mother), John POTTER, and Isaac BEECHER (John BEECHER'S son) all removed from Boston to New Haven. They may have went with the original settlers in that spring of 1638 but that cannot be established.
They were definitely there by 1639, however, because both William and John POTTER signed the New Haven Agreement in a general town meeting that year.
Early New Haven records indicate that William's life was a 'good news - bad news' scenario. On the one hand his seating assignments in the church indicate that he progressed in the standing. On the other hand he was frequently fined for offenses ranging from absence at military training,
improper care of arms, to failure to submit a timely inventory for taxation.
In 1659 Hannah POTTER BEECHER died and appointed William executor of her will. She left 2/3 of her estate to William and 1/3 to Isaac BEECHER. She requested that William 'be as a father to his younger brother and his children.'
William died between May, 1662, and March following , in New Haven. His estate was valued at over 190 English pounds, as shown by the inventory taken August 2, 1662. The family home was on the west side of Quinipiac River near the present Cedar Hill station.
The descendants of this early American include the names of many who have distinguished themselves as scholars, as ministers and in other professions. We omit any reference to incidents in connection with the close of his life for the reason that he appears to have been the victim
of a mental disorder rather than an enemy of society.
The Children of William POTTER and Frances CHILDS? were.
1. JOSEPH, b. Nov. 1635, m. Phebe IVES
2. THOMAS, b. ca. 1637
3. HANNAH,?
Change Date: 8 Feb 2011 at 11:43:02
Father: John POTTER b: 1579 in England
Mother: Hannah "the widow" Hawes POTTER-BEECHER b: 1584 in Spaldhurst, Ken, England
Marriage 1 Frances CHILDRESS\CHILD b: 1609 in England
Married: 14 Apr 1630 in Fairfield, CT
Children
Has No Children Joseph POTTER b: Nov 1635 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
Has No Children Thomas POTTER b: ABT 1637 in New Haven CT
Has Children Sarah POTTER b: 1639 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
Has No Children Mary POTTER b: ABT 1640 in New Haven, CT
Has Children Hope POTTER b: 3 Oct 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co, CT c: 3 Nov 1641 in New Haven, New Haven, CN
Has No Children Rebecca POTTER b: Jan 1642/1643 in New Haven, New Haven, CT
Has No Children Nathaniel POTTER b: 22 Dec 1644 in New Haven, New Haven, CN
end of biography [2]
- William Potter, along with his brother, was one of the first settlers of New Haven. They signed the New Haven Agreement in 1639.
William was an up and down person. He was a church member in good standing, but was often fined for minor offences.
Eventually, he was hanged for 'ye sin of bestiality with sundrie creatures."
end of comment [6]
- William Potter came to Massachusetts as an adult with his mother Hannah, his wife Frances , and his son Joseph aboard the "Abigail" in1635.
end comment [3]
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| Sources |
- [S10317] "William Potter (b. January 09, 1607/08, d. June 06, 1662)" biography, revisited, abstracted, downloaded and published M.
- [S11281] "William POTTER", Biography, contact Jason Haydon, jdhaydon@yahoo.com, last updated, July 8th, 2008, http://wc.rootsweb.
- [S10320] "Hannah Mead" profile, abstracted, downloaded and published Monday, January 30th, 2017 by David A. Hennessee, info@class.
- [S10319] "John Potter (b. 1579, d. October 02, 1623)" profile, revisited, abstracted, downloaded and published Monday, January 30.
- [S11278] "William Potter", Profile, http://longislandsurnames.com/getperson.php?personID=I06719&tree=Woolley, retrieved, recorded.
- [S11313] "William Potter (b. January 09, 1607/08, d. June 06, 1662)" biography, revisited, abstracted, downloaded and published M.
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