David Potts
David Potts, son of Jonas Potts and Mary Unknown, was born in 1700 in Germantown, PA and died on 1 May 1768 in Loudon Co., VA at age 68.
General Notes: David POTTS was born about 1700 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died on May 1 1768 in Loudoun Co., Virginia. The Potts Family in American, 1901, T. M. Potts page 226 - was born about the year 1700, as nearly as can be estimated. He was without doubt the son of Jonas and Mary Potts, of Philadelphia Cou nty, Pennsylvania, though no record of birth has been found. All the traditions and statements of aged members of differenet lines of the family point to that conclusion. These allegations, summed up, may be included in the following. The Potts family came to Pennsylvania from Wales - some allege, with William Penn. They lived at or about Pottsgrove, where their ancestor owned a plantation to which the Viriginia descendants were heirs. (NOTE: Jonas Potts owned and occupied a farm in Gilberts Manor, which adjoined Pottsgrove. It is not certain that he ever secured a full title to this land, and no deed of conveyance from him or his legal representatives has been found. Such a tradition might easily grow from such a foundation). One tradition, in a collateral line, alleges that Jonah or Jonas Potts came to Pennsylvania from Wales. Another tradition alleges that the Potts’ were driven from Wales by reason of religious oppression.
The first notice of David Potts is as subscribing witness to the marriage certificates of the two daughters of Jonas Potts in 1719. (See pages 227 and 229, ante.) The "Pennsylvania Gazette," of May 27, 1731, contains the following advertisem ent.
"Run away from David Potts, as Socken above the Great Swamp, (NOTE: The Great Swamp was a marshy tract of land in the upper end of Bucks County, inclu ding the village of Quakertown. Saucon is the name of a creek emptying from the south-west into the Lehigh River, a few miles below Bethlehem. Before the year 1730, some Philadelphia speculators bought up large tracts of the rich lands i n the Saucon valley and sold it out in smaller parcels. It seems quite likely t hat David Potts was then living in the Saucon Valley, within limits of either t he present Lehigh or Northampton County). A Servant Boy named John Williams, ab out seventeen Years of Age, of swarthy complexion, has black Hair, and two Mold s on his Forehead. Had on a brown linsey-woolsey Jacket, Leather Breehes, a pair of Shoe packs, and Stockings footed White. He is supposed to have with him a Big Bay Horse, with a Switch Tail, and a Star in the Forehead, a helf crop and a half penny in the Ear, and branded on the near Shoulder I P with a Dagger, over it. Whoever secures him and gives notice to George Shoemaker, Innkeeper, in Philadelphia, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and Reasonable Charges paid, by DAVID POTTS."
The brand I P may have been the initials of Jonas Potts, who probably contributed to his son’s start in life.
David Potts removed to Virginia, but at what time is not clear. One person gave the date as 1735. In 1881, Eliza (Potts) Neer, then above 80 year s of age, said that David Potts, her great-grandfather, on coming to Viginia, f irst settled in Jefferson County, where Cabletown now stands, and that his first wife died there. If this statement be true, then it is probable that the date named is substantially correct. It is however quite certain that he was in Fairfax County in 1746, when he leased a tract of land from Catesby Cocke, for five shillings in hand paid, with power to purchase. The lease was dated, November 16, 1746, and covered a tract of 866 acres on Kittockton Run, in Fairfax County. The annual rental was one ear of Indain corn. Subsequently Catesby Cocke and Mary, his wife, conveyed the same by deed to David Potts, who is therein descr ibed as yeoman. (Note: These abstracts have been taken from the Land Office rec ords of Fairfax County, Virginia.)
On June 9, 1747, David Potts leased for one year, 333 acres, part of this same tract, to William Williams, at an a nnual rental of one ear of Indian corn. Subsequen
David married Ann Roberts.
Children from this marriage were:
Nathan Potts died in 1909 in Loudon Co., VA.
Samuel Potts died in 1801 in Loudon Co., VA.
David Potts was born on 11 Apr 1738 in Loudon Co., VA and died on 17 Oct 1809 in VA at age 71.
Ezekiel Potts was born on 8 Jan 1743 in Loudon Co, VA and died on 16 Jan 1809 in Loudon Co, VA at age 66.
Jane Potts was born in 1746 and died in 1788 at age 42.
David next married Elizabeth Jane Lane.
Children from this marriage were:
Jonas Potts was born in 1726 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA and died on 15 Aug 1769 in Loudon Co., VA at age 43.
Jonathan Potts was born in Germantown, PA and died in Loudon Co., VA.
Ann Potts was born in Germantown, PA.
Mary Potts was born in Germantown, PA.
