William Potter, of New Haven

On 1 Jul 1635, "Husbandman William Potter," aged 27, "uxor Francis Potter," aged 26, & "Joseph Potter," aged 20 weeks, were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the Abigail.) Executed at New Haven 6 Jun 1662 for bestiality.

Married by 1635, Frances ____. They had six Children: Joseph, Mary Mansfield, Sarah Foote Blachley, Hope Robinson, Rebecca Adams, & Nathaniel.

Source: Anderson'd Great Migration Study Project

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Patricia Law Hatcher, "English Origin of the Potter and Beecher Families of New Haven, Connecticut," The American Genealogist 79 (2004):28-33. Hatcher has definitively settled a problem which was tentatively resolved nearly half a century ago by Donald Lines Jacobus. References to a widow Beecher and a widow Potter in early New Haven have been thought by some to refer to two women, while others (including Jacobus) have thought these records referred to one woman. Hatcher has found English records for this family in Lewes, Sussex, where William Potter married Ann Langford on 6 October 1607. This couple had four children, two of whom, sons William and John, survived and accompanied their mother to New England in the late 1630s. William Potter died in 1619 and his widow married John Beecher early in the following year. They had two children, one of whom, son Isaac, also made the migration to New England.

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William Potter (1608/09-1662) of New Haven Colony

• from http://personal.linkline.com/xymox/roh/potter.htm

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 a colony. Fearing the approach of winter, however, EATON thought it prudent to delay 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.

• ======================

William Potter was freed from training (kind?) by the General Court of the New Haven Colony, May 1656. His will was dated 9 Mar. 1684/5. Source: History of Stamford, by E. B. Huntington.

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Families of Ancient New Haven by Donald Lines Jacobus, pg. 1137, 1459

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Arrived in America in 1635 on the "Abigail."

The Potters are one of the "First Families of America".

William was hanged for sodomy. It appears he had a mental disorder which caused him to appear to be a menace to society.

Links

• http://www.spicerweb.org/Genealogy/legacyfiles/3841.htm

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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.

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.

The Children of William POTTER and Frances CHILDS? were.

• 1. JOSEPH, b. Nov. 1635,   m. Phebe IVES
• 2. THOMAS, b. ca. 1637
• 3. HANNAH,?
• 4. MARY, bap. Aug. 22, 1641,   m. about 1657, Joseph MANSFIELD
• 5. SARAH, bap. Aug. 22, 1641,but not the twin of Mary,   m. 1659, Robert FOOTE;   m. 2nd, 1686, Aaron BLAKESLEY/BLACHLEY and removed to Guilford.
• 6. HOPE, bap. Oct. 3, 1641,   m. Feb. 3, 1663, Daniel ROBINSON.
• 7. REBECKAH, bap Jan 1643,   m. Nov. 27, 1667, Thomas ADAMS
• 8. NATHANIEL bap. Dec. 22, 1644,   m. April, 1675, Elizabeth HAWES

Submitted by Joyce Lee Wiggins Kaufman of Dallas, Texas

Links

• http://www.spicerweb.org/Genealogy/legacyfiles/3841.htm
• http://personal.linkline.com/xymox/roh/potter.HTM
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=klrrrr&id...

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Notes

1. "Engish Origin of the Potter and Beecher Families of New Haven, Connecticut," The American Genealogist, Vol. 79, pp. 28-33; pub. January/April 2004 issue.
2. probably came in the Abigal from London, in 1635, aged 27, with wife Francis, aged 26, and child Joseph, aged twenty weeks." The Abigal sailed in May of 1635. January or February of 1635 would seem reasonable for Joseph's birthdate. Birth dates of the children are approximate and based on Jacobus. Hope was baptised in the First Congregational Society in October of 1641 following the baptisms in August of her sisters, Mary and Sarah. 1

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• 1 Shepard, James, The New Haven (Conn.) Potters, 1639 (New England Historic Genealogy Register, (Boston, 1900)).
• 2 Jacobus, Donald Lines, Families of Ancient New Haven (Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1974), Vol. VI, p1459.
• 3 New Haven Colony Historical Society, Ancient Town Records (New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1917).
• 4 Shepard, James, The New Haven (Conn.) Potters, 1639 (New England Historic Genealogy Register, (Boston, 1900)), From Savage.
• 5 Ancestral File.

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   William Potter's Profile Family Tree & Genealogy Tools 

William Potter Born about 1608 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Son of John Potter and Hannah Mead Brother of John Potter and Isaac Beecher Husband of Frances (Unknown) Potter — married 1625 [location unknown] Father of Joseph Potter, Mary Potter, Sarah Potter, Hope (Potter) Robinson, Nathaniel Potter and Rebecca Potter Died June 6, 1662 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Profile managers: John Schmeeckle private message [send private message], Vic Watt private message [send private message], Darin Neves private message [send private message], Charles Meads private message [send private message], Theodore Palmer private message [send private message], Cathy Carpentier-Alting private message [send private message], and George Graham private message [send private message] This page has been accessed 861 times. Biography

The name of William Potter first appears on the manifest of the ship Abigail. The ship left Plymouth, England destined for Boston in New England on June 4, 1635, among the passengers were William Potter age 27, wife Frances age 26 & 4 month old son Joseph Potter. However, what is known about the life & death of William Potter is found primarily in the Records of the Court of New Haven Colony. The records indicate William Potter was an educated Puritan & a fairly well to-do land owner. William first settled at Watertown, MA then moved on to New Haven Colony around 1639. He purchased land at New Haven & was occupied there as a “planter” until his death. William’s mother Hannah & his younger brother John Potter also settled at New Haven. Sources

   Mather, Cotton. Magnalia Christi Americana (Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside, 1702) Vol. 2, Page 405 "June 6, 1662, at New-haven...(one Potter, by name, about sixty years of age,) executed for damnable bestialities"

   http://www.todrobbins.com/robbins/people/william-potter.html 

Profile History

   WikiTree profile Potter-1102 created through the import of ettel.ged on Aug 26, 2011 by Ed Ettel. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ed and others.

   This person was created through the import of Geer.ged on 25 September 2010.

   This person was created through the import of July2009.ged on 02 December 2010.

   WikiTree profile Potter-1197 created through the import of Maltby master 08282011.GED on Aug 30, 2011 by Harry Maltby. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Harry and others.

   WikiTree profile Potter-1678 created through the import of graham tree.ged on Aug 30, 2012 by George Graham. See the Changes page for the details of edits by George and others. 

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John died before his wife and two sons immigrated to the U.S. Hannah and her two sons William and John appears on the manifest of the ship Abigail. The ship left Plymouth, England destined for Boston in New England on June 4, 1635, among the passengers were William Potter age 27, wife Frances age 26 & 4 month old son Joseph Potter. However, what is known about the life & death of William Potter is found primarily in the Records of the Court of New Haven Colony. The records indicate William Potter was an educated Puritan & a fairly well to-do land owner. William first settled at Watertown, MA then moved on to New Haven Colony around 1639. He purchased land at New Haven & was occupied there as a planter until his death. William's mother Hannah & his younger brother John Potter also settled at New Haven.
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Timeline for William Potter

   1608c: William Potter was born in the Village of Manchester, Manchester Parish (Lancashire) England.

   1635c: He and his wife, Abigail came to New England in the "Abigail" from London.

   1639c: He moved to New Haven and signed the Agreement tools.

   1644c: He signed the Oath of Allegiance.

   1643c: He was fined a shilling for being late to military training and he was fined on another occasion for defective arms.

   1645c: He offered to "carry every man's grist from their howes to the mill & bring it back againe to their howes for 2d. pr. bushell".

   1647c: He was one of the fence viewers.

   164(?), October 5: He bought about 60 acres of land.

   1662, May 19: William Potter made his Will.

   1662, June 6: A William Potter was hanged (Mather, Magnalia, Book VI, Cap. V, Ap. iii). He had been

   convicted of bestiality and had confessed "more than was charged against him", that he had been "a continuall liuer in this sin from his childhood". Savage expressed doubts that it was this William but offered no reason.

   1663, March 3: His Will was proved.

   1663, August 1: The inventory showed an estate of £190-00-00. He had six children.

   "Effie Belle Randall of Bath, Ohio: Her Ancestors and Descendants" by Theodore N. Woods; p. 117; published by T. N. Woods; Phoenix, Arizona; 1991 (CS71.R19 1991 LofC) (Randall

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GEDCOM Note

Category: Signers of the New Haven Fundamental Agreement Category:New Haven, Connecticut{{Puritan Great Migration|Great Migration 1634-1635.|Volume 5|Page507-513}}

Biography

William Potter

Two Different William Potters ===Two William Potters (at least) were early immigrants and are often confounded.

Here profiled was baptized at Lewes on 28 August 1608, son of Potter-136|William Potter and Langford-1288|Hannah Langford, immigrated aboard the Abigail (Savage incorrectly attributed this voyage tothe other William Potter), removed to New Haven by 1641, married Frances Unknown, was executed on 6 June 1662 at New Haven. The other Potter-1209|William Potter was found in 1637 at Watertown. Sold his Watertown land in 1645 and removed to Stamford [SLR 1:66, GMN 1:8].<ref name="GMB">Anderson, Robert C., "John Brown" Featured name. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, VolumesI-III. (Online database accessed 9 May 2016: AmericanAncestors.org,New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), Vol 1, Pages 255-57.</ref> He may have married Dorothy, widow of John Brown/Browne and mother of daughters Hannah and Mary. Hannah may have been the Hannah Potter who married John Mead. That William Potter's will was dated 18 September 1684, and was probated on 9 March 1684/5 [Stamford Town Records, transcribed, 25, 128].<ref name="TAG73">Remington, Gordon L., 1998 The English Origin of William 1 Mead of Stamford, Connecticut. The American Genealogist. New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors accessed 9 May 2016, Vol. 73 : Pages.1-9.</ref> It mentioned the children of his son-in-law, John Mead (who married Hannah Potter).<ref name="TAG73"/>

Origin Resolved===An article by Patricia Law Hatcher, published in 2004, identifies the parish records for the Potter and Beecher families at Lewes.<ref name="TAG79">Hatcher, Patricia Law, 2004 English Origin of the Potter and Beecher Families of New Haven, Connecticut. The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database accessed 9 May 2016. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Volume 79, Pages 28-32.</ref> William was baptized on 28 August 1608 at St. Thomas as in the Cliffe, Lewes, Sussex, England, son of Potter-136|William Potter and possibly his 2nd wife, Langford-1288|Ann/Hannah Langford.<ref name="TAG79"/> William's father was buried at Lewes on14 August 1619. William's mother married in January 1619/20, as her 2nd, and possibly as his 2nd, to John Beecher.<ref name="TAG79"/>

This finally resolves the identity of the immigrant, Ann/Hannah (Langford) Potter Beecher of New Haven, Connecticut (who was sometimes assumed to have been two different women). Note: This profile reported birth information: January 9, 1602 at Kingsbridge, Devon, England, without evidence or citation.

Baptism ===William, son of William, was baptized 28 Aug 1608 at St. Thomas-in-the-Cliffs, Lewes, Sussex, England.<ref> "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7ZD-8P8 : 10 February 2018, William Potter, ); citing St. Thomas-in-the-Cliffs, Lewes, Sussex, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,067,241.</ref><ref name="TAG79" />

Immigration ===We have record of William Potter on the passenger list for the Abigail.<ref name="NEHGR54">Shepard, James, 1900 "The New Haven (Conn.) Potters, 1639." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database accessed 10 May 2016: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol 54, Page 23.</ref> The ship left Plymouth, England destined for Boston in New England on June 4, 1635; among the passengers were William Potter age 27, wife Frances age 26 & 4 month old son Joseph Potter. His mother and brother, John, with his step-brother or half-brother, Isaac followed him to New England.

William settled briefly at Watertown and removed by 1639, with his brother John Potter, to New Haven Colony.<ref name="NEHGR54"/> However, his church membership at New Haven is implied by 22 August 1641, when two of his children were baptized there.<ref name="GMM-P">Anderson, Robert Charles, "William Potter" Featured name. Great Migration 1634-1635. (Online database accessed 9 May 2016. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Volume V, M-P, Pages 507-513.</ref>

Marriage and Children

William married by 1635 to Frances Unknown.<ref name="GMM-P"/>

Children of William and Frances Potter:<ref name="GMM-P"/># Potter-147|Joseph Potter, b in England c. Feb,1635; m. Phebe Ives# Potter-148|Mary Potter, b say 1637, bpt in New Haven, 22 Aug 1641; m abt 1657 Joseph Mansfield# Potter-144|Sarah Potter, b say 1639, bpt in New Haven, 22 Aug 1641 (but not a twin); she m1 Lieut. Robert Foote of Branford; she m2 Aaron Blachley/Blakesley. Not named in her father's will but living 23 Aug 1706 when she obtained some piece of her father's estate.# Potter-126|Hope Potter, bpt 3 Oct 1641; m 3 Feb 1663 Daniel Robinson; (removed to NJ)# Potter-123|Rebecca Potter, bpt 1643[/4?]; m 27 Nov 1667 Thomas Adams; (removed to Crosswicks, NJ)# Potter-151|Nathaniel Potter, bpt 12 Nov 1644; m 1 Apr 1675 Elizabeth Howes

Property and Positions ===William Potter was an educated Puritan, a "planter" or farmer, and a land owner at New Haven. He was an active member of the church and well-respected among the other parishioners.<ref name="Roberts">Roberts,Gary Boyd, Selected and Introduced by, Genealogies of Connecticut Families From The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. ([CD]Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983), vol 3, p 153. " ...New Haven ... 1639 ..."</ref>

Nothing is known about him between the time he sailed aboard the Abigail and 22 August 1641, when his two eldest daughters were baptized at the New Haven church. He was a member of the New Haven militia but was fined on 6 September 1643 for coming late to training day. On 4 January 1643/4, William was one of the eleven men fined for defective guns, and on 7 October 1651, he was fined for neglecting training day, neglecting to show his arms, and neglecting to bring note of his estate for taxation purposes. On 3 August 1652, he was again fined for neglecting to show for training day.<ref name="GMM-P"/> William held several parcels of land granted by the town, and he also purchased an additional 27 acres from Mr Evance on 5 October 1647. Hepurchased another 22 acres on 2 September 1651 from Mr. Robert Newman, including a house and a barn. At his death, William's estate was valued at £190 4s of which £90 was in real estate.<ref name="GMM-P"/>

Last Will & Testament

Written 19 May 1662. Inventoried 1 Aug 1662

• my wife should have her living out of the farms until...
• my son Nathanll comes of age of 21 years
• my son Joseph
• my daughter Hope
• my daughter Rebeckah<ref name="NEHGR54"/> Anderson also reports that William Potter's will was dated 19 May 1662, inventoried on 1 August 1662, and proved on 3 March 1662/3.<ref name="GMM-P"/>

Death and Legacy ===William Potter was executed by hanging on 6 June 1662 at New Haven, New Haven Colony (later became part of Connecticut) for the crime of bestiality.<ref name="GMM-P"/><ref>Charles J. Hoadley, ed., Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven from May 1653 to the Union. Together with the New Haven Code of 1656, (Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1858), 180, 440-43</ref><ref>See also John M. Murrin, "Things Fearful to Name: Bestiality in Colonial America," in Pennsylvania History, vol. 65, Special Supplemental Issue, 1998, pp 8-43; PDF available. (Accessed 23 Oct 2016</ref>

Cotton Mather wrote about the trial in his Ecclesiastical History ofNew-England ...<ref name="Mather">Mather, Cotton. Space: Magnalia Christi Americana|Magnalia Christi Americana (Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside, 1702) Vol. 2, Page 405 "June 6, 1662, at New-haven...(one Potter, by name, about sixty years of age,) executed for damnable bestialities"</ref> and also in Pillars of Salt...<ref>Cotton Mather, Pillars of Salt: An History of Some Criminals Executed in the Land... (Boston: B Green and J. Allen, 1699), reprinted in Daniel E. Williams, ed., Pillars of Salt: An Anthology of Early American Criminal Narratives, (Madison, Wis: Madison House, 1993), 65-93, at pp 67-69.</ref>

Research Notes ==This profile apparently was confounding two different William Potters. Part of the problem may be the use of the 1900 NEHGR article (which follows Savage). Roberts used this article in his Genealogies of Connecticut Families ...<ref name="PCP">Cook, Dale H., The Plymouth Colony Pages. revised Dec 19, 2015, accessed 9 May 2016, pdf Page 227.</ref> Anderson cautions that Savage incorrectly assigned the Abigail voyage to the other William Potter and split this New Haven William Potter into two men.

Sources

<references />

See also:* Hoffman, Sara Robbins, William Potter. Robbins Family Society, 12 Jan 2011, accessed 9 May 2016.

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GEDCOM Source

@R-1783491868@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=47490649&pid...

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Baptized at St. Thomas, Lewes, Sussex, 28 Aug 2608, son of William & Ann (Langford) Potter. Husbandman from Lewes, Sussex who came to New England in 1635 on the "Abigail" His whereabouts here is unknown prior to his admission to the New Haven church by 22 Aug 1641. (On 1 Jul 1635, "Husbandman William Potter," aged 27, "uxor Francis Potter," aged 26, & "Joseph Potter," aged 20 weeks, were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the Abigail.) Executed at New Haven on 6 Jun 1662 for bestiality. Married by 1635, Frances ____. William Potter was followed to New England by his mother, Ann (Langford) (Potter) Beecher, his brother, John Potter, & his half-brother, Isaac Beecher.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 8 2020, 2:28:37 UTC