Rebecca Potts

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. Found in the DAR Library, Washington DC. Page 112.

Sept. 19, 1717, Capt. James Avery, Capt. Thomas Avery, Capt. John Avery, and Samuel Avery, "out of love," deeded land to their sister Rebecca Potts, and to her husband, William Potts. (Groton Deeds, 1 :830) Jan. 4, 1727, William and Rebecca Potts deeded land to their loving son-in-law, Joshua Bill, husband of their daughter, Joanna, deceased and to their heirs. The reserved the right to cut firewood on this land during their natural lives. (Groton Deeds, 2 :297).

Rebecca married William POTTS on 5 Aug 1678 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut. William was born about 1655 in New Castle, England. He died before 1729 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Avery & Avery, page 112, 113.

He was of New Castle, EN, a constable.

Mr. Potts was one of the Narragansett volunteers and received land in Voluntown for his services. His name appears on the list of freemen in Groton in 1708 and 1711. He was surveyor of highways in 1705. He and his wife were members of the First Church of Groton " at the ordination," Nov. 22, 1727.

April 24, 1729, Humphrey Avery spoke of William Potts, "late of Groton;" Mr. Potts probably died about this time. According to the Voluntown records, land was confirmed to his heirs in 1730. April 8, 1732, Joshua Bill, jrn., sold land that was his honored father's, William Potts deceased (Groton Deeds, 3:63,64).

No baptisms are recorded in the First Church of New London from 1684 to 1691. During this period, William and Rebecca Potts undoubtedly had a son Jonathan. This Jonathan m. Mary Geer, Nov. 10, 1713, at Groton. They had Mary, Abigail, Rebecca, William, Joanna, Elizabeth - the last four names are suggestive. Jonathan was living at Smithfield, Penn, in 1742. (Groton Land Records, 2:411)

BABCOCK & ALLIED FAMILIES. p. 87.

William Potts of New Castle, EN emigrated to New London CT where on Aug 5 1678 he married Rebecca Avery. Their dates of death are not known. They were both living on Sept 19 1717, when four of her brothers "out of Love" deeded land to their sister Rebecca Potts and her husband William Potts. The diary of Humphrey Avery on April 24, 1729, refers to William Potts as "late of Groton," so it may be inferred that he was then dead.

William Potts was a constable. He was one of the "Narragansett Volunteers" (in King Phillip's War), and received land at Voluntown for his services. This land grand was confirmed to his heirs in 1730. He left New London to settle at Groton, CT where he was made freeman in 1708. He was surveyor of highways in 1705, and both he and his wife were members of the First Church of Groton on Nov. 22, 1727 "at the ordination."

FROM THE BOOK:

The Averys of Groton, Author: Homer DeLois Sweet, 1894

Rebecca, third daughter of James and Joanna Greenslade;

 married, August 5, 1678, in New London, Mr. William 

Potts, of New Castle, England, a constable;

 children: a daughter, born May 10, 1679, d. y. William, born 

March 13, 1680.

Sept. 19, 1717, Capt. James Avery, Capt. Thomas Avery, Capt. John Avery, and Samuel Avery, 'out of love,' deeded land to their sister Rebecca Potts, and to her husband, William Potts. (Groton Deeds, 1 :830) Jan. 4, 1727, William and Rebecca Potts deeded land to their loving son-in-law, Joshua Bill, husband of their daughter, Joanna, deceased and to their heirs. They reserved the right to cut firewood on this land during their natural lives. (Groton Deeds, 2 :297).

GEDCOM Note

Biography

Rebecca Avery : Birth 6 OCT 1656 New London, New London, Connecticut : Death 5 AUG 1678 New London, New London, Connecticut

Sources

<references/>* Ohler, Clara May Paine. Ancestors and Descendants of Captain John James and Esther Denison of Preston, Connecticut (Lima, Ohio, 1912) Page 181

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