William Nixon Potts, Sr.

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3SQ-Q4V : 18 September 2020), William Pottes, 1773.

"England, Cumbria Parish Registers, 1538-1990", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4JY1-VNT2 : 1 July 2022), William Potts, 1773.

"England, Cumbria Parish Registers, 1538-1990", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7TS7-GLZM : 1 July 2022), William Potts, 1773.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134250874

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/vitals/LQRS-SR6

This letter was transcribed for me many years ago from the original in possession of Mrs. R.B. Jewell II in Clinton, Kentucky. The Bible dates that provide the birth and death dates for the children of William Nixon Potts Sr. and Ann "Nancy" Beatty Potts also came from them. Mr. R.B. Jewell was the descendant of Lewis Jewell who married Polly Nixon Potts. They moved to what was then Jefferson County, Kentucky and the letter was delivered by a neighbor and merchant Mr. "Sagercy" properly spelled Sageser. This letter shows that Ann Beatty Potts was very well educated for her day and age. Her parents were well off financially and had evidently seen to the education of all their children. James Beatty also provided generously for his children when they married or soon afterwards and provided land for each of his children. Ann was given the property in Jessamine County on Hickman Creek that he had purchased from Peter Metcalf in 1803; this remained in the family until 1870, when Ann's youngest son William Nixon Potts, Jr., sold it for ten thousand dollars, quite a sum for those days.

Mrs. Polly N. Jewell Jefferson Co., Ky by Mr. Sagercy Dear Daughter A favourable opportunity offering I imbrace it, to inform you that we are all well, confidently hoping that you and family are enjoying the same Health. I have sent your Beaurau with all the articles of clothing which you left which I am in hopes will come safe to hand by Mr. Sagercy. Respecting the neighborhood news I can inform you that the news got much in the way of matrimony. Lydia Hamilton and David Foster, Alia Sagercy and Mr. Miller, David Thorton and Polly Kersey. Doctor and Mrs. Burnside have appeared before the altar of Hymn and and consecrated the rite before God and man and are now man and wife. Your Bed and wheel is also sent by Mr. Sagercy. I confidently expect you in the Spring and am in hopes you will not disappoint my expectations. John says you must save him a Bushel of Dried Peaches according to you promise. All the Family joinn me in love to you and Mr. Jewell. I remain your affectionate Mother Nancy Potts

John M. Potts followed his sister and brother in law to what became Daviess Co., Kentucky where he was employed by the Jewells in their store. John is buried alongside David Jewell in the Cooper Cemetery near the Daviess-Hancock County line in Kentucky.

Sometimes family disputes can be minimized. William Nixon Potts Sr. evidently died suddenly and had written no will. This complicated life for his widow "Nancy" Potts and the entire family. Daughter Lydia Harris had predeceased her father and her widower brought suit later against his mother in law Nancy Potts for failing to make disposition of the estate according to law. William N. Potts had purchased land in his own name while "the homeplace" that contained their dwelling and the Potts Mill property had been a gift to Ann from her father James Beatty and is referred to in his will, probated in 1820 in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Further complicating this sad situation was the fact that her own son, John M. Potts evidently had claimed that his mother only had a life estate in the property, claiming the property was entailed to Ann's children and could not be sold. That was clearly wrong. In addition, family slaves had to be put up and sold at public auction. Two "old negroes" named Jude and Rose were sold for fifty cents each, purchased by the widow Ann Potts from her late husband's estate. One cannot help but feel sorry for the pain that Ann must have experienced in the loss of children as was so common at that time, then to have the matter of her husband's estate dragged out through the court for several years and suffering the indignity of an ungrateful son, John M. Potts and the unkind if not greedy behavior of her son in law Thomas Harris. Ultimately, Ann's youngest son William Nixon Potts, Jr. purchased the property and Ann lived on in her own home until her death. Wm N. Jr. built his own substantial and solid dwelling closer to the road and a couple hundred yards in front of her log house about the year 1852, currently owned by Mrs. A.C. Canter (on Sugar Creek Pike in Jessamine County). Ann was buried beside her husband but both graves have been lost although a couple of the markers in that little cemetery have in recent memory been seen and surveyed.

William Nixon Potts Sr. Is listed in the HENRY ACKERMAN SMITH PAPERS, 1861-1907 (C0431) files with family being in The Methodist pastors circles this likely him. https://files.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/C0431.pdf

00TTS: MILLS' (J'ess. Co., Ky): po est. 4/28/ 1848,_ Wm. N. Potts; 10/24/1854, Aaron Blake- man•••12/14/1858,. Wm. N. Potts; Disc. 6/7/62
(POR-NA); Potts Mill was named for Wm. Potts who built the mill on (Rig) Hickman Creek, by
the Sugar Creek Rd. (P. 50). This was later called Sageser's Mill and was destroyed by the 1932 Hickman Creek flood. (Robert May Suell, Hist. of Freemasonrv in Jess Co., Kv~, Nich, 1974, Pp. 18-19); (UPahts Mihlu ) On Sugar Creek Rd. An old grist mill. In 1932 flood water came as high as 6-8 ft. thru there, destroying the dam and practically

washing away all the old covered bridges.and the mill. Later known as Sageser's Mill ("Sa:/ghos/"rz Mihl") which was named for Breen (?) Sageser who was the last to run it as a mill. The mill was originallY built by Wm. Potts in the early 19 cent. He died in the l850s and is buried on the hillside abo~ his old homeplace• The mill served" as the meeting place of an old Masonic lodge which was later moved up the road to a bldg. of it own. Potts was a member of the lodge. (Robt. SuelI, interview, 6/14/1978);

Sagersy, Sageser, or Sagerser (c.1810);

Wm. Nixon Potts (1l/1/1818~in Jess. Co., son
of' WIlI'. N. &Anne (Beatty) Potts, and died 2/7 1893 in Richmond, Ky. and buried there.) Wm. Jr,., designed water mills before and during th CW,. Moved to Rich. in 1865. (Maurine Coleman Schmitz on the Nave F~milv••• ms. in the Withers libr. in Nich., 1980);

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=...

301 Ion, Pott's Mills, Jessamine co 1st and 3d Saturdays page 56, https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=mai...

https://books.google.com/books?id=P71JAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA15&lpg=RA1-..., Page 15 William Nixon Potts Dismitted August 13 1889.