Potter Register Report

The lineage of this Lynn, Essex co., MA branch of the Potter family is one of dispute over the years. One will find several different versions of Roberts begetting Nicholases begetting Roberts begetting Elizabeths. I have relied primarily upon vital records, wills & the 1991 book by Frank Ellwood Potter. I trust his scholarship because he also relies upon original sources wherever possible. Note, too, the high child mortality rate in the early generations of this family. Since there are two Potter children in the family (Robert & Elizabeth) and both Elizabeth Potters married into the early Newhall family, we are descended from the original Nicholas and his unknown wife through a full FOUR lines. Name variations include Potter & Poter. Witness to Wm. KNIGHT;s will, 1653.

Acres given: These lands following were given to the inhabitants of the town of Lynn, Maine: Nicholas Potter, 60. William Knight, 60

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Title: History & Genealogies of Potter Families in America
Author: Potter, Charles Edward
Year: 1888

Description: Historical & biographical sketches of Am descendants of Potter families. Family Lines recorded incl those of Anthony Potter of Ipswich, MA; Geo Potter of Portsmouth, RI; Geo Potter of Lancaster, Eng; Ichabod Potter of Portsmouth, RI; John & Wm Potter of New Haven, CT; Martin Potter of South Shields, Eng; Martin Potter of Philadelphia, PA; Nathaniel Potter of Portsmouth, RI; Nicholas Potter of Lynn, MA; & Robt Potter of Warwick, RI.

Nicholas Potter (ROBERT4, THOMAS3, THOMAS2, NICHOLAS1) b 1 Apr 1604 in Newport Pagnell, Buck, Eng, d 18 Aug 1677 in Salem, Essex, MA,

Married

1. Eme Carter 22 Apr 1628 in Salem, Essex, MA. She b 1607 in Newport Pagnell, Buck, Eng, d 1636.
2. Alice Plasse. She b 1619 in St Botolphs, Aldersgate, London, d 26 Jan 1658 in Salem, Essex, MA.
3. Mary Gedney. She b 14 Jun 1640 in Salem, Essex, MA, d 1674 in Salem, Essex, MA.

Children of Nicholas Potter & Eme Carter:

1. Capt Robert, b 28 May 1639, Lynn, MA, d 21 Mar 1709
2. Samuel, b 26 Dec 1632, Pagnell, Newport, Buck, Eng, d 4 Feb 1633
3. Elizabeth, b 8 Apr 1634, Lynn, MA, d 22 Feb 1686

Children of Nicholas Potter & Mary Gedney:

• i. Mary, b 4 Nov 1660, Salem, Essex, MA, d 29 Aug 1662, Salem, Essex, MA
• ii. Hannah, b 25 Mar 1661, Salem, Essex, MA, d 28 Aug 1662, Salem, Essex, MA
• iii. Sarah, b 4 Oct 1662, Salem, Essex, MA, d 29 Sep 1688, Salem, Essex, MA
• iv. Mary, b 10 Nov 1663, Salem, Essex, MA
• v. Samuel, b 9 Nov 1665, Salem, Essex, MA, d 10 Nov 1666, Salem, Essex, MA
• vi. Hannah, b 27 Mar 1666, Salem, Essex, MA
• vii. Lydia, b 26 Feb 1667, Salem, Essex, MA, d 17 Jul 1668
• viii. Bethiah, b 23 May 1668, Salem, Essex, MA
• ix. Samual, b 22 Apr 1669, Salem, Essex, MA, d 1692; m. Rebeccah Trask
• x. Lydia, b 16 Jul 1670, Salem, Essex, MA, d Apr 1671
• xi. Benjamin, b 6 Nov 1671, Salem, Essex, MA, d 14 Aug 1697
• xii. Joseph, b 9 Jun 1673, Salem, Essex, MA, d 1677

Sources

1. 2601. Compiled by Frank Elwood Potter. Descendants of Nicholas Potter of Lynn, Massachusetts, Supplement to Part 9, entitled "Nicholas Potter of Lynn, Massachusetts and Descendants, " from Charles Edward Potter's POTTER GENEALOGIES (1888). Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1991. P. 2: Baptisms

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Nicholas settled in Lynn, Maine the mid 1630's before moving to Salem, Ma. in 1660