Abel Potter (1702)

Born 18 Dec 1702 in Coventry, Kent, RI

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Lockwood) Potter — married 16 Jun 1728 in Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gillby Weldon [send private message]

Biography

Birth: Abel was born on 18 December 1702. ^[1]

It is claimed that this Abel's wife was Hannah __________, in "Genealogies of the Potter Families and Their Descendents in America to the Present Generation, with Historical and Biographical Sketches. Edited by Charles Edward Potter. Alfred Mudge & son, Printers, 1888, Boston. This same source lists Sarah Lockwood as the bride of Abel's brother, Benjamin. The two marriages are listed without dates or locations, a few lines apart.

In contrast, a number of primary sources (see image) lists Sarah Lockwood as wife. In addition, the Rhode Island Vital Record copy by Arnold, lists Sarah Lockwood as the bride of Abel, and lists no marriage of Benjamin. Finally, primary source records for all of the children list the mother's name as "Sarah".

It appears the above assertion of Abel's wife being "Hannah" is unsupported and can be dismissed. Though it must be noted, she could be an unknown second wife, or unknown early wife. Or "Hannah" is simply Sarah's middle name. In any account, primary sources support the name as Sarah and not Hannah.

Sources

1. ↑ Vital Records of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, page 86. Available ($) at: https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/rhode-island-vital-records-1636-1850

• Arnold, James N. Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636–1850: First series, births, marriages and deaths. A family register for the people. (Narragansett Hist. Publ. Co., 1891)

• "Rhode Island Marriages, 1724-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8K1-Z3N : 6 December 2014), Abel Potter and Sarah Lockwood, 16 Jun 1728; citing Warwick,Kent,Rhode Island, reference ; FHL microfilm 908,269.

• "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8KC-KBW : accessed 3 February 2017), Abel Potter and Sarah Lockwood, 16 Jun 1728; citing Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 179.

• "Rhode Island, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1630-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8VP-YJN : accessed 3 February 2017), Abel Capt Potter and Sarah, 16 Jun 1728; citing Marriage, , , Rhode Island, United States, Rhode Island State Archive, Providence City Archives, city and town clerk offices; FHL microfilm 925,615.

• Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8SC-X6K : 6 December 2014), Margret Potter, 18 Feb 1734; citing Rhode Island, reference p 1; FHL microfilm 925,615.

• "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2HH-WL2 : 6 December 2014), Mercy Potter, 04 May 1736; citing COVENTRY,KENT,RHODE ISLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 908,269. (Father given as Abel Potter and other as Sarah.)

• "Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8SC-X6L : 6 December 2014), Marcy Potter, 09 May 1736; citing Rhode Island, reference p 1; FHL microfilm 925,615. (Father is given as Abel Potter. Is this record for Chistening?)