Robert Potter III (1732 - aft. 1783)

Born 6 Mar 1732 in South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Gardner) Potter — married 5 Nov 1769 in South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Randy Beebe [send private message]

Biography

Robert Potter Jr. {III}, son of Robert Potter II (1702-) and Judith Clarke (1712-1806) was born 6 Mar 1732 at South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island. He was married to Abigail Gardiner on 5 November 1769 at South Kingstown, Rhode Island. ^[1] Charles E. Potter Jr. asserts the death of Robert Potter III to have been on 5 Feb 1772 in his text, Genealogies of the Potter Families and their Descendants in America page 20; ^[2] but offers no evidence to substantiate the assertion. However, Robert Potter, the husband of Abigail Gardiner, is named as a co-executor in the will of his father-in-law, George Gardiner, on 19 Jan 1783 thereby providing irrefutable proof that Robert Potter, husband of Abigail, was very much alive in 1783 and thereby fully refutes Charles Potter's 1772 death date assertion. The naming of Robert Potter as co-executor also infers that Robert Potter was still living in the South Kingston area on this 1783 date as he would need to be living in the community in order to perform the duties apropos to the position.

This profile presently (Nov 2023) asserts that Robert and Abigail Potter were the parents of two children, but no evidence has been offered to substantiate nor refute these assertions.

End of Biography.

Genealogical Records

The following section of this profile provides detailed information found in the collected information sources. The purpose of this section is to provide the reader access to the information contained within the cited sources; to examine the genealogical record for areas of data corroboration and conflict, and to establish a hierarchy of reliability for the cited information. In addition, this section provides a platform to analyze, cross-correlate, and comment on important aspects of the cited historical data record.

Birth Records

• Primary Source, Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914; ^[3] Data Summary:

1. ) Rhode Island Births: Robert Potter Jr., son of Robert and Judith Potter, was born 6 March 1732 at South Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island. {Editorial Note: this record is extracted from Arnold's book of Rhode Island Vital Records Volume V. Washington County. See next listed source below.}

• Derivative Primary Source, Arnold, Vital Records of Rhode Island. 1636-1850, Volume 5. Washington County ^[4] Volume 5, Early Vital records from North Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island:

1. ) South Kingstown Records; page 52: Children of Robert and Judith Potter:
   1. ) Robert Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born 6 March 1732.
   2. ) Martha Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born May 15, 1736
   3. ) Hannah Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born Aug. 24, 1738
   4. ) William Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born Jan. 5, 1742
   5. ) Judith Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born July 16, 1745
   6. ) Rouse Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born Jan. 3, 1748
   7. ) Elizabeth Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born Oct. 3, 1750
   8. ) Marberry Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born June 17, 1753
   9. ) Samuel Potter, of Robert and Judith, was born 6 March 1757.

Marriage Records

• Primary Source, Rhode Island Town Births Index, 1639-1932; ^[1] Data Extract:

1. ) South Kingstown Marriages;, image 14 of 333, page 149: Robert Potter Jun^r & Abigail Gardiner, both of this Town were Lawfully married Nov^r 5, 1769.

Dr. Torrey's Marriages--Robert Potter and Abigail Gardiner.

Probate Court Records

• Primary Source, George Gardiner; Town Council and Probate Records; No. 6. 1772-1800; South Kingstown, RI; ^[5] Data Extract:

1. ) Last Will and Testament of George Gardiner; page 176, image 110 of 689: Transcription of the Last Will and Testament of George Gardiner by Randolph R. Beebe Jan 2022:
   1. ) Be it remembered that upon the Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty three I George Gardiner of South Kingstown in the County of Washington & State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Yeoman being Aged bot of a Sound disposing Mind and Memory for which I desire to Bless Almighty God and being Mindful of my Mortality & the Time thereof to me uncertain do make publish & declare this to be my last Will & Testament for the disposition of Such Worldly Estate wherewith God Hath been pleased to Bless me. But Principally I would recommend my Soul to God who gave it for Mercy & forgiveness of my Sins & Transgressions. trusting through the Merits of Jesus Christ to inherit everlasting Life and my Body to the Earth to be decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executors herein after named.
   2. ) Imprimis my Will is and I do hereby Order that all my just debts & Funeral expenses be paid out of my Personal Estate by my Executors in some convenient Time after my Decease.
   3. ) Item, I give unto my beloved Son George Gardiner One Dollar in Silver Coin as a Token of Remembrance he having received his part and portion of my Estate heretofore
   4. ) Item, I give and bequeath unto Ruth Westcot & Elizabeth Peckham Daughters of my Daughter Hannah late Deceased two Silver Table Spoons each and to the Daughter of James Tefft which he had by his Wife Mary another Daughter of my Said Daughter Hannah I Give two Silver Table Spoons & these to be in lieu of any further part or Portion of my Estate to the Children of my said Daughter Hannah.
   5. ) Item, I give and bequeath unto the three daughters of my Daughter Amie Tefft Six Silver Table Spoons to be divided equally between them my said Daughter Amie having already received her Portion of my Estate.
   6. ) Item, I give and bequeath unto the three daughters of my Daughter Mary Champlin to wit Mary Susannah & Hannah Six Silver Table Spoons to be divided equally between them my said Daughter Mary having received her Portion already
   7. ) Item, I give and bequeath unto the two daughters of my Daughter Sarah Littlefield which she bore her first husband (to wit) Susannah & Sarah, Six Silver Table Spoons to be equally divided between them my Said Daughter Sarah having received her Portion heretofore.
   8. ) Item, I give and bequeath unto Susanna Daughter of my Daughter Dorcas Deceased late Wife of Edward Perry Six Silver Table Spoons And to George Perry a Son of my said Daughter Dorcas I give a Gun now in his Possession my said Daughter Dorcas having had her Portion heretofore.
   9. ) Item, I give unto my Grandson George Gardiner Son to my Son Nicholas Gardiner my Desk my said Son Nicholas Gardiner having already had his portion.
   10. ) Item, I give unto my Grandson Ezekiel Gardiner Son to my Son Ezekiel Gardiner dec^d One Hundred good Silver Spanish Milled Dollars to be paid to him when he Shall arrive to the Age of Twenty two years.
   11. ) Item, I give and devise unto my Grandson Daniel Tefft jun^r & to his Heirs & Assigns forever all my Right in the Pine & Cedar Swamps in Said South Kingston And I do hereby Order that each Silver Table Spoon that I have herein given away shall be of the Weight of two Spanish Milled Dollars & that they and all the other Legacies herein bequeathed (except the articles particularly named) and also my Debts be provided & paid out of my estate I shall herein after give & dispose of
   12. ) Item, I give and devise unto my two Daughters, to wit Elizabeth Wife of Rowse Potter and Abigail Wife of Robert Potter & to their Heirs and Assigns forever to be equally divided between according to Quantity and Quality all my homestead Farm in Said South Kingston containing about One hundred and Sixty Acres with the Buildings thereon and the Appurtenance thereto belonging bounded Northerly partly by Land which I formerly bought of my Son George Gardiner & partly by of John Almy Easterly by a highway Southerly partly by Land of William Potter & partly by Land of Heirs of my Son Ezekiel Gardiner dec^d & Westerly by Cheppuxet River and Pond.
   13. ) And Whereas i purchased a House and Lot of Land with other Buildings thereon of Caleb Westcot lying in said South Kingston on Little Rest Hill & have advanced to him a Considerable Sum of Money towards paying for the farm but as the s^d Caleb hant not any Security for the Remainder I do hereby fully empower & order my Executors herein after named that upon the payment of the Money thus advanced with Interest upon Principles of Equity by the said Caleb within One year next after my Decease (if not disposed of by me) they or the Survivor of them make & execute unto the said Caleb a good Deed of Quit Claim of said house & Lot & other Buildings thereon But if the said Caleb shall neglect to make payment as aforesaid that then my said Executors or the Survivors of them make Sale of the s^d House & Lot & other Buildings to the...
   14. ) more....
   15. Item: I give to my said Daughter Abigail Potter my Negro Boy named Jupiter and unto my Daughter Elizabeth Potter my Negro Boy now with her named Hartless And unto my Said Daughters Elizabeth and Abigail I give and bequeath all my Personal Estate not herein given away to be equally divided between them.
   16. ) And as to the residue of my Real Estate if any there be I give & devise the same unto my said Daughters Elizabeth and Abigail their Heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between them according to quantity and Quality
   17. ) Lastly I nominate & appoint my beloved Sons in Law Rowse Potter and Robert Potter Executors of this my Last will and Testament hereby revoking & and making null & void all former Wills by me heretofore made declaring this & no other to be my last Will & Testament.

Published Genealogical Information

1919

• Secondary Source, Robinson, The Gardiners of Narragansett ^[6] Data Extract:

1. ) Gardiner Genealogy; Page 2, 3: Nicholas Gardiner, son of George Gardiner and Herodias (Long) (Hicks), was born in 1654 and Married Hannah ____. He died in 1712.
2. ) Gardiner Genealogy; Page 19, 20: GEORGE GARDINER (46) was born near 1689 or considerably later. He married Susannah ____ in 1719(?) and died in 1787. Children:
   1. ) George Gardiner (207), was born July 25, 1720, and married, Feb. 10 (or April 22?), 1742, Sarah Boss, a daughter of Peter and Amey {Gardiner) Boss.
   2. ) Hannah Gardiner (208), was born May 27, 1723, and married. May 27, 1739, Caleb Westcott.
   3. ) Amey Gardiner (209), was born Aug. 15, 1725, and married, Dec. 10, 1741, Stephen Tefft.
   4. ) Mary Gardiner (210), was born in 1727, and married Jeffrey Champlin, Jr., a son of Jeffrey and Mary (Northup, a daughter of Henry) Champlin. Henry Northup was a brother of Abigail (Northup) Eldred, who married, as second husband, John Watson, Jr.
   5. ) Sarah Gardiner (211), was born in 1729, and married, June 8, 1761, Josiah Sheffield, of New Shoreham. He died Jan. 22, 1768. She married, second, Littlefield.
   6. ) Dorcas Gardiner (212), was born in 1730, and married Edward Perry, Jr.
   7. ) Nicholas Gardiner (213), was born in 1734, and married Hannah Champlin, a daughter of Stephen.
   8. ) Ezekiel Gardiner (214), was born in 1734, and married Sarah .
   9. ) Abigail Gardiner (215), was born in 1736, and married Robert Potter.
   10. ) Elizabeth Gardiner (216), was born in 1738, and married Rouse Potter.
   11. ) Note. These children are all mentioned in George Gardiner's will.
3. ) Gardiner Genealogy; Page 204: Map of the land of the sons of George Gardiner.

Research Notes

1. ) 2023-11-25: The subject of this profile is Robert Potter Jr., who was born on 6 March 1732 in what was then South Kingstown, Kings County, Rhode Island (now Washington County). He is not to be confused with the Robert Potter (1748-aft.1830) of Richmond, RI, who was born on 9 May 1748 in Richmond, Kings County, Rhode Island (now Washington County). It is important to understand that several men named Robert Potter lived in Rhode Island during the 18th Century. Two of these Robert Potters, in particular, have been conflated. All efforts to identify their life events and relationships must begin with the understanding that, despite sometimes tantalizingly believable interpretations, there is a limit to what is known about these two men. James DiRisio has written an excellent study collecting and analyzing the available source information to de-entangle the two identities. Access to his original paper is available at FamilySearch as noted in the source citation. ^[7]
2. ) 2021-07-22: Adjusted this profile to conform to the data in Torrey's book of marriages which affirms Abigail Robinson indeed married Robert Potter Jr.; therefore his father was named Robert Potter, NOT William Potter (1714-bef.1801) as had been previously linked in this wikitree profile. Refer to Robert Potter (1748-aft.1830), son of William Potter (1714-bef.1801), for a biography of this alternate Robert Potter identity.
3. ) The following definitions and syntax conventions apply to the preceding text of this profile:
   1. ) A Primary Source contains data that was recorded by the person in the profile; or by someone known to or with first hand knowledge of that person, during the person's lifetime, death or within two generations thereafter.
   2. ) A Secondary Source is a genealogical reference created as the result of a extensive study of available source material and it provides some evidence of the source documentation used to generate the text data.
   3. ) A Tertiary Source is a genealogical data source which is a collection of genealogical information that does not cite Primary or Secondary information sources, and the data may be factual or hearsay.
   4. ) Braces {Editorial Note Example} are used to insert editorial comments; that is to say, information or clarification that is not contained in the original, cited source material.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Rhode Island Town Births Index, 1639-1932; database, FamilySearch (Rev date: 4 November 2020), Robert Jr. Potter, 1769.
2. ↑ Charles E. Potter, Genealogies of the Potter Families and their Descendants in America; Alfred Mudge & Sons Printers, 24 Franklin St., Boston; 1888.
3. ↑ Rhode Island Births and Christenings, 1600-1914; database, FamilySearch (Rev date: 17 December 2019), Robert Potter, 1732.
4. ↑ Arnold, James N., Editor of the Narragansett Historical Register, Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, Providence, RI., Narragansett HIstorical Publishing Co., 1894. Twenty one Volume set of Early Rhode Island Vital records compiled by from James Arnold. Available at:

   1. ) Archive.org--free: Vital Record of Rhode Island. 1636-1850, Volume 5. Washington County--Title page Archive.org
   2. ) Ancestry.com--fee required Title page at Ancestry
   3. ) Arnold Vital Records at FamilySearch.

5. ↑ Gardiner, George;Town Council and Probate Records; No. 6. 1772-1800; South Kingstown, RI; Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [Ancestry.com database online], image 110-111, Book 6, pages 176-177. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Ancestry.com RI probate search page. Free Ancestry.com image.
6. ↑ Robinson, Caroline E. The Gardiners of Narragansett: being a genealogy of the descendants of George Gardiner, the colonist, 1638 (Providence, Rhode Island, 1919), Robinson, pp. 6, 7. The Gardiners of Narragansett -- Title Page
7. ↑ James M. DiRisio; Potter, Robert Conflation Explanation. Web published on FamilySearch site, 10 Oct 2023.

Other Sources

The following section provides a listing of source material that is pertinent to the profile subject, but not presently cited in the narrative text of the profile.

Web based Genealogies

• FamilySearch profile for Robert Potter Jr.