David Potter (1760 - 1828)

Born 26 Jun 1760 in Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Vaughn) Potter — married 4 Dec 1785 in Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island, United States

Descendants

Died 13 May 1828 at age 67 in Cotton, Switzerland, Indiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Carolyn Adams [send private message], Tim Potter [send private message], and Richard Sheldon [send private message]

Biography

David Potter 1760–1838 is the son of John Potter 1718–1782 and Phoebe Arnold 1717–1789. David Potter married Elizabeth Vaughan (1762–1831)on 4 Dec 1785 in Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island. (1)

Son of John and Phebe. Retained the family farm in Coventry, RI, after his mother and siblings moved to Vermont, per deeds of Coventry.

A descendant, Ruby Potter Valantine, has written of his life:

"We only have record of four sons born to John and Phebe, but there might have been others. One son David was born in Coventry, June 26th, 1760 [and] was our direct ancestor.

When David was only sixteen years old, he was for a time in Saybrook, Connecticut where he enlisted February 1st 17(7)6 for ten month to serve under Captain John Ely's Company of the State Troops in the Revolutionary War. He helped for six months in building Fort Trunbull [Sp?, Fort Trumbull is in New London, Connecticut; which is very close to Saybrook, Connecticut]. Later they marched to White Plains [New York?] and were in battle there, and from there retreated to North Castle. He was discharged December 1st, 1776. In 1777, he was drafted from Coventry to serve for one month. Several times later, he was drafted to serve a month or two at a time, he was in the battle of Rhode Island, also in Butts' Hill. In 1779 he was in Brooklyn, Windham County , Connecticut, and from here he enlisted as a paid substitute for a Doctor Baker for three months. Returning from his war services, he resided in Coventry for five or six years. He married Elizabeth Vaughn in 1785. We have the Vaughn's allied families back to the time when they came to New England. Some have been extended into England. The Sweets, Jeffreys and Periams which we have to 1400 or earlier. The mother of Elizabeth Vaughn, was Catherine Godfrey. Through her line, we have a line of Godfrey's and a very long pedigree line of Scotts and allied lines. ....

Many of them had the urge to migrate so that many went to Vermont, New York, and states farther west. Phebe, when her husband John died, went into Vermont with her son John and disposed of her property back in Coventry. It seems probable that David and Elizabeth also went into Vermont before going to New York. Before leaving Coventry, David deeded his homestead farm of one hundred sixty acres to Job Lawton on February 24th, 1791. Dower released by Elizabeth, his wife.

They first settled in Pittstown, Renssalear County, New York. They resided here from 1791 until 1802. Here the following children were born: Cathrine, Benjamin Franklin, John, Martin Willis Amasa, David Jr., and Jemima. The family next moved to Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York and lived there for thirty years. The following children were born there: Polly, Margaret, Erastas, Arnold, and Elizabeth. David's wife, Elizabeth died here February 5th, 1831. Mr. Hunnell saw her headstone used as part of a fence at a farm there. After Elizabeth died, David went to Cotton Township, Switzerland county, Indiana to be with his son Martin. He died there May 13th, 1828."

I note that it is written as though the wife died earlier and in NY, while the husband died later in Indiana. It could be the dates were reversed or there is some error in them.

David was born about 1760. He was the son of John Potter and Phebe Arnold. He passed away about 1838. ^[1]

David Potter 1760-1838 is a veteran of the Revolutionary War serving in Connecticut and Rhode Island. His Card Number is S141841.

David Potter 1760-1838 is the son of John Potter 1716–1782 and Phebe Arnold 1717–1789.

David Potter 1760-1838 married Elizabeth Vaughn 1762–1831 on 4 Dec 1785 at Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island, United States. Their 13 children are: Catherine Potter Richmond born 1786–.

John Potter 1786–1817.

Benjamin Franklin Potter 1787–1859.

Martin Potter 1790–1862.

Willis Potter 1791–1872.

David Potter 1793–1851.

Jemima Potter 1794–1851.

Polly Potter born 1795–.

Pheobe Potter Humphrey 1797–1880.

Margaret Potter 1798–1883.

Erastus Potter 1800–1872.

Arnold Potter 1804–1872.

Elizabeth Potter 1807–1884.

"They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Pittstown, Rensselaer, New York, United States in 1800 and Rensselaer, New York, United States in 1810. He registered for military service in 1776. He died on 13 May 1838, in Vevay, Switzerland, Indiana, United States, at the age of 77." (2)

"The Potter family history 08 Mar 2014 by Ronald Miller Posted. The Potter family come from England in 1638 to Rhode Island and stayed there until the Rev War.and then moved to upstate New York. David Potter In The Revolutionary War David Potter joined the Continental Army, went AWOL and hid out in North Carver, Massachusetts with a young school teacher named Deborah Sampson. She shamed him into returning to the battle and then joined him disguising herself as a man. A book (America's First Women Warrior, by Lucy Freeman) tells her story. After the war, David married Elizabeth Vaughn of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She was related to the Richmond family. They and William Richmond family moved to Salisbury, New York. In 1916 five of the William Richmond's children moved their families to Swizerland County Indiana where they started extensive clans. With them were two of David Potter's children - Benjamin Franklin who was married to Annis Richmond and Catherine who was married to George Richmond. The other Richmond siblings were - Rachel, Lawton, John and Orrin. Most are buried in Bovard Cemetery or Allensville Cemetery in Switzerland County Indiana. The Richmonds settled in Allensville and the Potters in East Enterprise. The two towns are only a few miles apart. In New York the Richmonds lived in Fairfield which is like-wise just down the road from Salisbury. The Potter and Richmond families were so closely interconnected that you can not study one without the other." (2)

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Richard Sheldon Sr.

1. David Potter, Ancestrylibrary.com. [1]

2. U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 for David Potter, Rhode Island 1st Regiment, 1777-1780. [2]

• Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island Deed Book 7 pg 357, dated 28 Nov 1783

• The History of Arnold Potter; Written by Ruby Potter Valantine · 16 March 2014 ·https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/5882018

1. David Potter, Ancestrylibrary.com. [3]

2. David Potter, Familysearch.org. [4]

David Potter, Ancestrylibrary.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. Page 604 of 1295.