Thomas and Celia (Jackson) Potter

by Linda Sparks Starr FEB 2001 with lots of assistance from Marc Doty and others.

Thomas born 1793 in Franklin, Co. Virginia.

According to the 1850 Buchanan Co. MO census, Thomas was 57 (thus born 1793) in Virginia. He is 67 on the 1860 Buchanan Co. census and 77 on the 1870 Jefferson Co. KS census -- each showing his birth in VA. Records for his father makes his birthplace more specific -- Franklin Co. VA.

War of 1812:

Lincoln Co. KY Deed Bk H, p. 36, NOV 1814 -- Jesse Potter, Thomas Potter and four others appoint an atty to reclaim money for horses killed in the Battle of Moraviantown on the river Thames in upper Canada Oct. 5, 1813. [Actually it was the Battle of the Thames east of Fort Detroit, lead by William Henry Harrison against Indians led by Tecumseh and the British.] The army was made up the 27th US Infantry, five brigades of KY Volunteers and a regiment of mounted KY riflemen.

From ancestry.com War of 1812 Muster Rolls -- two Thomas Potters in KY: one in Johnson's Rgmt of MountedKY Volunteers and the other in 2nd Rgmt Jennings' KY Vols; both were privates, info located in Roll Box 167/roll 602. Johnson's Rgmt is probably ours since he lost a horse. Could they both be ours?

per _Kentucky Soldiers of the War of 1812_, there are several references to Thomas Potter: Wm Spratt's Co., 2nd Rgmt Ky Militia included privates David, Logan, Stephen Atkinson, John Boulton, Robert Hudgens, Jesse Lawrence, Thomas POTTER, Edward Shackleford -- mustered in 1 SEP and mustered out 1 OCT 1812.

Capt. Ambrose Arthur's Co. of Infantry of the Ky Militia, detached -- Thomas Potter 3-20-1813 to 9-20-1813.

Roll call James Davidson Co. Ky Mounted Infantry: Thomas Potter, Lemuel Potter, Edward Shackleford, James Feland -- enlisted 15 AUG 1813 to 19 NOV 1813. This one covers the time period for the Battle of the Thames. Note: Jesse and Thomas Potter applied for claims for horses killed; but here it says Lemuel Potter. Jesse mentions a land warrant for his service in his will; however, Marc didn't find one for *a* Jesse when searching the above records.

Married Celia JACKSON 17 JAN 1816 Lincoln Co. KY

A marriage license for Thomas Potter and Cely Jackson was issued by Thomas Helm, Clerk of Lincoln Co. Court, 17 JAN 1816. A separate security bond was signed that same day by Thomas and James FELAND for $50 to insure there was no legal cause to obstruct the proposed marriage. Both the bond and license are clearly dated 17 JAN, but the minister's statement clearly reads "January 10th" with 1816 less distinct. The reverse side of the folded-into-three-parts bond reads: "Thos Potters License 1816". Written along the side of one fold: January 10th, 1816 -- This man Joined in Matramony (sic) Thomas Potter and Cely Jackson. [?___] ... John Bailey.

Celia born 'summer' 1793 in Lincoln Co. Kentucky

The 1850 Buchanan Co. MO census shows her as 57 born in KY. However the 1860 Buchanan Co. MO census shows her as 66, but again born in KY. In 1850, the census taker made his rounds the 30th day of SEP. The 1860 census was taken 7 JUN -- thus we can project Celia's birth as 'summer' of 1793 in Lincoln Co. KY, where her parents are documented in this timeframe.

Celia (variously shown as Sally and Celice), daughter of Ephraim JACKSON.

Ephraim's Lincoln Co. KY will, located Will Book M, p. 82, and dated 1 JUN 1829, names his daughters, including Celia Potter, and later includes this statement which leaves no doubt as to her husband: "Item 7th It is further my will that no part of the property given to my Daughter Celia Potter shall ever go to pay the Debt her husband Thomas Potter has or may hereafter contract."

1810 Lincoln Co. KY Census. (head of household is only one named)

Four POTTER households are shown. Of these, Thomas Potter (aged between 26-45) is NOT "our" Thomas b.1793. Neither this Thomas nor Benjamin Sr. (aged over 45) have males in their households the right age to be our Thomas. That leaves Moses Potter (aged 26-45), with two males aged 16-26 and Benjamin Potter Jr. (aged 26-45) with one male in the 16-26 age category as possible fathers for Thomas b. 1793.

Thomas, son of Moses POTTER.

The above Moses is found in Jefferson Co. KY by 1820 census; Thomas is there by 1832. Moses names son Thomas in his Jefferson Co. KY will proved 6 MAR 1848; then Moses' son Jesse mentions his niece, Nancy Potter "of Buchanan Co. MO" in his will dated 17 MAR 1851. Thomas was living in Buchanan Co. with his daughter Nancy at the time. Additionally Thomas and Celia named a son Moses and a daughter Frances (Moses' wife); they didn't name a son "Benjamin".

1817 land purchase and ATKINSON connection

Thomas purchased Joel ATKINSON's estate at auction 14 JAN 1817 for $2,714. [Lincoln Co. KY Deed Book K, p. 4] Of notable interest, Moses Potter was chosen guardian by Joel's minor son, Stephen. [Lincoln Co. Order Book 6, p. 488, 19 DEC 1808.] This same Joel Atkinson was one of the appraisers of the estate of Joseph JACKSON, Celia (Jackson) Potter's grandfather. [Lincoln Co. Order Book 5, p. 132, 10 OCT 1797.] Two of Joel Atkinson's widowed daughters marry POTTERs as 2nd husbands. One or possibly both are brothers of Thomas.

1819 land sell

Thomas & Celia sold ½ of their Atkinson estate property 13 MAR 1819. [Lincoln Co. Deed Bk I, p. 230] to Joseph Wallace.

1820 Lincoln Co. Census

The 1820 Lincoln Co. census has two households headed by 'a' Thomas Potter, and both Thomas' fall within the age group '26-45'. The one consistent with a first marriage in 1816 is the one located on page 13. Lemuel (aged 26-45 and married to a daughter of Joel Atkinson) is listed on the same page. This Thomas Potter household has 2 males under 10, 1 female under 10 and a male 26-45 and female 26-45. Based on subsequent census and other cited records, I position these first three children in this order: [I believe there is a possibility we have a set of twins here, but until something more specific is found, I give them separate birth years.]

1. William b. late1816/early 1817 Lincoln Co. KY. He m. Louisa BOWMAN 21

2. Nancy, named for her maternal grandmother, b. c1817. Per LDS records she

3. Joseph b. 4 APR 1819 Lincoln Co. KY d. 13 OCT 1912. He married Manerva WYLEY 4 MAR 1852 in Buchanan Co. MO per Buchanan Co. MO Marriage Records 1839-1855. There is a large entry for him, under Walnut Township of Atchison Co., in William Cutler's History of the State of Kansas. Joseph was probably named for his maternal gr-grandfather, Joseph Jackson. His children per Cutler: Celia, Frances, Thomas J., Phoebe A., Samuel L., Josephine, John J. [Death date from LDS records.]

1830 Lincoln Co. KY census

Celia POTTER, as head of household, is found on page 367 along with her father, Ephraim Jackson, Lemuel Potter and James Tinsley. [Tinsley is a given name in Jackson then Potter families; whether this James is a relative or just a close friend is yet undetermined.] Celia is listed as age '30 - 40' and her household includes 3 males under 5, 1 male 5-10; 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15 and herself. We think Thomas is in Jefferson Co. KY -- where they move a year or so later -- with their oldest two sons.

4. Frances b. c1821 Lincoln Co. KY m. Umphry FINCH 1 JUN 1842 in Buchanan Co. MO. In 1846 they were 'of Platte Co. MO' when they sold 160 acres in Nodaway Co. MO to Joseph Cox [per Past and Present of Nodaway County, Mo. vol. 1 by B. F. Brown & Co., IN 1910.] In 1870 they were living in Jefferson Co., KS, Oskaloosa township with children Nancy J., ? Jennia and Elizabeth. Proof she is daughter of Thomas & Celia comes with this 1870 census which shows her father Thomas and sister Nancy are living with them.

5. Ephraim b. c1823 [LDS shows born 1838] d. before 14 FEB 1847 [per LDS] or 'before 18 MAR 1848' per Buchanan Co. MO probate records. [Although the relationship between Thomas Potter, administrator of estate of Ephriam Potter with Joseph his security is not given, it is not unreasonable to assume Thomas is father and Joseph brother of the deceased. Ephraim's total estate of $53.70 plus one sow suggests he was a young, unmarried man saving for purchase of land. Ephraim's namesake is his maternal grandfather.

6. Moses b. 1 APR 1825 Lincoln Co. KY d. 13 FEB 1902, Potter KS. He married Mary WOMACK 14 JUN 1849 in Buchanan Co. MO. [per Brooks] Birth/ death dates from transcription of Old Young Cemetery, located near Pardee, in Atchison Co. KS. Mary J. b. 20 FEB 1835, d. 2 FEB 1918 is shown as wife of Moses Potter. Mary is the daughter Abraham Womack(h), believed to be son of Allen d.1846 Buchanan Co. MO. Moses is named for his paternal grandfather. Per various census records their children are: Thomas, Tinsley, Marcillious, Leona B, Neumersis, Martha, Bela, Malissa, Vienna, Mary F., Oscar and Flora.

7. Tinsley b. 15 OCT 1826 d. before 7 JAN 1904 per "The Potter Kansas and Leaf" transcribed by Marc Doty: "Tinsley Potter, aged 77 years, a brother of Joseph Potter, died at Effingham Tuesday. He located in Atchison County in 1854." [LDS shows death 14 MAR 1906 Effingham, Atchison Co. KS.] An internet genealogy has him married to Susannah Bohanan, but we've found nothing showing wife or children for him. He was named for his Uncle Tinsley Jackson.

8. Francis Marion b. 13 SEP 1828 Lincoln Co. KY per Cutler's History. He is not picked up by LDS unless he is the 'female' Francis Marion d. 19 MAR 1899 in Guthrie, Logan Co., OK Territory. Other family members were in OT in this timeframe. No wife or children are mentioned in the Cutler biography.

Move to Jefferson Co. KY

At least one son mentions in a Kansas biography the family's move to Jefferson Co. KY prior to the move to MO about 1838. The obituary of Andrew Jackson says he was born 'near' Louisville, which is the county seat. Additionally, tax records show Thomas was in Jefferson Co. by 1835. Therefore, based on the bios and obit, I position the following children as born in Jefferson Co. KY:

9/10 twins: Andrew Jackson b. 22 MAY 1832 "near Louisville, KY" per his obituary in the Billings or Perry, OK newspaper. He d. 15 FEB 1917 in Billings, Noble Co., per OK death certificate. He married Sarah WOMACH 6 FEB 1859 per Buchanan Co. MO marriage records. She was the daughter of Allen Womack(h) Jr., son of Allan Sr. d.1846. They had the following children: Georgia Ann, Alan Uyllis, Albert W. Henry, Mary Elizabeth "Lida", Martha Jane "Mattie", infant son, Betty and Oliver.

9/10. George Washington b. 22 MAY 1832 d. 28 OCT 1859 Buchanan Co. MO. Death date per his tombstone; birth date from his twin brother's. NW MO Gen. Society quarterly, v. 18, No. 2 OCT 1998, p. 32 quoting a local newspaper, NOV 1859 issue: "We learn that night before last, two farmers, Michael Bales and George Potter, both of this county, met in a drinking saloon in Dekalb and a fight occurred and George Potter was killed." We have no record of a marriage for him; but he is buried in the HURST plot of the Dekalb Cemetery, suggesting the possibility of his marriage.

11. James Henry b. 11 JUN 1834 Jefferson Co. KY. Cutler's History for birth date and place plus marriages and children. He 1st married Isabel BARNES MAR 1858 in Buchanan Co. MO; she died in 1859. They had a daughter, Beatrice. He married 2nd 14 FEB 1866 Ermina Frances COBB, also in Buchanan Co. Mo. They had a son, Jesse.

LDS lists a third daughter for Thomas and Celia -- Vienna Elizabeth b.1836; however, a female by this name, or even one in this age category, never appears in census records in their household.

1835 and 1836 Jefferson Co. KY Tax List

Thomas Potter is taxed as one white male over 21, having no land, but with a horse valued at $50. Three Potters are consecutive entries -- Moses (who owned 85 acres), Jesse and Thomas. There are entries for Thomas Potter in two tax books in 1836 -- neither owned land; one is listed in Book 4, as is Moses and Jesse; the other Thomas is shown on water courses which includes Floyds Fork, Fern Creek and Cedar Creek -- all creeks located near the area where Moses owned land.

Lafayette Co. Land Patent

Issued 7 SEP 1838 to Thomas Potter: Accession / Serial # 1210 ___ .134, Document # 8074, 40 acres: NWSE, Sec 27, Twnp 51 N, Range 25 W, 5th P.M.

1840 Lafayette Co. Missouri Census

Thomas, age 40-50, is listed near the household of Allen WAMACK (Sr.). Thomas' household included 3 males 5-10, 3 males 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 2 males 20-30, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30 and Celia (not named as such), aged 40-50.

1841 move to Buchanan Co. MO

The family moved from Lafayette Co. to Buchanan Co. in 1841, specifically to near the town of "Bloomington", later renamed DeKalb, MO. Thomas and Joseph appear on the 1842 tax list per vol. 16, No. 2, OCT 1996 NWMGS qtrly. Other Potters in the county include A. G. and Nathaniel. Relationship, if any, between the two groups is not known.

1845 Buchanan Co. deed

12 JAN Thomas and Celia sold 5 acres off the north side Lot 2, NW fractual quarter, Section 4, Township 55, Range 36 to John D. Clasby for $50.

Buchanan Co. Land Patent

Issued 1 JAN 1850 to Thomas Potter: Accession / Serial # MO4520 ___.498. W ½ 2 NE, Sec 4, Tnsp 55 N, Range 36 W, Fract. Sect Y, 5th PM zero acres. 2nd W ½ E NE, Sec 4, tnsp 55 N, Range 36 W, Fract Sect Y, 5th PM, 85.73 acres.

1850 Buchanan Co. Missouri Census

Thomas is Household #55 of Bloomington Township, age 57, farmer b. in VA. "Celice" is 57. Also living with them are: Nancy 30, Tinsley 25 male Laborer, Frances Marion 22 'female', [census taker erred for daughter Frances was married to Umphry Finch by this time.] George 18, Andrew 18, James H. 16. Everyone but Thomas was born in KY.

1855 Buchanan Co. deed

15 SEP. Final Settlement Thomas Potter against Teagues ... Thomas gained full title to 42 86/100 acres for $25. This was the east half Lot 3 of NE qtr Sec 5, twp 55, Range 36. [This transaction appears to be settlement of dispute among TEAGUE heirs, with Thomas only the unfortunate purchaser of land still tied up in an estate.]

Kansas

In 1857 some of the POTTER sons preempted land in Atchison Co., KS where the town of Potter is now located -- according to _Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Town, Prominent Persons, Etc._ Publ by Standard, Lawrence, KS

1860 Buchanan Co. Missouri Census

Allen WOMACK (Jr.) is Household #83 of Bloomington Township, and Thomas and "Sally" Potter is household #89. Thomas is shown as 67 and Sally as 66. With them are Nancy, 44, Marion F. "male" 29 and Henry 26.

 1861 Buchanan Co.

13 MAR Thomas & Celia sold two tracts to John S. Harmon for $2500. The first was W 1/2 Lot 2 and 3 of SE frac. qtr Sec 4 containing 85 73/100 acres and the second tract was 75 acres, south side Lot 2 of NW qtr, Sec 4, all in Township 55 and Range 36.

Celia's death

LDS shows Celia (Jackson) Potter as dying 12 JUN 1861 in Atchison Co., KS. She was alive March 13 when she signed the above deed. Her death prior to 1865 is corroborated by the 1865 Atchison Co. Kansas State Census which shows Thomas, age 70 b. VA living with only Nancy Potter, age 48 b. KY. Nearby are POTTER families headed by Joseph age 46 and Moses age 40.

Thomas' death

The last record we have of Thomas is the 1870 Jefferson Co., Kansas census, where he is residing in dwelling #262, but listed as household #278. Thomas is shown as 77 year old, white male farmer, born in VA, citizen of the U.S. With him is 53 year old Nancy, born KY who 'keeps house'. Also shown in their household is 21 year old farm laborer Charles Calhoun. Dwelling #262 is headed by Umphrie O. Finch, 49 year old farmer and his 50 year old wife Frances b. in KY. LDS gives Thomas' death date as 9 JUN 1871. We believe he and Celia are buried in the "Old Young Cemetery" near Potter in Atchison Co. KS; however, this can't be proven for all that's now readable on their stone is "Mother" and "Thomas". Members of the families of Moses Potter and Abraham Womach are also buried here.

TIDBITS:

_History of Atchison Co. KS_ by Sheffield Ingalls, Standard Publ Co, Lawrence, 1916 quoting grandson Oscar: Thomas J. Potter, father of Joseph b. 1819, traces his ancestry direct to a member of the colony founded at Jamestown, VA by Capt. John Smith in 1607. [This is the only mention that Thomas had a middle initial. Also, the surname in the Jamestown colony might be something other than Potter IF this oral tradition is even correct.]