My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM W. POTTS was born at Swedeland, where he now resides, December 1, 1838, being the youngest son of Robert T. and Eliza M. (Hitner) Potts.

Robert T. Potts (father) was born on his father’s farm in Plymouth township, January 11, 1790. After leaving school he worked in the store of Harman Yerkes at Harmanville for a time. He soon went to Philadelphia and entered the employ of Isaac Lawrence, whose partner in business he afterwards became. The firm carried on a large dry-goods business and after the death of Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Potts associated himself with Mr. Reynolds and later Mr. McFarland, the firm name becoming Potts, Reynolds & Co. In 1840 Mr. Potts retired from the business and removed to a farm of one hundred acres in Swedeland, where he lived until his death. In politics he was an active Whig and was a candi date for congress at one time.

In 1828 Robert T. Potts married Mrs. Elizabeth McCalla Weaver, daughter of Daniel Hitner of Marble Hall, and widow of William Weaver. She had two sons by her first marriage: Abraham and William Weaver. Her grandfather, Daniel Hitner, was a soldier of the Revolution and was killed at the battle of Germantown. Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Potts had five children, as follows: Henry Clay, who died in 1851; Ellen E., widow of Robert Lewis Rutter, of Philadelphia; Ellery Channing, who married Caroline E., daughter of Abraham R. and Caroline E. Cox, of Norristown; Martha T., who married Dr. Charles Shafer, of Philadelphia, and died March 13, 1878; and William W.

Robert T. Potts died December 13, 1873, at Swedeland, at the age of eighty-four. His wife died in 1851, at the age of fifty-nine.

Zebulon Potts (grandfather) was born on the old homestead near Plymouth Meeting House in Plymouth township and afterwards engaged in farming in the same township. He was the first sheriff of Montgomery county after its organization and was state senator. He died while he was serving his second term in this office. He was a firm member of the Society of Friends but was disowned by the Society on account of his having entered the Revolutionary Army. He took part in the battle of Brandywine and other historic struggles and was a member of the committee of safety with Robert Morris and others. A price was set on his head by the British government. He served as justice of a court in Philadelphia.

In 1771 Zebulon Potts married Martha Trotter of Philadelphia, and they had ten children, as follows: Ann, Joseph, Esther, Hannah, Alice, Ester, Martha, William, Robert T. and Daniel.

Nathan Potts (great-grandfather) was born and reared at Bristol. He later settled near Plymouth Meeting House in Plymouth township, and followed his trade of blacksmithing in connection with farming. He was a member of the Society of Friends. In 1736 Nathan Potts married Esther Rhodes and they had six children: Daniel, Stephen, Nathan, Alice, Zebulon and Isaiah.

David Potts (great-great-grandfather) came to America from Bristol, England, with Markham, and settled at Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was a young man at the time of his immigration. In religion he was a member of the Society of Friends and by occupation a farmer. He married Alice Crosdale in 1693. She came to America in the ship “Welcome” with William Penn.

William W. Potts attended the public schools at Swedeland and in 1851 entered Haverford College and in 1854 entered the Pennsylvania State College at Bellefonte. On completing his education he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, in April, 1861. After his return from the war he resumed his agricultural pursuits at Swedeland where he has lived ever since. In politics Mr. Potts is a Republican and served as a school director for some time, being treasurer of the board part of the time. He has been a member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons, since 1865; a member of Zook Post, No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic, Norristown; and a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

November 9, 1870, William W. Potts married Ella H., daughter of Dr. George W. and Abby Holstein, of Bridgeport. They have five children: Brita H., Helen R., Carrie, Abbie (deceased), and Ella.

William W. Potts enlisted April 20, 1861, as a private in Company K, commanded by Captain Walter H. Cooke, Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel, afterwards Major General John Hartranft. They were mustered into service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and were supplied with arms and knapsacks but no uniforms. They started at once for Perryville, Maryland, where they encamped, and while learning the drill did duty in keeping the line open between Philadelphia and Washington. From Perryville they were sent to Annapolis, Maryland, where they remained for some time. They next went to Washington and from there to Alexandria, where they remained until their time expired. While at Alexandria their line was attacked and the skirmish which resulted was one of the first of the war.

As their time expired just before the battle of Bull Run they were requested to stay until after the battle. A vote was taken and Mr. Potts was one of those who voted that they should stay. He was discharged at Harrisburg, July 26, 1861, by reason of the expiration of his term.

After remaining at home for a few months he enlisted again as second lieutenant in a company raised in Delaware county. They went to Harrisburg but as the company was not accepted he and his men enlisted in Company F., commanded by Captain Frank Crosbey of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. The company was raised in Chester and Delaware counties and nearly half of its men were members of the Society of Friends. As the officers of the company had all been chosen when he entered it, he was again a private. Later he was made corporal and afterwards sergeant. Being the only one in the company who had seen service he acted as drillmaster until he was wounded. From Harrisburg his company was sent to Washington and camped at Arlington Heights, Fort Albany, where they remained until the Antietam campaign, when as a part of Crawford’s First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps, then commanded by General Mansfield, September 7, 1862, he marched to Richville, Maryland, and on the 9th of the same month started in the Maryland campaign. On the evening of the 15th they had crossed South Mountain and had pursued the enemy to Antietam creek, when on the 17th, Mr. Potts was engaged in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil war. With William Dollar, one of his company, he was in advance of the line and received a gunshot wound in the right foot which ended his, active service. He was sent to Harrisburg where he placed himself in the hands of a private physician. He was mustered out of service February 10, 1863, at Harrisburg, by reason of wounds received in battle.

Mr. Potts has taken a very active part in the Patrons of Husbandry, laboring earnestly in behalf, of farming interests throughout the county and state. His grange connection was probably responsible for his entrance into politics. He became a candidate for the legislature in 1898 and made many speeches throughout the county in behalf of the legislative ticket but failed of election, only Messrs. Sexton and Fetterolf being elected on the Republican ticket that year. Mr. Potts has also taken an active interest in the work of the Montgomery County Historical Society, having been chairman of the committee which erected, the Lafayette monument at Barren Hill. He is a public-spirited man, and an earnest worker in everything calculated to benefit the community in which he lives. He is devoted to farming interests and stands high among the agriculturists of his own township and of the county.