Potts family papers
Collection 0520
1683-1891, undated; bulk 1851-1880(2.2 Linear feet ; 6 boxes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- James, Isabella (Batchelder) "Mrs. T. P. James", 1819-
- Creator
- Potts family.
- Title
- Potts family papers
- ID
- 0520
- Date
- 1683-1891, undated; bulk 1851-1880
- Extent
- 2.2 Linear feet ; 6 boxes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Randi M. Kamine.
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- The Potts family papers includes the correspondence of Mrs. Thomas (Isabella) Potts James regarding the writing of her book: Thomas Potts, Junior, Who Settled in Pennsylvania, With a Historical-Genealogical Account of his Descendants to the Eighth Generation (1874). Thomas Potts, an ancestor of Isabella Potts James, was the founder of Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Documents in the trace the family genealogically. There is little Information on the particulars of the founding of Pottstown, however, these items provide insights into the general history of the area. Some documents include information on the foundries and mines owned and operated by the Potts family.
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Potts family papers (Collection 520), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Background note
Thomas Potts came to America in December 1677 on the ship Shield, which sailed from Stockton England to Burlington, New Jersey. He came with his wife and children. Many of the passengers of the ship belonged to the Society of Friends (Quakers), of which the Potts family were members. John Potts, the oldest son of Thomas (born 1735) purchased 995 acres of land in Pennsylvania, about 60 miles from Philadelphia. Pottstown was founded in 1732. The Potts family established an iron forge in the town and became leading figures in the area.
Scope and content note
Many of the documents are replies to letters that Mrs. Thomas (Isabella) Potts James (b.1819) wrote in gathering information for her book, Memorial of Thomas Potts, Junior, who settled in Pennsylvania; with a Historic-genealogical Account of his Descendents to the Eighth Generation (1874). Some letters give information about the lives of prominent Potts family members. Other documents are segments with little information on where the documents came from. Most of the genealogy correspondence expresses appreciation for James’s efforts.
James was planning to write an historical sketch of the iron industry of New England. This project was abandoned because the patrons of this work, The American Iron and Steel Association, could not support it due to the Panic of 1873.
Letters will be of interests to genealogists. It is informative to see how much work, and how much correspondence, went into the production of James’ book. James’ system of gathering information from whomever she could find it shows her persistence and personality.
Aside from letters giving genealogy information, there are others with tidbits that give interesting insights into the times and culture. For example, here is a quote from a fragment of a letter (probably written in 1790) that tells of the intolerance toward Quakers (and the priority of this husband):
Returning from one of his frequent visits to Phila, he found his wife horse tied to a tree in front of this meeting house and dismounting from his own, he wrote upon the saddle the following: ‘Your walls are thick and your people are thin. The Devil’s without and Grace is within’. (Box 1 Miscellaneous.)
Despite the Potts Quaker pedigree, the family owned slaves, as indicated by wills in the collection. Also included is a letter written in 1776 announcing the arrest and banishment of several Pembertons, Henry Drinker, and other Quakers for their anti-Revolutionary War stance.
The collection includes a significant number of accounting and billing documents, and business correspondence. John Potts (1710-1768), eldest son of Thomas Potts, was a successful iron-master. Many of the accounting documents concern the foundries, mines and forges owned by John Potts. Researchers interested in the history of mining in the Eastern United States would find these of interest.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2022.
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Access restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gift of Mary I. Gozzaldi.
Controlled Access Headings
Geographic Name(s)
- Pottstown (Pa.)--History--18th century.
- Pottstown (Pa.)--History--19th century.
- Pottstown (Pa.)--History.
Personal Name(s)
- Potts, Thomas, Jr.
Subject(s)
- Genealogical correspondence.
- Genealogy & local history.
- Genealogy--Potts family.
- Genealogy.
- Memorials.
- Pennsylvania--Genealogy.
- Pottstown (Pa.)
- Pottstown (Pa.)--Genealogy.
Bibliography
James, Mrs. Thomas Potts. Memorial of Thomas Potts, Junior: Who Settled in Pensylvania…, Privately Printed (1874).
Pottstown Historical Society. https://phspa.org
J.T Rothrock, "Biographical Sketch of Thomas Potts James." Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, (Vol. 20, No. iii), 1882, p. 293-297.
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Genealogy correspondence, other correspondence, miscellaneous 1868-1888, undated Box inventory
|
1 | 1-9 | ||
|
|
||||
|
Genealogies, correspondence, ephemera, articles, draft of Memorial of Thomas Potts, miscellaneous 1826-1880, undated Box inventory
|
2 | 1-5 | ||
|
|
||||
|
Accounts, business papers, legal papers, miscellaneous 1691-1891, undated Box inventory
|
3 | 1-7 | ||
|
|
||||
|
Account ledgers, receipts 1731-1850, undated Box inventory
|
4 | 1-4 | ||
|
|
||||
|
Potts family letters, miscellaneous 1777-1884, undated Box inventory
|
5 | 1-5 | ||
|
|
||||
| Box | ||||
|
Signature blocks and other stamps undated |
6 | |||
|
|
||||