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CHAPTER II.
The Potts of the Virginia Settlement.
Sketch of Doctor John Pott.
Of the early life of Dr. John Pott, who with his wife Elizabeth came to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1620, very little information has been discovered. He had a plantation on the site of present city of Williamsburg which he called "Harrop," and which he may have so named in honor of his ancestral home. Harrop in Cheshire was the place of residence of some of the Potts at that period. One Law,,Lawrence Pott of Harrop died in 15 73, leaving a will. (2) Francis Pott of Pott, who died in 1638, mentions in his will a John Pott of Harrop, who owed him L20. (3) This appropriation of the name " Harrop " by Dr. Pott suggests that he may have been of the Cheshire family.
He is said to have taken his degree of A. M., at Oxford 1605. He was recommended as physician to the London Company by the eminent Dr. Theodore Gulston, the founder of the Gulstonian Lectureship of the London College of Physicians. In the minutes of the Virginia Company of July 16, 1621, is the following entry,
For so much as the Phisicons place to the Company was now become voyde by reason of the untimely death of Dr. Bohune, slaine in the fight with two Spanish Shipps of Warr the 19th of March last, Dr. Gulstone did now take occasion to recommend unto the Company for the said place one Mr. Potts, a Mr of Arts, well practised in Chirurgerie and Physique, and expert also in distillinge of waters.
(1) - NOTE In preparing this Chapter the writer has drawn very liberally from the "Virginia Carolorum," by Rev. Edward D. Neill; the "Virginia Magazine of' History and Biography," etc.
(2) - Seepage 18, ante.
(3) - See page 21, ante.
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The following is the Muster OF DOCTOR JOHN POTT.
Muster of Doctor John Pott, James City
Doctor John Pott, - arrived in the George
M's Elizabeth Pott, - arrived in the George
Servants
Richard Townshend, aged 19, - In the Abigaile, 1620
Thomas Wilson, aged 27, - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Osmond Smith, aged 17, - In the Bona Nova, 1620
Susan Blackwood, maide servant, - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Men in the Marine.
Thomas Leister, aged 33 yeares. - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Roger Stanley, aged 27 yeares - In the Abigaile, 1620
Thomas Prichard, aged 28, yeares - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Henry Crocker, aged 34, yeares - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Thomas Crosse, aged 22, yeares - In the Abigaile, 1620
John Tyre, aged 20, yeares - In the Abigaile, 1620.
Randall Holt, aged 18, in the George, 1620.
1625 Dr. Pott was commissioned a member of the Council, in which office he continued a number of years. In 1628 he was chosen Governor, and held the position until the early part of 1630, when he was superceded by Sir John Harvey. Dr. Pott is described as an educated physician, careless in business, fond of good living and jovial companions. George Sandys, some time Colonial Treasurer, a scholar and gossipy writer, in a letter to Samuel Wrote, Esq., of London, written April 9, 16.23, alluding to Dr. Pott, says:
I have given from time to time the best councell I am able, at the first, he kept companie too much with his inferiours, who hung upon him, while his good liquor lasted. After, he consorted with Captaine Whitacres, a man of no good example, with whom he is gone to Kicotan, yet wheresoever he bee, he shall not bee without reach of my care, nor want for any thing that I or my credit can procure him.
Thomas Warnet, who had been the principal merchant of Jamestown died in February 1629-30. Among the many legacies named in his will is one to Dr. John Pott, acting
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Governor, 5000 pounds of nails," which were of great value to one starting a plantation; and to Elizabeth Pott, the Doctor's wife, ''one corfe and one cross cloth of wrought gold."
Governor Harvey was very arrogant and arbitrary in his course, and engendered no little opposition and became very unpopular. Soon after his ascendency he charged his predecessor, Dr. Pott, with misdemeanor in office and also with keeping some cattle which did not belong to him, though the records seem to indicate that he claimed them as his own. Harvey ordered the arrest of Pott, who was then at his plantation called Harrop, seven miles from Jamestown He appeared before the General Court on the 7th of July 1630, and before a jury of thirteen was tried for cattle stealing. The first day was occupied in pleading, and Kingswell, an old planter, testified adversely. The next day Dr. Pott declared that the witness was unreliable and hypocritical, and told the story, of Guzman of Alfrach the rogue. Reference was had to the hero of a Spanish romance by Mateo Alemon of Seville, called " Guzman de Alfrache the Rogue." *
The jury found a verdict of guilty, but judgment was withheld in consideration of his " quality and practice," until the King's pleasure could be known. The Governor reported to the King, stating that Dr. Pott " was the only physician in the Colony skilled in epidemical diseases." and suggested that his estate be restored, in view of his long residence, and the value of his services.
Elizabeth Pott, the Doctor's wife, impelled by affection, made a dangerous voyage to England, reaching London in September, after an absence of ten years, and pleaded for her husband. The case was referred to commissioners who
* NOTE. The hero of the romance begins his career as a scullion in Madrid then becomes an errand boy, steals and hides himself in Toledo, when he acts the gentleman, then returns to Madrid and cheats his creditors.
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that the condemning of Doctor Pott " for felony was very rigorous, if not erroneous," and recommended his pardon which was promptly granted.
In the abstracts of the Virginia land patents John Pott, Esq., Dr of Physic, of the Council," is granted three acres near his dwelling house in James City in 1624. In the Virginia Land Registry Office, Book I, folio 6 1, is the record of the grant of of twelve acres to Dr. John Pott, September 20, 1628. He appears to have died without issue, as in the Land Books of 1642, there a is mention of 5oo acres of land bought by Richard Brewster from Captain Francis Pott, "brother and heir Dr. John Pott.''
Sketch of Captain Francis Pott.
Captain Francis Pott, a brother of Dr. John Pott, soon followed him to the Virginia Settlement, and was for some time the Commander at Old Point Comfort. In 1729-30, Thomas Warnet, the merchant before referred to, by his will, bequeathed to Captain Francis Pott " a debt of eighty pounds of tobacco." By reason of his want of sympathy with the unpopular Governor Harvey, he was removed from the command of the Fort at Point Comfort early in 1635.
On April 28th, 1635. Gov. Harvey caused the arrest of Franceis Pott and others, who were brought to Jamestown in irons; Capt. Pott being charged with addressing an assembly at York when he severely criticised the course of the Governor. When brought before the Council, Pott produced a paper recounting the grievances of the Colony, which he had sent on to York. The result was that the breach between the Governor and the Council became wider, the Governor was deposed, and the statement of grievances the King's Commissioners for Virginia in England.
In the same ship with Harvey, also sailed Captain Pott
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and Thomas Harwood, representing the Assembly to present their complaints and their reasons for sending the Governor home. Upon the arrival of the ship at Plymouth on July 14th, Sir John Harvey, the Virginia Governor, made complaint to the Mayor of "a late mutiny and rebellion in the Colony," when Pott and Harwood, the representatives of the people, were arrested and kept close prisoners in the Fleet, Pott being charged as the principal author and actor,
The popular sovereignty exercised by the Virginians found no favor with the King Charles 1. It was not until December 11th, that the case of Harvey was formally discussed by the King and Privy Council. After the letter of the Virginia Councillors and Burgesses had been read, the
King thought it was necessary to send Harvey back, even if he should remain but a day, that it was "an assumption of regal power to send hither the Governor." It is not clear when Captain Pott returned to Virginia.
Francis Pott was heir to his brother Dr. John Pott, and in 1642 there is mention of 500 acres of land bought by Richard Brewster from Captain Francis Pott, heir and brother of Dr. John Pott. In 1646 Captain Pott was in England, as in a letter dated March 26th of that year, at London, and recorded in Northampton County, Virginia, he tells his nephew John Pott, that he had been disappointed in collecting money promised him by Mr. Nuthall; that my cozen Menefie had paid L116 Sterling to me, " and his nephew is to satisfy the debt out of any of his [Francis Pott's] property, except his Negroes; that he may expect from him more ample directions by the next shipping. In a postscript he says he received L4 more from Mrs. Mary Menefie.
In 1647 Francis Pott and his nephew John Pott had a plantation at Magothy Bay. On February 15th and 24th,
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1653, Francis Pott had grants of 2000 and 1500 of land respectively in Northampton County.(1)
A Francis Pott, possibly the same, was Sheriff of Accomac County in 1654. He was a justice of the Peace for Northampton County in 1656. He died in 1658, leaving his property to his nephew John Pott; kinsmen Henry Perry and wife; godson Argoll Yardley; (2) godson Bishop," on the
other side of the bay; "my countryman John Allen." Also to his [testator's] sisters, L10 Sterling each. Susanna his widow, married William Kendall within a year or two after Captain Pott's death.
Sketch of John Pott, Junior.
John Pott, Jr., a nephew of Dr. John and Capt. Francis Pott, is several times mentioned. He was associated with his Uncle Francis Pott in business transactions, and was one of the legatees to his estate. In 1647 he and his Uncle Francis had a plantation at Magothy Bay. In 165 1 he was a signer among the people of Northampton County. He probably removed to Maryland, as there is a power-of-attorney, dated October 1, 1660, from John Pott, of Pautuxent, Maryland, to John Severne, of Accomac, recorded in Northampton County, Virginia.
(1) See Book 3, pages 48, 49. Virginia Land Registry Office.
(2) NOTE: Argall Yardley was the eldest son of Sir George and Lady Temperance Yardley, who came to Virginia about 1608 or 9. Sir George Yardley was sometime Governor of Virginia.