Olney E. Potter

Notes:

DAR records show a first marriage for Olney, to Amy Gully, and a daughter Lucinda (no dates in the file). This needs more research to confirm.

There were several individuals named Olney Potter living at this time, but this one is unique in that he has the middle initial E.

POTTER Olney E., at Foster, aged 43 years, May 19, 1831.

His gravestone at Hopkins Mills Cemetery identifies him as son of William Potter (findagrave.com). I have placed him here as a son of William Potter & Mary Ellis, based solely on a DAR record. I have not found other evidence thus far to determine if he might belong to a different William. However, it is reasonable to place him here because Olney had a son named Pardon (see gravestone at Hopkins Mills), and the ancestry of his (assumed) father William goes back to Pardon Tillinghast.

I have not yet found a connection to the Olney family.

In the Federal Census of 1820, Olney E. Potter is in Foster, RI. Unfortunately, the census taker listed the heads of families roughly in alphabetical order (at least with all the Ps together) so it is impossible to see who was living next to whom. Other Potter heads of households listed are: John, William, Daniel, Benjamin, and Edmund.

Olney's household includes: 1 free wh male 26-44, 5 free wh females <10, 1 free wh female 16-25, 1 free wh female 26-44, total of 8. This implies two parents and 5 young girls, and one older girl/young woman.

In the Federal Census of 1830, Olney E. Potter is still in Foster. The household includes: 2 free wh males <5, 1 free wh male 5-9, 1 free wh male 15-19, 1 free wh male 40-49, 2 free wh females 5-9, 2 free wh females 10-14, 3 free wh females 15-19, 1 free wh female 30-29, total of 11.

William A. Potter is on the same page but not living nearby. He may be a brother or other relative.

In the Federal Census of 1810, Olney Potter (no middle initial) is living in Scituate, RI. He is next to Johnson Potter. Olney's household includes: 1 free wh male 10-15, 3 free wh males 16-25, 1 free wh female <10, 1 free wh female 10-15, 1 free wh female 16-25; total of 7. This appears to be a young couple ages 16-25, along with two other young adult males, and 1 teen boy and 1 teen girl, and 1 girl under 10. If Olney & Orra were married at this point, they would have been 21 and 17. This looks like an extended family group -- not sure if it's the correct Olney.

There's also an Olney Potter listed at Cranston in 1810; the household includes 1 free wh male 10-15, 1 free wh male 26-44, 1 free wh female 16-25; total 3.

Olney E. Potter and Hugh Cole witnessed the 21 Feb 1811 will of Joseph Ford of Foster, RI.

Olney E. Potter witnessed the 20 Feb 1812 will of Jacob Walker of Foster, RI.

Olney E. Potter is mentioned in the 11 Jan 1833 will of John Matteson of West Greenwich, physician (implies John may be Olney's son-in-law).

Olney married Orra Cole 22 Apr 1810. Orra (daughter of Hugh Cole and Dorothy "Dolly" Joslin) was born 12 Mar 1793, Foster, RI; died 10 Apr 1876; was buried , Cemetery FR45, Foster, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Possibly she is a sister of Matilda Potter who married Ambrose Whitford. Louisa's daughter Louisa P. Remington is buried with Ambrose and Matilda.

Louisa married John Remington Abt 1830. John (son of Thomas Remington, Jr. and Patience Matteson) was born Abt 28 Feb 1805, RI; died 20 Mar 1883, Coventry, RI; was buried , Pine Grove Cemetery, CY30, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In 1850 Cynthia Mathewson is living with her mother and other relatives in Cranston, RI.

Cynthia — John Matteson. John (son of Oliver Matteson and Mercy Manchester) was born Abt 1805; died 17 Mar 1833; was buried , Cemetery 30, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

According to the "History of Providence County," p. 621, ed. by Richard M. Bayles in 1891, Thomas was born in Coventry, but soon afterwards his parents moved to Scituate. He married Letitia White of Scituate, and they had three children.

In the 1880 Federal Census, the family is at Scituate, Providence, County, RI.

Thomas was elected to the Scituate Town Council in 1887 and 1889, serving as president for part of the time. During the Civil War he was in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery.

Around 1875 he started the Remington's Dairy, which was continuously managed by future generations for 94 years. Formerly he had been a cattle dealer. He would take the train to New York, buy horses and cows, then drive them home to Rhode Island, selling and trading some along the way. After starting the dairy business, he peddled milk by horse and wagon, and often by horse and sleigh in the winter months. (Information on the Remington's Dairy was obtained from several newspaper articles on file at the North Scituate Library.)

Thomas married Letitia White 20 Feb 1859, RI. Letitia (daughter of Thomas White and Eliza Unknown) was born 15 Dec 1839, RI; died 4 Sep 1899; was buried , Historical Cemetery 83, Scituate, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From the data in the RI Cemetery Database, it appears that Stephen died in infancy. However, he is listed as age 13 in the 1850 census.

Stephen married Etta H. Bell 15 Dec 1870, Manhattan, New York, NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1880 Federal Census, the family -- including the five oldest children -- is residing at Coventry, RI. His brother William is also in the household.

In 1885 the family is in the RI State Census at Lincoln.

The RI Cemetery Database has Albert's name as Robert in the records of their son John A. Remington, but correctly notes that John's parents are buried at Pawtucket.

Albert married Caroline "Carrie" M. Knight Abt 1861. Caroline (daughter of Alfred Waterman Knight and Susan Carr Johnson) was born 14 Aug 1838, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; died 29 Jan 1917, Central Falls, Providence Co., RI; was buried , Oak Grove Cemetery, Central Ave., Pawtucket, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

I have made an assumption that this date of death in the RI Cemetery Database is for this particular William Remington. (needs verification)

He may also be the William Remington, age 28 RI, who is a farm laborer in Santa Cruz, CA, in the 1870 Federal Census. He also may be the farm laborer in 1880, age 38 and single, living at Alameda, Washington Co., CA. However, William Remington, 37, is listed as living with brother Albert and family at Coventry, RI, in 1880 -- so either he came back to RI and thus was counted twice, or else the one in CA is a different William.

According to J. R. Cole's "History of Washington and Kent Counties" p. 1339, this William was born in Scituate and lived in Coventry.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

According to the RI Cemetery Database (complete data), Louisa P. Remington was born 27 Dec 1849. However, if Louisa (Potter) Remington died 7 March 1849, she cannot be her mother. Although Martha Benns includes her in this family, there is a discrepancy in these dates. Benns may have been confused by the month of death. The gravestone inscription gives Louisa's dob as 27 Feb 1849, which is more reasonable.

The 1850 Federal Census shows a Louisa T. Remington, age 1 year, living in a Cranston household with Orra 60, Juliett 30, & Matilda Potter 30, and Cynthia Mathewson 39. Probably they were caring for the child because her mother had died.

On the other hand, Louisa P. Remington, age 1, is with John Remington and his (second) wife Amy and family, living at Scituate, RI in 1850. Is this the same child listed twice, or two different individuals? I tend to think it is the same one, and that she was being cared for by relatives at the time of the census, perhaps while John's new wife "settled in."

Louisa Remington is mentioned in the will of her aunt, Susan (Remington) Place, dated 27 Oct 1855.

Notes:

Fred was a State Representative from Scituate, and ran his family's dairy business for 55 years. The family resided at Fiskeville, RI.

Frederick married Lucy Ella "Lula" Brayton 25 Jun 1896, RI. Lucy (daughter of James M. Brayton and Julia Ann Battey) was born 3 Jun 1860, Scituate, RI; died 11 Dec 1949, Scituate, RI; was buried , Freeborn Brayton Lot, Seven Mile Rd., Cranston, RI. [Group Sheet]

Lydia — William Henry Brown. William was born 1871; died 1935. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1910 Federal Census, Lillian Daniel is 47 D, living in Central Falls with her mother Caroline Remington 71 Wd, and Edna A. Slocum, another of Caroline's daughters, and Edna's two teenaged children, Mazelle and Kenneth. Lillian is a Paymaster at City Hall.

In the 1920 Federal Census, Lillian Daniels is a widow, age 57, living at Central Falls, RI.

Lillian married William D. Daniels 7 Aug 1883, RI. William was born Abt 1864; died 1 Jun 1913; was buried , Moshassuck Cemetery, Lonsdale Ave., Central Falls, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

DAR ID Number: 29762

MRS. JENNIE REMINGTON CALL

Born in Coventry, Rhode Island.

Wife of Charles F. Call.

Descendant of Rufus Matteson of Rhode Island.

Daughter of Albert D. Remington and Caroline M. Knight, his wife.

Granddaughter of Alfred W. Knight and Susan C. Johnson, his wife.

Gr.-granddaughter of Nicholas W. Johnson and Patience Matteson, his wife.

Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Rufus Matteson and Rhoda Andrew, his wife, m. 1772.

Rufus Matteson, (1752-1834), was placed on the pension roll of Kent County, RI, for six months' actual service as private in the Rhode Island Line.

Jennie — Charles F. Call. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The RI Cemetery Database has John's parents as Robert & Caroline (Knight) Remington, and says they are buried at Pawtucket. However, "Robert" should be "Albert D.," according to all other data I have found.

John A. Remington, MD, and Caroline N. Remington are both listed in the Central Falls Tax Book, 1921.

In the 1920 Federal Census, John & Caroline Remington are ages 52 & 43, living at Central Falls, RI. John is a physician. They have three children: Allen 21, Lawrence 18, & Carolyn 7.

Dr. John A. Remington received his training at Bellevue Hospital Medical College between 1888 to 1891. He became a successful physician in Central Falls. (see Representative Men & Old Families of RI, pp. 591 & 592)

John married Caroline Nowland Allen 7 Oct 1897, RI. Caroline (daughter of George Allen and Sarah H. Eastman) was born 12 Sep 1876, Maine; died 27 Sep 1964, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

At age 15 in 1885, in the RI State Census at Lincoln, Edna is a dressmaker. It says she was born in Coventry.

In the Federal Census of 1900, Edna is with her husband and children at Central Falls -- see notes for Eason. Her birth date is given as June 1870.

In the RI State Census of 1905, Edna I. (or A?) Slocum is age 35, born Coventry, and living at 236 Central in Central Falls. She is divorced. There are 5 individuals in the household, and Edna is identified as daughter. Her dob is given as 21 June 1870. She is mother of 2 children both of whom are still living (it does not mention the third child who has died). The census card does not list the other individuals in the household, but they are likely the same as are living together in 1910. (accessed at familysearch.org)

In the Federal Census of 1910, Edna A. Slocum is age 38, widow, living on Central St. in Central Falls, RI. She is a dressmaker. With her is daughter Mazel 18 and son Kenneth M 16. They are living with Edna's mother Caroline Remington 71, widow, and her daughter Lilian Daniel 47, divorced.

In the RI State Census of 1915, Edna A. Slocum 46 USA is still living on Central St. in Central Falls. She is with mother Caroline M. Remington 76, sister Lillian L. Daniels 52, and daughter Maizell Slocum 23. Also in the household are three other women, boarders: Helen Dwyer 21, Bessie Burly (?) 27, and May Rogers 38.

In the Federal Census of 1920, she could be the Edna R. Sylam (??) age 49 Wd living on Olive St. in Pawtucket. It appears that she is the head of a boarding house. Edna's sister Lillian Daniels is still living in Central Falls, but it appears that no family members are with her.

In the RI State Census of 1925, she could be Edna Slocum 53 RI living on Sumter St., Providence, a servant, with Fred Kelley 55 MA.

In the Federal Census of 1930, Edna A. Slocum is age 58 Wd Boarder, living in Smithfield with Walter S. Arnold 71 Wd, both born RI. Walter is a mechanic at a cotton mill.

In the RI State Census of 1935 she could be Edna Arnold (mis-indexed as Arnolb) Wd born 27 June 1870 living at 1373 Smith St., North Providence. This is very close to her dob as given in 1905.


Originally I had her name as Eden A., but a descendant, Cynthia Ferguson, has informed me that her name is Edna Agnes. Ms. Ferguson also supplied some details on Edna's marriage and family.

Notes from Cynthia:
What happened to Edna after Eason left the family intrigues me. My father (her grandson) suggested there were "gentleman friends" who helped support her. A 1915 census finds her living with Mazelle (her daughter) and three unrelated women in Central Falls, RI. It would appear to be a boarding house. Although Edna would seem to be relatively poor, she had a summerhouse in Fitzwilliam, NH. In 1930 Edna is found in Smithfield, RI, listed as a boarder with Walter S. Arnold. She was the only boarder, so I think there might have been a relationship. In the 50s my grandmother Mazelle was very friendly with a family named Arnold. The children in that family told my older cousin that they were "sort of" related.

Edna married Eason Lafayette Slocum, Jr. 2 Dec 1890, Pawtucket, Providence Co., RI. Eason (son of Eason Lafayette Slocum, Sr. and Amanda Margaret Hawes) was born 1859; died 1907, Maine. [Group Sheet]

Edna married Walter Spencer Arnold Between 1926 and 1934. Walter (son of Levi B. Arnold and Eunice T. Briggs) was born 1859, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; died 4 Apr 1934, Smithfield, Providence Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The RI Cemetery Database has her name as Carrie M. F. Remington, while the census says Carrie A.