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Olney E. Potter

Male 1788 - 1831  (42 years)


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  • Name Olney E. Potter 
    Born 22 May 1788  [1, 2] 
    Gender Male 
    Died 19 May 1831  Foster, RI Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Buried Hopkins Mills, Foster, RI Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I26638  Sorensen-Remington Family Tree
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 

    Father William Potter,   b. Abt 1764,   d. 16 May 1850  (Age ~ 86 years) 
    Mother Mary Ellis,   b. 26 Jun 1765, Warwick, Kent Co., RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Sep 1824  (Age 59 years) 
    Married 1 May 1786  Warwick, Kent Co., RI Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Family ID F10014  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Orra Cole,   b. 12 Mar 1793, Foster, RI Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Apr 1876  (Age 83 years) 
    Married 22 Apr 1810  [2] 
    Children 
     1. Louisa Potter,   b. 1811,   d. 7 Mar 1849  (Age 38 years)
     2. Cynthia Potter,   b. 1811,   d. 7 Feb 1897  (Age 86 years)
     3. Alfred Potter,   b. 1815,   d. 27 Aug 1819  (Age 4 years)
     4. Juliet Potter,   b. Abt 2 Feb 1817,   d. 23 Dec 1869  (Age ~ 52 years)
     5. Matilda Potter,   b. Abt 1820
     6. Pardon Potter,   b. Abt 1830,   d. 28 Nov 1832  (Age ~ 2 years)
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F09954  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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).

  • Sources 
    1. [S012398] RI Cemetery Database.

    2. [S013676] FindaGrave.com.

    3. [S012586] James N. Arnold's Vital Record of RI, Providence -- Births and Deaths.

    4. [S012451] James N. Arnold's Vital Record of RI, Warwick -- Marriages.