Dennis Hall writes about his research and qouting from a James Potters biographer :

".. James Potter ... was born on the banks of the River Foyle in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1729. When James was age 12, the family moved to this contry, arriving on the ship "Dunnegall" at New Castle, Delaware on 25 Sep 1741. John Potter was accompanied by his sister Isabella, wife of John Hamilton (19). Isabella died shortly after arrival and her daughter Catherine was taken in by John Potter. Catherine later married James Chambers. James later commanded the "First Pensylvania Line."

The information here comes from a composite of Roots Web files from Cheralynn Wilson and Michael Parrott. These families obviously went back to Ireland.

James Potter joins the revolutionary army and becomes a close associate of George Washington. He eventually rises through the ranks to become General Potter.

Second Battalion.- Colonel, James Potter; lieutenant colonel, Robert Moodie; majors: John Kelly, John Brady.

James Potter is active in the organization of the new goverment in Northumberland Co., PA. He is elected as a representative to the Constitutional Convention on July 1, 1776.

...to the Constitutional Convention of July 1, 1776, William Cooke, James Potter, Robert Martin, Matthew Brown, Walter Clark, John Kelly, James Crawford, and John Weitzel. The latter were elected on the 5th of July at the house of George McCandlish near the mouth of Limestone run; Thomas Hewitt, William Shaw, and Joseph Green served as judges. [Northumberland Hist. p 98]

Philadelphia, June 14, 1777. Sir: By intelligence this moment received from Generals Sullivan and Arnold we are informed that the enemy are rapidly advancing through the Jerseys and had arrived at Rocky run, within four miles of Princeton. We do therefore entreat you, by all the ties of virtue, honor, and love for your country, to call together immediately all the militia of your county you can possibly spare and hasten their march to this city with the utmost expedition. We are, in the greatest haste, Sir,

Your most humble servants,
Thomas Mifflin,
John Armstrong,
James Potter.
[Northumberland Hist. p 98]

"The next requisition was received by Colonel Hunter on the 10th of September, 1777, and in compliance therewith he at once ordered the first class of the militia to march. A requisition for the second class was issued on the 12th instant and for the third and fourth classes on the 23d of October. The latter reached Colonel Hunter on the 31st instant, but, owing to the difficulty of procuring arms and blankets, the classes designated did not march until November 11th. They were commanded by Colonel James Murray, whose regiment was attached to General James Potter's brigade and suffered some loss at the Guelph mills, near Philadelphia, December 11th." [Northumberland p. 118]

".. on May 20th ... sixteen Persons killed or taken prisoners at Loyalsock on the 24th. On the 17th of May Colonel Potter reported twenty persons killed on the North Branch. "The back inhabitants have all evacuated their habitations and assembled in different places," wrote Colonel Hunter on the 31st of May; "all above Muncy to Lycoming are come to Samuel Wallis's and the people of Muncy have gathered to Captain Brady's; all above Lycoming are at Antes's mill and the month of Bald Eagle creek; all the inhabitants of Penn's valley are gathered to one place in Potter's township; the inhabitants of White Deer township are assembled at three different places, and the back settlers of Buffalo are come down to the river; all from Muncy hill to Chillisquaque." [Northumberland Hist. p 118] HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Bell's History of Northumberland County, PA - THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD - Part I , page

"Colonel Daniel Brodhead's regiment, then on the march to Pittsburgh, had been directed to take position at Standing Stone (Huntingdon), but when General Lachlan McIntosh, who commanded in that department, heard of the state of affairs on the northern frontier, he ordered it to proceed up the Susquehanna, a movement that received the hearty approval of the Board of War and Supreme Executive Council. On the 24th of July Colonel Brodhead wrote* that, having arrived at Sunbury too late to be of service to the inhabitants there, he had determined to fix upon two principal posts and maintain a line of scouts between them; accordingly, a major, two captains, one subaltern, and eighty men were stationed at Brier creek on the North Branch and one hundred twenty men under his personal command at Muncy, while a captain and twenty-five men were detached to General James Potter's in Penn's valley. General Potter reported that the arrival of this force had done much to restore confidence; the "Runaway" had entailed a loss of forty thousand pounds, but the people were returning to reap their harvests and further waste would thus be prevented. He expressed his intention of directing the movements of the militia; this had been agreed upon by Generals Armstrong and McIntosh with the acquiescence of Colonel Brodhead, as General John Lacey, whom Council had designated for that service, was not regarded as eligible. It appears, however, that the militia which first arrived at Sunbury was commanded by General John P. De Haas, who had offered on the 13th of July to lend a body of volunteers against the Indians; Council accepted his services, and in the organization of defensive measures he rendered valuable assistance." page 123.

In the History of Pleasant Gap, PA a more interesting story of James Potter is given.

Two years thereafter an addition to that road was laid out as far as what was to be James Potter's "Old Fort," with a possible extension toward the Indian trail crossing Nittany Mountain by means of McBride's Gap. In the year 1779, when this section became a part of Mifflin county the "Haines Road" was continued as far as Spruce Creek Valley.

"Nittany Valley, including Half Moon Valley, from Stormstown to Zion, began to be dotted with cultivated farms and at least two settlements had been definitely established in lower Nittany Valley. The Indian tribes had practically disappeared. James Potter, the younger son of the great general who at one time had been Vice-president of Pennsylvania under its first constitution, had improved the "Old Fort" house established by his father and had erected at least three houses and a new mill at Potter's Mills."[History of Pleasant Gap. ]

Area History: Bell's History of Northumberland County, PA - THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD - Part I
History of Pleasant Gap, PA. By Mrs. Myrtle Magargel. Centre Daily Times March 16, 1936
"Pennsylvania Geneaologies", the Centre Co. Historical Society in Bellefonte, PA
Roots Web records of Cheralyann Wilson, Jack/Jacks/Jacques & Tompson Journals. email-charwil3@comcast.net
Roots Web records of Michael Parrott, the Parrott Family and Relative. email -MLPaarr514@aol.com

Cheryl's Family Index | Ancestoral Chart #10 | email to Cheryl Grubb

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web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 3/25/16