John Potts (Pennsylvanian)
Encyclopedia
John Potts was the founder of the towns of Pottstown
and Pottsville
, Pennsylvania
. He was also an ironmaster, merchant, and English Quaker
.
John Potts, oldest son of Thomas and Martha (Keurlis) Potts, was born about 1710, probably in the City of Philadelphia. He married Ruth Savage, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Rutter) Savage, on April 11, 1734. The marriage was accomplished after the manner of Friends, though not under their care or jurisdiction. He had one son, Samuel.
John Potts, like his father, was an enterprising businessman, and for many years was the largest and most successful iron-master in the American Colonies, operating mines, furnaces and forges, not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia. He long filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and was also a Judge of the Court Common Pleas.
In 1752, he purchased two tracts of land at the confluence of the Manatawny Creek
and Schuylkill River
, aggregating nearly one thousand acres. Here he laid out the town originally called Pottsgrove. Subsequently this name was applied to the township
occupying the northwestern division of Montgomery County
, and the village took the name of Pottstown.
style home, Pottsgrove Manor in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985. The house has been restored and is now a 18th century historic house museum owned by Montgomery County.
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
and Pottsville
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was also an ironmaster, merchant, and English Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
.
John Potts, oldest son of Thomas and Martha (Keurlis) Potts, was born about 1710, probably in the City of Philadelphia. He married Ruth Savage, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Rutter) Savage, on April 11, 1734. The marriage was accomplished after the manner of Friends, though not under their care or jurisdiction. He had one son, Samuel.
John Potts, like his father, was an enterprising businessman, and for many years was the largest and most successful iron-master in the American Colonies, operating mines, furnaces and forges, not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia. He long filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and was also a Judge of the Court Common Pleas.
In 1752, he purchased two tracts of land at the confluence of the Manatawny Creek
Manatawny Creek
Manatawny Creek is an tributary of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania in the United States.Manatawny Creek joins the Schuylkill River at Pottstown in Montgomery County.-References:...
and Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
, aggregating nearly one thousand acres. Here he laid out the town originally called Pottsgrove. Subsequently this name was applied to the township
Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania
Pottsgrove is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,469 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pottsgrove is located at ....
occupying the northwestern division of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, and the village took the name of Pottstown.
Pottsgrove Manor
In 1752, Potts built a GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
style home, Pottsgrove Manor in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985. The house has been restored and is now a 18th century historic house museum owned by Montgomery County.