JOHNSON and SCHAUFELBERGER GENEALOGY
POTTER Narrative
HANNAH (MEAD?) POTTER BEECHER
After the death of her first husband (John I. Potter), Hannah married John Beecher and they had a son, Isaac. The Beechers, accompanied by Hannah's son John Potter, followed William Potter (a son of her first marriage) to Boston. This party sailed on the 'Hector' in 1637. [note: unconfirmed by transcription of the passenger list] John Beecher was a member of the advance party which was sent to prepare for the settling of New Haven, CT and he died there in the winter before the arrival of the colony in the spring of 1638.
When Hannah died, her son William Potter was executor of her will, receiving 2/3 of her property with the remainder to her son Isaac Beecher.
WILLIAM POTTER
William Potter sailed to Boston in 1635 with his wife, Frances--aged 26, and young son, Joseph aged 4 months. William was 27 years old at the time. They were accompanied by William's brother, John. They sailed on the Abigail from London, arriving in July.
Both William and his brother John signed the New Haven Agreement in a general town meeting in 1639. The family home was on the west side of Quinipiac River near the present Cedar Hill station.
Early New Haven records indicate that William's seating assignments in the church progressed in standing. However, he was frequently fined for offenses ranging from absence at military training and improper care of arms, to failure to submit a timely inventory for taxation.
He was a member of the First Church of Christ. When convicted of bestiality, the town of New Haven paid Thomas Wheadon to hang his former friend.
Quote from William's will made 19 March 1662:
"William Potter disposes of his estate of outward things as followeth. After all Debts discharged my will is that my wife should have her living out of the farms till my Sonne Nathanll, come to ye age of 21 years, then ye sd. Nathaniell is to posses ye sd. farms and all yt is upon it, if my wife continue a widdow my will is yt my Sonne Nathanll allow her a comfortable Living out of the same and if shee see cause to Dwell elsewhere my will is yt my sonne Nathaniell allow her 12th a yeare.
"it; my will is yt my sonne Joseph should have 30th. payd him within yt term of six years after ye date hereof.
"it; my will is yt my daughter hope and my daughter Rebeckah shall have 20th. apiece payd ym when their mother sees good to pay it them. My will is that those Legasyes be payd out of the farms before it come into my sonnes Nathanll's hands.
"19. 3. 62
"Witnesses. William Peck. Richard Miles"
Inventory filed Aug 1. 1662. Amt. 190 pounds, 4 shillings, 0 pence
SOURCES
Source material for the narrative can be found in the Research Notes.