Potter Reunion 2013 ~ July 13 - July 14

Remember to bring something(s) for the auction.

Bring your own lawn chair and something for pot luck Saturday.

Come early, stay late!! 

Feel free to bring a tent or camper and stay the night.

All meals on your own except Saturday lunch and supper.

Saturday morning- arrival and outdoor games!

11:00am: Relay races start and prizes will be awarded. 

12:00noon Lunch: Potluck. Hamburgers and Hot dogs will be provided

2:00pm Auction: 

There will be tons of children’s crafts to keep them entertained during the auction!!  Crafts will be set up in the rear of the auction area that way parents can still participate in the auction. See below for offerings that are planned.

 

6:00pm Supper: Leftovers 

Evening: Campfire and fireworks.

 

Kids activities:

• Crafts, Tie dye for children (adults can tie dye but bring a 100% cotton shirt)
• 3-legged race (one child partnered with 1 adult)
• Potato sack race
• Walk the obstacle course use spoon and golf ball
• Kick ball
• Frisbee
• Children’s horse shoes
• Swimming Pool!!

Rules:
No animals
Adult supervision at the pool (pool is closed during the auction)
Bring your own towels
No glass on the pool Deck
Fireworks are only to be let off at a designated time (check with Bruce first)
No cigarette butts on the grounds (there will designated cans)

In case of rain we will have Joe's large tent set up for protection!
And thank you Bruce and Debbie for hosting us this year!!

Cannot wait to see you all there!!

A Trip to "The County" = Great Finds!

I wish every one of you could have been with Harv and I when we spent a week in "The County" last week. We hiked Baxter, fished, explored lots of back country, read and relaxed. But you KNOW I could not have gone up there without doing some family history trekking! We found some new and interesting information that some of you may have interest in. There were three highlights:



I discovered that Rev. George E. Potter (my g-g grandfather) is buried in the same cemetery as the Nason's and Cowperthwaite's (my in-laws). I had NO IDEA until this week that was the case! Rev. George Potter was a Civil War veteran but there is NO inscription indicating that on his gravestone, so the town did not know that. Consequently there had never been a flag placed on his grave. We visited the town office and the sexton made a point of going back with us to place the CW marker and flag on his grave. Such an honor for me to place the flag myself! 
 



We decided to drive home through Drew Plantation where Rev. George Potter raised his family and where my / our g-grandfather Laurin F. Potter (Uncle Buster's namesake) was born. Rev. George's father, James Potter, migrated there (from Whitefield then Perry) between 1850-60. I saw "Potter Hill" on the map which intrigued me even more! Not expecting to find anyone or anything there (the population was 50 on the 2010 US Census) we headed out - at the very least we figured we would see some pretty country coming on down route 2A through the Haynesville Woods!

 

We stopped at the local cemetery to look for James Potter (my ggg-grandfather) having tromped FIVE cemeteries in Limestone two days earlier with no luck! A man drove in right behind us and I asked him "are you James Potter?" Yep - he says, "What's left of him" - and HE WAS, James Potter! We share the same grandfather and he also shares his name. He was born and raised on Potter Hill and lives on a piece of the original Potter land. He took Harv and I to his home and we had the nicest visit! Among other things he told us where his grandfather's farm used to be on Potter Hill so we took a jaunt up there. AND - we found James and Mary (Goulding) Potter in the local cemetery besides! A grand finale to a grand week!

 

 

James Potter was an adventurer and pioneer from all indications. He was born in Whitefield, ME and migrated to Perry as a young man - sometime before March 29, 1828 when he petitioned for the building of the First Parish House in that community. He remained there until sometime between 1850-1860 when he moved his family to Drew Plantation. There are several Baptist ministers in our family and I have wondered if James and his son Rev. George were Baptist missionaries - which took them into these areas of the state (Washington, Penobscot and Aroostook Counties). This is another leg of our journey yet to be seen... Stay tuned...



 

Anthony Potter of Ipswich, MA 1627 ~ 1690

Meetinghouse Green, Ipswich, MA where Anthony Potter's
home was located. This is one of many pictures included
in Anthony Potter of Ipswich, MA 1627-1690

Anthony Potter of Ipswich, MA is the progenitor of our Potter family in Readfield. The first of our line to come to Maine was Anthony's great-great grandson, Solomon Potter, who was born in Ipswich July 29, 1749 and died May 25, 1800, in Whitefield, Lincoln County, Maine. From there subsequent generations moved on to Washington County; Aroostook County and at last - with a few other stops along the way - to Readfield, Kennebec County, Maine.



On April 29, 2013 Harv and I made a stop in Ipswich, Massachusetts to see what we could discover about the whereabouts of Anthony Potter’s house, burial place and, if available, other Potter related information. We were fortunate to connect with Pat Tyler, Ipswich Town Historian, at the Ipswich Museum on South Main Street. She gave us some excellent leads and helped us identify areas to explore. I have compiled my findings, pictures and some research (with references) in a 17page booklet for family - and others who have interest. I think this document would be very helpful for anyone who ever makes their own “family history trek” to Ipswich on a Potter family history tour. The document begins with Anthony Potter, followed by eight generations of Potters who are my direct ancestors. The last generation mentioned in this document are the children of my paternal grandfather, Woodford J. Potter. His oldest son, Henry, was my father. Also included is information about Robert Potter 1608-1653 - thought by many to be the father of Anthony. Click on this link to request your copy online.

 

2013 Reunion Planning Meetings

 

 

The next 2013 planning meeting will be announced soon. the June 2nd was postponed. Meeting (2013)notes, containing plans as they evolve, can be viewed on our Potter Family Reunion facebook page. Thanks so much to those who are doing the preparatory work for this year's Reunion!!