This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: sharon_corcoran Surnames: POTTS, PEAR/PEER Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.canada.cangenweb/5141.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: This is all I know of Benjamin Potts and Abigail Peer/Peer. I have nothing else to go on for Abigail, only that the couple eventually settled in Noble Co. Indiana where they now rest.... Any hints on where I can further research would be wonderfully appreciated. Benjamin Potts was born in PA on January 23, 1774. He married a lady by the name of Abigail Pear/Peer, who was born in New York or New Jersey on January 28, 1784. No record of a marriage date has been found yet. In further research though, I have found that a son Lewis was born in New York in about 1803. Lewis being the oldest known child, I can assume that they were married sometime before 1803. Then son John was noted as born in Canada in about 1806. There was another child born between them, who I thought was a male per the 1820 census, however we have found records indicating otherwise. I believe the second child to be born to them was Sarah who May have been born in New York. Found in a family history book on Potts families, compiled by one Thos. Maxwell Potts in 1901, was a short biography on Benjamin. One of these books is located at the Wisconsin Historical Society and was found by Randy Palmer, a descendant of Benjamin's grandson Benjamin Franklin Potts. On page 430 of this book it is written. Benjamin Potts, born about 1775, in York County,, may have been a grandson of William Pott. His descendants claim to be of Dutch descent. When about 18 years of age, he entered the army and served three years, under General Anthony Wayne, in the Indian wars. He had a brother, John, who was with him in the army, and both were taken prisoners by the Indians. A few years after his discharge from the army, he married Abigail Peer, in New Jersey. After living in New Jersey a few years, they removed to the Dominion of Canada. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, they were compelled to leave, for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to Great Britain. From Canada they removed to Bellville, Richland County, Ohio, where they continued until 1836. In that year they removed to Jefferson Township, Noble County, Indiana. Benjamin Potts died in 1859 aged 85 years, and Abigail Potts, in August 1851. CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN AND ABIGAIL POTTS 1. Lewis Potts, b. June 30, 1802; d. June 26, 1850; m. Cath. Lash 2. Sarah Potts, died young in Ohio 3. John Potts, died in Nebraska 4. Elizabeth Potts, died in Ohio 5. Mary Potts, m. _____Walters? Died in Indiana 6. Jacob Potts, died in Nebraska 7. Abigail Potts, m._____James; died at DesMoines, Iowa 8. Phebe Potts, m. _____Weirick; at Princeton, Iowa 9. George Washington Potts, b. 1824. Residence, Marne, Iowa 10. Benjamin M. Potts, b. 1829. Residence, Altamont, Kansas. He has an old Bible with records, but has failed to furnish a copy. As noted above, we are assuming that two or three years after the marriage the family moved on to Canada. The oldest son, Lewis was born June 31, 1802, census say New York, but may have been New Jersey. The daughter, Sarah may also have been born in NY or NJ, before they headed up to Canada. I am guessing this would have been about 1804-1805, for son John was born near Toronto Canada on December 18, 1805, per an obituary found for him. It then states that they removed from Canada in 1812, their third child, Jacob was born in Richland Co. Ohio on June 22, 1813. I am assuming that two of the girls were also born in Canada. Their names were Elizabeth and Mary. The remainder of the children were all born in Ohio. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.