This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: The Scholes and Watson families, the Mountfords, Cockers, Bennetts, Wilsons, Hills, Chapmans, Cadmans, Hopwoods, Coons, Falkners, Skinners, Griers, Powells, Keens, Sutcliffs, Ellisons and Sylvester Wade. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3EC.2ACE/573 Message Board Post: This may be a bit of a long entry. I work for the Marquette County Tribune. We received the following letter from Roger Bentley of Quebec, Canada. He is doing research on the Potters' Emigration Society that may interest some with families who settled in Moundville township in Marquette County. Some of the settlers named in an article by Fran Sprain on the Society include: The Scholes and Watson families, the Mountfords, Cockers, Bennetts, Wilsons, Hills, Chapmans, Cadmans, Hopwoods, Coons, Falkners, Skinners, Griers, Powells, Keens, Sutcliffs, Ellisons and Sylvester Wade. Here is the text of the letter: "I am writing to ask if there are perhaps some among your readers who may be able to give me a little help. I have been carrying out research into, and am writing an account of, the history of the Potters’ Emigration Society. "The Society originated in 1844 in north Staffordshire in England (where I was born and grew up) with the aim of sending local people to the United States to remedy unemployment in the pottery industry. The Society established two settlements in Wisconsin: the first, in Scott Township, settled in 1846-1848, was given the name Pottersville, the second, in Fort Winnebego and Moundville Townships, settled in 1849-1850, was given the name Emancipation Ferry. The Society was short lived and collapsed in debt, in late 1850. "The Pottersville estate, comprising 1600 acres, was purchased by three land officers sent out by the Society in 1846. The first families of settlers, came in 1847, followed by more the next year. Each received 20 acres of farm land. In 1849, the new settlement, now with 40 acres for each settler, was started at Emancipation Ferry. This time, the land was not purchased by the Society since it was still "Indian Land" waiting for the government to conduct a survey. The settlers were, actually, "Squatters" on the land since it was due for sale sometime after October, 1850. The settlers had vague plans to form a ‘claims committee’ to go to the land office at Green Bay to claim their allotments when the sale came up. However, the Society collapsed in debt before this event could transpire. "I have been collecting information on the Potters’ Emigration Society for a number of years but have very little information on what actually happened to the settlers after the Society collapsed in 1850. Consequently, I would much appreciate if any descendants of the original settlers, living in the area, have any records or information on their family’s early history that I might usefully refer to. I will be visiting Wisconsin in late August and would appreciate the opportunity to talk to anyone who is interested." No e-mail address was given but the address and phone are as follows for those who would like to contact him with information or to get information. Roger Bentley 4874, Parkinson Pierrefonds Quebec, Canada H8Y 2Z3 514.683.6224 Joanie Ingraham "Only a genealogist considers a step backward — progress!"