It can not be known for certain who was the Potter who had land adjacent that of Michael Holland of Goochland. Yet, if he was connected to the transportee of Thomas Wiggins in Surry Co, June 16, 1714 (Thomas Potter), it is almost certain that he was either Thomas Potter, bapt. Feb. 2, 1687, in Worth, East Sussex, England (whose family would have been familiar with those of Holland and Wiggins); or, either of his sons: Thomas Potter, bapt. Sept. 22, 1713, John Potter, bapt. July 19, 1718 (by a second wife). Alternatively, the neighbour of Michael Holland could have been either of Thomas Sr’s brothers (Roger or William), or their sons, Thomas Potter, bapt. Dec. 27, 1714; or William Potter, bapt. Nov. 26, 1715.

These Potters were of the class of aspiring yeomanry who sought to climb the rungs of the English class system through the device of advantageoud marriage. The family connections of the first Potter wives are unknown, but it is certain that they provided the means for the acquisition of lands and tenancy in nearby parishes.

The following baptismal and marriage records are from Worth.

1.  Thomas Potter. PROB 11/45/243: Will of Thomas Potter, Husbandman of Wethersfield, Essex, October 3, 1562.
1.1. Thomas Potter, “yeoman of Wivelsfield, Sussex”, m. Margaret … His Will was probated Nov. 3, 1620. He is noticed in this record: Grant by Sir George Fleetwood of the Vach, co. Bucks., knt., Henry Shelley of Patcham, esq., William Newton of Lewes, esq. and Richard Shelley of Lewes, esq., to Walter Doble, junr. of Falmer, gent., of the manors of Streete and Westmeston … Also Tyllinghurst wood, 50 ac. reputed parcel of Westmeston manor, to lands of Thomas Potter late purchased of Geo. Goringe decd., N. and N.E., Bishopridge common, E., Westmeston common, S., the highway from Wivelsfield to Westmeston (Sussex). Oct. 10, 1607. (East Sussex Record Office (ESRO), SAS-M/1/563). This shows that Thomas Potter was of the upper echelon of yeomanry – owners of land rather than tenants. Wivelsfield is 12 miles due south of Worth, and 30 miles south-west of Goudhurst and Lamberhurst, in Kent.
1.1.1. John Potter, bapt. Feb. 28, 1583, m. Mary Banks, Aug. 10, 1606.
1.1.1.1. Thomas Potter, bapt. Nov. 6, 1608, d. 1681, m. Mary Comber, May 18, 1637. He held a tenancy in Goudhurst: Lease for 21 years. From Sir William Campion to Thomas Potter of Goudhurst (3 miles from Lamberhurst). Premises as in DAN/1649. Rent £50. Witnesses: Hugh Fare, William Nasshe. Oct. 17, 1631. (ESRO, DAN/1655). Thomas Potter was a tenant of Edward Bathurst esq, of Goudhurst, Kent, nephew of John Bathurst, from whom descended the Bathursts of Lechlade Gloucestershire.
1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Potter, bapt April 11, 1641. Lease for 200 years. John Chaloner of Lindfield, gent, Lord of the Manor of South Malling, Lindfield, and Burleigh Arches, to Thomas Potter of Worth, yeoman. Cottage and land (1a) inclosed from Copthorne. Dec. 27, 1680. (ESRO, ACC2327/1/5/17/41).
1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas Potter, bapt. July 17, 1664.
1.1.1.1.1.2. John Potter, m. Mary …
1.1.1.1.1.2.1. Thomas Potter, bapt. Feb. 2, 1687, m. (1) Sara Dennett (May 14, 1710), she bapt Oct 1 1682, dau. of Abraham Dennett, who d. 1709. Abraham Dennett was the great-nephew of Joan Dennett, who m. Henry Waller, vicar of Horley (in Suffolk, bordered on the south by Worth, Sussex), son of William Waller, vicar of Horley, and nephew of “John Waller of Ifield, yeoman”, who m. his cousin, Ellinor, witnessed by William Waller (husband of Mary Gillam, dau. of William Gillam, of Ifield, d. 1645 (see C 8/90/160), son of John Waller and Sara Chalonor, who m. Aug 9, 1579. Given the educational status of William and Henry Waller, it would be reasonable to suppose the to have been of the family of Thomas Waller, of Lamberhurst (Sable, three walnut tree leaves, or, between two cotizes argent), whose decendants held nearby Groombridge, 20 miles from Worth/Horley.

(1. John Holland Sr., of Shropshire, enfeoffed in Lamberhurst, Kent.
1.1. John Holland Jr., of Lamberhurst, m. Mary Barham.
1.1.1. David Holland. Prerogative Court of Canterbury; Probate Jul. 3, 1617. Joyce Holland of Lamberhurst, widow, will dated Mar. 10, 1616: ‘Unto the poore people of the parish of Lamberhurst 10 shillings to be distibuted among them at the discretion of my executor on the daye of my buryall unto John, David & Mary Holland, the sonnes & daughter of John Holland my sonne, 5 pounds each, when 21 …….’
1.1.1.1. John Holland. PAR/498/37/14. Oct. 23, 1654: ‘John Baker of Mayfield, Esq., lord of the manor of Mayfield, to Gregory Dyne, Joseph Dunmoll, gent, Richard Lucke yeoman, David Holland mercer, John Barham of Shoesmiths gent, John Lucke (son and heir apparent of Richard Lucke), John Holland’ (son and heir apparent of David Holland). John Holland’s Will, proved May 17, 1675, mentions sons John and Edward. He had mar. Anne Burton; the overseer of his Will was Edward Burton, his br.-in-law, and Gregory Dyne (Dene). Marriages of Goochland Co., 1733-1815 (Williams), p. 12, Nov. 2, 1763: ‘Charles Burton and Mary Holland, dau. of George Holland. Sur. George Holland and Michael Holland’.
1.1.1.1. Michael Holland of Goochland).

1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1. Thomas Potter, bapt. Sept. 22, 1713.

I Moiety of 1 virgate of native land called Groveland in Keymer; 1 croft of land, part of Groveland (5a.). II 1 cottage, barn, orchard (½a.) formerly parcel of the lord’s waste called St. John’s Common. In 1631, John Virrall was admitted to premises I and II (DAN/1382) and in 1654 Thomas Wickens, yeo. and Margaret his w. surrendered and were re-admitted to premises I (DAN/1383). In 1657, Nicholas Colchin quitclaimed premises I and II to Thomas Wickens who had lately mortgaged them to him (DAN/1386). In 1676 William Yonge surrendered premises I-II to Thomas Marchant and Margaret his w. who had previously surrendered to him (DAN/1387). In 1684, on the death of Nicholas Colchin, premises I and II passed to Nicholas Jenner,* his grand-nephew (DAN/1388). In 1685 Nicholas Jenner surrendered the premises to John Wiggins. DAN/1392, 1393 are concerned with a dispute between Edward Pelling and John Wiggins. On the death of the latter in 1715 the premises went to his bro. Thomas (DAN/1394, 1395) and in 1732 his only s. John succeeded (DAN/1398). In 1757 John mortgaged them to Richard Dendy (DAN/1399) and on his (John Wiggins) death in 1758 the property passed to Elizabeth his daughter. (East Sussex Record Office. DAN/1382-1401).

*Nicholas Jenner was probably related to the Nicholas Jenner of Maresfield, who m. Margaret Baker of same, July 12, 1727.

1.1.1.1.1.2.2. Roger Potter.
1.1.1.1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Potter, bapt. Dec. 27, 1714.
1.1.1.1.1.2.3. William Potter, m. Katherine Morgan, May 20, 1712.
1.1.1.1.1.2.3.1. William Potter, bapt. Nov. 26, 1715.
1.1.1.1.1.2.1. Thomas Potter, m. (2) Elizabeth Jenner, bapt. Nov. 11, 1691.
1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1. John Potter, bapt. July 19, 1718.

They were of the same English ‘orchard’, in which apples fell near their trees.

copyright m stanhope 2019