Elisha Reynolds Potter, Jr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Potter was a prolific author of Rhode Island history. Potter's notes and correspondence now held by the Rhode Island Historical Society
• Education: 1830; He attended Kingston Academy and graduated from Harvard University in 1830.
• Occupation: 1832, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; He studied law while teaching school, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and practiced in South Kingstown Township.
• _ELEC: 4 Mar 1843, Rhode Island, USA

Notes:

US Congressman. An 1830 graduate of Harvard University, he took up the law profession following graduation. He served as Adjutant General of Rhode Island from 1835 to 1836 and served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1838 to 1840. From 1843 to 1845 he served as Representative from Rhode Island in the United States Congress. He then returned to state politics, serving as a Rhode Island State Senator from 1847 to 1852 and again from 1861 to 1863. He was also the Rhode Island Public School Commissioner from 1849 to 1854 and served as an Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1868 until his death. He was the son of Congressman Elisha Reynolds Potter.
Bio by: Jen Snoots

Web Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_R._Potter

Web Link:
https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000462

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15552157/elisha_reynolds_potter

Web Link:
https://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss629-3.htm

_ELEC:
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district.
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845

Other Events and Attributes:

• Elisha Reynolds House: 1738, Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island, USA

Notes:

US Congressman. A veteran of the Revolutionary War, he worked at blacksmithing and agriculture before taking up the law profession. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1793 to 1796, 1798 to 1808, 1816 to 1817 and from 1819 until his death, serving many times as speaker of that body. From 1796 to 1797 and again from 1809 to 1815 he served as Representative from Rhode Island in the United States Congress. He was the father of Congressman Elisha Reynolds Potter.

Birth:
Potter was born in Little Rest (now known as Kingston) in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations on November 5, 1764

Web Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavern_Hall_Preservation_Society

Web Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Reynolds_Potter

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15552148/elisha_reynolds_potter

Web Link:
https://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss629-2.htm

Web Link:
https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000463

Elisha Reynolds House:
The Elisha Reynolds House (1738), home of the Tavern Hall Preservation Society, Kingston, RI.

Buried:
Colonel Thomas Potter Cemetery Find a Grave Memorial ID: 15552148

Elisha married Mary Mawney on 13 Jul 1810 in West Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA. Mary (daughter of Pardon Mawney and Experience Gardiner) was born on 25 Apr 1779 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA; died on 26 Jul 1835 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; was buried on 26 Jul 1835 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• TRIPP LINEAGE - 6TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678: 1600

Notes:

Mary was the sixth of 15 children born to Pardon Mawney and Experience Gardner of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She was married in South Kingstown, RI on 9 July 1810 to Elisha Reynolds Potter, the son of Colonel Thomas Potter and Elizabeth Reynolds. Elisha had previously been married to Mary (Gardner) Perkins who died in 1809. Elisha R. Potter was a member of the U.S. Congress 1796-7 and 1809-15, and in 1818 an unsuccessful candidate for State Governor. He was a very large man with a vigorous personality, according to his son, Elisha.

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18678880/mary_potter

TRIPP LINEAGE - 6TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678:
GEN6: MARY MAWNEY [6], Experience Gardiner5, Isabel Sherman4, Abiel Sherman3, Isabel Tripp2, John1)

Died:
250a "Mary Mawney." Mrs. Potter died July 26, 1835, at the house of her brother-in-law, Jeffrey Davis, in North Kingstown. She was a niece of her husband's first wife, Mary (Gardiner) Potter.

Buried:
Colonel Thomas Potter Cemetery Find a Grave Memorial ID: 18678880

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1774, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA

Thomas married Elizabeth Reynolds on 29 Oct 1768 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Elisha Reynolds and Susannah Potter) was born on 11 Sep 1737 in Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 10 Mar 1806 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; was buried in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8646703/elizabeth_potter

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1777, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 2 Aug 1790, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 1800, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island
• Residence: 6 Aug 1810, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 7 Aug 1820, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 1830, East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA

Notes:

Pardon was the third of five children born to John Mawney and Amey Gibbs of Providence, Rhode Island. He was married in June 1772 to Experience Gardner, the daughter of Caleb Gardner and Isabel Sherman. As an adult Pardon lived on the homestead farm in East Greenwich that had been willed to him by his grandfather, Peter Mawney. He and Experience had 15 children. His will, dated 1 September 1825, was proved in E. Greenwich on 26 November 1831. Child, not linked below:

*Robert Gibbs, b. E. Greenwich 1788 went to sea in 1811 and was never heard from again.

Web Link:
https://rihistoriccemeteries.org/newgravedetails.aspx?ID=87931

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18674293/pardon_mawney

Buried:
Pardon Mawney Lot
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 18674293

Pardon married Experience Gardiner in Jun 1772. Experience (daughter of Caleb Gardiner and Isabel Sherman) was born on 1 Nov 1751 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 28 Nov 1815 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA; was buried on 28 Nov 1815 in East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• TRIPP LINEAGE - 5TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678: 1600

Notes:

Experience was the daughter of Caleb Gardner and Isabel Sheman of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. She was married in June 1772 to Pardon Mawney and they lived on the old homestead farm in what was once Frenchtown in East Greenwich, Rhode island. She and Pardon had 15 children.

Web Link:
https://rihistoriccemeteries.org/newgravedetails.aspx?ID=87932

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18674343/experience_mawney

TRIPP LINEAGE - 5TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678:
GEN5: EXPERIENCE GARDINER [5], Isabel Sherman4, Abiel Sherman3, Isabel Tripp2, John1)

Buried:
Pardon Mawney Lot Find a Grave Memorial ID: 18674343

Ichabod married Sarah Robinson on 16 Jan 1723 in Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA. Sarah (daughter of John Robinson and Mary Hazard) was born on 22 Jan 1707 in Washington County, Rhode Island, USA; died in 1748 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elisha married Susannah Potter on 30 Jun 1728 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. Susannah (daughter of Robert Potter and Elizabeth Cole) was born on 14 Feb 1705 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 1 Apr 1790 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Amey Gibbs. Amey was born on 4 Jul 1725 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; died on 3 Jul 1805 in Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island, USA; was buried in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1774, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 1782, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA
• Residence: 2 Aug 1790, South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA

Notes:

Note: birth year is a close approximation

Caleb, the son of Nicholas Gardner and Mary Littlefield of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, was married in S. Kingstown 20 Feb 1734 to Isabel Sherman, the daughter of Abiel Sherman and Dorcas Gardner. Caleb appears on a number of South Kingstown censuses and lists, including those in 1747, 1774, 1777, and 1782. In the 1790 census he is shown in a household with 3 males 16 and over, 4 females, 4 free blacks, and 7 slaves (18 total). Caleb was a very prosperous yeoman, with a large estate. Children, all b. in S. Kingstown:

* Sarah, b. 29 April 1736, m. SK 4 April 1756 Peter BOSS, b. Charlestown, RI 30 Sep 1732, d. SK 6 Jan 1821, son of Jeremiah Boss (c.1697-c.1774) and Martha Spencer (8 Sep 1700-1774). Peter appears on a 1777 census in Richmond, RI, then in 1782 was in Charlestown, but in 1787 and 1790 was in Richmond again. He died in South Kingstown.

* Dorcas, b. 16 Mar 1739, married, by one account, 1758 Silas SPENCER, b. EG 18 Nov 1735 (VR), and poss. died 1815 (one online acct.), the son of John and Lydia Spencer. He appears in E. Greenwich in 1760, 1774, 1777, and 1782. In the 1790 census for E. Greenwich, his household includes 3 males under 16, 2 males 16 and over, 5 females, and 3 others (13 total). A Clarke genealogy published in 1902 says that Dorcas married James Clarke of Stonington, CT, and had five children with him.

* Nicholas, b. 8 Dec 1744, d. 1784, m. SK 29 May 1766 Sarah REYNOLDS, the aunt of Elisha Potter, Sr.. Nicholas and Sarah's sons were Warren, Caleb N., and Elisha R. Warren Gardiner was an apprentice to his uncle, Joseph Perkins. Elisha R. Gardiner was a sheriff of Washington County. He eventually moved to New York after having to auction his property due to debt, and died in 1825. Caleb N. may have been a farmer.

* Tabitha, b. 8 April 1748, nothing more.

* Experience, b. 1 November 1751, m. Pardon MAWNEY, son of John Mawney and Amey Gibbs. They are buried in the Pardon Mawney Lot, E. Greenwich.

* Mary, b. (? 24 Sep 1754--this date is NOT on grave stone; it appears on FAG memorial, but its source is not given, d. 7 Mar 1809, m. (1) 16 June 1776 Joseph PERKINS, b. 24 Sep 1749, d. 6 Sep 1789, the son of Edward Perkins and Elizabeth Brenton (dau of Major Ebenezer Brenton, a grandson of Gov. Wm. Brenton). Joseph was a silversmith, goldsmith, and merchant, and by one account was, in 1781, a member of the Kingston Reds during the Am. Revolutionary War; this could not, however, be confirmed. Following his death, she m. (2) 7 November 1790 Elisha Reynolds POTTER, b. 5 Nov 1764, d. 26 Sep 1835, the son of Col. Thomas Potter and Elizabeth Reynolds. Mary had no children with either husband. Following Mary's death in 1809, her husband m. 9 July 1810 Mary's niece, Mary Mawney, the daughter of Pardon Mawney and Experience Gardner. Elisha Potter and both of his wives are buried in a locked family vault in the Col. Thomas Potter Cemetery in South Kingstown. Joseph Perkins is buried in a single-grave lot in S. Kingstown.
Family Members
Parents
Nicholas Gardner

Also Known As:
Caleb Gardner

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156423605/caleb_gardner

Buried:
Caleb Gardiner Lot
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 156423605

Caleb married Isabel Sherman on 20 Feb 1734 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. Isabel (daughter of Abiel Sherman and Dorcas Gardiner) was born on 9 Apr 1719 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died in Bef. 1796; was buried in Bef. 1796 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• TRIPP LINEAGE - 4TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678: 1600

Notes:

Isabel died before her husband who died in 1796.

Isabel was the daughter of Abiel Sherman and Dorcas Gardner of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. She was married in S. Kingstown 20 Feb 1734 to Caleb Gardner, the son of Nicholas Gardner and Mary Littlefield*. They had five daughters and a son.

* Maiden name could be Northup or Littlefield

Web Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156424267/isabel_gardner

TRIPP LINEAGE - 4TH GENERATION - John Tripp 1611-1678:
GEN4: ISABEL SHERMAN [4], Abiel Sherman3, Isabel Tripp2, John1)

Buried:
Caleb Gardiner Lot
Find a Grave Memorial ID: 156424267
* Burial is assumed at this location based on other family burials

Notes:

Married:
" His first cousin." The father of Caleb Gardiner, 4, Nicholas, 3, son of George, 2, and the mother of Isabel Sherman, Dorcas Gardiner, 3, daughter of William, 2, were first cousins, George, 2, and William, 2, being brothers. 2nd cousins*