American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
Women played an essential role in American society as mothers and homemakers.
Sarah Kimball Potter was born on July 29, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were John Kimball and Mary Bradstreet.
She married John Potter. John was born about 1652 in Ipswich. His parents were Anthony and Elizabeth Potter. According to Cutter, his mother was Elizabeth Whipple and according to Stone his mother was Elizabeth Stone.
When they married they received a gift of land valued at £30 from her father.
Their children inclued:
Mary Potter,
Esther Potter,
John Potter (1680),
Sarah Potter (1685),
Elizabeth Potter (1695,
married Jonathan Perkins) and
Aaron Potter (1699, married Sarah Appleton).
John died September 9, 1718. He was buried in the "Old Yard" at Ipswich. Sarah died in 1724.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
Various spellings of Kimball:
Kemball, Kembolde, Kembold
Sarah Kimball, born July 29, 1661; died in 1724; md. John Potter,of Ipswich; first child, Sarah Potter, born Dec. 11, 1685.
Reg. Deeds, Bk. 14, p. 103:
Benj & Joseph Kimball to John Potter;
whereas our honored father John Kimball Ips. late dec'd. did upon the marriage of our sister Sarah, unto John Potter Ips. give as part of her portion a parcel of land valued at £30 which said land sd Potter enjoyed till sd parents dec. and sd parent not having given a deed we the sd Benj and Jos. do convey according to his will &c.
Thos. Potter, Nathl Knowlton, to wit.
1756
The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.
Early European settlers in the American colonies were mostly farmers and craftsmen. They had to work hard to provide daily neccesities for themselves.
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: Volume 1
edited by William Richard Cutter
Anthony Potter, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1628, died in 1690. He settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where he is first recorded in 1648..... Mr. Potter owned a farm, one of the best in town, on the road to Salem, about a mile southwest of Ipswich village, and extending north to Ipswich river. He was successful in the raising of fruit. He and his wife gave a silver cup to the Ipswich Church.
His wife's tombstone at Ipswich bears the following inscription:
Here lys burried Mrs. Elizabeth Potter,
who died March ye 10, 1712,
aged 83 years.
A tender mother,
A prudent wife,
At God's command
Resigned her life.
Anthony Potter married Elizabeth Whipple, born 1629, died 1712, daughter of Deacon John and Sarah Whipple.
Children:
John, born at Ipswich in 1652;
Edmund, born at Ipswich in 1654;
Samuel,
Thomas, died 1745 ;
Anthony, died 1756;
Elizabeth, born about 1661, died before 1730;
Lydia.
ye is an archaic spelling of "the."
Gregory Stone Genealogy: Ancestry and Descendants of Deacon Gregory Stone By Joseph Gardner Bartlett
Elizabeth [Stone], bapt. 6 Mar. 1628/9; came to New England in 1635 with her parents; m. about 1652, Anthony Potter of Ipswich, Mass., b. in England about 1627 (a stepson of Elder John Whipple of Ipswich, Mass.), d. in Ipswich in 1689/90.
In Sept. 1653, Anthony Potter of Ipswich was presented to the court for allowing his wife to wear a silk hood; but he was discharged on proving he was worth £200. (Essex County Court Files, printed vol. 1, p. 304.)
She d. at Ipswich 10 Mar. 1712, aged 83 years, according to her gravestone.
Children (Potter):
1. John, b. abt. 1653.
2. Edmund, b. abt. 1655.
3. Samuel, b. abt. 1657.
4 Elizabeth, b. abt. 1659, m. abt. 1681, Thomas Kimball.
5. Lydia, b. abt. 1661, m. abt. 1683, Jonathan Putnam.
6. Thomas, b. abt. 1664.
7. Anthony, b. abt. 1667.
To be presented to the court meant to be charged or indited.
