Peter Potter1

M, #5079, b. 9 June 1793, d. 3 November 1864
FatherJohn Watsford2 b. 24 Mar 1765
MotherAnn Burtenshaw2 b. 21 Jul 1771, d. Mar 1817
Relationship4th great-grandfather of Keith Graham Bassett
ChartsAncestors of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited24 Apr 2021
Baptism*9 June 1793 St Michael the Archangel, South Malling, Sussex;
Peter Potter son of John & Ann Potter2 
Marriage*1 February 1813 St Thomas, Lewes, Sussex;
Peter Potter of this Parish
and Jane Sinden of this Parish
were married in this Church by Banns with Consent of
this first Day of
February in the Year One thousand eight hundred and thirteen
By me John Lupton Rector
This Marriage was solemnized between us:
Peter Potter
Jane Sinden
In the Presence of:
James Potter
Mercy Gurnet;Bride=Jane Sinden3 
Death of MotherMarch 1817 South Malling, Suusex;Principal=Ann Burtenshaw4 
Census 1831*31 May 1831 St John sub Castro, Lewes, Sussex;
Potter Isaac, Coach Painter, 4 males, 2 females
Potter Peter, Blacksmith, 6 males, 6 females5 
News-Arct2 May 1839 "The Brighton Gazette", Brighton, Sussex;
...letter written [Adelaide January 26, 1839] by a highly respectable agriculturalist, who lately emigrated from the neighbourhood of Lewes, and whose observations will, we are sure, be read with great interest....
If notwithstanding what I have written the question is put to me, would you advise your friends to emigrate to South Australia? My answer would be this, if you have a capital or business whereby to support your family at home and provide for them afterwards, stop at home—if, however, you have a family with a small capital, or even single, and would not mind a few inconveniences to enable you in a few years to make a fortune, I say come without a moment’s delay, but by all means come as a cabin passenger, as you will have to lay out nearly the difference in order to make your journey supportable if you come in any other part of the ship....6 
Immigration*24 August 1839 "Somersetshire", Port Adelaide, SA, Australia;
Peter Potter, 46, coachsmith, 5 children;Immigrant=Jane Sinden1,7 
News-Arct*31 August 1839 "The South Australian Register", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS
August 24 - The barque Somersetshire, 600 tons, Jackson, Commander, from London, April 20, with passengers, emigrants, and British merchandise.;Principal=Jane Sinden8 
News-Arct21 November 1840 "The Reading Mercury", Reading, Berkshire;
Adelaide.- The following is the copy of a letter written by Peter Potter, who emigrated to South Australia two years since, from Lewes, which we extract from the Sussex Advertiser. Such an unfavourable description of the land of promise we have not yet seen:-
Ädelaide, March 4, 1840
“Dear Brothers and Sisters,-I write these few lines to you, hoping that you are all well, as we are at present; but this is quite a different country and place from what is represented in England, I do assure you, and if all would write truth, there would not be half so many come out; for eight out of ten working people that I have spoken to about the circumstances say they should be so glad to get back again if they knew how to do so.
“I think of making another move to New Zealand, or somewhere else, where it is colder, as it is so alarmingly hot here. I shall be glad to hear from you, for I would not advise any mechanic to come here whatever with a family. Although wages are high, provisions are very dear, and so is rent, for we now pay 12s. per week for a mud house, about fit for a pig-sty, but it is called quite a comfortable house. Here are plenty of London bugs and fleas-the ground quite swarms with them. I do assure you it is a most dreadful place to bring a family to; drunkenness and vice of all descriptions are practised here to an alarming height. The accounts you have sent to England come back to us again, and they are anything but the truth. I do assure you, instead of this being a land of butter and eggs, it is a land of sand and vermin; if we lie down and sleep in the day, the flies will blow our eyes, ears, or nose, and there will be maggots in a few hours. Thomas Harmer got a little fresh on Christmas-day, and fell asleep, got maggoty in his ears, and was nearly crazy. The doctor took out nine, three-eighths of an inch long, and one-eighth in size. We have only had one die that came from Lewes, that is James Hearsey.
“You may show this letter to any hat talk of coming out, as I cannot wish any of my friends to come to us by any means at present. I have sent you some manna, such as the Israelites did eat; we get it about twenty miles up the country; it is found on the ground; they use it for medicine; and some castor oil seeds, some for you and some for Caleb. We are all at work, and are doing middling. Here is plenty of work, and I expect to be in a shop of my own soon. We are all within three miles of one another. I have seen Mr. Godley, and they are all doing middling. I told you I would send it just as I found it, and so I have. Many say that they do not like to make their friends uneasy, and so write what is not the truth.
“Let Mr. Davis see this, and tell him I shall always write the truth. Money is very scarce ever since we have been here, but plenty of trade and an over-stock of hands. Tailors, smiths, and all sorts of trades are going into the forest splitting timber. I have been at work in the city ever since I have been here. The natives are the most ugly, dirty race that ever was in this world, I do believe. I must tell you about them, for I do not wish you to come and see them at present at any rate.
“We are very backward in all agricultural pursuits, but all sorts of cattle are very plentiful, and doing very well; if let run in the rough they get very fat. Our sand storms are worse than your snow storms, I assure you, and when it does rain, there is no mistake about it, and I have thought the whole world be blown away together, and I don’t know if it would be of much consequence if it did. If you come you must expect to live a life like hogs, I can assure you: it is not worth any one’s time and trouble, in my opinion, until we can grow our own corn. Last year we sowed about 100 acres, and this year about 1,000. People are leaving for the country very fast, for farming, as it is more healthy than the city. There is a great mortality in it, and plenty of work for the doctors. When the Buckinghamshire people came out Francis told me they lost 100 souls. I have known seven or eight at a time lie dead, so you must not believe all you hear about this beautiful place.
“I remain, your affectionate brother,
“P. POTTER.”9 
News-Arct12 December 1840 "Australasian and South African Chronicle, London;
PETER POTTER, v. SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RECORD AND AUSTRALASIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN CHRONICLE.
SIR,—A letter having been copied into several papers (which first appeared in the Sussex Agricultural Express), from an emigrant named Potter, who was sent out from Lewes to South Australia in April, 1839, intended to make an unfavourable impression on the minds of those interested in the welfare of that colony, and knowing there are some omissions and discrepancies in the transcripts, I have taken the liberty of addressing you, that the public may judge fairly of the weight due to such a letter, and likewise of the man that wrote it; and I flatter myself they will think with me, that it is an effusion of gross ingratitude and injustice, from the pen of a discontented, disaffected man; for he says, " I am not sorry I left home myself, and if I make another move," &c. The first part of this sentence the copyist has omitted, and then makes him say, " I mean to make another move," which is not correct. And in another part of his letter (which has likewise been omitted) he says, " I write in great haste, as the letter must be sent to-morrow, so there will be plenty to make you all laugh." * * * Now, sir, if Mr Peter Potter has no reason to be sorrowful, he ought to feel grateful; and if his privations and difficulties have been no greater than he thinks will cause his friends laughter, he must complain from a dissatisfied disposition. The disgusting statement he makes of Thomas Harman getting a "little fresh," and having "his ears flyblown and filled with maggots," is not so surprising to me, knowing that the said Thomas Harman was, for years previous to his leaving England, subject to a disease in the ears; and being of dirty and drunken habits fully accounts for the revolting situation in which he was placed.
But Mr Peter Potter says we are not to believe all we hear about this beautiful country, and I know no reason why Mr Potter is more entitled to our credit than many others that have been quoted;—and if I am not intruding too much on your valuable columns, I will write an extract from a letter received from Robert and Mercy Burfield (son-in-law and daughter of Peter Potter), who went out in the same ship, and whose letter bears the same date:—" We arrived safe, after a passage of five months, with the loss of only one child in the vessel. We received a fortnight's rations, and a doctor for three months—but I soon got better, and went to work, not at my trade, for there were nine smiths in our ship, and all could not get work directly; so I went to stock-keeping, which suited me very well, as I was weak. I had a horse to ride, and 2/. per week. In a short time father (Peter Potter) took a shop with another man; and this man agreed to purchase the premises in four months, but when the time came he could not raise the money, (500/.), so father gave it up, which threw me out of work. But I soon got work again, at Mr Mathews's, of Weymouth street, where I have 3/. Per week. C. G and myself have bought three freehold allotments of land for 25/., which are now worth 50/. I have built a place to live in, but as soon as I can I shall have a brick house built. We have built a workshop, and intend going partners, for there is a good opening; but I shall not leave my place, as I can do a great deal overtime. We work from six to six; on Saturdays we leave off at four, and begin at seven on Mondays; one hour is allowed for dinner, and one for breakfast. We have bought a lot of fowls at 8s. each, which pay us well: we get from 4s. to 6s. per dozen for eggs. We are going to buy some pigs next week, and then a cow, for we have a fine place for her to run in.
"We fetch our water from the Torrens, which is very good. I do not regret coming out here, for I know I should not have been worth half so much if I had staid in England. I can save 30s. a week, and sometimes more. And my wife could have plenty of work, but our little child has been ill, so she has had no time; but she is getting better, and I think, when we get used to the climate, we shall all have our health better—it will be like second nature to us.
"Our winters are not colder than your spring, but it was very hot here at Christmas. The wind is very powerful, and sometimes the town is covered with dust; but I think it a fine country, and there never was a more thriving colony. They are pulling down the old houses and building good brick ones in all parts of the town. The governor has as fine a house as any in Brighton; and the Wesleyan chapel is a fine building. There is one thing we miss very much, that is, fruit; we have none at present, but I hope we soon shall, for things grow very fast in the gardens. We had a fine season last year, and plenty of rain : there was but little corn sown, but what was is excellent. The farmers are getting out into the bush and tilling their ground very fast, and it is expected we shall have a good harvest this season. If we have good seasons the colony must flourish. There is some land as good as ever was ploughed. Cattle do surprisingly well, and will keep themselves fat all the year round, and breed very fast: we can scarcely move without running over pigs and dogs. We have no wild rabbits or hares, but we have other animals as good, which I have eaten. The natives are very harmless, but some of them run about quite naked; they bring us wood and water for biscuits and rice, but they will not work hard."
Now I do think, if this young man, possessing nothing but industrious habits, has been enabled to effect so much towards competency and comfort in the short space of six months, surely it is a good place for any industrious family to go to, as they may rest well satisfied that the trifling discomforts (of fleas and bugs, which Sir Potter has been so loud in complaining of) will recede before cleanliness, and industry, and temperate habits.
I will now conclude with an extract from a letter received from the widow of James Hearsey, whose death Potter names, but had not the good feeling to state the very liberal treatment she received from the commissioners, which she gratefully acknowledges. After giving an affecting account of her husband's death and her own illness, she proceeds—
"Everything was done very comfortable or my dear husband, at the commissioners' expense. We were allowed the doctor, who is a very nice man—he behaved so very kind to us. This will be eight weeks I have been under his hands; I am allowed a nurse, too, but I hope this will be the last week with them, as I can get about a little, and walk a short distance. I am allowed rations at present, enough for us all (six children), except flour, of which there is a short allowance. I have met with the most kind neighbours, and I can say I have never wanted for anything, nor have my children, for which I am truly thankful."
If the public will look fairly at this statement and at that, they will have no trouble in coming to a just conclusion of the weight due to such letters as Peter Potter's.
I am, sir,
Yours respectfully,
J. M.PRESCOTT,
Iver, Buckinghamshire.10 
News-Arct17 February 1849 "The South Australian Register", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
DECLARATIONS OF ACREAGE
Abstract of declaration of acreage deposited at the Crown Lands Office, in pursuance of the provisions of the Ordinance No. 10, 1848.
CHAS. BONNEY.
J. W. MACDONALD.
Commissioners of Crown Lands.
Hundred of Barossa.
No. of Acres.
Potter, P…….115

Hundred of Moorooroo
No. of Acres.
Milgate, J…… 70
Potter, P……. 80

Hundred of Willunga
No. of Acres.
Mason, J…… 4011 
News-Arct9 February 1850 "The South Australian Register", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
DECLARATIONS OF ACREAGE
Corown Lands Office, February 6, 1850
Abstract of Declaration of Acreage deposited at the Crown Lands Office, in pursuance of the provisions of the Ordinance No. 10, 1848.
CHAS. BONNEY.
J. W. MACDONALD.
Commissioners of Crown Lands.
Hundred of Barossa.
No. of Acres.
Newell, W……128
Potter, P……. 15712 
News-Arct10 May 1850 "The Adelaide Times", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
PASTURAGE CERTIFICATES.
List of persons who have taken out Pasturage Certificates for the year ending the 31st March, 1850:—
No. of Great Cattle authorised to be depastured.     
Hundred of Barossa.
Newell, W……32
Potter, P…… 2013 
News-Arct17 June 1851 "The South Australian Register", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
PASTURAGE CERTIFICATES.
Crown Lands Office, June 25, 1851.
List of persons who have taken out Pasturage Certificates for the year ending 31st March, 1852 : —
Right of Pasturage calculated for Great Cattle.
HUNDRED OF.BAROSSA.
Potter, P……..40
HUNDRED OF MOOROOROO.
Newell, W……2814 
Will*8 November 1855 Lyndoch Valley, SA, Australia;
This is the last Will and Testament of Mr Peter Potter of Lyndock Valley in the Province of South Australia Farmer All my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Jane Potter for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same unto and amongst my dear children as is hereinafter mentioned viz To my dear Son Samuel Potter I give and Devise All that piece or parcel of land containing Fifty eight Acres (more or less) being Section No 566 in the Lyndock Valley Survey in the Hundred of Barossa in the said Province To hold the same unto the said Samuel Potter his heirs and assigns for ever Together with a right of road for the said Samuel Potter over the Northern side of Section No 566A and numbered No 565 as is hereinafter more particularly mentioned To my dear Son George Potter I give and devise All that piece or parcel of land containing fifty one Acres (more or less) being Section No 566 with about ten acres of land adjoining on the Eastern side of Section No 565 in the Lyndock Valley Survey aforesaid Together with a right of Road over the remaining part of Section No 565 as is hereinafter more particularly mentioned To hold the same until the said George Potter his Heirs and assigns for ever Subject to a right of Road over the same for the said Samuel Potter his heirs and assigns as is hereinafter more particularly mentioned To my dear Son Edward Potter I give and Devise All the remaining part of the said Section No 565 containing Seventy Acres (be the same more or less) situate in the Lyndoch Valley Survey aforesaid To hold the same unto the said Edward Potter his Heirs and assigns for ever Subject to a right of Road over the same for the said Samuel Potter and George Potter their Heirs and assigns as is hereinafter more particularly mentioned And I do hereby declare that it is my Will and Mind that the said Samuel Potter and George Potter and their respective Heirs and assigns shall have liberty of ingress egress and regress at all times for themselves and their servants with or without all and all manner of Drays Carts Carriages Horses and Cattle in over and upon a certain Road of the width of Twenty feet inside and along the Northern fence of Sections N 566A and No 565 hereinafter given and devised to the said Samuel Potter and George Potter and their respective Heirs and assigns To my dear Sons the said Samuel Potter, George Potter and Edward Potter I give and Devise All that piece or parcel of Land containing Fifty seven acres and a half (be the same more or less) situate in the Hundred of Barossa aforesaid and being the Southern half of Section No 2710 And also all that piece or parcel of Land containing Thirty five acres (be the same more or less) being the Southern Half of Section No 636 in the Wiltshire Survey in the County of Light in the said Province To hold the same unto the said Samuel Potter, George Potter and Edward Potter their Heirs and assigns or tenants in common and not as joint tenants Subject nevertheless to the payment of the several Legacies hereinafter mentioned viz to my dear Son Caleb Potter I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds To my dear son James Potter I give and bequeath the legacy or sum of Twenty five pounds To my dear daughter Mercy Burfield I give and bequeath the legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds To my dear daughter Jane McInytre I give and bequest the legacy or sum of twenty five pounds To my dear Son Thomas Potter I give and bequeath he legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds To my dear daughter Hannah Martin I Give and bequeath the legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds To James Potter Milgate I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds And to my dear daughter Mary Ann Allen I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Twenty five pounds which said several Legacies I hereby direct shall be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my said Wifes decease All the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever from and after the decease of my said dear Wife Jane Potter I give and bequeath unto my dear Sons the said Samuel Potter George Potter and Edward Potter in equal Shares and proportions And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Caleb Potter and Samuel Potter joint executors of this my last Will and Testament and hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made do declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this eighth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty five
Peter Potter
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Peter Potter as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
John Edwin Gameau
Solicitor Gawler Town
Frederick Codd;Beneficiary=Jane Potter, Beneficiary=Caleb Potter, Beneficiary=James Potter, Beneficiary=Samuel Potter, Beneficiary=George Potter, Beneficiary=Edward Potter, Beneficiary=Mary Ann Potter, Beneficiary=James Milgate, Beneficiary=Mercy Potter, Beneficiary=Jane Potter, Beneficiary=Hannah Potter, Beneficiary=Thomas Potter15 
Death*3 November 1864 Lyndoch, SA, Australia;
When Died: November 3rd 1864
Name and Surname: Peter Potter
Sex: Male
Age: 71 Years
Rank or Profession: Blacksmith
Usual Residence: Lyndoch
Cause of Death: Dysentry
Place where Death occurred: Lyndoch16 
News-Arct*7 November 1864 
DEATHS.
POTTER.— On the 3rd November, at his residence, Lyndoch Valley, Mr. Peter Potter, aged 71 years (a colonist of 26 years), formerly of Lewes, Sussex, England.17 
Burial*November 1864 Lyndoch Cemetery, Lyndoch, SA, Australia;
18
Peter & Jane Potter headstone
News-Arct11 February 1865 "The South Australian Weekly Chronicle, Adelaide, SA, Australia;
NOTICE. — All persons having any CLAIMS on the ESTATE of the late PETER POTTER, of Lyndoch Valley, farmer, are requested to send notice of such Claims to Mr. Samuel Potter, Lyndoch Valley, on or before the first day of March, 1865; no. claims after the above date will be acknowledged.
CALEB POTTER,
SAMUEL POTTER,
Trustees.19 
News-Arct18 February 1865 "The Adelaide Observer", Adelaide, SA, Australia;
On WEDNESDAY, February 22, at 2 o'clock.
AT THE RESIDENCE OF MR. SAMUEL POTTER, NEAR LYNDOCH VALLEY.
C. VON BERTOUCH is instructed by the Executors of the estate of the late
Peter Potter to sell as above—
2 Good MARES
2 Cows and Calves, Heifer, 1 Bullock, 1 Bull
Dray, Winnowing-Machine
Ploughs, Harrows, Harness
Thrashing and Land Roller, and Sundries.;Principal=Samuel Potter20 

Family

Jane Sinden b. 26 Aug 1789, d. 21 Sep 1871
Children

Citations

  1. [S1309] Family History South Australia.
  2. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism Peter Potter 1793.
  3. [S1816] Lewes St Thomas Bishops Transcripts.
  4. [S1622] Findmypast Sussex Burial Transcriptions, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Anne Potter 1817.
  5. [S1728] 1831 Census - St John sub Castro, Lewes, Sussex.
  6. [S1688] Findmypast British newspapers, online http://www.findmypast.com/, The Brighton Gazette, May 2, 1839.
  7. [S1694] Findmypast Emigrants Seeking Free Passage to South Australia 1836-1841, online http://www.findmypast.com/, Peter Potter 1839.
  8. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Register, Saturday, August 31, 1839.
  9. [S1688] Findmypast British newspapers, online http://www.findmypast.com/, The Reading Mercury, November 21, 1840.
  10. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, Australasian and South African Chronicle, Saturday, December 12, 1840.
  11. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Register, Saturday, February 17, 1849.
  12. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Register, Saturday, February 9, 1850.
  13. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Adelaide Times, Friday, May 10, 1850.
  14. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Register, Friday, June 17, 1851.
  15. [S201] Will.
  16. [S1556] South Australian Death Registrations transcript (Keith Bassett), Peter Potter 1864.
  17. [S1470] NLA Australian Newspapers (Trove), online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Register, Monday, November 7, 1864.
  18. [S1603] Keith Bassett photos.
  19. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The South Australian Weekly Chronicle, Saturday, February 11, 1865.
  20. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Adelaide Observer, Saturday, February 18, 1865.
  21. [S1567] England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, online https://familysearch.org, Caleb Potter 1813.
  22. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism James Potter 1815.
  23. [S1311] IGI batch C022636 - Lewes, Sussex.
  24. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism Thomas Potter 1820.
  25. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism William Potter 1822.
  26. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism Samuel Potter 1830.
  27. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism George Potter 1832.
  28. [S1528] Sussex Family History Group, online http://www.sfhg.org.uk/, baptism Edward Potter 1835.