Source - Early Records of Simpson Families, compiler Helen A. Simpson, J.B. Lippincott Co, Philadelphia, 1927, pp 347-361:
1686 First noticed in PA, as witness to marriage of Jane Potts and John Austin, in connection with family of Elizabeth Potts of Wales
1693 Tax list, the earliest known of Phila. Co.: Jonas Potts and Thomas Whitton assessed together in Cheltenham Tp.
1693 June 12, Jonas Potts of Philadelphia bought from Jacob Tellner, 133 acres in Cheltenham Tp. Sold same to James WIlliams of Darby on Dec. 8, 1701. Deed Book 80, p 574, at Norristown. THis deed was not recorded until 1851, one hundred and fifty years after it was made.
1701 Held office of Ranger for Phila. Co. term expiring 1702
1701 & 1706 elected High Sheriff of Germantown. This office, also named "Court Sheriff," in England conferred knighthood on the holder and still does. The fact that the office of High Sheriff in Colonial courts, of America makes the descendants eligible to the Society of the Colonial Dames. Cite: Collections of the Historical Society of PA, Vol. 6 and Vol XXXI. Extracts from the courts held in Germantown, 1691-1707, p 249: "At a court of record held at Germantown 9th day of Dec., 1701, before Aret Klinken, Bailiff, ... John Cunard Colweis being recorder... and Jonas Potts Sheriff. ...The Sheriff, Jonas Potts, gave Abraham Up de Graef the lie for saying that s'd Sheriff agreed with Matthew Peters to take for his fee 7s. 6d., which, upon acknowledgment was forgiven and laid by."
Also p 247. "The 2d Dec. A.D., 1706, being the 2d day of the week and appointed time of election, at a general court held at Germantown ... the following persons were chosen to serve the ensuing year in Courts of Record, viz: ... Jonas Potts, Sheriff."
1703 2 mo. 8, Radnor Monthly Meeting states that Gwynedd Friends had laid before this meeting that Jonas Potts and his wife being poore and having divers small children need assistance to buy a cow. Jonas is "desired to bring a certificate from his former meeting."
1703 3 mo 31, Abington Meeting grants certificate to Jonas Potts' wife being removed to North Wales, where her parent lived.
1703 5 mo. 8, Mary Potts certificate of Dublin Monthly Meeting read and recorded.
1705 Oct. 2, Jonas Potts of Germantown, planter, bought from Arnold Koster two tracts, one of 20.75 acres in the inhabited part of Germantown; the other 29.25 acres of side land. Record sale of both tracts. Witness, Thomas Potts.
1707 1 mo. 31, Abington Meeting: Jonas Potts' wife having been a long while sick, whereby his family stand in great need of assistance.
1708 Bondsman for Jane Potts Austin, Admx. The account book of Francis D. Pastorius contains entries against Jonas Potts for drawing up legal papers and teaching his children.
1710 5 mo. 31, Abington Meeting granted certificate to Jonas Potts for his removal to Perquamen (Perkiomen).
1712 Leased 200 acres in Gilbert's Manor (present TP. of Upper Providence, nearly all of Lower Providence and parts of Perkiomen and Worchster Tps. bisected by Perkiomen Creek) in Montgomery Co. (from early Phil. Co.) for 5 years with privilege of buying it, applied for, 8 months later. This land was on the Schuykill River, within the limits of the present Limerick Township, Montgomery County. He is mentioned as of GIlberts or Limerick, from time to time.
1713, 20th 11mo., Minutes of Board of Property, "Jonas Potts desires that he may purchase on the same terms those 300 acres in Gilbert's which he held on Lease 5 yrs." ... Whether he obtained title to this property is not clear.
1713 Abington Meeting granted certificate for Jonas Potts removal to Philadelphia
1726 Contract to furnish walnut logs for the Proprietor's use. Board of Property Minute Bk.
1737 Signed by his mark, as "of Limerick," a mortgage. Loan Bk., Phila.
1755 Lands of Jonas Potts mentioned as a boundary, in PA Gazette, June 13
He was twice married, for his son David calls Jonas II his half-brother, in a deed.
As there is no record of his death it is supposed he followed his children to VA., Fairfax Co. (now Loudon): David in 1745 and Rachel & Joseph Burson in 1753
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Source - The Life of Francis Daniel Pastorius, The Founder of Germantown, Marion Dexter Learned, 1908, Philadelphia, William J Campbell, p 182: Listed among the original subscribers to the school opened in Germantown, January 11, 1702 was one Jonas Potts. No children named Potts were listed among the pupils that first year, which would agree with the ages of Jonas' children.
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Clarence V. Roberts tells in his book "History of the Potts Family" , Jonas Potts, father of Rachel Potts, founded the town of Pottsdown, Pennsylvania. From early Pennsylvania Land Records, dated March 30, 1707, Min. Bk I, p. 721 we quote, "Jonas Potts, having obtained of the late Commissioners a grant of 300 a. in Gilbert's Manor for seven years under a certain rent, applies to the Board for the privilege of purchasing it. But he is first ordered to pay the arrears due on his lease and after an exact return of Survey of the whole Manor has been made, he may further apply for it and is to have the preference of it before all others, he paying as good a price for it." (1708) Philadelphia County.
