Julia Octavio Potter, Lowell Mills, Massachusetts, 1845

When I toured the Lowell National Historic Park last May 2013 (Lowell, Massachusetts) I found this posted mention of Julia Octavio Potter who signed a protest petition on 15 Jan 1845. Hopefully someone reading this post will recognize her and contact me to identify her. I thought that "Octavio" was a most unusual middle name and must be/might be a good clue?

Mr. Potter, Ventriloquist, Massachusetts, 1830 ??

"Mr. Potter, The American Ventriloquist, begs leave most respectfully to inform the Ladies and gentlemen of (blank) that he has returned after an absence of four years and hopes, by his exertions to please, to receive the patronage of a generous and enlightened public."

"Mr. Potter will (also) bring forward 100 curious but mysterious Experiments with eggs, money, fruit, birds, boxes, etc.. Among which will be presented the Philosophical Paper, that changes to various shapes, The Mysterious Dollars, and DECEPTIVE BALL, The Enchanted Egg, that dances a hornpipe with all the appearance of life....."

I visited Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts in May 2013. It's meant to replicate a typical New England village of 1830 and it was a delightful place to visit. This poster was glued to the wall outside the general store (that sold ice cream cones). Was there really a Mr. Potter, Ventriloquist?

George Potter, Today in Missouri

My sister-in-law lives in Kansas City and sent this notice to me. I wonder how many, if any, of the sales items were family heirloom items vs. his collections??? Would have been fun to attend.  Do be sure to click the link to learn more about George Potter, Jr., who was born in 1930. 

Centuries Old Antiques... and Modern Art The George Potter Jr. Estate A tagged Estate Sale inside the Potters' replica castle at 1239 West 61st Terrace, Kansas City MO. Their unique home is adorned with period 16th, 17th and 18th Century Architectural elements, Furniture Fine Art and much more. -Click Here For A Slide Show Preview-    -Click Here to read about George Potter Jr- Pre-sale BENEFIT OPENING  Thursday, June 13th from 3 to 8 p.m. Your $20 admission benefits Great Plains SPCA No Kill animal welfare organization. The folks from Great Plains SPCA will be on hand with tax deductible receipts and organization info. Additional sale hours for this large event: Thursday June 20th, 2 to 6 p.m. Friday June 21st, 10 to 4 Saturday June 22nd, 10 to 3 ALL ITEMS WILL BE PRICED AND AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE BENEFIT PRE-SALE ON THURSDAY JUNE 13TH!    EARLY FURNITURE Jacobean Style Oak Tester Bed with 17th Century Elements 17th C. Carved Oak Corner Cabinet on Stand 17th C. Coffer on legs with Carved Busts 18th and Early 19th C. Chippendale and Hepplewhite Side Chairs Early Trestle Base One Drawer Stand Early Elm Stand with Turned Legs joined by stretchers Early 19th C. Mahogany Fold-out Dressing Table 17th C. Pad Foot Queen Anne Stand Table with Carved Drawer Face Taller Narrow 19th C. Bow Front Hepplewhite Chest with Five Drawers Bronze Doré Mounted Boulle Cabinet Bronze Doré Mounted Boulle Lap Desk 19th and 20th Century Wood Vitrine Cabinets A variety of early 19th C. Side Chairs and Arm Chairs in Hepplewhite, Sheraton, Chippendale and other styles Dark Oak Gothic and Linenfold design Beds More not listed PARTIAL LISTING OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES - GLASS & PORCELAIN Collection of Early Pewter Collection of Modern Torso Sculptures Great Table Lamps in Bronze, Marble, Gilded Wood, Tole, Porcelain, etc. 18th C. Patch Boxes Lalique and other French Crystal and Opalescent 19th & 20th Century Sterling by British Makers and Tiffany & Co Wonderful 18th C. Altar Sticks 19th C. Carved Stone 29-inch Figure of a Lion w/ Heraldic Shield 100s of Pieces of 17th and 18th Century Dark Oak Architectural Elements and Panels including Gothic Motifs, Gothic Figures, Linen Folds, etc. 19th C. Carved Ivory Bust on Plinth (repair) Ivory and Semi-Precious Stone Boxes Wedgwood Queen's Ware Roman Glass Replicas and otherwise? 17th and 18th Century Cabinets and Coffers 18th and 19th Century English metal Mounted Coconut Cups Nearly 100 Pieces of Horse Brass Textiles and Draperies Mink Coats and Capes Steuben 'Teardrop' Martini Glasses Steuben Goblet with engraved Lion Laliqe French Crystal Tumblers Pittsburg Pillar Mold Bottles Very fine English and Irish Cut Glass Waterford Crystal Swarovski Crystal Civil War Soldier Tintype Image 18th C. Whale Bone and Silver Toddy Lifters Gorham' Etruscan' partial set sterling flatware 19th-century carved marble sculpture of woman and child Guilloché enamel Sterling box with Art Deco scene Collection of approximately 50 19th-century Staffordshire fairings Antique quilts Antiquarian books including many nice fine bindings Circa 1890s child size dresser and washstand with pressed designs Large collection of Halcyon days enamel boxes Many Limoges boxes including figural topped examples Many great table lamps including altar stick types and marble with bronze and bronze and cut English and Irish Crystal and gessoed and painted wood, etc. Erotic theme Indian miniature paintings Antique stereo viewer cards Coronation collectibles circa 1914 to 1980s Older Mink coats and capes in as found condition Antique Chinese embroidered robe Royal Crown Derby service plates for Ovington Brothers New York Steinway and sons grand piano serial number 217645, condition unknown. Model M? Antique Brass bugle stamped mark of Henry Potter London 1913 Vintage aviation photograph circa 1920s Bohemian Glass Liquer Set Large Set of KPM ARKADIA WHITE very fine Dinner Service Fine Crystal bowl on Stand with Engraved Hunt Scene A number of Obelisks made from a wide variety of materials Finely Painted 19th C. Porcelain Cabinet Cup and Saucer Sets Crown Derby and other early 19th C. Porcelain Collection of 100 English Cottage Miniatures Many sets of Finer Crytsal Stemware with Cut and Polished Designs Meissen Figure Grouping Wonderful Painted Iron Chandelier Collection of Blue Onion Porcelain Pieces Embroidered Chinese Mandarin Robe C. 19th century Early carved wood Crucifix Incredible Lace Table Cloth with Figures Art Deco influence Cocktail Shaker with Tiffany Sterling ANRI 75 Piece Nativity Set Silk Persian Rugs in poor condition STERLING SILVER AND PEARLS Sterling Silver Handle Grape Shears Large Sterling Silver serving trays Sterling Silver Footed Tray with handles Partial sets of Sterling Silver flatware Sterling silver pearl handle child s whistle Sterling silver and Ivory child's Rattle with rhymes circa 1915 Coin silver spoons Many small sterling silver frames Lewis Wise hammered sterling baby spoon Set of 10 interesting hoof-form sterling spoons signed Sanborn's Ornate Sterling Castors Silver Plated Candelabra Silver Plated Bacon Warmer Gorgeous Ross and Simons 18-inch strand of large 18mm Pearls (approximate sizes) FINE ART Oil on Canvas Portrait of a Woman in Blue Dress, Circle of Jonathan Richardson (London 1655 - 1745), measures 45 x 37 inches in large custom frame Oil on Canvas Portrait of Man in a Blue Robe, attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, 30 x 24 inches Oil on Panel by Bob Byerely dated 1975 Gordon Laite (1925-1978) Ink on Board Mary Jane Beggs (Born 1913 Lawrence KS) Watercolor Jack Garver (Born 1921 Kansas/New Mexico) Abstract Oil on Panel Pencil Signed Etching Attributed to Henri Matisse (1869-1954) Mamie Withers Wintermote (1885-1945) Oil on Canvas Thomas Creswick Watercolors Thomas Bush Hardy graphite on paper drawings circa 1876 George Potter Jr. artwork and prints Ken Ferguson Wheel Thrown Pottery Bowl More works not listed LARGE LIBRARY OF FINE BINDINGS AND OTHER BOOKS The History of The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire 1776 edition, six volumes, quarto leather, maps and frontpiecece present The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard, full red leather bound by Bayton, Bath, England Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers and other Poems, 1863, beautiful padded red leather Library of 19th C. Fine Bindings and Leather Bound Books Art and Architecture with focus on English Architecture Several Arthur Rackham Illustrated volumes Richard Nixon Signed and Boxed Volume The Memoirs of Richard Nixon (damp damage) Vincent Price Signed copy from his library Sizable collection of 18th and 19th century wood engraving bookplates, some hand colored Early indenture on vellum A few 18th and 19th century maps Easton Press Leather Books Massive Collection of Art Books and Reference Material ELECTRONICS Pioneer SX850 Receiver Pioneer PL518 Direct Drive Turntable MISCELLANEOUS A full range of Household Items, Housewares, Small Appliances, China, Pottery, Cookware, Clothing and Bedding A small workshop full of tools and materials Nail Guns Power Tools Good sized Air Compressor More

Wives of Anthony Potter (1627-1689)

Anthony Potter, born about 1627 in England, possible son of Robert, came to the Massachusetts Colony as one of the first settlers. I trace my line back to Anthony (as dubbed Branch 1 in Potter Profiles). Anthony married twice, both times to an Elizabeth, and these two women have been scrambled more than once.

Anthony did marry first to Elizabeth Whipple, daughter of John and Sarah Whipple. She died young (perhaps in childbirth??) and Anthony married second to Elizabeth Stone, daughter of Gregory and Lydia (Cooper) Stone of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Quoting from a letter to me from Barbee Hodgkins, 1986, as published in Vol. 7 of Potter Profiles, Barbee wrote:  "About the wives of Anthony Potter. I fell into the same trap others have not been able to avoid in thinking that the mother of Anthony's children was Elizabeth Whipple. She died without producing any children. In re-reading the will of John Whipple carefully, that document offers the clue in one word. John Whipple describes Anthony Potter as "my sometime son-in-law." In the Deacon Stone Genealogy, both wives are mentioned, clearly stating that Elizabeth Whipple died in 1648 but left no children and that the mother of all Anthony's children was Elizabeth Stone."

I'm positive that a careful combing through the pages of Potter Profiles would find many submissions giving this same documenting information. Let's not any of us perpetuate this error!