It would be nice to know the name of Betsy Ann’s father, of course, as I would like to know the name of all of my American ancestors. But because of the uniqueness of her place on the very bottom line of my family tree, I really want to know the name of her mother and the first step in learning that brings us back to needing to know the name her father.

Now I have encountered some genealogical “dead-ends” because a wife’s name was inaccurately transcribed -- it was only by determining that Diana Mashon was in fact Diana Marshall, that I could move further along in that line. And if I could convince myself that Elizabeth Shorters was really Elizabeth Davis, research into that line could progress. But there is no reason to think Betsy Ann’s name was not Shanks (also spelled with a “c” -- Schanks, no “s” -- Shank, or an “e” Shenks -- and all variations of those). There was a man of that name in the 1800 Census in Baltimore (the year the information about the county was lost and only the city survived) and in 1810 several men named Shank in Baltimore County.

I consider William Shanks, in fact, a real possibility -- could that be where the name came from of Peter Potee’s son William H? The problem is, for now, I know little more about William. There was a William Shanks apparently elected as an elder in 1816 in the Baltimore Methodist Conference. Since the Potee family was associated with the Methodist Church newly formed in Baltimore, this is quite an interesting tidbit.

There were also a number of persons of this name in York County, PA at that time. For example, between 1749 (when York was formed) and 1825, wills were recorded for seven persons named Schank, Shank, Schenk or Shanks. Of course, I’ve examined them all. A Thomas Shanks died in 1806, for example, and named a daughter Elizabeth in his 1802 will. It’s a possible lead but as of now there is no reason to really think this was our Betsy Ann (who probably was actually named Elizabeth).

The search goes on.

Elizabeth Schank, born 8 Mar 1785, d/o Jacob and Dorothea, Dauphin County. LDS Scanned Images.

7 wills recorded 1749-1827 in York for Schank/Shank/Schenk/Shanks. LDS Scanned Images.

The 7 wills were Joseph, later his wife Elizabeth, John, Thomas, Henry and later Henry's daughters Magdalena then Mary.

Joseph & Elizabeth Schank had only one daughter, Barbara.

John, Henry and Thomas all had daughters named Elizabeth.

Book H 257. John Shank died in 1791, he had a daughter Elizabeth but he mentioned something about her child. No good.

Book L, 304. Henry Schenk of Codurus Twp died in 1805. He had a big family. Some of his daughters were already married and he named their husbands (our Betsy Ann married in 1806). He seemed to name his daughters from youngest to oldest and his daughter Elizabeth was second oldest -- so this seemed really promising.

But then in 1811, Magdalena d/o Henry died and named her three sisters including Elizabeth. She gave no married names but the wording would make it seem her sisters were unmarried.

And in 1815, same thing. Mary daughter of Henry died and she named her two sisters both with the name Schenk and no married names.

So I just think either Mary or Magdalena would have given a married name for Elizabeth if she were married. Or mentioned Baltimore. Or something.

Book L 335. So, the last man standing is Thomas who wrote his will 19 Mar 1802 and it proved 28 Jan 1806. He had sons William, David, James and Daughter Sarah (who he named Executor). And then he had daughters Elizabeth and Mary. So there is nothing to indicate this is the right Elizabeth. Thomas said he was of Harrington Township -- I can't find any record of that place.

There clearly was a documented record of the marriage of Peter Potee to Betsy Ann Shanks 12 May 1806, assuming a willingness to accept a spelling issue with the transcription.

The timing is perfect for this to have been Peter Potee, the younger, who was born in 1786 and whose daughter Sarah, I believe, was born in 1807. But there is no additional hard evidence that it was not Peter Potee Sr. who Betsy Ann married. The logic though is that Peter Sr.’s wife indeed was also named Elizabeth (and called Betsy Ann) -- she being also known as Elizabeth Hughes (the widow Hughes, I believe maiden name Sutton) when she married Peter Sr. -- and she being the Betsy Ann that Peter referred to in his arrangement with his grandson Isaac and that Peter’s son Sutton Potee named his daughter, Betsy Ann, after. (That may require a second read through to follow the logic.)

There is also the documented record of Peter Potee’s marriage to Mary Young 10 Feb 1820 and we have real evidence that Isaac Clare Potee was in fact the son of Peter Potee and Mary Young. But clearly, from Census, the man I believe was my ancestor Peter Potee Jr. was married and having children before 1820. I think it is quite reasonable to think that he did marry Betsy Ann in 1806 -- that fits quite nicely with an 1807 or so birth date for Sarah -- and then Betsy died young and he married second Mary Young. He had numerous children with both wives.

The estate of Peter Potee who died in 1833 was administered by Peter Potee -- the man I call Peter Potee Jr. I believe this was a son administering his father’s estate.

And Bobbi (Potee) Gress found this: Peter Potee was indentured to an apprenticeship to be a plasterer in 1801 at the age of 15 with his father, Peter’s, consent.

1810. Peter Patee is in Wards 2-6, BAL Co, MD. One male is under 10 and one 16-26; one female is under 10, one 10-16 and one 16-26.

1820. Peter Peter (but it is Potee) lives in Ward 10, BAL Co. There are three males <10, one 10-16 and one 26-45 and a female under 10, another 10-16 and yet another 26-45.

1820. Peter Potee lives in Ward 12, BAL Co. Males are 10-16, 16-18, 16-26 and 45+ and females <10 (2), 10-16(2), and 45+.

1830. Peter Pater (but it is Potee) lives in Ward 10, BAL Co. Males are under 5 (2), 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 and 40-50 and females under 5, 5-10, 10-15 and 40-50.

I have also seen he was buried in the Methodist Southern Cemetery 6 Feb 1840, age 52.

There is record of the marriage of Peter Potee and Mary Young on 10 Feb 1820, but we know that Peter Jr. was born about 1786. Also, from Census, Peter seemed already married by 1810 and in 1820 had several young children. The evidence seems clear that, if he married in 1820, it was a second marriage. Mary Young was not the mother of Peter’s older children.

Ancestry.com has a database consisting of directory listings from Baltimore City in the early 1800’s. A person’s name, occupation and address are given. I think these directories prove the presence of this family in downtown Baltimore (almost exactly where Camden Yards is today). The family members included: Peter (Sr. presumably) a carter (hauler of goods by wagon), Peter (Jr. presumably) plasterer, Francis whose occupations included last maker, sail maker and shingle dresser, Isaac a carter, James a carter and Sutton -- occupation not given.

Peter died intestate and his estate was administered by William G Krebs who didn’t file the accounting until 1849. He was a lawyer who also was appointed administrator of Isaac Potee. It could be argued that this is an indication that Isaac was Peter’s son, but I suspect it came about because Peter Sr. had named Isaac his executor but Isaac died before Peter Sr. and so then we know Peter Jr. took over and maybe the intertwining of things took a lawyer to settle it all out. William Krebs did not submit his account for either estate until 1849, when on two consecutive days he submitted both.

Peter, Francis, Sutton and James all served in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812.

In 1841, Wm Geo Krebs offered a lot and back house on Perry St for sale as apart of settling the estate of Peter Potee.

On the 6th inst., Peter Potee, of a long protracted illness, which he bore with christian fortitude, in the 54th year of his age, leaving a wife and eleven children to mourn their loss. His relations and friends are requested to attend his funeral, To-morrow (Sunday) Afternoon, at 3 o’clock, from his late dwelling, in Perry street, between Sharp and Howard streets, without further invitation.
SOURCE: Baltimore Sun (Baltimore) February 8, 1840

PETER POTEE ELEVEN CHILDREN

Peter Potee’s obit said he left eleven children. Who were they?

The assumption is he married twice: Betsy Ann Shanks in 1806 and Mary Cochran Young in 1820. I am numbering these children here only to indicate the order I am discussing them, it is not their chronological order. The first four are reasonably well documented, the latter two more educated guesses.  

1. Isaac C Potee. 1827-1905. The tombstone of his mother, Mary (Cochran), says it was placed by her son Isaac C Potee.
2. George Needham Potee. 1830-1895. His obituary says he was the brother of Isaac C Potee and they both were brickmakers. A biographical write-up on his son John E Potee says John’s grandfather was a plasterer. It doesn’t name that grandfather, but Peter Potee was a plasterer.
3. Elizabeth Potee. 1821-1899. Her marriage to Henry Eberhart is documented. In 1870, the younger Henry Enberhart 28 — a brick maker — is head of household and also present: Elizabeth age 69 (this must be the mother but that age is all wrong) and Mary Potee age 90. A death notice in the Baltimore Sun says Mary Potee, beloved wife of Peter, died at age 85 on 13 Oct 1870. The notice was posted by her daughter Mrs. Eberhart.
4. Thomas Potee. 1832-1896. The database, Virginia Marriages 1785-1940 (Ancestry,com), says Thomas Potee, widower, born 1832 in Baltimore, son of Peter and Mary Potee, married Ann Eliza McAlister in Henrico County, VA. In 1880, Thomas lived in Wash DC and his occupation was brickmaker.
5. Wm H Potee. From the 1850 Census, born 1823, a plasterer. He is in the family business. (Name is Potes on Ancestry.)
6. Frances (sic) Potee. In 1850, in Baltimore, spelled as the feminine, but said to be male and a brickmaker, the second family business, born 1818. In 1860, still in Baltimore, still a brick maker, now 48 [1812].

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Possible:

1. Sarah Poteet. (1807-1873). It has always been only a guess that her father was Peter, he was in the right place at the right time with a daughter of the right age and of a family where Sarah was an important name. All I know about Sarah is her approximate birth year and that she married in Baltimore County (to a husband from Harford County). But there are quite a number of arguments against. She married in a Presbyterian Church, when this family were strong Methodists. She seems to have spelled her name Poteet, when in this family the spelling had become almost exclusively tee. And DNA evidence which could have supported the idea she was Peter’s father is inconclusive at best.
2. Mary Ann Potee. There is a Baltimore County marriage record 11 Jul 1824 of Mary Ann Potee to George Shaffer and so Mary Ann has been picked up by some AWT and listed as a daughter of Peter’s.
3. Sarah Potee. There is a Baltimore County marriage record (by Minister Shane) 1 Jul 1834 of Sarah Potee to John Cloarty and so Sarah has been picked up by some AWT and listed as a daughter of Peter’s. (If she was, this rules out that my Sarah was too.). From Census, born 1815-1817 or so.

My final conclson is my Sarah (1807-1813) was not Peter’s daughter. I think it far more likely the other Sarah was.