John Potts

Who was John Potts?

John Potts was the founder of the town of Pottstown. He was also an ironmaster, merchant, and English Quaker.

John Potts, oldest son of Thomas and Martha Potts, was born about 1710, probably in the City of Philadelphia. He married Ruth Savage, daughter of Samuel and Ann Savage, on April 11, 1734. The marriage was accomplished after the manner of Friends, though not under their care or jurisdiction. John and Ruth had the following children: Thomas, b. 1735, Samuel, b. 1736; John, b. 1738; Martha, b, 1739–40; David, b. 1741; Joseph, b, 1742; Jonathan, b. 1745; Anna, b. 1747; Isaac, b. 1750; James, b. 1752; Rebeccah, b. 1755; Jesse, b. c. 1757; Ruth,b. 1759.

John Potts, like his father, was an enterprising businessman, and for many years was the largest and most successful iron-master in the American Colonies, operating mines, furnaces and forges, not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia. He long filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and was also a Judge of the Court Common Pleas.

In 1752, he purchased two tracts of land at the confluence of the Manatawny Creek and Schuylkill River, aggregating nearly one thousand acres. Here he laid out the town originally called