#4500 Allen Potter

Born: April 7, 1771

Died: November 1, 1831, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut

father: Timothy Potter

mother: #4878 Susanna Punderson

married: Patty Stow

children:

#4505 Maria Potter b: June 7, 1798; m: Philip Frazier

#4506 Henry Potter b: April 15, 1800

#4507 Seymour Potter b: December 25, 1801; m: Fanny ?

#4508 Allen Potter b: March 11, 1804

#4509 Jennet Potter b: February 28, 1806; d: July 23, 1896; m: Henry Barnes May 16, 1825

#4510 Elihu Potter b: March 15, 1808; d: July 23, 1896

#4511 Timothy Potter b: June 11, 1810; d: September 30, 1815

#4512 Abigail Stow Potter b: July 11, 1812, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut; d: December 6, 1891, Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey; m: John Dewin Beers b: 1808; d: March 7, 1883, Elizabeth,Union, New Jersey

#4513 Adaline Potter b: August 7, 1814

#4514 Marietta Potter b: January 1, 1817

#4515 Julia A Potter b: July 7, 1821; m: James B Munson b: about 1813

Notes:  Patty Stow b: May 20, 1776 Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut; d: after 1830; dau of George and Abigail (Shepard) Stow

Allen Potter was born 7 April 1771, probably in New Haven, the son of Timothy and Susanna (Punderson) Potter, two of the founding members of Hamden, Connecticut. He was sometimes called “Alling Potter,” probably after his great-grandmother Sarah Alling.  Hamden, Connecticut was created in 1786 from what was previously New Haven. So, it is likely that Allen was born “officially” in New Haven, but on land which became Hamden in 1786.

On 9 April 1794 in the Connecticut Journal newspaper appeared the following:

Hampden, April 9, 1794 — On Monday last, Capt. Thomas Potter, of Hampden, ordered out his company for exercising — Mr. Allen Potter called on him in the morning, and as is customary on such occasions, discharged his piece to honor his Captain, which burst into a number of pieces, one went thro’ his clothes into his breast, and one into his shoulder — by its bursting, tore off his hand, all but his thumb, which hung by a tendon; the Doctor examined his wounds, judged them not mortal, and proceeded to amputate his hand; he bore the operation with great resolution, and sent the shattered remains of his hand out to the company as a warning to his fellow soldiers. What is remarkable, that it happened on his birthday, he being 23 years old. He appears to be in a fair way of recovery.

Allen Potter’s father, Timothy Potter, died in 1799, leaving a will, which states, in part:

Whereas my son Alling Potter hath met with the misfortune to luce one of his hands my Will is that he shall have paid to him twenty pounds lawful money over and above his equal proportion with his other brothers.

Allen Potter married Patty Stow, daughter of George and Abigail (Shepard) Stow of Middletown, Connecticut. He appears as the head of a household in Hamden in the 1800, 1820 and 1830 U.S. Censuses. He was made a Freeman of the town of Hamden on 15 September 1800. In 1821-1822, he served as a selectman in that town.

Allen Potter died 1 November 1831 in New Haven, according to the newspapers of the time. He was buried in State Street Cemetery in Hamden, Connecticut. Patty outlived her husband; she was listed as 71 years old in the 1850 census in Hamden, Connecticut, but no death information has been found for her.