Lydia Barnes Potter (1757-1836) according to Potter family lore was a patriot, "Lydia Barnes, who was devoting her whole time and strength to the service of her country by making clothing for the soldiers at the front. She spun and wove the wool and cut and made the garments, learning the tailor's trade that she might the more expeditiously supply the soldier's needs." Lydia Barnes Potter was born in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut on April 27, 1757. She married Lemuel Potter and they had nine children. After her husband's death, in 1826, she moved to Oakland County to live with her daughter, Merilla Potter Hemingway. Lydia Barnes Potter died August 28, 1836, and is buried in the Paint Creek Cemetery in Lake Orion, Oakland County, Michigan. SAR Patriot Number P-272604 DAR Patriot Number A091727 Find-A-Grave Number 8249452
From the History of Oakland County, Michigan by Thaddeus D. Seeley (1912)
General Richardson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, learning of the services this loyal woman gave to her country, honored her grave with the official marker of the society, placed with appropriate services on the 19th of August, 1911, at the Baldwin cemetery, near Rochester, Michigan. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Abigail H. McArthur, makes the following affidavit:
“To all whom it may concern: My grandfather, Lemuel Potter, was a Revolutionary soldier. He enlisted at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1777, when the Continental army was organized. He had seen previous service in the militia companies. His officers were Col. Wyllys and Capt. Robert Warner. He was appointed a corporal, and with a corporal’s guard was sent home to gather provisions and clothing for Washington’s starving soldiers at Valley Forge. While engaged in this work he met Lydia Barnes, a young woman who was devoting her whole time and strength to the service of her country by making clothing for the soldiers at the front. She spun and wove the wool and cut and made the garments, learning the tailor’s trade that she might the more expeditiously supply the soldier’s needs. She worked so unremittingly at her task, standing continuously in a half bent position over her cutting table that she was never able to stand upright.
“When the young soldier, Lemuel Potter, returned to the front he had won the promise of Lydia Barnes to be his wife when the war was over. But owing to a ruling of congress that a married man could draw a year’s rations they were married earlier in February 2, 1779.
“Lemuel Potter was in the engagement known as the Storming of Stony Point and by his bravery on that occasion won the praise of his commander. On another occasion he was presented with a cane by his major for meritorious conduct. Said cane is now in my possession. He served till the end of the war and was honorably discharged. His military record was obtained from the Pension department at Washington, D. C.
“Lemuel Potter died February 26, 1826, and is buried at Chili, N. Y. After his death his widow moved to Paint Creek, Oakland county, and became an inmate of the family of my parents, Needham and Marilla Hemingway (her daughter), till the time of her death, ten years later. She died in August, 1836, and is buried at Baldwin’s cemetery, Paint Creek, Oakland county. At the time she was a member of my mother’s family I was a young girl and testify of my own knowledge that the above facts are true as I heard them related by my grandmother, Lydia Potter, in my childhood.”
Patriot Summary
Lydia Barnes Potter (1757-1836) according to Potter family lore was a patriot, "Lydia Barnes, who was devoting her whole time and strength to the service of her country by making clothing for the soldiers at the front. She spun and wove the wool and cut and made the garments, learning the tailor's trade that she might the more expeditiously supply the soldier's needs." Lydia Barnes Potter was born in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut on April 27, 1757. She married Lemuel Potter and they had nine children. After her husband's death, in 1826, she moved to Oakland County to live with her daughter, Merilla Potter Hemingway. Lydia Barnes Potter died August 28, 1836, and is buried in the Paint Creek Cemetery in Lake Orion, Oakland County, Michigan. SAR Patriot Number P-272604 DAR Patriot Number A091727 Find-A-Grave Number 8249452From the History of Oakland County, Michigan by Thaddeus D. Seeley (1912)
General Richardson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, learning of the services this loyal woman gave to her country, honored her grave with the official marker of the society, placed with appropriate services on the 19th of August, 1911, at the Baldwin cemetery, near Rochester, Michigan. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Abigail H. McArthur, makes the following affidavit:
“To all whom it may concern: My grandfather, Lemuel Potter, was a Revolutionary soldier. He enlisted at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1777, when the Continental army was organized. He had seen previous service in the militia companies. His officers were Col. Wyllys and Capt. Robert Warner. He was appointed a corporal, and with a corporal’s guard was sent home to gather provisions and clothing for Washington’s starving soldiers at Valley Forge. While engaged in this work he met Lydia Barnes, a young woman who was devoting her whole time and strength to the service of her country by making clothing for the soldiers at the front. She spun and wove the wool and cut and made the garments, learning the tailor’s trade that she might the more expeditiously supply the soldier’s needs. She worked so unremittingly at her task, standing continuously in a half bent position over her cutting table that she was never able to stand upright.
“When the young soldier, Lemuel Potter, returned to the front he had won the promise of Lydia Barnes to be his wife when the war was over. But owing to a ruling of congress that a married man could draw a year’s rations they were married earlier in February 2, 1779.
“Lemuel Potter was in the engagement known as the Storming of Stony Point and by his bravery on that occasion won the praise of his commander. On another occasion he was presented with a cane by his major for meritorious conduct. Said cane is now in my possession. He served till the end of the war and was honorably discharged. His military record was obtained from the Pension department at Washington, D. C.
“Lemuel Potter died February 26, 1826, and is buried at Chili, N. Y. After his death his widow moved to Paint Creek, Oakland county, and became an inmate of the family of my parents, Needham and Marilla Hemingway (her daughter), till the time of her death, ten years later. She died in August, 1836, and is buried at Baldwin’s cemetery, Paint Creek, Oakland county. At the time she was a member of my mother’s family I was a young girl and testify of my own knowledge that the above facts are true as I heard them related by my grandmother, Lydia Potter, in my childhood.”
“ABIGAIL H. McARTHUR.”