Ancestors of James Bryan Teas
Descended from Ephraim Potter
of Spartanburg Co., South Carolina


Submitted by: Jamie Teas Dilger


First Generation
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1. Ephraim Potter. Born About 1745/1755 in Mayo, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. Died 1847 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Ephraim Potter, Sr.'s residence was one-half mile north of the intersection of Green River Road (Hwy 110) leading to Macedonia Church of the North and to Pacolet River Crossing near Converse Mills on the South County Roads 31 and 38 today, and one mile east of Cowpens, South Carolina.

 Ephraim was a private in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line commanded by Lt. Col. Francis " Swamp Fox" Marion during the Revolutionary War.  It is published that he drew 46 pounds 13 3/4 d for arrears of pay as a soldier on June 11, 1786.  He fought in the Battle of Eutaw Springs on September 8th, 1781.  His commanding officer Col. Marion who commanded the 2nd Company from September 16th, 1776 until August, 1782 received commendation from the South Carolina Legislators for the victory at Eutaw Springs.  He served under other commanders too such as Joseph Warley who commanded the 2nd Company in 1783.  

Ephraim Potter is  listed as a member of Buck Creek Church (Piedmont Historical Society, publishers of The Quarterly, Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History; Goucher Baptist Church Minutes, Union County (now Cherokee County, SC) Vol IX, No. 3.  October 1995 Quarterly)

"Claims of South Carolina in Volume Y-Z, page 188.  Stub entries No. 1311 - issue June 11, 1786 to Ephraim Potter, Book Y for  a private soldier in the South Carolina Continental Line as Account, audited, Principal 46 Pounds, 13 Shillings, and 4 Pence sterling - Interest 3. 5. 4.  Also given to Ephraim Potter, Sr. a tract of land containing 200 acres surveyed for him on January 26, 1789 and situated on the branches of the Thickety Creek and Pacolet River.

Listed in the 1830 South Carolina Census:
Potter, Ephraim  County:  Spartanburg Co.   State: SC  Page: 250  Township:  Spartanburg District   Record Type:  Federal Population Schedule  Database  SC 1830 Federal Census Index

He married Sarah Corey, in Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. Born About 1750 in South Carolina.
They had the following children:

    2    i.    Tilman Potter
    3    ii.    Rufus Ephraim Potter

 Second Generation
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2. Tilman Potter. Son of Ephraim Potter & Sarah Corey. Born 1792 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Died 9 May 1841 in DeKalb Co, Tennessee. Buried 1841 in Tilman Potter Cemetery, DeKalb Co., Tennessee.

Tilmon, with his wife Elizabeth, her brother Watson, her half brothers, Abraham and Richard Cantrell all moved to Tennessee in the early 1800's and settled on Sink Creek in DaKalb and Warren Counties.

From: Genealogy.com: Family Archive Image
     Family Records      331
     Potter
          Tillman Potter was born in South Carolina, and married there; moved to White and Warren Counties, Tennessee.  He settled at Seven Springs with the Cantrell Family.  He married Elizabeth Cantrell before leaving South Carolina.  Among their children was a son Watson Potter.

1820 & 1830 Tennessee Census lists him in Warren Co.

He first married Elizabeth Cantrell, daughter of Abraham Cantrell & Melissa Watson, About 1809 in South Carolina. Born About 1791 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Died About 1836 in DeKalb Co., Tennessee. Buried 1836 in Tilman Potter Cemetery, DeKalb Co., Tennessee.
They had the following children:

    4    i.    Lucy Potter
    5    ii.    Watson Cantrell Potter
    6    iii.    Thomas "Tom" Potter
    7    iv.    Abraham C. "Abe" Potter
        v.    Elizabeth "Betty" Potter; Born 1820 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee.

            She married William Harrison Davis, 1842 in Tennessee.

        vi.    Sarah "Sallie" Potter; Born 1822 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee. Died in DeKalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Abel Cantrell Cemetery, DeKalb Co., Tennessee.

            She married Abel Cantrell, 1844 in Tennessee. Born 4 Apr 1820 in Tennessee. Died 9 Feb 1894 in DeKalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Abel Cantrell Cemetery, DeKalb Co., Tennessee.

    8    vii.    David Potter
        viii.    Anna Potter; Born 1827 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee.

            Anna and John possible moved to Alabama.
            
            She married John Marsh.

        ix.    Jane "Jenny" Potter; Born 1827 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee.

            She married James "Jim" Martin.

    9    x.    Mary "Mollie" Potter
        xi.    William A. Shuck Potter; Born 1829 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee.

            He first married Nancy Cantrell, 27 Jul 1852 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            He second married Martha Byars Tittsworth, 14 Jul 1860 in Warren Co., TN.

    10    xii.    J. Bluford Potter

 Third Generation
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5. Watson Cantrell Potter. Son of Tilman Potter & Elizabeth Cantrell. Born 15 Feb 1815 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee. Died 20 Jul 1891 in DeKalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Potter-Cantrell Cemetery, Dekalb Co., Tennessee.

from Goodspeed History of Tennessee, Warren County:
"of English lineage"

He first married Marietta "Harriet" Magness, daughter of Perry Green "Old Grandsir" Magness & Mary "Polly" Cantrell, 5 Jan 1834 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Born 2 Jun 1817 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died 10 Jul 1866 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Potter-Cantrell Cemetery, Dekalb Co., Tennessee.
They had the following children:

        i.    Mary Potter; Born 1834.
        ii.    Thomas B. Potter; Born 11 Jan 1836. Died 16 Nov 1922.

            He married Samantha D. West, 6 Dec 1865 in Dekalb Co., TN. Born 1 Nov 1846.

        iii.    Laura Potter; Born 1837.

            She married Elisha Northcutt.

    11    iv.    William Carroll Potter
    12    v.    Perry Green Potter
    13    vi.    Senith "Senie" Potter
    14    vii.    Paralee A. Potter
    15    viii.    Martha Jane "Mattie" Potter
        ix.    Hannah Potter; Born 1850.
        x.    Samantha Potter; Born 1851.

            She married Dick/Issac Cantrell, 30 Nov 1868 in Dekalb Co., TN.

    16    xi.    Leander P. Potter
        xii.    Josephine "Josie" Potter; Born 1856.

            She married George A. Bing, 24 Sep 1871 in Dekalb Co., TN.

        xiii.    Delia Potter; Born 1859.

            She married Julius Cantrell, 13 Jan 1876 in Dekalb Co., TN.


6. Thomas "Tom" Potter. Son of Tilman Potter & Elizabeth Cantrell. Born 20 Nov 1816 in Sink Creek, Warren (now DeKalb Co.), Tennessee. Died 8 Aug 1895 in Smithville, DeKalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Potter Cemetery, Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Occupation farmer.

He married Fatama Webb, daughter of Julius Webb & Hannah Watkins, 1840 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Born 27 Aug 1822 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died 22 Mar 1894 in Smithville, Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Buried in Potter Cemetery, Dekalb Co., Tennessee42.

from Goodspeed History of TN, Warren County:
"of French descent"

They had the following children:

    17    i.    Hannah Potter
    18    ii.    Elizabeth Potter
        iii.    Mary J. Potter; Born 1845 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            She married Melvin Dallas Davis, 17 Oct 1864 in Dekalb Co., TN.

    19    iv.    Leonard William Potter
        v.    D. Watkins Potter; Born About 1849 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            He married Harriet Parsley, 5 Apr 1869 in Dekalb Co., TN.

        vi.    Mourning Potter; Born 1851 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            She married Green Cantrell, 17 Dec 1868 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee.

    20    vii.    Helen A. Josephine Potter
    21    viii.    Sarah "Sallie" Potter
        ix.    Irena "Reney" Potter; Born 1856 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            She married Frank Cantrell, 4 Aug 1878 in Dekalb Co., TN.

        x.    Martha Potter; Born 1859 in Kaltonburg, Dekalb Co., TN.

            She married Madison Hall Cantrell, son of William Riley "Billy Flat" Cantrell & Constance Maud "Connie" Magness, 17 Jan 1879 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Born Sep 1851 in Kaltonburg, Dekalb Co., Tennessee45.

        xi.    Tennessee Potter; Born 1865 in Dekalb Co., TN.

            He married I. D. Womack, 7 Sep 1884 in Dekalb Co., TN.


 Fourth Generation
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15. Martha Jane "Mattie" Potter. Daughter of Watson Cantrell Potter & Marietta "Harriet" Magness. Born 25 Feb 1848 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died in Galveston, Texas. Buried 10 Apr 1936 in Lakeview Cemetery, Galveston, Texas. Occupation ran a boarding house2.

1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Leonard W. boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I

1897-98 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Martha (Mrs. L.W.) boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I

1899-1900 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Mattie (Mrs. L.W.) r. 4202 Sealy Ave or I

1930 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Martha (wid Leonard W) r2108 Avenue M

The boardinghouse was usually listed in the business section of the city directory.

1900 Census says Martha was the mother of 9 children, 4 of whom were still living

Per Ruthe Potter Bradt:  Martha broke horses for the Confederate Army

She married Leonard William Potter, son of Thomas "Tom" Potter & Fatama Webb, 30 Sep 187027 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Born 18 Mar 1847 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died 14 Mar 1914 in Warren Co., Tennessee. Buried in Salem Cemetery, Warren County, TN. Occupation physician. Education 1890 graduate University of Tennessee at Nashville.

Tennessee Census 1860:
Potter, Leonard     DeKalb County    page 116     Township or Other Info: 5th District

Civil War Muster Rolls:
Potter, Leonard    Unit: 16 Tennessee Infantry     Rank - Induction: Private     Rank - Discharge: Private     Box# 000231  Extraction# 0035

1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Leonard W. boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I
(after this year, only Martha is listed in the city directory)

They had the following children:

        i.    Arthur Potter;

            1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
            Potter, Arthur  lab. 4202 Avenue I
            (he is not listed in Galveston after this year)
            
            Died in his 30's??
            
    22    ii.    Chloe Potter
    23    iii.    Clara Potter
    24    iv.    Hattie Potter
    25    v.    William L. Potter

19. Leonard William Potter. Son of Thomas "Tom" Potter & Fatama Webb. Born 18 Mar 1847 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died 14 Mar 1914 in Warren Co., Tennessee. Buried in Salem Cemetery, Warren County, TN. Occupation physician. Education 1890 graduate University of Tennessee at Nashville.

Tennessee Census 1860:
Potter, Leonard     DeKalb County    page 116     Township or Other Info: 5th District

Civil War Muster Rolls:
Potter, Leonard    Unit: 16 Tennessee Infantry     Rank - Induction: Private     Rank - Discharge: Private     Box# 000231  Extraction# 0035

1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Leonard W. boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I
(after this year, only Martha is listed in the city directory)

He married Martha Jane "Mattie" Potter, daughter of Watson Cantrell Potter & Marietta "Harriet" Magness, 30 Sep 187027 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Born 25 Feb 1848 in Dekalb Co., Tennessee. Died in Galveston, Texas. Buried 10 Apr 1936 in Lakeview Cemetery, Galveston, Texas. Occupation ran a boarding house2.

1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Leonard W. boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I

1897-98 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Martha (Mrs. L.W.) boardinghouse 4202 Avenue I

1899-1900 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Mattie (Mrs. L.W.) r. 4202 Sealy Ave or I

1930 Galveston City Directory:
Potter, Martha (wid Leonard W) r2108 Avenue M

The boardinghouse was usually listed in the business section of the city directory.

1900 Census says Martha was the mother of 9 children, 4 of whom were still living

Per Ruthe Potter Bradt:  Martha broke horses for the Confederate Army

They had the following children:

        i.    Arthur Potter;

            1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
            Potter, Arthur  lab. 4202 Avenue I
            (he is not listed in Galveston after this year)
            
            Died in his 30's??
            
    22    ii.    Chloe Potter
    23    iii.    Clara Potter
    24    iv.    Hattie Potter
    25    v.    William L. Potter

 Fifth Generation
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22. Chloe Potter. Daughter of Leonard William Potter & Martha Jane "Mattie" Potter. Born 1872 in DeKalb Co., TN. Died 28 Jan 1899 in Galveston, Texas11. Buried 29 Jan 1899 in Lakeview Cemetery, Galveston, Texas10.

Cause of death:  Bright's Disease (form of nephritis, an inflammatory disease of the kidney

from "Old Disease Names and their Modern Definitions: Bright's Disease - Bright's Disease is a catch-all for kidney diseases/disorders

She married James Henry Hook, son of James  A. Hook & Elizabeth "Bettie" P. Moffitt, 21 Jul 189116 in Nashville, Tennessee,. Born 3 Jan 1872 in Huntsville, Alabama. Died 15 Jun 1944 in Corsicana, Texas (Navarro County). Buried 16 Jun 1944 in Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas. Occupation worked in cotton mills, Galveston Water Works.

1896-97 Galveston City Directory:
Hook, James H. wks cotton mill   r3920 H

1897-98 Galveston City Directory:
Hook, James H. wks. Galv. Water Works, r813 42d

1899-1900 Galveston City Directory:
Hook, James H.  asst. engr. Galv. Water Works  r. 4202 Sealy Ave. or I [Martha Potter's boarding house]

There was no city directory published in 1900-01

James H. Hook IS NOT listed in the 1901-02 Galveston City Directory

Lived to 72 years of age; was paralyzed for 2 1/2 years before death from stroke.  Lived at 512 5th St. in Corsicana at time of death.  Death Certificate lists occupation as supt. cotton mills.

Not an educated man, but all of his children were well-educated.

Death Cause: Primary cause of death:  arteriosclerosis
Contributory cause:  cerebral hemmorhage

They had the following children:

    26    i.    Don Leon Hook
    27    ii.    Clara Belle Hook
    28    iii.    Stella Betty Hook

 Sixth Generation
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28. Stella Betty Hook. Daughter of James Henry Hook & Chloe Potter. Born 20 Nov 1897 in Galveston, TX. Died 31 Mar 1961 in Houston, TX. Buried 3 Apr 1961 in Forest Park Westheimer, Houston, TX7 9. Religion Trinity Episcopal Church.

Death Cause: Cancer

She married Bryan Stroud Teas, son of Francis Marion Teas M.D. & Ora Jeanette Ellis, 28 Nov 1923 in Southern Methodist Church of Dallas, TX. Born 1 May 1899 in Denison, TX. Died 19 Dec 1951 in Houston, TX. Buried 20 Dec 1951 in Forest Park Westheimer, Houston, TX7. Occupation Optometrist. Education Nashville Medical College?. Religion St. Paul's Methodist Church, Houston, TX.

1917 Denison City Directory:  Teas, Bryan - 1213 W. Walker

Co-owner w/ his brother Merwyn: Houston Optical

Death Cause: Heart attack

They had the following children:

    29    i.    James Bryan Teas