51 Extract of Luxemburg branch (blue line in family table) “Europa Haus de Pottere”, Aurich, Germany
52 BRUGES (Dixmude, Keyem, Vladslo, Tourhout...) The “de Potter” family, to which journalist and politician Louis de Potter belonged to, as leader of the 1830 Government of Belgium, called herself “de Droogenwalle” as of the 18th century. The greatgrandfather of Louis, Jean-Guillaume de Potter, first counselor of Dixmude and Nieuport, Counsellor of the High Council of Malines as of 1726, was, by virtue of this position, enrolled in nobility, with patent letters of 17 June of that year. Droogenwalle was a small lordship, of about 3 hectares, acquired by Jean-Guillaume at the beginning of the 18th century to the family of the counts de Merode. Located near the church in Keyem, a village north of Dixmude, it belonged to the county of Middelburg in Flanders, itself depending of the “Free State of Bruges” (part of the Duchy of Mortaigne before 1300).
53 It is also in Keyem that the direct ancestors of this family are found, in the 16th century. A genealogy of this family was published in the “Annuaire de Noblesse Belge” in Brussels, in 1896, I, pp. 144-153, without the name of the author. See the first paragraphs of this study here besides. Although incomplete, this work was reliable for the period after 1650, but remained incomplete for the period before. Pieter Donche reconstructed the genealogy of the family “de Potter de Droogenwalle” for the period before 1800. It was done accurately, between 2017 and 2019, on the basis of authentic archival sources such as: “states of goods” (possessions), “orphan accounts” (inheritances), “parish registers” (churches records), and numerous other official archival sources out of the formerly called “Free State of Bruges”. Ties to the present day were ascertained by DNA-tests. The most ancient and certain ancestor of that line is Pieter de Potter, son of Jacob (1525). He was born around 1540 and married Maria Boone. He owned two lending estates in Keyem, south-east of the church, attached to the lending estate of Schorre (Dixmude). Jacob and Pieter belong to the branch of Jan Dries, esquire of Dixmude in the 13th Century with coat of arms in the Royal Library in Brussels. Dixmude was attached to the County of Middlebourg, like the family lordships Droogenwalle and Haveskerque, bought to cousin Merode, as indicated in the library of the Castle of Loppem. Based on a text by Gaillard, their arms were carried over from Catherine de Pottere, Dame of Mortaigne and Potelle, heiress of Alix of Flanders in Lille. Throughout the entire 16th century, we came across several inheritances with the name de Pottere in and around Keyem. From the earliest one, it can be concluded that this branch had already been present in the region at the end of the 1400s but the complete destruction of the municipal archive during World War One prevents us, for the time being, from finding more evidences than the ones in this book. Online DNA-results are instrumental in this verification.
54 Prior to consulting specific sources, Pieter Donche firstly analyzed, for example, the enrollment lists of the University of Leuven or the list of magistrates of the High Council of Malines and found the following references to name carriers (de) "Potter" or "Pottier" or "Pottere":
55 Searching hundreds of Archives in Bruges, Pieter Donche then focused on the village of Keyem, near Dixmude where the branch “Potter de Droogenwalle” originated. In the chapter about Louis de Potter, he did a fantastic job identifying the full lineage, up to the end of the 15th Century!
56 With other experts, we also found numerous other possible links for the “green branch”, e.g.: 1. In 1308: Créstien de Potter(i)e was Alderman of Bruges (Royal Archives Brussels); 2. In 1310: Jean de Potter was an esquire of Bruges in 1310 (Seals R.A. Brussels); 3. In 1311: Pieter de Pottere was a priest in Bruges (church Saint Walburg registrar); 4. In 1320: Jacop Potterie was a “broker” in Bruges (Andries van den Abeele); 5. In 1328: Gillis de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (Royal Archives Bruges); 6. In 1392: Jacques de Pottere was a Scout of Bruges, who negotiated a credit for the city with the City of Hamburg, both meeting in Amsterdam (Guild Book of Bruges); 7. In 1468: Pierquin (Pieterkin) de Pottes, or de Potter, from Ypres, a painter with the Entremets Company of Bruges; 8. In 1488: Berthelemeeus de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele); 9. In 1525: Willem de Pottier, among families helping the Potterye charity (De Hooghe) 10. In 1567: Jacques de Pottere, textile entrepreneur, son of Loys (buyer in Bruges), religious rebel, moved from Renaix to Bruges (Royal Archives of Renaix); 11. In 1572: Willem de Pottere, textile guild member, son of Gilles, was born in Bruges;
57 12. In 1630: Robert de Pottere, head of the textile guild in Bruges, married J. de Clercq; 13. In 1652: Philips de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele); 14. In 1686: Remarquus de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele); 15. In 1625: Robert de Pottere, son of Robert de Pottere, was a “broker” in Bruges (id.); 16. In 1645: Vincent de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele). The compiled results are shown on the family chart (end of chapter) and explained further down. While we further seek the father of Jan, esquire of Keiem (Dixmude) around 1325, of the family of Louis “Potter de Droogenwalle” (see appertaining chapter), these individuals are other pertinent members of the “green branch” in Bruges, seen at interesting dates:
58 Jacques de Pottere, 1392, Alderman of Bruges Jacques de Pottere, 1525, son of Louis in Bruges Robert de Pottere, 1630, Head of crafts Bruges
59 Around 1425, Pierrequin de Pottes, said de Potter, painter for the Duke of Burgundy in Bruges, moved from Tournai to Bruges. In the same period, the Lord of Gruuthuyse had married the grand-daughter of Catherine de Pottere (Edward Gaillard, R.A.B. 1885). She was first married to Allart count of Mortaigne, family of the Duke and Lords of the city of Pottes. It may be the reason why the arms of the family “Potter de Droogenwalle” (one pot) were carried over from her. In the meantime, another coat of arms “Pottes” (three roses) was found in Malines.
60 A little later, Louys de Pottier - de Pottere from Renaix, buyer in Bruges in 1608, is the father of Barbella de Pottere, carrying the coat of arms with three pots of silver color on a red array. Their family in Brussels and Malines is mentioned as well, Jan and Antoine, while Barbella and her cousins (Janneken, daughter of Adriaen and Adriaen, son of Jacob) appeared in front of the High Commissioner of the King of Spain, Antonio de Castillo in 1608. Also in Antwerp, uncle Thomas de Pottere happens to be the Receiver of the King of Spain in that period (1625)... “… huwelicke hebbende Joncvrau Janneken de Pottere, f(ili)a Adriaens, woonende binnen der Stadt van Bremen, metgaders van den Eer(weerden) Jacob de Pottere, Jans sone, woonende binnen der Stadt Staden. De voorschreven Adriaen ende Jan wesende der voorschreven Gheerae(rt) broeders saligher, kinderen van wijlen Jacob de Pottere, in sijnen (leven) resideerende binnen deser Stede, om sekeren onderrecht te wisen van de oprechte wapen(en) van haerlieder ghestachte ende famillie va(n) de Potters. Dat hij comparant voorseyt de maendt van September XVic acht is gheweest binnen der Stadt van Bru(ssel), (1608)” “… ten huuse van d'heer Anthonio Fernandes de Castille, Com(m)issaris G(e)n(era)al van de monsterin vanweghen der Conincklicke Ma(jestey)t van Spaignien in Vlaendren, in huwelicke hebbende de Pottere alias Pottiers Loys, end den selven an hem comparant dat wijlen den voors(oemden) end Loys Pottier, in tijt coopman, woonende binnen der Stede van Brugghe, sijns voors(eide) huusvvader, heeft ghehadt ende hemlieden naghelaten voor wapene van 't voorseide gheslachte ofte familie van (de) Pottiers: 'eenen schilt met een root velt, met eenen rooden kepere ende drie potten van silvere daer inne staende'; toonende an den comparant het afbeeltsel van sijne voors huusvr neffens de welcke staet de selve wapene, versaemt met ende neffens de gone van haren voorseiden man. De welcke hij comparant heeft aldaer doen bettrecken op 't papier, ende is de …” “… Loys Pottier, in sijnen tijt coopman, woonende binnen der Stede van Brugghe, sijns voors(eide) huusv(auwe) vader, heeft ghehadt ende hemlieden naghelaten voor wapene van 't voorseide gheslachte ofte familie van (de) Pottiers: 'eenen schilt met een root velt, met eenen rooden kepere ende drie potten van silvere daer inne staende'; toonende an den comparant het afbeeltsel van sijne voors(eide) huusvr(auwe) neffens de welcke staet de selve wapene, versaemt met ende neffens de gone van haren voorseiden man. De welcke hij comparant heeft aldaer doen bettrecken op 't papier, ende is de gone an dese ghetransfixeert, gheteekent 'CP'. Ende de gone noch mede ghetransfixeert gheteekent 'P.' verclaert hij comparant te hebben ... bettrocken tot Ghendt, uut de wapene van de voorseide Joncvrau Baerbel Pottier, als wesende de gone van den gheslachte van (de) Pottiers ende Pottiers alleene ende bijsonder hier toe weghende dat de wijlen Jacob de Pottere, vader van de voorn(oemde) Adriaen, Jan ende Gheeraert de Pottere, met sijne naercommers”. Extract of: “History of Ancient Brussels Families”, Brussels City Archives.
61 Karel and Lodewyck de Potter - Logghe By Antoine de Schietere de Lophem and Paul De Clerck Analyzing further the 1896 genealogy of the Bruges branch, made by the Belgian Nobility Association mentioned above, we found another research made by Robert Coppieters t'Wallant at the end of the same century, analyzed by A. de Schietere de Lophem. Here is an extract of a research by Antoine de Schietere de Lophem found in the Royal Library of The Netherlands with reference to Pieter de Potter, of the branch “de Potter-Logghe” from Tourhout. He is mentioned as the “younger brother” of Jean-Guillaume, oldest of that generation in the branch “de Potter de Droogenwalle” from Dixmude and further down in Lophem and Bruges.
62 At the same time, Paul De Clerck, found his ancestors within our “green branch”, in Tourhout! He found his great-grand-mother, with official records, to this very “de Potter - Logghe”. This confirms that it is definitely the same family as the “de Potter de Droogenwalle” branch (see family chart, dark green line in Tourhout). Some members of this bloodline, based in Antwerp, Damme and Saint-Omer are called “Potters” after the revolution name changes. Sub-branch “de Potter - Logghe” was well known for the innovative work by Charles (Karel) de Potter in the area of agricultural and botanical research in Rumbeke. On top of his church duties, as a gentleman farmer, Charles worked in cooperation with numerous farms, including the ones of the family de Potter de Droogenwalle, in Dixmude (Vladslo, Keyem, Leke). Louis de Potter de Droogenwalle happened to be an active member of the board of the Royal Horticultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, in that half century, encouraging research in this field of expertise, not only in Ghent but also with French counterparts. Because of intensive contacts between the sub-branches “de Potter - Logghe” and cousins ”de Droogenwalle”, in Roulers and Courtrai, there was quite a mystery about the son of Karel, Lodewijk, teacher and poet in the city of Rumbeke.
63 The Biekorf News of 1973 said that Karel Eugeen de Potter (Ardoye 1757 - Rumbeke 1834), was church carer (1782), wool worker (1799- 1802), teacher (1803-1817), and prizewinner of the Royal Ghent Society for Horticulture (1819). His son Lodewijk (Rumbeke 1792 - Gent 1869), was also teaching in Ghent. He acquired some fame as a freelance writer, member of the literary society and, for a short period of time, President of the Flemish League. As a coincidence, we mention that, in the early twentieth Century, the famous historian Frans de Potter also played a key role in the Flemish self-determination movement (e.g. as co-founder of the David Fund). In 1787, Lodewijk of this literary society published a work signed: “De Ter-Pot”! In 1803, the pseudonym pops up (“De-Ter-Pot”: Dirty but useful) under a rhymed introduction to the collection of prizewinning entries “Praise of Bonaparte” (J. Delbaere). As a coincidence, we mention that his cousin Louis de Potter was quite a celebrity across Europe. Also, in the early nineteenth century, the son of Louis de Potter worked in the staff of Napoleon III. Both had a considerable influence in the new “Belgian” politics. And Lodewijk in Flemish translates Louis in French…!
64 With this literary work, we indeed recognized Lodewijk de Potter in “De Ter-Pot” alias. Not only the apparent literary inversion pleads in this sense, but also the “Napoleonic” career of the man who, since February 1803, had encouraged delicate Bonaparte's themes in Flanders. Between the period immediately after the last years of Napoleon's reign, there was a huge debate among the population about Napoleon's heritage. Perhaps the aforementioned political convictions of Karel E. de Potter may have worked on his son Lodewijk, when in 1813, in the case of the Ghent priests against Napoleonic bishop Dela Brue, as a defendant, Lodewijk finally stopped writing and recognized the bischop. Most of the refusers were then banned...! On 15 Harvest 1782, because of superior agricultural merits, by appointment of Courtrai-based Count Joseph of Murray, stepfather of Count de Thiennes, Karel de Potter was appointed esquire of Rumbeke, under privileges attached to his land property there and church ruler. Shortly thereafter, Karel married Maria-Theresia Mulle, prominent business family of the city of Winkel St Elooi; She was the daughter of the Bailiff of Ter Vichten. The family de Thiennes owned of the historic Castle of Rumbeke and were ancient friends of the family de Potter.
65 During the annexation of our country to France, Karel de Potter, in the year 6 of the Republic, was appointed City Officer of Rumbeke. He was listed in the city register as 'wool dying craftsman and negotiator' (profession of his cousin, castle of Ravenhof, Tourhout).
66 In 1819, because of his intensive personal horticultural research, Karel was awarded an Honorary Prize by the city mayor Angillis, member of the Dutch States General, founder of the literary society 'De Verenigde Vrienden' of Rumbeke and assistant to the “Annales of Emulation of Bruges” where he often met Louis de Potter and his father Guillaume before. In 1819, following the “French republic tree of liberty pattern”, a medal of agricultural merits was awarded to esquire Charles de Potter - Logghe, by the Royal Society of Agriculture and Botanics of the city of Ghent. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the party was announced by the sound of all the city bells and some artillery dumps. Karel was placed in a big procession, preceded by all members the Horticultural Society and the Hand Bow in full dress, with a beating drum and deployed flags, walking up to the Municipal Administration. During the ceremony, the Burgomeister gave a speech demonstrating the necessity and justice to render public honors to Mr de Potter by the agriculture society. In a poor countryside, the hard work honors a horticulture craftsman who could provide a new form of inexhaustible source of public prosperity and national wealth. In Flanders, where agriculture alone can ensure the livelihood of the many people who live there, this was a key element to be celebrated with everybody. He then explained how, and with what happiness, Mr. de Potter first sowed a special sort of foreign rice in homeland, obtaining great results granted with this medal of honor and encouragement which was awarded by the Society of Ghent.
67 After this speech which, despite its full extent, was heard in the utmost silence, Mr de Potter was decorated with the medal, under the unanimous and repeated applause of the many inhabitants. Afterwards, Mr. de Potter was brought back to his residence by the constituted authorities, preceded by the said brotherhood and followed by an immense crowd of the people, by the principal streets of the village. Sufficient quantities of food for all inhabitants was paramount, after those terrible Napoleonic wars and, from time to time and until 10 o'clock in the evening, the sound of the city bells and dumps reminded the inhabitants of the solemnity of the day. A ball at the common house, which lasted until 2 o'clock in the morning, ended the celebrations. The minutes of this event had been drawn up officially at Rumbeke on the same day.
68 Charles de Potter died, aged 54, in Rumbeke in 1834. He was buried with a great service. His widow lived in Emelgem in 1847. His brother François-Ambrosius de Potter accepted in 1783 the role of “Doors Guardian of Roulers”, which made him member of the Free State of Bruges, civility he possessed from his parents. Of the fifteen children of Karel de Potter, there is certainly one who has acquired a name in the Flemish world, namely Lodewyck, born in Rumbeke in 1792
69 Lodewyck was the very first Rumbeek student at the small Seminar of Roeselare. In 1812 he became teacher of poetry in the College of Ypres. In 1818, he was professor at the Royal Atheneum of Ghent. From 1836 to 1850, he was the Principal of that school. In Ypres he was part of the “rhetoric chamber” of the city, and, under the French regime, there had already been a struggle against official propaganda carried out by the Government to disseminate the French language in Flanders. He was a member of 'De Fonteyne' in Ghent and Chairman of the Flemish Union for a while.
70 FRASNES (Renaix, Pottes, Tournai, Ath, Dour, Mons, Liège, Namur…) The top of this line was identified by Elisabeth de Potter d’Indoye - de Merode, as early as the 14th century. Since we know that Louis and Jacques moved to Bruges, as indicated by Father de Potter and cousin Maes, we analyzed this line in greater details with the team. Here is the tree of this so-called “Roman Branch” described as such by Princess Elisabeth de Merode and Father Jacques de Potter. They wrote that it should be studied further by other researchers to see if it would be related to what we call the “green branch of Bruges”.
71 While Jehan “le Pottier”, his son Jan, his grand-son Lodewyck (lord of Frasnes in 1350) and his great-grand-son Gilles (lord of Dour in 1463, carrying lion arms) are described as inhabitants of Frasnes in the 14th century, we know for a fact that their descendants moved to Renaix as of the beginning of the 15th century. Cousin and cleck Louis Maes ascertained that information. Further below are two transcripts of a piece of the official “Archive Maes” (cousin of Egidius de Potter and archivist of the city of Renaix), explaining that Lodewyck de Pottier and his family were confronted with religious banning, forced to move out of Renaix and deciding to move to the promising Bruges, with the Flemish name “Potter(e)”. That is precisely where the “green branch” was about to blossom... « Willem de Pottier, exploitait à Renaix le Pachtgoet et le moulin Terbeke. Il remplit les fonctions de bourgmestre de 1434 à 1439 et de 1440 à 1447. En 1445, il avait loué son exploitation agricole à Mahieu Vogaert. Le 4 Avril 1408, il se présente devant le Magistrat en compagnie de son épouse, afin de donner en arrentement, à Willem van der Meersch. Les recherches généalogiques sont sujettes à surprises. Celles-ci sont parfois agréables, mais souvent malencontreuses. Ici par exemple nous *'avions tout lieu de croire que les le Pottier devenus citoyens de Renaix, depuis un siècle, alliés à de vieilles familles locales, et occupant les postes des plus en vue dans la direction des affaires, étaient définitivement acclimatés chez nous et c'est précisément à ce moment qu'un chainon généalogique se brise. Les descendants de Jan et de Willem de Pottier ont ils été pris de nostalgie et ont ils regagné la région romane? C’est à ce moment que les van Winghene descendent vers Renaix, pour continuer peu après vers Tournai. Ou bien les de Pottier, tout désignés par leur situation en vue, ont-ils suivi le Baron de Renaix, Jacques de la Hamaide, dans les multiples expéditions auxquelles il prit part.
72 Quoiqu’il en soit les de Pottier se font rares à Renaix vers le milieu du XVème siècle. Pourtant c’est vers cette date qu'il nous faudrait découvrir l'aïeul de Louis de Pottere, père de Jacques qui est un descendant d'un de Pottier au dire de Louis Maes. *** mettre en doute l’attestation de dernier. Mais puisque Lodewyck de Potter porte un nom flamandisé, il faut admettre que son aïeul, pour le moins, s'appelait encore de Pottier et que c’est à la suite du séjour à Renaix d’une ou de deux générations que ses descendants prirent le nom de De Pottere. Il résulte également de l'attestation de Louis Maes que les de Pottier étaient originaires de Frasnes, village situé à *** bonnes lieux de Renaix et entouré de collines argileuses qui fournissaient la matière première aux maitres pottier de la région. Ceux d’entre eux qui se fixèrent de façon définitive à Renaix finirent par s’appeler de Pottere tout en gardant des relations de famille avec leurs parents de Frasnes. Louis de Pottier, fixé à Bruges était, nous dit Louis Maes, originaire de Frasnes et il descendait de la même branche souche que la branche Romane des de Pottere de Renaux. Nous ne rencontrons qu'une seul de Pottier vers l’époque indiquée, c’est un Willem qui se présente devant le Magistrat en 1455 et 1456. Des raisons particulières le retenaient sans doute à Renaix. Nous le considérons comme fils de Williem de Pottier de terbeke. Il est sur le point de se flamandiser, son fils s’appellera *eindrick de Pottere (1469). Celui-ci épouse une fille du terroir, Gilline de Calewier. Ils s‘installent dans le pachtgoet tarlambeken. C’est là que nait Louis de Pottere, jeune encore il fait la connaissance de sa voisine Anne Maelbranch, dont les parents occupent Bruderode. Cela finit naturellement par un mariage qui eut lieu vers 1510. Cette union consomma l'alliance s'un le Pottier devenu de Pottere avec une Malebranche devenue Maelbranck. Louis de Pottere et Anne Maelbranck coulèrent une existence calme et tranquille dans la banlieue immédiate de Renaix.
73 Nous leurs connaissons trois enfants : Jacques, Hermès, et une fille, Marie, qui épousa Jan de Clerc*. Jacques de Pottere naquit en 1522. Il se fit de bonne heure preuve d’aptitudes commerciales et s’établit en ville afin de pouvoir mieux s’occuper d’affaires. Il aurait épousé Elisabeth van den Bogaerdt, qui appartenait à une honorable famille locale. Nous devons avoue que nous n’avons pas trouvé trace de cette union. De 1563 à 1592, il remplit assez régulièrement les fonctions d'échevin et de bourgmestre. Quelle que fut sa compagne, il laissa trois fils et une fille : Jean Catherine, Adrien, et Gérard. Son testament, dicté en 1592 par devant le Magistrat et dont une copie existe dans nos archives, nous apprend certains détails des plus intéressants concernant ses enfants, il contient des dispositions testamentaires que seuls les temps troubles de cette époque que peuvent expliquer. Jean de Potter, fils de Jacques, naquit vers 1553, il se maria vers 1577 à Anne Myclot, fille de Jean et de Barbe van Wynghene, celle-ci était la sœur de Marie van Wynghene, épouse d’Adrien van den Berghe dont la fille Catherine, avait épousé Liévin de Pottere, *** dernier * avait encore * ***** devenu cousin par allie*** de Jean de Pottere fils de Jacques. » Apologies for this text long in French but it was instrumental in our finding shared ancestors’ roots.
74 COURTRAI (Alveringem, St Omer, Cassel, Poperinge, Furnes, Roulers) Identified by Henri Brussin and others mentioned on the table, for the period 1250-1550. Here are a few extracts of the archives which did help us draw this branch. The top left one shows the list of “Pointers” (aldermen, elected members) whereas Jacques de Pottere, our Ghent ancestor, was one of the esquires of the city of Courtrai in the 17th century, along with a cousin de Lannoy (his cousin too). The top right document was found during our visit of the Archives of Courtrai in 2015 and revealed the inheritance of the family of cousin Paulus de Pottere, holder of a law licence, with ties to several sub-branches indicated on the family table. The other archives show records of Charles, Jacques and Pierre, with charges in Courtrai.
75 AUDENAERDE BRANCH (Alost, Elseghem, Avelghem, Kerckhove...) Identified by Denis and Fernand de Potter for the period 1650-2018. Denis de Potter’s great-great-grandfather was Amand, born under the name “Platteau” (means “tray”... From the house maid?) in 1807, will only take the name "Potter" in 1832, upon specific approval by the Revolutionary Government, under leadership of … Louis de Potter. Denis still hopes that, with the help of Yvonne de Potter in the U.S.A., someone will finally find why and how Amand's name changed, from “Platteau” to “Potter”, and to tie him finally and firmly to a branch of the Potter family tree. Meanwhile, Denis continues to seek family members and recently found a “Plateau”. Yet another branch? See DNA results below!
76 With the help of Patrick and Guillaume de Potter, the Leuven genealogist and the ADN experts, we finally re-united us with the Alost-Audenaerde line. We now included their most ancient ancestor, Bernard-Antoine de Potter. With the help of Sven de Potter, we then connected in the family table the “natural child branch”, including their relatives Yvonne de Potter (USA, aged 95), Denis (Lille), Patrick (Ghent) and Sven (Antwerp)! Many thanks to Vincent and Peter-Frank de Potter too! PFDP VDP SDP SDP DDP HDP FDP JDP NDP Above DNA colors match the Families Forest table (see last page of the book)
77 DUTCH BRANCH (Zeeland, Bergen-Op-Zoom, Breda, Delft, Utrecht, Amsterdam) Fully identified by B. van Blokland of the High Society of The Hague, for the period 1200-1850, even mentioning a very first ancestor in 1093. He identified Maximiliaan de Pottere, as a lawyer at the Court of Holland, son of Roeland de Pottere, Prelate and delegate of the “Noble men of Zeeland” in Middelbourg, between 1543 and 1563, son of Jacob de Pottere who was member of the “Prelate and Noble men of the County of Middelbourg” in 1529. Maximiliaan was the father of Roeland de Pottere, jesuit, and of Dominicus de Pottere, advisor and treasurer of the Prince Willem of Orange. We also found their cousin Hendrik who was in 1578 a captain in the Scottish naval force and resided in the House de Pottere in Noordgouwe. Also, in 1897 W. Juten wrote in Taxandria that there are several members of this family all carrying the three roses as coat of arms, across border regions. He referred to the families de Pottere in Bergen Op Zoom, Gastel, Zeeland and Den Bosch, with ties in Courtrai and Ghent. The family name “de Pottere”, with ancient Frasnes spelling, is only carried by cousins Franz -Bruno, Alexander and Charly de Pottere whose ancestors migrated to Prussia-Germany and then to the U.S.A. André de Potter d’Indoye told us that those German cousins offered a heritage to his father who refused as he had to carry the old spelling! Franz married a member of the family Holstein Ledreborg - de Luxemburg, thereby cousins of the Danish royal family, the GrandDuchy of Luxemburg’s family, the French Bourbon’s and the... Dutch Nassau’s. Today, we seek further if this family pursued under the name “Potterus” with similar arms, the three pots in triangle.
78 From this branch, Anna Regina Potters married Godefridus van Lanschot. She was born in 1738 as eighth kid of Francis Potters, buyer in Den Bosch, son of Johan de Pottere, son of Claudius de Pottere, bailiff of Grombergen. A brother of Anna Regina was Christian, carrying the same coat of arms, considered as member of the same family. In Bergen-Op-Zoom, the family de Pottere was in the port authority in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Jan Baptist de Pottere, born in 1626 in the castle of Grimhuysen (Oud-Gastel) and prior in the abbey of Sevenborn in Halle, wrote in 1687 in a family book that an esquire Jan de Pottere, living in 1293, was a noble man, of pleasant and spiritual company (sic). He also said that “his nobility came from his ancestors, a.o. Herman de Pottere, made noble in 1093 by Godfrey of Bouillon”. Unfortunately, in 1397 and again in 1444, Bergen-Op-Zoom was destroyed, leaving no records of such amazing informations from the Abbey of Grimhuysen. In the purple branch of the Netherlands, we include Thomas de Pottere who was a tax-receiver of the King of Spain in the Low Countries with his own secure medal receipt shown here below.
79 SAINT-NICOLAS BRANCH (thanks to Christian, Serge, Vincent and Peter-Frank) As early as the 13th century, this prolific line (Yseq DNA “ I1”) of the families de Potter was mostly active in Saint-Nicolas. They surely met the other Potter’s, occupying public responsibilities close by like Antoine, Bailiff of Leuven in the 16th century, Jan, Scout of Brussels in the 17th century or Pierre de Pottere, member of the High Council of nearby city of Malines in the 18th century. The descendants of the famous historian Frans de Potter, member of this line, Christian and his nephew Serge, helped us a lot to study this branch. Also, with the help of DNA expert Wim Penninx and Peter-Frank de Potter in The Netherlands, plus biology doctor Vincent de Potter in Tourhout, we pursued the “full Y-chromosome DNA-testing” for the ten “de Potter” ‘s from various origins!
80 The discovery by Dr. Astrid Kahn of Yseq in Germany was excellent. There is 100% assurance that Peter-Frank, Vincent and Serge belong to this Saint-Nicolas line, therefore going as high as Berthelmeus de Potter in 1400, including the famous historian Frans de Potter! More discoveries by Yseq are shown on the global families timeline table, whereas a “Full Y-chromosome” DNA testing did ascertain - and re-connect - data found in official archives. The blue and green branches were fully identified. Now with the DNA’s, the beige one connects to the green one in a segment of 3.000 to 5.000 years, which connects to the blue branch in a segment of 7.000 to 10.000 years and finally the pink ones above 10.000 years.
81 This new 1.000 years genealogy research about “the Belgian families de Potter” will never end but numerous additional records are now available in our database, across lineages. This new form of diagram offers a consistent view, in line with modern genealogy standards. Across 20 years of research, no family complaint was received while these results circulated a lot among its members and always published on the internet. When a branch is interrupted by a missing link, we placed “dotted red points” to show where we were blocked.
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83 Potter Families Millennium Forest
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87 French Pottier ‘s
88 As informal French chapter, showing an interesting parallel across the French border, we mention in Tournai the family “(le) Pottier de Graincourt”, name derived in 1148 from “de Graincourt-Crevecoeur”, owners of the castle of nearby Cambray, Senechal of Cambrai, Lieutenant-general of Flanders. Their name and blazon came from the tale of count Thierri of Graincourt who brought back, with Count of Flanders, a famous “pot” from Orient wars. The red branch “de Pottier” might derive from them, in the very nearby powerful (12thC) city of Tournai.
89 As additional informal “French chapter documentation”, we mention here that we came across the Bretagne family called “Potier” (le), with sub-branches “de Courcy”. This family included esquires, barons, counts and belonged to the restricted circle of “Pairs de France” families, founding fathers of France in the 16th century. A comprehensive genealogy was made by Samuel Potier de Courcy, whereas members originated in “our” Somme region and others in Bretagne. Below are representations of three members of the family in the Museum of Arts of Chartres. There is no evidence that they are related to the Belgian “le/ de Pottier” but there is an alliance between the family de Courcy and... the Lords of Mortaigne and Knights Pottes.
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91 In this short French chapter related to the patronyms “Pottier, Potier and Pothier”, here are the most figurative name bearers : • Bernard Pottier (Paris, 1824), French president of the French Academy of Fine Letters • Emmanuel Pottier (Paris, 1864), French photographer • Edmond Pottier (1855), French hellenist • Édouard Pottier (1839), French military Admiral • Eugène Pottier (Lille, 1816), French revolutionary and inventor of international liberty song • Gaston Pottier (1885), French painter • Henri Pottier (1819), French theorician • Paul Nicaise Pottier (1778), French engineer in Egypt • Roland Victor Pottier (1775), French geographer in Egypt • Aram J. Pothier (1854), French-American politician • Alfred Potier (1840), French engineer and academician • Charles-Gabriel Potier (1774), French theater actor • Dominique Edgard Potier (Seraing, 1903), Belgian resistance military tortured hero • Julien Potier (1796), French artist • Léon Auguste Potier (1876), French General • Pierre-Jacques de Potier (Lille, 1780-1840), French General • René Potier (Paris, 1750), French literary writer • Nicolas IV (le) Potier, (La Rochelle, 1628), French nobleman, secretary of state King Louis XIII
92 • Louis Potier, baron of Gesvres (1550), statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” x Baroness Baillet-Latour • Antoine le Potier, son of Louis, Lord of the Seals (1585-1621), statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” • René le Potier, (1579-1670), duke of Tresmes French and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” • Nicolas Potier de Novion (1618-1693), French statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” , Commander of the Orders of the King, opponent to Cardinal Mazarin
93 • Henri le Potier de La Germondaye (1729), one of the “Founding Fathers of France” • Léon Potier de Gesvres (1656-1744) et Étienne-René Potier de Gesvres (1697-1774) • Charles-Ferdinand de Potier (1820-1898), French general • Dom Joseph Pothier (Conques, 1835), French gregorian singer • Divers Pottier dans la région Hauts-de-France et Marne • Joseph POT(t)IER de la Houssaye (Saint-Malo, 1768-1830), Corsair of the Revolution and the Empire, son in law of Robert Surcouf, lord of Maisonneuve, was stationed with the marine staff of Brest. He received from Surcouf, in 1804, the command of "The Confidence" on which he made several campaigns. Later, his company freighted several private vessels defending France against the English. A century earlier, the family Bart, also from the corsairs region, had ties with the Pottiers, as we saw before, in Renaix. Et enfin les nombreux Potter issus de la région de Potte, établis dans la région de St Omer/ Dunkerque.
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95 British Pottier ‘s
96 As United-Kingdom reference, we mention Adam de Potter, army archer, married to Sibyl Heygham in 1278 in the Kent County. Many “de Potter ‘s” are listed on British genealogy websites, active in farming, crafts, industry and London politics. Some were “natives”, some got on Roman invaders’ boats, others escaped continental wars or revolutions, going onto the island for freedom. Some went there to develop their business, as the Bruges branch did. Their name however was often simplified by the customs office into “Potter” instead of “de Potter”. They were often referred to as “from Normandy”, after crossing the channel there.
97 Christopher Potter, member of the House of Commons in London, even re-emigrated to Paris after losing an election in London... He would have lost a “duel” against Lord Pitt but, in reality, he would have been a... secret agent for the British government in Paris. Lord North in 1778 described Potter as ‘a gentleman of business manufacturing bread’. When he entered Parliament he defended the Admiralty, promoting the true interests of the country. On 12 December 1782 he voted against the American war. The Duke of Rutland, who had ‘old obligations’ towards Chris Potter, supported him when the petition came to be tried; and John Mortlock, Potter’s nominee on the committee which tried his election, ‘engaged ... that Potter should always vote for Pitt’. On 15 March 1785, after a so called “fight” he lost against his godfather Lord Pitt, Chris Potter re-emigrated to France in 1791 where he presented a petition to the National Assembly begging a patent for a new process of manufacturing pottery !
98 Chris Potter promised a quarter of his profits in public gifts and set up his factory at Chantilly where he produced baked potteries, painted with taste and elegance. It was said that he was worth more than two millions of ancient money…. But in the meantime, he was also twice arrested by the revolutionary committee... He was the supplier of many powerful families and, today, there is no doubt anymore that he was a secret agent of the British government, via Lord Pitt, with whom he had secretly continued to be closely connected since the Revolution. As stated in “Les Cahiers de Chantilly” (2016-2018), Potter was arrested for conspiracy in 1793. Because of the support of the minister of war, and other senior hidden supporters, the charges against him were waved. He was nevertheless jailed until the fall of Robespierre.
99 Pursuing the rebellion, in 1796 and 1797, as a close friend of viscount Paul Barras, head of the Directoire regime, Potter was used as a gobetween with the British Government to exchange British general O’Hara against count of Rochambeau. Also upon the proposal of Barras, Potter would also have played a role in the liberation of the daughter of king Louis XVI and the proposed the re-establishment of the monarchy in France. In 1800 Potter was a first class medalist at the Paris industrial exhibition and was meeting the whole Paris establishment. Between 1800 and 1801, Potter (almost aged 50) was asked by Bonaparte (aged 32) to help negotiate peace between France and England. A Cambridge newspaper wrote that Potter was the “owner of the Palace of the prince of Condé” in Chantilly, but he only had a royal factory with 400 workers… Like Louis de Potter, in the same time frame, he was paying the most renowned artists of the time up to 8.000 pounds per year…! Gold imprinted ceramic pot marked “L.P.”...!
100 In 1797 it was assumed that he was protecting blue-collar royalists inside his factory, printing secrets codes on dishes with flowers meaning royal support etc. In those days, printing royalist emblems on pots was risky business. One could get his head cut off… He remained in France until 1814. His sons, Georges and Thomas, rook over the ink printing ceramics. Betch & Lallemant bought the neighboring house of Beaumarchais and pursued the gold printing crafts. Potter died in England, 18 Nov. 1817. His opportunities and abilities should have fixed him at the summit of wealth, but he was too eccentric and speculative a rebel to hoard a fortune.