 | Rob Jardine's Great-Grandparents - Jane (nee Johnston) and Adam Potts Adam Potts was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland . Died May 6, 1900 at age 69 on the same day as his wife Jane Johnston born in Cobourg, Ontario. She was 63.
Exert from Local Victoria County Ontario History Book “Roses and Thorns” by Gladys Suggitt
Mr. and Mrs. Potts came from Scotland and after residing at Port Hope for a time, they moved to a farm in the northern part of Verulam. Like most of the early settlers who settled on an established farm, Adam Potts moved to the new location during the winter season. As sleighs would travel over frozen lakes and swamps where passage was impossible in the summer months, the move was usually made during the month of March.
The trip from Port Hope, over the snowy trails of lake and forest, was made in wintry weather in an open sleigh surrounded by their few worldly goods. On its last lap the sleigh, drawn by a team of oxen, was overtaken by darkness long before its destination was reached.
The family became lost in the network of trails and lumber roads which criss-crossed the country. After wandering aimlessly through the forest for a time they glimpsed a light showing through the trees. Mr. Potts tied his team to a tree and plodded wearily through the snow to the shanty to enquire his way.
Mrs. Potts remained in the sleigh, guarding their few possessions, chilled to the bone, and worrying as to whether the little girls lying in the bottom of the sled, covered with blankets were asleep and all right or were freezing in the bitter cold. All the while fear grippe her heart as the weird howling of the wolves close by sent shivers up her spine. But there was no thought of deserting her post, or of flinching in her devotion to her husband and family.
In the spring of 1884, the Potts family moved to Baddow, with their family of seven daughters.
In later years one daughter married James Halliday and Mr. and Mrs. Potts retired south of Rosedale (Sunnybrae). On the thirtieth of April, 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Potts attended church, as was their custom. During the service Adam became ill, a sickness which developed into pleural pneumonia. During the following week Mrs. Potts was stricken with a heart condition and when Adam was told that her recovery was doubtful, he replied that it was useless to give him any more medicine, as he did not wish to recover if it meant going on without the dedicated wife who had supported him through all the hardships of pioneer life. On Sunday, May 6th 1900 Adam Potts and his wife departed this life, within a few hours of each other.
The respect and esteem in which they were held by all who knew them, was indicated by the large funeral procession, One hundred and sixteen horse drawn vehicles were counted as they turned from Colborne into Bond Street on their way to the Fenelon Falls cemetery. And this was in spite of the fact that it was a rainy day.
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