Henry Potter: The history of First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1816-1991

Henry Potter and his wife were charter members of First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Potter was elected an Elder in 1831. Judge Potter was born January 5, 1766 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Little is known about his schooling. In his early twenties he went to Philadelphia, possibly to complete his education as a lawyer. He was there two and a half years. His youthful interest in public affairs was keen. He attended sessions of the Congress and heard President Washington's message to Congress in 1791. He became personally acquainted with Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Madison and other public leaders.

As a young lawyer, he arrived in Raleigh in the early days of the city. In 1799 he was Grand Master of Hiram Masonic Lodge. He was a trustee of the State University for over fifty years. He con- tributed to the erection of Main South Building. He must have been a man of substantial means even in his youth. Shortly after he arrived in Raleigh he purchased two acres of land on the north side of Hargett Street from Salisbury to McDowell Streets. On this land he built his home. Some of this land is now owned by First Church for a parking lot.

On April 2, 1802 he was appointed a Federal Judge by President Jefferson. He remained a Federal Judge for 55 years. He was an original trustee of the Raleigh Academy which opened July 1, 1804. It has been said that the organizational plan of the First Presbyterian Church was the handiwork of Judge Potter. He, William Peace, and Dr. Calvin Jones deeded the property to First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Morgan and Salisbury Streets. The legal title was held by a quasi-joint stock company in which each pew owner had one vote for each $50 worth of pew or pews he or she owned. At the time Judge Potter had pew #7, which cost more than $500.

Judge Potter was married to Sylvania Williams Easton. They had ten children, six reached maturity. Mrs. William A. White (Margaret Ayers White), a member of First Church, is a direct descendant of Judge and Mrs. Potter. The last thirty years of Judge Potter's life was spent in Fayetteville. When he left Raleigh he sold his pew to Dr. McPheeters for $50. Judge Potter died December 20, 1858 at the age of 91. His wife had predeceased him October 25, 1853.

https://archive.org/details/historyoffirstpr00mcph

Margaret Ayers White

Margaret Ayers White, 92, passed away Monday, July 17, 2017. She was born in Washington, NC on March 10, 1925 to the late Edwin W. and Laura Stedman Ayers. Margaret grew up in Raleigh and proudly attended Hugh Morrison High School. 

After graduating, she and several of her friends went to work for Western Union - a job which enabled her to work and travel during the war. On June 15, 1947, she married William "Bill" Albert White and from that union had five children. 

Margaret eventually left the banking industry and began a new career with the US Postal Service, from which she retired in 1986. Post-retirement, she and Bill spent many years traveling in their motor home, often loading up half the family for week-long getaways.

Although Margaret was an active member of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the First Families of North Carolina, she was most active at being "Mema" to her six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was a lively, spirited woman whose memory will be cherished forever.

Margaret is survived by her loving children Barbara Shand and husband, Kevin; Patricia Lewis and husband, Todd; John White and wife, Sherry; and Billy White. She leaves behind grandchildren Jennifer Dew, Mark Aubut, Steven White, Robert Haynes, Amy Lewis, and Eric White, and great-grandchildren Heather and Shelby Dew, Ellie White, Samantha Aubut, and Robert "Bo" Haynes. She is also survived by her dear brother James Cordon Ayers of Columbus, Ohio.

The family requests no flowers, but please honor their mother and remember their sister, Peggy Adams, by making donations to Rex Healthcare Foundation's Peggy Adams Scholarship Fund. Checks should be sent to Rex Healthcare at 2500 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Arrangements under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, Raleigh, NC.

Ayers Home Movie, 1950/60s

Early 1950s, Ayers Family Video

College Street, Oxford, J.P. Stedman, Druggist

 

John Portfield Stedman
Birth Feb 26, 1854 in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Death Apr 19, 1914 in Oxford, North Carolina

1915 Royal Black Hussars Orchestra

Taugua Band at Home of W.B. Burgess. Chicago TCT. Ohio.
Edwin Ayers, first man on the far right.

Road Map of where the RBH Orchestra played.
51 - Oneida, IL
52 - Victoria, IL
53 - Princeville, IL
54 - Bradford, IL
55 - Hambridge, IL
56 - Viola, IL
57 - Alexis, IL
58 - Roseville, IL
59 - Stronghurst, IL
60 - Dallas City, IL
00 - Carthage, IL
62 - Clayton, IL
63 - Saint Mary, IL
64 - Colchester, IL
65 - Rushville, IL
66 - Leesburg, IL
67 - Beardstown, IL
68 - Virginia, IL
73 - Tallula, IL
74 - Mason City, IL
75 - Lewistown, IL
76 - Hanna City, IL
77 - Woodhull, IL

Swain Apartments 1960

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Volume: 1960
Subject: Raleigh (N.C.)--Directories.
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.