Hannah Potter

Family/Spouse: William Rotch. William was born about 1650; died before 28 Jun 1705 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 6 Mar 1704, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Notes:

"Joseph appears to be the first Quaker of the Rotch family. It is suggested that he arrived from Salem to Nantucket in 1725, though within the Nantucket Monthly Meeting Records he is not mentioned until the Monthly Meeting held 26th 9 mo. 1733 when he and Love Macy declare their intentions to marry. According to the Nantucket register of births and other events, he was received 26th 9 mo. 1733. The following month, Jethro Folger and Nathaniel Coleman, having been tasked the previous month with examining the clearness of Joseph Rotch to be married, indicate that he has no impediments. This indicates that he is a Friend in good standing." [Rhonda R. McClure, citation details below]

Joseph married Love Macy on 21 Feb 1734 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Love (daughter of Thomas Macy and Deborah Coffin) was born on 20 Jun 1713 in Nantucket, Massachusetts; died on 14 Nov 1767. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was an early whale-oil entrepeneur. He and his sons' whaling businesses continued well into the 1800s.

William married Elizabeth Barney on 31 Oct 1754 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin Barney and Lydia Starbuck) was born on 23 Mar 1735 in Nantucket, Massachusetts; died on 14 May 1824 in New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Elizabeth (Rotch) Rodman, along with her younger sister Mary, who never married, were the impetus to so many of the Rotches and Rodmans leaving the Society of Friends, most of them because of what happened to these two women. [...] Samuel Rodman, after the vote that revoked Elizabeth's and Mary's position as Elders, was so incensed by what had taken place that he 'tendered a resignation of his right of membership to the Mo[nthly] Meeting. He declined entering into the reasons which had led to this step, which must be well known to most who were present -- he said it was not a hasty one, but taken after mature deliberation, [and] he should only request a copy of the minute made on this subject.'" [Rhonda R. McClure, citation details below]

Elizabeth married Samuel Rodman on 1 Jun 1780 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Samuel (son of Thomas Rodman and Mary Borden) was born on 11 Nov 1753 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island; died on 24 Dec 1835 in New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]