Ben Potter

Location: Montgomery Hall, Augusta County, Virginia

Ben Potter first lived in Staunton and at John Howe Peyton’s farm in Alleghany County, Virginia. Potter later lived in Augusta County, Virginia and after the completion of Montgomery Hall, Ben Potter was John Howe Peyton’s principal house servant. Ben Potter supervised some of Peyton’s enslaved men offsite in making bricks used at Montgomery Hall. other Ben Potter was appraised at Montgomery Hall in 1847, $300.00. He was sold in 1851 to Robert Asher Gray, $300.00. His wife, Betty Potter, and their daughter, Mary “Molly” Susan, Jenny Phipps, and Reuben were also sold to R. A. Gray in 1851. Robert A. Gray lived at “Hilltop” in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, Virginia. Gray married John Howe Peyton’s daughter, Mary Preston, at Montgomery Hall in 1850. In March, 1861, Robert A. Gray listed six enslaved individuals among his assets:

• Ben
• Betty
• Jenny
• Albert
• Madison
• Harriet

Ben Potter was John Howe Peyton’s principal house servant at Montgomery Hall for many years.