Betty Potter

Location: Montgomery Hall, Augusta County, Virginia

Betty Potter was born c. 1800 in Augusta County, Virginia. Betty Potter was appraised in 1847, $150.00. She was sold together with her daughter, Mary “Molly” Susan, in 1851 to Robert Asher Gray, $350.00. Robert A. Gray lived at “Hilltop” in Harrisonburg/Rockingham, Virginia. Betty Potter’s husband, Ben Potter, was John Howe Peyton’s principal house servant at Montgomery Hall for many years. Betty Potter worked in both the house and fields at Montgomery Hall. After the Civil War, Betty Potter lived in Staunton, Virginia. She died in Staunton, Virginia in 1882. For more information about Betty Potter’s family, please see her the page of her daughter, Mary “Molly” Susan Potter.

Ben Potter, Jenny Phipps, and Reuben were also sold to R. A. Gray in 1851.

Betty Potter was hired out for periods of time between 1850 and 1851:

1849: Hired out to Geeding

1850: Hired out to Thomas Butler

1851: Hired out to H. Saupe

Betty Potter lived at Montgomery Hall for many years. By 1851, she was described as “older and in very infirm health.”

In March, 1861, Robert Asher Gray listed six enslaved individuals among his assets:

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