Wayne County, NC - Everettsville

                    SUSAN MARINDA POTTS

         Written by Sarah Virginia (Jennie) Jones King

My mother, Susan Marinda Potts, was the daughter of Newman Potts 
and Susan Lewis, prominent farmers, or planters, of Wayne County, 
North Carolina. She was born near the little town of Dudley. In 
fact, her father's land lay about halfway between Dudley and 
Everettsville, so I am not sure which town she claimed as her 
birthplace. She was only nine years old when the "war between the 
states" began, but she could recall vividly many painfull 
experiences she suffered when the "Yankee" soldiers were in the 
vicinity, which was far too ofen judging by the devastation they 
left in their wake. Susan became quite proficient in hiding 
family valuables, food supplies, and even the livestock, when 
word was received that the soldiers were headed in their 
direction. She saw the fine homes of many of her friends, and 
playmates, burned to the ground, and must have lived in constant 
fear that her own home might share the same fate. What a reign of 
terror that must have been for the children of the south. The 
little village, of Everettsville, was almost completely wiped 
out; it lay in the path of both armies. The old Everett home was 
the only house left standing, and that was used for a hospital.

This village was actually a settlement of the more prominent 
Planters, the so-called aristocracy. It was here that a Miss 
Daniels ran a private school, where mother and her older brother 
and sister were fortunate enough to gain entrance. This was an 
advantage, socially, as well as academically, for it gave the 
Potts children the association of the best families in the 
county. Though, grandfather Newman Potts was not as wealthy as many 
of his neighbors, he was considered to be one of the substantial 
citizens of his community, owning over a thousand acres of land 
and several slaves. Of course, Susan's school life in 
Everettsville was cut short by the destruction of that quiet 
little settlement of fine people, and beautiful homes. The 
friendships started there continued on, and she loved to talk 
about her many happy and joyous occasions there.

All that was left of this little settlement was crumbling 
foundations and ghost-like chimneys, standing like silent 
sentinels, guarding the ruins once beautiful home or stately 
mansion. The owner's were never able to rebuild them in their 
former pride and beauty. Such scenes were so common place in the 
south; they hardly excited any great degree of curiosity in me as 
a child. I gathered up small bits of rare old china in the fields 
to play with, never realizing that there was anything unusual 
finding these in the cotton fields, and corn patches. Even now, I 
wonder how they were scattered so far and wide.

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Jennie Jones
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