ENGLISH: Potter Families 1050-1750 <Partie A>

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Thanks to them, forests regenerate. Their thinking outside the box, with a fresh approach, is fertile ground, nourishing. Their stubbornness creates new tracks, their passion is the fire that rekindles, in modern patterns, the hearts of the ancestors and re connect them to modern times.

<< “Black sheeps” are path finders for families’ constellations. Members of a fraternity, braking traditions. Those who, since child hood, question beliefs and standards. Rebels, criticized, judged and rejected by the clan. However, they feel a vacuum and fill it with love. They are trend setters, whistleblowers, releasing the group from mistake or re enacted stories, which frustrated entire generations.

Repressed desires, unrealized dreams, frustrated talents, murders of ancestors, are manifested in the resistance of these disturbers. They are pure souls, trying to be useful to all. The inertia of traditions maintained a negative growth. Our brave “Robin Woods” empower families with a new positive environment.

The human genome acid test is moving our hearts… Who would bring new seeds and flowers to our plants, if not the Families Rebels? Who would stretch out new leafs, build new ties, across ancient souls? Without them, the hopes of previous generations, for next children moving up, would be buried under rotting roots.

Heritage angels help with transmitted impairment and rarity of love. Like a distant mirror in the sky, they inspire the beauty of peace. Trillions of tears and smiles fall on you like sky dust, from the ancient times, to nourish your tender re united young spirits! >>

FAMILIES FOREST REBELS

Those modern strangers, against all conservative odds, shout their rebellion towards the brotherhood and play a crucial role in each bloodline. They repair, detoxify, uncover new roots, tree blossoms, and reach out to DNA, show the beauty of united families.

Based on the text of Bert Hellinger, genealogic therapy expert.

Some of the allied families:

LINEAGES POTTER(E)

Gracious Queen of Belgium

Profound Respect to Her Royal Highness MATHILDE

of millennial ancestors UDEKEM d’ACOZ , beloved Belgian braves.

Profound Respect to Her Royal Highness ELISABETH

Gracious Princess of Belgium of millennial ancestors

Take advantage of criticism in good faith. Let go unfriending friends.

Appreciate others’ beauty. Leave good things behind: healthy child, clean nature, humans breathing better. Because you passed here.

Laugh with respect. Smile with love. Gather sensible people and kids.

That's what I call: “a successful life”!

Ralph W. Emerson

Cousin Henri BRUSSIN, Oxford professor Derrick GOSSELIN, Pieter DONCHE, Heraldic College, Flemish Genealogy Board, Dame Françoise de CASAUBON, Annick MALARD, DNA experts Wim PENNINX and Astrid KRAHN, Danielle de LAMINNE de BEX, Arnaud WATELET.

THANKS

To my beloved kids Aymar, Eleonor+, Olivia, Magali, Youri, Dorsan de POTTER d’INDOYE, my family André, Amaury, Christophe, Guillaume, Pierre, Stéphane, Marie Claire de POTTER d'INDOYE, the late honorable Dame Henri de POTTER d’INDOYE, born Princess Elisabeth de MERODE, Suzanne, Ingrid Gaby, Gérald, Miguel, Diego de POTTER, Jean de POTTER de ten BROECK, Eric de POTTER de ZINZERLING, Fernand de POTTER de DROOGENWALLE, Yvonne de POTTER said d’ELSEGHEM, Denis, Serge, Christian, Peter Frank, Sven, Vincent, Patrick, Hugo, Etjen, Filippe, Dorothée DE POTTER, the POTTER Association, cousins Dame Nicole d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, Nicolas de GHELLINCK d’ELSEGHEM, Véronique, Béatrice, Geneviève, Isabelle, François van CALOEN, Alain van HILLE...

For their ad hoc help, to baroness Els WITTE, Pierre Paul DE BEIR, Jo STEVERLINCK, Dominique RODENBACH, Paul DE CLERCK, family of Louis de Potter’s aunt; Sebastiaan De RAEDT, Laurent INGHELBRECHTS, Jos MEVENSEN, volunteers in West Flanders; Charles SCHOUW and Adrie RAADERSMA (NL); Heads of Royal Archives Chris VANDE WALLE (Dixmude), Eric DEVOS (Renaix), Maurice VANDERMAESEN (Bruges), Michiel MESTDAGH (Tourhout); to Patrick ARNOU, Mayor of Zedelgem Loppem, Karl VANDENBROECK (Bozar).

For a Lophem Castle meeting, prof. Paul JANSSENS, former chairman Nobility council of the Kingdom of Belgium, Cleveland MOFFETT, ex editor of The Bulletin Magazine and Noël VANDE PUTTE.

Private Nicolas de POTTER d’INDOYE , Esq. Res. Lt Col., Cmdr Crown Order, hon. Advisor to the president of the High Assembly of Canada, hon. Secretary General of the Euroregion

All my gratitude, for their genuine genealogy help, to the families van CALOEN de BASSEGHEM, COPPIETERS t’WALLANT, de GHELLINCK d’ELSEGHEM, van OUTRYVE d’YDEWALLE, van POTTELSBERGHE de la POTTERIE, de SCHIETERE de LOPHEM and, last but not least, d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ.

Team member Pieter Donche, genealogy expert, with Nic de Potter, in Renaix. Pieter is not a book patron but made it possible with his immense work in Bruges.

The Past was better than it really was, the Present, worse than it actually is, the Future, harder than it will be!

Marcel Pagnol

Why is it complex to be happy? You think...

Karel & Lodewyck de Potter 61

Origin of a Name 17

Family Origins 23

POTTER’s Street

Potter Family Forest 83 French Pottier ‘s 87 British Potter ‘s 95 Dutch Potter ‘s 103 Jan de Potter 123 Louis de Potter 155 Armand de Potter 341 Frans De Potter 353 Jean de Potter 369 Nicolas de Potter 393 Making Of 397

FOREWORD

Nicolas told me it all started around the emblematic year 2000 when Cleveland Moffett, former editor of The Bulletin Magazine, suggested to write a families book during a visit to the Castle of Lophem.

I have known Esquire Nicolas de Potter d’Indoye, for more than 30 years. Driven by a passion for family history and excellence, Nicolas started to tell me about his dream, his opus magnum, more than 20 years ago. What an adventure, what an accomplishment, what an effort and dedication! A journey which generations will remember for sure.

This visit was actually an important moment, even paramount to this project, as it was built by the family of Belgium’s first Prime Minister, Louis de Potter, Nicolas’ distant family member. This visit triggered this broad historical sociological research and deep family genealogy search. A journey of 20 years started with this single visit, with a distant family mirror. Many steps would follow before this quest would reach its destiny in 2020.

This book is a unique combination of history, sociology and genealogy research, over nearly 1000 years. Hence it provides a unique perspective as it is built around fascinating adventures of various sociologically different families “de Potter”, reinforced by extensive archives and library research, with the help of a team of academic researchers. In combining disciplines around sociologically different family names “de Potter”, Nicolas depicts how social mobility evolved in Flanders and Belgium over nearly a millennium.

This resulted in a fine portrait of the “Belgian Low Countries Flanders” society, reflected by different (de) Potter families, over a time span between the years 1000 and 2000. Such a wide range explains why it took Nicolas 20 years of study.

Derrick Philippe GOSSELIN, Former Chief of Cabinet, Minister president of Flanders, Fellow Royal Academy of Belgium, Consul of France in Belgium (Bruges).

We consider it a privilege to recommend this book and sign this preface alike. We hope that the historical contribution of Nicolas will be well received, recognized and studied by people who love history, in its broader sociological context, as much as we do; and that others will be stimulated to further contribute to the innovative approach and knowledge inspired by the example of my friend Nicolas.

They are well supported by numerous sources, here and on his website, also pleasant to read, through the use of a modern language, illustrated with many quality images.

With genuine support of: Paul BREYNE , OBE, Honorary Governor of West Flanders, Lies LARIDON , Major of Dixmude, Councilor of West Flanders Hilde CREVITS , Flanders Minister of Education, Kingdom of Belgium.

Wars, revolutions, religious banishments make primary historical records and sources scarce, especially in West Flanders... However, nothing stopped Nicolas. During so many years he worked hard on this societal contribution, describing unpublished true stories.

Origin of a name

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Spelling of names was not so important in the past. Families who were lucky to have their (first) name written down were the happy few. There were less inhabitants and craftsmen in villages. Few people had the same name or profession. Notaries, priests and civil servants were not as accurate as today. The name “Potter” was transcribed “Pottere” or “Potters” (Pottersoone, son of…; ‘s Potters, family of ...) or Pottre (BE), Pottes (BE/FR), Pottier (BE), Pottiez (BE), Pottère (FR), Pötter (DE), Poterus (NL), Potier (FR), Pooter (BE), Poorterede

early days, names were assigned in function of (1) a [saint’s] first name, often used as “patronym”, (2) a geographic place e.g. village or city, (3) in function of a characteristic such as physical appearance, style or temper, (4) in function of demographic origin e.g. “Hollander” or “Lefrançois”, (5) in function of a profession (see below) or... combinations of the above!

Quality work across centuries allowed transfer of their coat of arms and crafts emblems onto local blasons of cities or places like: Potte (Arras), Potes Pottelbergh (Renaix), Trou Pottier (Tournai), Potelle (Mons), Potterye (Roulers/ Bruges)...

At the end of the 1st Millenium, in the cities of Cambrai, Tournai, Courtrai, Roubaix and Renaix, some brave craftsmen were manufacturing clay or iron pots. Some were esquires with the Duke of Mortaigne in Potelle, cousin of French kings, husband of Countess Alix of Flanders from Lille.

Different POTTERS’ families took advantage of rich soils and iron crafts expertise in the region. Also, the presence of the Escaut river, and the proximity of the sea, were advantages to ship heavy clay jars (Hainaut, Flanders) and cast iron caldrons (Liège).

Family Origins

This lineage flourished several centuries with: (1) elected members of city councils (Bergen Op Z., Breda), (2) fleet admiral with Dutch Scotts marine, (3) fleet esquire with knight Godfrey of Bouillon, (4) esquires of Charles Duke of Lorraine, (5) Prelate of Zeeland in Middleburg.

Thereafter carrying three pots, sub branches developed in Amsterdam with various skills: (6) writer, (7) painter, (8) Lutherian mayor (renamed Potterus in Utrecht) and (9) in the United Kingdom, elected member of the Essex assembly and (10) archbishop of Canterbury (le Pottere);

the families table below, seven old roots of the POTTERE forest were matched with survivors, archives and DNA. Ancient spellings, refer to cities (Pottes, Potelle), landmarks (post, potteau, Roman sign), crafts (potterye) or jobs (Poortere: door keeper).

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1. “Pottere” found around year 1089 in North Brabant where Herman, leader of the harbour of Bergen Op Zoom, initially carried a Lion and three U shaped signs.

Other textile craftsmen “De Poortere” on the Northern France frontier also originated in the region of Renaix or Roubaix but were not yet analyzed;

o The key figure in Brussels was Jan, writing famous Brussels chronicles under the byname “Pottre” whose statute is on the façade of the Brussels City Hal, near the one of Vesalius.

2. “Pottier” ancestors in Frasnes, province of Hainaut, were found around 1100 near Renaix where the above branch originated. They lived close to the family ”Pottes”, of the Lords of Pottes, found as early as 970 in the cities of Pottes (BE), Potte (FR) and Potelle (BE/FR), with several related sub groups: Pottiez , Pott(i)er , Potter , Potèlle , Potèrre .

A leading textile sub branch “Potter” (ancient: Pottere), the one of the book’s author, moved around 1500 to Ghent providing elected members (Joseph, Henri...);

An iron craft sub branch “Potter” moved to Brussels, providing elected members in South Brabant Province like Macaire in 1257 and in the Brussels City Council.

They were also active in the booming clay, iron and textured molding, occupying over ten mayorates during several hundred years, in the cities of Tournai, Renaix and Frasnes. All connected to nearby cities of Pottes and Potelle and, not far, the city of Potte in France.

o With Jan’s father, Thomas, this branch originated a whole Brussel Ommegang lineage of senior “silversmith Nation” and ciseled chaldrons craftsmen between 1300 and 1600, exposed today in the Castle of Laarne (Ghent);

Further down the line, a Lodewyck was deputy Bailiff of the Free State of Bruges, a Liévin was head of the corporation of the textile craftsmen and a Robert was high representative of Bruges to the Prussian city of Bremen;

4. “Pottere” and “Pottaeyre” (seen “”Pottey”) found around 1300 in Mons (Egidius) and Liège (Leuder), related to the “Pottier” and “Potier” branches above, occupying business and political functions in and around both cities.

A sub branch “Potère” moved to Roubaix, Mouscron and Courtrai, also providing textile experts and elected members.

5. “Potter” found around 1400 in Liège Limburg, providing a back link in Antwerp with cousin Thomas, Receiver of the King of Spain in 1625. Members of that branch moved to Prusland (Germany) with possibly adapted patronyms “Pötter”, “Potten’dorf”, “Potter’hausen”.

A line “Pot(t)ier”, linked to French Founding Fathers identified in French Flanders around 1100, providing a stronghold with Receiver of King’s treasure in Lille, head of an abbey near Mount Cassel, and one in Alveringhem (West Flanders), with ties to several leading priests and abbey intendants in Poperingues and Tournai (1200).

3. “Potterie” and “Poterye” (and nordic style Potterik), found around 1200 in West Flanders, including Créstien, official with the City of Bruges in 1170, followed by different elected members and court members in that century.

We matched five “modern branches”, detailed in the timeline and verified DNAs with experts Yseq.net and Wim Penninx. Here is a summary ot the results (colored on the family diagram to follow).

1. HAINAUT “Pottere” re-united root, with the tree ancient lines as options:

Mons, Dour, Alost “Pottier” and “Potèrre”, identified by chief archivist of Renaix. This sublet provided a mayorate in Dour in 1500, with sublet moved to Audenaerde (mayorate in 1600) and further to Avelghem (mayorate in 1700).

Frasnes ”Pottier” sub branch along with Renaix “Potter” sub branch, identified by princess Elisabeth de Merode and her cousin, father Jacques de Potter, plus genealogist Douxchamps for the years 1357 1650, merging into the “blue branch” listed below, further detailed and ascertained by a Leuven genealogist too;

“Pottes” and “Potèlle” lordships and families provided several mayorates in the city of Pottes in 1000 1400 and Tournai. They then disappeared while several persons still carry this name today, around Roulers. Also, the “green branch” carries the same coat of arms , inspired/ taken over from this original branch?

Working28

backwards on five roots, researchers Pieter Donche, Jacques de Potter, other experts of Flanders family research board, plus several archivists, helped us analyze hundreds of history records.

Alveringhem ”Potter(e)” (1600) and then East Flanders Audenaerde (1650) identified by cousin Henri Brussin plus Patrick de Potter. Kerchove “Potter” (1700) dentified by Wim Penninx and the Yseq ADN lab, with Fernand as survivor, Avelghem “Potter” (1750) identified by Denis and Yvonne de Potter, with Sven as survivor, and finally French Flanders Uxem “Potter” (1770) identified by Paul De Clerck, with Joost, Liam and Pascal as survivors of above green line.

2. WEST-FLANDERS “Potter” re-united roots, with three old lines as solid basis:

Westhoek “Pottere”, (1600) Courtrai Heule “Potterye” and French-Flanders well identified by freelance volunteers Annick Malard in France and cousin Henri Brussin in Mouscron Roubaix, providing e.g. a Receiver of the King’s estates in Lille in 1570 and ties to several abbeys in Mount Cassel and Poperinge in 1600.

Bruges “Potterye” (1300), “Pottier” (1400), “Pottere” (1500), “Potter de Droogenwalle“ in Keyem/ Dixmude, “Potter“ (1600+), precisely identified by expert Pieter Donche. Several volunteers found representatives of the district of St. Omer (Créstien Potterye in 1300), an elected member of the Free State of Bruges (Jean in 1307), a deputy Bayliff of the Free State of Bruges (Lodewyk in 1680), a delegate to the city of Bremen (Robert in 1600), etc.;

3. GHENT AND BRABANT “Potter” re-united roots “blue branch”, fully identified by Elisabeth de Merode, genealogist Douxchamps and Fernand de Potter, providing numerous alliances with the families Udekem, Holstein Luxembourg, Merode, Lannoy, Davignon, Ghellinck, Caloen, Kint, Saverys, Casaubon...

Above colors match the Families Table (see large one on last page of the book)

4. DUTCH “Pottere”, Potter, Potterus re-united roots, “parse branch”, fully identified as from 1093, by Jkhr Beelaerts van Blokland and us, with direct link to the Ghent branch (Abraham), identified by a Leuven expert, plus a stronghold in Antwerp with the Receiver of the King of Spain, Thomas (1650), but not yet known living descendants in The Netherlands.

5. SAINT NICOLAS “Potter” re united “pink branch” found around 1400 in the Land of Waes, fully identified with the great support of biology dr. Vincent de Potter, Christian, Serge (direct descendants of Frans), plus Peter Frank de Potter. They are all closely related to the famous historian Frans de Potter, while all above roots relate 10.000 years ago.

The oldest “reliable” basic POTxxxRx families background and reference book which we found is shown below. It was based on “noble names” of Cambray Tournay regions, with their cities crafts emblems and families “coats of arms”, as early as the 12th century.

Across ages, transcription of names, on corn paper or papyrus, was done with a bird’s feather, at candle light, in the cold, war after war, many times in a row! It sometimes caused an “s” to become “r” or “z”... Or “tt” to become “t”... And “o” to become “u”. Also, with changes of official language, names varied from “de Potter” into “le Potier” or “de Poorter” or “ ‘s Potters”.

In the 10th century, craftsmen living in the cities of Pottes (BE) and Potte (FR), were identified as “Pott(i)er” or “Potier” or “Potters” and “Po(t)tiez”. They lived all over the lower water regions, along the rivers of Aquitaine, Brabant, Britanny, Flanders, Hainaut, Picardy... Their crafts and art blasons (coats of arms) were often conferred onto their city of deployment.

In the 11th century, the names “de Pottes”, “de Pottelle”, “de Poterre” or “le Pottier” were being more consistently used. They did refer to afore mentioned powerful iron and clay craftsmen along the Escaut river. While some (natural childs?) “ Pottes(de)” and “(‘s) Potters” still survive today in Ypres, here is a family “Pottes” research made by late cousin Amaury de Ghellinck:

He had moved from Tournai to Bruges, to join the preparation of celebrations for the installation of the Dukes of Burgundy’s family in InBruges.thesame

In 1433, a Knight Gilles de Potelle, attached to the house of Countess Marguerite, Dame of the Hainaut county, learned that the Duke of Burgundy, her nephew, was collecting too much money for himself.

Catherine was married around 1420 to Allart, son of Robert, count of Mortaigne, family of the Dukes of Mortaigne, Lords of Pottes and counts of Pottelle.

to the “Tournai ancient painters index”, listed around 1425, an artist by the name of Pierrequin de Pottes, “also registered as de Potter” (sic), was dispatched to the court of the Duke of Burgundy in Bruges.

More details are provided in the chapter about the family of Louis de Potter de Droogewalle, who happens to carry the arms of... Catherine de Pottere, hairess of the castle of Potelles.

period, the Lord of Gruuthuyse in Bruges married the grand daughter of Catherine de Pottere , as stated by Edward Gaillard in the Royal Archives of Belgium in 1885.

Gilles joked, telling people that he would hunt him down one day. Gilles was immediately accused of a crime and got his head cut off… His castle was confiscated by Jean de Carondelet, minister of the Duke Charles the Rash. The castle was built in 1290 by Guillaume de Mortaigne, Lord of Pottes, count of Pottelle who kept it until 1490.

According34

Ancient arms of the city of Pottes were “blue and white stripes cut by a red line”. Later on, both cities carried three pots, like the families.

In the 13th century, the “Lordship of of Pottes” grew up, hanging together with the “French” city of Potte, in the Somme region, further up the river.

Meanwhile, we had found in the archives of Tournai, in the 12th century, afore mentioned family “de Potter” (BE) and “le Pottier” (FR), living near the city of Pottes (BE), on the Escaut river.

marriage of Catherine de Pottere , Dame of of Pottes great grand daughter of Countess Alix of Flanders, at the castle of of Pottelle, with Duke Allart of Mortaigne, count of of Pottelle, reinforced this family option, also because members of the Mortaigne family acquired lordships in Middelburg, linked to the ones of the “green branch” which also carried the same coat of arms!

Also, The High Society of The Hague, identified ancestor Herman de Pottere in 1093, freighting boats on the Escaut river, North of Antwerp. He was the cousin of Hermès in Renaix.

As shown by Mr B. van Blokland (High Society The Hague, 1870), Herman de Pottere, was made esquire in Dutch Brabant (Breda) in 1093, at service of King Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine, Marquis of Antwerp. Herman was gearing up crusaders in the port of Bergen Op Zoom (Rotterdam).

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These roots possibly all tie up into of Pottes/Pottelle and certainly into Tournai as shown on the family table and within the adventures of different amazing personalities selected…!

In the 13th centuries, Herman’s descendants splitted into four roots: Renaix (Pottere) and Frasnes (Pottier), also carrying ancient stripes and one pot (like Jean de Pottère 1270 in Royal Library’s blazons) or three pots (like Gilles 1357);

Under Herman came a lineage with several maritime mayors, an advisor to King Charles The Rash (Geerart), an advisor to the Prince Orange of The Netherlands (Maximiliaan), a prelate of the Free State of Zeeland (Roeland in Middelbourg who had studied in Bruges), sea captain of Dutch Scottish fleet (Roelant), great poet (Diric), key painter Paul (from Courtrai, made noble by prince of Orange).

Castle of Godfrey of Bouillon (Ardennes)

In Saint Omer (Pottere, Pottier), also carrying three pots as coat of arms; In Liège (Pottier), carrying the ancient striped coat of arms, crossed by the red line; In Mons (Pottier), old heraldic red line with a gray base field.

He acknowledged the work, starting before 1357 in Renaix (Ronse) and Frasnes, with evidences by genealogists Delghust (1896), Butsele (1950), Douxchamps (1964)...

The research was done during more than 20 years by father Jacques de Potter and validated by genealogist Douxchamps, with whom we went to visit uncle Jacques, in the Abbey of Rochefort.

in Frasnes and Renaix in 1357, a detailed book of 400 pages was published at Tradition & Vie in 1964 by Dame Henri de Potter d’Indoye, born Princess Elisabeth de Merode.

Supported by Eric Devos, Head of the Royal Archives of Renaix, this research was done by the monk de Potter, published by my aunt, Princess de Merode, promoted by my grandmother, viscountess Davignon, daughter of the President of the Royal Literature Academy. We offered a copy to prof. Paul Janssens, allied cousin, honorary chairman of the High Council of Nobility of the Kingdom.

Starting38

Arms of pot craftsmen region, transferred onto the cities.

With Leuder, mentioned in Liège in 1170, Gilles in 1250 in Mons, and Jacob in 1357 in Renaix, plus their cousins (Pottere and Pottier) in Frasnes in 1250 and Bruges in 1320, we can say that the oldest members of both the “Roman” and “Flemish” branches were identified accurately by these experts. The recent work by Willy Delhaye re confirms above family ties established with the Dutch and German branches, as well, further explained below.

After40

The evidence, mentioned on the picture below, is called “Document Maes”, archived in the Registrar of Renaix as early as 1357. It was produced a first time by genealogist cited below on the photograph, Dr. Delghust, and kept in the “de Potter Repository” at the Royal Archives in Renaix and Ghent. Based on the works of Maes, Butsele, Delghust, Douxchamps and Devos, the Leuven expert re confirmed the uninterrupted family bloodline from those days until today.

the solid 12th and 13th century options above, follows Jacob (1400), referred to as “son of Gilles” (1357), clearly identified by the head of the Royal Archives of Renaix, with appertaining official material (reference below), with confirmed lateral link with the Frasnes ancestors.

Like Eric Devos, father de Potter showed us his archives and research papers at the Abbey of Rochefort in 1995, in the presence of genealogist Douxchamps. In the mean time, a book, also registered at the Genealogy Office of Belgium, did cut off three centuries in our tree. The fathers de Potter and my beloved late aunt Dame Henri de Potter d’Indoye de Merode, plus several other experts, and me, are convinced that there is no doubt about Gilles in Renaix in 1357 to be the direct ancestor of all blue branch descendants.

Above archives were found in 1958 by the Rochefort fathers de Potter, published by princess de Merode and deposited with the Belgian Genalogy Office, no remarks eversince. They all worked accurately. Louis Maes, author of the “Document Maes” was a clerk of the City of Renaix. He also was our cousin, via Nicolas Maeterlinck (ancestor of Nobel Prize of Literature, Maurice Maeterlinck), also from Renaix, both related to Head of Archives Devos.

research hereafter is an update, further documented on our website. Any amelioration, with the Family Association are welcome.

The vast POTTER archives (Roman, Flemish, French, Dutch…) were analyzed by (1) archivist Maes in 1760, (2) genealogist Blokland in 1870, (3) the Association of Nobility Kingdom of Belgium in 1896, (4) genealogist Delghust in 1896, (5) archivist Butsele in 1964, (6) genealogist Coppieters t’Wallant in 1950, (7) genealogist de Schietere de Lophem in 1956, (8) fathers genealogists de Potter in 1958, (9) genealogist Douxchamps in 1964, (10) over twenty archivists between 2000 of Donche,Renaixin 2017 and (14) kindly reviewed by prof. Dr. Ir. Derrick Gosselin in 2019 and (15) reinforced by ten DNA

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Archives files, “Repository de Potter” at the Royal Archives of both Gand/Ghent and Renaix include numerous pieces which we consulted. The example below, written by Eric Devos, Head of archives in Renaix, testifies of the official roles of related lineages “de/ le Pottier” or “de Pottere” in the administration of the Barony of Renaix during 300 years as of 1332.

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the 15/16th Centuries, Renaix was a booming city, exporting throughout Europe. The family of Liévin de Potter, had exercised responsibilities there for two centuries. Year after year, modernity developed and the Grand Inquisitor of the Church violently opposed this… The bloody Duke of Alba rejected the peace treaty signed by city leaders. Three Potter signees were heavily condemned.

The painting by S. van Ruysdael shows the family escape, with coat of arms on the wagon. Below is the rejected “1566 Renaix Peace Compromise”, with family branches signatures.

The cruel Duke of Alba cut off Liévin de Potter’s head, and banished his brother Willem and cousin Louis, with friends Van Coppenolle, t’Sersander and other protesting families. This disturbed the establishment up to Brussels where the family was led by cousins Anton and Jan.

Work of genealogist Delghust

Secret archives of the 3 fathers de Potter Rochefort Abbey

Near Pottes and Pottelles, Renaix is named after the nearby stream Ronse of the Escaut river. Border city, taken by the Franks (440), Romans (500), Vikings (800), it was often destroyed.

In the 7thC it was re built around Amand’s church, patron of beer, wine and pots makers. When Hermès’ relics arrived, count of Flanders Dampierre (x Luxemburg, x Béthune) ruled. Thereafter, textile families Cambier, Coppenolle, Potter… prospered until religious wars. Escaping fires (1478, 1518, 1553, 1573) families moved to Amsterdam, Bruges, Bremen…

Families Structure

GAND/GHENT

Emperoress

Ghent with lineages in Belgium (Potter, Indoye, Zinzerling, ten Broeck), Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany (Pottere), identified by Jacques and Elisabeth de Potter. Jean François de Potter (1737 1801) had married Reine de Bay, daughter of the Chamberlain of Archduchess of Austria in Ghent, who included several family members, also of the green branch, into the nobelty. Maria Theresia of Austria

Extract of Luxemburg branch (blue line in family table)

“Europa Haus de Pottere”, Aurich, Germany

(Dixmude, Keyem, Vladslo, Tourhout...)

The “de Potter” family, to which journalist and politician Louis de Potter belonged to, as leader of the 1830 Government of Belgium, called herself “de Droogenwalle” as of the 18th century. The great grandfather of Louis, Jean Guillaume de Potter, first counselor of Dixmude and Nieuport, Counsellor of the High Council of Malines as of 1726, was, by virtue of this position, enrolled in nobility, with patent letters of 17 June of that year.

BRUGES

Droogenwalle was a small lordship, of about 3 hectares, acquired by Jean Guillaume at the beginning of the 18th century to the family of the counts de Merode. Located near the church in Keyem, a village north of Dixmude, it belonged to the county of Middelburg in Flanders, itself depending of the “Free State of Bruges” (part of the Duchy of Mortaigne before 1300).

Throughout the entire 16th century, we came across several inheritances with the name de Pottere in and around Keyem. From the earliest one, it can be concluded that this branch had already been present in the region at the end of the 1400s but the complete destruction of the municipal archive during World War One prevents us, for the time being, from finding more evidences than the ones in this book. Online DNA results are instrumental in this verification.

It is also in Keyem that the direct ancestors of this family are found, in the 16th century. A genealogy of this family was published in the “Annuaire de Noblesse Belge” in Brussels, in 1896, I, pp. 144 153, without the name of the author. See the first paragraphs of this study here besides. Although incomplete, this work was reliable for the period after 1650, but remained incomplete for the period before.

Pieter Donche reconstructed the genealogy of the family “de Potter de Droogenwalle” for the period before 1800. It was done accurately, between 2017 and 2019, on the basis of authentic archival sources such as: “states of goods” (possessions), “orphan accounts” (inheritances), “parish registers” (churches records), and numerous other official archival sources out of the formerly called “Free State of Bruges”. Ties to the present day were ascertained by DNA tests.

The most ancient and certain ancestor of that line is Pieter de Potter, son of Jacob (1525). He was born around 1540 and married Maria Boone. He owned two lending estates in Keyem, south east of the church, attached to the lending estate of Schorre (Dixmude). Jacob and Pieter belong to the branch of Jan Dries, esquire of Dixmude in the 13th Century with coat of arms in the Royal Library in Brussels.

Dixmude was attached to the County of Middlebourg, like the family lordships Droogenwalle and Haveskerque, bought to cousin Merode, as indicated in the library of the Castle of Loppem. Based on a text by Gaillard, their arms were carried over from Catherine de Pottere, Dame of Mortaigne and Potelle, heiress of Alix of Flanders in Lille.

to consulting specific sources, Pieter Donche firstly analyzed, for example, the enrollment lists of the University of Leuven or the list of magistrates of the High Council of Malines and found the following references to name carriers (de) "Potter" or "Pottier" or "Pottere":

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Searching hundreds of Archives in Bruges, Pieter Donche then focused on the village of Keyem, near Dixmude where the branch “Potter de Droogenwalle” originated. In the chapter about Louis de Potter, he did a fantastic job identifying the full lineage, up to the end of the 15th Century!

5. In 1328: Gillis de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (Royal Archives Bruges);

11. In 1572: Willem de Pottere, textile guild member, son of Gilles, was born in Bruges;

1. In 1308: Créstien de Potter(i)e was Alderman of Bruges (Royal Archives Brussels);

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9. In 1525: Willem de Pottier, among families helping the Potterye charity (De Hooghe)

3. In 1311: Pieter de Pottere was a priest in Bruges (church Saint Walburg registrar);

7. In 1468: Pierquin (Pieterkin) de Pottes, or de Potter, from Ypres, a painter with the Entremets Company of Bruges;

other experts, we also found numerous other possible links for the “green branch”, e.g.:

2. In 1310: Jean de Potter was an esquire of Bruges in 1310 (Seals R.A. Brussels);

4. In 1320: Jacop Potterie was a “broker” in Bruges (Andries van den Abeele);

8. In 1488: Berthelemeeus de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele);

10. In 1567: Jacques de Pottere, textile entrepreneur, son of Loys (buyer in Bruges), religious rebel, moved from Renaix to Bruges (Royal Archives of Renaix);

6. In 1392: Jacques de Pottere was a Scout of Bruges, who negotiated a credit for the city with the City of Hamburg, both meeting in Amsterdam (Guild Book of Bruges);

13. In 1652: Philips de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele);

While we further seek the father of Jan, esquire of Keiem (Dixmude) around 1325, of the family of Louis “Potter de Droogenwalle” (see appertaining chapter), these individuals are other pertinent members of the “green branch” in Bruges, seen at interesting dates:

12. In 1630: Robert de Pottere, head of the textile guild in Bruges, married J. de Clercq;

14. In 1686: Remarquus de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele);

15. In 1625: Robert de Pottere, son of Robert de Pottere, was a “broker” in Bruges (id.);

16. In 1645: Vincent de Pottere was a “broker” in Bruges (A. van den Abeele).

The compiled results are shown on the family chart (end of chapter) and explained further down.

Jacques de Pottere, 1525, son of Louis in Bruges

Jacques de Pottere, 1392 Alderman of Bruges

Robert de Pottere, 1630, Head of crafts Bruges

She was first married to Allart count of Mortaigne, family of the Duke and Lords of the city of Pottes. It may be the reason why the arms of the family “Potter de Droogenwalle” (one pot) were carried over from her. In the meantime, another coat of arms “Pottes” (three

Around 1425, Pierrequin de Pottes, said de Potter, painter for the Duke of Burgundy in Bruges, moved from Tournai to Bruges. In the same period, the Lord of Gruuthuyse had married the grand daughter of Catherine de Pottere (Edward Gaillard, R.A.B. 1885).

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“… huwelicke hebbende Joncvrau Janneken de Pottere, f(ili)a Adriaens , woonende binnen der Stadt van Bremen, metgaders van den Eer(weerden) Jacob de Pottere, Jans sone, woonende binnen der Stadt Staden. De voorschreven Adriaen ende Jan wesende der voorschreven Gheerae(rt) broeders saligher, kinderen van wijlen Jacobde Pottere, in sijnen (leven) resideerende binnen deser Stede, om sekeren onderrecht te wisen van de oprechte wapen(en) van haerlieder ghestachte ende famillie va(n) de Potters. Dat hij comparant voorseyt de maendt van September XVic acht is gheweest binnen der Stadt van Bru(ssel), (1608)”

Extract of: “HistoryofAncientBrusselsFamilies”, Brussels City Archives.

“… Loys Pottier, in sijnen tijt coopman, woonende binnen der Stede van Brugghe , sijns voors(eide) huusv(auwe) vader, heeft ghehadt ende hemlieden naghelaten voor wapene van 't voorseide gheslachte ofte familie van (de) Pottiers: 'eenen schilt met een root velt, met eenen rooden kepere ende drie potten van silvere daer inne staende'; toonende an den comparant het afbeeltsel van sijne voors(eide) huusvr(auwe) neffens de welcke staet de selve wapene, versaemt met ende neffens de gone van haren voorseiden man. De welcke hij comparant heeft aldaer doen bettrecken op 't papier, ende is de gone an dese ghetransfixeert, gheteekent 'CP'.

“… ten huuse van d'heer Anthonio Fernandes de Castille, Com(m)issaris G(e)n(era)al van de monsterin vanweghen der Conincklicke Ma(jestey)t van Spaignien in Vlaendren, in huwelicke hebbende de Pottere alias Pottiers Loys , end den selven an hem comparant dat wijlen den voors(oemden) end Loys Pottier, in tijt coopman, woonende binnen der Stede van Brugghe , sijns voors(eide) huusvvader, heeft ghehadt ende hemlieden naghelaten voor wapene van 't voorseide gheslachte ofte familie van (de) Pottiers: 'eenen schilt meteenrootvelt,meteenenroodenkepereendedriepottenvansilveredaerinnestaende '; toonende an den comparant het afbeeltsel van sijne voors huusvr neffens de welcke staet de selve wapene, versaemt met ende neffens de gone van haren voorseiden man. De welcke hij comparant heeft aldaer doen bettrecken op 't papier, ende is de …”

Their family in Brussels and Malines is mentioned as well, Jan and Antoine, while Barbella and her cousins (Janneken, daughter of Adriaen and Adriaen, son of Jacob) appeared in front of the High Commissioner of the King of Spain, Antonio de Castillo in 1608. Also in Antwerp, uncle Thomas de Pottere happens to be the Receiver of the King of Spain in that period (1625)...

Ende de gone noch mede ghetransfixeert gheteekent 'P.' verclaert hij comparant te hebben ... bettrocken tot Ghendt, uut de wapene van de voorseide Joncvrau Baerbel Pottier, als wesende de gone van den gheslachte van (de) Pottiers ende Pottiers alleene ende bijsonder hier toe weghende dat de wijlen Jacobde Pottere, vader van de voorn(oemde) Adriaen, Jan ende Gheeraert de Pottere, met sijne naercommers”.

later, Louys de Pottier de Pottere from Renaix, buyer in Bruges in 1608, is the father of Barbella de Pottere, carrying the coat of arms with three pots of silver color on a red array.

He is mentioned as the “younger brother” of Jean Guillaume, oldest of that generation in the branch “de Potter de Droogenwalle” from Dixmude and further down in Lophem and Bruges.

Karel and Lodewyck de Potter - Logghe

By Antoine de Schietere de Lophem and Paul De Clerck

Here is an extract of a research by Antoine de Schietere de Lophem found in the Royal Library of The Netherlands with reference to Pieter de Potter, of the branch “de Potter Logghe” from Tourhout.

Analyzing further the 1896 genealogy of the Bruges branch, made by the Belgian Nobility Association mentioned above, we found another research made by Robert Coppieters t'Wallant at the end of the same century, analyzed by A. de Schietere de Lophem.

Louis de Potter de Droogenwalle happened to be an active member of the board of the Royal Horticultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, in that half century, encouraging research in this field of expertise, not only in Ghent but also with French counterparts. Because of intensive contacts between the sub branches “de Potter Logghe” and cousins ”de Droogenwalle”, in Roulers and Courtrai, there was quite a mystery about the son of Karel, Lodewijk, teacher and poet in the city of Rumbeke.

the same time, Paul De Clerck, found his ancestors within our “green branch”, in Tourhout! He found his great grand mother, with official records, to this very “de Potter Logghe”.

This confirms that it is definitely the same family as the “de Potter de Droogenwalle” branch (see family chart, dark green line in Tourhout). Some members of this bloodline, based in Antwerp, Damme and Saint Omer are called “Potters” after the revolution name changes.

Sub branch “de Potter Logghe” was well known for the innovative work by Charles (Karel) de Potter in the area of agricultural and botanical research in Rumbeke. On top of his church duties, as a gentleman farmer, Charles worked in cooperation with numerous farms, including the ones of the family de Potter de Droogenwalle, in Dixmude (Vladslo, Keyem, Leke).

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The Biekorf News of 1973 said that Karel Eugeen de Potter (Ardoye 1757 Rumbeke 1834), was church carer (1782), wool worker (1799 1802), teacher (1803 1817), and prizewinner of the Royal Ghent Society for Horticulture (1819). His son Lodewijk (Rumbeke 1792 Gent 1869), was also teaching in Ghent.

As a coincidence, we mention that his cousin Louis de Potter was quite a celebrity across Europe. Also, in the early nineteenth century, the son of Louis de Potter worked in the staff of Napoleon III. Both had a considerable influence in the new “Belgian” politics. And Lodewijk in Flemish translates Louis in French…!

He acquired some fame as a freelance writer, member of the literary society and, for a short period of time, President of the Flemish League. As a coincidence, we mention that, in the early twentieth Century, the famous historian Frans de Potter also played a key role in the Flemish self determination movement (e.g. as co founder of the David Fund).

“De Ter Pot”! In 1803, the pseudonym pops up (“De Ter Pot”: Dirty but useful) under a rhymed introduction to the collection of prize winning entries “Praise of Bonaparte” (J. Delbaere).

On 15 Harvest 1782, because of superior agricultural merits, by appointment of Courtrai based Count Joseph of Murray, stepfather of Count de Thiennes, Karel de Potter was appointed esquire of Rumbeke, under privileges attached to his land property there and church ruler. Shortly thereafter, Karel married Maria Theresia Mulle, prominent business family of the city of Winkel St Elooi; She was the daughter of the Bailiff of Ter Vichten. The family de Thiennes owned of the historic Castle of Rumbeke and were ancient friends of the family de Potter.

BetweenFlanders.

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this literary work, we indeed recognized Lodewijk de Potter in “De Ter Pot” alias. Not only the apparent literary inversion pleads in this sense, but also the “Napoleonic” career of the man who, since February 1803, had encouraged delicate Bonaparte's themes in

the period immediately after the last years of Napoleon's reign, there was a huge debate among the population about Napoleon's heritage. Perhaps the aforementioned political convictions of Karel E. de Potter may have worked on his son Lodewijk, when in 1813, in the case of the Ghent priests against Napoleonic bishop Dela Brue, as a defendant, Lodewijk finally stopped writing and recognized the bischop. Most of the refusers were then banned...!

He was listed in the city register as 'wool dying craftsman and negotiator' (profession of his cousin, castle of Ravenhof, Tourhout).

During the annexation of our country to France, Karel de Potter, in the year 6 of the Republic, was appointed City Officer of Rumbeke.

In a poor countryside, the hard work honors a horticulture craftsman who could provide a new form of inexhaustible source of public prosperity and national wealth. In Flanders, where agriculture alone can ensure the livelihood of the many people who live there, this was a key element to be celebrated with everybody.

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He then explained how, and with what happiness, Mr. de Potter first sowed a special sort of foreign rice in homeland, obtaining great results granted with this medal of honor and encouragement which was awarded by the Society of Ghent.

In 1819, following the “French republic tree of liberty pattern”, a medal of agricultural merits was awarded to esquire Charles de Potter Logghe, by the Royal Society of Agriculture and Botanics of the city of Ghent. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the party was announced by the sound of all the city bells and some artillery dumps.

1819, because of his intensive personal horticultural research, Karel was awarded an Honorary Prize by the city mayor Angillis, member of the Dutch States General, founder of the literary society 'De Verenigde Vrienden' of Rumbeke and assistant to the “Annales of Emulation of Bruges” where he often met Louis de Potter and his father Guillaume before.

Karel was placed in a big procession, preceded by all members the Horticultural Society and the Hand Bow in full dress, with a beating drum and deployed flags, walking up to the Municipal DuringAdministration.theceremony, the Burgomeister gave a speech demonstrating the necessity and justice to render public honors to Mr de Potter by the agriculture society.

Afterwards, Mr. de Potter was brought back to his residence by the constituted authorities, preceded by the said brotherhood and followed by an immense crowd of the people, by the principal streets of the Sufficientvillage.quantities

of food for all inhabitants was paramount, after those terrible Napoleonic wars and, from time to time and until 10 o'clock in the evening, the sound of the city bells and dumps reminded the inhabitants of the solemnity of the day.

After this speech which, despite its full extent, was heard in the utmost silence, Mr de Potter was decorated with the medal, under the unanimous and repeated applause of the many inhabitants.

A ball at the common house, which lasted until 2 o'clock in the morning, ended the celebrations. The minutes of this event had been drawn up officially at Rumbeke on the same day.

de Potter died, aged 54, in Rumbeke in 1834. He was buried with a great service. His widow lived in Emelgem in 1847.

Of the fifteen children of Karel de Potter, there is certainly one who has acquired a name in the Flemish world, namely Lodewyck, born in Rumbeke in 1792

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His brother François Ambrosius de Potter accepted in 1783 the role of “Doors Guardian of Roulers”, which made him member of the Free State of Bruges, civility he possessed from his parents.

Lodewyck was the very first Rumbeek student at the small Seminar of Roeselare. In 1812 he became teacher of poetry in the College of Ypres. In 1818, he was professor at the Royal Atheneum of Ghent. From 1836 to 1850, he was the Principal of that school.

In Ypres he was part of the “rhetoric chamber” of the city, and, under the French regime, there had already been a struggle against official propaganda carried out by the Government to disseminate the French language in Flanders. He was a member of 'De Fonteyne' in Ghent and Chairman of the Flemish Union for a while.

FRASNES

The top of this line was identified by Elisabeth de Potter d’Indoye de Merode, as early as the 14th century. Since we know that Louis and Jacques moved to Bruges, as indicated by Father de Potter and cousin Maes, we analyzed this line in greater details with the team.

Here is the tree of this so called “Roman Branch” described as such by Princess Elisabeth de Merode and Father Jacques de Potter. They wrote that it should be studied further by other researchers to see if it would be related to what we call the “green branch of Bruges”.

(Renaix, Pottes, Tournai, Ath, Dour, Mons, Liège, Namur…)

While Jehan “le Pottier”, his son Jan, his grand son Lodewyck (lord of Frasnes in 1350) and his great grand son Gilles (lord of Dour in 1463, carrying lion arms) are described as inhabitants of Frasnes in the 14th century, we know for a fact that their descendants moved to Renaix as of the beginning of the 15th century. Cousin and cleck Louis Maes ascertained that information.

Further below are two transcripts of a piece of the official “Archive Maes” (cousin of Egidius de Potter and archivist of the city of Renaix), explaining that Lodewyck de Pottier and his family were confronted with religious banning, forced to move out of Renaix and deciding to move to the promising Bruges, with the Flemish name “Potter(e)”. That is precisely where the “green branch” was about to blossom...

C’est à ce moment que les van Winghene descendent vers Renaix, pour continuer peu après vers Tournai. Ou bien les de Pottier, tout désignés par leur situation en vue, ont ils suivi le Baron de Renaix, Jacques de la Hamaide, dans les multiples expéditions auxquelles il prit part.

« Willem de Pottier, exploitait à Renaix le Pachtgoet et le moulin Terbeke. Il remplit les fonctions de bourgmestre de 1434 à 1439 et de 1440 à 1447. En 1445, il avait loué son exploitation agricole à Mahieu Vogaert. Le 4 Avril 1408, il se présente devant le Magistrat en compagnie de son épouse, afin de donner en arrentement, à Willem van der Meersch. Les recherches généalogiques sont sujettes à surprises.

Celles ci sont parfois agréables, mais souvent malencontreuses. Ici par exemple nous *'avions tout lieu de croire que les le Pottier devenus citoyens de Renaix, depuis un siècle, alliés à de vieilles familles locales, et occupant les postes des plus en vue dans la direction des affaires, étaient définitivement acclimatés chez nous et c'est précisément à ce moment qu'un chainon généalogique se brise. Les descendants de Jan et de Willem de Pottier ont ils été pris de nostalgie et ont ils regagné la région romane?

Quoiqu’il en soit les de Pottier se font rares à Renaix vers le milieu du XVème siècle. Pourtant c’est vers cette date qu'il nous faudrait découvrir l'aïeul de Louis de Pottere, père de Jacques qui est un descendant d'un de Pottier au dire de Louis Maes. *** mettre en doute l’attestation de dernier.

Des raisons particulières le retenaient sans doute à Renaix. Nous le considérons comme fils de Williem de Pottier de terbeke. Il est sur le point de se flamandiser, son fils s’appellera *eindrick de Pottere (1469).

Celui ci épouse une fille du terroir, Gilline de Calewier. Ils s‘installent dans le pachtgoet tarlambeken. C’est là que nait Louis de Pottere, jeune encore il fait la connaissance de sa voisine Anne Maelbranch, dont les parents occupent CelaBruderode.finit

Ceux d’entre eux qui se fixèrent de façon définitive à Renaix finirent par s’appeler de Pottere tout en gardant des relations de famille avec leurs parents de Frasnes. Louis de Pott ier, fixéàBruges était, nous dit Louis Maes, originaire de Frasnes et il descendait de la même branche souche que la branche Romane des de Pottere de Renaux. Nous ne rencontrons qu'une seul de Pottier vers l’époque indiquée, c’est un Willem qui se présente devant le Magistrat en 1455 et 1456.

naturellement par un mariage qui eut lieu vers 1510. Cette union consomma l'alliance s'un le Pottier devenudePottereavec une Malebranche devenue Maelbranck. Louis de Pottere et Anne Maelbranck coulèrent une existence calme et tranquille dans la banlieue immédiate de Renaix.

Mais puisque LodewyckdePotterporte un nom flamandisé, il faut admettre que son aïeul, pour le moins, s'appelait encore de Pottier et que c’est à la suite du séjour à Renaix d’une ou de deux générations que ses descendants prirent le nom de De Pottere. Il résulte également de l'attestation de Louis Maes que les de Pottier étaient originaires de Frasnes, village situé à *** bonnes lieux de Renaix et entouré de collines argileuses qui fournissaient la matière première aux maitres pottier de la région.

Jean de Potter, fils de Jacques, naquit vers 1553, il se maria vers 1577 à Anne Myclot, fille de Jean et de Barbe van Wynghene, celle ci était la sœur de Marie van Wynghene, épouse d’Adrien van den Berghe dont la fille Catherine, avait épousé Liévin de Pottere, *** dernier * avait encore * ***** devenu cousin par allie*** de Jean de Pottere fils de Jacques. »

ourApologiesforthistextlonginFrenchbutitwasinstrumentalinfindingsharedancestors’roots.

Nous leurs connaissons trois enfants : Jacques, Hermès, et une fille, Marie, qui épousa Jan de Clerc*. Jacques de Pottere naquit en 1522. Il se fit de bonne heure preuve d’aptitudes commerciales et s’établit en ville afin de pouvoir mieux s’occuper d’affaires. Il aurait épousé Elisabeth van den Bogaerdt, qui appartenait à une honorable famille locale.

Nous devons avoue que nous n’avons pas trouvé trace de cette union. De 1563 à 1592, il remplit assez régulièrement les fonctions d'échevin et de bourgmestre. Quelle que fut sa compagne, il laissa trois fils et une fille : Jean Catherine, Adrien, et SonGérard.testament, dicté en 1592 par devant le Magistrat et dont une copie existe dans nos archives, nous apprend certains détails des plus intéressants concernant ses enfants, il contient des dispositions testamentaires que seuls les temps troubles de cette époque que peuvent expliquer.

COURTRAI

(Alveringem, St Omer, Cassel, Poperinge, Furnes, Roulers)

Identified by Henri Brussin and others mentioned on the table, for the period 1250 1550. Here are a few extracts of the archives which did help us draw this branch. The top left one shows the list of “Pointers” (aldermen, elected members) whereas Jacques de Pottere, our Ghent ancestor, was one of the esquires of the city of Courtrai in the 17th century, along with a cousin de Lannoy (his cousin too).

The top right document was found during our visit of the Archives of Courtrai in 2015 and revealed the inheritance of the family of cousin Paulus de Pottere, holder of a law licence, with ties to several sub branches indicated on the family table. The other archives show records of Charles, Jacques and Pierre, with charges in Courtrai.

(Alost, Elseghem, Avelghem, Kerckhove...)

AUDENAERDE BRANCH

Identified by Denis and Fernand de Potter for the period 1650 2018. Denis de Potter’s great great grandfather was Amand, born under the name “Platteau” (means “tray”... From the house maid?) in 1807, will only take the name "Potter" in 1832, upon specific approval by the Revolutionary Government, under leadership of … Louis de Potter.

Denis still hopes that, with the help of Yvonne de Potter in the U.S.A., someone will finally find why and how Amand's name changed, from “Platteau” to “Potter”, and to tie him finally and firmly to a branch of the Potter family tree. Meanwhile, Denis continues to seek family members and recently found a “Plateau”. Yet another branch? See DNA results below!

With the help of Sven de Potter, we then connected in the family table the “natural child branch”, including their relatives Yvonne de Potter (USA, aged 95), Denis (Lille), Patrick (Ghent) and Sven (Antwerp)! Many thanks to Vincent and Peter Frank de Potter too!

NDPJDPFDPHDPDDPSDPSDPVDPPFDP

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Above DNA colors match the Families Forest table (see last page of the book)

the help of Patrick and Guillaume de Potter, the Leuven genealogist and the ADN experts, we finally re united us with the Alost Audenaerde line. We now included their most ancient ancestor, Bernard Antoine de Potter.

(Zeeland, Bergen-Op-Zoom, Breda, Delft, Utrecht, Amsterdam)

Franz married a member of the family Holstein Ledreborg de Luxemburg, thereby cousins of the Danish royal family, the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg’s family, the French Bourbon’s and the... Dutch Nassau’s. Today, we seek further if this family pursued under the name “Potterus” with similar arms, the three pots in triangle.

DUTCH BRANCH

Maximiliaan was the father of Roeland de Pottere, jesuit, and of Dominicus de Pottere, advisor and treasurer of the Prince Willem of Orange. We also found their cousin Hendrik who was in 1578 a captain in the Scottish naval force and resided in the House de Pottere in Noordgouwe. Also, in 1897 W. Juten wrote in Taxandria that there are several members of this family all carrying the three roses as coat of arms, across border regions. He referred to the families de Pottere in Bergen Op Zoom, Gastel, Zeeland and Den Bosch, with ties in Courtrai and Ghent.

Fully identified by B. van Blokland of the High Society of The Hague, for the period 1200 1850, even mentioning a very first ancestor in 1093. He identified Maximiliaan de Pottere, as a lawyer at the Court of Holland, son of Roeland de Pottere, Prelate and delegate of the “Noble men of Zeeland” in Middelbourg, between 1543 and 1563, son of Jacob de Pottere who was member of the “Prelate and Noble men of the County of Middelbourg” in 1529.

The family name “de Pottere”, with ancient Frasnes spelling, is only carried by cousins Franz Bruno, Alexander and Charly de Pottere whose ancestors migrated to Prussia Germany and then to the U.S.A. André de Potter d’Indoye told us that those German cousins offered a heritage to his father who refused as he had to carry the old spelling!

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In Bergen Op Zoom, the family de Pottere was in the port authority in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Jan Baptist de Pottere, born in 1626 in the castle of Grimhuysen (Oud Gastel) and prior in the abbey of Sevenborn in Halle, wrote in 1687 in a family book that an esquire Jan de Pottere, living in 1293, was a noble man, of pleasant and spiritual company (sic).

this branch, Anna Regina Potters married Godefridus van Lanschot. She was born in 1738 as eighth kid of Francis Potters, buyer in Den Bosch, son of Johan de Pottere, son of Claudius de Pottere, bailiff of Grombergen. A brother of Anna Regina was Christian, carrying the same coat of arms, considered as member of the same family.

He also said that “his nobility came from his ancestors, a.o. Herman de Pottere, made noble in 1093 by Godfrey of Bouillon”. Unfortunately, in 1397 and again in 1444, Bergen Op Zoom was destroyed, leaving no records of such amazing informations from the Abbey of Grimhuysen. In the purple branch of the Netherlands, we include Thomas de Pottere who was a tax receiver of the King of Spain in the Low Countries with his own secure medal receipt shown here below.

As early as the 13th century, this prolific line (Yseq DNA “ I1”) of the families de Potter was mostly active in Saint Nicolas.

SAINT-NICOLAS BRANCH

(thanks to Christian, Serge, Vincent and Peter-Frank)

They surely met the other Potter’s, occupying public responsibilities close by like Antoine, Bailiff of Leuven in the 16th century, Jan, Scout of Brussels in the 17th century or Pierre de Pottere, member of the High Council of nearby city of Malines in the 18th century.

The descendants of the famous historian Frans de Potter, member of this line, Christian and his nephew Serge, helped us a lot to study this Also,branch.with the help of DNA expert Wim Penninx and Peter Frank de Potter in The Netherlands, plus biology doctor Vincent de Potter in Tourhout, we pursued the “full Y chromosome DNA testing” for the ten “de Potter” ‘s from various origins!

discovery by Dr. Astrid Kahn of Yseq in Germany was excellent.

More discoveries by Yseq are shown on the global families timeline table, whereas a “Full Y chromosome” DNA testing did ascertain and re connect data found in official archives. The blue and green branches were fully identified.

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Now with the DNA’s, the beige one connects to the green one in a segment of 3.000 to 5.000 years, which connects to the blue branch in a segment of 7.000 to 10.000 years and finally the pink ones above 10.000 years.

There is 100% assurance that Peter Frank, Vincent and Serge belong to this Saint Nicolas line, therefore going as high as Berthelmeus de Potter in 1400, including the famous historian Frans de Potter!

This new 1.000 years genealogy research about “the Belgian families de Potter” will never end but numerous additional records are now available in our database, across lineages. This new form of diagram offers a consistent view, in line with modern genealogy standards.

Across 20 years of research, no family complaint was received while these results circulated a lot among its members and always published on the internet. When a branch is interrupted by a missing link, we placed “dotted red points” to show where we were blocked.

Potter MillenniumFamiliesForest

French Pottier ‘s

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Their name and blazon came from the tale of count Thierri of Graincourt who brought back, with Count of Flanders, a famous “pot” from Orient wars. The red branch “de Pottier” might derive from them, in the very nearby powerful (12thC) city of Tournai.

informal French chapter, showing an interesting parallel across the French border, we mention in Tournai the family “(le) Pottier de Graincourt”, name derived in 1148 from “de Graincourt Crevecoeur”, owners of the castle of nearby Cambray, Senechal of Cambrai, Lieutenant general of Flanders.

There is no evidence that they are related to the Belgian “le/ de Pottier” but there is an alliance between the family de Courcy and... the Lords of Mortaigne and Knights Pottes.

A comprehensive genealogy was made by Samuel Potier de Courcy, whereas members originated in “our” Somme region and others in Bretagne. Below are representations of three members of the family in the Museum of Arts of Chartres.

As additional informal “French chapter documentation”, we mention here that we came across the Bretagne family called “Potier” (le), with sub branches “de Courcy”. This family included esquires, barons, counts and belonged to the restricted circle of “Pairs de France” families, founding fathers of France in the 16th century.

• Gaston Pottier (1885), French painter

• Alfred Potier (1840), French engineer and academician

• Paul Nicaise Pottier (1778), French engineer in Egypt

• Henri Pottier (1819), French theorician

In this short French chapter related to the patronyms “Pottier, Potier and Pothier”, here are the most figurative name bearers :

• Aram J. Pothier (1854), French American politician

• Pierre Jacques de Potier (Lille, 1780 1840), French General

• Dominique Edgard Potier (Seraing, 1903), Belgian resistance military tortured hero

• Edmond Pottier (1855), French hellenist

• Bernard Pottier (Paris, 1824), French president of the French Academy of Fine Letters

• Léon Auguste Potier (1876), French General

• Julien Potier (1796), French artist

• Nicolas IV (le) Potier, (La Rochelle, 1628), French nobleman, secretary of state King Louis XIII

• Roland Victor Pottier (1775), French geographer in Egypt

• Édouard Pottier (1839), French military Admiral

• René Potier (Paris, 1750), French literary writer

• Emmanuel Pottier (Paris, 1864), French photographer

• Eugène Pottier (Lille, 1816), French revolutionary and inventor of international liberty song

• Charles Gabriel Potier (1774), French theater actor

• Antoine le Potier, son of Louis, Lord of the Seals (1585 1621), statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France”

• Louis Potier, baron of Gesvres (1550), statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” x Baroness Baillet Latour

• René le Potier, (1579 1670), duke of Tresmes French and one of the “Founding Fathers of France”

• Nicolas Potier de Novion (1618 1693), French statesman and one of the “Founding Fathers of France” , Commander of the Orders of the King, opponent to Cardinal Mazarin

• Divers Pottier dans la région Hauts de France et Marne

• Charles Ferdinand de Potier (1820 1898), French general

• Léon Potier de Gesvres (1656 1744) et Étienne René Potier de Gesvres (1697 1774)

• Dom Joseph Pothier (Conques, 1835), French gregorian singer

• Henri le Potier de La Germondaye (1729), one of the “Founding Fathers of France”

• Joseph POT(t)IER de la Houssaye (Saint Malo, 1768 1830), Corsair of the Revolution and the Empire, son in law of Robert Surcouf, lord of Maisonneuve, was stationed with the marine staff of Brest. He received from Surcouf, in 1804, the command of "The Confidence" on which he made several campaigns. Later, his company freighted several private vessels defending France against the English. A century earlier, the family Bart, also from the corsairs region, had ties with the Pottiers, as we saw before, in Renaix.

Et enfin les nombreux Potter issus de la région de Potte, établis dans la région de St Omer/ Dunkerque.

British Pottier ‘s

As United Kingdom reference, we mention Adam de Potter, army archer, married to Sibyl Heygham in 1278 in the Kent County.

Many “de Potter ‘s” are listed on British genealogy websites, active in farming, crafts, industry and London politics. Some were “natives”, some got on Roman invaders’ boats, others escaped continental wars or revolutions, going onto the island for freedom. Some went there to develop their business, as the Bruges branch did. Their name however was often simplified by the customs office into “Potter”

On 15 March 1785, after a so called “fight” he lost against his godfather Lord Pitt, Chris Potter re emigrated to France in 1791 where he presented a petition to the National Assembly begging a patent for a new process of manufacturing pottery !

Christopher Potter, member of the House of Commons in London, even re emigrated to Paris after losing an election in London... He would have lost a “duel” against Lord Pitt but, in reality, he would have been a... secret agent for the British government in Paris.

The Duke of Rutland, who had ‘old obligations’ towards Chris Potter, supported him when the petition came to be tried; and John Mortlock, Potter’s nominee on the committee which tried his election, ‘engaged ... that Potter should always vote for Pitt’.

Lord North in 1778 described Potter as ‘a gentleman of business manufacturing bread’. When he entered Parliament he defended the Admiralty, promoting the true interests of the country. On 12 December 1782 he voted against the American war.

But in the meantime, he was also twice arrested by the revolutionary committee... He was the supplier of many powerful families and, today, there is no doubt anymore that he was a secret agent of the British government, via Lord Pitt, with whom he had secretly continued to be closely connected since the Revolution.

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Potter promised a quarter of his profits in public gifts and set up his factory at Chantilly where he produced baked potteries, painted with taste and elegance. It was said that he was worth more than two millions of ancient money….

As stated in “Les Cahiers de Chantilly” (2016 2018), Potter was arrested for conspiracy in 1793. Because of the support of the minister of war, and other senior hidden supporters, the charges against him were waved. He was nevertheless jailed until the fall of Robespierre.

Gold imprinted ceramic pot marked “L.P.”...!

Pursuing the rebellion, in 1796 and 1797, as a close friend of viscount Paul Barras, head of the Directoire regime, Potter was used as a go between with the British Government to exchange British general O’Hara against count of Rochambeau.

In 1800 Potter was a first class medalist at the Paris industrial exhibition and was meeting the whole Paris establishment. Between 1800 and 1801, Potter (almost aged 50) was asked by Bonaparte (aged 32) to help negotiate peace between France and England.

A Cambridge newspaper wrote that Potter was the “owner of the Palace of the prince of Condé” in Chantilly, but he only had a royal factory with 400 workers… Like Louis de Potter, in the same time frame, he was paying the most renowned artists of the time up to 8.000 pounds per year…!

Also upon the proposal of Barras, Potter would also have played a role in the liberation of the daughter of king Louis XVI and the proposed the re establishment of the monarchy in France.

He remained in France until 1814. His sons, Georges and Thomas, rook over the ink printing ceramics. Betch & Lallemant bought the neighboring house of Beaumarchais and pursued the gold printing crafts. Potter died in England, 18 Nov. 1817.

His opportunities and abilities should have fixed him at the summit of wealth, but he was too eccentric and speculative a rebel to hoard a fortune.

In1001797

it was assumed that he was protecting blue collar royalists inside his factory, printing secrets codes on dishes with flowers meaning royal support etc. In those days, printing royalist emblems on pots was risky business. One could get his head cut off…

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Millennial Esquire values a Century Marquis

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Dutch Potter ‘s

Op Zoom, between Rotterdam and Antwerp, in the year 1100, Cornelis de Pottere was an esquire with Knight Godfrey of Bouillon, lord of Lorraine, future King.

His son Geraert was an esquire with King Charles The Rash, marquis of Antwerp. Not much later, their nephew Roelant, Jacob’s son, studied in Bruges and was Prelate of Zeeland.

Zeeland and Breda: In 1600, Henricus, son of above Roelandt, was admiral of a Dutch Scottish fleet protecting trade in Zeeland and had a big house in Noord Gouwe.

In104Bergen

Amsterdam: Cousin Abraham, important textile trader, is a descendant of the relatives from Renaix who escaped the bloody duke of Alba, catholic inquisitor. He is portrayed here by the famous Carl Fabritius with Helena and children.

Roeland de Potter

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He was so active that he did as much on his own as was normally done by six priests. His missionary congregation proposed him as Saint to the Pope!

He was always willing to assist the sick in their disease, baptize children, and bless marriages.

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in Bruges in 1602, cousin Roeland was a missionary in Holland who came to Delft to serve the congregation in 1621.

That was his personal appeal and mission on earth in Holland.

At a point in time, Roeland and his Society were even threatened with a huge fine of six hundred guilders for their work… He often had to keep himself hidden, so that some people could not speak to him for several weeks. It was then so risky for the fathers that he did not dare to go out during the day. When he had to visit the sick, he put on a dark skipper's jersey; so he went unseen in the dark of the night to help people and remain unknown.

Roeland was going into the cities to help people at their home and at night, always from one house to another. Once with Agata Sandelin,

He took care of families in Gravezande, Wateringen, Rijswijk, Voorburg, Delft, Leidschendam, Zoetermeer, Akkersdijk, Papsou, DenHoorn and many surroundings of The Hague.

He could stop people from committing sins, help them to get back on the right path and help virtue take root.

He was once chased by the Bailiff while he was disguised with a cloth merchant. It remained unknown how he could get away. I was told that he laid a piece of cloth over his shoulders with a red apron from a dry shovel servant, and passed the guard of the Beguinage with the help of Neeltje Jacobs, the sister of Father Duyst. He also managed to escape disguised like a woman!

A mass by Roeland was held at Wateringen for example. Many people gathered, both at the butter farmer, and at the honey farmer. Those were tragic times, but Roeland was never caught by a Bailiff nor the sickness. In the Rietveld, during the great illness period, a man and a woman received Roeland’s confession at night, just in time. The next morning they were both dead.

Iaway.don’t

During official celebrations, it was always risky to help people. Roeland was also hiding with Mr. Dassegny. Aafje van der Velde's parents also helped him in trouble. He often preached at night and early in the morning. In a difficult period, on an Ash Wednesday, he gave the holy ashes for a hundred people who came and quickly went

know how many sick people, suffering from the terrible “black disease”, he helped but is was enormous. Roeland suffered as well but always treated them kindly. He was not allowed to baptize, not to marry or to administer the Holy Oliesel, but he did it.

It all happened well because of his modesty and the fact that he showed himself the least possible. He even replaced other priests while their hoirs had the plague! In Voorburg, for example, a whole family died of 'the disease': 7 people. In another house an old woman died of 'the black disease': she had been abandoned by all her friends.

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then with Jan De Passer, or with Trijntje Willems, Sasbout van der Dussen or Willem Aeriens.

persons were sick of the “Spanish smallpox”. Roeland stayed with them. There was no cure for those people who had contracted that disease through no fault of their own. In the Kloksteeg a family was assisted at night; also in the Giststeeg and also in the Poppesteeg. A woman of eighty years in the Begijnesteeg, who had not confessed for 60 years, was helped at night by Roeland. Another old man was helped to fulfill his ecclesiastical obligations. They had asked for a priest at the Begijnhof, but they refused to come. It was too risky.

Roeland was in Zoetermeer with Joost Scheepmaker, and kept a church there during the risky time. An attorney had come to live in the region and had not noticed that the disease was there. The priest stood by him unconcernedly when he became ill. The man died a day or two after that. A daughter of that prosecutor became ill three days later. The priest helped the whole family; they all had the plague; he was there for two or three hours, with danger for his own life.

In110the

Otherduties.

Doelenstraat he helped three people during the great illness. There were already two deaths in the house. The three others were also dead the next morning. The father stayed in a house for more than an hour, where the illness was raging. In the guest house 'In the Armed Swan', two officials confiscated possessions and fulfilled their

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When Roeland was there, they did not want him to perform pastoral duties. That is why he had to bring the corporal with the holy, blessed sacrament to pastor Stalpaert. And the priest said: "Shall we continue to listen to the sermon?" Roeland proposed to do “as people wanted" but himself was never in doubt whether he would leave or stay.

The tax people from The Hague were often there and the meeting was then caught, and all the names were written down. Mr. Stalpaert was put in farmer's clothes between the farmers so that he would not be recognized. Roeland had foreseen all these things and could have all people escape and be protected from all sorts of disasters.

It was hard, when back to Delft in the winter, staying one and a half hours outside the city, straight against the wind with heavy snow. Roeland said: "You are not in need. Those snowflakes are not stones; the snow melts, "the priest said. "The stones stuck harder!" Roeland was as cheerful as a perfect man. Always positive and fighting.

In the middle of the winter a big meeting was held at night, with about five hundred people, and certainly more than a hundred confessions. It lasted until four o'clock at night, but around three o'clock Roeland left. It was so dark that he did not know where he was, he had no light at the Leidse Dam. He was in danger of drowning. He had no fear to run such dangers for his folks.

The following year, in Voorburg, It was again cold and risky. He held a mass there with the blind widow of Jasper Jacobs. That night he had eighty communions. He then held another mass at the same time with three hundred people; over a hundred communions, and all that with bread baskets for the poor people! The next morning, he had to leave again and bring the corporal with the consecrated hosts to Mr. Stalpaert. He held the next mass south of The Hague.

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in the middle of the winter, Roeland went to Rhoon to talk about a few works of art. It was about some ornaments that would be made for the church. It was bad weather at night: During the day it had snowed and frozen, and in the afternoon it had thawed. When Roeland left, it was so bad that he did not know how to get over the Maas in Schiedam. It became so dark that he was in danger of having an accident before we had reached the bridge.

These conditions and dangers were his everyday life…! In the middle of the winter, Roeland was taken to a sick person in the country of Den Briel, endangering his own life. The Brielse Gat was frozen and he did not know if the ice would hold. But the venerable man went there alone across it to his folks.

Once in Schiedam, he did not know how to get to Overschie in darkness. It had frozen again that night. Roeland hired a barge to Overschie. Between Schiedam and Overschie the barge creaked through the ice, it seemed as if it would run to the ground. When he arrived in Overschie, he was wet and stiff with cold; this is how he waited for the last barge of Rotterdam. That's how he arrived in Delft at nine o'clock in the evening.

He never asked: "Who is it?" He went straight to the child, when he knew in which house he was, for him to be baptized. If someone asked for Roeland ‘s proposed spiritual things that affected the souls, Roeland said all the things that suffering person needed to know without delay.

Father Makeblijde organized the school for Maria Bartolomeus. She was a good sister, along with another sister named Anna Jans. Because Anna was less appreciated than Maria, Father Makeblijde put the school in the name of Anna Jans, in case the Sheriff or the Magistrates would do something against the school, at unfavorable Roelandmoments.then

became a guardian of the school. He and Marie worked conscientiously. They did everything for the school with accuracy.

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During the great mortal plague, Roeland stayed with Miss Anna Sandelin. The lady noticed how much Roeland’s support helped the ill persons. She was so angry about her situation but "Father Roeland was coming” and they were not so scared of the illness anymore.

Roeland was with so many sick people. I have no idea how many, there were so many! And when he came home from helping the sick at night, my wife took a bucket of water. We put it in the middle of the room. In the morning there was a thick ice membrane on the bucket of water.

In the houses where he came, there was always a fire. Then he held his cloak before it. That is very good against the disease. And the lord saved him. Roeland was equally cordial and willing for all the sick across the years. He had a catalog of all the streets of the whole city. He was equally concerned for maids and servants or rich persons. He was so worried to help the people that I cannot describe it with a pen!

In those evil times, Roeland once held mass at Arien Flooren in Voorburg at night behind the village. There was a great meeting. But the dogs barked so loudly that Father feared that the barking would be heard in the village. Father called me to him and asked: "Let the householder put those dogs somewhere they would not attract the Bailiff’s police”.

During Easter, he held a mass in Voorburg with Job Jacobs. And the agents of the chief came to look for Easter eggs. And they feared that they actually came to do an invasion. Roeland did not know where to hide, there was so much commotion around the house. But the agents disappeared when they had the Easter eggs. They were hungry too!

start the sermon when the Bailiff's officer came to ask if missionaries had a meeting somewhere in the Begijnhof. I said, "Young man, you are wrong. Where is that meeting supposed to be?" The officers of the Bailiff then came back with four large dogs, and believed they could then catch Roeland. But the birds were our friends and the priests themselves were on good terms with the Thatsheriff.is

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Roeland held a meeting at night in Voorburg, at Jan Leeuwen’s church. There was such a big storm with heavy rain and wind that

the times were evil and dangerous, Roeland would still hold a mass on the Begijnhof in the evening, with Neeltje Jacobs Duyst. It was already dark. I would be on the lookout to see if there was no Hedanger.would

how he passed through difficult times. Although his mother lived at the Begijnhof, he did not dare to stay with her. He went to help Grietgen Huijbrechts. He assisted her in illness and made her comply with ecclesiastical obligations. There was a wanderer in the yard who heard Father Roeland address her warmly and with comforting words, as you do to a sick person.

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That was how concerned he was. On and on, he visited the Gasthuis hospital and the old people's homes. Disguised, he visited sick persons at home and organized secret public masses.

All of that was so risky and Roeland had to find ways to achieve his mission. He would take a pump on his shoulders and discretely enter the Gasthuis; then he spoke to the sick person as if he were a pumpmaker, and as if the sick person was his friend. And so he had the sick person meet his ecclesiastical obligations in the Hospital !

evening that it seemed like winter. No weather to go there. De Pottere had to do the work in those evil times, bring all things along: chalice, ampoules, mass bread, wax candles, candlesticks, even the wine for the sacred service we had to bring with us.

When Roeland left Delft, he said to me: "Here you have two bags of money. All in all, twelve hundred guilders; six hundred in each bag. "One bag I brought to Mr. D. in the Begijnhof, and the other bag of six hundred guilders I brought to Mr. W. at the Begijnhof. There you can see if the father has exercised charity. Such a person was Roeland de Pottere.

He even had a sick person meet his church obligations inside a Mayor's home, not the best friend of the missionaries. The Mayor warmly opened his house to him. The sick person was a servant of the Mayor and lay in the back of the garden.

I was also visiting the sick person, upon the orders of Roeland. Father has done all such things in Delft. He never allowed himself to be misled, but, on the contrary, always tried his best not to let anyone die without help.

times, he would carry a sheet of skin, as a paint shearer who makes a sheet! In this way he has allowed sick people to fulfill their ecclesiastical obligations, and assisted them in their distress.

Roeland has been so concerned and responsible that, to his knowledge, no human being should ever die without spiritual help. For example, he has repeatedly put himself at risk and assisted the entire poor and ill inhabitants of the whole city of Delft. They sometimes thought he had the plague too… But the ill missionary did not die; he recovered from his cold again.

When the French had committed their crimes of murder in Tienen, and plundered the people of the prince, fugitives were cut off from their retreat. They could not return to France as they intended. Many French who lost themselves came to Holland on foot or on horseback to beg.

There were sick soldiers everywhere; among them were many Catholic French. In the inn at the Haagpoort, Father asked if they wanted to confess. The Frenchmen who were sick, said yes. Roeland went straight there. Reportedly they had an army disease.

Paternally, Roeland helped them completely, had them fulfill their ecclesiastical obligations, gave them the Holy Oilsel and assisted them very kindly. Father confessed the Frenchmen because of what they

At116other

Roeland always wanted to administer the sacraments in time. He did not make a distinction between soldier or peasant, rich or poor. Only kids came first served.

had done to the Holy Church. I heard that they said to Father in French, "But, sir, we did not know at all the things that we were going to do to the Church."

Towards the end, Roeland had a serious illness, when the big plague was over. He was sick with Agata Sandelingh near him. I took care of

Left alone by their “monkey war” generals, French soldiers invading the Spanish Netherlands, visited Roeland de Potter. They were sick on their horses…! Some of them were even attached onto the poor animals. Others had died on the way, carrying sicknesses to Holland and Brabant. They would never have reached Rotterdam, if Roeland had not been charitable to them…!

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He was always concerned about whether someone was ill, or whether a child should be baptized or if he could have someone fulfill his church duties. Even though those people were uninterested, he walked there, without first having to be called.

Roelandt de Pottere, pure heart, medicine man, silently passed away in Delft on April 13, 1675.

Until today, no one described his virtues like life companion did here, in a diary held by priest Paul Begheyn and priest A. van den Akker. He was forgotten for always, except by you today!

one equally. That was right in heart. He tried not to interfere or quarrel with anyone. He went against rich people as hard as against poor, when they had done something wrong. He never left anyone without help.

But for all those virtues he was very well seen among the people. He was equally friendly to all, whether they came to confess to him or go to another priest, he was always friendly. He was also wise and cautious, in all his behavior, and practical in respecting the household Hecompanions.lovedeach

Roeland then became seriously ill again. After all this enormous work, he had caught a major illness at the home of Mr. Van der Velde. The doctors had already given him up.

was healed, Roeland went to work again day and night, sometimes by giving catechesis and then teaching the youth again. In Voorburg, he almost went from door to door to teach the children, and the adults there. Such a pure soul has been this father.

fourteen days and nights. Thank God he recovered from that Onceillness.he

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coat of arms, with the 10 stones from an allied family (van der Steene) is also found in the same period in the steering committee of the Hospital de Potterye in Bruges, built with ancient support of the bishop of Tournai Liège who had dispatched Créstien de Potterie there when the ancient hospital started.

Agreement dated 1563 between the Spanish King’s representative, prince Willem of Orange Nassau and the Zeeland authority represented by Roelandt de Pottere(father).

In 1620, cousin Dominique de Pottre was buried in the cathedral of Breda, he had been an advisor treasurer of... the prince Philippe of TheOrange.middle

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Amsterdam:120

Poetry writer Dirc left Courtrai to The Hague. Writer Pierre and his son Paulus (de) Potter (Museum for Fine Arts). His father was made noble man for his work for the family of Orange. Paul died at 26 but produced over 100 paintings of landscapes!

“Huis de Pottere”, Noord Gouwe, Zeeland. The family archives of this branch mention Renaix as origin. Part of this branch, which was managing a division of the big Oost India Company, moved to the Northern harbours in Germany where they we active in the import of table dishes.

“Castle de Pottere”, Middelbourg, Zeeland.

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Potter van der Loo (unlisted linked to Brussels branch of Jan)

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Jan de Potter

The analysis will be pursued in the chapter about Louis de Potter, author of “The History of the Church” offered to Stendhal, that “Louis’ family was the victim of the terrible persecutions of the horrible Vatican Church inquisitor, the Duke of Alba”.

Jan’s father, Antoine de Potter was found by: the Leuven expert, Jacques de Potter, Eric Devos, Antoine Maes and Oscar Delghust. He is “the cousin of Liévin de Potter who left Renaix at the times of persecutions”.

He was a protestant. Only a few lines were written in the “Chronicle of Flanders” (Royal Archives of Bruges, 1878), in the context of the killing, by the Church’s Inquisitor, of MM. van Coppenolle, t’Sersanders, Egmont, Hoorn and other protesting personalities.

As124indicated

in the origins of the family in Renaix, the brave Liévin de Pottere was assassinated by the blood thirsty Duke of Alba around 1520, because of his personal beliefs.

Here are details, with the help of the well known “Daily Diary Log book” of cousin Jan de Potter, Brussels city representative.

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Antoine de Potter, head of Brussels guild with his medals, caldron pots casts chiseling of the Nations (Ommegang crafts), with his coat of arms engraved on the pot (right).

Artwork of Antoine de Potter, father of Jan, exhibited in the Castle of Laarne (Ghent), son of Jan, Gerard, had a daughter who married Gerard d’Udekem

His branch occupied elected positions in Brabant and carried the three pots (caldrons) before switching to the crescent and stars.

With our guidance, while seeking after the famous chronicle writer Jan de Potter, he found evidence of the complete match with the “blue lineage” up to Jan de Potter, and even before (“Who is Who in the Late Middle Ages”, Royal Archives).

The detailed genealogy of this new family line is available at the Royal Archives in Brussels, as well as in the online list of marriages de Potter (1400 1600) of the Royal Genealogy Heraldic Office.

Also, in his Diary of 1550 1575, Jan de Potter designates Anthonis as his father, who was, like cousin Liévin in Renaix, victim of the persecutions by the awful Duke of Alba, inquisitor of the church.

We found that his brother Philippe had inherited a brewery in Antwerp before 1567 and his cousin Mathew had acquired a soap factory, also in Antwerp, in 1598, while another cousin Peter Antoine was member of the Council of Malines in 1620.

As stated in the “Who was Who in Brussels in the 14th Century”, Jan’s family was at the head of the “Arts and Crafts guild” of Brussels. Their metal work profession entitled them, and the whole family today, to be included in the “Ommegang Silversmiths Guild” and in the “Brussels City Nations”.

de Potter, and his French partner Françoise de Casaubon, committed a research made by the Leuven expert.

Although we have no register’s reference, based on this accurate testimony, with now three entries, we consider Jan’s father as the great silverware manufacturer in Brussels, who originated in Renaix.

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128 Yet another alliance UDEKEM X POTTER

Jan was a good Catholic but admired the novelties proposed by the Reformation, contradicting both Kings Philips II and William the Silent. He was born in Brussels in 1525 as son of Anthonius de Potter and Margaretha van Assche. He became a wealthy citizen who worked in the urban administration of the city. He was a man with limited acquaintances, simple but of a righteous and virtuous nature.

In 1558 Jan became “charitable man of the poor” in the St. Nicholas Church near the Grand ‘Place of Brussels, and stayed in the ministry for 2 years. In 1564 he was a merchant again and we now find him in the Mercers craftsmen guild.

Chronicle writer, Jan de Potter (pen name “Pottre”) seems to represent a real patriot of the ancient times in our cities. People had respect for any citizen keeping such day to day records.

DIARY OF JAN DE POTTER 1550-1620

On 30.11.1549 he married Magdalena Trijsens, of whom he had 5 children. The eldest son, Henneke, later became a priest, called Jan as well. Another son Pauwel (1552) studied law in Leuven. Jan (father) had 2 sisters: 1. Lijsken (she married 4 days before Jan married Magdalena) on 26.11.1549 and 2. Margaretha, who was nun in the monastery of Jericho in Brussels and who died there in 1553.

In 1570, he sold his house to escape persecutions and excessive demands of the soldiers who were staying with him and robbed and tormented him in every way. He then moved to the guild of charcoal masters, who, as a Canon of St. Goedele, was probably free of such lodgings. He stayed with them for over a year. On 26.06.1576 Jan then became counselor of the City of Brussels.

His parents were merchants and shortly after the death of his father in 1549 Jan took the same role as him in the City Council. He did this until 1557 and then moved into a house on the Cheese Market.

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the Calvinists became leaders of the State around 1580, all Roman religious exercises were forbidden. The mass was secretly read at the home of the Potter on the Cheese Market, which exposed Jan's family to the greatest dangers… Jan de Potter was one of those who saw the fatherland on the edge of the abyss, when they signed the request of reconciliation with King Philip against Calvinists. As a result, he was badly hit by the new taxes, as the new government in Brussels alleviated them to punish us for the loyalty.

In 1557 the city of Saint Quintens was forcefully conquered and the Admiral of Sea, was captured. On 18.09.1557 Jan’s brother, Philips, died, he was about 12 years old. In 1558 Jan bought the house at the cheese market and his son Anthonius was born on 05.12.1558.

In 1555, king Philip took the oath of Brabant and the emperor, his father, gave him the power. It had been a wet summer, so people did not get wood from the forests and the prices were high. Everything was very expensive, butter costed 2 schillings per pound and eggs 40 sch. and the wheat 22 sch. because there was another war going on with the French.

In 1556 everything was even more expensive. On 10.09, Jan’s son, Peter, was born. May 1557, wheat and corn increased and made the bread very expensive.

In that year, many great princes and princesses died, such as the Emperor and his 2 sisters, the Queen of France, the King of England,

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In 1560 Jan renewed his laundry house and his son Henneken, laid the 1st stone. They made a living room, kitchen and room upstairs and Pauwels, my other son then also laid the 1st stone. The wash house and the stool, kitchen and the iron loam at the dining room cost all together 6c 11 gld. In that year, they worked at the foundation of the new city hall of Antwerp.

In 1561 the first ships arrived, those of Antwerp and Zierikzee and Alkmaar and Vilvoorde. In 1562 the Emperor of Rome was crowned. His parent Don Fernandus was established in Frankfurt and his son Maximilian, was crowned King of Rome. In the year 1564 there was a very large cold and frost for 18 days.

It started eight days before Christmas and it was said that in 50 years it had never been so cold. There was a lot of snow. Occasionally a slight thaw, but it continued for 9 weeks. There were no more ships to Aftersail.

1581, the citizen did not hear much from Jan. He died 09.10.1601, aged 76 years… The manuscript of the Potter's diary rests in the Royal Library in Brussels, in the collections of the Manuscripts, numbered 15885. Anthonius his 3rd son, continued the diary until 03.08.1602.

wife of our King Philip, the King of Portugal and the wife Marie, governess and sister of the emperor.

In 1559 peace was proclaimed and we got back all the cities that we had lost and the French had their own cities again. And our king married the daughter of the French king who died as a result of a jousting! On 11.08.1559 my father in law, master Jan Trijsens died. The king traveled to Spain and made his bastard sister, Duchess of Parma, Govern the country. In 1559, Jan was named Caretaker in St. Claes church with Bouwens. I then joined the Kramers Crafts Guild.

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Sorry for so much text in ancient Dutch but we translated it and discovered that it’s the instrument to unite our families!

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Liévin de Potter plus the counts of Egmont and Horne got their head cut off in 1568 and fear was still present everywhere in the region.

Diary of Jan de Potter was quite an act of bravery because the States General and the Archduke were powerless while citizens were starving again... Flanders and Brabant did not take side between the Catholic alliance of the South and the Calvinist alliance of the

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The aversion to the ordinary man against the magisterial group is a tradition deeply rooted since King Charles The Fifth.

Protestantism had taken away the power of the States everywhere, handing it over to the people's government of the cities. Brussels and Antwerp adapted to Ghent's example.

Almost all remonstrance of states and cities demand measures against the crimes of the Spanish soldiers. Jan de Potter said that the thefts and the bullying by the Spanish soldiers stationed with him in Brussels were legion.

indecision culminated at the beginning of 1570 when the States General exhorted Utrecht about the great difficulties that arose for the "common homeland", from the fact that these local authorities no longer sent any delegates to the meeting in Antwerp.”

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Reporter Jan de Potter could not forgive the aldermen such rude a conduct towards citizens in Brussels. Here are more extracts of his “diary:Political

There is no doubt that, under Alva, the immense aversion to the presence of the Spanish troops (the army of the “legal prince”!) caused a “widespread awareness”.

Almost all narrative sources, both Protestant and Catholic, show the animosity of the artisans (metal engravers such as Jan’s father) and the common people against the alderman oligarchies.

Citizens felt more and more became like a form of foreign domination in their free countries. Jan de Potter depicts the aldermen and their daughters, who celebrated with Spaniards in February 1572 in Brussels, as a kind of "collaborators of the enemy"...

For example, instead of celebrating Christmas Day on the 25th of December according to ancient custom, the Duke forced Christmas to be celebrated on the 15th of December. In case of refusal it was

The number of Protestants and Catholics was almost balanced in Brussels, but city leaders, as convinced Orangists, did not want the city to reconcile with the king, despite the wish of the Calvinists...

People were astonished that the Duke of Alba did forbid to celebrate masses, at home… Forbidden to practice the last sacraments at home for a dying person!? For the Spanish Catholics, under the Duke of Alba, imagine all the changes that people had to face...

where the patriots have been so powerful since 1575, the majority of the population remains Catholic.

In148Brussels,

Citizen had to comply and be “pleased” with the military and demagogic system that, contrary to the old privileges, now reserves all ministries to the Calvinists.

To avoid being exposed to such a danger, five squadrons of Scots were recruited by the bourgeoisie and a Military Council was set up, which, with the help of the soldiers, seized the government of the congregation and began to prosecute the Catholics...

As early as June 1579, the priests on the street no longer dared to circulate, no longer accompany the funerals, etc. The “religious peace” was replaced by the exclusive practice of the radical AtReformation...thattime,everywhere in the houses, in town and on the farms in the countryside, people began to celebrate masses, sometimes preaching sermons at home. The whole day long, the bells were sounding loud, as a custom.

Any unhappy person was told that these changes were imposed by Rome. All these were published, just one day before, while it took at least seven days for people to prepare Christmas celebration (e.g. brewing Christmas beer, cleaning the premises, etc.).

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On June 23, the city of Harlem fell into the hands of the troops of Don Frederico, son of the Duke of Alva, after an 8 month siege. His men killed all foreign soldiers, as they did with many prominent “bourgeois”, plus French and English soldiers who came to fight in Brussels and Malines.

The duke therefore decided to celebrate his victory noisily. Incidentally, even by triumph, he removed his Italian and Spanish officers from the procession that accompanied him through the city, to be followed only by the conciliatory nobility, the Chimay's, the Egmond's, the Aremberg's, the Mansfeld's, etc.!

very seriously sanctioned by the Court of Justice of Brabant. These changes were applied suddenly everywhere by the Duke of Alba.

The city of Haarlem having fallen, the Spanish troops of the Duke of Alba forced inhabitants to pay ransoms and reveal the names faithful of the Prince of Orange, who gave shelter to rebels.

The maritime city of Flessinghes Vlissingen, which became Calvinistic, close to the Scheldt, was soon decorated with triumphal arches, colored columns, banners and emblems!

How can we understand and accept such cruel a behavior of the Duke of Alva, and his son, imposing his revenge on everyone with such a heavy reign of lies and terror, aimed at completely annihilating the

Some bourgeois, faithful to the Prince of Orange got their head cut off, or, were thrown alive into the water with tied hands and feet, despite having surrendered for lack of food.

Nevertheless, the day of the Ommegang festival was all beautifully prepared, Don Juan, unlike the Duke of Alva, came to the Brussels City Hall to take part in the commemorations and stayed for the banquet while feasting with the Great Sirs (Magistrates of the city, Notables etc.) and their Ladies.

any citizen staying in town, who did not need to stay, would suffer great destruction to his possessions if the Spaniards were not recognized as their new masters.

The prince of Orange could conquer the city of Bergen op Zoom with great subtility, on a Friday whereas the doors were open, entering the city with hundreds of horses and pedestrian soldiers without anyone being aware of it…

Don Juan liked to maintain the old customs of Brussels as well as for his love of tradition he was named "King of the Spruce" (Tournament and jousting) in Leuven. He also sent the best wines in thanks to the officials of the city.

Especially in towns where the Emperor Charles V was always received and celebrated with the highest honors. They should have stayed in Spain!

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At the same time, he captured other cities with mercenaries, having expelled the French in less than eight days as people said that his army strong was, with hundreds of soldiers, while citizen were joining the new leader otherwise they were being killed with the French soldiers as Thereafter,well…

Letting also chariots come in at night, until the next morning, capturing the whole city with great subtility, without any injured nor dead person!

All was done as if the French count Louis would retire from this place without the inhabitants rejecting the new invaders, thereby giving access up to Roermond in Gelderland because the brother of the

Numerous boats came from Portugal in Flessingue, putting again pressure up to Antwerp, in spite of forbidden maritime presence by the crual Duke, at the time of the visit of the Duke of Medina Sidona.

In the meantime, the Duke had gathered in Bergen op Zoom more than a ton of gold, obtaining thereby forced cooperation of all the other lords such as lord of Berleymont, lord Nockerme, Vigilius…

With all other treasures and tapestries, the Duke had made this bastion even stronger, obtaining allegiance of the inhabitants, not leaving them a moment of free time.

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In August, a French Admiral shot with a gun in his arm, while reading a letter at his window… It was at the time that the King of France was passing by with the Duke of Guise in the house of the Admiral.

This made the King believe in a temptative murder and caused a whole investigation and punishment story for the said Admiral as well as the Hugenots troops...

Both Dukes, of Alba and of Medina, went to Mons in Hainaut with their armies to demonstrate their power to the Hugenots.

On September 21st the city of Mons gave up under the army of the Duke of Alba without any fights since the city authorities preferred peaceful talks and the French, who believed they were home, and their Admiral was dead, let the other troops enter in Mons.

A big advantage for the Duke since the city was so powerful, with boat access deep inside the land, such as count Louis quite a treasure had there with this situation.

The next month, came the King of Navarre from France to meet Dom Jan who offered a large banquets to him and all Brussels personalities. It was a great success and the visit in Leuven was also quite a great moment.

(of Orange) had recaptured that city, freeing the previously invaded soldiers!

That year, the procession of the Ommegang was the saddest ever. The Duke of Alba was invited in the City Hall but did not want to accept the meal offered to him. He only wanted to see the procession but had in fact little or no feeling for it.

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Count of Egmont, son of the one who was killed by the Duke, and count of Arenberg, participated in the golden collar celebrations. Dom Jan was made King of the Golden Collar of Louvain.

Also, all our aldermen left to go to Bergen Op Zoom to celebrate the departure of the Spaniards from Middelbourg too. The next year, the Ommegang procession was very nice to see again. Dom Jan, His Highness, came to the City Hall and stayed for the table food celebrations with many high ranked personalities.

In August, we all went to Antwerp to destroy with great pleasure the castle built by the Duke of Alba. It was demolished with the agreement of the Grand Council and the City Hall.

That year, the Duke of Alba, the great tyran, finally left Brussels and returned to Spain with his son Dom Frederic, as good as his father, during six years and three and half month such bad a governor was in our region.

The duke then came to Malines, bringing again terror to local peaceful inhabitants, raping and steeling their animals and doing all kinds of other bad things.

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Longest look in the past, furthest foreseeing the future. Churchill