History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

five years. He had served in the Revolutionary war, although but fifteen
years old when called upon to bear arms. (Page 176 Oakland County
History.)
Children: (I.) Daniel, came from Orwell, Rutland county, Vermont,
in 1837, to Michigan.
(II.) Timothy, came to Michigan 1836, settled in Springfield and
later went to Texas.
(III.) Jesse, b. in Essex county, N. Y., between Lake George and
Lake Champlain, came to Michigan in I838, located in Groveland, Oakland county, Michigan.
LYDIA BARNES POTTER
General Richardson Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution,
learning of the services this loyal woman gave to her country, honored
her grave with the official marker of the society, placed with appropriate
services on the g9th of August, I9II, at the Baldwin cemetery, near
Rochester, Michigan. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Abigail H. McArthur,
makes the following affidavit:
"To all whom it may concern: My grandfather, Lemuel Potter, was
a Revolutionary soldier. He enlisted at Hattford, Connecticut, in 1777,
when the Continental army was organized. He had seen previous service in the militia companies. His officers were Col. Wyllys and Capt.
Robert Warner. He was appointed a corporal, and with a corporal's
guard was sent home to gather provisions and clothing for Washington's
starving soldiers at Valley Forge. While engaged in this work he met
Lydia Barnes, a young woman who was devoting her whole time and
strength to the service of her country by making clothing for the soldiers at the front. She spun and wove the wool and cut and made the
garments, learning the tailor's trade that she might the more expeditiously
supply the soldier's needs. She worked so unremittingly at her task,
standing continuously in a half bent position over her cutting table that
she was never able to stand upright.
"When the young soldier, Lemuel Potter, returned to the front he
had won the promise of Lydia Barnes to be his wife when the war was
over. But owing to a ruling of congress that a married man could draw a
year's rations they were married earlier in February 2, I779.
"Lemuel Potter was in the engagement known as the Storming of
Stony Point and by his bravery on that occasion won the praise of his
commander. On another occasion he was presented with a cane by his
major for meritorious conduct. Said cane is now in my possession. He
served till the end of the war and was honorably discharged. His military record was obtained from the Pension department at Washington,
D. C.
"Lemuel Potter died February 26, 1826, and is buried at Chili, N. Y.
After his death his widow moved to Paint Creek, Oakland county, and
became an inmate of the family of my parents, Needham and Marilla
Hemingway (her daughter), till the time of her death, ten years later.
She died in August, 1836, and is buried at Baldwin's cemetery, Paint
Creek, Oakland county. At the time she was a member of my mother's