History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

688

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

In 1841 he was elected a memn er of the New Hampshire Historical
Society, in 1852 chosen first Vice President, and President in
1855-'7. He died suddenly in the city of Flint, Mich., Aug. 3,
1868, aged 61 years, 5 months'and 29 days. IHis portrait appears
on page 149.
Mrs. Francis Maria MicNeil Potter. This lady is doubtless a
descendant, on her father's side, of the ancient and noble family of
McNeils of Scotland. The founder of the family in America was
John McNeil. He left Scotland in 1719 and took up his residence
in Londonderry, Ireland, during which time he participated in the
siege of that place. A few years afterward he came to America
with his family, and we find them in 1725 located at Derryfield,
now Manchester, N. H.
One of his sons, Daniel McNeil, and his family, moved from
Manchester in 1771, to Hillsboro, N. H., where he resided until his
death. Daniel's son, John, was born in Manchester in 1756, and
at the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, enlisted as a private
in Captain Baldwin's Co., which was of "Stark's" regiment. In
the battle of Bunker Hill he assisted Captain Baldwin from the field
when mortally wounded. He was also with Stark at the Battle of
Bennington, and served with distinction throughout the war. He
attained the rank of Lieutenant, and died at IIillsboro, N. H., Sept.
29, 1836, aged 79 years.
The son of the last named was also named John, and was the
father of the lady whose name heads this sketch. He was early
educated to a military life, and is known in history as General John
McNeil. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, and was
in command at Fort Dearborn, Il1., having his family with
him at the fort when his daughter, Francis Maria Potter, was born.
Gen. McNeil married Miss Elizabeth A. Pierce, at Hillsboro, N.
H., in 1811. She was a daughter of Gov. Benjamin Pierce, of
New H1ampshire, and a sister to Franklin Pierce, who afterward
became President of the United States. Thus it will be seen that
the subject of this sketch was a daughter of a distinguished General
in the U. S. army, grand-daughter of the Governor of a state, and
niece of a President of the United States. As a result of such connections and surroundings, the most eminent men and women of
the day were numbered as her acquaintances and associates.
When Mrs. Potter was but tour years old, her father, Gen.
McNeil, was appointed Surveyor of the port of Boston, Mass., by
President Jackson. Here she passed her time until she attained
her 18th year. attending the best schools offered, and subsequently
attending Madame Chegaway's Academy at New Yolmk, where
she finished her education. During her uncle's, President Pierce's,
administration, some of her time was passed at the White House,
between which and the old Pierce homestead at Hillsboro (which
she then owned) her time was fully occupied. In November, 1856,
at Hillsboro, she was married to Hon. E. E. Potter. The following years were spent with her husband at the old home, during the