POTTER United Families

Fernand de Potter, and his French partner Françoise de Casaubon,
committed a research made by the Leuven expert.
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).
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.
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.
His branch occupied elected positions in Brabant and carried the
three pots (caldrons) before switching to the crescent and stars.
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”.
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.
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