POTTER United Families

• In 1710-1730, coincidentally, in the small village of Heule,
both branches took official and similar steps… A member of
the green branch was “Council Pensionary” in the barony of
Heule, while a member of the blue branch bought the
Lordship of Heule. This was stated in the book by princess
de Merode and, in parallel, the other indication was found in
the genealogy of the 1896 Association of the Belgian Nobility!
• In 1743, coincidentally, Jacques de Pottere of the blue
branch bought a piece of land in Tielt, next door to the green
branch. This was mentioned in an official act of that year
found in the Royal Archives of Bruges.
• In 1750-1775, coincidentally, both branches were direct
neighbors, the green branch in the castle of Ravenhof
(Tourhout) and the blue branch in the touching estate of
Aertrycke (future castle). This is indicated in the Flemish
Directory of Patrimonial Estates and Archives of Bruges.
• In 1775, coincidentally, both branches were incorporated
into the nobility by Empress Marie-Therese of Austria. This
is indicated in the blue book by princess de Merode as well as
in the genealogy of the of the Belgian Nobility in 1896.
• In the same year, coincidentally, the high representative in
Ghent of Empress Marie-Therese of Austria was the Father-
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