FIFTH GENERATION 59

tion of our rights and liberties, and in these sentiments I am determined to live and die.

Sorry I am, if any of the good people of this Colony should have conceived oth— erwise of me, and I greatly lament that the unguarded expression in the protest should give cause therefore. Should I from thence lose the confidence, just hopes and expectations of my countrymen, of my future conduct in the arduous Amer— ican struggles, it might create an uneasiness of mind, for which nothing can ever compensate.

But should this public declaration ease the minds of my friends and the friends of liberty, and convince them of my readiness to embark, to conflict with them in every difliculty, and against every opposition, until our glorious cause shall be established upon most firm and permanent basis, it will be a consideration that will afford the highest satisfaction that human nature is capable of enjoying.” ‘ This explanation proving satisfaétory, the Assembly voted that it should be ac— cepted, and William Potter be reinstated in the favor of the Assembly. At the same session he was re—elected Chief—Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Washington county, and was successively elected until the year 1780, when he resigned.

“About this time (1780) Judge Potter became an enthusiastic and devoted fol— lower ofthe celebrated Jemima Wilkinson. For the more comfortable accomo— dation of herself and her adherents, he built a large addition to his already spacious mansion, containing fourteen rooms and bedrooms with suitable fire—places. Her influence controlled his household, servants and the income of his estates. She made her headquarters here for above six years. Here was the scene of some of her pretended miracles. Susannah Potter, a daughter of the Judge, having de— ceased, she undertook to raise her to life. On the day of the funeral, a great con— course assembled to witness the miracle. The lid of the coflin was removed, and Jemima knelt in devout and fervent prayer for her restoration. The laws of na— ture were inflexible. The impious effort was unavailing. She imputed the failure to the old excuse—the want of faith in her followers. . . She induced most of her followers to sell their estates, and invest the proceeds in land in the Genesee country in the State of New York, for a common fund for the benefit of all. Judge Potter was the principal agent for that purpose. In 1784., with her train of deluded proselytes, she departed for her new residence in what in now called Yates County, called by Jemima herself ‘ New Jerusalem,’ ‘ a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ”

Judge Potter’s homestead was about a mile north. of Kingston Hill, and was known for a great many years as the Old Abbey. He had a very large landed estate which he inherited, and was otherwise wealthy. He “ returned in a few years after his emigration, and occupied his homestead, but his circumstances became so embar— rassed in consequence of his devotion to this artful woman, that he was soon compelled to mortgage his estate; and finding it impossible to redeem it in its

I Col. Rec., vol. vii. p. 348. deteriorated