Craven County was first created as Archdale Precinct of Bath County in 1705 and the name was changed about 1712 to Craven. Johnston County was formed in 1746 from Craven County.

Dobbs was formed from the eastern portion of Johnston County in 1758. Wayne County was formed in 1779 from the western part of Dobbs and Dobbs ceased to exist in 1791 when it became Lenoir & Greene. [formation of counties]

An extract from "Annals of Progress" provides some of the history of the area.

Robert, Stringer and Daniel are thought to have lived in the same area as their location changed from being in Craven to Johnston to Dobbs to Lenoir County.

Robert Potts appears in Craven County Court Minutes, December 18, 1739 - "Deed of sale from Doctr. Stringer to Robt. Potts was acknowledg'd in open Court by the said Stringer & on prayer of the sd Potts the same is admitted to Record."

A March 20, 1740 court minute references: "in the accon between Phill Kerton Plt & Robt. Potts Deft a Jury of Twelve good & lawful men being Duly Ellected and sworn withdrew and in some short time returned there Verdict in these words We of the Jury find for the plt fourty shillings, Wm. Tunaclift foreman." [Ref: Craven Precinct County North Carolina Court Minutes, 1730-1741, Book II by Weynette Parks Haun]

Robert was a witness to a deed on April 16, 1740 between Dr. Francis Stringer and James Lord bordering Robert Potts property. Deed

A Robert Potts is listed as a Private in the Spanish Attack on the Town of Beaufort, North Carolina, September 10, 1747 in neighboring Carteret County. Col. Lovick's Regiment.

Robert received a land grant in March 3, 1759 in Johnston County which was formed in 1746 from Craven County. The grant was on the No. side of Neuce River.

Robert's name is mentioned in a land grant April 24, 1762 in Dobbs County, formed from the eastern portion of Johnston County in 1758, on the No. side of Neuce River.

The last known record of Robert Potts is in the 1769 Dobbs County Tax List in which he and his two sons, Stephen and Stringer, are listed.

"An Account of Letters of Administration Granted for Dobbs County - Pleasant Potts, Stephen Potts, Simon Bright, Gershom Wiggins - July Court 1772" - this account may have been for Robert Potts after his death.

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