| Harriet
Moore of New Orleans married Solomon Page and they moved to Texas, where Page
deserted her to enlist in the revolutionary army. She managed to survive, even
during the Runaway Scrape, with assistance from Potter. Harriet turned down Page's
offer of reconciliation and decided to return to New Orleans, then move in with
relatives in Kentucky. Potter offered his help, but instead took her to property
he owned in presentday Harrison County. Potter convinced Harriet that her marriage
to Page was invalid in Texas because they had not been married by a priest, and
so they were betrothed by bond in September 1836, lived together at Potter's Point
on Caddo Lake, and produced two children.
Potter served in the Texas Congress,
which meant that he spent much time in Austin. After he was assassinated during
the Regulator-Moderator War, Harriet discovered while probating his will that
he had left their homestead to Sophia Mayfield of Austin. He left other property
to Harriet, whom he identified as "Mrs. Page."
Harriet continued to live
on the homestead and remarried in 1842 to Charles Ames. Mayfield never tried to
take possession of the homestead, but following her death in 1852 and acquisition
of the property by others, the Ames filed suit to have Potter's will set aside
so Harriet could have unquestioned ownership of their homestead. But Justice O.M.
Roberts ruled the marriage of Robert Potter and "Harriet Page" by bond invalid,
so Harriet Ames was dispossessed and returned to New Orleans, sadder but wiser,
having learned there was precious little good in men who went to Texas.
All
Things Historical
March
21-27, 2004 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
Published with permission
This column is provided
as a public service by the East Texas Historical Association. Archie P. McDonald
is director of the Association and author of more than 20 books on Texas. |
