SAR honors Revolutionary War Patriot Ezekiel Potts

On October 29, 2022, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution participated in the grave marking for Ezekiel Potts, a Revolutionary War Patriot.  The ceremony was held at the historic Old Potts Cemetery near Hillsboro, Loudoun, Virginia.

Colonel James Wood II Chapter participants, standing left to right: Ken Bonner (dual member), Doug Hall, Paul Christensen, Barry Schwoerer (dual member), Ernie Coggins (dual member), Dave Cook (dual member) and Allan Phillips. Kneeling left to right: Dale Corey and Sean Carrigan. (Photo/Darrin Schmidt)

Potts was a patriot who served as a Private in Captain Burgess Balls’ Company, 5th Virginia Regiment, paid 1783 Personal Property Tax and provided 350 pounds of beef to the continental forces. Ezekiel was born Jan. 1742 in Fairfax County (this portion of Fairfax became Loudoun County in 1757). When his father died, he inherited one half of the farm and a mill. In 1749, he married Elizabeth Mead and had seven children. He died Jan. 16, 1809, followed by Elizabeth in 1825. Ezekiel and Elizabeth, along with their children are buried at the Old Potts Cemetery which was established on the homestead by his father, David Potts.

The event was attended by fifteen descendants of the patriot. Paula Schwoerer, 4th great grand niece of the patriot gave a short biographical sketch. Sgt Maj John Champe President Ken Bonner and Vice President Barry Schwoerer conducted the ceremony with Jacob Schwoerer unveiling the marker. Eleven Revolutionary War lineage organizations attended and presented wreaths.

Wreath presenters, from left to right: Ernie Coggins, Virginia SAR; Doug Hall, OFPA; Paul Christensen, CJWII; Ken Bonner, SMJC; Judith Shepherd, Elizabeth McIntosh Hammill DAR; Jacob Schwoerer, Colonel William Grayson C.A.R.; Nancy Watford, Ketoctin DAR; Anita Bonner, Lanes Mill DAR; Dave Cook, FR and Kimberly Scott, District VIII Virginia DAR. (Photo/Darrin Schmidt)

Five Sons of the American Revolution participated in wreath laying: Virginia 1st Vice President Ernie Coggins, Ken Bonner (Sgt Maj John Champe), Dave Cook (Fairfax Resolves), Richard Rankin (George Washington) and Paul Christensen (Colonel James Wood II). In addition, Order of Founders and Patriots, five Daughters of the American Revolution and one member of the Children of the American Revolution presented wreaths to honor the patriot.

A color guard commanded by Dave Cook, consisted of Sean Carrigan (CJWII), Paul Christensen (CJWII), Doug Hall (CJWII),  Will Reynolds (CJWII), Darrin Schmidt (FR), Jacob Schwoerer (SMJC) with headstone sentinels Dale Corey (CJWII) and Allan Phillips (CJWII). A seven man musket squad commanded by Darrin Schmidt executed a three shot volley to honor the patriots service to the founding of the country.

Musket squad firing salute to the patriot, from left to right: Paul Christensen, Dale Corey, Sean Carrigan, Allan Phillips, Will REynolds, Dave Cook and Ken Bonner. (Photo/Owen Brown)