Frederick Potter

Frederick Seymour Potter (3 November 1857 – 29 March 1941) was a British-born public figure, businessman and benefactor in Auckland, New Zealand.

For other people with similar names, see William Potter.

Frederick Seymour Potter
Personal details
Born(1857-11-03)3 November 1857
London, England
Died29 March 1941(1941-03-29) (aged 83)
Nationality New Zealand
RelationsWilliam Potter (father)
Eliza Potter (mother)
OccupationBusinessman

Migration to New Zealand

Born in London, Potter moved with his parents William and Eliza Potter to Auckland in the steamship Lord Ashley. The family arrived on 14 October 1858. Potter had siblings including his elder brother William.[1]

Businessman and benefactor

Potter listed his occupation in Auckland electoral rolls as "Coachbuilder". In the 1920s he was the proprietor of coachbuilders "Gee and Potter" at 19 Rutland Street, Auckland, on the corner of Lorne and Rutland Streets.[2][3][4][5][6]

Potter married Ellen Barnes in 1909, who died in 1912 shortly after the birth and death of their son Frederick.[7] In March 1916, Potter gifted much of the lands around his home in Balmoral to establish Potter Park which opened in 1921, however remained a resident of the house that remained on the site of the park.[7] He married Mary Elizabeth Briddock in 1919. He died in Auckland Hospital, in 1941. He was survived by his wife Mary, but no children are listed in his death notices or obituaries.[8]

Potter was a Freemason, and established the Potter Masonic Trust.[9]

Potters Parks

Potter gifted two Potters Parks to the City of Auckand.

  • Balmoral Potters Park located at the corner of Balmoral and Dominion Roads: Potters Park, Balmoral, gifted to the Mt Eden Borough Council in 1916, and opened as a park in 1921.[7]
  • Takapuna Potters Park located at the corner of Anzac Street and Lake Road.[10]

Death
Frederick Seymour Grave

Potter died on 29 March 1941 and his funeral was on 31 March at St Matthias Anglican Church, Panmure. He was buried in front of a large assembly of masons.[11] His obituaries describe him as a "generous benefactor" to the city of Auckland.[12][13]

References
  1. Passenger list has Eliza & William Potter with three children
  2. Cleaves Auckland Directory: 1927 pp1261 & 2045; 1928 pp1115 & 1898
  3. "Notice about design of ambulance carriage". New Zealand Herald in Papers Past (New Zealand). 24 November 1893.
  4. "Advert for Gee and Potter & others". New Zealand Herald in Papers Past (New Zealand). 22 April 1924.
  5. "Advert for Gee and Potter & others". New Zealand Herald in Papers Past (New Zealand). 24 April 1924.
  6. "Former employee of Gee and Potter". Auckland Star in Papers Past (New Zealand). 29 November 1937.
  7. Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei; Truttman, Lisa (2009). "Balmoral & Sandringham Heritage Walks" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. "Death Notices". New Zealand Herald in Papers Past (New Zealand). 31 March 1941.
  9. "Potter Masonic Trust". Freemasons New Zealand. 2018.
  10. "Potters Park playground upgrade". Stuff (Fairfax). 27 April 2016.
  11. p92 Frederick Seymour Potter and The Potter Masonic Childrens Centre Address given by W Bro R M Agnew
  12. "Generous benefactor". New Zealand Herald in Papers Past (New Zealand). 31 March 1941.
  13. "Generous benefactor". Auckland Star in Papers Past (New Zealand). 31 March 1941.
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