Nancy Catherine Gilbert Potter (1839-1926)

Historical marker location:

Manchester, Kentucky

( 311 Main St., Manchester)

Nancy C. Gilbert married Robert Potter in 1865. Following his bankruptcy, she was appointed feme sole by the Clay Co. Circuit Court in 1879 in order to preserve assets. A shrewd entrepreneur, she dealt in real estate, retaining mineral rights and running a boardinghouse opposite county courthouse that catered to lawyers & businessmen.

(Reverse) N.C. "Kate" Potter was the granddaughter of Clay pioneer Felix Gilbert, half brother to Rev. John Gilbert. In 1878, she helped organize the Manchester Baptist Church and was deemed one of their best teachers. In 1898, the Courier-Journal ran the obituary of her parrot, Poll.

Women