Isaac’s father John was a prominent Quaker ironmaster who in 1757 purchased the ironworks known as ‘Valley Forge” in Schuylkill Township, Chester County Pennsylvania. Several years later John added a gristmill* to the property.

Over the ensuing years the property was owned by John’s sons. Isaac eventually became owner of the gristmill and entered into a partnership owning the forge with his brother-in-law William Dewees [married to Isaac’s sister Sarah].

It was on this property where General George Washington and his Continental army encamped and spent a severe winter beginning in December of 1777. Washington found his own in the home of Isaac Potts, which he rented from its current tenant, Mrs. Deborah Hewes for a hundred pounds in Pennsylvania currency. Mrs. Hewes, whose first husband had been one of Isaac's brothers, moved in with the Dewees family.
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In the winter of '77, while [George] Washington, with the American army, lay encamped at Valley Forge, a certain good old Friend, of the respectable family and name of Potts, if I mistake not, had occasion to pass through the woods near head quarters. Treading in his way along the venerable grove, suddenly he heard the sound of a human voice, which, as he advanced, increased on his ear; and at length became like the voice of one speaking much in earnest. As he approached the spot with a cautious step, whom should he behold, in a dark natural bower of ancient oaks, but the commander-in-chief of the American armies on his knees at prayer!

Motionless with surprise, friend Potts continued on the place till the General, having ended his devotions, arose; and, with a countenance of angelic serenity, retired to head quarters. Friend Potts then went home, and on entering his parlour called out to his wife, "Sarah! my dear Sarah! all's well! all's well! George Washington will yet prevail!"

"What's the matter, Isaac?" replied she, " thee seems moved."

"Well, if I seemed moved, 'tis no more than what I really am. I have this day seen what I never expected. Thee knows that I always thought that the sword and the gospel were utterly inconsistent; and that no man could be a soldier and a christian at the same time. But George Washington has this day convinced me of my mistake."

He then related what he had seen, and concluded with this prophetical remark—

"If George Washington be not a man of God, I am greatly deceived—and still more shall I be deceived, if God do not, through him, work out a great salvation for America."3728
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In a New York Times best selling book on the life of George Washington it states that rather than seize Isaac’s property it was the General’s nature and custom to pay rent for it’s use.3

See more on the Valley Forge story in the notes of Colonel William Dewees (born after 1700).



*A gristmill or grist mill is a building in which grain is ground into flour. In many countries these are referred to as corn mills or flour mills.