Though rubymelia seems to assume this means that John Potter was black, my spider sense is tingling on that one. Slavery wasn't abolished until 1833, so the chances of an African marrying a British woman are slim. My personal view is that he may have been a Romany gypsy (potter being a common gypsy profession) or an unusually dark British person (thinking Tom Jones or similar).
You appear to be assuming that black people in Britain at the time were slaves.
Reading articles from links on the other thread, one learns that there were established free black populations in Britain by 1800. The best remembered individuals were writers, musicians, clergy and businessmen. There were also publicans, shopkeepers, tradesmen, soldiers, sailors and many other occupations.
" .. barely 20% of the black population was female and intermarrying of black people to members of the white population was common " (late 18thC)
(BBC History - "The First Black Britons")
British Navy recruited free black labour - some settled in British port cities. Liverpool is mentioned as having a small black population. British Army had recruited former slaves during American War of Independence; some returned with their regiments to Britain and settled after the war ended.
"Intermarriage between black men and white women was high"
From English Heritage - History Stories "Black People in Late 18th Century Britain"
See links on the other thread.
Is Tom Jones "Jones the Voice"? Another Welsh Voice, Shirley Bassey was from Tiger Bay, Cardiff, which I believe had a long-established black population.
On the other hand, you may be correct that John Potter was of Romany origin.
As discussed on the original thread, defining the word coloured is difficult.
Is your spider's name Anansi?
