When Willem Cornelis Potharst was christened on 8 March 1797, in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, his father, Jacobus Potharst, was 39 and his mother, Maria Lieffelt, was 35. He married Anthonia Stutser on 7 November 1821, in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 8 daughters. In 1852, at the age of 55, his occupation is listed as schoenmaker. He died on 3 August 1866, in his hometown, at the age of 69.