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Robert Scott and Winifred
Green
-- INTRODUCTION –
Wesley G. Scott (1831
- 1907) with the help of his daughters -- Hannah (Mrs. Levi H.) Scott,
Libbie (Mrs. Alexander) Dean, Eunice (Mrs. Julian T.) Miller -- were
key individuals who passed along and handed down significant
information regarding the Scott families and Scott generations that
settled around Scottsville, Floyd County, Indiana. Wesley Scott,
village blacksmith and postmaster of Scottsville, was a second
generation “Hoosier” who among his relatives was the first to organize
ancestral recollections. Some believe that his daughters helped him
in this effort, and during an illness late in life, one of his
daughters wrote important memories before Wesley’s death. After his
death in 1907, arrangements were made by his daughters to type, edit,
and eventually distribute the memoirs to all who may be interested.
The memoirs have been included in Floyd County records at the
City-County Building. On December 9, 1933, they were placed in Book
12, Miscellaneous Records, #2280, pages 4 & 5.
Through the
generations, the memoirs were passed down from relative to relative,
and found their way into Southern Indiana libraries. Lennie R. Berkey,
deceased, from Salem, Indiana, once discovered “old” papers at the
home of nephew, Billy Martin, Martinsburg, Indiana. The old papers
turned out to be “Wesley’s memoirs!” Lennie re-copied them and sent
them to the Salem, Indiana Library. They were re-copied again by
Helen Burgess in 1969. Mrs. R. H. Konig, Carmel, California, sent me
her copy and it contained two extra sentences. By now, one can find
some variations on Wesley’s memoirs including annotations and notes
attached. The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, Indiana Room
has long made its copies available to the public. The DAR, Piankeshaw
Chapter, Genealogical Records Committee, included Wesley’s memoirs in
their book, “Bible Records and Family Records, pages 163-174.”
So, whether Wesley's memoirs are in libraries or in personal records
of interested Scotts and their many allied families, the memoirs can
be found with one common name, Wesley G. Scott, and entitled, “The
Scott Family: A Pioneer Family of Kentucky and Indiana.”
Cuthbert L. "Bert"
Scott II and his son, C.L. "Bert" Scott III had in their possession
the earliest manuscript of Wesley G. Scott's memoirs. It came
directly from Wesley Scott's daughter, Hannah (Mrs. Levi H.) Scott.
Hannah and Levi Scott gave the document to their daughter, Berla
Esther Scott Stamper, who gave it to Cuthbert Scott II. This document
obtained by Cuthbert L. Scott II was dated New Albany, Indiana, 12
January 1906. In that year Hannah and Levi H. Scott resided in New
Albany.
I have not seen any other oral
history documents earlier than 1906, so I have re-copied in
Appendix D this earliest manuscript loaned to me by Cuthbert L.
"Bert" Scott II. In Appendix D, I chose not to append all the
other manuscripts named above but simply point out in footnote style
where variations occurred among them. Hannah and Levi H. Scott's
manuscript of Wesley G. Scott's memoirs can now be compared with the
other manuscripts named above. The variations between all the
manuscripts are in Appendix D with footnotes to point out
differences among them. None of the manuscript differences were due
to modern genealogical research. Since the documents named above were
oral history folklore, observable differences have come from within
oral history viewpoints. Obviously some differences were due to
re-typing, editing, rearrangements, and typewriter smudges. But,
other differences were based on oral history which came through
different branches of the Scott family. The purpose of Appendix D
is to show noticeable differences among the documents named above.
Wesley Scott was not perfect in his
recollections. Some family members were embarrassed by his flawed and
frailed remembrances or they were embarrassed by his infatuation with
famous, historic Scotts or embarrassed with his glorification or
ramblings about literary Scotts or religious Scotts. Also, Wesley
Scott did not pretend to be exact about dates and frustrated family
researchers who have used his descriptions for historical
information. In reality, Wesley Scott's memoirs were developed one
year before his death when he was elderly and frail at the age of 75.
His memories brought him comfort in old age and he added some schmaltz
to the tradition of being a Scott. He died 25 June 1907, New Albany,
Indiana, home of his daughter, Mrs. Julian T. (Eunice Scott) Miller,
312 Lafayette St., New Albany with funeral service at Chapel Hill
Christian Church, Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana. The
funeral was conducted by Rev. Frank T. Porter, pastor of Park
Christian Church, New Albany.
So, if anyone is aware of other family lore within the Scott
lineage, they may compare and evaluate their stories with those
compared in Appendix D of this document.
My research of the Scott families has
been motivated by the work of Wesley G. Scott and contemporary persons
who were researching their migrating ancestors on the frontier. I have
tried to fill in the gaps based on research into the events and mood
of the place and time. I have tried to look into the places where
they lived and tempered it with respect. My work contains narration
to accommodate the flow of ancestral history. My resolve is that
family not be lost from memory.
Footnote entries with, etc. following can be clicked to go to the source
document. Clicking the again will return you to
the previous text spot. Example Rev. J. S. Woods. The 1877-78 New
Albany, Indiana City Directory, and clinking the
This research has been
dedicated to my parents, Seibert and Virginia (Scott) Scott and my
wife, Judy, and, daughter, Courtney Ann (Scott) Doran.
Sincerely,
Nelson S. Scott
418 Swisher Avenue
Danville, IL. 61832
Robert Scott and Winifred
Green
Robert Scott was born 1760,
Scotland,[1]
died between April and August, 1824, Shelby County, Kentucky, burial
Shelby County, Kentucky,[2]
married around 1778,[3]
place not available, Winifred Green, birth date not available, born
probably Wales or Scotland,
[4] died between 1802 and 1811,
Montgomery County, Kentucky, burial Montgomery County, Kentucky.[5]
Winifred Green's parents were not known. The Greens and Scotts were
early settlers around Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky.
Robert Scott’s second marriage was
at the age of 52, married
[6] 30 September 1812, by Rev. John
Mavity, Shelby County, Kentucky, Abagail Eliza Harmon Hedden, born
about 1775, Kentucky, died April, 1831,[7]
Washington County, Indiana between the towns of Martinsburg and Old
Pekin, burial place not known. Abagail was probably married
previously, 22 March 1798, Woodford County, Kentucky, to Elias Hedden.[8]
The Woodford County Marriage Records showed that Hannah Harmon, likely
Abagail’s sister, married on the same date, Samuel Hedden; likely
another sister, Elizabeth Harmon married on 18 October 1798, Thomas
Mitchell. All three were married by R. Cave.[9]
As noted in Appendix A, a John Mitchell of Shelby County,
Kentucky furnished the coffin for Robert Scott’s burial and was a
purchaser at Robert Scott’s estate sale. Some of the Mitchell
families lived in Shelby County, Kentucky and also lived near Abagail
Scott in Washington County, Indiana where she resided following
Robert's death. She and Robert Scott had no children in their
marriage according to family folklore. The 1820 Washington County,
Indiana census was their only census while married and it included
Robert Scott’s single son, Dorris G. Scott, born to Robert and his
first wife, Winifred. The 1830 Washington County, Indiana census
was Abagail’s only census as a widow. Her census record indicated
other individuals in her household but they were presumed to be other
relatives or possibly freed slaves as mentioned in Robert Scott’s
Will.
Federal Census Records:
Robert Scott household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County,
Indiana, No Township Listed, stamped page 223 or unstamped page 327,
line 50; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
Robert Scott, age 45 & up; 1 male, age 16 to 25; 1 female under
10; 1 female, age 10 to 15; 1 female, age 26 to 44, wife Abagail. Two
were in agriculture. Robert Scott's only unmarried child, Dorris
Green Scott, was included as the male son, age 16-25. The female
children were not known.
Abagail Scott household, 1830
U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No Township Listed, page
330, line 5; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 31:
Abagail Scott, 1 male of 5 under 10; 1 female of 30 under 40; 1
female of 50 under 60. At this residence, located between the towns
of Martinsburg and Old Pekin, Indiana, Abagail died in April, 1831.[10]
Robert Scott died between April - August, 1824 in Shelby County,
Kentucky where his will was recorded in the Shelby County Courthouse.[11]
The Will indicated his birth in 1760 and Wesley Scott's memoirs
identified the place as Scotland.
The quote in Wesley's memoirs was that "Robert Scott, a Baptist
Minister, was born in Scotland in 1721, leaving Scotland and going to
Wales, from Wales he went to England, then back to Wales." Robert
Scott's Will clearly proved that he was not born in 1721 but 1760.
Also, no church records have been found to verify that he was a
practicing Baptist Minister. But, Clark County, Kentucky
history has named a Robert Scott in 1798 who was a founding trustee
for the Regular Baptist Church, located near Goshen, Clark County,
Kentucky. This Baptist congregation was in existence, meeting in
homes by 1795, before the congregation built its log cabin church. The
charter membership included a Robert Scott and an Elizabeth Green.
This researcher, Nelson Scott, visited the church site in 1998.
Montgomery County, Kentucky was less than a mile due east of the
church site. (See Robert Scott's Kentucky residences below which
included him in Clark County, Kentucky in the same time period of this
Baptist congregation.[12])
Also, the early Indiana history of
his sons, John and Moses Scott, clearly indicated that they were
Baptist Christians who were among the first people to establish Mt.
Eden Church, Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana. Robert
Scott's son, Moses Scott, was married in the Beech Creek Baptist
Church, Shelby County, Kentucky. Also, Robert Scott’s 2nd marriage
was performed by the Rev. John Mavity, a Christian Church pastor.
Robert Scott had Baptist and Christian Church affiliations in the
practice of his faith; but, his ancestors in Scotland or Wales were of
the Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Scots.
In July, 1823, Robert Scott resigned as Justice of the Peace in
Jackson Township, Washington County, Indiana.[13]
It was at this time that Robert left Washington County for some
unknown reason (possibly due to an illness), returning to Shelby
County, Kentucky where he died between April - August, 1824.
Robert Scott's origins and more importantly the common origin of his
parents, grandparents, including the origins of his wife -- the Green
family -- were evident in Wesley's memoirs. Robert Scott's
parents were named as Herbert Scott and Mary Vardemon of Scotland.
Herbert Scott's father was named David Scott.
The ethnic roots of the Scott clan
were likely from the "lowlands" of Scotland near the border of
England. In the 1600s and 1700s the lowlands were mostly inhabited by
ethnic Scot Presbyterians. During the 1600s, lowland Scots were able
to lease land in northern Ireland under relocation and leasing
arrangement established by King Charles of England, who promoted peace
between the Church of England and Lowland Presbyterian Scots after
years of hatred and religious/economic unrest. Wales like northern
Ireland was an appealing relocation area where Robert Scott's
antecedents would have dwelled together with Winifred Green's family
as Wesley's memoirs have suggested in its folklore.
Since Ireland was not mentioned in Wesley's memoirs, it would appear
that Robert Scott himself and/or his father, Herbert Scott; and/or his
grandfather, David Scott, left the lowlands of Scotland and took their
relocation in Wales. The last country Wesley named for Robert Scott's
location was Wales, where as a child Robert Scott or his parents
possibly lived before coming to America with either his parents or
with the Green family. His ancestors could have migrated and resided
in Wales as much as Scotland. The Green surname for Winifred and her
first name were both ethnic Welsh names! Her Welsh origins may be the
dominant aspect of Wesley's phrases about his grandfather's movements
to Wales. Robert Scott's parents and grandparents could have been a
blending of Scottish and Welsh origins, speaking a Celtic language!
Also, in the country of Wales, there may be more bonds, more marriages
between the Greens and the Scotts than simply the marriage of Robert
and Winifred! The place of their marriage was not known.
In Robert Scott’s Shelby County, Kentucky marriage record to
Abagail (Harmon) Hedden, his father was named as “Hestra.”[14]
At the Kentucky Historical Society Library, the typed record of their
marriage bond showed that Robert
Scott's father was Hestra Scott and Eliza Abagail Harmon's father was
William Harmon. In transcribing names from old documents and using
memories passed down from families, Herbert and Hestra were close
enough in spite of errors to verify that Robert Scott's father was
Herbert - Hestra Scott or Hestra - Herbert Scott! In Wesley’s
memoirs, Herbert Scott’s birth was given in 1667, Edinburgh, Scotland
and married Mary Vardemon, a woman of Saxon race. This attempt to
fill in the gaps between Hestra and Herbert Scott as names for the
father of Robert Scott is to capture the essence of truth so that in
the future more research will reveal the precision of fact.
Wesley's memoirs named Robert
Scott's brother, Elijah Scott. Among the Welsh-Scotch slang and
dialect, Elijah was phonetically pronounced as “EE LY YA.” The ending
letters in Archelaus’ name is “elaus,” phonetically sounded as “EE LY
YA” or EE LY YA.” Archelaus Scott’s name was shortened in the slang
talk and given a nickname of “EE LY US” or “EE LY YA” which Wesley G.
Scott’s memoirs captured as Elijah Scott.
Arch or Ark, the first letters of his
name, were not remembered by Wesley G. Scott nor remembered by
Arch-EE-LY-YA (Eliyah) Scott’s grandchildren, namely the children born
to Harmon and Margaret Reasor Scott. The nickname, “EE LY YA” was the
only recollection. Scott researchers have believed as Wesley
G. Scott reported that Elijah Scott was a precise name, when in
actuality it represented the “EE LY YA” nickname of ARK-E-LY-YA SCOTT.
As
indicated in the memoirs, Archelaus Scott’s sons were a John Scott and
Moses Scott who were with their father, “EE-LY-YAW” when he came into
Kentucky; and a son, Robert Scott who was in Virginia; and a son
Harmon Scott, born in Kentucky who settled at Scottsville, Floyd
County, Indiana. Archelaus’ son, Harmon Scott, resided at Scottsville
adjacent to his cousins’ John and Moses Scott, who were the sons of
Robert Scott. Wesley Scott’s memoirs are about Robert Scott and his
brother, Archelaus (EE-LY-YAW) Scott, who were united in family lore
due to their historical records, settlements, and migrations together.
CHILDREN OF ROBERT AND WINIFRED (GREEN) SCOTT
Information about the
children was based on family lore and genealogical research. The
family lore of Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs corresponded precisely with
the children’s names as recorded in Robert Scott’s Will and Estate
Settlement documents in Appendix A. Seven children were born to their
marriage per Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs. Wesley stated that his
grandparents were Robert and Winifred (Green) Scott, and wrote, “John
Scott, my father, having three brothers, James, Moses, Darris
Scott.......the three sisters of my father were Elizabeth, Margaret,
and Mary Scott.” Each of these seven children’s historical records,
settlements, and migrations with their descendants were researched by
Nelson S. Scott in separate documents. The following is a brief
summary of the children.
JAMES SCOTT, born about
1779-1780,[15]
place of birth not known, died late September, 1836, Floyd County,
Indiana,[16]
burial place not known, married
[17] about 1803, Montgomery County,
Kentucky, Elizabeth Schultz (Shults), born about 1784, North Carolina,[18]
died about 1865, age 82, at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Sarah
Scott Davis, Salt Creek Township, Jackson County, Indiana, burial
place not known. Elizabeth Schultz was the daughter of Christian
Shults, Jr., her paternal grandparents were Christian and Elizabeth
Schultz, Sr. who came from Pennsylvania to the Watauga settlement in
what is now Carter County, Tennessee (then North Carolina), before
1780 and were early Montgomery County, Kentucky settlers.[19]
JOHN SCOTT, born 28
December 1781,[20]
place of birth not known, died[21]
10 January 1862, Lafayette Township, town of Scottsville, Floyd
County, Indiana, buried Mt. Eden Church Cemetery, Greenville Township,
Floyd County, Indiana, married
[22]
2 January 1815, Shelby County, Kentucky, Anna Reasor, born
25 December 1797, Little Mount, Shelby County, Kentucky which in 1824
became Spencer County, Kentucky, died 3 October 1845, Lafayette
Township, town of Scottsville, Floyd County, Indiana, buried Mt. Eden
Church Cemetery, Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana. Anna
Reasor was the daughter of Michael and Anna Herbert.[23]
MARGARET SCOTT, born about
1784,[24]
possibly Fayette County, Virginia, died about 1846,[25]
Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana, burial place probably Mt.
Eden Church Cemetery, Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana,
married
[26] 4 January 1804, Clark County,
Kentucky, Thomas Ferral (Ferrell), born about 1782, birth place not
available, death around Christmas, 1836,[27]
Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana, burial place likely Mt.
Eden Cemetery. Thomas Ferrell was the son of Peter Ferrell according
to Clark County, Kentucky deed records and Peter Ferrell's Will.[28]
Thomas Ferrell's mother was not available.
MOSES
SCOTT,
born 1 March 1789, Woodford County, Virginia,[29]
died 3 May 1850, age 61 yrs. 2 mo. and 2 days, Scottsville, Floyd
County, Indiana, buried Mt. Eden Church Cemetery, Greenville Township,
Floyd County, Indiana, married[30]
23 May 1810, Beech Creek
Baptist Church, Shelby County, Kentucky, Elizabeth Shindler, 10
December 1790, Virginia or Pennsylvania, died 19 September 1864,
Scottsville, Floyd County, Indiana, buried Mt. Eden Church Cemetery,
Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana. Elizabeth Shindler’s
father was Johann George Shindler.[31]
Elizabeth's mother's
name was not available.
ELIZABETH
ANNE SCOTT,
born 24 March 1794, Fayette County, Kentucky, died 21 December 1854,
Morgan County, Kentucky, buried in old cemetery near Grassy Creek,
Morgan County, Kentucky, married 2 January 1812, Bath County,
Kentucky, Joseph Carter, Jr., born 13 July 1791, Buckingham County,
Virginia, died 13 February 1876, Morgan County, Kentucky, buried in
old cemetery, near Grassy Creek, Morgan County, Kentucky. Joseph
Carter, Jr. was the son of Joseph Carter, Sr. and Magdalene Chastain,
daughter of Rev. Rane Chastain and Ann Ford. The Chastains, Fords,
and Carters were from Buckingham County, Virginia.[32]
POLLY (MARY) SCOTT,
born about1799,[33]
Montgomery County, Kentucky, death place and burial place not known,
married
[34] 16 July 1817, Shelby County,
Kentucky, Samuel Mahurin, born about 1796,[35]
Shelby County, Kentucky, died
[36] about 1842, probably Parke
County, Indiana, burial place not known. Samuel Mahurin was eldest son
of Othniel Mahurin. Samuel's mother was not known
DORRIS (Darris) GREEN SCOTT,
born about 1801,[37]
Montgomery County, Kentucky, died
[38] 1846 or 1847, Salt Creek
Township, Jackson County, Indiana, burial place (cemetery not known)
Salt Creek Township, Jackson County, Indiana, married
[39] 29 July 1821, Washington County,
Indiana, Nancy Lucas, born
[40] 1798, Kentucky, died after 1870
census, Salt Creek Township, Jackson County, Indiana, burial place
(cemetery not known) Salt Creek Township, Jackson County, Indiana.
Nancy (Lucas) Scott was daughter of Jesse and Mary Lucas, Sr. who
migrated from Kentucky in the 1820’s to Washington County, Indiana,
and then into Jackson County, Indiana.
Dorris’ middle name "Green" appeared on his Jackson County, Indiana
land purchase from the Northwest Territory Jeffersonville Land Office.[41]
Also, his middle name, “Green”, was written on the Executor’s
Settlement of his deceased father’s estate.[42]
His middle name supports Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs that Winifred’s
maiden name was “Green.”
**********************************************************
KENTUCKY DOCUMENTS ON ROBERT SCOTT
Since Robert was born in 1760, Scotland, per Wesley G. Scott’s
memoirs, he migrated with his brother, Archelaus, and other relatives
from some eastern port into what was Virginia territory and now is
known as the domain of Kentucky. No date is available as to when
Robert and Archelaus Scott sailed from Wales, Scotland, or England to
America, nor is a port of entry available.
The earliest document was Archelaus
Scott’s military service in Captain Daniel Smith’s Company of
Fincastle Militia. Archelaus Scott and James Scott were privates in
rank, engaged in Lord Dunmore’s War, 1774.[43]
Nothing is definite about the person, named James Scott, nor his
connections to Robert Scott and Archelaus Scott. Fincastle County was
created by Virginia laws from 1772-1776. It included what is now
Kentucky. Fincastle was carved out of
Botetort County, Virginia in 1772. Fincastle lost its entire
territory and name when it was divided in 1776 to form Kentucky
County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Virginia; and, Washington County,
Virginia.[44]
Each county was eventually included in what is now Kentucky today, so
when the Fincastle Militia was organized, Archelaus Scott was residing
in one of the earliest Kentucky settlements. His birth date about
1753-1758 was presumed from a comparison with his brother, Robert
Scott's age, who according to Robert's Will was born 1760. When Lord
Dunmore's War of 1774 occurred, Robert Scott would have been 14 years
old, and Archelaus would have been older, at least 16 years of age in
order to qualify for competency as a soldier. His brother, Robert
Scott, did not qualify for military service at age 14. Records of
enlisted men in the Fincastle Company have revealed a “Robert Scott”
who held the rank of Ensign[45]
but it was not likely a 14 year old would have been given such rank!
One
may speculate that Robert Scott resided between 1772-1776 with
relatives in another Virginia county other than Fincastle while his
brother, Archelaus, migrated to Fincastle County, Virginia and while
there, he enlisted in the Fincastle militia. Or one may speculate
that Robert Scott in 1772-1776 was in Fincastle County with Archelaus
and remained “safe” in a homestead location during the war.
1789 Fayette County, District of
Kentucky, State of Virginia Tax List[46]
-- (This tax list was created in the same year that Woodford County,
Kentucky was created from Fayette County, Kentucky.) Moses Scott,
Archelis Scott, Robert Scott were listed together but separately from
other Scotts named in this vast territory of Fayette County. Moses &
Archelis’ taxations were recorded on June 4, 1789; Robert Scott’s
taxes were recorded on June 5, 1789. William Harmon and Thomas Harmon
were in same tax district as Robert, Moses, Archelis Scott.
Robert’s Scott’s second marriage was
to Abagail Eliza Harmon, daughter of William Harmon.
The earliest Kentucky residences of
Robert, Archelaus, and Moses Scott occurred in 1789 which at the time
was Fayette County. But, in 1791 that area of Fayette became Woodford
County, Kentucky,[47]
where the first Presbyterian settlement was located in 1783-84 by
William Scott and his son, William, at Mt. Pisgah Church, 5
miles east of Versailles (county seat) on the Shannon Road. This was
an early Scotch-Irish settlement[48]
and the Scotch-Welsh brothers, Robert Scott, Archelaus Scott, and
Edward Scott (who was affiliated with Archelaus and Robert in
correlated land purchases described below) were taxed in 1791,
Woodford County, Kentucky! The first tax list for Woodford County,
Kentucky occurred in 1790[49]
and included (1) David Scott, above 21 in age, 1 tithable white male
above 16 and under 21 in age, 1 black male under 16 and above 12 in
age; (2) William Scott, 1 white male above 21 in age, 1 tithable white
male above 16 and under 21 in age, 1 black male above 16 in age, and
an illegible number for black males between 12 and 16 in age; (3) John
Scott, 1 white male above 21, 1 tithable white male above 16 and under
21 in age, 5 black persons among the age categories, and 5 horses; (4)
Charles Green, 1 white male above 21 in age, 1 tithable white male
above 16 and under 21 in age.
General Charles Scott
from Virginia, who would later become Governor of Kentucky, also took
residence in the 1780's at Versailles, Kentucky, where he chose to
reside among all other Kentucky options granted for his military
service by the state of Virginia
1791 Woodford
County, Kentucky Tax List[50]
--
The Scott and Green persons who paid taxes in the first book,
presumably tax district one, with no entry date for payment or
assessment were Archelaus Scott, Robert Scott, Edward Scott, Jacob
Scott, William Green, James Green. These same individuals were also
named in Tax District Commissioner Book Two as well. Also,
Commissioner Tax Book Two had no dates for assessment or payment.
Those included in Book Two were Archelaus Scott, Robert Scott, Edward
Scott, General Charles Scott, Jacob Scott, William Green, James Green,
Thomas Harmon, William Harmon. Commissioner Tax Book Three included
the following: James or Janes Scott, illegible given name, William
Scott, Charles? Green, John Green. Robert Scott’s first wife,
Winifred Green's families were probably among those Green individuals
who were taxed.
1792 Thru 1795
Woodford County, Kentucky Tax Lists[51]
-- (Taxation years are in
parenthesis) (1792 Commissioner Tax Book Two) -
assessments for November 27 were Robert Scott, Robert Harmon;
assessments for December 1 were Archibald Scott (possibly
miss-spelling for Archelaus Scott), Moses Scott, Edward Scott, Jacob
G.? Scott; assessments for December 4, William Harmon; assessment for
September 18, William Green; assessment for September 27, General
Charles Scott; assessment for October 3, James? Green; assessments for
July 24, William Scott whose name appeared in Tax Book One and Tax
Book Three: (1793) - tax lists were incomplete and no Scotts
recorded; (1794) - Archibald Scott, Robert Scott, Edward Scott;
(1795) - Archibald Scott, Moses Scott.
These taxation
records have confirmed Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs that Robert Scott and
his brother, Archelaus Scott, were in Woodford County when on June 1,
1792, President George Washington signed the Act which made Kentucky
the 15th state in the Union, separate from Virginia. This was a
significant memory of Kentucky pioneers!
Robert Scott, Archelaus Scott, Moses Scott, and Edward
Scott were taxed in Woodford County, Kentucky from possibly 1790 but
definitely from 1791 thru 1795.
The Green families in their
proximities to the Scotts of Woodford County cannot be overlooked as
possible relatives of Robert Scott’s wife, Winifred.
The Woodford County tax lists from
1792 through 1795 has indicated the presence of an Archibald Scott and
Edward Scott. Even if Archibald and Archelaus Scott’s names were
interchanged in tax spellings, an Archibald Scott was among early
Kentucky Scott families. See Appendix C for more information
on a known Archibald Scott.
1795 Thru 1799 Clark County, Kentucky
Deed Books[52]
-- Robert Scott, Archelaus Scott and Edward Scott have purchased Clark
County land in 1795, 1796, and 1797 from Thomas Vivion, son of John
Vivion Sr. (The Vivion Family was
originally from Virginia.) Archelaus Scott’s land was always taxed in
Clark County records; however, Robert Scott and Edward Scott’s taxed
Clark County land soon became the domain of Montgomery County,
Kentucky when it was newly created 1 March 1797. Edward Scott’s land
eventually became the domain of Bath County when Bath was newly
created 4 February 1811. Robert Scott’s land remained within the
Montgomery County domain. What was clear, however, was that Archelaus,
Robert, and Edward Scott all moved simultaneously and directly from
Woodford County, Kentucky into Clark County for land purchases.
Moses Scott, presumed son of Archelaus Scott, married
in 1798[53]
Clark County, Kentucky receiving upon marriage some of his
father’s property. Moses and Rachel
(Hardy) Scott were on the Clark County Tax Lists from 1799 thru 1802
before immigrating to Warren County, Kentucky
with Rachel Hardy’s family.
Archelaus Scott moved to Shelby County, Kentucky in the mid or late
1800s following his days in Clark County and Woodford County. Also,
Robert Scott would immigrate to Shelby County between 1802 and
1811 from Montgomery County.
1800
Montgomery County, “Second Census For Kentucky” based on tax lists
- This “Second Census for
Kentucky” was not based on an enumeration of residents but was a
gathering of county tax lists or those assessed property taxes and
this census did not show age categories for citizens. After
Montgomery County, Kentucky was formed March, 1797, James Scott and
John Scott, sons of Robert Scott, reached the age of 21. They became
tax payers in 1804 and were recorded as adjacent to one another in
some tax listings between 1804 through 1809 and they paid taxes on the
same date.[54]
When Robert Scott's daughter,
Margaret, married Thomas Ferrell on January 4, 1804, the marriage bond
[55] explicitly said, "Margaret
Scott, daughter of Robert Scott of Clark County, Kentucky." Robert
issued an affidavit saying that "he could not come out to see the
county clerk", James Bullock, "and he hoped that he would give
Margaret and Thomas Ferrell lawful and sufficient license for
marriage." James Scott, Robert's son, gave deposition that the
affidavit naming Margaret Scott, daughter of Robert Scott of Clark
County, Kentucky was a writing of Robert's act and deed. In the
winter of 1804, Robert Scott was unable to travel to Winchester,
Kentucky, Clark County Courthouse for his daughter's marriage. In
1804, Robert Scott had Clark County, Kentucky resident status; but,
most of his land had been reclassified as property in Montgomery
County, Kentucky.
Thomas Ferral was listed in the
1800 Clark County, “Second Census for Kentucky, based on tax
lists. On July 16, 1806, Thomas and Margaret (Scott) Ferral first paid
property taxes to Montgomery County and they resided in Aaron Hall’s
District. Aaron Hall was a Montgomery County Tax Commissioner.
Robert Scott and his sons, John and James Scott, along with Edward
Scott resided in the same district. They paid their taxes on July 15,
1806.
As documented
previously in this paper, Robert Scott, Archelaus Scott, and Edward
Scott, according to the proximity of land purchases and tax lists,
were migrating together from Woodford County, Kentucky into Clark
County, Kentucky where Edward and Robert Scott’s land would become in
1797 the new domain of Montgomery County, established from Clark
County in 1797. Edward Scott’s land would later become in 1811, the
new domain of Bath County, Kentucky, established from Montgomery
County in 1811.[56]
Robert Scott, Archelaus Scott and Edward Scott had purchased Clark
County land in 1795, 1796, and 1797 from Thomas Vivion, son of John
Vivion Sr. The Vivion Family of
Virginia had purchased their land from James French, a wealthy
land owner who came from Virginia. James French called his Kentucky
land a “plantation” in his Kentucky deed transactions. His land was
surveyed and known locally as the Vivion-French domain. Some of that
domain was purchased by Robert, Archelaus, and Edward Scott.
In 1799, Archelaus
Scott paid his last taxation in Clark County, Kentucky and continued
taxation payments in 1800 at Woodford County, Kentucky where he
resided before relocating to Shelby County, Kentucky near Mt. Eden
with his brother, Robert Scott. Robert resided on his original Clark
County land; but, apparently the largest portion of his land was now
in the domain of Montgomery County. Some small part of Robert’s land
evidently remained in Clark County per the affidavit and bond document
upon his daughter, Margaret Scott’s marriage. Following the death of
his wife, Winifred, Robert Scott moved to Shelby County, Kentucky
between 1802 and 1811. Robert Scott not only owned his land in
Montgomery County during this period but he also had some residence in
southeastern Shelby County, near his brother, Archelaus Scott. In
Shelby County, Kentucky, Robert and Archelaus were once again common
landowners in the same proximity. Edward Scott stayed the rest of his
life on his original Clark County land that had been transferred into
the domain of Montgomery and then Bath counties upon their
establishments by the Kentucky legislature.
From 1800 through 1811, Edward and
Robert Scott resided in the same tax district according to the
Montgomery County Taxation Records. Taxation records which Nelson
Scott researched included the microfilm documents that covered the
years 1797-1812 per footnote above and the County Clerk Tax Assessment
Records based on information gathered by the County Commissioners.[57]
The Commissioners submitted their information in books to the County
Clerk. Each book submitted identified tax payers dwelling in
neighborhoods over a certain domain of taxation. The books named the
number of white males in a household who were 21+ in age or between 16
and 21 years of age; the number of black persons over 16 and total
number of black persons; land acreage; number of horses; the quality
of the land was graded with a “1” for low grade; “2” for medium grade;
“3” for high grade; and, the stream or river by which the land was
drained. The microfilm documents sometimes included the name of the
original surveyor and the name of the first land owner. Robert Scott
paid a poll tax on one white male, 21+ in age, and another white male
between 16-21 in age from 1800 thru 1808; from 1809 to 1811, he paid
taxes on 1 white male 21+ in age. The taxation of his sons, James,
John, and Moses Scott corresponded rather well in this time period
when they first reached the age of 21.
The Commissioners Books described
Robert and Edward Scott’s land as being in the same neighborhood. The
microfilm indicated that their land originally belonged to James
French. From 1800 through 1811, their land was drained into Slate
Creek, a meandering waterway from southeast of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
and running through Bath County to Licking River. Robert and Edward
Scott were listed with the Shults-Schultz families, the families from
which Robert Scott’s eldest son, James, would marry Elizabeth Schultz
about 1803, Montgomery County. James Scott newly married first
appeared in the Commissioner’s Book on June 1, 1804, adjacent to his
brother John Scott who also was listed as a property owner, duly
assessed and taxed. James and John Scott in 1804 were assessed on land
that was in the neighborhood of Andrew Swearingin, Montgomery County
Clerk, who did the county wide assessments. From 1800 through 1803,
Robert Scott’s assessed land was typically 300 to 500 acres; but,
after James and John Scott were listed with their assessments
beginning from 1804 through 1809, Robert Scott’s assessed acreage was
zero. In 1810, Robert Scott was assessed 100 acres on Slate Creek.
Robert and his sons, John and James Scott, were not listed in the
1810 Montgomery County Census, yet in 1810, they were assessed for
property in the county. From 1806 through 1810, Robert Scott was
assessed for 2 black persons who correlated with black persons named
in Robert’s Last Will & Testament. After 1810, Robert Scott was no
longer assessed property in Montgomery County. After 1812, his son,
John Scott, was no longer assessed property. Nelson Scott did not
research taxation records in Montgomery County after 1812. Though
James Scott was not listed in taxation records from 1810-12, James
and Elizabeth Schultz Scott were in the 1820 Montgomery County
Census listed below which corresponded perfectly with the age
categories of their children. So, it is presumed that James Scott was
in Montgomery County from 1812 through 1819. James and Elizabeth
moved about 1827 to Clark County, Indiana. Robert Scott moved from
Montgomery County between 1804 -1811 to Shelby County, Kentucky
following the death of his wife, Winifred (Green) Scott.
In 1811, Edward Scott’s land was
reclassified as belonging to the domain of Bath County, Kentucky.
Edward Scott household, 1810
U.S. census, Montgomery County, Kentucky, page 368, line 4;
National Archives micropublication M252, roll 7: Edward Scott,
3 males, ages 1 to 9; 1 male, age 10 to 15; 2 males, age 16 to 25, 1
male +45 (Edward Scott); 2 females, ages 1 to 9; 2 females, ages
10-15; 1 female, age 26 to 44 (wife).
Edward Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Bath County, Kentucky, Owingsville
Township stamped page 218, line 4; National Archives micropublication
M33, roll 16: Edward Scott, 1 male 45+ (no other persons
listed in his home) but, also on page 218, line 7 was James Scott,
(presumably a son of Edward Scott); 4 males, ages 1 to 9; 2 males,
ages 10 to 15; 1 male, age 26 to 44; 2 females, ages 1 to 9; 1 female,
age 10 to 15; 1 female, age 16 to 25; 1 female, age 26 to 44.
Neighbors were Absalom Hughes; Wm. Stephens; Samuel Patrick; Robert
Pitman; Jonas Fortner; Tim Carrington.
James Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Montgomery County, Kentucky, No
Township Listed, stamped page 604 or unstamped page 115, line 14;
National Archives micropublication M33, roll 25: James Scott
(son of Robert Scott), age 26 to 44, 2 males, ages 1 to 9, 2 males,
ages 10 to 15; Elizabeth, age 26 to 44, 1 female, age 10 - 15, 2
females, ages 1 to 9. A nearby neighbor was Levi Farel, possibly a
relative of James’ brother-in-law, Thomas Ferrell. James and
Elizabeth (Schultz) Scott resided for at least 25 years in Montgomery
County on either his father’s property or perhaps on property owned
by Elizabeth Schultz’s parents/family until they moved about 1827 into
Silver Creek Township, Clark County, Indiana where they were in the
1830 Clark County, Indiana Census.
Montgomery County
lost land when Bath County was formed, February 4, 1811. Edward
Scott’s property was then in the new domain of Bath County along Slate
Creek. Nelson S. Scott presumes that since James Scott’s property
was likely in some of the domain of his father Robert Scott, and since
James Scott’s land stayed in Montgomery County but Edward Scott’s land
was removed to Bath County, then the original land of Edward and
Robert Scott was near the point where Slate Creek flows at the
boundary of Bath and Montgomery counties. Edward Scott’s home was in
Bath County; but, James Scott’s home, the old home place of his
father, was in Montgomery County yet Edward and James Scott resided
near one another!
Edward Scott probably
died between 1820-1830 and was buried in either Montgomery or Bath
County, Kentucky. Nelson Scott has not researched the Edward Scott
family other than the information shared above. Edward’s wife was not
known and no marriage records were researched. It may be pure
coincidence that Edward Scott was in proximity of Archelaus Scott and
Robert Scott because nothing definite has been found to connect Edward
as a precise relative to the two Scott brothers! Scott families were
in early Bath County records after 1812. They had notable Scott names
as Elias Scott, John Scott, James Scott and those persons were not
within Archelaus and Robert Scott’s children. These common Scott names
probably evolved through Edward Scott’s children or grandchildren.
SHELBY COUNTY, KENTUCKY DOCUMENTS ON ROBERT SCOTT
Robert Scott’s Last Will &
Testament and Estate Settlement records and the marriage record of
Robert and Abagail Eliza (Harmon) Hedden in Appendix A were the
most important Shelby County, Kentucky documents.
Robert Scott was not listed in the
1810 Kentucky Census for Montgomery County nor Shelby County. His
land documents were cited only in Shelby County Tax Lists as they were
in Montgomery County Tax Lists, except Robert Scott was listed in
1800 Montgomery County,
“Second Census For Kentucky”
which was based on tax lists.
No deed has been found for Robert Scott’s purchase of his
Shelby County property. But, upon his death, his property was sold
without problems regarding his ownership. Lewis Harmon purchased his
farm and when he resold it, the land was described as noted below.
The Shelby County, Kentucky tax lists from 1811- 1816 named Robert
Scott with zero acres on Quist Creek watercourse where Wm. Harmon’s
land was listed similarly, father of his second wife, Abagail. In the
year 1811, Robert Scott, zero acres, was recorded in the tax list
adjacent to his brother, Archelaus Scott, 160 acres, Beech Creek.[58]
In 1812, Robert married Abagail and was cited in the 1812 tax list
with zero acres. In 1813, a second “Robert Scott” appeared
in the tax list who had married
9 September 1813, Catherine Reddish.[59]
He was the son of Moses Scott, Sr., Pastor of the Beech Creek Baptist
Church, Shelby County, Kentucky. Robert & Catherine (Reddish) Scott’s
property transactions were traced through county tax lists and deeds
so they could be separated from taxations and deeds named for Robert &
Abagail Scott.
From 1817 - 1824, Robert and Abagail Scott’s property taxations
were consistently designated as 140 acres, Beech Creek, and the
taxation records then indicated that his land was
originally surveyed by
Roberts/Purvis. In 1819 and 1820, Robert’s taxation records were
listed adjacent to George Shindler, father of Elizabeth
Shindler, wife of Robert’s son, Moses Scott.[60]
From 1817 - 1824, Robert & Abagail’s
property taxations were typically recorded under the name of Robert
Scott, Sr., and Robert & Catherine Scott’s taxations were recorded
under the name of Robert Scott, Jr. so the tax assessment officials
could distinguish between the two similar names. In 1820 and 1822,
Robert & Abagail Scott paid their property taxes two years in advance
and were not recorded in the tax list for 1821. However, they were
recorded in 1823 even though they had paid in advance in the preceding
year. They were living in 1820 in Jackson Township, Washington
County, Indiana where they were named in the 1820
Washington County Census.
It is believed by this researcher, Nelson S. Scott, that
Robert’s daughter, Mary “Polly” (Scott) Mahurin and her husband,
Samuel, were living on Robert Scott’s Shelby County property per the
1820 Shelby County Census.[61]
In
1824, Abagail Scott was named in the tax list with 140 acres on
Beech Creek with an assessed value of $1,180.00. Adjacent to her
assessment was Doris G. Scott, zero acres. She and Doris G. Scott
were new entries in the tax records. Robert Scott was now deceased
and the property assessment was listed with Abagail Scott and her
step-son, Doris G. Scott.
In
1825, Abagail Scott was again named in the tax list but with zero
acres, $540 assessed valuation. Doris G. Scott was not listed. In
1826, Abagail was not listed because the Estate of Robert Scott,
deceased, was finalized with distribution of its assets including the
land.
[62]
Upon Robert Scott's death, Lewis Harmon purchased Robert’s property
for $205.00 per the Bill
of Sale.[63]
Lewis Harmon lived on this farm until 6 April 1832 when he sold it to
Michael Ritter.[64]
Lewis Harmon’s sale deed for Robert Scott’s old farm indicated that it
was on land which drained into Beech Creek, located at Mahurin’s
Corner. “Mahurin’s Corner” was a reference to Othniel Mahurin’s home
and property who was a witness to Robert Scott’s Last Will and
Testament and Othniel’s son, Samuel Mahurin, had married
[65] Mary (Polly) Scott, daughter of
Robert & Winifred Scott. This researcher has concluded that Robert
Scott’s farm was southeast of Shelbyville and north of Little Mount,
Kentucky near the county border between newly established Spencer
County in 1824 and Shelby County.
Robert Scott also owned 183.25 acres in Indiana.[66]
His Will stipulated that the certificate for the Indiana land be taken
out of his office by son John Scott and sold with the proceeds equally
divided among all the children.[67]
This sale of his Indiana land, however, was not included by his
Executor, Mr. James C. Burnett, in the Settlement of Robert Scott’s
estate at the Shelby County Courthouse on 16 May 1826.[68]
The Executor, James Burnett, could not include Robert’s Indiana
property in the settlement because Robert had specified in his Will
that the patent certificate for the property be given to his son, John
Scott. John Scott would hold the certificate and sell the land when
appropriate for the best interest of Robert Scott's children. Until
at least 1826 when Robert Scott’s Estate Settlement was finalized, his
widow, Abagail, and youngest son, Dorris Green Scott's family resided
on the Indiana land in Section 19, Township 1 South, Range 5 East.
This site is presently in the domain of Greenville Township, Floyd
County, Indiana.
A
narration about Robert Scott’s Indiana settlement is documented in the
following resear
**********************************************************
INDIANA DOCUMENTS ON ROBERT SCOTT
Archelaus and Robert Scott explored
the Northwest Territory (Indiana) and like the pattern in Kentucky,
they purchased their first Indiana land in adjacent sections to one
another.
Robert Scott and his sons, Moses and John Scott, and Robert’s brother,
Archelaus Scott along with his sons, Harmon and David Scott,
journeyed presumably to Indiana around the summer of 1814 or earlier
to explore new land available in the Northwest Territory. This
exploratory trip was not mentioned in family lore but in the
historical records of the Northwest Territory early pioneers were
rarely irresponsible about relocating their families in sites that
were not previously seen and explored, especially agricultural
families like the Scotts. They needed to see the lay of the land,
the springs, the streams, the special forests that opened to tillable
soil that would be more prosperous to their way of life. They took
inventory of mother nature and the most accessible routes, waterways,
and trails. On their exploratory trip to the Northwest Territory,
these Scotts and other friends in Shelby County, Kentucky had two
travel options on their exploratory trips. One option was to travel
over the knobs north of New Albany or the other option was to travel
northward using the Silver Creek Valley along Silver Creek between
Clarksville and New Albany, traveling as far north as present day
Bennettsville, Clark County, Indiana. From Bennettsville, they went
west along the border lands between what would become the Clark and
Floyd Counties boundaries through the high lands south of Borden,
Indiana, traveling as far west as Martinsburg, Indiana along the old
Bear Creek Trail where Washington and Floyd County now intersect.
Bear Creek Trail runs atop the Wilcoxen Cave. The Scotts especially
explored land in southeast Washington County. Back then, this path
contained only Clark and Harrison County domain and newly established
Washington County on January, 1814. Floyd County was not established
until 1819.
The second option explorers followed
was to leave the Ohio River Falls at Clarksville traveling northwest
over the Old Vincennes Trace or Buffalo Trail towards Galena and
Greenville and Palmyra, Indiana. Both the old Bear Creek Trail and
Vincennes Trace/Buffalo Trail came together between Martinsburg and
Palmyra, Indiana. Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs have led descendants to
believe that the Scotts eventually brought their families up the Old
Vincennes Trace, veering north near present-day Floyds Knobs or
present-day Galena to reach north central Floyd County and then going
west into southeast Washington County to the Bear Creek Trail.
Nothing was definite about which option was taken for the exploratory
trip. Both options eventually became a major passage way for pioneers
moving into Washington, Orange, Dubois, Davis, Pike and Knox
(Vincennes, IN) counties. During this exploration trip they
discovered lands which they would soon purchase before their families
would arrive. They probably visited the Jeffersonville Land Office for
additional information on land they had explored and then returned to
Shelby County, Kentucky.
The
migration of Robert Scott and his brother, Archelaus Scott, is
documented below.
Robert Scott household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington
County, Indiana, No Township Listed, stamped page 223 or unstamped
page 327, line 50; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
Robert Scott, age 45 & up; 1 male, age 16 to 25; 1 female under
10; 1 female, age 10 to 15; 1 female, age 26 to 44, wife Abagail. Two
were in agriculture. Robert Scott's only unmarried child, Dorris
Green Scott, was included as the male son, age 16-25. The female
children were not known. This part of the census contained the
earliest Jackson Township residents who dwelled in Section 19,
Township 1 South, Range 5 East and Section 24, Township 1 South, Range
4 East along the Bear Creek Trail near the upper part of the Vincennes
Trace and also contained neighbors in the Martinsburg, Indiana
settlement.
Harmon Scott and David Scott, sons of Archelaus Scott, whose census
records are listed below resided adjacent to Robert Scott on Bear
Creek Trail. Other neighbors to Robert Scott were Moses Harman; Jacob
Harmon; Robert Evans; Jacob Motsinger; Alexander Watts(Watty); George
Short; Susannah Spurgeon.
Harmon Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No
Township Listed, stamped page 224 or unstamped page 328, line 37;
National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
Harmon Scott, age 19 to 25, wife, Margaret (Reasor) Scott, age,
19 to 25; 1 son under 10. Their first born child, James H.
Scott, was born 16 April 1820, so the census correlated precisely for
Harmon and Margaret (Reasor) Scott. This census applied
to old Jackson Township residents
living in Section 24, Township 1 South, Range 4 East. Harmon Scott's
census dwelling was on 80 acres which his father, Archelaus, sold on
December 24, 1822, in Jackson Township, Washington County,
Indiana, West ½ of Southwest ¼ , Section 24, Township 1 South, Range 4
East.[69]
Wesley G. Scott's memoirs clearly
stated that Harmon Scott arrived at Scottsville, Lafayette Township,
Floyd County, Indiana in 1824. After his father sold his Jackson
Township property in 1822, Harmon moved in 1823 to what would become
later the Scottsville settlements where he lived briefly on the land
of his cousins, John Scott or Moses Scott. Harmon Scott also
owned a town lot in Taylorville, Kentucky[70]
through 1826 which at that time was in the domain of Shelby County,
Kentucky. When Spencer County was formed in January, 1824,
Taylorville became the county seat of Spencer County. Harmon paid
taxes on his Taylorville lot in 1825 and 1826. He may have owned
property in Taylorville earlier than 1823 when it was in Shelby
County. On July 19, 1824, Harmon Scott of Spencer County, Kentucky
sold 61 acres in Shelby County near the fork of Crooked Creek for
$61.00 to Ralph Phillips of Huntendon, New Jersey.
[71] The deed indicated that
Phillips sold to Harmon and then Harmon sold it back.
Harmon and wife, Margaret Reasor Scott, obviously returned to Shelby
County, Kentucky following the 1820
Washington County, Census.
While there, his property became Spencer County, Kentucky. His wife,
Margaret Reasor’s family, resided in Little Mount, Spencer County,
where they may have lived for a few years with her family. Harmon
returned to the Scottsville area between 1826 - 1830. He eventually
purchased 76 acres from Wm. McCutchan and wife, 7 September
1831, West ½ of Northwest ¼, Section 30, Township 1 South, Range 6
East.
[72]
David Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No
Township Listed, stamped page 223 or unstamped page 327, line 49;
National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
David Scott, age 19 to 25; wife, age 16to 25, 1 son under 10, 1
daughter under 10. David Scott was the son of Archelaus Scott. This
census correlated perfectly with David’s birth, 1798, and the birth of
his first born children -- Barsheba Scott, born 1819 and
Archelaus Scott, born 20 May 1820.
David Scott’s log cabin was adjacent to his uncle, Robert Scott, in
Section 19, Township 1 South, Range 5 East. David Scott married
[73] Peggy (Margaret) Bunton on
30 October 1817, Washington County, Indiana.
According to Archelaus’ 1810
Shelby County Kentucky
Census, David would be 16
or 17 years old when married
Researchers will also be interested in
a second “Robert Scott” who resided near Martinsburg, Indiana, Jackson
Township, Section 1, and was named in the 1820 Federal Census,
Washington County, Indiana. The second “Robert Scott” has been
listed below because he may be a relative to the brothers, Robert and
Archelaus Scott. There is a possibility that he may be the son of
Archelaus Scott who was named in Wesley G. Scott’s family lore
Robert Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No
Township Listed, stamped page 223 or unstamped page 327, line 8;
National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
(The second named “Robert Scott” in Section 1, near Martinsburg,
Indiana): Robert Scott, age 26 to 44, wife, age 26 to 44, 2 sons
under 10, 1 daughter under 10. This Robert Scott lived north of
Martinsburg, Washington County, Indiana, according to his deed
history.[74]
He married Susannah Urmy, daughter of Jacob Urmy.[75]
Robert Scott died 7 February 1828.[76]
His burial was located in Jackson Township, Scott Graveyard
where his monument stone indicated that he died 1828, age 46, born
1782; his wife, Susannah Urmy Scott was buried next to him and her
monument stone indicated that she died 1830, 34 years old, born 1796.
One other burial stone in the Scott Graveyard was that of Mary
Phillips, died 13 January1839, 66 years old, born 1773.[77
The Scott Graveyard
was located on an old road going east across bottom lands and
connected with the Pekin - Greenville Road which today is known as
Voyles Road. Grace S. Marks wrote: “In 1941, the road east was
virtually discontinued. Frederick Phillips first entered land in
Section 1 and was presumably related to Mary Phillips. Pieces of
decayed wood were scattered about the hillside of the graveyard as
though there must have been an old building there at sometime. A
Dunkard Church was believed to be in this locality or it may have been
the home of the Scotts or Phillips families.”
Susannah Urmy Scott was listed in the
1830 Washington
County Census: 2
males under 5; 2 males 5-9, 3 males 10-14, 1 female 10-14, Susannah
Scott 30-39. She lived near her father Jacob Urmery[78]
who was still alive in 1830 census. Jacob Urmery died August, 1831.
The estate of deceased Robert and deceased Susannah Scott’s probate
records[79]
named their children as follows:
Jeremiah Scott, Nathan Scott, Hester Scott, James Scott, David Scott,
Cyrus Scott, and Washington Scott. Jeremiah Scott and Nathan Scott
being over 14 years of age made their choice of guardian, Jonathan
Urmy, who was the brother of their mother, Susannah Scott. It
is presumed that when Jeremiah and Nathan Scott made their choice of
guardianship that the other children were placed under the care of
Jonathan Urmy, too, though they were not old enough to choose a
guardian. The probate record, however, did not include them by name
as being under Jonathan Urmy’s guardianship.
Jacob Urmy's sons,
Anderson & Jacob Urmy, relocated to Jackson County, Indiana. They
both were in 1840 Jackson County, Salt Creek Township Census,
living near Freetown, Indiana. Jacob Urmery, Jr. resided in Salt
Creek Township near Dorris G. Scott's family, the son of Robert Scott,
brother to Archelaus Scott. According to the 1830 Washington County
census, Dorris G. Scott and Jacob Urmy, Jr. were close neighbors in
the Martinsburg, Indiana settlement and were also close neighbors at
Freetown, Indiana.
In the 1860 Washington County
Census, Jackson Township, Household # 305, James Urmey, 43, born
Virginia; wife Susannah, 45, born Virginia; and all 6 children were
born in Indiana (19 thru 4 years of age). Since the Urmey family came
from Virginia, then Robert Scott and wife Susannah Urmy and her father
Jacob Urmy were all likely residing in Virginia, too. If more
research revealed that the Urmy family migrated from Virginia, it
might direct everyone in the right direction to research the Scott
migration from Virginia to Kentucky. Wesley G. Scott’s memoirs
mentioned that Robert Scott, the brother of Archelaus Scott, came from
Richmond, Virginia before coming to Kentucky. Also, folklore
indicated that Robert Scott once returned temporarily to Virginia for
some unknown reason while living in Kentucky. But, nothing definite
has been found in this researcher’s work to locate documents about
this branch of the Scott family passing through Virginia!
It is ironic that Robert and Susannah
Urmy Scott settled near Martinsburg, Indiana at the same time and in
the same neighborhoods of Archelaus Scott along with his sons, David
and Harmon Scott, and, in the same neighborhood of Archelaus’ brother,
Robert Scott. Robert and Susannah Urmy Scott’s settlement makes
researchers want to presume that he was the mysterious Robert Scott of
Virginia, son of Archelaus, known only from family folklore. That
Robert Scott’s birth in 1782 per the Scott Graveyard and his 1820
Washington County Census correlated well with ages for children born
to Archelaus while residing 1777 - 1792, Fayette County,
District of Kentucky, state of Virginia; and
that Robert Scott came from Virginia
with the Urmy families; and that they settled near one who could be
Robert’s father, Archelaus Scott, are correlated truths which can
support the family lore. Nothing is definite; but it offers a strong
presumption that he was related in some manner to the brothers,
Archelaus and Robert Scott.
Archelus Scott
household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No
Township Listed, stamped page 201 or unstamped page 305, line 4;
National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
Archelus Scott, age 45 + ; wife, Barsheba, age 45 +; 1 male,
age 16 to 18; 1 male, age 16 to 25; 1 female, age 16 to 25; two males
were in agriculture, residing in Washington Township, Washington
County, Indiana, on 320 acres, what is now State Highway 60, about 2
miles southeast of Salem, Indiana.[80]
Archelaus Scott resided next to Alexander Huston, Assistant Marshall,
who was responsible for taking the 1820
Washington County Census.
Other neighbors were: ?? Hattabaugh; Benjamin Hamilton; Richard Day;
Wm. Glasebrook; Wm. McKnight; Robert Lemmon; Shaman Harrad; Wm.
Chambers; John Dunlap; Henry Garnett. At this location, he was not
far from his wife’s family, the James B. Mahorney family. Also, as
mentioned above, Archelaus owned land in Section 24, Township 1 South,
Range 5 East, Jackson Township, Washington County where his sons,
Harmon Scott and David Scott resided, along with his brother, Robert
Scott. See Appendix B for Archelaus Scott’s Northwest
(Indiana) Territory land purchase.
Archelaus Scott was
the first teacher who taught in the first school house erected in
1816, Pierce Township, Washington County, Indiana. It was built in
Section 14, Township 1 North, Range 4 East near where the Motsinger
schoolhouse stood about ¼ mile northwest of Pekin, Indiana near Shorts
corner.[81]
Records of Washington County
Indiana Commissioners have named the following Scott persons:
[82] In the year 1819, Archelaus
Scott, Robert Scott, and James B. Mahorney were ordered by the
Commissioners to serve as jurors throughout the year of 1819; on 8 May
1820, David Scott, Archelaus Scott’s son, was appointed constable for
Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana; in the year 1822,
James Dickson was appointed overseer of the Jeffersonville road
beginning one half mile of the Salem Court House to the middle fork of
Blue River; then Archelaus Scott was appointed overseer of the
Jeffersonville, Indiana road from the middle fork of Blue River to
Archelaus’ lane; then Robert Evans was appointed overseer from
Archelaus’ lane to the Clark County line; on 15 May 1822, David Scott,
Archelaus Scott’s son, was appointed constable for Jackson Township,
Washington County; in January 1823, the commissioners appointed
Archillis Scott as lister for Jackson Township (a title for listing
residents for taxation or voting purposes); on 12 May 1823, the
commissioners reappointed David Scott constable in Jackson Township;
in 1823, the commissioners appointed Archellus Scott to serve on petit
juries for 1823; in 1823, commissioners reappointed Archillus Scott as
Jeffersonville Road overseer as mentioned above; in July 1823,
Robert Scott resigned as Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township,
(presumably he was the elder Robert Scott, spouse, Abagail, and
brother of Archelaus Scott. Presumably, he was not the younger Robert
Scott, wife, Susannah Urmy, who resided in Section 1, Martinsburg,
Indiana.)
Robert and Abagail (Harmon) Scott’s
1820 Washington County Indiana Census was on land that Robert
had purchased (See Appendix B), 183.25 acres, at the
Jeffersonville Land Office, Jeffersonville, Indiana. This land was
located in Section 19, Northwest ¼, Township 1 South, Range 5 East and
later became the present-day property of Floyd County, Indiana. This
researcher, Nelson Scott, did not find any other date for later credit
payments on this land, so Robert Scott paid the total amount for the
land on 10 October 1816. If he made later payments, he probably
completed them by the same time that his brother, Archelaus Scott,
completed his credit purchase, 29 December 1817. Both Robert Scott
and Archelaus Scott had obtained ownership of their land before the
1820 Federal Census. Robert Scott’s ownership of his land was
guaranteed by the fact that he was issued a patent Receipt # 10893 and
that receipt verified ownership and was recorded in the Jeffersonville
Land Office Registry Receipts Books.
Robert’s 1820 census included a
single male whose age category was precisely correct for his son,
Dorris Green Scott. Dorris Green Scott was born about 1801,
Montgomery County, Kentucky married 29 July 1821, Washington County,
Indiana, Nancy Lucas, born 1798, Kentucky.[83]
Nancy Lucas’s parents, Jesse and Mary Lucas, were close neighbors in
1820 to Robert and Abagail Scott on Bear Creek.
Federal Census Records:
Jesse Lucas household, 1820 U.S. census, Washington County,
Indiana, No Township Listed, stamped page 224 or unstamped page 328,
line 32; National Archives micropublication M33, roll 14:
Jesse Lucas, 1 male under 10; 1 male age 10 to 15; 1 male, age 19 to
25; 1 male, age 45+, Jesse himself; 1 female under 10; 1 female age 10
to 15; 2 females, ages 16 to 25 (includes daughter Nancy Lucas);
1 female age 45+, Mary Lucas, 3 in agriculture.
Dorris Scott household, 1830
U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No Township Listed, page
281, line 23; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 31:
1830 Washington County, Indiana: Dorris “G. or C.” Scott
(male, 20-29 age); Nancy Scott, (20-29 age); 2 males, (10-14 age); 1
female, (5-9 age); 1 male and 1 female, (under 5). Note: Neither of
the 2 oldest males in household were Dorris and Nancy's children.
They were born 1816 - 1820 before their marriage. But, all other
children listed in age categories correlated well with this family.
1840 Jackson County, Indiana
Census: Dorris G. Scott,
2 males under 5; 1 male of 5 under 10; 1 male of 10 under 15; 1 male
of 15 under 20; 1 male of 30 under 40; 1 female under 5; 1 female of 5
under 10; 1 female of 10 under 15; 1 female of 40 under 50. 4 persons
employed in agriculture. See Appendix B for the relocation of
Dorris G. Scott into Jackson County, Indiana.
After the death of Dorris G.
Scott’s father, Robert Scott, Dorris and Nancy (Lucas) Scott bought
land in Washington County north of Martinsburg, Indiana about 3 to 4
miles north of the Bear Creek settlement where his father, Robert
Scott, had resided in Section 19. But, there was no deed record
between 1824-1830 for Dorris’ purchase in Washington County, Indiana.
Also, Abagail Scott, widow of deceased Robert Scott, was listed in the
census below. She was residing in the same area of Dorris Green
Scott. But, there was no deed in Washington County for Abagail
Scott’s new location. The 1830 Census record for both Abagail and
Dorris Green Scott has indicated that they were residing near
Martinsburg, Indiana. If they were in Section 19 in 1830, they would
have been recorded in the 1830 Floyd County Census. On 5 January 1828,
the Indiana Legislature removed Sections 19 and 24 from Harrison
County to Floyd County, Indiana.[84]
It is presumed by this researcher, Nelson S. Scott, that Robert
Scott’s land was sold by his son, John Scott, between 1826 - 1830, per
instructions given to John Scott in Robert Scott’s Will; but, no sale
deed has been found in Harrison, Washington, Clark or Floyd counties
per their Recorder Offices.
Abagail Scott household, 1830
U.S. census, Washington County, Indiana, No Township Listed, page
330, line 5; National Archives micropublication M19, roll 31:
Abagail Scott, 1 male of 5 under 10; 1 female of 30 under 40; 1
female of 50 under 60. At this residence, located between the towns
of Martinsburg and Old Pekin, Indiana, Abagail died in April, 1831.[85]
In concluding research on Robert
Scott’s entry on 10 October 1816, 183.25 acres, Northwest, Section 19,
Township 1 South, Range 5 East, this researcher gives accolades to the
New Albany Museum (New Albany, Indiana) for its commissioned research
to obtain the names and locations of the very first Floyd County land
owners. This research of the New Albany Museum has recognized Robert
Scott’s entry as the first settler in Section 19. Section 19 has some
noted history. Geographically, the land is high in altitude and its
watershed is Bear Creek. Bear Creek actually originates in Section 19
where its watershed begins and flows westward through the land of
Robert Scott’s settlement.
Today, the north border of Robert
Scott’s settlement is Washington County, Indiana where Bear Creek Road
is laid along the north border of his settlement. Floyd County,
Indiana is responsible for the maintenance of Bear Creek Road which
serves as an east-west road for connecting State Highway 335 on the
west side with the Voyles Road on the east side. The Voyles Road is a
north-south county road that connects Greenville, Indiana with Pekin,
Indiana in Washington and Floyd County. State Highway 335 is a
north-south highway that connects Greenville, Indiana with Salem,
Indiana, Washington County. State Highway 335 was laid on parts of
Archelaus Scott’s property of 80
acres, West ½ of Southwest ¼ , Section 24, Township 1 South,
Range 4 East. Archelaus sold this land on December 24, 1822. It was
¼ mile south of Bear Creek and ¼ mile southwest of Robert Scott’s land
in Section 19.
*****************************************************
APPENDIX A
Documentation: No records have been found for
Robert Scott and Winifred Green’s marriage. The following documents
were for the marriage of Robert Scott and Abagail Eliza Harmon Hedden:
(1) The Kentucky Historical Society Register, Marriages Shelby
County, Kentucky, Volumes 23 (1925), 24 (1926), and 42 (1944),
a typed list at Frankfort, Kentucky, derived from ministers who
returned information about their officiated marriages. Their entry
said, “Robert Scott, father Hestra, to Eliza Harmon, father, Wm.
Harmon, dated 29 September 1812; (2) Shelby County, Kentucky
Marriage Records (1792-1830), Shelby County Courthouse. The
marriage record at the courthouse said Robert Scott and Abagail
Harmon, dated 30 September 1812; Also a consent document with bond
was posted, 29 September 1812, signed by Robert Scott and William
Harmon giving his mark as her father; on consent bond, Abagail was
first listed as “Abagail Heddy,” and then “Heddy” was scratched over
and “Harmon” was listed above it. Rev. John Mavity of Shelby County,
Kentucky, ordained Christian Church pastor, officiated the wedding.
Rev. John Mavity served in the Indiana Christian Church Conference.
[86] He moved to Washington County
and later to Dubois County, Indiana (3) Undated typescript “Kentucky,
Shelby County Early Marriage Records”, copied from original records at
Shelby County by Mrs. J. N. Cunningham and Mrs. Graham Lawrence,
Kentucky State Historical Society Library, Frankfort.
Documentation: Robert Scott’s Will recorded
in Shelby County, Kentucky Will Book 6 (1824), page 233: Shelby
County Kentucky: August Court 1824. In the name of God, Amen. I
Robert Scott Junior of Shelby County and State of Kentucky being of
sound mind and memory but weak in body and in the 64th year of
my age, calling to mind that it is appointed unto all men to die do
make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form as
follows: First, I give & bequeath to my loving wife Abagail Scott my
bay mare Simon and two cows and two feather beds, furniture, and as
much more of the household and kitchen furniture as she may think is
necessary for her to keep house with. Also, it is my will that my
wife have my negro girl Easter for the term of ten years from the time
of my death to hire her out or keep her in her own employ as she may
think proper. And after the expiration of ten years, it is my will
that the said Easter be sold in my family by some one of my children
purchasing her by agreement or by sale, and the money equally divided
among all my children but she is not to be sold out of the family.
Also it is my desire that the farm that I now live on together with
the balance of my property not given to my wife be sold on a credit of
two years and the money arising there from divided as follows: My son
James Scott to have $20.00; my daughter Margaret Ferrell $40.00; my
daughter Elizabeth Carter $40.00; my son Darras Scott $40.00; my
daughter Polly Mahurin $40.00; and the balance if any to be divided
among all my children. Also I desire that the Certificate for my land
in the State of Indiana be taken out of the office by my son John
Scott and sold and the money equally divided among all my children. I
further make and ordain James C. Burnett, Executor of this my last
Will and Testament. In testimony hereof, I have here unto set my hand
this 13th day of April 1824.
Signed Robert Scott. Witnesses:
James C. Burnett and Othniel Mahurin.
Probate Entry, page 234. Shelby
County August Court 1824. His Will was offered for probate with James
C. Burnett appointed Executor. Probate document was as follows: A
writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Robert Scott
Jen deceased was produced in court whereupon James C. Burnett and
Othneal Mahurin, two of the subscribing witnesses to said writing,
being duly sworn, state that said writing was signed, sealed,
acknowledged and delivered by the said Robert Scott’s signature as “x”
for his last Will and Testament and that they believe that the said
Robert was of sound disposing mind and memory at the time of doing the
same. Which writing is ordered to be recorded and on motion of James
C. Burnett who having taken upon himself the business of the Execution
thereof and having taken the oath required by law and entered into
bond with Othneal Mahurin his security in the penalty of $600.
Conditioned as the law directs probate of said Will is granted him in
due form of Law.
ATT: Ja. L. Whitaker, Ck. S.C.C.
NOTES ABOUT THE WILL: Robert Scott’s Will transcribed by the
court listed him as “Robert Scott Junior” and the Probate record
listed him as “Jen” which may be a court “short-hand” procedure to
distinguish this Robert Scott from another Robert Scott who resided in
Shelby county at this particular time. If this was the point of
“Junior” and “Jen” in the above documents as other researchers have
believed in Court records, then it was not to suggest that his father
was named Robert, too.
Robert Scott's Will identified all children except his son,
Moses Scott, who nevertheless signed a receipt following the Sale and
Settlement of Robert’s estate (see "Estate Settlement" below) which
indicated that Moses, too, received his inheritance. Ethel Faye York,
descendant of this family, saw several receipts among the settlement
papers in the Shelby County Courthouse in the 1970’s and Moses’ name
was recorded in the Executor’s Settlement document submitted to the
court. Robert Scott’s second wife, Abagail, by virtue of this Will
had no title to any of Robert Scott’s land. Robert Scott effectively
removed her from “Dowers Rights” when issuing the Will. Otherwise if
he had died intestate she would have been automatically due 1/3rd of
husband’s property if he failed to “Will” it otherwise. Othniel
Mahurin witnessed Robert Scott’s Will. Robert’s daughter, Polly
(Mary) Scott, married Othniel’s eldest son, Samuel Mahurin.
Documentation: Robert Scott's Estate
Settlement, Bill of Sale, Shelby County, Kentucky Settlement Book 6,
page 248, October Court 1824;
Executors Settlement Book 7, page 140, June Court 1826, Shelby
County, Kentucky.
The Bill of Sale named the following persons who purchased
items from Robert Scott’s estate sale: Abagail Scott; Samuel Mahurin
(husband of his daughter, Mary Polly Scott); Joshua Richardson; James
Gray; John Grafton; Zachariah Terrell; John McAllister; John Mitchell;
Edward Harris; Othniel Mahurin; Elisha Hedden; Henry Tilley; John
Fink; and Lewis Harmon. Lewis Harmon
purchased Robert Scott’s land and buildings for $205.00.
The Executor’s final payments from
the estate’s assets were given as follows: paid $7.72 to John Blevins
for balance due on a note; paid $7.25 to Dr. Nowaid or Noward,
physician, for medical services; paid tax ($2.22) for the year, 1823;
paid $4.00 for some unknown fee; paid $12.00 to John Mitchell for
making the coffin for Robert Scott’s burial; paid $2.00 for whiskey
for the estate sale; paid $2.00 to the appraisers; paid $25.00 to
Executor for personal services; paid $4.00 to the court for fees; paid
$42.50 to Thomas Ferrell for wife’s legacy; paid $50.00 to Samuel
Mahurin for wife’s legacy; paid $54.00 to Dorris Green Scott for his
legacy; paid $54.00 to Joseph Carter for his wife’s legacy; paid
$14.00 to John Scott for his legacy; paid $22.50 to James Scott for
his legacy; paid $14.00 to Moses Scott for his legacy. After making
these payments, the Executor informed the court that he had a balance
of $33.95 ½ cents in the Estate Account for distribution. The balance
was probably distributed among the legatees but no other court
documents were available for that distribution.
Lewis Harmon witnessed several
receipt vouchers in Robert Scott Estate Settlement. He signed a
receipt for money due to Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Robert Scott
and then there was a receipt signed by Joseph Carter, Jr. as receiving
the money from Lewis Harmon.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
APPENDIX B
JEFFERSONVILLE LAND OFFICE: TRACT BOOKS AND
REGISTER OF RECEIPTS(CASH) FROM 1820 TO 1854. I |
