James Scott (abt. 1758 - abt. 1811)

Born about 6 May 1758 in Virginia Colony [uncertain]

Husband of Nancy (Cassidy) Scott — married Mar 1781 in Kentucky County, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died about 31 Jul 1811 at about age 53 in Adair County, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

James Scott was a Virginia colonist.

James Scott (1758 - 1811)

NOTE: Many of the details of James Scott's life, as given in this profile, are taken from a family history supposedly written in 1895 by James' granddaughter, Paulina (Scott) Provine (1816-1901). Paulina's work has been updated at the "Scott Family" website. No sources are cited. ^[1]

James Scott was born 6 May 1758 in Virginia. He was supposedly of Irish descent, but his parents are unknown. He married Nancy Cassidy in March 1781 in Virginia. Nancy was born 3 May 1758 in Virginia. She was an orphan and was raised in the family of Dr. Rice, who was either a Presbyterian minister or of Seceder faith. ^[1]

After their marriage, James and Nancy lived in Botetourt County, Virginia, where their first three children were born. They belonged to the Locust Bottom Church on Prices Bluff Road a mile south of Glen Wilton. When the family left Botetourt County for South Carolina in about 1784, ^[1] they carried with them a recommendation from their congregation in Virginia which read: ^[2]

Botetourt County, Virginia

The United Congr's of Locust Bottom and Pine Grove

That James Scott and Nancy his wife has liv'd in this plase for several years and has conducted honestly and Inofencively as fare as wee know and also have Been Admitted to Seeling ordnance

Certified by us, W. Davidson, John Poage, Elders

February 1th, 1784

South Carolina

Eight more children were born to James and Nancy in South Carolina. Of their eleven children, all but Samuel survived childhood. ^[1]

There were several James Scotts living in South Carolina at the time of the 1790 and 1800 US censuses. Of these, the family in the Pendleton District appears to be the best match. The 1790 census is an exact fit, assuming that son Samuel had died by that time. (Family members, with their ages, have been added.)

James Scot in the 1790 US Census - Pendleton County, South Carolina: ^[3]

Free White Males 16 and up: 1 (James 32)

Free White Males under 16: 4 (Thomas 8, John 7, Martin 2, William 3 months)

Free White Females: 2 (Nancy 32, Jane 6)

The 1800 US census is a fairly good fit, although the ages of James and Nancy are off by a few years, and two of the seven boys aren't included. The oldest boy, Thomas, may have been living and working on another farm, but it isn't clear why one of the youngest boys wasn't counted.

James Scott in the 1800 US Census - Pendleton, South Carolina: ^[4]

Free White Males

0-9: 2 (Reuben 8, Elijah 5, Stephen 3)

10-15: 2 ([Martin 12, Willliam 10)

16-25: 1 (Thomas 18, John 17)

45 up: 1 (James 42)

Free White Females

0-9: 2 (Sarah 7, Phoebe 1)

10-15: 1 (Jane 16)

45 up: 1 (Nancy 42)

Adair County, Kentucky

Early in the 19th century James and Nancy moved their family to Adair County, Kentucky. On 5 March 1804, James received a grant of 400 acres of land on Harrod's Fork in Adair County. ^[5]

James died in Adair County on 31 July 1811. He was 53 years old. ^[1]

At the time of his death, James was in the process of purchasing 100 acres "on the waters of Harrods Fork" in Adair County. The sale was completed by his heirs two years later. The deed lists the "heirs & representatives of James Scott deceased, late of the County of Adair" as: John Scott, Martin Scott, William D. Scott, Reuben Scott, Sally Scott, Elijah Scott, Stephen Scott and Phebe Scott, all of Adair County; Thomas Scott of Lincoln County; and Jane Ewing and her husband Robert Ewing of Cumberland County. ^[6]

James' heirs are listed again in another deed, from 1822, but this time they also include "Nancy Scott, widow and relict of James Scott, deceased." ^[7]

Children of James and Nancy (Cassidy) Scott: ^[1]

1. Thomas SCOTT, b. 31 Dec 1781
2. John SCOTT, b. 7 Feb 1783; d. 25 Jun 1849; m. Nancy Moore
3. Jane SCOTT, b. 15 Jun 1784; m. Robert Ewing
4. Samuel SCOTT, b. 13 Mar 1786; died in childhood
5. Martin SCOTT, b. 9 Feb 1788; d. 22 Jul 1837; m. Sarah (Sallie) Williams
6. William SCOTT, b. 6 May 1789; d. 29 Jul 1839; m. Sarah Ann Tate
7. Reuben SCOTT, b. 29 Oct 1791; m. Jane Gilmore
8. Sarah SCOTT, b. 14 Jun 1793; d. Apr 1823; m. Francis Rayburn
9. Elijah SCOTT, b. 13 Apr 1795; d. Dec 1882; m. Jane Moore
10. Stephen SCOTT, b. 27 May 1797; m. Margaret Crockett
11. Phebe SCOTT, b. 22 Jan 1799; d. 7 Aug 1868; m. John Moore

Research Notes

It has been proposed that James Scott was the son of Capt. James Scott jr. Although Capt. James Scott had a son named James, it seems doubtful that he was this James. First, the purported father, in his will dated 2 Jan. 1779, makes provisions for the education of his sons, singling out his son James for special mention, but the James of this profile was just a couple of months short of age 21 at the time, and likely would have completed his education by then. Second, a baptism record shows that the purported father was born 8 January 1742 in Stafford County, Virginia, which would meant that he was just 16 years old when this James Scott was born on 6 May 1758. While certainly possible, that seems unusually young for that time and place. No records have been found that connect this James Scott with his purported father, so the profiles should not be linked until there is some positive evidence.

It has been suggested that James Scott was a "Boonesborough Pioneer," an early resident of Fort Boonesborough in Madison County, Kentucky. Although there was a James Scott in Boonesborough in 1780, there doesn't seem to be any evidence to suggest that it was this James Scott. ^{[8] [9]}.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Scott Family: Descendants of James Scott (1758-1811) and Nancy (Cassidy) Scott (1758-1835). Based on a family history originally compiled by Paulina (Scott) Provine in 1895.
2. ↑ Document uploaded to familysearch.org This is a handwritten copy of the original document which is located at the Douglass Historical Museum, in Douglass, Kansas.
3. ↑ 1790 US Census - Pendleton County, South Carolina, page 9, column 2, line 3.
4. ↑ 1800 US Census - Pendleton County, South Carolina, page 18, line 891.
5. ↑ Adair County, Kentucky, Order Book A (1802-1806), page 107. FHL film #008151272, image 81 of 444.
6. ↑ Adair County (Kentucky) Deeds, Book C, page 219. FamilySearch.org (film #8193819, image 134 of 593)
7. ↑ Adair County (Kentucky) Deeds, Book E, page 819-822. FamilySearch.org (film #8151276, image 428 of 830)
8. ↑ French Tipton Papers, Eastern Kentucky University, Archives Library, #126
9. ↑ http://www.geni.com/projects/Boonesborough-Pioneers/701