Bridget (O'Connor) Scott (abt. 1870)

Wife of William Patrick Scott — married 1890 in Victoria, Australia

Descendants

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Biography

Wm SCOTT married Bridt OCONNOR in 1890 in Victoria. ^[1]

An Unhappy Couple— Separation Granted:

William Scott, on summons for persistent cruelty to his wife, Bridget Scott, who asked for a separation order, pleaded not guilty.

The evidence showed that the parries had been married over ten years and had lived at Doodlekine since 1897. The complainaut said that in Juiy of that year defendant dragged her about by the hair and beat her. Once when he was roofing the house and she failed to properly smoke away the mosquitoes, he came down and beat her with a stick. Every month up to when she left him two years ago he beat- her. She left and went into service aud was away 12 months. On her return they had a row and he beat her, amd she left again and went to her sister at Kalgoorlie for six months. After her return he heat her pretty nearly every month ; he had kicked her, punched her in the head, nearly choked her, and pulled her by the hair. On the 7th January he complained that some fowls in her charge had eaten his grape vines. He then cut the heads off six of the fowls. She went to tell the owner of the fowls and he followed her and broke three sticks on her. He then tried to burn her clothes, and he beat her for an hour. The next day he was lying down and she called him to do some household duty, when he got up and knocked Iter down with a stick. Blood flowed from her head and she became insensible. Since then he threatened to strike her with a pick-handle, and with a tomahawk, saying he would murder her. Witness produced a doctor's certificate, dated 13th January, stating that she was badly bruised on the arm, forearm, breast and knee, and had a wound and bruise on the head. These injuries, said witness, were caused by her husband.

Cross-examined : The fowls were not ours ; they belonged to Mrs. Smith.

John Scott, a ten-year-old son of the parties, said his father was in the habit of beating his mother with a stick and otherwise. It had been going on for three months. The last time was last week. " He beats her," said the witness " because the place and the tucker are not clean." It is the way always. He complains, mother calls him bad names, and then he beats her. The place is nearly always dirty and the food is uncooked or overcooked.

Cross-examined: On Monday, the 6th, I came home with you; there was no quarrel, and the place was dirty and the children too ; you were angry but said nothing. You slept outside. On Tuesday, after dinner, you asked mother to clean the house ; you told me to kill the fowls. Mother wanted to interfere and you told her not too. She called you all the bad names. She took her jacket and some money and ran towards the station. One of the twins was screaming. You followed her. Next day Andy and I were sent to get wood, and she said, " That's right Jack, let the w-— lie down on his back, and you do the work." You took a whip-handle and went to hit her on the shoulders, she moved and it hit her head. lt was three-quarters of an inch thick, and had a piece of strap like a thick bootlace on it. I heard mother boast of having knocked you down with a piece of firewood. She said, "I'm glad I knocked the old b— — down. I didn't think I had that much in me." She said of your father that he was [evidence unpublishable] She said that your brother and sister were all [unpublishable] like you. A year ago she called you a rotten b- . She said that when you went to Perth you were unfaithful to her. She only said this twice. She accused you of infidelity with a woman at Menzies. We boarded there five days. She is an old woman. She only said these things to vex you, and when she was bad tempered. Mother was the cause of all the quarrels. She has refused to wash herself until you have threatened her, or sent one of us boys for a stick. She has refused to clean the children or cook the tucker. She and a man named M — used to sit outside until 10 o'clock. She warned me not ' to tell you that he came to the house. When you were away last Sunday Mr. M : — came to the house. Mother was showing him the marks on her knees. She was lifting up her clothes. She told him she was going to clear out.

Andy Scott, nine years of age, said : Only once or twice father has beaten mother. After she went away, and had been back a good while, father beat her. Sometimes he complained that the house was dirty. He used not, as a rule, to grumble about the food. She used to growl at him. I think he beat her on Wednesday. He gave her a couple of hits with a stick.

Cross-examined : On Monday night you complained that the floor was not swept; you shifted your bed outside. There was not much quarrelling on Monday night. Mother was in a good temper, I reckon you were kind to me when I was a little boy. Mother was away from the house three times. Mother provokes you. She don't, as a rule, make the porridge or do what you ask her. She used to give us our tucker as late as 10 or 11 o'clock at night. She put us outside while M was there; I went to bed or was put to bed when M was in the house. She never said I was not to tell you about M — "

The defendant admitted that he had been crueL " probably very cruel," to his wife, but said that he had had great provocation.

The K.H. suggested that he should consent to an order, as it was evident that they could not live together. He said " We can rub along, as we have done for nearly 11 years; it's only the beginning of the hot weatfier that she becomes bad tempered. Defendant subsequently offered to let complainant live in the house and keep his four children, provided she kept them property, and he would leave her the stores there, amounting to between £20 and £30 worth, and give her £8 a month, provided he could see the children now and then. He would also provide wood and water. The complainant said she could not live with him, and indignantly refused the offer.

The R. M. then directed the defendant to proceed with his case, but beyond admitting the cruelty, and reiterating his excuse of provocation, defendant had no defence to offer. He said he had worked hard, with never a drink or a smoke, for the good of this family.

After another attempt at a compromise, during which complainant said the place wasn't fit to live in, and she wanted to take the children where they could be educated, the R.M. made an order for sopavap, the wife to have the custody of the two youngest children ; the defendant to pay 30s. per week for their support. No costs were allowed. Northam Police Court. (1902, January 18). The Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), p. 3.

William Scott was summoned for cruelty to his wife Bridget Scott, who sought a separation order. An order had been obtained in January last, whereby the complainant was to have the custody of her two youngest children, and 30s. a week for their maintenance. She said she had gone back to get her clothes but had not been allowed to leave. A lot of evidence was given by complainant, Sergt. Smyth, Jno. Geo. Levit, Gilbert Robert Barr, and John Scott (aged 11), at the conclusion of which the R.M. said it was evident that the parties could not live together. A separation, order was made, the wife to have the custody of the two youngest children. The defendant to have access to them at all reasonable times, and to pay 20s. per week for their support and also pay the costs. The first payment 10s, od. (to be made on 1st December) to include 10s. of the costs, and thereafter fortnightly payments with proportion of costs until paid thereafter £2 per fortnight. In default of 1st payment 14 days. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24. (1902, November 26). The Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), p. 3.

Northam Police Court. — (Before Mr. W. D. Cowan, R.M.)

An application was made by William Scott, of Doodlakine to annul an order made by the R.M. on May 29th, whereby the Applicant was ordered to pay to his wife the sum of 15s weekly for maintenance of herself and child. The application was dismissed, the order to stand for the present. Applicant to pay costs amounting to £1 3s 6d. Northam Police Court. (1908, September 2). The Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), p. 3.

OCTOBER 9 (Before 5Iessrs. S. Solomon and H. V. Cox, J's P.).

Bridget Scott applied to the Court to have an order which was made against her husband, William Scott varied, so that she should have the custody of the children. Mr. Kidson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr F. E. Bateman for the defendant. The case was adjourned until 15th inst. Northam Police Court. (1908, October 14). The Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), p. 2.

Bridget was in Doodlakine writing for news of her son on 27 Oct 1915. See son's military records

In 1925 and 1931 Edmond James Scott farmer, Margaret Mary Scott, and Bridget Mary Scott dressmaker, resided in Doodlakine. ^[2]

In 1936,1937, 1943 Edmond James Scott farmer, Margaret Mary Scott, James Allan Scott, Mary Rosa Scott, and Bridget Mary Scott dressmaker, resided in Doodlakine. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ VIC marriage 5488/1890
2. ↑ Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 for Edmond James Scott, Western Australia 1925 Swan Northam
3. ↑ Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 for Edmond James Scott, Western Australia 1937 Swan Northam