Home › Jefferson County › Records › Family › Gedcom / Family Files

Family Files: John Scott

Sun, 01/04/2009 - 3:18pm — Ruth Hoggatt

JOHN SCOTT


By Robert W. Scott
© 1998

John Scott, a Scottish immigrant and farmer, gave his name to the area that became known as Scott's Ridge in Shelby Township, Jefferson Co. He lived 1789/90-3 Oct.1878 (died at age 89 per his tombstone)

John was christened on 11 April 1790 in the parish of Crailing, Roxborough, Scotland, by his parents, William and Christian Stenhouse (a variant is Stonehouse. However, three christening records give the name as Stenhouse) Scott, who were reportedly married in the nearby town of Jedburgh. His siblings were baptized in the parishes of Yetholm and Eckford. All three parishes are located between Jedburgh and the nearby border of the English county of Northumberland.

William and Christian, along with their children, Walter, John, Margaret and Agnes, came to the Scottish settlement in Switzerland and Jefferson Counties in 1818. Walter and Margaret (who m. Donald McKenzie), lived in Switzerland Co. while John and Agnes (who m. William Dow) lived in Jefferson.

John first entered 40 acres in the SE 1/4 Section 30 Twp. 5N Range 12E on 30 Aug. 1822. This land neighbored the farm of his father-in-law Samuel Welch in Shelby Township. John married Samuel's daughter Rebecca Welch on 30 Apr. 1824 in Jefferson Co. 12 Nov. 1804-13 May 1868.

John owned tracts in both Switzerland and Jefferson Co. with most purchases in Jefferson Co. Late in the 1830s, John began a series of purchases that were to give him ownership of hundreds of acres in what came to be called Scott's or Scotch Ridge. This included the 160 acres formerly owned by his father-in-law, which John purchased in 1850. Most of this land was sold to his children during the 1850s and 1860s.

John left a will in Jefferson Co., which named his children. He may have moved to live with a son in his later years as the will (transcription) calls him John Scott of Madison Twp. John, his wife, three siblings and parents are all buried in the Cemetery of the Caledonia Presbyterian Church on the Jefferson-Switzerland Co. border.

Children of John Scott and Rebecca Welch

1. WILLIAM SCOTT 20 June 1825-10 Aug. 1885 He m. 23 March 1848 in Jefferson Co., Mary Culbertson 1825-1914, both buried Caledonia Cem. The family appears 1870 and 1880 in Milton Twp.
2. SAMUEL SCOTT 14 Aug. 1828-4 Mar. 1915 He m. 21 Nov. 1849 Jefferson Co., Sarah Ann McKay 1827-12 Aug. 1899 both buried Caledonia Cem. He lived his entire life on Scott's Ridge.
3. JANE SCOTT 11 June 1830-6 Nov. 1910 She m. 1849 in Switzerland Co. William Culbertson Jr. 16 Dec. 1827-6 Jan. 1913, both buried Caledonia Cem. They lived in Switzerland Co. all their lives.
4. WALTER SCOTT b. 1832/33 He m. Jane, probably Jane Firth. Marriage not on record. The will of Vincent Firth in Jefferson Co., written in May 1873, names daughter, Jane Scott. Firth was a member of the Brushy fork Baptist Church as was Walter's brother, Samuel Scott. Walter lived in Madison from at least 1864 to 1880.
5. JOHN W. SCOTT 3 June 1834-17 Aug. 1900 He m. 12 March 1857 in Switzerland Co., Sarah Ann Protzman 25 Aug. 1838-25 Apr. 1900, both buried Springdale Cem. They lived 1860 and 1870 in Craig Twp., Switzerland Co., 1880 in Madison Twp. He owned land in the Ryker's Ridge area. He was a merchant who had a dry goods business in Madison.
6. JAMES H. SCOTT 25 Nov. 1837-13 Nov. 1883 He m. 20 Apr. 1863 in Switzerland Co., Caroline Charlton 17 June 1844-17 Aug. 1945, both buried Bayless Cem.
7. CHRISTIANA SCOTT b. 1840/41 She m. 24 Oct. 1864 Jefferson Co., John Gray. She was deceased by 1878 per her father's will, but she probably died before 1870.
8. MARY SCOTT 1844-1923 She m. 1864 in Jefferson Co., John Crawford 1842-1921, both buried Caledonia Cem. They lived 1870 in Milton Twp., 1880 in Shelby Twp.;1920 Madison Twp.
9. DAVID SCOTT May 1847-1905 He m. 13 Apr. 1869 in Jefferson Co., Margaret Rush, who died 1915, both buried in Ryker's Ridge Cem.

Secondary sources include The History of Switzerland Co.; records of C.R. Voris (transcribed by Mary Hill); Primary sources include Parish records of Scotland transcribed the Church of the Latter Day Saints; Will of John Scott; Switzerland and Jefferson Co., deeds and probate records. U.S. census records; personal visits to area cemeteries.