Walter ScottCopyright January 2001 Robert W. Scott. Walter Scott, a native of Scotland, and resident of Switzerland and Jefferson Counties, lived August 5, 1787-Dec. 7, 1879, according to his tombstone in Caledonia Cemetery. However, according to parish records, he was christened on August 17, 1788 in Yetholm, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, not far from the English border. Walter was the son of William Scott and Christian Stenhouse (Stonehouse), according to the Yetholm christening record. The Scotts had three other children, John, Margaret, and Agnes, all baptized in parishes in Roxborough, not far from the town of Jedburgh. A sketch of Walter's son James in the History of Switzerland County says that Walter was born in Edinburgh. It is possible the family had migrated to the larger town and baptized him in the home parish, but that fact is not proven. The Scotts migrated to southern Indiana in 1818, settling in Switzerland County. Of the four children, John and Agnes permanently settled in Jefferson County, with Margaret and Walter spending most of their lives in Switzerland. Walter purchased 41.25 acres in Switzerland Co. NE 1/4 Section 15 Twp. 4N Range 12E and SE 1/4 Section 10 from Henry Cotton on Jan. 2, 1820. This land is in northern Craig Township. He purchased or patented another 186 acres over the next twenty years. Walter was apparently a store owner who operated in Moorefield in the 1850s (per the History of Switzerland County), although no other details have been ascertained and the censuses do not show him as being a merchant. He married on Apr. 2, 1825 in Switzerland Co., Janet Glenn Jan. 9,1797-Mar. 5, 1864. He married 2nd on Apr. 20, 1865 in Switzerland Co., Agnes Crawford Apr. 4, 1815-June 1886, both wives were from Dalry, Scotland and are buried at the cemetery of the Caledonia Presbyterian Church on the Switzerland-Jefferson County border. Walter's family is listed in the census for Pleasant Twp. 1850-1870. He soon moved to Madison. Walter's will in Jefferson County, (Will Book B p. 425.) written in 1875, leaves Agnes a dwelling on Walnut Street in Madison. Bequests included $25 to son John, $500 to son William and $700 to son Robert, $35 each to the children of deceased son, and one share each to the children of daughter Ann Culbertson. Son James Scott was named executor Children of Walter Scott and Janet Glen
[Written by researchers.]
Switzerland County INGenWeb. |