George Scott

Notes:

"The Town & City of Waterbury, Connecticut: from the Aboriginal Period to the Year Eighteen Hundred and Ninety Five&quo
Vol. 1. Chapter XX

THE WILL OF THOMAS SCOTT OF HARTFORD --- THE GIFT-DEED OF EDMUND OF WATERBURY --- JOSEPH SCOTT "KILLED" BY INDIANS AT THE WEST BRANCH ROCKS---HIS GRAVE---HIS SON JOHN ADMITTED AN INHABITANT OF WATERBURY --- JONATHAN SCOTT CAPTURED BY THE INDIAN ENEMY AND TAKEN TO CANADA --- JOHN SCOTT IN CAPTIVITY AMONG THE INDIANS AT CANADA --- HANNAH SCOTT, THE MOST AFFLICTED WOMAN IN NEW ENGLAND --- THE FRONTIER ROAD THROUGH WATERBURY.

The only Waterbury family known to have received personal injuries at the hands of Indians during all the long and bitter years of warfare is that of Edmund Scott.

The Scott family seems to have been somewhat noted for misadventure from the days when Thomas Scott, the ancestor of the family, was chosen in the mid-winter of 1639 to go and examine the country---or, in the words of the record, "to view those parts by Unxus Sepus", because Hartford desired more ample accommodations, and Wethersfield also desired a plantation at Farmington. This Thomas Scott was, I think, the grandfather of Edmund of Waterbury. He died in 1643, while making his Will in the presence of two friends who had been summoned in haste to receive his last words. "John Ewe, by misadventure, was the cause of his death" and paid a fine of five pounds, in consequence of his act whatever it was, to the Court, and the same amount to Thomas Scott's widow.

In present Watertown, there are two Waterbury graves that should be suitably inscribed and kept in perpetual remembrance because of the sufferings endured by their tenants at the hands of Indians; and also because they were the first permanent residents of Wooster-Westbury-Watertown. The graves are those of Jonathan and Hannah (Hawks) Scott. He was a survivor of Indian torture; and she was, probably, the most afflicted woman in all New England, for in 1704, her mother and her brother with his wife and their three children were slain at Deerfield, while her only sister was made a captive and perished on the way to Canada. In 1707 or 1708, within a few miles of her home in Waterbury, her husband's brother was tortured to death. In 1710, her husband was seized in the Waterbury meadows, the thumb of his right hand was cut off, and thus mutilated, he was taken on the long and weary march to Canada, being bound at night to the earth by poles laid across his body, on the ends of which his savage captors slept. He was subject to all the pains and penalties of two full years of captivity before his wife saw him again. Her son John, a lad of eleven years, was taken from her sight forever---it is said, on the same day, by the same cruel foe; and, if the tradition be true, her eldest son Jonathan, then thirteen years of age, was taken also; leaving Mrs. Scott---with her daughter Martha, a child of nine years, and three little boys, Gershom, seven; Eleazer, five; and Daniel, three---to brave life in Waterbury in 1710. Poor Hannah Scott! Her sorrows should keep her in remembrance.

Let us examine the evidence that has been collected regarding Waterbury's one Indian tragedy. Edmund Scott of Waterbury gave to his children nearly all of his property, by a deed of gift, executed June 11, 1690. This deed has been called his will---hence the error that has arisen in regard to the date of his death. In the distribution of his lands, he gave to Joseph, whom he calls his eldest son, his twenty acres in the Great Swamp of Farmington, with its upland, and a four acre lot; to Edmund, beside what was formerly given to him, a lot in the Neck, and a fourth part of his undivided land in Waterbury; to Samuel and Jonathan, his "whole right and title in Farmington, of houseing, home lots, orchards, meadows, and upland". After gifts to his daughters---there was no incentive to a man to leave lands to his married daughters, for they could not hold them---he left to Geroge, David and Robert, his whole property in Waterbury, including all his "movable estate, both quick and dead". This deed tells us why Samuel Scott left Waterbury, giving up his newly built house on Bank street, and his other lands, to his brother Jonathan.

Three years later, Farmington gave to Joseph Scott, the eldest son, "a swamp of 14 or 16 acres, as a soldier's lot, and the same year the town measurer laid out for him two parcels of land in the place called Poland (Bristol). One piece of nineteen and a half acres is described as "abutting southerly on the west branch of the Poland river, and running westerly up the river to a marked white oak tree near the northwest branch of the Poland river, and from the tree a straight line eastwardly to a tree marked on three sides and standing a little east of WattEberry path". The lands thus laid out to Joseph Scott had formerly been granted to John Langdon. Joseph Scott probably went to Bristol to live in the wilderness at this time, for we find the town of Farmington giving to him "a liberty to dwell alone, provided that he faithfully improve his time and behave himself peaceably and honestly towards his [Indian?]

Will of Edmund Scott
Page 116 Name: Edmund Scott, Sen. Location: Waterbury
Invt. œ10-12-16. Taken 16 April, 1691, by Abraham Andrews & Thomas Judd. Invt. in Farmington, œ17-11-06, which is in the Hands of Widow Porter, was taken by John Lee & John Orton. The children of the Deceased Edmund Scott are: Joseph, Edmon, Samuel, George, Jonathan, David, Robert, Elizabeth & Hannah.
Will in the Form of a Deed of Gift, dated 11 June, 1690: This present Writing witnesseth, that I Edmund Scott sen. of Waterbury, in the County of Hartford & Colony of Connecticut, for Good & Lawfull reasons mee moving thereunto, have given, & by these presents doe give, grant, bequeath, bestow upon, alienate and pass over unto my well beloved children as followeth: I give to my son Joseph Scott 20 acres of Land in the West Swamp in Farmington. I give to my son Edmund Scott, besides what I have formerly given him, my Lott in the Neck which adjoins Daniel Porter North & John Brunson South, in Waterbury. I give to Samuel my son, and my son Jonathan Scott, my whole Right & Title in Farmington of Houseing, Barn, Homelotts, Orchards, Meadows and Uplands, with the whole Rights belonging thereunto, both of Lands already divided or undivided, excepting what I have heretofore mentioned as given to my son Joseph, and 2 Divisions of Land in the East Division of Farmington Bounds, butting on Wethersfield Bounds & Hartford Bounds. The Division on the North side of the Path that leads to Hartford I give to my daughter Elizabeth Davis, and after her death to her son John Davis, to him & to his heirs forever. The South Division, that is, south from Hartford Path butting on Wethersfield Bounds, I give to my daughter Hannah Brunson and to her heirs forever. I give to my sons, George Scott, David Scott & Robert Scott, my whole Right and Title in the Township of Waterbury, both of Houseing, Barn, Homelott, 3-Acre Lott, all my Meadows & Upland, divided or undivided, belonging to me, with all the Rights thereunto belonging, except what I have herein given to my son Edmund Scott. I give to my son George Scott, Jonathan Scott, David Scott & Robert Scott, all my Moveable Estate, quick and Dead, both of Stock & Moveables. I the abovesd. Edmund Scott sen. doe by these presents freely, fully and forever remit, release & surrender all my Right, Title, Claim & Interest in all the Premises herein mentioned, to these my Children, to have and to hold from the day of the date hereof forever, & deliver into possession of these my Children, their Executors, Administrators or Assigns, not to make alienation or Sale of any Lands during my Natural life without my Consent, that is, of any of the Lands herein specified. As Witness my Hand.
Witness: Thomas Judd sen., Thomas Judd Jr.
Edmund X Scott sen. Ls.
Acknowledged this 12th of June, 1690, before
Thomas Judd, Commissioner.Court Record, Page 32--3 September, 1691: Invt. Exhibited. The Estate is ordered to be distributed amongst the Children: To the Eldest brother a double portion, œ3-10-00, and to the rest of the Children œ1-15-00.

Collection of probate records from Hartford District, Connecticut between 1635 and 1650

Edward married Hannah Bird in 1643 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Hannah was born in 1623 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 17 Mar 1679 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Ann in 1617. Ann was born in 1600; died on 5 May 1675 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]