The Scott family can be traced back to Wayne and Edwards counties, in south eastern Illinois near the Indiana border. Information on the Scott’s listed below come from family history and is cross-referenced to various independent documents for verification. This chapter will focus on four generations of the Illinois Scotts.
JOHN SCOTT SR
Born
Died
John Scott Sr. married Mary Johnson in Willington, CT August 17, 1754. His son John Scott Jr was born in 1759.
JOHN SCOTT JR
Born 08/1759
Died 09/01/1831
John’s exact date of birth is not known but he was baptized August 30, 1759.
According to the State of New York Revolutionary and 1812 war section the Commissioner’s office shows the following:
Revolutionary War pension Claim S.42254 John Scott enlisted in April 1777 and served three years and six months as a private in Captain Hinckley’s Company, Colonel Sherman’s Connecticut Regiment and was in the battle of Monmouth. He would have been 17 years old when he entered the army.
The following is a brief summary of the battle of Monmouth from Totally History found at www.totalhistory.com
June 28, 1778
On the morning of June 28, the American forces launched their attack against the British rear guard. The unorganized attack, under Lee’s command, did not succeed, resulting first in a tactical retreat by several brigades and, later, a general retreat. When the British counterattacked, the retreat turned into a rout.
As Lee’s troops fled back down Monmouth road, they met the main body of the American forces advancing under Washington’s command. Washington relieved Lee of command, rallied the fleeing troops and redeployed them to delay the British forces while the main forces established positions. Once the main American forces were in position, Lee’s remaining troops joined them in their positions.
The British launched an attack against Washington’s troops, focusing on the left wing under the command of Major General Stirling. The battle continued on this front until additional American troops circled around and engaged the right flank of the attacking British troops. With the entrance of the relief troops, the British forces were repelled and retreated.
Next, the British launched a full-blown attack on the right wing. Cornwallis led the attack himself against the division led by Greene. Under heavy fire, the attacking British troops attempted to scale the ravine slope without success. After suffering heavy losses, including several ranking officers, the British retreated back down the slope. While the attack on the right was taking place, the British also attacked the American forward position commanded by Wayne. On their fourth attempt, the British forces finally succeeded in pushing Wayne’s troops back to the main American line.
Following the three skirmishes, both sides continued to fire cannons at each other but the British withdrew to a strong position along the eastern side of the ravine. Before Washington could press the attack, the sun had set and ended the day’s fighting. The next morning, the American troops discovered the British had withdrawn during the night and resumed their march. Washington did not pursue and the British withdrawal to New York continued without further incident.
He was allowed a pension on his application executed April 29, 1918 while a resident of Camillus, Onandaga County, New York. He was 58 years old.
According to the records he referred to his wife in 1820 but not by name. He died September 1, 1831. A number of documents regarding his service and pension are in the Revolutionary War section of this web site.
WILLIAM SCOTT SR.
Born 06/17/1797
Died 12/04/1847
William Scott Sr. was born in Onandagua County, New York, June 7, 1797. He enlisted as a private in Warden’s Company, Swifts New York Infantry May 01, 1814 and appears on the company pay roll and muster on the following dates:
Company pay roll dated November 8 Dates of Service May 01, 1814 – November 8, 1814.
Term of Service 6 months 8 days
Amount of pay $50.06
Company Muster Roll From August 26, 1814 – November 8, 1814. Shows William “Present” and being 120 miles from his residence.
Company Muster Roll – not dated shows William “Present”.
Copies of the aforementioned three listed rolls were received from the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Copies of his war papers are shown in the War of 1812 section of this web site.
William married Jane A. Ewing in 1818. Jane was born February 15, 1800. The marriage produced twelve children.
According to the family bible they were:
Caroline (born 6-14-1821),
Aaron E. (born 4-6-1823,
John J (born 2-2-1825),
William Jr. (born 8-25-1826,
Manerva (born 6-6-1828),
Vivian E. (born 2-25-1830),
Jefferson L.(born 11-22-1831),
James M. (born 11-12-1833),
Francis M. (born 12-19-1835),
Hariet (born 7-1-1838),
Olive (born 5-20-1840),
Alfred (born 10-05-1842).
During the American Civil War several of William’s son’s fought to preserve the union. John J. Scott was a farmer and died November 10,1886. During the war he was a union officer and was decorated for bravery. Jefferson L. Scott served in Company H, 56th Illinois Infantry and died December 5, 1876. Son William also served in the war.
William Scott Sr. died December 4, 1847 and Jane A. (Ewing) Scott died August 31, 1880. Both are buried in the Scottsville Cemetery (Wayne County, Illinois) along with several of their children.
WILLIAM SCOTT JR.
Born 08/25/1826
Died 09/17/1897
William Scott Jr. was a blacksmith by occupation and he married Narcissa Hunt on June 18, 1848. William and Narcissa had seven children. CLICK HERE to see the grave site of William Scott and Narcissa Scott.
Alfred W. (born 10-30-1849),
Laura (born 2-07-1851),
Emma (born 12-19-1853),
Minetta (born 01-14-1856),
Francis Edgar (born 03-09-1858),
Amos (born 04-05-1861),
John (born 01-31-1863).
William served in the civil war and was a Sergeant in Company H, 136th Illinois Infantry. During part of this time it is believed he served with Elias Clark who was also in Company H, 136th Illinois Infantry. Later in life he was a member of the G. A. R. as entitled by his time served in the Union Army.
The connection with the Clark family does not stop there. William’s granddaughter Bertha married Ulla Dio Clark, and granddaughter Grace married Ulla Dio’s brother Alfred Clark who was also in the Civil war.
The connection continues in the late 1900’s with Andrew and Becky Clark’s oldest son being named William Scott Clark.
Narcissa Hunt Scott was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Edmonston Hunt. Narcissa was born on September 27, 1832 in Albion, Illinois. Her father Thomas Merrick Hunt was born on February 2, 1802 and was a native of Kentucky and married Mary in 1824 in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois. Mary was a native of Indiana.
The Scott’s were active in the community and were very active in the Ellery Christian Church (Edwards County, Illinois). The church started in April 1888. William and Narcissa are both listed as being charter members of the church.
William and Narcissa are both buried in the Scottsville cemetery in Wayne County, Illinois. Narcissa (Hunt) Scott died February 17, 1907.
FRANCIS EDGAR (EDWARD) SCOTT
Born 03/09/1857
Died 06/03/1926
Francis Edgar Scott was the fifth child of William and Narcissa and married Elvira Pathena Copeland on February 25, 1876. Francis and Elvira had five children, Bertha (born 04-22-1877), Grace, Floyd, Pholauris and Jane.
As stated above, two of Francis’s daughters married into the Clark family.
Elvira Copeland was born on February 4, 1856 in Leech Township, died on August 20, 1926. At this time little more is known about Francis and Elvira. They are buried in the Albion, Illinois Cemetery.
BERTHA SCOTT
Born 04/22/1877
Died 11/25/1966
Bertha Scott was the eldest of five children of Francis and Elvira Scott. She was born in Scottsville (Wayne County), Illinois. She married Ulla Dio Clark on June 12, 1896 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She died November 25, 1966 outliving all but one of her children. She is buried at the Illinois Masonic Home in Sullivan, Illinois. For further information see the Clark Section.