Scott Family Stories

Back in 2006, I began to fulfill a wish I had for a very long time; to research the Scott Family history. This wish... or perhaps better described as a "hope" had begun many years previously as I'd listen to my father, and his own desire to confirm some of the stories and history that had been related to him.

In 2007, I had some time while I waited for a business partner at the time, to finish up some project that she promised would probably make us rich. That never happened and it turned out she was working on making herself rich. For me though, I did become rich in a way - rich in more of the family lore, solving some mysteries, and enjoying the detective work which still continues to this day.

My youngest son was 4 years old when I began in earnest and it was partly for him, for his older brothers, and for my own interest that I threw a lot of my heart and soul into learning more about our family, trying to locate relatives I had no idea about (I was successful in that regard), and to be able to pass on to my children the knowledge of the heritage that was theirs.

In 2007, I became very fascinated with one of our ancestors, a Captain Alexander Grieg. I think he could be the basis of new historical novels - but there are many that have their own stories. I think they should be told. I hope to tell as many of them as I can; perhaps some with my own ideas and imaginings of what life must have been like for them.

I'll add content to this section as I can - and likely randomly, while trying to focus on all the individuals - or as many as I can - that make up what our Scotts have become in the 21st century.

It is not just about Scotts though. There are Baileys, Moores, McDowells, Stephens, Griegs of course, Swans, Moores, McCleerys, Woudstras, and many more.

Of course, my sister and my brother's children will have their own additions of names to this list. I mean no disrespect for not including them - but perhaps they can add their own stories with this resource to build their own lines of heritage as well.

Most of my focus will be on the paternal/maternal line of the Scott Family through my father John Alexander Scott (1935-2001) but I will add information and stories of others as I become aware of them, or as motivated to write.

I am indebted to Richard Telford-Baillie who has graciously provided much information on the Bailey/Moore side of my dad's family, and to my Aunt Grace and Uncle Murray Stephen who did extensive research on my maternal family tree, the Stephens/Mathiesons et al.

One of the really "cool" things is that I also have had access to old photos - how many can say they have a photo that includes their great X3 grandfather? Also, a Family Bible that has been passed down from my great X2 grandfather to me - not as an owner, but rather as a caretaker of information and family heritage.

It fascinates me to think of my Great X2 Grandfather and the fact that he began a record of births and deaths in a Family Bible. This Family Bible may have been a gift from his father - and so the fact it has gone through now 5, and possibly 6 generations if it was his father's gift, is something that fills me with some awe and wonder.

I wonder what those grandfathers had hoped for, by keeping a record that they could pass on to the next generation - did they have any thoughts that almost 200 years later, it would still exist and some would be thankful for it? Did they themselves want a record of their own life and existence for their descendants?

I like to think that they must have wanted that; why else to begin such a record? Perhaps they had their own records as well, that no longer exist.  We don't know. We do know we have what we have, and it was started in the 19th century - there is something amazing about seeing your ancestors writing in ink on paper with records of births, marriages and deaths.

In 2007, I wrote some very general posts included in this list below, and now I will focus on more specific information along with the documentation  I have found to support the my claims that they are family ancestors. In some cases, I am not totally sure, and will explain why, when I write about the individuals.