Beverly Scott’s Family Story

My grandfather, John Howard Scott, was born in 1840 in Vermillion County, Indiana to Paul Scott and Rebecca Swan Scott, (married in 1836, Vermillion County Indiana).  His sister Harriett Scott was two years older.  His father, Paul Scott, died when he about 4 years old.  Rebecca died in the poor house in 1885.  Sister Harriett married William Kimberly and moved to Illinois.   She died in 1868. 

John Howard has stated that he was raised by his uncle, William Swan, a well-known river boat captain.  He is listed as a farm laborer working for Bill Swan in the 1860 census.  He married Harriet Foncannon in January 1864 and enlisted in the Union army in February that same year.  He was discharged in September and re-enlisted the following February.  He was mustered out in September of 1865.

He and Harriet moved to Illinois in 1870 and then on to Texas.  In November of 1878 he deserted Harriet with 5 children and a 6^th on the way.  We think he worked cattle drives, on a ranch and in a mine.  He shows up in Wyoming by 1890 under a different name, Harvey Depew Scott.  In 1892, he married by grandmother, Eva Ellen Russell, 30 years younger than he and had another 5 children, Harold, Homer, Harvey, Henry Clay and Lydia.  His fourth son was my father.  Harvey Depew (John Howard) died in 1911 in Tucumcari, NM

I have been unable to find documented information about Paul Scott, John Howard’s father.  However, The Clover family history on Ancestry.com reports the will of John Scott, Sr. dated 13, August, 1847 lists Paul Scott as one of his heirs.  Also listed is Rebecca Scott as the widow of Paul Scott.  This information connects Paul to John Scott Sr but we do not know exactly what the relationship is.  I have not yet found any connection between John Scott Sr, born in Lycoming, PA about 1780 and Paul Scott. 

The Clover page also states that the relationship between this Indiana John Scott is not a proven relation to John Scott the husband of Mary Clover from Lycoming, PA.  This information suggests that a John Scott came to Lycoming County Pennsylvania in 1802 and married a daughter of Paul Clover.

In looking at the Scott Warwick Family Tree I have also identified Samuel Scott, born about 1775 in Pennsylvania as a brother of the above John Scott born about 1780 in PA.  This family tree identifies the father of John and Samuel as John Scott.  Samuel is also mentioned in the estate records mentioned above. But I can find no evidence that ties this John and Samuel Scott to Indiana.  

NOTE:  Beverly Scott and I (Tom Scott) have no proven family connection.  Our 37 marker DNA differs by only 2 steps, which means that we share a direct male ancestor in the last few hundred years.