Rev Alexander Scott
painting by Siegfried Detlen Bendixen in 1840
Young
Alexander
Alexander John Scott was born
on the 23rd July 1768 at Rotherhith.
His parents were Lt Robert
Scott, a retired Royal Navy Officer on half pay and Jane Scott nee
Comyn
As a dowry Jane received a
small estate at Prince Rupert's Bay in the island of Dominica in the
West Indies.
Alexander was only two years
old when his father visited the estate in Dominica but in a double
blow to the family on Robert's arrival found that the estate was
virtually worthless and he contracted a tropical disease from which
he died.
Jane Scott was left with
Alexander and two
daughters in lodgings at Gosport in very difficult financial circumstances.
Fortunately Roberts’s brother Alexander, who was a sloop commander
in the navy, stepped in with support for the family although this in
turn put a strain on his finances.
In 1772 Uncle Alexander was
posted to the West Indies in the sloop HMS Lynx and he took his
nephew Alexander with him even though he was only four years of age.
Uncle Alexander was stationed in the West
Indies for four years during which young Alexander stayed at the
home of Sir Ralph Payne who was Governor of the Leeward Islands.
Education
On the return to the UK of
both Alexander Scott's the young Alexander, by then 8 years of age,
was sent to boarding school at Alton. Through the contacts of Sir
Ralph Payne he soon left Alton to board at Charterhouse.
Contact with his mother and
sisters was limited with most of his holidays spent with Uncle
Alexander or Sir Ralph Payne's London House.
By consequence of his
schooling as holidays he became acquainted with many people of
comparative rank that was well above that expected for a boy from a
poor family.
From Charterhouse Young
Alexander entered University life at St John's College, Cambridge
which he found difficult as St John's followed a mathematical
direction while Alexander's interests lay in the arts. Being used to
the standards of his more wealthy friends Alexander lived above his
means and began to run up debts.
On obtaining his degree in 1791 he faced a
financial crisis as his Uncle Alexander refused to provide any more
financial support and Alexander's had run up debts whilst at
University.
Naval Chaplain
The need to secure a financial
future was immediate and as a result Alexander was ordained on 30
November 1791 by the Bishop of Chicester and Deacon Scott became a
Curate in Sussex and the following year was ordained as a Priest.
The earnings as a curate was
still not sufficient to pay the debts from University and accepted
the offer from Sir John Collins to become the Chaplain on the 74 gun
HMS Berwick when it left to join the Mediterranean fleet in 1793.
Quiet days in the
Mediterranean and Scott's natural flair for language led to his
acquisition of fluent Italian, Spanish, German and French.
The other major event was a meeting with
Captain Horatio Nelson on HMS Agamemnon which brought about an
immediate friendship.
Chaplain to Admiral Parker
Admiral Sir Hyde Parker
In 1795 Scott became
Chaplin and secretary to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker in the 98 gun St
George
By now Alexander had paid off
his debts and was even able to provide some financial support for
his mother, His Uncle Alexander had risen to the rank of Rear
Admiral and he had developed influential friends in the Royal Navy.
The future for 27 year old Rev Scott looked secure.
In 1796 Admiral Parker was
appointed C in C of the West Indies and departed in HMS Queen taking
Rev Scott with his as Chaplain.
The West Indies Squadron saw frequent action and took many Spanish Prizes.
The resultant prize money saw Rev Scott financially secure for the
first time in his life.
A difficult incident then took
place that greatly influenced Scott. Some of the sailors in HMS
Hermione took part in a mutiny and were sentenced to death at court
martial.
As the only chaplain available
Scott was required to attend to the condemned men. In several
meetings he grew to like the men and was upset by the waste of life.
At their hanging he was unable to watch describing the event as one
of the most awful in his life.
As a consequence of service
Scott was given the Benefice of St Johns a large inland parish of
Jamaica.
In 1801 Admiral Parker
transferred his flag to HMS London leading a fleet to the Baltic.
Once again Scott was Chaplain/ Secretary
and now officially the translator. Scott added Russian and Danish to
his growing list of languages and played an important role in the
diplomacy of the mission.
Chaplain to Admiral Duckworth
On his return in 1801 Scott
travelled to Jamaica to take up his living at St Johns.
On his arrival the new CIC
West Indies Admiral Duckworth appointed Scott as chaplain of
Leviathan.
Whilst on station he was able
to perform a mission on behalf of the Admiral that saw him meet
Pauline Bonaparte on the island of St Domingo but on his return in
July 1802 suffered serious injury when he was struck by lighting and
paralysed.
During the slow recovery he received the
bad news that the living of St Johns had been removed by the
Governor due to his absence but good news in
that on the 18th August 1802 the Governors of Charterhouse had
granted him the Living of Southminster in response to a petition
from Nelson.
Chaplain to Nelson
By December 1802 although
still weak he was considered well enough to return to England and
take up his living.
Once again illness struck and
Scott was unable to travel to Southminster being confined to bed in
London.
Nelson visited him frequently
and Scott agreed to serve as Chaplain to Nelson if required.
In May 1803 when Scott was
nearing the end of his convalescence War was declared with France
and Nelson was sent to the Mediterranean.
Scott made his way to join up
with Nelson on HMS Victory off the cost of Italy. Scott was involved
in delicate negotiations and intelligence gathering with the Queen
of Naples and local dignitaries in Sardinia and Spain making use of
his bilingual skills.
It was June 1805 before Scott
and Nelson returned to England for three months leave before the
enemy fleet once again became a threat and Victory was readied for
anther voyage.
Battle of Trafalgar
Rev
Alexander Scott is rubbing Nelsons chest in the 1807 portrait by
Arthur William Devis
On 21 October 1805 the enemy
fleet was sighted off Cape Trafalgar and soon afterwards battle was
joined.
In battle Rev Scott's position
was to remain in the cockpit and comfort the injured.
The battle was so fierce with
so many horrific injuries that in later years Rev Scott never talked
about the injured apart from the one observation " It was like the
butchers shambles"
His daughter confirmed that
years afterwards he suffered nightmares from the incidents that he
witnessed.
Scott left the cockpit for
some air and as he arrived on the quarterdeck Nelson himself was hit
and carried to the Cockpit.
Nelson was in great pain but
survived for a further three hours during which Scott gave him
lemonade and massaged his body.
Nelson knew that he way dying
and discussed private matters that he wished Scott to carry out as
well as suggesting courses of action for the battle in between
prayers.
After 3 and a half hours
Nelson grew weaker and Scott heard him say " God and my country"
before he closed his eyes for the last time.
Scott took charge of Nelson's
body on it's journey to London and kept vigil every night for a week
while the body lay in state before the funeral.
Nelson remembered his good Friend Scott
with a legacy of £200 in his will.
Marriage and the Living at Southminster
Scott was then involved in the
politics surrounding Nelsons death including a dispute with Nelsons
brother , Cambridge University , Canterbury Cathedral and the
Admiralty.
Despite support from Nelsons
friends including Lady Hamilton who wrote in friendship with strong
supporting words " I know full well how he valued you and what he
would have done for you" Scott underwent a frustrating time.
He went to Southminster to
take up his living but he did not like the climate or the duties and
returned to London in the hope that one of his powerful friends
would provide a better opportunity.
Over the years Scott had
remained in tough with the Ryder family who he had met whilst at
Charterhouse and in 1803 paid a visit to the house. He was charmed
to meet Mary Frances Ryder who was not born until 1789 well after
Scott had known the Ryder's.
Despite their age difference -
Alexander was 35 and Mary just 17 there was an immediate attraction
between the pair. After Trafalgar he visited the Ryder's regularly
and the attraction developed. When Scott formally declared his
interest the Ryder's objected given his age, ill health and
unsettled prospects.
Mary was pressured to reject Scott's suit
but she refused and reluctantly the Ryder's agreed to the marriage
that took place on 9 July 1807.
Scotts
home in Burnham-on-Crouch
Scott immediately returned to
the living at Southminster moving into the Vicarage at Church Road,
Burnham on Crouch which was available as the Curacy of Burnham was
included with the living at Southminster.
Financial troubles returned
with the money accumulated in the navy having gone and the income
limited to half pay from the navy and income from the living.
The couple lived a happy but
frugal life and in April 1808 Horatia Scott was born.
Scott tried for several better
livings but none materialised despite efforts on his behalf by old
friends.
In 1809 illness returned for
another few months although this was followed in 1809 by the birth
of another daughter called Margaret which was followed in 1810 by
the birth of a son who was tragically killed when 4 months old by
his nurse who accidently overlaid him.
Margaret went on to gain fame
in her own right by becoming a well known writer and artist as Margaret
Gatty who's life is described on other pages of this site
Following the birth of her son
Mary was in a weak condition and she died on 20 September 1811
which was her 26th birthday.
Scott was badly affected by
grief which was followed by intensive activity in the parishes of Southminster and Burnham on Crouch.
Scott fought local opposition
and lobbied the Governors of Charterhouse so effectively that they
agreed to provide £350 to finance the building of a school house at
Southminster.
The school room for 150 boys
was opened on 1 January 1814 and was such a success that within a
few weeks 124 boys attended the school which represented every boy
in the village.
He followed this by more
fundraising to supplement a further grant of £100 from Charterhouse
that allowed the opening of a school for girls in the village.
Both schools have now been
demolished to make way for a modern school.
He then turned his attention
to the existing school in Burnham becoming a trustee and increasing
the rental from assets by over £50 per year
Scott preached a high church at a time
when attendance at Church was falling. His obvious zeal, education
of children, impressive delivery of sermons and general good works
brought many of the previous dissenters back into the church
Freemason
Scott was a committed
freemason, probably joining during his initial service in the West
Indies.
The mutual bond with
another prominent freemason, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, may have
influenced his initial appointment but there is also little doubt
that once appointed, his skill and personality would then ensure his
progression.
Once installed at
Burnham Vicarage, Scott was instrumental in the formation of the Fortitude
Lodge at Burnham on Crouch in 1809 and he later held the office
of Essex Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
Catterick
In 1816 he was finally offered
a better living at Catterick and decided to take up the offer.
His Parishioners at Burnham on
Crouch were so upset at his leaving that they presented him with a
large silver salver to mark his 12 years of service to the parish as
curate.
Scott was appointed as a Royal
Chaplain in ordinary although tin practice this did little to change
his circumstances.
Lord Chamberlain's-Office, November 1G, 1816.
The
Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household has been pleased to
appoint the Reverend Alexander John Scott, DD, Vicar of
Southminster, in the county of Essex, to be one of His Majesty's
Chaplains in Ordinary, in the room of The Reverend Thomas D'Oyley,
deceased.
The Vicarage was dilapidated
and as the previous incumbent had died
insolvent the responsibility for repairs passed to Rev Scott.
Rev Scott became engrossed in
studies with books lining every room and most of his hours were
passed in reading or exploring the nearby roman remains at
Catterick.
By that time he had become
a striking figure with a full head of white hair and a direct
manner.
Scott still made occasional
visits to London and to his old Parish at Southminster and so when
his daughter announced her wedding he journeyed to prepare the
vicarage at Southminster for use by his daughter and son in law
after their wedding despite being to unwell to actually carry out
the work.
The effort proved too much and he taken ill again and became quite
emancipated and had to be helped back to Catterick by his daughter
Margaret.
During the night of 24 July
1840 Scott died at the age of 72 and a remarkable life ended.
On 31 July 1840 he was buried at
Ecclesfield Churchyard where his son in law was vicar.
Memorial
As befitted a man for whom
books meant so much his daughter Mary and her husband Alfred Gatty
collated his papers and wrote a sketch of his remarkable life
Recollections of the life of the Rev. A. J. Scott by
A and M Gatty (1842)
Traces of Rev Scott still to
be seen
St Leonard's Church,
Southminster
a large sundial that Rev Scott
erected is still to be found at the South Wall
The Church was greatly
enlarged by Rev Scott in 1819 with transepts, chancel and sanctuary
added
Nelson relics at the church include a gilt
framed mirror and a cast iron fireplace in the vestry and a large
table that is reputed to have come from the wardroom of the victory.
Whilst the mirror and fireplace arrived in the time of Rev Scott the
table has been dated at 1820 which would put it beyond the time of
Nelsons death and although Scott still held the living of
Southminster at this time he was by then living in Catterick and
paying occasional visits to Southminster.
St Marys Church , Burnham on Crouch
A tablet has been erected in
memory of Rev Scott and his family
Burnham on Crouch Vicarage
The vicarage is called the Old
Vicarage and is found on Southminster Road at the Parish Boundaries
near to Mangapps
Burnham on Crouch School
The old school has now been converted
flats called St Mary's House in High Street. The Landmark Clock
tower is attached to the old buildings
Scott's Letters to Lady Hamilton
In 1846 an editor called
Thomas Andrew Evans published original letters that had been sent or
received by Nelson or Lady Hamilton.
These include the below letter
from Scott to Lady Hamilton in which he describes some of his life
and expectations at Burnham and exonerates himself for
responsibility in an anonymous campaign against Nelson.
Burnham Vicarage
near Southminster Essex
Oct 22nd 1806
my dear Lady Hamilton!!!
It
was my intention always to spend this day & yesterday in
London & under that idea supposing we should soon meet I did not
write to you—my dear Lady Hamilton I am settled here, having no
house of my own at Southminster I have undertaken the additional
duty of Burnham, which gives me a good house and five acres of land
with a garden besides —I have already got a Cow, a horse, a Cat & a
dog—I have furnished two bed rooms & 2 sitting rooms but the house
is big enough for a large family—my establishment consists of a
man & his wife who do everything for me I bake at home and make my
own Milk etc etc. in short for the first time in my life I am
enjoying all the Comforts Agonies and miseries of housekeeping—I am
employed every day both Parishes being populous, but on Sunday I
preach three Sermons besides Churchings and Christenings which
abound here—some of my furniture is of the best & if I remain I
shall improve my establishment by degrees—I am situated about ten
miles from South End but there is a Ferry to cross—I understand
however carriages usually pass it—as yet I have not had time to go
there myself—the Country here at this season is miserable beyond
description & most dreadfully unhealthy but it is delightful I’m the
Summer Months and very healthy.
My
dear Lady Hamilton I will be with you on the 29th without fail kiss
Horatia for me & tell her so—I prepare myself for remaining here my
books are placed to the tune of eleven thousand and odd volumes & to
say the truth I am not uncomfortable—if ministry notice me I shall
not mind my expense in settling at this place & if they do not, it
is lucky I have fixed myself—What I most earnestly desire is a stall
at St. Pauls—unfortunately it is worth more than Canterbury, but
the esprit de calcul does not enter my brain in this case—You dear
Lady Hamilton will believe me although the World would not—What is
thought of for you ? I repeat it you cannot be forgotten—but you
tell me nothing of your prospects—most truly I can say as fast as
the memory of dear Lord Nelson evaporates from the minds of others
it sinks deeper in that of mine, in which I know you join me—God
bless you my dear Lady Hamilton remember me to Horatia Miss
O'Connor—Miss Bolton & all the young Fry—Kiss Mrs. Cadogan for me
very heartily
I
hope Earl Nelson does not continue to hint at my being the author of
newspaper paragraphs, which I have understood he some time ago did
altho' I solemnly denied to him I should he do so I may be able to
shew from a comparison of the hand writings that some of the many
foolish things in the Papers were put in by the Writer of the
Anonymous letter sent against me to Mr Fuller & this writer I can
easily ascertain at the Admiralty altho' I have refrained from doing
it not liking to repel injury with his complete ruin in the service
whoever he may be—Pray tell Earl Nelson it was impossible for me to
write such things but very consonant with the disposition of a
writer of anonymous letters because by such means he might make
himself of consequence to someone who might have interest to serve
him—I beg pardon for stumbling on this old story—but I respect too
much the name of Nelson to remain liable to such suspicion—The man
who has regularly called on Earl Nelson tho' treated by him with
indignity, on account of the name he bears, & who will always treat
him with respect on account of that name, is incapable of such acts
of basdesse—Again I say il Ciel vi benedica sempre dal cuore—Your
attached servant
A J
SCOTT
