James Scott

Was a Captain of the militia and in 1775 served on the town committee of inspection; in 1777 on the committee to provide for the families of soldiers. He presumably built the Olmstead Scott house, another early Scott dwelling. On the grounds north of the house, British troops encamped for lunch on their retreat from Danbury of April 27, 1777, and it was on this site that General Wooster surprised them, resulting in the first skirmish of the battle of Ridgefield. Cows belonging to the several Scott families and others were butchered and roasted in the lot north of this house. The dwelling is at the corner of Barlow Mountain Road and North Salem Road. On Barlow Mountain Road may still be seen the foundation of a treadmill that was operated by a pair of oxen in the making of flour for the Scott families. ("Fullers, Sissons, and Scotts," by Carol Clark.)