Thomas Scott

Sarah "Sally" Ferguson was the daughter of a Scots family living along the Tennessee River north of Chattanooga in 1818 when a young North Carolinian named Thomas Scott, a veteran of the Creek Indian Wars and the War of 1812, who was probably working as a farm laborer in the area, came to her attention. When her father, Robert Ferguson, realized that the relationship was becoming serious, he forbade Sally to see him again. He was probably unimpressed by Thomas's prospects or perhaps it was ethnic/religious differences, small as they may now seem (Highland but Presbyterian Ferguson vs. Lowland and Baptist Scott). In any case, Robert was unwise enough to make the ultimate fatherly threat — Young lady, never darken my door again if you marry this man! Sally decided she wouldn't — darken his door that is — so she eloped and married Tom on October 6, 1818 in Roane County, Tennessee. They lived in Rhea and Giles Counties, Tennessee for short periods before traveling on and settling in Blount County, Alabama by 1830. Tom apparently was familiar with Blount from having passed through the area while in the military. They did well in Blount County. As a veteran, Thomas had rights to claim government land and later also made use of homestead laws to claim additional land. The 1850 census valued their property at $1000, and by 1860 the census indicated they were worth $4400 in real and personal property which were large amounts by the standards of the time and place. Tom farmed the land and Sally raised seven daughters and three sons. In 1869 they donated two acres of land near their house for the Old Siloam Baptist Church and Cemetery. The church building fell into disuse and was removed many years ago but the cemetery remains on private farm land. Sally and Tom as well as many of granddaughter Sarah's other relatives are buried there. Tom died in 1870 and Sally in 1888 at the age of 90. The photograph we have of her was taken in her old age.

Taken from the a Neely family project.

Notes:

• Listed as age 55 in 1850 Alabama census (pretty close). A Patrick Scott has an age of 53 in the same census. {possible/likely brother}
• Married Sarah Ferguson Oct 6, 1818, in Roane Co., TN, by Thomas McMullin, J.P.
• From FindAGrave: Scott was the husband of Sarah "Sallie" Ferguson Scott. They were married 6 Nov 1818 in Roane County, Tennessee. Thomas Scott served in the War of 1812 in Capt. Elihu Milliken's Company, Tennessee Militia. (Note differing reports of marriage month.)
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jun 1 2017, 2:07:54 UTC