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ported James Rumsey's efforts to build and sell
his steamboat exclusively in Maryland. WEALTH
DURING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed
value £942.13.4, including 9 slaves and 112 oz.
plate, 1783. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 2 lots in
Salisbury, Somerset County. SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND
DEATH: sold 2 lots in Salisbury, Somerset County,
1778; purchased and patented at least 525 acres
in Dorchester County, plus 1 lot in Cambridge,
Dorchester County, 1780-1792; sold at least 370
acres in Dorchester County and the lot in Cam-
bridge, 1780-1799; given unknown acreage in
Virginia by his father by 1782; inherited 1,475
acres in Kentucky from his father, 1782; inherited
unknown acreage in Virginia from his brother in
1787; purchased 242 acres of confiscated British
property in Dorchester County, 1787; purchased
and then sold 669 acres in Baltimore County and
1 lot with a house and gardens on South Street,
Baltimore Town, 1793-1797; patented ca. 20,000
acres in Allegany County, 1795-1798; purchased
33 acres in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., 1795;
probably purchased 2 acres in Prince George's
County and 120 acres in Montgomery County,
ca. 1798. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on December
25, 1800, in Washington, D.C.; interred Decem-
ber 26 on his farm, "Strawberry Vale," in Vir-
ginia. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, $10,056.10
current money (including 23 slaves, 216 oz. plate,
and 10 shares in the Potomack Bridge Company);
FB, estate overpaid, $918.61. Claims against his
estate included a debt due the estate of Daniel
Dulany, Jr. (1722-1797) for $6,740.68. ADDI-
TIONAL CX)MMENTS: In 1802, President Jefferson
advised Joel Barlow, then consul to Algiers, to
buy Scott's house in Georgetown: "There is a
most lovely seat adjoining this city ..... now for
sale. A superb house, gardens, etc. with thirty or
forty acres of ground. It will be sold under cir-
cumstances of distress and will probably go for
half of what it has cost. It was owned by Gustavus
Scott, who is dead—a bankrupt." LAND: 33 acres
in Washington, D.C.; ca. 242 acres in Dorchester
County; 20,285 acres in Allegany County (of which
18,388 acres were sold for debts and taxes); 1,475
acres on Panther Creek, Kentucky; and an un-
known number of acres in Fairfax, Stafford, Fau-
quier, and Loudon counties, Virginia.
SCOTT, JOHN (?-ca. 1682/83). IMMIGRATED: by
1669/70, as a free adult probably from Sarum,
England. RESIDED: on the Gunpowder River,
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Baltimore County. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION:
literate. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Mr., by
1674. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE, called John Scott
of Sarum, merchant, 1669/70. PUBLIC CAREER.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Baltimore
County, 1676-1682. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION. 300 acres in Baltimore
County. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: by February 17,
1682/83. LAND. 300 acres in Baltimore County.
SCOTT, JOHN (ca. 1727-1790). BORN, on Oc-
tober 10, ca. 1727, in Kent County. NATIVE: third
generation. RESIDED. George Town, Kent County,
by 1756; Chestertown, Kent County, 1760 until
death. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER. Edward
Scott (?-1729), son of Edward Scott (?-1725).
STEPFATHER: Col. Joseph Nicholson (1709-ca.
1787) of Chestertown, a merchant. MOTHER:
Hannah (1708/9-by 1772), daughter of James Smith
(ca. 1683-1760) and wife Sarah Hynson. BROTHER:
Edward (1726-?). HALF BROTHERS: Joseph Nich-
olson, Jr. (?-1786); Benjamin Nicholson (?-1792);
Capt. James Nicholson (ca. 1736-1804), senior
officer in the Continental Navy, 1778-1783; Sam-
uel Nicholson (1743-1811), a captain in the Con-
tinental Navy, 1776-1783; Thomas Nicholson (?-
1783), who married in 1774 Rachel, daughter of
John Ridgely (by 1724-1771); and John Nichol-
son, a captain in the Continental Navy. HALF SIS-
TER: Elizabeth Nicholson, who married Charles
Gordon (?-1787). OTHER KINSHIP: great-uncles,
John Hynson (ca. 1670-1708) and Nathaniel Hyn-
son (?-1721/22); great-grandfather, John Hynson
(?-1705). MARRIED first, Elizabeth, daughter of
James Calder (ca. 1695-1755) and wife Katherine
Murray. Her brothers were James (?-1766);
Alexander. Her sisters were Sarah; Ann. MAR-
RIED second, Mary (?-by 1785). CHILDREN. SONS.
James; John, who married Elizabeth Goodwin,
daughter of Lyde Goodwin (1718-1755) and wife
Pleasance Ridgely Goodwin (1724-1755), and
niece of John Ridgely (by 1724-1771). PRIVATE
CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILI-
ATION: Anglican, Chester Parish, Kent County.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1761;
Esq., by 1784. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: physi-
cian; planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERV-
ICE: Lower House, Kent County, 1784 (Claims).
OTHER STATE OFFICE: naval officer, 8th District,
1785-at least 1789. LOCAL OFFICES: justice, Kent
County, 1777-at least 1780, 1782-1790; justice,
Orphans' Court, Kent County, 1778-at least 1780,
1782-1790; Chester Parish Vestry, Kent County,
718
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