Exhaustive research by David Scott of Australia has produced
an intriguing background to James Scott's life. James died
aged 60 in 1834, giving us an approximate birth year of
1774. Notes by two of his sons relate that James' father
owned property in the American colony of Virginia. Thus, it
is generally presumed James was born there. His father is
said to have been a Captain in the British Militia, but it
is not clear whether he held this rank while living in
Virginia, or was retired at the time of the outbreak of the
American War of Independence in 1775. However, the notes are
emphatic that James escaped some time during the conflict
with the posibility that his parents died during that
period. Exactly how a toddler escaped the conflict is not
clear. We don't know who took him away from America, but he
ended up joining the Royal Navy. This can only have been
around 1786, when he turned 12. The first positive mention
of his naval career, is that "he was in 13 actions, and 3
general engagements, notably under Lord Howe". We may
presume he was with Lord Howe during the build up to, and
during the famous Battle of the First of June. This took
place in 1794, and could, possibly, account for the 3
general engagements. However, Lord Howe was involved in no
actions between 1786 and 1794, when James could have been
present, nor after 1794, until Howe's death in 1799. His
subsequent career is on record. Oct 1796, HMS Incendiary,
clerk?, aged 22 * Nov 1796, HMS Firm, Purser, aged 22 *
Sep 1797, HMS Virginie, Purser, aged 23 * Jan 1805, HMS
Wassanaer, Purser, aged 31 * Jan 1805, HMS Danato, Purser,
aged 31 * Oct 1807, HMS Venerable, Purser, aged 33 * Jul
1810, HMS Asia, Purser, aged 36 * Apr 1814, HMS Princess of
Orange, Purser, aged 40 * from 1815 until 1831, no ship
listed * Mar 1831, HMS Talavera, Supernumery Purser, aged 57
* Jun 1833 until Jul 1834, HMS Ocean, Purser. He died
aboard Ocean, she was at Sheerness at the time.
Most of the ships mentioned were either prison ships, or
coal hulks. There was hardly any recorded action in the
remainder, yet James amassed a fortune during his service
in the Navy. So much so, that he was able to purchase a
considerable tract of oak-forested land in the Gillingham
area. Although it is expected he gained his wealth from
prize money, the ships he served in lacked the sort of
action to generate prize money. I can only presume he
inherited his wealth, perhaps from his father's estate once
claims had been settled subsequent to the termination of the
hostilities in America. Nevertheless, he had most of the
oak forests removed, and established an estate he named
'Burnt Oak'.
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