Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/182

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174


NOTES AND QUERIES, [u s. xn. SEPT. 4, 1915.


held out to persons in his situation, and unhappily in M rs Scott's case forms a con- siderable part of the means which she and her family have to rely upon.

I am sure your Lordship would not over- look the petition of a Lady in M 1 ' 8 Scott's calamitous situation, and can only plead the natural & strong interest I am bound to take in an excellent Woman who dis- charged a most difficult and responsible duty through life & in situations of pain & danger during the late American War which few could have struggled with will plead my apology for placing her claim more directly under your Lordship's eye.

I have the honour to be with many apologies for this intrusion

My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient Very humble Servant

WAJLTEB SCOTT. Abbotsford near Melrose

5 March 1824. Right Honble. Lord Palmerston &c. &c. &c.


Memorial of M rs Tho* Scott regarding a Pension.

W.O. 43/20/3270.

Unto the Right Honorable

The Secretary at War.

The Memorial of M rs Elizabeth M c Culloch or Scott, Widow of Thomas Scott, Esquire, late Paymaster of the 70 th Regiment Humbly Sheweth

That the Memorialist's husband having died at Quebec on the 14 th day of February, 1823, leaving two daughters and one son, all in minority and unmarried, and without having had it in his power to make any provision for their support, the Memorialist made the usual application to the War Office to receive from His Majesty's Royal Bounty the pension of an Officer's Widow. The regular documents for authenticating the Memorialist's claim were transmitted to the War Office in a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles M c G-regor of the 70 th Regiment, dated from Quebec the 14 th day of April, 1823; and the Certificate of the Memorialist's marriage, which could only be procured in Scotland, was subsequently transmitted by Alexander M c Culloch, Esquire, of Dumfries, the Memorialist's Brother.

In answer to these applications, the Memorialist was informed, that, till the Regimental accounts were closed and settled no pension would be granted ; and she has


never hitherto been able to ascertain, whether the accounts are so adjusted, or not. The Memorialist has not the slightest reason to believe that her late husband owed any balance to Government, at the time of his death. But even if he did, there can neither be difficulty nor delay in making effectual any claim which the Public may have against him, as his whole intromissions were gua- ranteed by his brother, Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, Baronet, and by Robert M c Cul- loch, Esquire, of the Navy Pay Office, London, the brother of the Memorialist.

As the Memorialist has no means of ascer- taining: when the Regimental accounts may be settled, nor any idea of the obstacles which have, hitherto, prevented their adjustment^ she is induced to make this renewed applica- tion, humbly, but confidently hoping that the Right Honorable The Secretary at War will be pleased to take into considera- tion the circumstances of her family, the

ample security held by Government for her late husband's intromissions, and the hard- ships to which she will be subjected, if she 13 prevented from receiving the pension by the delay to make arrangements, over which she never can have any controul ; and that, having taken these circumstances into consideration, His Lordship will be pleased to recommend her as a suitable object for His Majesty's Royal Bounty.

A favourable answer to this application shall be received by th3 Memorialist with the utmost thankfulness and gratitude. S* Michael Street ]

Dumfries ELIZABETH SCOTT

17 th Feb. 1824 J

[In a letter from Cheltenham, dated 28 April, 1827, Mrs. Scott states that she has been placed on the Pension List.]


Marriage Certificate of Thomas Scott

and Elizabeth McCulloch.

W.O. 43/20/3270.

A[t] Dumfries the fifteenth day of Decem- ber one thousand seven-hundred and ninety- nine years which day Thomas Scot, writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, and Elizabeth M c Culloch, daughter of the deceased David M'cullock of Ardwell, Esq r , were duly pro- claimed in both churches of this parish & thereupon married.

Extracted from the Registers of Dumfries this 28 th June, 1823, bv F. White, Sssn. Clrk & Elder.

I certify, that the above is a true & faithful extract. ALEX SCOT Min r