Descendants of Archibald Scott

John married Elizabeth Armour, daughter of Thomas Armour and Unknown, in 1750 in Greenock, Renfrew.

+ 4 M i. Archibald Scott was born on 4 Oct 1751 and died about 1818 about age 67.

Fourth Generation

Archibald married Elizabeth Munro, daughter of James Munro and Elizabeth Love, on 31 Aug 1771 in Greenock, Renfrew. Elizabeth was born on 27 Mar 1747.

Fifth Generation

James married Mary McKinlay, daughter of Alexander McKinlay and Elizabeth Campbell, on 9 Aug 1800. Mary was born on 19 Sep 1782 in Greenock, Renfrew.

+ 6 M i. Captain Edward Scott was born on 13 Jun 1816 and died on 17 Mar 1889 in Clyde Ho. Greenock at age 72.

9 M iv. Alexander Mckinlay Scott was born on 30 Aug 1806 in Greenock, Renfrew.

James next married Elizabeth Thomson, daughter of Archibald Thomson and Elizabeth Bain, on 11 May 1822 in Greenock, Renfrew. Elizabeth was born on 12 Jul 1798 in Glasgow and died on 6 Feb 1879 in 10 Woodside Terr. Glasgow at age 80.

16 M i. Thomas Scott was born on 7 Jan 1825 in Greenock, Renfrew and died at Sea.

17 M ii. William Scott was born on 23 Aug 1827 in Greenock, Renfrew and died in Australia.

+ 18 F iii. Marion Scott was born in 1823 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 16 Sep 1864 in Glasgow at age 41.

+ 19 F iv. Margaret Ann Scott was born on 2 Nov 1830 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 28 Aug 1881 in Millearn at age 50.

20 F v. Agnes Scott was born on 18 Jul 1833 in Greenock, Renfrew and died in Scotchman's Valley, New Zealand.

Sixth Generation

6. Captain Edward Scott was born on 13 Jun 1816 and died on 17 Mar 1889 in Clyde Ho. Greenock at age 72.

General Notes: Inscription on the barrel of a telescope in the possession of Donald Scott of Dumbarton
'Presented by her Majesty's Government
to
Captain Edward Scott Master of the
Steamer "John Bell" of Glasgow in
Acknowledgement of his humanity and kindness
to the survivors of the crew of the
"John Silver" of Halifax whom he rescued from
their shipwrecked vessel on 27th of October 1861'

NOTES OF EVENTS
in the life of
CAPTAIN EDWARD SCOTT
of Greenock,
and his
EXPERIENCES WITH GARIBALDI

Greenock:
Printed at the Advertiser Office,
1876.

HONOURS TO A TOWNSMAN
______ 0 ______

(From Greenock Advertiser, Tuesday, Jan.18, 1876.)
______ 0 ______

Our townsman, Captain Edward Scott, has received the decoration of the Order of the Crown of Italy from the Government of that country, in recognition of his services to the cause of Italian independence. Captain Scott had many hair-breadth escapes during his services with Garibaldi, having on several occasions been under heavy fire while transporting 9000 troops during the Italian campaign. The following is a copy of the patent which accompanies the decoration:-
H.M. Victor Emmmanuel I, by the Grace of God. and the will of the nation King of Italy, has signed the following decree:-
On the motion of our Minister the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, we have appointed and do appoint Edward Scott a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy, with the privilege of wearing the decorations proper to such knightly rank.
The Chancellor of the Order is charged with the execution of the present decree which will likewise be recorded in the Registry of the Order.
Given at the Royal Castle of St. Anne, on the 29th day of August, 1875.
Signed VICTORIA EMANUELE
Countersigned VICOUNT VENOSTA
Witnessed,COVA, Vice-Chancellor
The Chancellor of the Order of the Crown of Italy declares that, in pursuance of the above august royal intentions, the aforesaid Mr. Edward Scott has been entered on the Roll of Knights (foreign), and that he therefore forwards the present document to the recipient of the dignity.

For the Chancellor of the Order,
COVA,
The Master of the Household St. Arghinenti.
Turin, the 19th September, 1875.

Having been urged. by a number of my friends - who know that I have served with that great and good man General Garibaldi: the mention of whose name alone stirs up in the bosom all that is chivalrous and noble in our natures - to give them a few more stirring events of my life, I do so with considerable reluctance.
When a mere boy, I had always a very strong desire for a life of adventure, and my first adventures were with the sea and ships; and before I ever went to sea, through my venturous spirit, I was nearly drowned at three different periods, but nothing on earth, it would appear, could daunt me or prevent my going to sea. My dear, kind father tried all he could to prevent my going, but at last I sailed off for Jamaica, in one of the best ships belonging to the Clyde.
Nothing of any note occurred during my apprenticeship until I was appointed chief officer in the company, and during the time I was in that capacity, under God, I was the means of saving three souls from being lost, one in mid ocean and the other two in Jamaica; one I brought up from the bottom of a river. On my first voyage as master, my ship was nearly waterlogged, the crew knocked off duty, and would do nothing unless I would bear up for a port, which I would not consent to; but after being below for many days, and, seeing my determination, they at last gave way, and we arrived safely at our destination. When at sea, on another voyage, a boat was lowered into the water, full of men, and when she was a little way off one of the oars went through the bottom, when she filled. I ordered a rope to be thrown; when we got her alongside I dared any of them, at their peril, to leave the boat until they had hooked on the tackles, and had that order not been carried out many would have lost their lives. A few years afterwards I got command of a steamer, and traded to the Mediterranean, where I saw and learned enough to rouse the feelings of any man who had a spark of humanity lodging in his breast, when he saw how the poor Italians were trodden upon by those high in authority at that period; but where are they now who dared to prevent the Word of the living and true God to enter their land? Many copies of His Blessed word have we been obliged to smuggle in to their poor, benighted country. Can we wonder at the brave, the noble, and the generous Garibaldi, yearning and bleeding, at his heart's deep core, for the time when God would lead him on to the battles of freedom, truth and righteousness, and hoist his standard for all to rally around him and aid him in his glorious work? I saw his banner waving in the breeze, and my heart leaped for joy, and I hastened to his side with 1500 brave and gallant men resolved to die by their leader's side rather than return to slavery. A few years before I joined the General, I was engaged to go in search of the abandoned ship Arthur, which was abandoned at sea. I succeeded in finding her, and towed her into Port Glasgow - a feat never accomplished before or since.
Two years after my services with the General, I had the misfortune of losing my propeller, rudder, and after sternpost, when, near the Banks of Newfoundland in December. The next day one of the company's steamers came up, when I sent my passengers on board, but, to my surprise, my crew demanded to be sent likewise; they refused to obey my orders, stating that the ship would never reach home, but I dared a man to put his foot over the side, for I had resolved never to abandon the ship, but, with God's help, to take her safe home. Whilst the other steamer was by us they would do nothing, but when I ran up my signals for the steamer to abandon me, which the Captain soon did, the men afterwards went to work, and, with God's help, we safely arrived at Queenstown.
On several voyages afterwards, I have been the means, under God, of rescuing four ships' crews - three in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and one off the Irish coast - and I have also supplied several ships at sea with provisions; and I have now in my possession many valuable testimonials presented to me by Her Majesty's Government for saving my fellow creatures from a watery grave, but a thousand testimonials shall never send to my heart the joy that I felt when I saw these poor fellows safe on board my ship. Many have been my hairbreadth escapes, as will be seen when I state that, after rescuing one crew and. coming alongside of our own ship, the boat was smashed and every one thrown into the water, but, with God's help, all was saved. At another period, when bound for Portland, the ship was making so much water that the pumps choked in the stockhole, and the fires getting extinguished, firemen and. engineers were deserting their post, when I dared them to do so at their peril, and by firmness and perseverance we got the pumps cleared, and, with God's help, the ship and crew were saved.
I have also saved different persons on the Clyde from drowning. I served in the Anchor Line for a number of years, and latterly I have commanded one of the Allan Line steamers for many years.

A GREENOCK CAPTAIN'S EXPERIENCES WITH GARIBALDI
(From the Greenock Advertiser 25th August, 1860.)
Our townsman, Captain Edward Scott, who commanded the steamer City of Aberdeen, lately purchased by Garibaldi, has just returned to town, and has kindly favoured us with an account of the doings of that vessel while acting as a chartered transport in the service of the liberator of Italy.
The City of Aberdeen sailed from Liverpool in June 1860 for Genoa, where she was at once engaged by Garibaldi's committee for the transport of troops from that port to Palermo. As the open embarkation of soldiers for Garibaldi was not countenanced by the Sardinian Government, they had to be taken on board at night, and after dusk of the day on which the vessel was chartered Captain Scott began to embark a large band of volunteers. They came on board in boats in the best spirits, shouting “Vive Garibaldi”, and singing national and warlike songs, while from the vast crowd congregated on the shore pealed a loud farewell. The embarkation was completed safely before morning, although during a heavy gale gale of wind; and when all assembled on deck it was found that the volunteers numbered about 1400. They were a motley group, clad in all varieties of the costume of Northern Italy, and comprising every class of society, from the noble to the peasant. Along with them were embarked the wife and family of Orsini, one of Garibaldi's ministers, and his brother, whose pale features and. attenuated frame spoke in language stronger than words of the ten years imprisonment in a Neapolitan dungeon, from which he had recently been liberated.
The City of Aberdeen sailed next morning for Palermo, but Captain Scott had hardly got to sea when he found that he had a most refractory set to deal with. The volunteers took possession of the vessel, so that the seamen were unable to work her, and Captain Scott, finding that the officers had no authority or control whatever, threatened to return to Genoa if order was not restored. This having no effect, the helm was starboarded, and the steamer turned towards her port of departure. The result was magical. The idea of being unable to join Garibaldi had such an effect upon the volunteers, that they implored Captain Scott to continue his voyage to Palermo, promising implicit obedience to his orders. The captain consented, and. up to their arrival at Sicily the promise was not broken by a volunteer on board., One evening during the run, a steamer, supposed to be a Neapolitan cruiser, hove in sight, and steered in the City of Aberdeen's track. Her lights were seen during the night, but at last they disappeared, and at morning she was invisible.
After two days' sailing the steamer arrived at Palermo, where the troops were safely disembarked at midnight. Next morning Captain Scott dined at the Palace with Garibaldi, who gave him a hearty welcome, saying that he commanded the first English vessel which had entered his service, and that he was happy at last at receiving assistance from England. Two days afterwards Captain Scott received an intimation that Garibaldi intended to visit his vessel next morning at five o'clock. The hands were turned up at four a.m., and preparations made for the reception of the General, who at the appointed hour appeared upon the Mole with a brilliant staff, and put off to the ship, where he was greeted with three hearty cheers, courteously acknowledged. He was accompanied by an American officer, who acted as interpreter, as Garibaldi speaks English indifferently. The General, after welcoming Captain Scott to Sicily, and walking the deck for some time, sent the officer to Captain Scott to ask when he would. be ready for sea? “In two hours” was the reply. On this being communicated to Garibaldi he went into the cabin and wrote several despatches which were sent on shore, and in an hour and a half his troops were descried marching down the mole, with bands playing, and in readiness to embark. Shortly afterwards a steamer with volunteers entered the port, and her cargo was also transferred to the deck of the City of Aberdeen, which got under way immediately. The excitement of the vast crowd collected to witness the departure of the expedition was indescribable.
The destination of the steamer was unknown to her commander, but shortly after leaving he was sent for by Garibaldi, who pointed out on the chart the port of Patti, 15 miles from Melazzo (the object of the expedition), and stated that he wished Captain Scott to land them about 10 pm, so that the steamer might be able to return to Palermo for more troops during the night, and. thus avoid the Neapolitan cruisers. They- arrived at Patti about the time indicated, and disembarked. Garibaldi expressed his great satisfaction with the rapidity with which Captain Scott had. got ready for sea on such short notice, and presented him with one of the red shirts which have become matter of history as forming the feature of the Garibaldian uniform.
The instructions of the General to Captain Scott were to return to Palermo and embark 1500 additional troops, to bring them close to Melazzo, but to keep clear of the guns of the castle. On arriving close to Melazzo Captain Scott saw Garibaldi's flag floating on the fort, but suspecting that all was not right he kept out of range and landed the troops about three miles from Garibaldi's camp. He then found that in hoisting Garibaldi's flag the Neapolitans had tried a ruse to draw him within shot of the fort.
At this time the Garibaldian steamer 'Veloce' (now Turkeri) had become disabled through an accident to her machinery, and was lying in Melazzo harbour, and the City of Aberdeen was ordered round to take her out and tow her to Palermo for repair. When close to the fort it opened fire upon the steamer, which, being unarmed, was accordingly obliged to desist from the attempt. One shot almost took off my cap. Shortly afterwards a boat was seen to leave the shore, and, on coming alongside, Garibaldi ran up the steamer's ladder, and said in his broken English, “Ah, Captain Scott, they were not firing at your vessel, but at your shirt,” alluding to his present which Captain Scott was wearing, and which caused the Neapolitans to suppose that it was Garibaldi who was on board. He then ordered the steamer to return to Palermo for more men.
On her arrival all the English crew left, and Captain Scott was obliged to ship Sicilians, with whom he left for the Faro, towing a transport loaded with soldiers, horses, and ammunition. When reconnoitering the Point of Faro for a place to land, two Neapolitan war steamers hove in sight. Here was a dilemma! The City of Aberdeen had not a single gun, and before the muskets of the troops on board could take effect she might be blown out of the water. A desperate expedient, and one only justifiable in the circumstances, was adopted. She steamed at full speed. towards the nearest cruiser intending to board her, when, to the astonishment of all on board, both Neapolitans turned tail in the direction of Messina, and the City of Aberdeen ran close to the land and began to disembark her living cargo. While she was doing this a large Neapolitan frigate steamed. up the strait and lay to within range of the steamer, but never opened fire, and when the disembarkation was completed the City of Aberdeen, in getting under way, was drifted by the tide towards the Neapolitan. The latter beat to quarters, and Captain Scott thought she was about to open fire, but instead of sending the old City to the bottom, as she could easily have done, she steamed towards Messina. Captain Scott followed until the frigate was close upon that port when he suddenly altered his course for Palermo, where he arrived without mishap.
When ashore at Faro he found Garibaldi seated under the bow of a fishing boat to ward off the heat, and had an interview which resulted in the purchase of the steamer, and the termination of his service under the gallant General, who, during the term of the charter, repeatedly and warmly expressed his thorough satisfaction with the manner in which Captain Scott had performed the dangerous and highly responsible duties with which he was entrusted. After leaving the steamer I returned home, in the hopes of getting another steamer to return to Garibaldi, but did not succeed in finding a suitable one until the war was about ended, to my deep regret.
By God's wonderful care over me, I am still in the land of the living, and to Him alone I ascribe all the praise and all the glory.

In 1875 he was created Knight of the order of the Crown of Italy for assisting Garibaldi.

A letter of thanks from Florence Nightingale to him for rescuing nurses in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was burned in the Stocken's fire in Devizes ca 1955

At dusk on the 8th of August the first expedition commanded by the brave Misori was due to depart from Faro and set out to land on the coast of Calibria. From there it was to head for the heights of Aspromonte in that country’s interior where partisan locals were standing by to join the liberating force.
The crossing was, however, highly dangerous. Whilst the Royal family dearly hoped that the Franco-Piedmontese forces would be able to prevent Garibaldi crossing over to the mainland, they had nonetheless taken extensive precautions to strengthen Calabria’s defence. 12.000 men, deployed along the coast between Reggio and Palmi, formed a cordon against the sea to the west; another 12,000 men under General Vial stood by in the vicinity of Monteleone, and further to the north the 5,000 men of the Caldarelli brigade were deployed around Cosenza. A further 15,000 were deployed on the eastern coast and 50,000 more throughout the province of Napoli. Finally, a number of warships patrolled the sea between Sicily and the mainland.
On the evening of the 8th August four steam-powered transport ships – the ‘City of Aberdeen’, the ‘Oregon’, the ‘Franklin’ and the ‘Washington’ – accompanied by some 300 small boats, lay ready to set sail in the harbour at Faro. Garibaldi had set up his HQ onboard the ‘City of Aberdeen’.
Major Ott, onboard the same ship, tells us: “It’s 8 o’clock, and the sun is already beginning to set – we are getting some rain too. Troops marching can be heard all along the coast. The sky is darkened by extensive cloud cover. The moment to move is soon. Various troop chiefs and naval officers arrive on board in hushed silence to receive orders from Garibaldi. Afterwards, they discreetly row their gondolas back to where they came from. The smaller vessels now begin to move; orders are communicated down through the ranks amongst much whispering and, at 9 o’clock, we see 34 boats – all packed full with men – silently glide past the ‘Aberdeen’.
All one can hear are the rhythmical strokes of the gondoliers and one of the English crew wishing ‘Good Luck’ in hushed tones, answered by a ‘Bonne Chance’ from the gondolas. The sea is relatively calm. This initial taskforce, at most some 530 men strong, head for the middle one of the three forts at Scylla, Torre Cavallo and Alta Fiumara along the Calabrian coast. Soon, we could make out nothing further of the boats in the darkness. After an hour and a half we could at last see a fast-burning light – almost like a shooting star – followed by a larger fire. ‘We have succeeded,’ noted Garibaldi calmly, ‘they’ve made it ashore without meeting any resistance.’ He lit up his cigar, went up alongside the sentry posted on the upper deck and scanned keenly out to sea. The taskforce had moved so quickly that no Neapolitan ship had managed to intercept them – out to sea, there was nothing but silence. At midnight, the fleet began to stir again, readying to launch the second wave with the main force. From the ‘Aberdeen’ wide rope-ladders, specially prepared for the occasion, are lowered to take onboard its 600 man, fully combat-ready complement. ‘Allegro, allegro, picciotti,’ the Sicilian officers harry their men; ‘piano, piano, ragazzi,’ the Piedmontese superiors whisper…”
During the following nights repeated attempts to complete the crossing were made. Only some 250 men were able to land successfully however – now 11 Neapolitan warships patrolled the coasts, letting their cannon off against Garibaldi’s boats the moment they showed up too close.
On a daily basis Calabrians – representing their villages and towns – showed up in Faro to lobby the dictator [Garibaldi?] to come over and liberate their land. But amongst these were also a number of spies, one of which was arrested as he was about to assassinate Garibaldi - the would-be assassin had been paid 1,000 piastras by the prince of Aquila to carry out the act.
During a period of a few days, Garibaldi disappeared without telling anyone where he had gone. On the 17th of August he reappeared onboard the ‘Washington’ heading up a fleet of 3 more steamers – the ‘Amazone’, the ‘Byzantia’ and the ‘Torino’ – and the frigate ‘Queen of England’, all filled with volunteers of the so-called Bertani expedition. Garibaldi had gone away in order to meet up with and then accompany them to Faro*.
 In Palermo General Türr, now completely recovered from his illness, had reported for duty. After conferring with the ministers in the Palazzo Reale, Garibaldi had negotiated to have him lead the above mentioned convoy of ships to Faro aboard the ‘Amazone’.
[* footnote on P253/4/5 refers to an account in The Times of Garibaldi by an Englishman who had travelled with him on 17th August from Palermo to Messina – in glowing terms, there’s a lot of description of the great man, his appearance, his charisma, and general demeanour vis-à-vis his underlings. There’s also an account of how, during a conversation he had onboard with General Türr, his attention was interrupted by some song from the front of the ship – lamenting the lack of any truly national hymn for Italy (such as, in France, the Marseillaise or, in Britain, ‘GSTQ’…), he then proceeds to launch himself and a great deal of the rest of the ship’s company into various traditional and, presumably, nonetheless fairly patriotic, partisan songs…]
These preparatory moves in lieu of an invasion, in combination with the presence of the small number of troops already landed, had brought Faro to the attention of the Neapolitans.
Because of this unwelcome interest, Garibaldi decided to send his main invasion force somewhere completely different…

Edward married Janet Taylor Of Islay, daughter of Captain Alexander Taylor and Janet Fraser, on 10 Jan 1842 in Manfield, Lowgovrock Rd. Greenock. Janet was born in 1814 and died on 13 May 1888 at age 74. Another name for Janet was Jannet.

+ 22 F i. Jessie Fraser Scott was born on 10 Oct 1842 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 8 Apr 1906 in Glasgow at age 63.

+ 25 M iv. James Edward Scott was born on 6 Jul 1848 and died on 10 Jul 1915 in London at age 67.

+ 26 F v. Mary Jane Scott was born on 12 Dec 1850 and died on 24 Apr 1921 in Skelmorlie at age 70.

+ 27 F vi. Elizabeth Fletcher Scott was born on 3 Jul 1853 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 22 Nov 1894 in Glasgow at age 41.

28 M vii. Archibald Edward Scott was born on 25 Feb 1855 in 43 Eldon St. Greenock, Scotland.

18. Marion Scott was born in 1823 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 16 Sep 1864 in Glasgow at age 41.

Marion next married Andrew Thomson on 5 Jun 1853. Andrew was born in 1821 in Hamilton.

19. Margaret Ann Scott was born on 2 Nov 1830 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 28 Aug 1881 in Millearn at age 50.

Margaret married James Reid J.P. M.I.C.E. on 1 Jan 1851 in Greenock, Renfrew.

Seventh Generation

22. Jessie Fraser Scott was born on 10 Oct 1842 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 8 Apr 1906 in Glasgow at age 63.

General Notes: After her husband's death brought the children back to Glasgow, where she became housekeeper at Clyde House, Greenock.
Arrived in London in about 1901

Jessie married Thomas Steele, son of John Steele II and Rebecca Power, on 4 Sep 1866 in Greenock, Renfrew. Thomas was born on 18 Jul 1838 and died on 6 Nov 1890 at age 52.

Marriage Notes: JAL has family bible given to Thomas and Jessie inscribed:-
"To Thomas and Jessie Frazer Steele from their loving Father & Mother, Jannet (stet) & Edward Scott
September 4 1866
As for me & my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua XXIV. 15"

+ 34 M i. Rev. John Steele was born on 13 Feb 1868 in 3 Audley Place, Cork, Ireland and died on 28 Aug 1960 at age 92.

35 M ii. Edward Scott Steele was born on 1 Apr 1869 and died on 28 Aug 1950 at age 81. Another name for Edward was Uncle Ned.

Edward married Elsie Lilian Chuter on 2 Jul 1932 in Presbyterian Church, Cricklewood. Elsie was born in 1906 and died on 22 Jan 1989 at age 83.

36 M iii. Thomas Steele was born on 16 Mar 1870 and died on 28 May 1872 at age 2.

37 F iv. Janet Scott Steele was born on 15 Mar 1871 in 3 Audley Place, Cork, Ireland and died on 16 May 1880 at age 9.

39 F vi. Rebecca Power Steele was born on 9 Apr 1875 and died about 1952 about age 77.

+ 40 M vii. James Edward Steele was born in 1876 and died in 1952 at age 76.

25. James Edward Scott was born on 6 Jul 1848 and died on 10 Jul 1915 in London at age 67.

James married Janet Robertson Findlay, daughter of James Findlay and Janet Ballantyne, on 11 Apr 1877 in Greenock, Renfrew. Janet was born in 1856 and died on 19 Jan 1937 at age 81. Another name for Janet was Jessie.

+ 42 M i. James Edward Scott was born on 12 Mar 1879 and died on 30 Mar 1928 at age 49.

43 F ii. Margaret Scott was born in 1880 and died on 23 Feb 1973 in East Sheen at age 93.

45 F iv. Janet Taylor Scott was born in 1883 and died on 18 Apr 1925 in Dam Burst, Skelmorlie at age 42.

General Notes: THE SKELMORLIE RESERVOIR DISASTER
which struck the lovely Ayrshire village of Skelmorlie, on 18th April 1925, is almost forgotten today. But if you look closer, as you stroll around its quiet streets and leafy lanes, the scars are still there - the reconstructed garden walls, the gap site where a family home once stood, and the memories of some older inhabitants who remember the day a remorseless torrent tore down through the centre of the village, destroying everything in its track.
It happened when a reservoir embankment above the town suddenly gave way, releasing millions of gallons of water down through the village. After ten minutes of sickening, deafening, devastating horror, many homes, streets and gardens were shattered and five people, four of them children, lay dead.
The reservoir, which belonged to the Eglinton Estate, provided the main water supply to the village of Skelmorlie. It had been built in 1861 by a local character known as Navvy Young, a sort of itinerant contractor, with his motley band of labourers. And it had been the subject of considerable apprehension for some time in the village, because folk were aware it had received little maintenance since its construction.
The potential for disaster was heightened by the torrential rain and high winds which swept across the reservoir from the north-east, on that fateful day.
Robert Donaldson, head forester and water superintendent of the Eglinton Estate, had carried out his routine check on the reservoir the previous evening, and again at 8.30 on the morning of the disaster. He found nothing particularly amiss, but noted that only 3 inches of the 18-inch diameter overflow pipe were above the water level. It was extremely wet and stormy with a very high wind from the north. Spindrift was sweeping across the reservoir, depositing spray heavily on the bank. In the town itself residents remember the incessant torrential rain, the roads flooded, the misery of an Easter holiday ruined by typical west-coast weather.
Meanwhile, in Taymouth House, below the Dallas family's cottage, Patrick and Janet Adam were sitting down to breakfast with their guests, a niece and nephew from Edinburgh. Mr Adam was a brewer's agent, his wife Janet (Jenny) was a daughter of a well-known Clyde shipbuilder.
Farther down the hill, in the plush Wemyss Bay Hydropathic, Skelmorlie's famous and luxurious hotel, the staff were routinely preparing meals and services for the day, the residents breakfasting or lounging around, talking no doubt about the inclement weather which was keeping most of them indoors. Very few ventured outside to take the air.
What happened next is etched for ever in the hearts and minds of those who experienced it. Memories differ as to exactly when the disaster struck, but it seems to have been shortly after lunchtime. At around two o'clock, a family living about 50 yards below the reservoir heard a loud crack, and noted with alarm that two fissures had suddenly appeared in the embankment, and water was starting to seep out. A few seconds later the embankment gave way along a 30-foot length under the tremendous pressure of the water, and the flood suddenly surged with awful force down the steep slope on which the village is built.
One eye-witness said that the flood came down in a solid mass, another that it came in folds like the waves of a very angry sea. The wall of water was described as being about 30 feet high. People described a noise like thunder. Captain Scott of Stroove House said he heard “a roar, just a roar, like nothing else.” Others said it was like the noise of a great motor car. One woman who saw the event from her window told the Greenock Telegraph that “the water was pouring out like Niagara.”
All obstacles in the way of the great torrent were crushed up and carried before it, being deposited along the way or carried into the waters of the Clyde below. Trees, garden walls, outbuildings, rocks and roadways were all torn up in the relentless force of the flood. Wrecked motor cars and what was left of their garages were carried along in the torrent. Within. 10 or 15 minutes the reservoir was almost empty.
At Birchburn Cottage, Emily Dallas heard the noise of the first escape of water, and rushed outside to see what was happening. She saw immediately that the overflow from the reservoir had suddenly and dramatically increased. She got the children outside, with the intention of warning the occupants of Taymouth House, slightly downhill from her own home, that water was escaping from the reservoir. She called on the children to follow her through the flood, but frozen with fear, they hesitated. At this moment a great burst of water came thundering down, with terrible force. She watched in horror, helpless, as her home, and the three children, were swept away.
James Robertson of nearby Mount Pleasant had seen the avalanche of water strike the cottage, and ran down through his garden to try to help. Sandy Dallas, his coal deliveries abandoned, was with a local farmer, John Paton. Both men climbed on to the precarious corrugated iron roof of the stables behind the house, with the flood waters swirling around them, in an attempt to try to locate the missing children. All three men were soon wading waist deep in the fast-flowing water, endangering their the own lives, but to no avail. Emily Dallas's cries had indeed alerted the occupants of Taymouth House. Jenny Adam was at the garage at the bottom of the garden with her nephew and niece, and a maidservant. Alarmed, they decided to return to the house. The maid picked up the little boy, and ran for safety. Jenny was quickly followed by, her niece, Ursula. But in making for, the house, the girl slipped and fell, and Jenny, without a thought for her own safety, turned back to help her.
In that split second both were caught up in the flood which thundered into the garden, and were swept away in its relentless grasp.
Patrick Adam was inside his house when the flood waters struck, and managed to escape by climbing out of one of the ground-floor windows. He was met by a distraught Sandy Dallas, who told him that the three children were missing. Patrick struggled down through his own garden to try to find out what had become of his wife and niece. Horror - stricken, he caught a brief glimpse of Jenny in the flood waters, caught by a tree, before she was swallowed up in the raging torrent. There was no sign of Ursula.
This scene of devastation was once Birchburn Cottage, home of Emily and Sandy Dallas, whose niece and two sons perished when the flood engulfed them.
The Hydropathic Hotel, which was situated on a high rocky cliff overlooking the main Largs to Greenock Road, suffered extensive damage. The waters thundered into the conservatory and flooded the entire basement to a depth of four feet, then poured out over the cliff face destroying the shore road below. Some guests and members of the hotel staff were able to escape by ground-floor windows. Warnings were shouted around the hotel, and thankfully all residents and staff escaped with their lives. But damage to the hotel was extensive, with furniture wrecked and expensive fittings and carpets ruined, and everything covered in thick mud and debris.
Skelmorlie's electric power station, which was in the basement of the Hydropathic Hotel, was immediately put out of commission, with wreckage, boulders, and thick, filthy mud choking the machinery. The town instantly lost its electricity supply.
All down the hillside people had amazing escapes. A local gardener, James Murray, was climbing the Hydro steps beside Stroove House when he saw the wall of water descending. He leaped on to a tree, and remained clutching at its branches until the danger had passed. A family living at Croftmore Cottage succeeded in making for a hillock at the back of their house, and remained there while the flood raged around them. A group of young men walking up the hill from the shore road were nearly engulfed in the flood, but managed to run to safety. One of their number also escaped by climbing a tree. A charabanc full of passengers was almost swept into the Clyde by the torrent.
The occupants of the houses of Invereoch and Glengyron also had lucky escapes. Both houses had their garden and lower floor extensively damaged, but the families were able to remain in the safety of their homes until the flood waters passed.
The house of Halketburn, on the main shore road, was directly in the track of the torrent, which divided itself around the house, making it into a temporary island. Mrs Campbell was used to the Halket Burn flowing past her home, but was alarmed to see that the water was suddenly swirling wildly around on both sides. She managed to get outside. When the flood eventually subsided, the mess inside was indescribable, with heavy furniture scattered everywhere, and six inches of mud all over the ground floor. But her pet dog which had been left in the house was alive and well, having fortunately managed to get to an upper floor.
When the torrent had passed, the scene in the village was one of utter devastation. A great chasm could be seen where the reservoir embankment had collapsed, trees and shrubbery were uprooted and strewn everywhere. At one place, just above Stroove House, a hole in the road was gouged 12 feet wide and 40 feet deep.
Birchburn Cottage was completely demolished. What had been a happy family home only 15 minutes before was now a shattered ruin, with not one wall remaining. Only the tiled grate was left standing in the centre of the cottage, and part of the stables at the back. The family's furniture and belongings were scattered all down the hillside, describing the course of the torrent. Of the three children who had last been seen at the door of the cottage, there was no sign.
The reservoir had held five and a half million gallons of water. In less than 15 minutes it was empty.
A terrible silence descended on the village, as the shock of what had occurred gradually dawned.
As soon as the extent of the disaster was realised, offers of help came from all quarters. Willing hands shifted debris and men waded waist deep in the muddy waters, in a desperate attempt to try to find anyone alive. But early optimism soon turned to sorrow, as the victims of the disaster were found one by one.
The first to be discovered was Jenny Adam, at the bottom of her own garden. A local joiner saw a hand appearing above the water, and rushed in to pull her out. The onlookers thought they detected some small signs of life, and artificial respiration was attempted for almost two hours by Dr Hall, who was acting as a locum in the village, but without success.
Winifred Menhennet was found in the flood waters, caught on a bank, by Captain Scott of Stroove House and the manager of the Hydropathic Hotel, Mr Campbell. They waded into the flood to retrieve the little girl. She was dead. Her skull had been fractured.
Wee Freddie Dallas, aged five, was found dead a short distance from his home.
His brother Alex, aged seven, was carried right down to the shore, a distance of half a mile, and swept into the sea at high tide. His body was discovered only when the tide went out, half buried in the sand.
The search for the last victim, Ursula Scott of Edinburgh, was called off that evening as daylight faded, but resumed again early on the Sunday morning. Fishermen summoned from Largs on the Sunday searched the seabed with their sweep trawl, but despite working all day, they were unsuccessful. There was so much debris on the seabed - masonry, trees and other material from shattered homes and gardens - that their task was almost impossible. The search was again called off in the evening.
On the Saturday afternoon local people soon organised themselves into work parties to clear the roadways, particularly the Largs to Greenock Road which was completely blocked for a distance of 30 yards. Men in plus-fours, the local policemen and some drafted in from Greenock, all waded into the murky waters to remove rocks and boulders, and saw at tree stumps which were blocking the highway. They were joined by a party of footballers who had just arrived that afternoon from Greenock, expecting to play a match in the village. Even some young ladies hitched up their skirts and joined in the effort.
The first news of the disaster reached the outside world at about three o'clock, when extra police officers from Greenock were summoned to Skelmorlie to assist the local force. Ambulances and medical staff were rushed to the scene. The news echoed around Cappielow Park during the match between Morton and Raith Rovers, as police messages were overheard by spectators. As a result, curious crowds soon started heading for Skelmorlie by every means of transport they could find. There were motor cars, charabancs, bicycles and motor bikes, and also many on foot.
The following day, by a strange quirk of fate, the rain stopped and the sun unexpectedly shone on the scene of the disaster, bringing yet more crowds to gape at the stricken village. They watched as the fishermen trawled for the body of the missing girl, and had to be kept back by a strong police presence from those properties which had been worst affected.
It was on the Monday morning that Ursula was found, by an electrician who went into a storeroom of the electric power station in the basement of the Hydropathic Hotel. Because it was dark, he struck a match to inspect the damage, and saw the body of the girl lying in the far corner, half buried in the mud and debris which had been swept down the hillside.
A public enquiry into the disaster was held at Kilmarnock on 15th June 1925. Evidence was heard from the local police inspector who had directed the rescue operations, and from various civil engineers and other experts.
So how did it happen?
The reservoir which served the village covered about 2 ½ acres. With a capacity of nearly 5 ½ million gallons, it was in fact really only a tank for gathering water from an upper reservoir.
The upper reservoir had a system of sluices and culverts to carry away excess water. Robert Donaldson, the water superintendent for the Eglinton Estate, in his evidence to the enquiry stated that the 12-inch overflow pipe at the upper reservoir was choked with sand or silt, and had been for some eight weeks, a fact which he hadn't previously thought to be of any significance.
In addition, he said that the Beithglass Quarry below the upper reservoir, which usually held a considerable quantity of water, was empty on the Sunday morning following the disaster. He assumed that a sudden rush of water from the quarry compounded the disaster.
Mr Hogg, civil engineer, said in his evidence that: “The proximate cause of the failure was the inadequacy of the overflow arrangements. The 18-inch pipe was not a proper provision, and especially the freeboard of 1/4 feet was grossly insufficient.”
So the disaster was caused by a combination of circumstances - the inadequacy of the overflow arrangements, lack of proper supervision and maintenance, the abnormal rainfall of the previous few days which severely taxed the capacity of the reservoir, and the sudden release of water from the Beithglass Quarry.

Wilma Davidson acknowledges the assistance of the Mitchell Library, Cunninghame District Libraries, and St Andrews University in the preparation of this article. She would also like to thank the residents of Skelmorlie
who kindly helped with the research.

47 M vi. Robert Fraser Scott was born in 1888 and died on 23 Dec 1914 in Flanders at age 26.

48 F vii. Agnes Findlay Scott was born in 1889 and died on 23 Dec 1969 in Baron's Court at age 80.

+ 49 M viii. Stuart Douglas Scott was born in 1892 and died in Apr 1982 in Richmond On Thames at age 90.

26. Mary Jane Scott was born on 12 Dec 1850 and died on 24 Apr 1921 in Skelmorlie at age 70.

27. Elizabeth Fletcher Scott was born on 3 Jul 1853 in Greenock, Renfrew and died on 22 Nov 1894 in Glasgow at age 41.

Eighth Generation

34. Rev. John Steele was born on 13 Feb 1868 in 3 Audley Place, Cork, Ireland and died on 28 Aug 1960 at age 92.

General Notes: First MA from Queen's, Belfast.
Missionary to China (English Presbyterian Mission) until 1914 - taught at Swatow Anglo-Chinese College.
On his return to England, he became secretary to the Board of Study for the Preparation of Missionaries.
Thereafter Minister at Reading, then Ipswich
Invented a Braille system for Chinese characters
Doctorate in Literature from Dublin.

John married Elizabeth Turnbull, daughter of Robert Brown Turnbull and Flora Wallace, on 20 Dec 1897 in Amoy, China. Elizabeth was born on 22 Oct 1872 in Assynt Farm, Evanton, Easter Ross and died on 25 Feb 1942 at age 69.

+ 60 M i. Gerald Hector Steele was born on 11 Jan 1903 in Swatow, China and died on 10 Nov 1946 at age 43.

+ 61 F ii. Janet Doreen Steele was born on 15 Mar 1909 in Swatow, China and died on 22 Feb 2003 in Salisbury, Wiltshire at age 93.

+ 62 M iii. Alastair Patrick Steele was born on 25 Jan 1906 and died on 5 Mar 1943 in Solomon Islands at age 37.

John next married Florence Dorothy Herbert. Auntie Dorothy died on 23 Apr 1977.

General Notes: Published 'Naval Architecture' Part 1 in 1917 (Cambridge University Press), when living in London

+ 65 F ii. Coralie Fraser Steele was born on 22 Feb 1914 and died in 1997 at age 83.

49. Stuart Douglas Scott was born in 1892 and died in Apr 1982 in Richmond On Thames at age 90.

General Notes: Had Garibaldi's red shirt and sword.
Daily Telegraph 12 Apr 1982
Capt. Stuart Douglas Scott, who has died at East Cheam, aged 89, helped to pioneer British flying boat routes in Africa and South America. He began his aviation career as an engineer and after selling his motorcycle to take private flying lessons, secured a commission in the Royal Naval Air Service in May 1916 as a pilot. In 1928, he captained a flying boat in the first RAF formation flight to the Far East and Australia. Capt. Scott was for some years chief test pilot for Saunders Roe and became technical adviser on the survey flights which established long-distance routes in Africa and South America. Several times he piloted King Edward VIII as the Prince of Wales to and from Fort Belvedere. He was invalided out of British Overseas Airways in 1949. He leaves a widow and one son.

+ 70 M i. Donald Stuart Scott was born on 4 Oct 1918 and died on 2 Feb 2002 at age 83.

Stuart next married Jane Woodman. Jane was born in 1902 and died in Nov 1999 at age 97.

Ninth Generation

60. Gerald Hector Steele was born on 11 Jan 1903 in Swatow, China and died on 10 Nov 1946 at age 43.

General Notes: Educated Inverness Royal Academy, Tollington School, N London, & scholarship to Highgate School.
After qualifying Epsom Rd. Guildford & 93 Harley St.
UCH: MRCS, LRCP 1925
MB BS Gold Medal 1928
FRCS 1928
MS Lond 1928
Bruce, Liston, Erickson, Aichison & Atkinson Morley medals & scholarships
Asst. UCH Surgical Unit (Trotter & Choyce).
Asst. Royal Ear Hosp.
Clin. Asst. St. Peter's Hosp. for Stone
Surgeon Royal Surrey County Hosp. Guildford
ENT Surgeon Aldershot & Fleet Hospitals
Author jointly "Carcinoma of the oesophagus - a method of treatment with radon seeds" BMJ 1934
"Retrograde oesophagoscopy & radon seed insertion" BMJ 1935
Pioneered transplantation of oesophagus for carcinoma
Consultant surgeon to Mount Alvernia Hospital, Guildford

Gerald married Sylvia Walsh, daughter of Charles Woolard Walsh and Unknown, on 2 Jun 1931. Sylvia was born in 1904 and died on 31 May 1946 at age 42.

+ 81 M i. John Michael Steele was born on 22 Aug 1932 and died on 21 Aug 1999 at age 66.

61. Janet Doreen Steele was born on 15 Mar 1909 in Swatow, China and died on 22 Feb 2003 in Salisbury, Wiltshire at age 93.

Jenny married Professor Charles Hansard Lack, son of Rev. Charles Nedham Lack and Edna Sara Bavin, on 23 Oct 1939 in Muswell Hill, London. Charles was born on 27 Jun 1909 in Chi Kong Shan, China and died on 25 Nov 1991 in Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire at age 82.

Occupation: Professor of Pathology at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London. - a personal chair. Particularly interested in tuberculosis. Founder member of the Acid Fast Club.

84 M ii. Roderick Charles Lack was born on 29 Mar 1945 and died in 1969 in London at age 24.

General Notes: A very cultured and literary person. Educated at East Barnet Grammar school, Aldenham school and Clare College, Cambridge. Mellon scholarship to Yale, USA, to study architecture.

RODERICK CHARLES LACK died in his sleep early on New Year's day, 1969. Rod Lack made more impact on the College than most people do, even though he seemed almost cat-like in his self-sufficiency. This was because his strongest interests were essentially private ones which, nonetheless, were capable of taking public forms. Outside literature (which he studied professionally, as it were, in the English Faculty) he was an artist; a private artist in his oil paintings (done in a bold, dashing style) but a public one in his designs for stage sets and for the decor of the May Ball. People will remember his enthusiasm and his capacity for working himself to the bone on his current project. Something of the same idiosyncratic vigour showed in other ways. As a student of literature he was never tidy, because he would not, fortunately, subdue his interests to the prudential requirements of the Tripos. Where he was interested, he read, and the weekly essay took second place. In Part 11 he found a course that could accommodate him. Characteristically he increased his load by taking the difficult option of a Part 11 Modern Languages paper in French, but equally characteristically did well both in that subject and in the examination as a whole. His competence, versatility and personality won him a Mellon Fellowship to Yale.
Outside, as well as inside his work, Rod was a rover. He could always be counted on to have planned an unusual vacation. He was prepared to travel widely, hard and alone in pursuit of his interests; for example he slept rough in Turkey as a means of continuing a long-term investigation, begun while still at school, of the mosaics of the region. The Mellon Fellowship provided an opportunity for a radical change of direction and Rod took it. At Yale he acknowledged his true bent by entering the School of Architecture. Those of us who met him at Yale will remember not only the confidence and drive that thrust him on to meet the challenge of his new discipline, but the enthusiasm with which he put his knowledge to practical use as a member of a group that erected a community centre in a depressed area in the Kentucky hills.
Rod came back to Cambridge to continue his architectural studies with every sign of having found his niche. He was lively, enthusiastic and looked physically very well. News of his sudden death so soon afterwards came, to those who knew him, as a shock from which they are not likely yet to have recovered.J.R.N.

General Notes: Major Alastair Patrick Steele, R.A.

Friends of Dr. Steele will regret to learn that his second son, Major Alastair Patrick Steele, R.A., has been posted by the War Office as “Missing, presumed drowned.”

Alastair was born in Swatow, China, and was educated at the Royal Academy, Inverness and Tollington School, Tetherdown, London. From the University College Reading he took the B.Sc. at London University. Thereafter, he graduated at the Dick Veterinary College, Edinburgh, securing the Diploma of State Veterinary Medicine with many distinctions. His final appointment at home was that of Veterinary Inspector to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, with his headquarters at Kirkwall. During that period he shared the command of one of the vital defences of Scapa Flow with Eric Linklater, the novelist.

Having achieved his majority, he was then appointed Instructor of Gunnery to the Eastern Command. He was ordered to Hong Kong in 1942, but, when that fortress fell, the transport was directed to Singapore, where he arrived, only to be captured by the Japanese when the Malay Peninsula was finally occupied by the enemy. At Changi prison camp he was put in charge of the anti-Mosquito Campaign.

From Singapore, he and 600 other prisoners were shipped to New Britain in the Pacific, he being second in command of the group. In New Britain he was put in charge of the working parties, and “handled the Japanese” with much skill, to the advantage of the men under him.

From there, he and the men who could travel were sent to the Solomon Islands, and then back to New Britain. The final move was in a ship bound for New Guinea, and of that voyage nothing is known, nor has any news been received since.

Two of his friends, a Captain and Instructor in Gunnery in ,the R.A. (who died later from malnutrition) and a medical Orderly, bore testimony to him as “the straightest man they had ever known, a great man and a fine Christian.”
He leaves a wife, formerly Miss Candlish, and two children, Alastair Kenneth and Eileen Fiona, now living in Dumfries.

Alastair married Helen Candlish. Helen was born on 23 May 1905 and died on 11 Apr 2000 at age 94.

Sheila married Harry Stocken. Harry was born in 1909 and died in 1980 at age 71.

Coralie married Sir Sydney Plaister C.B.E. in 1937. Sydney was born on 15 Jan 1909 and died on 25 Mar 1991 at age 82.

General Notes: OBITUARIES (Glasgow Herald 21 Feb 2002)
Donald Scott
Roots in Greenock and dreams in the sky for one of 'the Few'

DONALD Scott was one of the last of "the Few", but lived his post-RAF life with his feet firmly on the ground. Never one for airs and graces, he launched himself into his family life, his career, and into dinghy sailing with the same commitment and enthusiasm which saw him through the darkest hours of the Battle of Britain. With family roots in Greenock and the tea-clippers of the nineteenth century, sailing was probably in the genes. But the young Scott grew up in Northwood, north of London, and became involved in aviation through his father. How many 1l-year-olds had to pick up flying boat moorings, "first time, every time, because the engines were switched off", or flew demonstrator amphibian aircraft round in lazy circles while father did the hard sell to the potential customers in the back? The dark days arrived, and Donald Scott was an early member of 73 Squadron, RAP, which flew Hurricanes in France against the advancing German forces. He was mentioned in despatches for his contribution to this campaign. A lifelong bond was formed with these manoeuvrable and resilient fighters, and Spitfire afficionados could expect detailed arguments abouto turning circles and aircraft turnaround time. He flew Hurricanes through the Battle of Britain, and was awarded the DFC in September 1940 after various engagements with the enemy (to their disadvantage). Later war service took him to the North African desert and then to the eastern Mediterranean, and to progressively more sophisticated aircraft. His penchant for technical details rapidly developed, and the recent TV programme on the P-5 1 Mustang revived old passions for the beloved Merlin versus its underpowered Allison equivalent. Retiring as squadron leader after the war, Scott was reunited with Lorna, his wartime RAP bride, and family life with daughters Anita and Carolyn assumed increasing importance. After working as the technical brains (and half-name) behind the "Wilsco" model aircraft engine, he came back to his roots to work for the Singer Manufacturing Company in Clydebank. He spent the rest of his working life with Singer, and travelled the world as their man with the technical wizardry to fix that which others could not fix. But the whole family then became involved in his next great passion of sailing. With his daughters and others as crew, Scott was an early star in his GPl4 dinghy, Vega, which he maintained with loving care. He and Lorna became mainstays of Helensburgh Sailing Club, he sailing and maintaining the rescue boat engines, she the backbone of timekeeping. Both life members of the club, Scott progressed to sail his 505 and Albacore dinghies until well into his seventies. In later life, Donald and Lorna settled in Helensburgh and enjoyed their extended family and five grandchildren. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary last year. Until quite recently, Scott remained a regular worshipper at St Augustine's Episcopal Church in Dumbarton, and assisted in supporting its well-being both spiritually and structurally. He also greatly valued the company of his chums in the local Probus Club. His workshop was an engineer's paradise, and he was active in designing and constructing custom-built solutions for the disabled. He retained his wicked sense of humour to the end, and died serenely confident that a spare part or another engineering solution would be found for his failing heart. He is sadly missed.
Squadron Leader Donald Stuart Scott, born October 4, 1918; died February 16,2002.

Tenth Generation

J.M. married Jane Shereen Near, daughter of Isaac Elliston Near and Olive Vera Simpson.

P.R. married Sarah Fleming. Sarah was born in 1940 and died on 5 Nov 1995 at age 55.

Alastair married Patricia Margaret Reynolds, daughter of Alec Reeve Reynolds and Mary Ellen Frost.

Eleventh Generation

Juliette married Patrick McCormack, son of Michael Anthony McCormack and Catherine Campbell.

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