Vice Admiral Matthew Henry Scott

Vice Admiral Matthew Henry Scott, brother of John Scott of Jamaica, awarded part of the compensation as trustee for the annuity of his sister-in-law Elizabeth Scott (q.v.) secured on Clarendon Park and Retreat estates in Clarendon and St Thomas-in-the-East Jamaica; and awarded in his own name part of the compensation for Hyde estate in St Thomas-in-the-Vale.

Entered the Royal Navy at a young age and served in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary Wars. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1812 and Vice Admiral in 1819. Married Mary, eldest daughter of James Pinnock of Westbury House, Hampshire, 1799. Died aged 70 in Southampton, 1836. In his obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine he was described as 'a native of Jamaica, where his father was an opulent planter'.

1. Will of Matthew Henry Scott, Vice Admiral of the White Squadron in His Majesty's Navy of Southampton, Hampshire proved 12/11/1836.

2. Very probably also the 'Matthew Scott' who acted with William Knight Dehany (known to be the son-in-law of Vice Admiral Matthew Henry Scott) as co- executors and co-trustees of Miss [Jemima] Cussans in an award for 1/4 of the compensation for Amity Hall in St Thomas-in-the-East in Jamaica.

T71/859 Clarendon No. 291 and T71/1187 Clarendon No. 291 counterclaim do not identify him as Vice Admiral but as of Southampton and as one of three trustees for an annuity of £800 to Elizabeth Scott under the 1811 will of John Scott of Garboldisham Hall; T71/867 St Thomas-in-the-East no. 295 (Retreat) is linked through the trust for Elizabeth Scott; T71/855 St Thomas-in-the-Vale no. 294 (Hyde) identifies him as Vice Admiral.

Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 10/6/1799; The Morning Post, 3/11/1836; The Gentleman's Magazine (1837), p. 321.

1. PROB 11/1869.

2. T71/867 St Thomas-in-the-East No. 105; Yale University Library, Guide to the Caribbean Collection p. 8, http://drs.library.yale.edu:8083/fedora/get/mssa:ms.1780/PDF [accessed 21/07/2011].

We are grateful to William Norton for his help compiling this entry.