1685 - George Scot of Pitlochie

[This is part of  a series of articles on the year 1685.  You might want to read the Overview first.]

 August 18, 1685

On this date the Privy Council named Robert Campbell, previously banished, to be transported to his Majesties Plantations in New Jersey by Mr. George Scot.  Robert was the grandfather of Joel Campbell (the namesake of this blog.)

On pages 141 and 142 of the The 1685 Register of the Privy Council of Scotland a "supplication" by Mr. George Scot of Pitlochie was considered.  Mr Scot was "in a few weeks to remove himself and family to America."  He requested that he be appointed keeper of the records of New England.  The Privy Council agreed to bring the request to the King.

Mr Scot's plan to relocate to America was well known.  In the introduction to the Privy Council Register the editor states that Scot was “being about to sail for East New Jersey with a cargo of criminals, wastrels, and malcontents...”

Scot was not the only one with this idea. Page 100 of the Register describes a William Arbuckle who "hath a ship now lying in the road of Leith bounding for his Majesties plantations in New England."  He appeared before the Privy Council to request "to have some of these prisoners who wer lately taken as being engadged with the late Earle of Argyle..."  The council granted him fifteen prisoners "under the Laigh Parliament Hall."

Robert Barclay of Urie also had a ship at Leith bound for East New Jersey.  He had already hand-picked 24 prisoners that he volunteered to transport to the plantations.  Page 125 of the Register records the Privy Council's approval.

Scot however made out the best.  Perhaps he had the largest ship.  Scot had also personally selected some prisoners whose trades were "absolutely necessar for his said designe."  He went so far as to give them money so they would not "enquire elsewhere."  In the meantime the Council had decided that 177 of the prisoners were to be sent to Jamaica under a Mr. John Ewing of London, twelve of whom Scot had contracted with.  Page 131 of the Register records that Scot could keep those twelve men (listed by name).  Another twelve yet to be sentenced would be added to the list of Mr Ewing.  Mr. Scots prisoners included 50 from Edinburgh and 50 from Dunnottar.  Page 141 lists another 24 prisoners (by name) at the Tolbooth of Leith that were to be delivered Mr. Scot.

Page 145 of the Register appears to add additional prisoners to the 124 already assigned to Mr. Scot.  "The Lords of the Committie of his Majesties Privy Councill for publict affairs doe hereby grant ordor and warrant to the magistrats of Edinburgh and Canongate and keepers of their prisons respective to deliver to Mr. George Scot of Pitlochie in the persons William Jackson, William Cunyngham and John Murehead, prisoners in the tolbooth of Edinburgh; Thomas Jackson and Michael Marshall in the Theives-holl of Edinburgh; Robert and David Campbles, prisoners in the tolbooth of Canongate, all formerly banished by the Councill or Justices, to be by him transported to his Majesties plantations abroad off New Jersie, upon the said Mr. George Scott of Pitlochie his finding caution to transport them thither in maner and under the penalty contained in the act of Councill granted in his favours for transporting of the other prisoners now given to him by the Councill, dated at Leith the eighteenth day of August instant."

George Scott, a staunch Presbyterian, was not himself that far from banishment.  He appears not to have involved himself in the rebellion, rather his solution was to emigrate.  A year prior he had purchased land in East New Jersey and had been making preparations to embark.  The plethora of prisoners was probably a blessing to him as now he had a large source of indentured help that could turn his land into an economic success.  (Many Scottish gentry tried exporting the feudal system to America).  He commissioned a ship, The Henry and Francis, that is the subject of another post.  The ship set sail from Leith on September 5, 1685.