Hide
hide
Hide

Transcript

of

William Bower Scott [Obituary]

Trans. Devon Assoc., 1884, Vol XVI, p. 67.

by

Rev. W. Harpley, M.A.

Prepared by Michael Steer

William Bower Scott was the son of William Scott and Elizabeth and born at Chalmington House, Dorchester, in July 1807. From about the time of his son's birth his father’s naval career was spent afloat almost continuously in the forces supporting Wellington's campaigns in Spain and Portugal. He retired with the rank of Vice-Admiral in 1846. William Bower Scott became an established solicitor in Chudleigh, living in what is now the Grey House in Fore Street, He placed a stained glass window in the north wall of the parish church chancel to his parents’ memory. He was also active in parish affairs and in 1866 gave a piece of ground, Boyerhole Meadow, for use as a reservoir as part of the new water supply scheme for the town. He stayed in Chudleigh and died there in May 1884. His wife died in December 1899. They are both buried in the churchyard, close to the boundary with Vicarage Lane and in view of their home on the opposite side of Fore Street. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

William Bower Scott was born July 14th, 1807. He was the son of Vice-Admiral Scott, who resided and died at Scotleigh House. He was greatly respected by the inhabitants of Chudleigh, and his memory will be long cherished in their minds for his many public acts and private benevolences. He felt a deep interest in everything connected with the place.

Mr. Scott was an ardent student of ornithology, ichthyology, and other branches of natural history, and had made a large and valuable collection of stuffed birds. He was one of the founders of the Teign Naturalists' Field Club in 1859, and continued to be a zealous supporter of that society. In 1860 he read a paper "On the Ornithology of Devon" to the Club. In 1873 he was elected Vice-President of the Club, and in the following year he was promoted to the office of President, and again in 1875 discharged the duties of Vice-President. He also read several papers  “On Salmon and Salmon Fishing."

In 1865 he became a member of this Association, and while his health was good he was rarely absent from the annual meetings. He read a paper on "Salmon Passes” in 1874, to the meeting at Teignmouth.

Mr. Scott also became a member of the British Association in 1869.

About a week before his death, whilst on a visit to Teignmouth, he broke the small bone of his leg. Hopes were entertained of his recovery, but he passed away suddenly on the morning of Thursday, May 29th, 1884, at his residence at Chudleigh.