WILLIAM SCOTT'S 1848 PASSING:
The following news story was written about my ancestor, William Scott, who was the husband of Mary Scott. Staff at the Heritage Hub, Hawick, found the circumstances of William Scott’s untimely death reported in the Oct. 27th, 1848 publication of the Kelso Chronicle:
“MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE – On Friday morning last, a man named William Scott, belonging to Sinton Mill, was found dead a little to the north of Grundistone Height. From the information we have received it appears that the unfortunate man had been at Hawick on the previous day, and that betwixt six and seven o’clock he had missed his way at Roughhaugh Mill, Wilton, and fell into the dam there, and would inevitably have been drowned but for assistance. He afterwards proceeded on his way home, carrying with him some articles he had purchased at Hawick, and as he did not arrive as was expected that night, his absence naturally caused much alarm, particularly as the frost was most intense, and early next morning, his wife, accompanied by one of her neighbours, went in search of him. They had not proceeded very far when they came upon him literally frozen to death – a catastrophe which would be hastened by his clothes being wet, and a little farther on were the articles he was bringing home, over which he had laid his plaid, from which circumstances it has been surmised that, feeling his strength failing him, he had left them in the hope of being able to make home without them, but he was only able to proceed about 100 yards further.
“MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE – On Friday morning last, a man named William Scott, belonging to Sinton Mill, was found dead a little to the north of Grundistone Height. From the information we have received it appears that the unfortunate man had been at Hawick on the previous day, and that betwixt six and seven o’clock he had missed his way at Roughhaugh Mill, Wilton, and fell into the dam there, and would inevitably have been drowned but for assistance. He afterwards proceeded on his way home, carrying with him some articles he had purchased at Hawick, and as he did not arrive as was expected that night, his absence naturally caused much alarm, particularly as the frost was most intense, and early next morning, his wife, accompanied by one of her neighbours, went in search of him. They had not proceeded very far when they came upon him literally frozen to death – a catastrophe which would be hastened by his clothes being wet, and a little farther on were the articles he was bringing home, over which he had laid his plaid, from which circumstances it has been surmised that, feeling his strength failing him, he had left them in the hope of being able to make home without them, but he was only able to proceed about 100 yards further.