The Search for the Descendants of Samuel & Permilia Scott
The Problem and the Search
Of historical significance is the fact that the District No. 4 School in the Town of Scott, New York was the last one-room school to actively function in Cortland County, closing its doors in 1968 after 149 years of fulfilling the educational needs of a small community. When the building was no longer used as a school, the tax rolls were adjusted to reflect the property owners as "The Heirs of Samuel Scott" as a result of a reversion clause in the original deed for the property given in 1856 by Samuel and Permilia Scott -- "a site for a schoolhouse... so long as the same shall be held and improved by the District... for the purposes and accommodations of a school." Unpaid taxes accumulated since the descendants of the original benefactors of the school did not claim the property vacated by the Homer Central School District. The building, left unattended, began to deteriorate slowly and acts of vandalism were inflicted from time to time. However, the school building, for so many years a central gathering place for the residents of Glen Haven, continued to serve in that capacity as the occasions presented themselves. With preservation as one of the main themes of the Nation's Bicentennial Celebration, interest in the school was generated by a group called the Sleeping Squaw Cultural & Heritage Society. In their effort to preserve this integral part of the area's heritage and history, the group paid the delinquent taxes in anticipation of obtaining a tax deed in late 1976 enabling the organization to take possession of the building tentatively scheduled to serve as a museum for the Town of Scott.
In late 1976, immediately prior to the issuance of the tax deed, a man from South Carolina presented a deed for the Glen Haven School property for filing at the Court House. Mr. C. M. Hazard, of Greenville, South Carolina claimed that the grantor, "Samuel Scott Jun III of Columbia, South Carolina" was an heir of Samuel and Permilia Scott and therefore in a legal position to grant him sole title to the school property. The Society was subsequently notified of this claim. This "coincidence" of events naturally generated great concern and serious questions were raised concerning the future of the building's structural integrity. Legal advice was sought and the group learned that their only recourse was to determine if there were other "heirs" and if so, locate all or as many as possible, bring the situation to their attention and ask each to transfer their portion of the title to the Glen Haven Historical Society, chartered August 1, 1977.
In March of 1977, the situation was brought to my attention and the need for genealogical research in the matter was explained. Attorney Grant VanSant, a Town of Scott resident and Town Attorney, provided a few basic facts and following preliminary research it was determined that Samuel Scott had fathered as many as thirteen children -- a fact received with mixed emotions. Yes, there probably were several other "heirs" but would such a project prove to be too large and unwieldy with so many possibilities. It seemed imperative that at least an attempt be made, and so The Search for the Living Descendants of Samuel and Permilia Scott [sic] commenced in earnest.
Sources consulted within Cortland County included property deeds, state and federal census records from 1790 through 1880, early maps, probate records, Scott town records, school records, cemetery readings, vital records, Cottrell's genealogical notes for Scott residents, directories, scrapbooks, newspapers, unpublished genealogies and related materials, as well as, personal interviews.
It was discovered that only one line of descent produced a handful of living "heirs" in the immediate Cortland County area, these being descended from Permilia "Millie" (Scott) Mott., a granddaughter of Samuel Scott. By mid-April, with the help of visual aids to assist in relating the problem as it existed for the Glen Haven Historical Society, personal contact was made with Mr. Rodman "Pat" Mott, of McGraw, New York. His positive reaction and willingness to cooperate were indicative of response that I would response that I would receive throughout the project as other descendants were located, both near and far. A copy of the Mott genealogy was produced and this greatly facilitated the search of that line of descendancy.
One outstanding resource aid, which proved most helpful, was that of the probate papers filed following the death of Samuel Scott's son, Nathaniel, in 1901. To settle the estate, it was necessary at that time to list his heirs and their residence, and since he had no children of his own, his surviving brothers and the children of deceased brothers were noted. It was speculated that if these persons were living only 75 years ago, there were reasonable possibilities that persons living today would recall them, their children, etc.
Armed with this information, an extended trip was undertaken leading first to New York State's southern tier counties of Allegheny and Steuben; then to Huron County in north central Ohio and finally to Isabella County in north central Michigan. Visits to court houses, libraries, historical societies, cemeteries, in addition to the homes of several senior citizens produced more than 200 living descendants in a ten-day period. Without exception, I was warmly received by everyone I came in contact with.
Following the receipt of their charter from the State of New York Education Department, the Glen Haven Historical Society commenced to contact each of the heirs thus far identified and requested their generous assistance in this matter by signing a deed relinquishing their claim to the District No. 4, Glen Haven School property.
Mrs. Ima (Hale) Grinnell, the only "heir" who is still a resident of the Town of Scott signed the first deed on August 17, 1977. By the end of the year, twenty deeds were duly filed containing the names of thirty-three of the living heirs of Samuel and Permilia Scott. With limited funds available, and the very real possibility of locating at least seventy-five or more "heirs", a substitute for monetary remuneration was sought. The heirs, as grantors, have agreed to accept a manuscript containing the results of The Search for the Descendants of Samuel and Permilia Scott as compensation for their generosity on behalf of the residents of the Town of Scott.
Although far from complete, the following compilation is presented to each of our benefactors,
With gratitude,
THE GLEN HAVEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
by:
Mary L. Dexter
Historical Researcher
