Aaron Scott

Bio

Aaron Scott was most likely African American. In Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Vol. 13, pg. 923) his son Jonathan was described as having a dark complexion and dark hair. Aaron was from Deerfield, Massachusetts and in 1751, he married Elizabeth Corse (1725-1773), who was White. Inter-racial marriages were uncommon, but because Elizabeth and her widowed mother were impoverished, this might have left the daughter with limited options for a spouse. The Scotts lived in an area of Deerfield known as “Wisdom" and had four children who lived to adulthood. In 1753, Wisdom became the town of Greenfield. 

In 1746, Aaron served in a company of militia under Captain Thomas Wells during King George's War (1744-1748), and in 1754 under Captain John Burke in the French and Indian War (1754-1763.) From 1754-1762, he ran “Scott's Ferry” across the Connecticut River. Aaron had an account at Elijah Williams' store in Deerfield, where he purchased a hammer, mace (a spice), and rum. In 1768, he paid for at least some of his purchases with part of his bond (a legally binding loan agreement.)

By 1776, Aaron had met with hard times and on December 2, the town voted "That ye Select Men provide for Aaron Scott.” (History of Deerfield, Vol. II, George Sheldon, pg. 716) He died in 1811, in Northampton, Massachusetts.