The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-26

DEATH OF LADY SCOTT OF ABB
BOTSFORD.

and last Sir Wa All6T DCOIt VI ApuoVo'V'"i'"N
eldest son of the great novelist me
links which connect the present genera
ton to that Of the founder of Ab9otsford
are singularly few. Forty-fve years have
elapsed since he was laid in Dryburgh
Abbey, and during that time death has
been very active among the inheritors Of
his name; and to those who are familiar
with the records of his life, and can re-
member the pleasure with which he saw
his handsome boy welded to the young
and pretty heiress OF Lochore, the intel
lipence that within few weeks ago that
lady was still living, must seem to bring
us once more very near to the Mighty
Minstrel himself. 1t is not without q
certain feeling of melancholy that we
look back upon the records of the House
of Abbotsford. In 1926, when the mar
riage of the above lady to young Walter
Scott took place. the family circle was
still complete, there being no vacant
chair" The eldest daughter, Sophia,and
the direct ancestress of the present pos
SCISSOR of Abbotsford, had indeed been
married to John Gibson Lockhart five
years previously; but as yet she had lived
at no greater distance from the parental
roofthan Chiefswood, and conld hardly
be said to have become separated from
the family But year of disaster, in a
double sense fol old Sir Walter, was be-
ing ushured in for almost on the very
back of his sons marriage came the COM
mercial disaster which struck at the
root of his worldly prosperity, and the
anxiety of that time was but at it's deep
est when death stepped In and removed
the wife of his bosom and the mother OF
his children. This was the first break in
the family circle Six more years, and
he himself was laid to rest followed in a
few months by his younger daughter
Annie, who through all the astsad years
of his life had watched and tended him
with almost angelic devotion. Other four
years, and his eldest daughter, Sophia
MRS, Lockhart), also passed away fol-
lowed in 1S4l by Charles, the younger
son. who died abroad. Then, in lS47
the second Sir Walter eldest son, and
last surviving member of the family died
at the Cape of Good Hope, on his way
home from India, his remains being
brought home and laid beside those of
his iiiustrious father in the family vault
in Dryburgh Abbey. Thus the whole of
that bright little circle, which made Abb
botsford famous and its founder happy,
had within fifteen short years followed
him to the grave.
When the second Sir Walter died he
left no issue, and his widow, Lady Scott,
removed to Edinburgh, where, we be-
lieve, she continued to reside for many
wears. Latterly, she took up her resi-
dence in London, where she died few
weeks ago. Her ladyship-Jane Dobson
of Lochore-was the daughter Of pros
porous merchant, whose family had at
one time both owned and rented lands
in Forfarshire, and who subsequently
traded in Dundee and London. Her for
tune was considerable, she being Leiress
in her own riaht to the fine estate of
LoChore. in the western district of Fife
shire. Her introduction to the Abbots-
ford family would in all probability be
due to her connection with Sir Adam and
Lady Ferguson, whose niece she was,and
who, as is well known, were very close
and warm friends of Sir Walter Scott.
The betrothal of the young couple was
celebrated at Abbotsford on the 9th of
January, 1925 on which occasion Sir
Walter gave a grand "house-heating."
"That evening"" says LoCkhart, writing
in 1887, twas one Of the very proudest
and hapniest in SCott's brilliant exist
ence. It's festivities were held in honor
of a young lady, whom Captain Basil
Hall names Cursorily among the guests
as the pretty heiress of Lochore.' 1t was
known to not a few of the party, and
should have supposed it might have been |
surmised by the rest, that those halls
were displayed for the first time in all
their splendor, on an occasion not less
interesting to the poet than the conclu-
sion Of a treaty of marriage between the
heir of his name and fortunes, and the
amiable niece of his friends, Sir Adam
and Lady Ferguson. Itwas the first regu-
lar ball given at Abbotsford, and the last.
Nay though twelve years have elapsed,
believe nobody has ever danced under
that roof since then. myself never
again saw the whole range of apartments
thrown open for the reception Ofcompany
except once-on the day of Sir Walters
funeral"
The marriage was celebrated at Edin.
burgh on the Sd of February succeeding,
and for many years afterwards the young
wife followed the fortunes of her husband
travelling with him from barracks to bar
racks, mostly in Ireland. Sir Walter was
very proud of his daughter.in-law. A
few days before the marriage, in writing
to friend, and after praising the good
looks, handsome figure, and pleasing
manners of his son, he said :-"Some one
of these good qualities, know not which,
or whether it were the united force of
the whole, and particularly his proficiency
in the attack of strong places, has acquir-
ed him the affection and hand of very |
sweet and pretty Mrs. Anne Page, who
is here as yet known by the name Of Miss
Jobson of Lochore, which she exchanges |
next week for that of Mrs. Scott of Alb.
DOJbIUTus IL WOulu DOhlO Ole hiAb
ton betwixt Walter and her had hung
on both their minds, for at the conclusion
of a Christmas party we learned the pret-
ty heiress had determined to sing the old
tune Of
"Mount and go, mounta and make you ready;
Mount and go, and be soldiers lady,
All who have read Sir Walters biogra-
ply must remember the very pleasant
and affectionate correspondence which
for some years he maintained with his
young daughter-in-law, and which it is
unnecessary to further refer to here
In 1847 Lady Scott vas widow, since
which time she has lived very quiet
and retired life, devoting herself very
much to acts ofcharity and benevolence.
So retired, indeed, had her life latterly
become that not many people, as we have
already remarked, were aware Of her ex-
istence. We have no means Of ascertain
ing her age but should infer from the
foot of har MARRIAGE in 182b that she