The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1878-12-26
THE OLDEST MAN ALIVE.
The Remarkable Story OF "UncIe" Bill
Scott. of BaitiEiore.-.B Born Three
Years Before eMashington-.-His
kecOllectiOns OF the RcyO.
lutiOn.-.His Present
iDa 40 loars


lutiOn--.His Present
Age 149 Years.
From the Baltimore Bulletin.l
At No. 157 Sarah Ann street in re-
sponse to the reporters summons, the
door was opened by Uncle William
Scott himself, who asked the writer
aud his companions to come in and
take seats, in a manner which savored
OF old time politeness.
uncle Bill" is a fine, intellectual
old negro about five feet, eleven
inches in height, well rroportioned
and still muscular, with bushy gray
hair and beard. The first question
as ked him was, OF course, whether
his age was as great as reported.
Uncle Bill at once replied in a clear
voice, Yes, sir; 149 years, cir" This
reply caused an exclamation OF sur
prise and wonder from both the SER
geant OF police and an officer, who
had accompanied the reporter. Ac-
cording TO his own statement the
year OF SCOTS birth would have been
1928, .hree years before Washington
was born, and when Baltimore city
bore the almost forgotten title OF
Jones Town. At the suggestion OF
the reporter Uncle William related
the history of his life. Il was born"
said he. "in Calvert county, Mary
land" When asked the year he re-
piled, Deed. master, / can't remem.
ber the figures" His father was a
slave, and belonged to Miss Percy
Lawrence, OF Calvert county. His
mother was a free woman, and the
mother OF "twenty-six head OF chill.
dren, as Uncle Bill termed them.
William was the fourth child. He
has no idea OF what became OF the
rest. He remained with Miss Law
renee until he was 4S years OF age, at
which time he was made free. on ac-
count OF his mother being free born.
After leaving Miss Lawrence, Scott
went to live with a Col. Hoskius.
With the Colonel he remained three
or four years, and acted as his body
servant.
At this time, about the year 1775,
the Indians were cause Of great an
noyance to the people OF Maryland
and other colonies. As Col Hoskins
was on active service, his duties be.
ing to protect settlers OF the frontier.
he travelled great deal, during all Of
which time he was accompanied by
his faithful servant. Scott says that
during one OF his crossings OF the
Rocky mountains," probably mean
lug theAlleghanies. with the Colonel
and his regiment, he was one day
captured by Indians aud held as q
prisoner for two and a half months,
during which time he was treated
with kindness by the savages.
He was finally released through the
instrumentality OF Col. Hoskins, who
always expressed a strong liking for
him. Scott does not remember by
what means he was released.
Upon being asked how he came to
be captured he said:
I'VE were quartered in the noun
tains. and the guards had all been
stationed so as to prevent any sud-
den attack by the Indians. There
were lines or bounds laid out. beyond
which we, the servants, were not al
lowed to go. except between ten and
twelve o'clock in the morning. One
day was Obliged to go after some.
thing. what it was now forget, and
failed to get back in the specified
time.
"As / was returning, / heard a
whizzing sound in the air, and then
felt something catch me about my
arms and chest. 1 was so terrified
that at first did not stop to think
what it was, but tugged with all my
strength to loosen myself" Happen
ing to turn his head, however, he
saw an Indian, and then he knew that
he had been captured. The reporter
here asked Uncle Bill what were his
feelings at the time. His reply was
simply ~Uhi" and a perceptible shud-
der.
After leaving Co. Hoskins he OBJ
tanned employment in Gen. Howe's
Qhe English generaD service. Scott
says that after being with the general
about year In this country the gen.
eral took him to England with him.
He remained in the generals fami
ly service for some years, after which
he travelled with the generals broth.
or, Lord Howe, as his body servant.
With his lordship, Scott says, he
travelled through Europe. Africa and
Asia- He spoke naively OF his won
der and surprise when In japan he
first beheld native. From the gen.