The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-07
THE COMPACT FAITHFULLY KEPT
Story of William Henry Harrison and Dr.
John Scott
Washington Post.


From the fact that the maiden name of
the late wife of the President was Scott.
and that that name has been Christian
one In the Harrison family for three gen.
eratlons, there Is popular impression that
the President and Mrs. Harrison were dis
family connected by ties of blood IS well
as by the closer relationship of man
and wife. Though natural con-
cluslon. this belief is incorrect. There
having been no consanguInity between
which the Scott name came TO be so freely
used as q Christian name in the Harrison
family Is, Tor more than one reason, OF in
terest at this time.
The latefMrs. Harrison was a l,neal de-
scendant Of Robert Scott, q member of the
Scottish Parliament before the union Of
the crowns This Robert Scott was an
old Covenanter hero, who lived in the
latter part OF the sixteenth century, and
fought at the battle of Bothanee Briggs for
the covenant and the crown. He opposed
tho union of the crowns during the
reign OF Queen Ammo. because of the ig-
noring OF the Scottish crown and name In
tie then new Parliament of Great Britain.
For this, with others deemed guilty of the
same offense, he was immured in
the Tower of London under penalty
of losing his head. but was released
by an amnesty of George |. who waa
brought over from Hanover TO take the
throne, by virtue Of being q descendant or
the Stuarts. After Robert SCOTS release.
in disgust with his native country, in COM
pany of q friend. the Earl of Belbaven, he
emigrated to the north of Ireland, and
from there, in lbs, his oldest son John
oame to America and became the found
or OF the family IN this country.
In the revolutionary war the Pennsyl-
vania SCOTS. as might have been expected
from their lineage, were prominently iden-
titled with the struggle for independence,
and 1t was no less on account of distin-
gulshed services on the part OF her ancestry
than because she was the wife OF the Presi-
dent of the United Statef that the late MIRA
Harrison was elected first president OF the
Society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
After the Independence of the colonies
was insured three brothers of the Pennsyl-
vania SCOTS. seeking their fortunes In tho
then far Southwest. settled in Kentucky.
One of these brothers was DR.. John Scott,
between whom and William Henry Harri-
son. afterward ninth President of the
United States romantic friendship-a
love passing that Of brothers-existed. In
their youth. prior to tho marriage OF either,
they had made q compact that their loyal
ty to each other should be perpetuated IN
their offspring-that the eldest son of
William Henry Harrison should be named
Scott, and that the eldest son of John Scott
should be named Harrison.
The compact was faithfully observed.
William Henry Harrison married daugh-
ter of John Cleves Symmes, and bis oldest
son was duly called SCOTT Harrison. and
his son, Benjamin Harrison. is now the
President of the United States. John Scott
also met his matrimonial fate. and when he
became the father of q son the child was
named Harrison. aud was in his day ono OF
the earlier eminent physicians of illinois.
Ii seems O curious circumstance that q
member Of the family from whom. many
years afterward and many miles distant
from its original dwelling place. Benjamin
Harrison chose q wife should have been in
surumental In introducing into his family
as O Christian name her surname OF Scott.