Born in Gracechurch Street, London
The Hertford Monthly Meeting testimony records that he 'was born in Gracechurch street, London, on the 21st of the third month, 1719'.
1719–1788 · Gracechurch Street, London, England
Samuel Scott
The Hertford Diarist — A Minister's Unsparing Watch over His Own Soul
“I had rather refrain from speaking, when perhaps I might have spoken with a degree of profit, than at any time to speak unprofitably.” — Samuel Scott
Life & Ministry
A Divine Visitation in His Seventeenth Year
By his own written account he 'was, in the seventeenth year of his age, remarkably favoured with a divine visitation; by which his understanding was enlightened'. The year is inferred from his birth; the diary later recalls 'the ground on which I was early favoured with a sense of the divine presence' at Martin's le Grand and the Grange.
Comes Forth in the Ministry
Having walked in conformity 'till about the thirty-fourth year of his age, he then came forth in the work of the ministry'; the testimony reckons him 'a minister about thirty-six years' at his death, so the year is approximate.
Marriage
'On the third of 10th month, 1754, I was married to my dear wife, who has ever since been my faithful and constant companion.' The diary does not give her name.
First Attempt at a Diary
Essays at keeping a diary 'have at various times been attempted; the last in the summer, 1776, on being relieved from a disorder which I esteemed dangerous: but after a short continuation, the bough was lopped with terror'.
The Diary Resumed
'On the first day of the sixth month, in the year 1780, and in the sixty-second of my age, I renew the recording of some circumstances which have occurred'; that spring he attended the Yearly Meeting in London and, on returning to Hertford, found 'some qualification for a public ministry' in the forenoon meeting.
Phipps's Tracts and Barclay's Grandson
Confined at home he read tracts 'lately published, written by my long acquainted friend Joseph Phipps'; he dined at Youngsbury with David Barclay and talked of 'that excellent man and skilful minister of Christ, his grandfather'; and he was nominated to the Meeting for Sufferings committee digesting the Book of Extracts.
Death of His Brother, John Scott of Amwell
He sat with visiting American Friends John Pemberton and William Mathews at Bishop Stortford and Hitchin; in the twelfth month a special messenger summoned him from Hertford to his brother's bedside at Ratcliff, where John Scott died on the 12th 'in remarkable quietness, without sigh or groan'.
Revising the Diary
'For some time past, I have been employed in a work which has long been before me, viz: the revising, correcting, and abridging my diary, which was begun in the year 1780.'
Death at Hertford
The last entries, written in the eleventh month, ask that he be enabled to forgive those who had 'treated me with great ingratitude and contempt'. 'He departed this life on the 20th day of the eleventh month, 1788, and was interred the 30th of the same in Friends' burial ground at Hartford, after a very large and solemn meeting.'
Connections & Relationships
Joseph Phipps
Long-Acquainted FriendIn 1781 Scott perused 'some tracts, lately published, written by my long acquainted friend Joseph Phipps; in which our religious sentiments concerning baptism, Christian communion, silent waiting, oaths, fasting, and rejoicing, are stated and supported'.
John Pemberton
Visiting MinisterIn 1783 'John Pemberton, from Philadelphia' attended the Hertford meetings and quarterly meeting; Scott was with 'our worthy friends John Pemberton and William Mathews, from North America, at the monthly meeting of Hartford, held at Bishop Stortford; and also at the week-day meeting, at Hitchin'.
Robert Barclay
Theological AuthorityScott quotes the Apology on silent meetings, calls Barclay 'that skilful minister of Christ', appeals to the Apology in a conference with a Calvinist, and in 1781 dined at Youngsbury with David Barclay, discussing 'his grandfather, and the elaborate Apology he wrote for the true Christian Divinity'.
Isaac Penington
Spiritual InfluenceHe cites 'our truly learned and deeply experienced friend, Isaac Penington' on the new creation (Works, vol. i. p. 526), and in a low season found Penington's words 'inwardly uttered': 'None but Christ; none but Christ, can my soul say'.
John Churchman
Read His JournalLame and housebound in 1783 he 'perused the journal of our deceased friend John Churchman, of North America', having read it when first published, and copied its counsel that 'every vision and opening ... is not for immediate utterance'.
George Fox
Founder InvokedScott defends 'those precious testimonies of the cross, delivered to George Fox and others, against hat honour' and the names of days and months, and recalls how 'our ancient friend, George Fox, used to testify' of Christ Jesus the true seed.
Available Works
A Diary of Some of the Religious Exercises and Experience of Samuel Scott
ProposedThe diary he began in 1776 and kept in earnest from the sixth month 1780 until days before his death in 1788, revised and abridged by himself in 1784; printed with the Hertford Monthly Meeting testimony, an editor's preface signed R. P., and memoirs of the last illness of his brother John Scott, in the Friends' Library, volume 9 (1845).