Historical question

[McBarnacleBill]

I recently found an ancestor who came over from Scotland in 1650. In one source that I found, it noted that he was a member of SCS Boston. I can't find anything on SCS. I assume that one of those S's stands for Scotland, or Scottish, but have no idea what the rest could be. Any ideas?

McBarnacleBill

[NPG]

I believe this would be the Scots' Charitable Society.

[McBarnacleBill]

I believe this would be the Scots' Charitable Society.

You are exactly right, sir. I did a little research, and found that the Scots Charitable Society is the oldest charitable organization in the Western Hemisphere. It was founded in Boston, in 1657. My ancestor is listed as being a member in Boston, in 1657, so it would appear that he was one of the founding members. Thank you so much for the information; you've made my day!

McBarnacleBill

[NPG]

Glad I could help and congratulations on discovering your ancestor was a part of such storied history.

[Reiver]

Very neat fact there. Question, was he a Highlander or from down south.
I've a relative, Jerome Scott that arrived in 1719....he was a borderer obviously.
It looks, to my untrained historical eye, as many very early Scot's came from the southern regions after the unification.
Just wondering.

[McBarnacleBill]

Hi, Reiver,

The MacCallums are a Highland clan, a sept (I believe) of McCloud. Another of my Scottish ancestors, John MacBean, was also from a Highland clan. There were quite a few Scots arriving, around this time, especially at ports in the Northeast, as British prisoners. They were captured at the Battle of Dunbar, in 1650; and at the Battle of Worcester, one year later. Prisoners from both battles were sold as indentured servants to the London Company of Undertakers, a venture capital group in London investing in the first successful iron works in the American colonies. Bound to the Iron Works at Lynn, now Saugus, in Massachusetts, most of the indentured Scots were required to complete seven years of labor for the company. Both of my ancestors came over as prisoners.