Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Mary A. Scott, 1858-1901
By Nola A. Forbes, Saint Johnsbury, VT
Vermont Woman Suffrage Association: Local Committee Chair for Craftsbury
Mary A. Scott was born on 13 October 1858 in Craftsbury, Vermont to Amasa Scott & Mary Wright. She may have been named for her aunt Mary Ann (Scott) Leach. She remained single, living with her parents and in 1900 was listed as a music teacher. Mary A. Scott died of enteritis in Craftsbury on 5 January 1901 at the age of forty-two years, 2 months, 27 days. She and brother George are buried with their parents in the Craftsbury Village Cemetery.
Mary Scott became involved in the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association (VWSA). Mary Scott (identified also as Miss M. A. Scott) appears in the VWSA's annual reports as the head of the Local Committee for Craftsbury from 1888 until her death. She had donated two valuable oil paintings to the December 1887 New England WSA Bazaar & Festival fundraising table, whose proceeds were returned 100% to the VWSA Treasury. She had also canvassed Craftsbury for donations to that Bazaar.
In the Journal of the Vermont House on October 19, 1893 “Mr. Graham, of Craftsbury, presented the petition of Mary A. Scott and two hundred eighty-one others, residents of Craftsbury, praying for the enactment of a law extending full suffrage to the women of Vermont.” This petition was referred to the judiciary committee. A similar petition from Mary A. Scott and 179 others was presented by Mr. Chafey to the Vermont Senate on October 28, 1898, with the same result.
Mary was also active in the Vermont Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). The joint work between the two groups to advance the cause of Woman's Suffrage appears in VWSA reports. She served as an Orleans County delegate to the state convention in 1891. At that time, she was elected as an alternate delegate to the National Convention at Boston, and appointed as alternate delegate to the tenth convention of the National Temperance Society at Saratoga (she did not attend). Mary A. Scott was listed as President of the Craftsbury Y Union. The 1901 annual meeting of the WCTU stated that Miss Mary Scott was their superintendent of physical education at the time of her death. Her family asked that she be made a memorial member, presenting $20 to the union on her behalf.
Mary A. Scott's father Amasa Scott was an honorary member of the VWSA from 1892 until his death March 4, 1897. Amasa provided monetary donations, public papers and was described as “a life-long apostle of woman's enfranchisement” and with his death “the cause he defended so nobly is deeply afflicted.” His sister Miss Caroline Scott, Mary's aunt, was also an active VWSA member.
Craftsbury Academy was the recipient of the entire library of Mary A. Scott by August 1901. Her estate paid $249.06 Vermont collateral inheritance tax during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902.
Sources:
Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Vermont, 1893, p.76
Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont, 1899, p. 81
“Craftsbury Academy,” Orleans County Monitor, August 12, 1901, Chronicling America
“State W. C. T. U. Convention.” News and Citizen, October 09, 1901 Chronicling America
US Census 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 Craftsbury, Orleans Co, VT
Vermont State Officers' Reports, 1902, p. 68
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Vermont, 1891, pp. 17, 21, 39, 88
Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908, Ancestry.com, Mary A Scott, 5 January 1901
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156550210 birth and death inscribed for Mary A. Scott
Minutes of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Bellow's Falls, Vermont, January 17 and 18, 1888 (St. Johnsbury, Vt.: Caledonia Press, C. M. Stone & Co, 1888).
Minutes of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Barre, Vermont, February 13 and 14, 1889 (Brattleboro, Vt.: Press of Frank E. Housh & Co, 1889).
Minutes of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Bradford, Vermont, January 21 and 22, 1890 (Brattleboro, Vt.: Press of Frank E. Housh & Co, 1890).
Minutes of the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Lyndonville, Vermont, January 29 and 30, 1891 (Brattleboro, Vt.: Press of Frank E. Housh & Co, 1891).
Minutes of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Sutton, Vermont, June 9 and 10, 1892 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1892).
Minutes of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Hardwick, Vermont, June 27 and 28, 1893 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1893).
Minutes of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Barton, Vermont, June 28 and 29, 1894 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1894).
Minutes of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Peacham, Vermont, June 27 and 28, 1895 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1895).
Minutes of the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Montpelier, Vermont, June 10 and 11, 1896 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1896).
Minutes of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Burlington, Vermont, June 14 and 15, 1897 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1897).
Minutes of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at South Royalton, Vermont, June 28 and 29, 1898 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1898).
Minutes of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Bellows Falls, Vermont, June 1 and 2, 1899 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1899).
Minutes of the Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Waterbury Center, Vermont, June 12 and 13, 1900 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1900).
Minutes of the Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association, Held at Rochester, Vermont, June 25 and 26, 1901 (Jericho, Vt.: Roscoe Printing House, 1901).