University of Virginia Library

Robert Scott Sr.

Robert Scott was free born, and at the
time I knew him, was, I should say, some
sixty years of age. He was quite light in
color — probably a quadroon — with good
features, and an intelligent expression.
He had a very fair education — picked
up I cannot tell how, was well read
and could converse ably upon all the
important subjects of the day, whether
it was the Reconstruction of the Confederate
States, the Darwinian theory of the
descent of man, or Woman Suffrage
He met a congenial spirit in Miss Gardner,
being like her, fond of an argument, and
they enjoyed many a battle of words
together. He was in very comfortable
circumstances financially, and his
family consisted of three daughters
and a son. His wife died some
years before we knew him, and his

oldest daughter, Mary, a fine looking
and intelligent woman, kept house
for him. His brother, James, also a
widower with one little girl, lived — I
think in the house with him.

The Scotts were musicians of no
mean quality, and they were employed
to furnish music for parties by all the
most aristocratic families for miles
around — sometimes going great distances
for this purpose.
Being a man of
much ability and intelligence, and coming
in contact with people of the highest
and most cultured families of Virginia
as the Rives' the Cochranes, the Miners
the Randolphs, the Peytons and others
like them, and wise enough not to
assume anything beyond what was
expected of him, and dignified enough
not to be servile in his manner, he won
their respect, and they treated him in
a very friendly manner, conversing with

him more upon terms of equality
than was usual on the part of white
people with those of the subject race.

The brothers, Robert Sr. and James
with Robert Jr. very generously gave
their services as musicians whenever we
had an entertainment for the school.
This was great help to us as it was
always a popular feature on such occasions
and added much to the interest the
colored people felt in our attempts
to instruct and amuse our pupils
and their friends, by giving them a
little variation from the regular
course of study.

Mr. James Scott was more reserved
in his manner than his brother — perhaps
not as well educated, and much less
confident in conversation, but a very
pleasant man to meet, and very proud
of his little daughter, Lizzie, a flaxen haired
blue eyed blond, with no visible trace

of negro blood in her veins. The son
and daughters of Robert Scott were of
about the same complexion as their father —
dark eyes, straight or slightly curly dark
hair, and skins not darker than those
of many Italians.

I have remarked that Mr. Scott was
circumspect in his manner toward
the white citizens of the place, and
as I think of it now, his wisdom
in this respect governed his conduct
toward all both white and colored.
I do not remember of ever hearing of
his having trouble in his dealings with
any one of either race. He was evidently
careful to avoid running against the
sharp corners of those about him,
and as far as I can remember he always
presented an amiable surface to all.

The popularity of the Scott
brothers as musicians was noteworthy
enough to receive mention in some

volume of local Virginia history which
fell into my hands a few years ago, the
author devoting considerable space in
praise of their musical ability. I am
sorry I have forgotten the title of the
book, as well as the name of the author.

I find it hard to delineate the
character of Robert Scott because there
seem to be no specially salient points
to grasp. It was like a smooth round
ball, beneath the surface of which you
felt that there were qualities that under
certain conditions might made a hump
on its surface, but which were so well
controlled ordinarily, and the various
phases of its force were so subtly shown,
that I can only place him upon the
stage as an intelligent amiable man
and a popular musician, but he
was really much more than that
and deserves a better biographer.

His son, Robert Scott Jr. spent one

winter in the service of Mrs. Ednah D.
Cheney of Jamaica Plain. He was
afterward employed as teacher in
the Charlottesville schools, under the
local school board, where he did credit
to the teaching instruction he had received as a
pupil of Miss Anna Gardner.