MARY [JACOBS] SCOTT (1834 - 1873)

Westbourne is where the Jacobs family lived through most of the 19th century. Mary's mother was born just north of Westbourne in Harting, Sussex in 1803. She is listed in the 1881 census, at close to 80 years, as a labourer. Mary Jacobs was born on 5th April 1834 in Westbourne. Her parents were employed as farm workers in Westbourne. She was one of at least six children, born of Joseph and Hannah [White] Jacobs. She was christened on 1stJune 1834, at the parish church in Westbourne.

It is not known where Mary met her future husband William Scott. She might have been working in Portsmouth, perhaps as a servant. They could have met at a fair or some other event. In any case the short distance between the two places was an easy kind of walk, in the event that public transportation was not available. People in those days thought nothing of a 10 mile walk.

William and Mary were married in Westbourne, by banns, on 3rdAugust 1856. The marriage certificate gives some usual information but also adds some interesting additional information. William is identified as a bachelor and Mary as a spinster. His occupation is given as "H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth". His residence is given as Portsea and hers as Westbourne -- but that would have been necessary for marriage by banns at that church and it may just be that her parent's address was used. The fathers' names are given: William Scott and Joseph Jacobs. William Sr. is identified as working at "H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth" and Joseph as being a Labourer. It is known that both Williams were prison warders and that at least William Jr. was a warder at the Portsmouth Prison. It is likely that they both were and that the designation placed on the certificate by the minister was not in dispute of that fact. Also of interest on the certificate is the fact that both William and Mary sign their names. Interestingly the two witnesses are Joseph Jacobs and Martha Jacobs. It is quite likely that Joseph, the father was illiterate, and that the signature is that of his son, also named Joseph. At that time and for many years later, William was a warder at Portsmouth Prison and they lived in different houses in the vicinity of the Prison.

A family register (presumably from a Bible) lists the births of William and Mary and also of their children. The page is completed in two hands. It is thought that the entry for Mary Ann Scott is in William's handwriting, while the rest is in Mary's. Note the twins Walter and Charles. Only Walter, Elizabeth Marion, Sydney George and William Joseph lived beyond infancy. They enjoyed seventeen years of marriage, until her death on 7th February 1873 on the Isle of Wight.

Source: http://www.kenscott.com/wilscott33/famlife.htm