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Note: Much of this biography has been completed using the individual entries in the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the Singleton District Pioneer Register [Family History Society Singleton 1989] for details of members of the extended SCOTT family.
Although Helenus SCOTT was never appointed as a staff member at the Newcastle Industrial School, at the time the school operated in Newcastle he was the Newcastle Police Magistrate. He and his family lived within the enclosure of the Newcastle Barracks site in the original hospital building located immediately to the south of the Industrial School building.
SCOTT was closely involved with the staff and some inmates – professionally and domestically. In his capacity as Police Magistrate, SCOTT was responsible for providing permission to marry for underage30 girls who had no contact with their parents or who were orphans. To date two registrations in which he provided the permission have been uncovered. He was the person giving approval for the marriage of Elizabeth SAMPSON and Anastasia, the sister of Rachel WILLIS. On 13 November 1869, Martha EVERLEY, one of the industrial school girls, was apprenticed to SCOTT as a domestic servant.31 He communicated concerns to KING and CLARKE if girls were experiencing difficulties once they had completed their time in Newcastle and returned home32 and is known to have advised CLARKE on suitable treatments for misbehaving inmates.33 If any girls appeared in the Newcastle court, they appeared before SCOTT. SCOTT's brother, D. C. F. SCOTT, was a magistrate working in the Sydney courts and it is considered very likely, although it cannot be proven, that it was through this Sydney contact that SCOTT communicated the background information on the behaviour of girls who had returned to Sydney that formed the basis for the list compiled by CLARKE in August 1870.34
Family
Helenus SCOTT was born in Bombay, India,35 on 22 May 1802.36 He was the son of Helenus SCOTT and Augusta Maria FREDERICK. In 1821 Helenus, his father and brother, Robert, embarked for Australia aboard the Britomart but the elder man died at sea and the brothers came on to NSW, not intending to remain long. The Britomart arrived in Sydney on 8 March 1922. The brothers each received a 2000 acre land grant near Patrick's Plains37 on the Hunter River. They combined their grants forming the property, Glendon where they bred blood horses. Further land was purchased to add to the property. Robert was appointed a magistrate and defended those involved in the Myall Creek massacre in 1838 after which his magistracy was removed. Robert died in 1844 and the depression of the 1840s forced Helenus to sell Glendon.
Over the next decade and a half other family members arrived and the extended SCOTT family became one of the most significant families in Australia's cultural history. Helenus' brother, Alexander Walker SCOTT38 arrived in 1927. Another brother, David Charles Frederick SCOTT, arrived in 1835 and became a Police Magistrate in the Sydney Courts.39 His only sister, Augusta Maria, arrived with their widowed mother, also Augusta Maria, in 1832. In 183340 Augusta married Dr James MITCHELL.41
Helenus married Sarah Ann RUSDEN, the daughter of the Rev. George K. RUSDEN and Anne TOWNSHEND, on 2 September 1835.42 She had arrived in 1834 aboard the James Harris. Sarah was a sister of Rose RUSDEN, the wife of the minister at Christ Church, Newcastle, Arthur E. SELWYN.43 Helenus and Sarah had ten children. When their son, George Frederick, married in 1886, he was described as their eldest surviving son.44
SCOTT was a magistrate, police magistrate, President of the local Benevolent Asylum and received the 'Order of Merit' as a colonist of high standing. He died at Newcastle on 24 August 1879.45
FUNERAL OF THE LATE CAPTAIN HELENUS SCOTT, P.M.
The remains of this gentleman were conveyed from Newcastle by the mail train to Singleton yesterday for interment. A large number of influential residents of the district, and other friends, forming a long procession, following the hearse from the railway station to the Church of England Cemetery at Glendon, in which the family have a vault. The funeral service was performed by the Rev. B. Shaw, of Singleton. Mr. Scott was born at Bombay in 1802, son of Dr. Helenus Scott. His mother was a daughter of Colonel Frederick, and was a sister of Sir John Young's (Lord Lisgar) mother. Came to the colony in 1821, was offered military appointment by the Duke of Wellington, started as far as Valparaiso to accept, found there he was too old, returned to Australia in partnership with his brother Robert, entered into pastoral pursuits, obtained a large grant of land at Glendon, near Singleton, imported valuable stock, ruined by Bank of Australia, appointed to the magistracy in 1826; on 12 August, 143, Warden of District Council at Patrick's Plains; 13 November, 1844, Commissioner of Court of Requests, Patrick's Plains; 29 April, 1853, appointed collector Royalty at Louisa Creek; 2 Jan., 1854, P M.; at Carcoar, 25 Feb. 1856, P.M. at Wollombi and Macdonald River; 11 Sept., 1857, P.M. at Newcastle. No mention of Mr. Scott would be complete without saying something of his great regard for the Police Force, as a body of honourable, hard-working men; who, as a rule, did their duty fearlessly—duty which was generally unpleasant and thankless. They, in return, regarded him with respect; and, in many cases, affection. It was the wish of Inspector Thorpe that the Police Force should attend the funeral in a body, and bear the remains of one they so universally respected to their last resting place; but be heard too late to make arrangements that the ceremony was not to take place in Newcastle.
It may also be added that Mr. Scott married the eldest daughter of the Rev. George Keylock Rusden, M. A., of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, who was the first clergyman of Maitland, and who was always much beloved and respected.
SCOTT and his wife, Sarah Ann, were buried in Whittingham Anglican Cemetery,46 at Glendon, Singleton,47 with his brother, Robert, and his infant daughter, Amelia. This grave is located beside that of his daughter, Mary Ann, and her husband, Bowyer SHAW,
SCOTT's headstone at Whittingham Cemetery, Singleton
Courtesy Australian Cemeteries Index (http://austcemindex.com)
Helenus's daughter, Rose SCOTT,48 his sister's son, David Scott MITCHELL,49 and Helena and Harriett SCOTT,50 the daughters of his brother, Alexander Walker SCOTT51 made significant and lasting contributions to the cultural history of Australia.
Updated June 2018