Birth: Certificate; Carol MORSE. Marriage: Certificate; also James Ernest SCOTT's birth and marriage certificates. Death: Headstone (Bilbrook cemetery).
William was born on the 29th June 1853 in St Lukes London. [The entries 4th July, Kingsbrompton, Dulverton, Somerset, in the Military Record appear to be incorrect.] He appears in the Kingsbrompton 1861 Census results as William Able SCOTE, grandson of Able SCOTE. By 1871 he was working as a farmhand hear Kingsbrompton and in 1873 he joined the Marines. He married Mary ASH in Plymouth, Devon on 30th May 1880 in the East Stonehouse Parish Church. They had three children: Charlotte Mary Esther, born 31st May 1882 in St Aubyn (Stoke Damerel district, Devon), James Ernest (Ern), born 28th December 1883 in Plymouth, and George Harry. In fact there were about ten children, but only these three survived. The family lived in Plymouth until William was pensioned out of the Royal Navy on 27th March 1894. In 1883, the address was 2 Chapel Lane. They moved to Bilbrook, and bought Ivy Cottage. William worked for Mr Hosegoods - one of the "landed gentry" - as gardener, stableman, and helping with the hunt. William was a 'lovely old chap', going out for the occasional drink, much to Mary's displeasure. The family had many relatives visiting, and Ivy Cottage was often packed wall to wall. [Ern MORSE] The 1901 Census shows William, Mary and Georg living next to Billbrook Lawns, Billbrook. [Carol MORSE]