Collector of Water Scot

[jsingleton]

Can anyone tell me what a 'collector of the water scot' is?

Many Thanks

[get2BJ]

May I ask where you have seen this description? If you can share the information with us perhaps seeing the original writing in context will allow someone to work out exactly what it is.



'collector of the water scot'

(Sounds like a foreigner describing a person who collects the work of a certain novelist Walter Scott):D

Best wishes

Brenda

[Mary Young]

I think a "scot" is a rent or tax.

[jeeb]

As Mary says a 'scot' was a tax levied by a parish in order to what one could afford, hence the expression 'scot-free' meaning unable to pay the tax.

Collector of water scot would mean collector of taxes possibly from boating charges or water for irrigation perhaps depending on the context in which it was used.

Jeremy.

[get2BJ]

I think a "scot" is a rent or tax.Spot on Mary, check out this link:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sco1.htm

Brenda

[jsingleton]

Many thanks to everyone for your help.

I found the term on a2a, which details records on the Verrall family of Rodmell (1877-1919). There was a section of one of the family members which reads:

"He held several public offices, including collector of the water scot, correspondent to the School Managers, and assistant overseer for Southease and Rodmell."

The River Ouse is nearby so perhaps this is the link?

[Peter Goodey]

Possibly a bit of local history for you to delve into...

For example, this from one of the OED's definitions of 'scot':-

"A tax levied on the inhabitants of the marshes and levels of Kent and Sussex (see quots.).

1793 A. YOUNG Agric. Sussex 22 In Pevensey, and generally in all the levels, is raised a tax by the acre, called Scot, both general and particular. The general scot is applied for the purposes of paying water-bailiffs expenses... The particular scot is applied for the.. looking after the streams and sewers."

I'm not claimimg this specific example applies to your case but something similar might apply.

[jsingleton]

Thanks Peter, that looks very useful. I think something similar may well apply to Rodmell, so I'll do some more investigating.