These Are the Women We Come From
They are faces in photographs, heads all held high
Not afraid to look life in the eye
With a spirit even hard times couldn’t tame
And I know that this same blood is in me
And I meet their gaze one by bone
Eyes strong and clear, I still feel them near
These are the women I come from
The faith that sustained them is bred in my bones
I know what I’m made of, and where I belong
‘Cause these are the women I come from
What did life bring them, what pain did they know
Stories the pictures didn’t show
They were lovers of babies and lovers of God
With lessons and laughter in their songs
Did they dream better dreams for their children
As they prayed silent prayers in the night
“Lord make their way clear, and always be near”
Now I have my own child beside me
And we gaze at them all one by one
Her eyes strong and clear, I draw her near and say
These are the women you come from
The faith that sustained them is bred in your bones
You’ll know what you’re made of and where you belong–
‘Cause these are the women, survivors each one
They aren’t always easy, but were loving and strong
The life force inside them is still going on
‘Cause these are the women we come from

                                            (Keen & Lloyd)

When we began tracing our Spruce Run roots we seemed to focus only on the men, those travelers who forged unknown territory in the late 1700’s and remained, at least for our branch of the family, in Giles County for over one hundred and fifty years. Delving deeper in our history raised our awareness that these explorers never traveled alone. Pioneer women are our forerunners. Let’s look at our ancestral wives and mothers…for these are the women we came from:

Meet Elizabeth Scott (circa 1780-1845) daughter of Joseph Paxton Scott who was born before 1765 in England. Elizabeth, an unwed mother, gave birth to a son, Henry Scott, at about 1795 in Giles County, Virginia; she later married the father but it would be several years before they wed. However, Elizabeth reared her son for these years in her parents’ home; but I’m convinced she faced “single mom” trials and struggles much as happens today.

On October 29, 1816, Elizabeth Criner (circa 1801- 1880) married Elizabeth’s son, Henry Scott. Of all the Spruce Run women, Elizabeth was the one we know headed west, out from her home on “the Run”. I think what a tough woman Elizabeth had to be…sleeping at night in the wild with no protection except the canvas covered traveling wagon…wild animals circling them, stalking the family encouraging her children to cry out in the night! Hunting game was a daily chore; and, when she was successful, I envision Elizabeth dredging the rabbit or squirrel with Virginia-grown wheat, milled on the Run, which she then cooked over an open flame. Hopefully too the children enjoyed fishing clear mountain streams for trout that Elizabeth would then roll in Virginia ground cornmeal cooked over the open fire. Days were spent picking wild fruit. Washing the clothes in the creek. Hunting. The work was endless.

“Betsie” Criner (Mary Elizabeth Criner Scott 1821 – 1898) married John
O. Scott on June 24, 1842. She gave birth to multiple children during their
marriage; however, her last delivery were the twins, Virginia and Miles, who
were born after John was killed. Family stories say that John was grinding
corn for the Confederate Army when he died. A millstone fell on him inside
the Scott Mill. Betsie was 43 years old. She had a houseful of kids to raise
and she was alone. Although Betsie knew hardship she survived and lived a
long life.

My great-grandmother was Sarah Ellen Epling Scott (1852 – ). From pictures we know how she physically looked, both when she reared her six children including a handicapped daughter and then later as she grew older living in Spruce Run. Her home sat above the Scott Mill where my great-grandfather refined both wheat and corn. In the 1800’s family services were not available for those with disabilities, as we have now. I often wonder how she coped. Reading old legal documents we learn that great granddaddy, W. Henry, provided for both Sarah, as she aged, and their daughter, Bessie. From this strong woman came my grandfather, John David Scott, who accepted responsibly.

Lottie Mae Albert Scott (1889 – 1973) was the woman we all knew and loved. We shared each Christmas Eve with her, roasting hot dogs in the fireplace at my uncle’s house, watching the Scott brothers, her sons, playing a fierce game of Dominos on the big dining room table. In the summer we enjoyed picnics along the banks of the New River and waited with her every summer for our aunt, her youngest child to come home to be with her family. Mamaw Mae was widowed at forty-six and remained Mrs. John David Scott until she passed at seventy-four.

These are the Spruce Run women we come from…women who today lead us by their history, women who survived their hardships to inspire us, and women who taught us through their choices, both good and bad. Because they lived – each of us, their granddaughters many generations after the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, know more about ourselves through who they were and what they did. We will forever be connected to these women from Spruce Run.