Elizabeth Scott (hymnwriter) facts for kids

Elizabeth Scott Williams Smith (born Scott, later Williams and then Smith; 1708 – June 13, 1776) was a talented writer from the 1700s. She was born in Britain but later became an American hymnwriter and poet. Before 1750, she wrote many hymns. One of her biggest collections had 90 of them!

Her hymns first appeared in a magazine called The Christian's Magazine in 1763. Later, 19 of her hymns were in a collection by John Ash and Caleb Evans in 1769. Another 20 were in John Dobell's New Selection in 1806. One of her most famous hymns is "All hail, Incarnate God." Elizabeth Scott Williams Smith passed away in 1776.

Early Life in England

Elizabeth Scott was likely born in Norwich, England, around 1708. Her father, Thomas Scott, was a minister. She had two brothers who were also writers: Thomas, who wrote hymns, and Joseph Nicol Scott, a doctor and writer. Her uncle, Daniel Scott, was a lexicographer, someone who writes dictionaries.

Her father once described her as someone who "devotes herself to doing good." Letters show that she sometimes felt sad or worried about religious matters, possibly because of family issues.

Her Writing Career

Elizabeth started writing hymns because her father suggested it. Her hymns weren't published right away, but some appeared in Dr. Dodd's Christian Magazine in 1763 and 1764.

One of her hymns, "All hail, incarnate God!", is listed as No. 386 in Dobell's Collection from 1806. A special note with this hymn says it was written after she saw an older person and a young person join the church together.

Manuscript Collections

A scholar named Franklin Bowditch Dexter studied her hymns in a manuscript at Yale College. He noted that the collection was titled Hymns & Poems by Eliz. Scott. It included a heartfelt dedication to her father, signed "E. S." and dated 1740. This manuscript contained 90 hymns.

Another manuscript, called "Poems on Several Occasions by Miss Scott of Norwich," had 26 hymns. This collection was copied in 1751, just before she moved to New England. All these hymns are also kept at Yale College.

Before Elizabeth moved to the United States, she allowed copies of her hymns to be made. These copies were then used to print her hymns in English hymnbooks. None of the hymns written after 1750 were included in these early collections.

Personal Life and Family

Elisha Williams

William Smith

Elizabeth Scott became friends with Colonel Elisha Williams (1694–1755), an American minister who used to be the head of Yale College. She married him in Norwich in 1751. She then moved with him to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in March 1772. Sadly, he passed away three years later.

On May 12, 1761, she married again, this time to the Hon. William Smith. He was a well-known judge in New York City. She also outlived him. In 1769, after becoming a widow for the second time, she returned to Wethersfield. She lived with Ezekiel Williams, who was Elisha's nephew.

Elizabeth Scott Williams Smith died in Wethersfield on June 13, 1776. She was buried in the Village Cemetery there. All her original poetry manuscripts are kept in the library at Yale College.

Selected Works

• Hymns & Poems By : Eliz Scott