Key Facts

Snapshot:	wife of a Revolutionary soldier; owned a slave
Parents:	unknown
Born:	1721 Pennsylvania
Died:	29 June 1794 around noon Hope, Rowan County, North Carolina
Buried:	Old Hope Moravian Church Cemetery, Forsyth County, North Carolina Cemetery's Coordinates: N36.0284 W80.3486

1865Mary Scott was born in 17211,2 in Pennsylvania.2

In 1738 she married 1864John Douthit.3 For more information on their marriage, their lives together, etc., see his profile since that information won't be repeated here.

1865Mary outlived her husband by about 10 years. Her will, dated 2 February 1790 in Rowan County, North Carolina, names children Abraham, Rebekah Hill, Jacob, and a granddaughter Rebekah Douthit ("daughter to Thomas"). It also mentions a slave named Hannah, a feather bed, and a saddle. See full document if you want.4

The Moravians wrote a memoir of 1865Mary after her death. A transcription is below.2

Memoir of Mary Douthit, maiden name Scott.
inserted in the "Diary of Salem and other congregations" for the year 1794.

The widowed Sister, Mary Douthit, maiden name Scott, who fell blessedly asleep in Hope (N.C.) on the 29th of this month (June, 1794,) was born in the year 1721 in Pennsylvania, and was instructed by her parents in the foundation principles of the English Church. After moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland she married her now departed husband, Br. John Douthit, being in her eighteenth year.

In the year 1750 they moved to North Carolina, settling near the land which a few years later was taken by the Brethren and named Wachovia. They were both friendly neighbors, and they aided the Brethren in the beginning of their settlement, as far as they know how and were able. When English services were begun in Bethabara they attended frequently, and then invited the Brethren to come to their home for the same purpose. The Brn. Ettwein, Utley and others often had opportunity there to witness for the Saviour, and not without blessing, and our Sister often remembered these services with love and thankfulness. Not only did she hear the Gospel, but she felt its force in her own heart.

They then attended the services of the Brethren in Friedberg until 1780, when a Society of the Brethren was begun in this neighborhood (Hope), and she and her husband were among the first members. On June 10, 1781, they were both "received" into the congregation, and on March 28, 1782, they partook of the Lord's Supper. On Feb. 22, 1784, her husband went peacefully out of Time. With him she had had a happy married life of forty-six years, which God blessed with seven sons and six daughters, of whom one son and two daughters preceded her into eternity. The others are still living, and two sons and one daughter belong to the Moravian Church. From these, her children, she had seventy-one grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, whose salvation lay much upon her heart. After the home-going of her husband she lived with her son Jacob, helping where she could in the household and with the rearing of the children.

Concerning her inner life it may truthfully be said that in her need she entered the school of the Holy Ghot, and went forward therein daily, enjoying the love of Jesus. When she spoke of this one could see how full her heart was, and how her time passed in quiet communion with the Saviour. Her connection with the Unity of Brethren was precious and important to her, and she never missed a service when she could help it. The Atonement of Jesus particularly appealed to her, and as she found therein so much of nourishment for her heart she often said, with many years, that it was her supreme wish that all her children might feel its power in their hearts, and for this she often prayed to the Saviour.

Our Sister was of a quiet and peaceful nature, and she showed her love for those about her without many words. On the 20th of this month, when the congregation here partook of the Communion, she was present, and in speaking about it beforehand she showed a special warmth of spirit, saying that her heart held close to the Saviour, that her age and weakness of body often hindered her daily work, and her greatest wish and desire was soon to be with her Lord and Saviour, in which she would rejoice with her whole heart. And though neither she nor we knew it, this was to be her last visit here. No one thought that her wish would be granted so quickly, as she usually was fairly well. On the 28th she seemed to be in her usual health when she went to bed; on the morning of the 29th she complained of great pain in the chest, which more quickly than was expected brought her brief illness to an end, suddenly and quietly. Toward noon, almost imperceptibly, she feel asleep, and went to see Him on Whom she had believed. Her age was seventy-three years.

1865Mary is buried in Old Hope Moravian Church Cemetery, Forsyth County, North Carolina. The cemetery is at coordinates N36.0284 W80.3486. A photo of her tombstone is below.1

Sources Cited:

1: The tombstone of Mary Douthit, "Born Scott" (1721 - 29 June 1794), Old Hope Moravian Church Cemetery, Forsyth County, North Carolina. The cemetery is at coordinates N36.0284 W80.3486.

2: The Moravian memoir of Mary Douthit (maiden name Scott), said to be inserted in the "Diary of Salem and other congregations" for the year 1794. Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

3: Adelaide Fries, ed., Records of the Moravians in North Carolina, Volume V: 1784-1792 (The North Carolina Historical Commission, Raleigh, 1941), pages 2408-2409.

4: Rowan County, North Carolina. Original wills, folder for Mary Douthit (1790), whose will is dated 2 February 1790. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9G4-3T9W?i=496&cat=457207>, accessed 13 March 2021.