Mystery Monday: Where Was Sydney Borden Scott Born?

When Sydney Borden Scott registered for the draft for World War II in 1942, he listed his birthplace as Petersburg, Virginia. When he applied for a Social Security Number twenty years later, in 1962, he again gave Petersburg, VA as his place of birth. Yet, when he passed away just 3 years later, in 1965, his Certificate of Death stated that his place of birth was Sparta, GA. 

Crop of Social Security Number Application for Sydney Borden Scott, 1962. Social Security Administration.

These aren’t the only records that disagree with one another regarding his birthplace. The 1910 Census says Georgia. A 1920 Census that *may* be him – I am not sure and need to do more digging – says Georgia. But the 1930 and 1940 Census records say Virginia. Alumni records from Meharry Medical College and the University of Illinois say Atlanta, Georgia.

1910 U.S Federal Census, Population Schedule, for Sydney Borden Scott

So, Where Was Sydney Borden Scott Born?

Now, I would normally trust records where Borden (as he seemed to prefer to be called) provided the information himself over those where someone else was the informant. He may have been the informant when the Census Enumerator came around, but it just as easily may have been a neighbor. But he definitely would have been the informant for his WWII Draft Registration Card and for his Social Security Number application. That would make Virginia the more likely option. And yet, that doesn’t seem to make sense, looking at a broader range of evidence. Notably:

• Borden consistently gives his birth date as 27 July 1880, on his WWI and WWII Draft Registration Cards and his SSN application. Census records place his year of birth anywhere from 1878 to 1888, and his Certificate of Death again gives 1880. His immediate family – including parents and siblings – all seem to be in Georgia at this time.

•  Borden’s siblings all appear to have been born in Georgia, from about 1850 on.

So why would Borden say Petersburg, Virginia? Well, his mother Nelly was from Virginia. Perhaps she gave birth while visiting family at home?

Or maybe his parentage is more complicated than I know, and perhaps he was adopted into the Scott family, from someone on his mother’s side. Why might I guess this? Well:

• I can’t find him in the 1880 Census, though this isn’t totally surprising if he was indeed born in July of that year. The “census day” was June 1^st, so an enumerator sticking to the rules wouldn’t have counted him even if he was an infant in the household if the enumerator had come by later on.

• Even though he is clearly considered a Scott sibling, appearing as such through a network of documents, the records are a bit cagey on his parentage. Based on his birthyear, he should be the child of Nelly Little and Solomon Scott, who had married in Georgia in 1872. Yet when Borden fills out his SSN application, he gives Nelly as his mother but writes “Do Not Recall” for his father. Other siblings were clear that Solomon was their father, so why would Borden not know? Conversely, on his Death Certificate, however, his father is listed as Solomon Scott and his mother’s name is “Not Known.” The informant was Mary Betterman, a records clerk at Henrotin Hospital, where he passed. Why would she know his father’s name, but not his mother’s? This is enough to make me wonder.

Trying Other Records

The 1890 Census doesn’t exist for their area (thanks to the 1921 fire), and I can’t find him in the 1900 Census even though I have rational guesses for where he should be (either Atlanta Baptist College or in Washington, Hancock or Putnam County, GA). Records from Meharry Medical College, from which he graduated in 1908, show that he was from Atlanta, but this may be because he attended Atlanta Baptist College before matriculating there. Meharry’s archives do not have any application or other student records pertaining to him. I have written to both the University of Illinois Special Collections and University Archives and to the Morehouse College Archives (the successor to Atlanta Baptist College) to see if they have any application materials or student records to shed further light on this.

Is There an Obituary?

First off, many thanks to L. Martin at the Chicago History Museum Research Center for locating Borden's obituary! Second, you know that emoji that is both laughing and crying? Here's the relevant snippet, which appears in The Chicago Defender on 7 August 1965, p. 31:

"Dr. Scott died in the Henrotin Hospital after an extended illness. A resident of Chicago for 55 years, he is said to have been a bachelor. He was born in Cherry Hillsman, Miss Linn Hillsman, Mrs. Julia Davis, and Mrs. Sadie Minow."

Yes, that is an exact quote. There is clearly at least one line missing, from "He was born in" to "Cherry Hillsman" - dagnabit! (It's even clearer when you see the actual image, which I'm hoping I get permission to use.)

But What About Birth Records, Adrienne?  

Great question. Context suggests Borden was born in Georgia, so let’s start there. According to the Georgia Archives, “Statewide registration of births began in 1919…[and] In general, there are no official birth records before 1919.” They continue, “An 1875 Act of the Georgia General Assembly mandated statewide registration of births, deaths, and marriages. Few counties complied with this law and even fewer citizens within those counties reported the required information. This effort for statewide registration of vital records was funded by the legislature for only two years and after 1876 it was largely abandoned by the counties.” Now, there are some exceptions, but they don’t include the counties I would be researching in.

Now, it’s possible that Borden send away for a Delayed Birth Certificate later on in life. Per FamilySearch.org's Wiki, it’s possible that these would be kept at the County Probate Court level. I called the Washington and Hancock County Probate Courts and was given a clear “No.” Putnam County said I could either come and look myself or have them do it for a (pretty reasonable) fee. I will be doing that!

Of course, I should also check Virginia’s records. Statewide registration of births didn’t begin in Virginia until 1912. Per FamilySearch.org’s Wiki, “From 1853 to 1896, the state required county officials to record births and deaths” (emphasis mine). Borden was pretty clear that he was from Petersburg, VA, in 2 records 20 years apart. Interestingly, Petersburg is and was an independent city, meaning it is not a part of any county. But, birth records - which may include delayed certificates of birth – do exist, and can be found on microfilm via the Library of Virginia. So you can bet I will also be consulting that!

For both searches, I’ll post again when the results are in, and we’ll see where things stand.

In the meantime, do you know where Sydney Borden Scott was born? Do you have a copy of a birth record for him? Or have other thoughts and suggestions? Post below and we’ll chat!