You've got a great list Dave. Glad to see you're keeping it ship-shape. While I have you on the line - would you know where the phrase "Scots Free" originated? I have searched with Google but nothing explains it's origin. I bet there's an interesting story behind it. Jerry

Jerry, I understand that "scots free" has nothing to do with the Scots. It is an Italian word meaning "scratch" or "mark". So something scots free is unblemished. Aye, Auld Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Simpson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 1:27 PM Subject: [SCTCDN] RE: [SCOTS-IN-CANADA] Message to Members AND Reply to Michael Servetus! > You've got a great list Dave. Glad to see you're keeping it ship-shape. > > While I have you on the line - would you know where the phrase "Scots Free" > originated? I have searched with Google but nothing explains it's origin. > I bet there's an interesting story behind it. > > Jerry > > > > ==== SCOTS-IN-CANADA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe: [email protected] inserting the word unsubscribe in both the subject line and the text area and using a fresh email to do it. Use -D- if you are in Digest mode. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

"Robert C. McArtor" wrote: > Jerry, I understand that "scots free" has nothing to do with the Scots. It > is an Italian word meaning "scratch" or "mark". So something scots free is > unblemished. Aye, Auld Bob > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jerry Simpson" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 1:27 PM > Subject: [SCTCDN] RE: [SCOTS-IN-CANADA] Message to Members AND Reply to > Michael Servetus! > > > You've got a great list Dave. Glad to see you're keeping it ship-shape. > > > > While I have you on the line - would you know where the phrase "Scots > Free" > > originated? I have searched with Google but nothing explains it's origin. > > I bet there's an interesting story behind it. > > > > Jerry > > > > > > > > ==== SCOTS-IN-CANADA Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe: [email protected] inserting the word > unsubscribe in both the subject line and the text area and using a fresh > email to do it. Use -D- if you are in Digest mode. > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > ==== SCOTS-IN-CANADA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe: [email protected] inserting the word unsubscribe in both the subject line and the text area and using a fresh email to do it. Use -D- if you are in Digest mode. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 Auld Bob, wouldn't Scot Free (as in 'he got off Scot free') fall in there somewhere? Wally Whiteside

Thanks Jerry but my belief is that we (as a list) are what we allow ourselves to be and with a very few (but notable) exceptions, the membership of this list to date has provided a good atmosphere for us to work in and welcoming to new members as well. You folk, the members make it as good as you want it to be. Re: would you know where the phrase "Scots Free" originated? I'm happy to have others answer that but first off I believe it is Scot Free rather than Scots Free. And, courtesy of Copernic, here is an explanation:- "Exactly whence came the term scot free? Does it, as it sounds, refer to citizens of Scotland? Or am I reading something into that?" As with the word hopscotch, scot free has no connection with Scotsmen, frugal or otherwise. It's a Scandinavian word meaning "payment". The expression derives from a medieval municipal tax levied in proportional shares on inhabitants, often for poor relief. This was called a scot, as an abbreviation of the full term scot and lot, where scot was the sum to be paid and lot was one's allotted share. (This tax lasted a long time, in some places such as Westminster down to the electoral reforms of 1832, with only those paying scot and lot being allowed to vote.) So somebody who avoided paying his share of the town's expenses for some reason got off scot free. It was also used for a payment or reckoning, especially one's share of the cost of an entertainment; when one settled up, one "paid for one's scot". Again, someone who evaded paying their share of the tab got off scot free. It's been suggested that this usage may have come from the old habit of noting purchases of drinks and the like by making marks on a slate, or scotching it, but the evidence suggests this is just a popular etymology, and that the usage comes from the same idea of a sum due to be paid. World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996-. All rights reserved. Thanks. David/Admin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Simpson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 2:27 PM Subject: [SCTCDN] RE: [SCOTS-IN-CANADA] Message to Members AND Reply to Michael Servetus! > You've got a great list Dave. Glad to see you're keeping it ship-shape. > > While I have you on the line - would you know where the phrase "Scots Free" > originated? I have searched with Google but nothing explains it's origin. > I bet there's an interesting story behind it. > > Jerry > > > > ==== SCOTS-IN-CANADA Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe: [email protected] inserting the word unsubscribe in both the subject line and the text area and using a fresh email to do it. Use -D- if you are in Digest mode. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

The expression is "Scot free" and refers to an expression " scot and lot " which is a levy on all subjects according to their ability to pay., thus scot free meant without paying tax. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Simpson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 6:27 PM Subject: [SCTCDN] RE: [SCOTS-IN-CANADA] Message to Members AND Reply to Michael Servetus!