Alicia Ann Spottiswoode

Alicia Ann, Lady John Scott (née Spottiswoode; 24 June 1810 – 12 March 1900) was a Scottish songwriter and composer known chiefly for the tune, "Annie Laurie," to which the words of a 17th-century poet, William Douglas, were set. She was passionate about preserving Scottish heritage, and was the first Lady Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Personal life Scott was born at Spottiswoode, Scottish Borders, in the former Berwickshire. She was the oldest daughter of John Spottiswoode of Berwickshire and his wife Helen Wauchope of Niddrie Marischal. She had three siblings, two brothers called John and Andrew and a sister, Margaret, who she was particularly devoted to. The three children were close in age and were close companions. Alicia and Andrew were much bolder than John and Margaret, and thus acted as leaders of the group. Together they were adventurous; they were confident horseback riders, and would often gallop over the moors. They often joined their neighbour, Lord Lauderdale, in coursing hares.

In 1839 Scott's sister, Margaret, died. She had never been particularly strong, and had developed a "great delicacy of chest," and was told to winter abroad for her health. On her way to Italy in the winter of 1839, she and Sir Hugh stopped in Paris. Unbeknownst to them, the previous tenant of the room they stayed in had scarlet fever. Margaret caught it, and died a few days later. Scott received the news of her sister's illness and death almost simultaneously. This was deeply shocking to Scott, and she was deeply affected by her sister's passing. On her burial, George G. Napier published a short book, titled The Burial of Lady John Scott, Authoress of “Annie Laurie”, 16th March 1900.

Archaeology

Scott was an avid collector of local artefacts such as ceramics, flint arrowheads, and bronze axes and spearheads. She would frequently purchase these artefacts from the locals who found them, which resulted in many items that would otherwise have been discarded being preserved. She displayed her collection in the Eagle Hall. In 1845 she directed the excavations of the Twinlaw cairns. She recorded that they "opened the Twinlaw Cairns and found a cist (which had been ransacked before) in each." thumb Lady John Scott's illustrations of the cists discovered beneath the Twinlaw cairns, published in the History of Berwickshire Naturalists' ClubIn 1863 Scott oversaw excavations on two barrows on the Spottiswoode estate, and the subsequent paper was published in Volume 5 of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland as "communicated by Professor JY Simpson." The artefacts found during excavations are now in the collections of the National Museums of Scotland.

In Volume 6 of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland a report on an excavation of the tumuli at Hartlaw was published by John Stuart. He reported that the excavation was directed by Scott, who was assisted by a Mrs. Warrender. Scott also regularly communicated with Scottish antiquary and folklorist Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe during the 1840's, evidencing her interest in Scottish culture, history and folklore. and included:

Works Selected works include:

“Annie Laurie” Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 6, pp. 55–61. doi:10.9750/PSAS.006.55.61.