t is believed that Thomas’ father was a brother of Sir Walter Scott. It is further believed that Thomas’ father occaisionally rustled cattle from the English. There is a story that was related to Alice Scott Loughrey by Caroline Hamblin Scott to the effect that, “whenever Thomas’ family needed meat, his wife would place his spurs on the dinner plate. Thomas and others in the area would then cross the border into England and procure the needed cattle for meat. At that time, Sir Walter Scott was the magistrate of the area and never prosecuted Thomas and his cohorts for rustling.131

t is believed that Thomas' father was a brother of Sir Walter Scott. It is further believed that Thomas' father occaisionally rustled cattle from the English. There is a story that was related to Alice Scott Loughrey by Caroline Hamblin Scott to the effect that, "whenever Thomas' family needed meat, his wife would place his spurs on the dinner plate. Thomas and others in the area would then cross the border into England and procure the needed cattle for meat. At that time, Sir Walter Scott was the magistrate of the area and never prosecuted Thomas and his cohorts for rustling.