William Scott was born in about 1775; his parents and birthplace have not been identified. By 1800, William Scott was living in Claiborne County, Mississippi when he married there.

In about 1800, William Scott married Elizabeth Bruin, a daughter of Peter Bryan Bruin and Elizabeth Bruin (Edmonds), in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Elizabeth Bruin was born in Frederick County, Virginia in about 1781 and migrated from Virginia to the Mississippi Territory with her family in about 1788. At their marriage, William Scott was about 25 years of age, and Elizabeth Bruin was about 19.

On 5 Sep 1801, William Scott witnessed a deed by Joseph Darlington, of Territory Northwest of the Ohio, to George Wilson Humphreys, of Pickering County, Mississippi Territory, for $825 in hand paid, for 500 acres of land on Bayou Pierre originally granted by the British Government to William Vousdan. Peter Bryan Bruin signed the deed with Power of Attorney granted by Joseph Darlington on 5 Nov 1800. William Atchinson and Bryan Bruin also witnessed the deed. An early plat of Township 11 North, Range 1 East in Claiborne County, Mississippi records William Vousdan as owner of Section 20. The same plat records Peter B. Bruin as owner of Section 19, adjacent to the property of William Vousdan. A 1829 plat of Township 11 North, Range 1 East shows George W. Humphries as owner of Section 20.

On 25 Sep 1801, William Scott witnessed an indenture between between Joseph Darlington of Adams County, Territory of U.S. Northwest of the Ohio and Peter Bryan Bruin, Esq. of the County of Pickering in the Mississippi Territory, his attorney on the one part, for $855.05 for 500 acres of land. Signed in the presence of William Scott, William Atchison, Bryan Bruin. William Scott was identified as a Justice of Pickering County.

In about 1802, the first child of Elizabeth Scott (Bruin) and William Scott was born in Claiborne County, Mississippi, a son David G. Scott. A second child, Robert Moore Scott was born in Claiborne County on 29 Jul 1808.

On 1 Jun 1802, William Scott witnessed a deed by William Smith and Ann, his wife, to David Smith, son of said William and Ann, for $1,000, 300 acres on the Mississippi River, about one mile south of Bayou Pierre, bounded by lands granted to William Smith by the Spanish Government on 5 Mar 1789 containing 400 acres, by another 800 acres granted by the Spanish Government on 26 Dec 1895, on the east by lands of Judge Bruin and on the north by a remaining part of the 400 acres, being the same on which said William now resides. George Cochran, William Scott, and Arthur Carney witnessed the deed. William Smith acknowledged the deed in court on 1 Jun 1802. This deed was the first registered deed in Claiborne County, Mississippi.

On 21 Mar 1804, in Claiborne County, Mississippi, William Scott witnessed a deed by John Burnet of Claiborne County, Mississippi Territory to Francis Nailor, of same, for $900 in hand paid, for 170 acres on the north side of Bayou Pierre about seven miles from the mouth, in Claiborne County. Vance Scott also witnessed this deed. On 23 Mar 1804, John Burnet acknowledged a receipt for $900 for the above described land before Bryan Bruin, Justice of the Peace.

The 1810 Mississippi Territorial Census of Claiborne County enumerates the household of William Scott, age greater than 21 years, and his wife, also age greater than 21 and presumably Elizabeth Scott (Bruin). Two males under the age of 21 years were also living in the household, likely Robert Moore Scott and David G. Scott. The 1810 Mississippi Territorial Census enumerates William Scott and Peter B. Bruin households on the same pages. According to land records, William Scott and Peter B. Bruin owned adjoining sections of land.

On 2 May 1815, William Scott of Claiborne County, Mississippi Territory deeded 556 acres of land in Claiborne County, Mississippi to Samuel Dorsey of Concordia Parish, Louisiana. The land was described as on the south side of the North Fork of Bayou Pierre, conveyed by John Milliken and Mary, his wife, to Samuel Fry, 14 May 1810, and from Fry to Robert Scott, 4 Jul 1812 and by deed from Robert Scott to William Scott. J. G. Clarke and John Scott, Jr. witnessed the deed.

The 7 Aug 1820 U.S. Federal Census of Claiborne County, Mississippi enumerates the household of William Scott, age greater than 45 years, and his wife, between 26 and 44 years of age. Also living in the William Scott household were a female, age 16-25 years;  two males, age 10-15 years; three males, both less than 10 years of age; and two females, less than 10 years of age.

On 25 Oct 1823, a William Scott made a Will in Claiborne County, Mississippi. (Source: Claiborne County, Mississippi Will Book A, Page 137) Note: Two men named William Scott died in Claiborne County, Mississippi in 1823. William Scott, the father of Robert Moore Scott, was frequently designated as William Scott BP (Bayou Pierre) in records. The William Scott who made a Will on 25 Oct 1823 may not have been William Scott BP.

At his death, William Scott owned Section 20, Township 11 N, Range 1 E on the Washington Meridian in Claiborne County, Mississippi. William Scott also owned 100 acres within Section 31. (Source: Probate Book D: Pages 294-296, Plat, Page 294. See image of survey plat for probate.) Prior to ownership by William Scott, William Vousden owned Section 20; Township 11 N; Range 1E. At that time, Peter B. Bruin owned Section 19. At a 1829 re-survey of Township 11 N, Range1 E, George W. Humphries owned Section 20. Peter B. Bruin owned adjoining Section 19. (Note: On the 1829 re-survey map, Peter B. Bruin's surname is spell "Bruen.")

Land transactions recorded in Claiborne County, Mississippi Deed Book A and posted on the Claiborne County GenForum forum show associations between Bryan Bruin, Peter Bryan Bruin, and William Scott. These transactions involve Section 20; Township 11 N; Range 1 E in Claiborne County, Mississippi.

William Scott died in Claiborne County, Mississippi before probate of his Will on 6 Dec 1827. In 1827, he would have been 52 years of age.

A probate statement of the division of the Estate of William Scott includes a sketch plt of Section 20 with the Dower part marked.