Percy Scott Hoyt, the 49th Inspector General n the Orient of Oregon, was born on June 1, 1860 in Manhattan, New York City, New York. He was the son of Goold Hoyt III and his wife Adeline Camilla Scott. The Hoyt family can be traced to Simon Hoyt who was in Salem, Massachusetts before 1628; he was born in about 1590. He was from a different line of Hoyts then Henry (#20) and Ralph (#47) who can be traced back to John born in about 1615. It is possible that Simon and John were related, but the Hoyt genealogy was unable to make the connection. Simon’s son Walter, born about 1618 was in Windsor, Connecticut by 1640 and made his way to Norwalk, Connecticut where he died in 1698. Walter’s son Zerubbabel, born about 1650 was a Deacon in Norwalk. His son Joseph, born about 1677 and grandson James born May 25, 1708 continued on in Norwalk, where James and his wife Hannah Gould had a son born on January 9, 1738 and given a name which was a version of his mother’s surname Goold Hoyt. Goold was born on January 9, 1738 in Norwalk and by 1767 he was Collector of the Rate for the Church of England. He was one of 20 men from Norwalk who supported the 11th article of the act passed by the First Continental Congress on December 5, 1774. Some of his brothers served the Loyalist cause during the Revolution. Goold Hoyt and Elizabeth Dimon were married on June 13, 1765, and had a son Goold Hoyt II born on November 16, 1769 in Norwalk. Goold II married Sabina the daughter of Henry Sheaff and Sabina Lydig and they had a son Goold Hoyt III born in 1818. Goold Hoyt II was a very successful Merchant in New York City and amassed a large fortune. When he died on July 22, 1842 his will left $10,000 to the Episcopal Church. Goold Hoyt III married Adeline Camilla Scott our subject’s parents. Camilla was the daughter of Winfield Scott. Her grandfather William Scott served during the Revolution and was part of the Dinwiddie, Virginia Militia. Her father Winfield Scott was born June 13, 1786 and was one of the most important military figures of the first half of the 19th Century. Winfield Scott joined the military in 1808, rising through the ranks he was a Brig. General at the Battle of Lundy Lane during the War of 1812. During the Indian conflicts of the 1830’s Scott led the Army agains the Seminoles and Creek, and was part of the removal of the Cherokees. On June 25, 1841 Winfield Scott became the commanding General of the U.S. Army with the rank of Major General. Maj. General Scott commanded the American forces during the Mexican War in 1847. He was a contender for the office of president for the Whig party in 1840, 1848 and 1852. He was eventually promoted to Lt. General, the first to hold that rank since George Washington. When the American Civil War started in 1861 Scott was to old, sick and fat to Command. He offered the command to Col. Robert E. Lee. Lee refused to side with his home in Virginia and command went to Gen. Irwin McDowell, which did not work out well for the Union. Scott survived the war and died in West Point New York on March 25, 1866. His grandson Percy Scott Hoyt was only 6 when his famous grandfather died. His older brother Winfield Scott Hoyt was given the sword General Scott used during the War with Mexico.
Percy Scott Hoyt lived with his family in Manhattan. Goold Hoyt III was not listed as have an occupation in the census records that were found. The family lived at 45 West 17th Street, next door to a Convent. In 1880 the household contained the family and six domestic servants. Of the four adult Hoyt children still living at home in 1880, none had occupations, and the two younger sisters were still in school. Percy has yet to be found in the 1900 census but he does appear in the Portland Oregon Masonic Directory starting in 1906. He did not live in Portland, and the Directory shows that his residence was in Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming. Indications are this was his main residence throughout the rest of his life, or at least until 1920.
His picture was included in the January 1906 program for the 6th Cathedral Class, he was noted to be a member of the Cheyenne Consistory in Cheyenne, Wyoming and was called “An ever welcome guest, whose charming personality has Graced many of our Re-unions”. He is found on the membership rolls in the Portland Masonic Directory from 1906 until his death in 1929.
He appears to have been a member of Engine 14 of the New York City Fire Department, and was Fire Chief in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was also a participant in the Cheyenne Frontier Days as shown in the picture below.
We know that on at least two occasions Percy sailed to England, one trip in 1884 and another in 1913. The ship list for 1913 gives an address in New York City. What we can discern from this is he had family in New York, lived in Cheyenne, and for whatever unknown reason became a frequent visitor to Portland, Oregon. The 1910 and 1920 U.S. Census’ showed that Percy owned his home in Cheyenne outright and had no mortgage, not surprising considering his family’s wealth. It is not known for certain, but is likely that he lived out his life in Cheyenne until his passing on January 4, 1929, a month before the death of Philip S. Malcolm in Portland. Percy S. Hoyt died in Ogden, Utah leaving the bulk of his $400,000 estate to his sister Virginia Scott Hoyt of New York City.[1]
[1] The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Feb. 14, 1929 page 3.
Masonic History
We have little information on his Masonic career. He was made a Mason, but we know not when or where, only that it was before 1906. He may have joined in New York or Wyoming. He was a member of the Scottish Rite in Cheyenne, but we don’t know if this is where he received the degrees. We do know that by January 1906 he was a 32° Mason and had been a frequent visitor to Portland, Oregon. He joined the Scottish Rite in Portland after 1904 and early enough to be included in the Portland Masonic Directory for the year 1906. It is also not known if he retained his membership in Wyoming as a duel member. What is clear his visits to Portland had enough impact that he was given his Honors through the Portland Valley. He received the KCCH on October 20, 1909, and was elected Inspector General Honorary 33° on October 21, 1919 and was Coroneted 33° in Portland January 15, 1920.
About the author:
Michael D. Robinson 32° KSA, was the second Master Mason Raised in Esoterika Lodge #227, and the first member Raised in that Lodge to serve as Worshipful Master. He was elected Master in 2013 and 2014, and currently serves as Historian. He is also Historian for Research Lodge #198 and Eugene Lodge #11 and District Deputy of District #13. Brother Robinson was appointed Historian of the Scottish Rite Orient of Oregon in December of 2014. He was the recipient of the “Novus Astorum” from the Portland Valley Scottish Rite in 2010, and the Hiram Award from Esoterika Lodge in 2012. In March of 2015 he was made Secretary of the Eugene Valley, and Director of the Work for that Valley in January of 2017.
