The family of Scotto was of some note in the early history of Boston. They are said to trace back to the year 1120, and the name was originally Scot-howe, which signified a portion of the hillside. In the early records it is variously written Scotto, Scottoe, Scottow and Scottoa.
They came from Norwich, Norfolk County, England, and were cabinet-makers by trade. The immigrant ancestors consisted of a widow, Thomasine Scotto, and her two sons, Thomas, born 1612, and Joshua, 1615.
She was admitted to the First Church in 1634 and the sons in 1639. In the "Book of Possessions" Thomas Scotto is put down as the owner of a house and garden in School street, four acres of land at Muddy River (Brookline). and a marsh at the same place.
The property on School street descended to his great-great-grandson, Dr. Samuel Clark, and remained in the family until 1825, when Dr. Clark sold it to the city, and it now forms a part of City Hall Square.
Thomas Scotto was overseer of graves, gates and fences in 1644. and in Town Records, February, 1646, appears the following: "Thomas Scotto to see yt ye graves be digged five foot deep." He died in 1661.
Scotto's brother, Joshua, was one of the founders of the South Church, 1662. In 1687 he was, by commission from James II., chief justice of the court of common pleas for the province of Maine. He was the author of two tracts, "Old Men's Tears, " printed in 1691, and "Planting of the Massachusetts Colony, 1694." His house was in Sudbury street, and he died January 20, 1698, aged eighty-three.
Thomas Scotto 
