An optical model analysis of results from a program of neutron time-of-flight measurements of elastic scattering from the $1\ensuremath{-}p$ shell nuclei is described. Experiments have been carried out at the TUNL FN Tandem van de Graaff facility using the $^{2}\mathrm{H}$(d,n)$^{3}\mathrm{He}$ reaction as a neutron source. Experimental methods and past results for neutron scattering from $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{10}\mathrm{B}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ are summarized. Data have generally been accumulated at bombarding energies from 7 to 15 MeV in 1-MeV steps, at scattering angles from 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 160\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Cross sections are compared to previous work. Much of the neutron scattering data is well described by the spherical optical model, particularly for nuclei in which resonance structure is not prominent. However, spherical optical model parameters for heavier nuclei do not reproduce the data well. Parameter sets for the individual nuclei are presented along with the results of a global spherical optical model search over 45 neutron scattering angular distributions for all $1\ensuremath{-}p$ shell nuclei. Volume integrals for the real and imaginary wells are compared to recent theoretical predictions. The spherical optical model predictions for proton elastic scattering are compared to the available data for the $T=0$ nuclei. Coulomb correction terms to the real and imaginary potential well depths are investigated.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{6,7}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{10,11}\mathrm{B}$, $^{12,13}\mathrm{C}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}$(n,n), measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$, $E=7\ensuremath{-}15$ MeV, deduced spherical optical model parameters.