Autobiographical Notes. 165 



school wages were very low, but the money he expended on books 

 for me when attending the classes was most honourable to him, 

 and, at this distant period, I cannot sufficiently appreciate the 

 discomfort he must have himself submitted to, in order to promote 

 the best interests of his children. 



My mother was Margaret Grierson, daughter of Thomas 

 Grierson, farmer in Holeburn, vulgarly called Burniehole, a small 

 farm now incorporated with Townhead and with the pleasure 

 grounds of Cally. This worthy old man died in 1807, aged 77. 

 He was well descended, and was a relative of the best families of 

 that name in the Glenkens, a district in the same county, where 

 the name has for centuries been common. I knew many respect- 

 able persons with whom I counted kindred, but yet I neglected to 

 ascertain the exact descent and parentage of my respected paternal 

 grandfather. The lease of Holeburn went to the elder of the two 

 daughters of his only son deceased; and, besides providing for his 

 younger daughter, he left a pound to each of his grandchildren, 

 in number about thirty; so that the venerable man, whom I 

 remember intimately, had been in good circumstances for the time. 

 His name is still remembered, and has always been mentioned to 

 me with respect and esteem. His wife, who predeceased him a 

 year or two, was Mary Porter, of an old family at Seggie-nook in 

 the same parish. My mother, whom I have the pleasure of 

 remembering, died in 1798. My father entered into a second 

 marriage, and m\- stepmother, Janet Robertson, was sufficientlv 

 kind. She predeceased her husband in 1809. 



The date of my birth was 16th February, 1792. I had three 

 brothers and two sisters. My eldest brother, Alexander, who 

 was mainly brought up by his grandfather at Burniehole, was 

 taught no trade or calling, but wrought generally under his 

 venerable relative, and died in 1810. Andrew, my second 

 brother, served an apprenticeship to a shopkeeper in Gatehouse, 

 named William M'Clure, who afterwards removed to Kirkcud- 

 bright, whither my brother accompanied him. After being four 

 years so employed, Andrew went to Liverpool, and was for three 

 years in a merchant's house there. He thereafter (November, 

 1817) emigrated to Jamaica with only a few pounds in his pocket, 

 but with strong letters of recommendation. He soon got 

 emjjloyment, and ultimately rose to be not only a respectable 

 attorney, extensively employed, but a considerable planter on 



