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Memoir of Mr. Alexander Jeffrey, F.S.A. Scot, the Histor- 

 ian of Roxburghshire. By George Hilson, Solicitor, 

 Jedburgh. 



Mr. Jeffrey's father was Alexander Jeffrey, a worthy well 

 to do man ; who long held the responsible situation of farm 

 steward, near Dunse. He was a native of that town and 

 married early in life his townswoman, Janet Smeaton. They 

 were people of exemplary character, and ever held the es- 

 teem of their neighbours. After their marriage they lived 

 for a number of years in the Dunse district, but afterwards 

 removed to Roxburghshire, in various parts of which they 

 lived, but latterly, chiefly in the Lilliesleaf district. Their 

 family consisted of eight children, of whom Mr. Jeffrey was 

 the fourth. He was born, it is believed, in the year 1806, 

 in a house that stands on the roadside near Eewlie. Like 

 children of people in his father's rank of life, the opportuni- 

 ties of getting education were limited, and what was got 

 was often poor in kind. The first schools he attended were 

 those of Maxwellheugh and Morebattle, in the neighbour- 

 hood of which his father was then employed. The school 

 he last attended was Lilliesleaf. From an early age he was 

 a great reader, devouring every kind of book he could lay 

 hands on, and in after life he used to state, that all the 

 education he got was acquired in this way. He was early 

 put to work, and being a vigorous active fellow, he was 

 soon able to earn a wage, and thus help his father. He 

 worked as a miller at Lilliesleaf Mill, and when he was 

 fourteen years of age, he was considered what was then 

 called a full miller. While living in Lilliesleaf district, his 

 father, who was a genuine Antiburgher, or extreme Seceder, 

 with the family attended the meeting house of that denom- 

 ination at Midlem, the minister of which was the Rev. Jas. 

 Inglis. As is well known, they were a peculiarly strict 

 body in their religious doctrines, and required an exemplary 

 observance of the duties of life from all their members. 

 From his intelligence and love of reading, he attracted 

 the notice of Mr. Inglis, who, it is said, gave him great 

 attention, and he thus acquired additional means of gratify- 

 ing his taste for reading. He is said to have given offence 

 to his father, and some of the stricter members of the 

 body, by its becoming known that he read Burns' poems 

 and Shakspeare. Being a good writer, and having a power 



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