481:
to, and in favour of my dear daughter, Isabella
Jeffrey, my whole estate and effects, heritable and moveable, of whatever kind or nature soever, or wheresoever situated, which shall belong and be addebted, or to which I may have any claim at the time of my death, with the title and vouchers thereof, but always under burden of payment of all my just and lawful debts, deathbed and funeral expenses, and of any legacies I may leave by any codicil hereto, of any other writing under my hand, however informally, the same may be executed, and I further request Isabella to present to each of her sisters, Mrs Katherine Bell and Mrs Jean Peat, a suitable ring as a remembrance of me, and also to deliver to each of my sons, Smyttan Jeffrey and William Jeffrey such number of my books, not exceeding ten, as they may select, also to be kept by them as a remembrance of me, and I desire here to explain that I have left my whole property to Isabella not from any want of affection for the other members of my family, but to mark in a special way my grateful sense of her very dutiful and devoted attention to me in the weak state of health in which I have been ever since her mother's death, and also from a feeling that anything I could leave divided among all the members of my family would not be any material assistance to them; Further as my daughter may require advice and assistance in the disposal of my property from some qualified person, I nominate William Elliot, solicitor in Jedburgh, to be executor of my will, and I revoke all former settlements and I reserve my
166:
found interesting. In 1853, he began to arrange his papers with a view to publication. It was originally intended to be a two volume work, the first of which was published in March 1855. The second was due to be published in the summer of that year but was not issued until
November 1857. The preface to the second volume says that the author had not found it possible to complete his work in two volumes and that a third would be published by the end of 1858. However, it was not completed until the following year. Again, Jeffrey said in the preface of that book that he needed yet another volume to conclude his History and that would be finished by 1860. It did not appear until 1864.
22:
464:
Sheriff Court at
Jedburgh on 22 October 1874 when, it is thought, he had a stroke. Jeffrey was able to walk home with assistance, but he would never again be seen on the streets of Jedburgh. For six weeks he lingered at his home in an almost unconscious state. Jeffrey died on Sunday, 29 November 1874, at 2:30 in the afternoon. He was buried in the churchyard at
396:
other children were
Katharine (c1843-), Smeaton (c1844-1907), William (c1846-1898), Jean (1848–1894) and Isabella (c1852-1919). Unusually, the forenames of the two first born children, Francis and Charles Grey, do not appear in earlier generations of either the Jeffrey or the Kerr families. It is known that Jeffrey was a great supporter of the 1832 Reform Act.
139:
case dragged on for several years and was eventually decided in the bakers favour after a jury trial in
January 1843 in Edinburgh. This resulted in the burgh's bankruptcy and the sale of all its property. The demand for Jeffrey's professional services increased rapidly as a consequence of his work on this case.
463:
His wife died on 30 May 1872. Her death seemed to undermine his mental and physical abilities. Jeffrey's subsequent professional appearances were often painful to watch by those who had seen him perform in his more vigorous days. His decline accelerated during the last year of his life. He was in the
165:
As an historian, he will be most remembered for his four volume "History and
Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts". In the course of his legal work he had to travel widely throughout the Scottish Borders. Jeffrey never failed to take the opportunity to examine and take notes of what he
138:
to have these rights formally acknowledged by law. The action, on the advice of
Jeffrey, was resisted by the bakers. Jeffrey was well suited to defend the case. He had worked in the town clerk's office and also had an extensive knowledge of Jedburgh's history because of his antiquarian pursuits. The
169:
The work was not a financial success. When it was first announced, he had little trouble building up a subscription list and the earlier volumes sold well. However, the delays in publication meant that the subscription list was much reduced because of death and removals. There were also withdrawals
485:
right with power to revoke these present, in whole or in part; and I dispense with the delivery hereof, and I consent to registration hereof for presentation:- in witness whereof these present, written on this and the preceding page by
William Elliot, solicitor in Jedburgh, and subscribed by me at
480:
I, Alexander
Jeffrey, solicitor, being desirous while I am still, by the blessing of almighty God, in fair health to put in writing the way and manner in which I would wish to leave my property and effects after my death, do therefore, and for other good causes and considerations, give and dispone
468:
on
Wednesday, 2 December 1874. The funeral bell tolled as the procession passed from his residence at 24 Castlegate to the Abbey. The large number of mourners who followed the procession bore witness to the esteem in which the deceased gentleman was held. His gravestone memorial inscription states
133:
The case that established his position as a solicitor of ability arose from a dispute between the town council of Jedburgh and the town's bakers. The latter had, for over one hundred years, been obliged to mill their grain in the mills owned by the town council and also to pay tax on that grain to
67:
and, lastly, Lilliesleaf. His school education was rudimentary. However, he eagerly consumed any reading material he could find. As an adult, he claimed that he was largely self-taught. Jeffrey went to work as a miller at Lilliesleaf Mill. He became a full miller at the age of fourteen. The family
173:
That a man with a demanding job could spare the time to produce such a significant tome shows he had a great love for his subject. Although the work was a monetary failure, it did make his name as a local historian. The press reviewed each volume with great regard . Volumes 1–3 were praised in an
395:
Jeffrey married his wife, Katharine Kerr (c1813-1872), in Yetholm, Roxburghshire on 13 November 1828. Their first five children died before reaching maturity. They were Francis (1829–1838), Charles Grey (1832–1836), Alexander (c1835-1836), James (c1837-1841) and George (c1839-1846). The couple's
371:
Jeffrey was a frequent contributor to various local/regional newspapers on all the topical issues of the day. He was, nominally, the first editor of Jedburgh's Teviotdale Record. The first issue was published on 31/July/1855. However, in reality, the paper's owner, William Easton, was the active
383:
became law, the electorate increased by 50%–80%, giving one adult male in six the right to vote. He was a reporter for the Kelso Mail. In this capacity, he attended all the public meetings in the counties of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk during the election contests of 1832 and 1834.
114:
of Roxburghshire. He was rejected on that, and indeed, on several subsequent applications. Jeffrey, his wife Katharine, and two young children moved to Jedburgh in 1833. Around this time, he made a successful application to be a lawyer before the
454:
is dedicated to Jeffrey. The small display consists of a short biography, a portrait and a copy of volume two of his History of Roxburghshire. These items were donated to the Museum by John Murray, Jedburgh, a direct descendant of Jeffrey.
486:
Jedburgh, the twenty fourth day of August in the year eighteen hundred and seventy four, before these witnesses, Annie Watson residing in Castlegate, Jedburgh, and Elizabeth Veitch, my servant, also residing in Castlegate, Jedburgh.
423:
He was happiest when, at the end of a busy day, he had his family gathered round him, at his own fireside, with a daily newspaper near to hand. He was a devoted family man and made many personal sacrifices for their advancement.
89:
Jeffrey wanted to work with his brain rather than his brawn. He knew that manual labour in the countryside was not for him. Jeffrey longed to move to a more urban location where his talents could be put to better use.
419:
His obituary, published in 1875 in the Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society, says that, physically, he was a fine looking man. Jeffrey was tall, of comfortable stoutness with a well formed head.
56:, Roxburghshire. They had nine children, Thomas (1793–1871), Rachel (1795–1862), Mary (1798-), Robert (1801–1860), Hannah (1803–1871), Alexander, Janet (1807–1884), Mary (1809-c1850) and James (1816–1878).
372:
editor. He was the publisher of two short lived periodicals – the Border Spy and the Border Observer. Jeffrey was probably the publisher of The Tablet which dealt with local issues in a caustic manner.
134:
the council. The right of the council to make these demands had never been directly questioned, but the bakers often tried to evade these obligations. Around 1839, the council decided to apply to the
52:, Berwickshire and also married there. Jeffrey (senior) was employed as a farm steward. He subsequently worked in various parts of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. The family finally settled in the
78:
Meeting House at Midlem. The minister, the Reverend James Inglis, noticed Alexander's appetite and aptitude for education. Inglis provided him with his personal books, including volumes by
387:
The Jedburgh Border Games were first held in 1853 as part of the celebrations of the coming of age of the 8th Marquis of Lothian. Jeffrey wrote the official report of the proceedings.
868:
837:
826:
791:
779:
767:
659:
647:
612:
589:
577:
123:, employed Jeffrey as managing clerk in his office. Through the influence of Mr Woods, Jeffrey was finally allowed to practise before the Sheriff Court of Roxburghshire in 1838.
162:
societies. He became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland on 30 November 1859. Jeffrey was elected a member of the Berwickshire Naturalists Club on 26 June 1862.
913:
893:
375:
He made speeches in Jedburgh, and other nearby towns, in support of a campaign to increase the number of people eligible to vote in elections for the
411:, was amongst the primary architects of the English version. It seems credible that Jeffrey named his first two children after these two reformers.
434:. He has a long association with the Anti-Burgher Meeting House in Jedburgh. Just before it closed, he became a member of Jedburgh's Parish Kirk.
376:
126:
Jeffrey was considered to be a very able criminal defence lawyer. He made many successful appearances before the courts of Roxburghshire and
408:
469:
that the remains of his wife, his youngest son, William, and the five children who died in infancy were also interred in the same plot.
908:
719:
623:
888:
511:
Proceeds of sale of household furniture, beds and table linen, and whole household furnishing which belonged to the deceased
405:
170:
because of the additional cost as a result of its increased size. All four volumes had different printers and publishers.
817:"James Stedman, J.P. Clerk (elected in 1845), was proposed by Councillor Alexander Jeffrey as a fit and proper person".
401:
815:
The Annals of a Border Club (Jedforest) and Biographical Notices of the Families Connected Therewith. 1899. Page 41.
566:
The Annals of a Border Club (Jedforest) and Biographical Notices of the Families Connected Therewith.1899. Page 42.
883:
568:"Mr Jeffrey, who proposed him, has frequently been mentioned in this volume as the Historian of Roxburghshire."
527:
Sum realised for law library which belonged to the deceased sold by William Green, St Giles Street, Edinburgh
438:
49:
814:
707:
565:
903:
48:
Jeffrey's parents were Alexander Jeffrey (c1770-) and Janet Smeaton (1770–1857). They were both born in
898:
731:
695:
397:
60:
266:
63:
Parish, Berwickshire, in approximately 1806. He went to school in the villages of Maxwellheugh,
802:
755:
743:
427:
Jeffrey was a good conversationalist and could tell many literary and professional anecdotes.
99:
175:
155:
135:
451:
380:
75:
489:
Jeffrey's will states that the value of his possessions at the time of his death were:-
21:
465:
158:. He wrote several books and contributed many articles to the publications of various
877:
146:
in 1849. Jeffrey made a successful appeal to the High Court to reverse the decision.
111:
33:
720:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts Volume Three. 1859.
127:
107:
79:
72:
732:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts Volume Four. 1864.
708:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts Volume Two. 1857.
696:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts Volume One. 1855.
683:
671:
635:
600:
227:
Rise and Progress of Science – A paper read to the Jedburgh Mechanics Institute
159:
83:
53:
855:
Scottish Birth/Marriage/Death certificates. Scottish Wills. Pay per view site.
624:
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland. Volume 4. 1862. p. 10.
431:
120:
64:
805:
Jeffrey's main obituary. This article borrows heavily from the main obituary.
110:, Roxburghshire, in November 1829, Jeffrey applied to be a lawyer before the
103:
672:
Local Antiquities – A paper read to the Jedburgh Mechanics Institute. 1852.
519:
Sum realised for literary books but excluding law ones sold by public roup
325:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts – Volume 4
311:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts – Volume 3
297:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts – Volume 2
283:
History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts – Volume 1
379:. Jeffrey also wrote many newspaper articles about the subject. When the
770:
Article marking the fiftieth anniversary of Jedburgh's Teviotdale Record.
636:
History of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society Volume 5. 1868. Page 481.
580:
References 17 and 18 also say Jeffrey was the Historian of Roxburghshire.
482:
37:
803:
Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. 1875. Pages 471–480.
36:
was a solicitor and local historian who spent most of his adult life in
863:
143:
69:
251:
Local Antiquities – A paper read to the Jedburgh Mechanics Institute.
852:
154:
Jeffrey was an acknowledged expert on the history/archaeology of the
130:, showing great knowledge of the principles and practise of the law.
106:
for several years to work for George Scott, S.S.C. Whilst living in
744:
History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. 1862. Pages 344–356.
477:
Below is a transcription of Jeffrey's will, dated 24 August 1874:-
116:
98:
Jeffrey, around 1825, was employed by James Curle, a solicitor in
20:
756:
History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. 1864. pp. 128–133.
578:
Three articles from the Scotsman newspaper. 1927, 1934 and 1939.
339:
History of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society – Jedburgh paper
40:, Roxburghshire. He was known as the Historian of Roxburghshire.
142:
The magistrates of Jedburgh banned the inhabitants from playing
437:
Jeffrey was appointed, in 1840, as the political agent for the
352:
History of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society – Ancrum paper
214:
Guide to the Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of the Border
400:
was the main architect of the Scottish version of the Act and
858:
603:
Town Council of Jedburgh vs Bakers of Jedburgh. Court report.
102:. He worked there for more than a year. Jeffrey then went to
662:
Review of Volumes 1–3 of Jeffrey's History of Roxburghshire.
441:
in Jedburgh. He held this position for about fifteen years.
827:
Jeffrey's display in the Bob Mason Room at Jedburgh Castle.
838:
Jeffrey's gravestone in the churchyard of Jedburgh Abbey.
590:
Collection of newspaper court reports. From 1832 to 1874.
447:
Jeffrey was a member of Jedburgh's town council in 1856.
780:
Jedburgh Gazette and Border Courier. 5/Dec/1874. p. 1.
200:
A Historic and Descriptive Account of Roxburghshire
768:Border Magazine. Volume 10. 1905. pp. 177–178.
650:Reviews of Jeffrey's History of Roxburghshire.
180:This table itemises his known publications:-
8:
444:He was made a freeman of Jedburgh in 1841.
239:Galashiels Lecture on the 1847 Game Laws
869:Miscellaneous items relevant to Jeffrey.
684:The Marquis of Lothian's Majority. 1853.
491:
182:
174:article published in the much respected
119:Court of Jedburgh. Mr Woods, Jedburgh's
558:
914:Local historians of the United Kingdom
660:Edinburgh Review. 1860. Pages 496–513.
7:
859:Society of Antiquarians of Scotland.
450:A section of the Bob Mason Room in
331:Seaton & MacKenzie, Edinburgh
14:
894:19th-century Scottish historians
16:Scottish solicitor and historian
1:
601:Court Report. 12-13 Jan 1843.
25:Alexander Jeffrey (1806–1874)
746:Jeffrey's paper on Jedburgh.
648:Various newspaper articles.
535:Value of body clothes etc.
452:Jedburgh Castle Jail Museum
930:
792:First Border Games Report.
758:Jeffrey's paper on Ancrum.
638:Society's membership list.
626:Society's membership list.
367:Newspaper Publisher/Editor
317:Thomas C. Jack, Edinburgh
206:Fraser and Co., Edinburgh
782:Jeffrey's short obituary.
909:People from Berwickshire
289:Walter Easton, Jedburgh
853:scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
864:Jedburgh Border Games.
613:Repeal Of Handba’ Ban.
26:
889:Scottish antiquarians
24:
398:Lord Francis Jeffrey
275:W. Easton, Jedburgh
257:W. Easton, Jedburgh
59:Jeffrey was born in
503:Cash in the house
381:Reform Act of 1832
303:J.F. Hope, London
267:Marquis of Lothian
27:
734:Online facsimile.
722:Online facsimile.
710:Online facsimile.
698:Online facsimile.
686:Online facsimile.
674:Online facsimile.
550:
549:
430:He was a staunch
415:Other information
402:Lord Charles Grey
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363:
30:Alexander Jeffrey
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884:Scottish lawyers
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835:
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492:
377:House of Commons
265:Memorial of the
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176:Edinburgh Review
156:Scottish Borders
136:court of session
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588:
584:
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564:
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555:
475:
461:
417:
393:
369:
152:
150:Local Historian
96:
46:
32:(c. 1806–1874)
17:
12:
11:
5:
927:
925:
917:
916:
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847:External links
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543:Total estate
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439:Conservatives
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269:'s Majority.
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149:
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137:
131:
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124:
122:
118:
113:
112:Sheriff Court
109:
105:
101:
93:
91:
87:
85:
81:
77:
74:
71:
68:attended the
66:
62:
57:
55:
51:
43:
41:
39:
35:
34:F.S.A. (Scot)
31:
23:
19:
904:1800s births
833:
822:
810:
798:
787:
775:
763:
751:
739:
727:
715:
703:
691:
679:
667:
655:
643:
631:
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608:
596:
585:
573:
561:
488:
479:
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449:
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418:
394:
386:
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179:
172:
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153:
141:
132:
128:Selkirkshire
125:
97:
88:
76:Presbyterian
73:Anti-burgher
58:
47:
29:
28:
18:
899:1874 deaths
546:£186:06:05
160:antiquarian
84:Shakespeare
54:Lilliesleaf
878:Categories
553:References
530:£35:14:00
522:£91:02:10
514:£50:19:07
432:Protestant
220:Edinburgh
192:Publisher
189:Published
121:town clerk
65:Morebattle
44:Early life
538:£8:10:00
506:£0:00:00
104:Edinburgh
94:Solicitor
483:liferent
38:Jedburgh
144:Handba'
108:Yetholm
100:Melrose
70:Seceder
498:Value
404:, the
391:Family
195:Pages
61:Eccles
495:Item
459:Death
355:1864
342:1862
328:1864
314:1859
300:1857
286:1855
272:1853
254:1852
242:1847
230:1843
217:1838
203:1836
186:Name
117:Burgh
80:Burns
473:Will
406:Whig
334:453
320:363
306:375
292:350
209:424
82:and
50:Duns
347:13
278:79
260:48
880::
360:6
86:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
