still_looking I found this article on tibbies funeral which is very interesting
alan
"TIBBIE SHIEL -- THE LATE Mrs ISABELLA RICHARDSON."
"From the “Scotsman” Monday 29th July 1978.”"
"“ On Saturday there were consigned to the secluded churchyard of Ettrick the remains of Mrs ISABELLA RICHARDSON, who, as TIBBIE SHIEL, late hostess of the much frequented little Inn at the head of St. Marys Loch, has long been an object of interest to visitors from near and far."
"Rain fell in torrents during the morning, but this apparently had little effect in decreasing the numbers of mourners; and up till noon people came trooping from all parts of the Yarrow district to pay their last tribute to one as generally respected as she was widely known."
"The body lay in the familiar cottage in the little room entering from the left of the kitchen, honeysuckle and pansies, placed by kindly hands lending a sweet odour to the humble apartment. The coffin bore a simple inscription setting forth the name and age of the deceased."
"A religious service having been conducted in the house. The Re. Dr. Russell of Yarrow ,an old friend of Mrs Richardson, afterwards addressed the mourners From the doorway, speaking in touching terms of the pure and good life which so recently came to a close. The coffin was then placed in a hearse, which took its way over the steep mountain road to Ettrick, a distance of eight miles. Among the mourners who followed were William Richardson, son of the deceased; her grandson; the Rev. Dr Russell; the Rev. Mr McCrindle; the"
"Rev. Mr Falconer; and Dr Muir, Selkirk; and the company embraced nearly every farmer within a distance of twenty miles. The procession consisting of about 100 persons on foot; beside a number of conveyances , wound its slow way up the hill shortly after noon watches as long as it remained in sight by a number of silent mourners grouped together about the old cottage door. By the time the hearse reached Ettrick the procession had swelled considerably; and the last rites were performed in the presence of a large number of the leading gentlemen of the district."
"The grave is situated a few yards from the resting place of the Ettrick Shepherd and close also to that of Thomas Boston, author of the “The Fourfold State” It was recalled by some person that in the same spot 50 years ago, were laid the remains of Tibbie”s husband."
"It was not till she had been left a widow that Tibbie Shiel entered on the course of life in which she was destined to become so well known; and that event took place about the year 1824,which she must have been a woman turned of forty. Her early life had been uneventful. She is said to have been a native of Ettrick, where she passed many years in domestic service in the house of Mr Hogg, father of the Ettrick Shepherd. An earlier frequenter of the cottage was Robert Chambers, who, in his “Picture of Scotland” recounted his early literary experiences in a way inspirational to others. But is was chiefly through Hogg and his associates of the Blackwood coterie that Tibbie became connected with the literary history of the day.”"
