The original books are held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) but as they are stored in another building they need to be ordered into the search room a few days in advance. Have you done this before?
The volume for Peebles, which is on our website, has the reference SC42/9/10.
When you search our database you will see a list of results, here is an example:
Pursuer's Name, Occupation and Residence: Defender's Name, Occupation and Residence: Child Born, Case Year, Court
Margaret Affleck, The Pike, Parish of Lasswade, Midlothian: James Linton, Farm Servant, West Loch, Peeblesshire: 1841, 1842, Peebles Full Record [Note] Female twins, one died 25 October 1841
When you click 'Full Record' you will be given the NRS reference and page number in the book (SC42/9/10). So for the above example you will see:
Margaret Affleck, The Pike, Parish of Lasswade, Midlothian 1842 SC42/9/10 p140
So you can order the book 'SC42/9/10' and when you get the book the entry will be on page 140.
Of course these books exist for Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland and most do not have an index. After 1855 a note should have been made on the birth certificate, this will give you the date of decree. You can then use the NRS catalogue to find the correct volume and search it yourself. It might take a little longer but still possible if you are in Edinburgh.
Searching before 1855 can be more difficult, you would need to start your search around the time the child was born and continue for a few a few years after the birth or until you find the entry.
Once you have the entry in these books you can then go on to find the processes, that is the paperwork of the court case. These can be fantastically interesting as they often include witness testimonies!
I'll be writing a piece about processes on my blog soon.
If you need help finding the right book for a specific case just let me know the details and I'll point you in the right direction. The NRS catalogue is good but can take a while to get used to.
Hope this helps,
Emma