I am also informed, that the old palmer's family, in the third generation, survives, and is highly respected both for talents and worth.
While these sheets were passing through the press, I received the following communication from Mr.Train, whose undeviating kindness had, during the intervals of laborious duty, collected its materials from an indubitable source.
"In the course of my periodical visits to the Glenkens, I have become intimately acquainted with Robert Paterson, a son of Old Mortality, who lives in the little village of Balmaclellan; and although he is now in the 70th year of his age, preserves all the vivacity of youth--has a most retentive memory, and a mind stored with information far above what could be expected from a person in his station of life.

To him I am indebted for the following particulars relative to his father, and his descendants down to the present time.
"Robert Paterson, alias Old Mortality, was the son of Walter Paterson and Margaret Scott, who occupied the farm of Ilaggisha, in the parish of Hawick, during nearly the first half of the eighteenth century.

Here Robert was born, in the memorable year 1715.
"Being the youngest son of a numerous family, he, at an early age, went to serve with an elder brother, named Francis, who rented, from Sir John Jardine of Applegarth, a small tract in Comcockle Moor, near Lochmaben.

During his residence there, he became acquainted with Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Robert Gray, gardener to Sir John Jardine, whom he afterwards married.

His wife had been, for a considerable time, a cook-maid to Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, who procured for her husband, from the Duke of Queensberry, an advantageous lease of the freestone quarry of Gatelowbrigg, in the parish of Morton.