Tibbie Tamson facts for kids
Isabella Thomson (who passed away in 1790), often called Tibbie Tamson, was a Scottish woman from the 1700s. She lived in a town called Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Her grave is a famous landmark. It is found on a quiet hillside about 1.5 miles north of Selkirk.
The Story of Tibbie Tamson
We do not know many facts about Isabella Thomson's life. Local stories say that Tibbie lived in Selkirk and faced many challenges. People in the town were not always kind to her.
One story says she was accused of taking some yarn. She was called to a special court to answer for this. Because of the sad circumstances of her death, she was buried outside the regular church graveyard.
Her Unusual Burial Place
In those days, people who died in certain ways were sometimes buried outside the churchyard. Tibbie was placed in a simple wooden coffin. It was taken out of town to Foulshiels Hill. This spot was where Selkirk's common land met other estates.
People sometimes threw stones and insults as her coffin was moved. This practice of burying people on boundary lines happened in other parts of Scotland too. It meant the community did not need special permission from a landowner.
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After 1790, a rough stone was placed on her grave. A man named Michael Stewart, who worked for the Duke of Buccleuch, put the stone there. He wanted to make up for the quick burial she had received. He even found a penny and a farthing in her pocket.
A Special Memorial
In the 1800s, a writer named John Brown said her grave was "known and feared the country round." Today, it is seen as a reminder of how unkind small towns could sometimes be.
Every year, people from Selkirk have a special tradition. They walk around the town's common lands. As part of this walk, members of the Selkirk Common Riding Organisation visit Tibbie's grave. They place a wreath there to remember her. It is a way to show respect and kindness to her memory.
See also
- Jay's Grave, another example of an unusual burial place in England
