James Hogg (1770-1835)

Poet and novelist

James Hogg was known as the 'Ettrick Shepherd'. His most famous work is 'The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner'. He also contributed to ' Blackwood's magazine'. He is commemorated by a monument located near St Mary's Loch.

James Hogg is one of the famous Scots commemorated in our Archivists' Garden with references to his poetry in the entries for bluebell and sweet violet.

Birth in 1770

James Hogg was baptised on 9 December 1770, the son of Robert Hogg and Margaret Laidlaw, tenant in Ettrick Hall. The entry in the Old Parish Register (OPR) for Ettrick in the county of Selkirk doesn't include a date of birth.

Baptism entry for James Hogg (14 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 774/1, page 8

Marriage in 1820

James Hogg married Margaret Philips on 28 April 1820. The entry in the Old Parish Register for Yarrow (his parish) gives her parish as Mouswald.

Marriage entry for James Hogg (12 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 779/2, page 24

Death in 1835

James Hogg was buried in Ettrick Churchyard on 27 November 1835. The entry in the Old Parish Register for Ettrick gives his age at death as 65 and his residence as Altrive.

Burial entry for James Hogg (21 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 774/2, page 28

There are transcripts of burial entries made in the 1830s by the session clerk and included in the OPR. The transcriber has added '(The poet)' at the end of the entry for James Hogg.

Transcription of burial entry for James Hogg (14 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, OPR 774/2, 10th page of the transcription