Author: Ruickbie, James
Biography:
by
Ragaz, Sharon (SR)
RUICKBIE, James (1757-1829: Hawick Archaeological Society)
He was born at Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, but the names of his parents are not known. Variant spellings of his surname make him difficult to trace in genealogical records. A miller, he worked at Nisbet Mill before moving to Hawick. He gave up milling to become a toll-keeper and worked for many years at Colterscleuch, Hawick, where he wrote most of his poems. He next became the landlord of the Harrow inn in Hawick. Twice married, he had children but neither their names nor those of his wives are known for certain. He died on 28 July 1828 at Hawick and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church. (Transactions of the Hawick Archaeological Society 1863; ancestry.co.uk 29 Sept. 2025) SR