Jannet Forbes was born at Cammoch, nr Moulin in 1783. The man who gave her the psalms book was Robert Ballantine, who was a farm servant for John Wedderburn at the Mains of Camno. Robt bought the book in 1802 and he and Jannet were probably lovers/courting in 1803.

Their pre-marital relationship probably explains the cipher. Jannet was already pregnant by the time she and Robert married in June 1805 and they sailed to the USA later that year. She was probably heavily pregnant on the voyage and her first of 9 kids was born soon after.

They settled in Broadalbin, NY where her elder brother had moved to the year before. They stayed there and lived into their 70s and are both buried in Perth, NY. The current owner bought the book on eBay from someone in NY. He wants to find their descendants and gift it back.