Martha was born blind in about 1876. She lived for many years in St Mary’s Street, off Lochee Road. Known as ‘Blind Mattie’, she played popular songs (e.g. My Ain Folk) on her melodeon in the city centre and the Greenmarket, by which means she earned £3-£4 a week; she stayed on the streets until she was in her 70s.  Her story is told in the McManus Gallery, and the display includes the new melodeon (Hohner ‘Double Ray’) given her by friends in 1949. Matty became pretty well known and gave public performances; her last appearance at Caird Hall was in 1958. She lived latterly in The Rowans Old People’s Home, still playing, and died in her 87th year.