"the Doubtful Ancestor"
?South Carolina or ?Scotland

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Auld Bridge on the Nith River, Dumfries, Scotland . photo by Elroy Christenson 1999

It is more likely that my ancestors were linked to his brothers' children, grandfather, or great grandfather if at all. There were several Robert Burns in South Carolina but I have not been able to make a factual connection to any of them. It could be that I will eventually find an ancestor that is Robert Burns; my Robert Burns will probably be a very distant relation just to the Burns clan who came to the colonies before the American Revolution. I'm including here an abbreviated genealogy of Robert Burns, the Scottish National Poet in hopes of one day making a connection with one of his families ancestors.

From the age of thirteen he worked on the farm full-time.

1777 - His father leased 130 acres on which Robert was expected to work. He found the constant toil unrewarding which caused fighting and astrangement from his father. "He a took a kind of dislike to me, which I believe was one cause of that dissipation which marked my future years."[Burns]

1783 - The farm failed possibly due to his father's illness or abuse of liquor.

1784 - Robert's father died of tuberculosis.

c1785 - Robert was sent a rebuke by the clergy of the local church for sleeping unwed with Betty Parson. [Durant p773]

1786- He published his first volume of verse at Kilmarnock, by subscription. He sells all of them but only nets twenty pounds.
On August 6th of this same year Robert Burns and Jean Armour were publicly rebuked during a sunday service for fornication without marriage.

1788- He rented a the Ellisland farm, five miles south of Dumfries. His farm took too much effort for too little gain. In July he gets a position as an exciseman. His job was to check the country side for standards and values, especially in the breweries and distilleries, that could be passed on to the Edinburgh government for taxing purposes. In this position he was also given a number of presents which made his day to day living much easier.

1790- He frequented the Globe Inn of Dumfries where he met Anna Park, a barmaid and niece of the owner, Meg Hyslop. The Globe Inn had been established since 1610 and so was already a150 year old building when he started coming here. He maintained a room in the Globe Inn that is still furnished with his bed, desk and chair. Anna Park eventually conceives and gives birth to a little girl, Elizabeth. Only nine days later Jean gives birth to William Nicol Burns. Anna dies shortly after the birth and the child is adopted by Jean Armour. Jean nursed both children at the same time. [Robert Burns, Dumfries Walk No. 2]

One of the poems that shows his personality is still printed on the napkins of the Globe Inn.

1791- He sells the farm for a profit and moves into a house in Dumfries where he eventually dies.

1793- He has a child by Mrs. Maria Ridell who confessed to his "irresistable power of attraction".

He praised the American Independence movement and the French Revolution. His radical views almost caused him to lose his government position as Exciseman.

21 July 1796- He is put to bed with what doctors referred to as Rheumatic fever for three days before his death. On the day he is buried his wife gave birth to a son. Friends raised a fund for her and her families' support. In Dumfriesshire alone over £100 was raised in less than three months. This was a large amount for those days. She continued to live in Dumfries where she frequently prayed in her marked pew in St. Michael's Church until she dies in 1834.

Burns House in Dumfries.
photo EC '99

sources:

Dumfries, A Burns Trail, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries. 1999
Robert Burns, Dumfries Walk No. 2, Kirkgate, Burns Howff Club of Dumfires in asso. with Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board, Dumfries. 1999
Durant, Will and Ariel.Rousseau and Revolution, The Story of Civilization:10, Simon and Schuster, NY., 1967