Hi Listers Here is a small contribution. I have a very old book on Robert Burns, handed down, generation to generation from Jean Armour Burns in our family. This is the family of Robert Burns: Robert Burns, s/o William Burness and Agnes Broun was born on Jan.25, 1759 at Ayrshire--Died at Dumfries , July 21, 1796---age 37. Jean Armour d/o James Armour was born on Feb 24,1765 at Mauchline---Died at Dumfries, March 25, 1834.---age 69. Robert and Jean were married in Mauchline Scotland on Aug. 5 1788 Their Children: 1. Robert 2. Jean Twins, they were born on Sept 3, 1786. Jean died in infancy. 3. Girl 4. Girl twins, unnamed, both died with in days of their birth in 1788-------Both these sets of twins were born before their parents wre married. 5. Francis Wallace- born on Aug. 18, 1789-died on July 9, 1803, age 14. 6. William Nicole-born on April 9, 1791. 7. Elizbeth Riddel-born on Nov.21,1792---died in Sept of 1795, age 2 years and 10 months 8. James Glencarin--born Aug 12, 1894--died 1865 9 Maxwell- born July 25, 1796. born the day of his fathers funeral, Jean went into labor and had to leave the funeral. He died April 25, 1799, age 2 years and 9 mo. He was named Maxwell for his fathers doctor. These chilren all belonged to Jean Burns, there were numerous illigitimate children. 1. A daughter Elizabeth, born to a serving girl, named Elizabeth Patton, born on May 22, 1785 2 Mary Campbell, had a still born son born in Oct. of 1786. 3. May Cameron, bore Burns a son and possiby triplets in the winter of 1787, nothing more is known of them. 4. Jenny, Clow, a serving girl, bore Burns a son in July of 1791. Anna Parks, a barmaid at the Globe Tavern, where Burns frequented, bore him a daughter, Elizabeth, on July 31, 1791. 5. Another daughter Named Elizabeth, mother unknown Burns had 4 daughters, 3 were illigitimate, all 4 were named Elizabeth. From The Olive Tree Burns and Clan Campbell A family of Campbells lived at Bal an Deora, near Taynuilt, (Means burnhouse),during the late 15th and 16 centuries. One of the meanings of deora was "keeper of the holy relics" After the reformation of 1560, the office was discontinued. One of the deora's is said to have had a son, Walter Campbell.. Walter Campbell was driven by political differences to flee his native Argyleshire at night and settled in the parish of Glenburvie. In settleing down he took as a blind the name of Burness or Burnhouse. His son, Walter Burness, was born in the early 1630's. He owned a farm called Bogjoran. He had 4 sons, the 3rd of whom was James Burness born in 1656 and died in 1743. He was a tenant on the farm of Brawlinmuir. It was his son, the third son of a third sonw who was Robert Burness, the poets grandfather. He had three sons, James, Robert and William, William being the father of the poet. ------From "The Poetical Works of Robert Burns" by Charles Kent---- Page 2. This is a letter by Burns written in 1786 , using Burness, To Mr John Richardson, Edinburgh. Mossgiel, Feb. 17, 1786. My dear sir, I have not time at the present to upbraid you for your silence and neglect; I shall only say, I recieved yours with great pleasure. I have enclosed you a piece of rhyming ware for your persual. I have been very busy with the muses since I saw you, and have composed, among several others, "The Ordination ," a poem on Mr. M'Kinleys being called to Kilmarnock,. "Scotch Drink", a poem. "The Cottors Saturday Night," "An Address To The Devil, &c. I have likewise completed my poems on the DOG'S, but have not shewn it to the world. My chief patron now, is Mr. Aiken in Aye. who is pleased to express great approbation of my works. Be so good as to send me Fergguson by Connel, and I will remit you the money. I have no news to acquaint you about Mauchline, they are just going on in he old way.I have some very important news with respect to myself, not the most agreeable news. that I am sure, you cannot guess, but I shall give you the particulars another time. I am extremey happy with Smith; he is the only friend I have left in Mauchline. I can scarcely forgive your long neglect of me, and I beg that you let me hear from you regularly by Connel. If you would act your part as a FRIEND. I am sure, neither good or bad fortune will strange or alter me. Excuse haste, as I got yours but yesterday.------I am, My dear Sir- Yours- ROBt. BURNESS+. This is exactly the way it is writtem, right down to the punctuation marks and the capitol letters. The trouble in Mauchline, I don't know what it is exactly but it was probably about the pregnancy of Jean Armour.. He usually signed his letters just R. B. and sometimes just, Yours. no name afterward. Hope you enjoy, just thought I would share. Bobbi N. Lewis http://community.webtv.net/blew37/THESWEETSMELLOF