I have not been able to go back any further yet with my BURNS or GIBSONS. My third cousin, Doreen, did the research on these lines and this is what we have: Hellen BURNS (parents yet to be determined) b. ca. 1776 (my estimate) m. 20 June 1793 to Peter HERKES (or HARKES), Bolton Parish (Herkes was born/baptized at Gladsmuir) Children include Jean and George d. ? (My own minute research of this family and the time frame pretty much rules out any direct relationship to Robert Burns' father's family.) I have two GIBSON lines; one in Scotland and one in the US (VA to MD to PA in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.) Jean GIBSON, born app. 1710 (my estimate based on her husband's date of birth and their marriage date) married Robert NISBET at North Berwick, 16 Oct. 1731. Their children included Marion, Mary, Janet, Jean, and Catherine. Once again, this information comes from the careful research Doreen did on the family, for which I am thankful. I know that's not much to go on and I'm sorry I don't have parents' names for these two women, but that's all I know right now! Jill Clark listowner, SCT-EAST-LOTHIAN researching COWE, BORTHWICK, LAMOND, HARKES, RATTRAY, NISBET, JENKINSON, SANDERSON, BURNS, GRIEVE, GIBSON, BROWN