Robert Burns {Scottish Poet} Family History & Family Tree

Before my brother William passed away, he had a hunch about our lineage; he thought we were related to the famous Scottish Poet, Robert Burns. It's been 7 years of extensive research and I'm still chasing Robert Burns, but this time, I'm one step closer to proving the truth. So here's to hanging on and breaking through those brick walls. PRESENTING... Robert Burns, Scotland's Greatest Poet!!

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is known as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature. In 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV

• Born: January 25, 1759, Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Parent's: William Burnes & Agnes Brown
• Died: July 21, 1796, Dumfries, Scotland
• Buried: Robert Burns Mausoleum at St. Michael's churchyard in Dumfries, Scotland

William Burnes & Agnes Brown had the following children: (Parents of Robert Burns the Poet)

1. Robert Burns: born 25 Jan 1759, in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland. He officially married Jean Armour on 5 Aug 1788. Nine children were born to this union. Named after his paternal grandfather; Robert Burnes.
2. Gilbert Burnes: born 1760-1827. Married Jean Breckenridge. Interred in Belton Cemetery, near Hoddington. Named after his maternal grandfather; Gilbert Brown.
3. Agnes Burnes: born 1762-1834. Married William Goult. Interred in Dundolk Cemetery. Named after her mother; Agnes Brown.
4. Annabella Burnes: born 14 Nov 1764 in Alloway, Aryshire, Scotland. Died, 2 Mar 1832 in Grant's Braes, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. Unmarried. Interred in Bolton Cemetery, near Hoddington. Named after her paternal granmother; Annabella Brown.
5. William Burnes: born 31 Jul 1767 in Mount Oliphant, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Unmarried. Died, 24 Jul 1790 in London, England. Interred in St. Pauls Churchyard.
6. John Burnes: born 12 Jul 1769 in Mount Oliphant, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Died, 28 Oct 1785 in Mossgiel, Maunchline, Ayrshire, Scotland.
7. Isabel Burnes: born 27 Jun 1771 in Mount Oliphant, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Married John Begg. Died, 4 Dec 1858 in Bridgehouse, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland.

The Family Tree of Robert Burns 

(copied from the Archives at Salt Lake City Family History Library)
 Click Image to enlarge

Robert Burns was descended from the Burness family of Kincardineshire, where his ancestors were tenant farmers.  His Father William moved to Ayrshire in 1750, where Robert was born in 1759.  Robert signed his name Robert Burness until March 1786, when he adopted the spelling Burns, which is a common name in Ayrshire.

Robert Burns had a total of twelve children with four different women, which includes his wife Jean Armour.  Seven of his children were illegitimate, including the first four by Jean Armour before they were married in 1788, although under Scots law they were considered illegitimate after their parents marriage.  Of Jean's children six died young and another William Nicol Burns had no children.  all living descendants of Robert Burns and Jean Armor descend from either their granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Maitland Tombs Burns (1821 - 1909), daughter of their fourth son James Glencairn Burns (1794 - 1865), or their granddaughter Anne Elizabeth Burns (c1820 - 1889), illegitimate daughter of their eldest son Robert Burns (1786 - 1857). Robert Burns & Jean Armour, also known as the "Belle of Mauchline" fell in love in 1786, and officially married on 5 Aug 1788.

Robert Burns & Jean Armour are the parents to the following children:
(Source of information: from the Burns family history preserved in the Salt Lake Family History Library).

1.  Robert Burns II (twin), 3 Sep 1786 - 14 May 1857. Married Ann Sherwood in 1808. She died in 1835. They had one daughter, Eliza Burns, who died in 1878. She was taken to India by her uncle James Glencoin Burns and there met and married Dr. Everett of the Indian Medical Service. Of this marriage there was one daughter, Martha Everett. Martha married Matthew Thomson of Martinstown, Killinwick, Co. Wexford, Ireland, who managed the Everett estate. They had no issue. Robert Burns II married 2nd wife, Emma Bland. They had one son, Robert Burns III. Robert Burns III married Mary Campbell. Robert Burns III and Mary Campbell had one son, Robert Burns IV, and one daughter, Jane Emma Burns.  Robert Burns IV died in 1895 in Edinburgh. Jane Emma Burns married Thomas Brown. They had two daughters, Jean Armour Burns Brown and Isabella Ferguson Brown, (buried in Woodlawn Cemetery). Jean Armour Burns Brown died in 1937 in Dumfries. Jane Emma Burns Brown and Thomas Brown immigrated to Canada about 1870 and settled at Guelph Oat.
2. Jean Burns (twin), 3 Sep 1786 - Oct 1787
3. Infant Girl (twin),  3 Mar 1788 - 10 Mar 1788
4. Infant Girl (twin), 3 Mar 1788 - 23 Mar 1788
5. Frances Wallace Burns, 18, Aug 1879 - 9 Jul 1803
6. William Nicol Burns, 9 Apr 1791 - 21 Feb 1872. Married Catherine Adelaide Crone. She died 29 Jun 1841.
7. Elizabeth _iddel Burns, 21 Nov 1792 - Sep 1795
8. James Glencoin Burns, 12 Aug 1794 -10 Nov 1865. Married Sarah Robinson 1797- 11 Jul 1821. Sarah died at Neemuch, East Indies while giving birth to her third child. The baby Sarah was sent home to Dumfries and was reared by her grandmother, Jean Armour Burns.                          James Glencoin Burns & Sarah Robinson had three children:
1. Jane Isabella Burns, born 13 Jan 1819 and died at sea aged 4 years, 5 months. 2. 
2. Robert Shaw Burns, born May 1820, died 11 Dec 1821. 3. 
3. Sarah Elizabeth Maitland Tombs Burns, born Nov 1821.  
• Berkeley Westropp Hutchinson and Sarah Elizabeth Maitland Tombs Burns Children:
• Arabella Ann Hutchinson b. 30 May 1848, d. 7 Sep 1852
• Arthur Vincent Burns Hutchinson b. 6 Jun 1849, d. 18 Sep 1852
• Robert Burns Hutchinson b. 8 Mar 1851, d. 8 Sep 1852
• Berkeley Burns Hutchinson b. 22 Jun 1853, d. 21 Mar 1854
• Annie Vincent Burns Hutchinson b. 15 Jul 1854, d. 27 Aug 1935
• Robert Burns Hutchinson+ b. 10 Nov 1855, d. 26 Aug 1944
• Violet Burns Hutchinson+ b. 10 Jul 1859, d. 14 Jan 1951
• Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson b. 5 Sep 1860, d. 8 Dec 1917
• Marion Burns Hutchinson b. 4 Mar 1862, d. 14 Mar 1862
9. Maxwell Burns, 25 Jul 1796 - 25 Apr 1799

Robert Burns' children from other relationships:

1. Elizabeth Paton Burns (1785–1817), was born to his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton (1760–circa 1799)
2. Elizabeth (Betty) Burns (1791 - 1873) daughter of Ann Park who married John Thomson in 1808.
3. Robert Burns (1788-?), son of Janet (Jennie) Clow. Born in Edinburgh in 1788 and later became a merchant in London.

Source: Burness Genealogy and Family history

Written on the marriage certificate of Robert Burns & Jean Armour:
"REBUKE: 5 Aug 1788. Burns - Robert in Mossgiel and Jean Armour in Mauchline before the session upon 5 August and acknowledged that they were irregularly married some years ago.The session rebuked both parties for this irregularity and took them solomnly bound to share to one another as husband and wife all the days of their life."

Burns Cottage in Alloway, Scotland (place of birth of Robert Burns)

Robert Burns Poems written in the Scottish dialect

Burial: Robert Burns Mausoleum at St. Michael's churchyard in Dumfries, Scotland


Robert Burns statue  by David Watson Stevenson (1898) in Bernard Street, Leith


Robert Burns Signature