Annabella Burns

Association with Robert Burns

Annabella was Robert Burns's second oldest sister, Agnes being the oldest and Isabella the youngest.

Annabella and her siblings religious education was partly taught at home by their father, using the A Manual of Religious Belief that William Burnes had written for that purpose, assisted by John Murdoch.

Annabella's niece Isabella wrote to Dr Chambers and informed him that it was her Uncle Gilbert and his sisters, therefore including Annabella, who were set against Robert marrying Elizabeth Paton.

Whilst at Mount Oliphant or Lochlea Farm Robert wrote a story, The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren, for his young siblings. Annabella's younger sister Isabella remembered this story and told it to Dr Chambers in 1850/51. The story was published in Chamber's Nursery Rhymes of Scotland.

In August 1788 Annabella and Isabella were present at the birth of Burns's second son, Francis Wallace, at Ellisland Farm on 18 August 1788.

Her brother Robert referred to Annabella as 'Nannie' or 'Nanny' in his letters. Ellisland Farm was not yet habitable at this date.