Helen Hyslop

Helen Hyslop, also Nelly Parish records show that a Helen Hyslop, the mother of Burns's possible daughter, was born in the area in 1766, her parents being John Hyslop and Janet Howatson of Langholm.

Associates

An article was published in a Moffat newspaper in circa 1885 recalling that a Mrs Richardson of Moffat, born in 1864, recalled running messages as a child for Helen Armstrong, the daughter's married name, and knew her as a daughter of Robert Burns.

Life and character Little detail is extant regarding Ellen/Helen or Nelly, and eventually married a Mr Armstrong who died many years before her. Helen Armstrong worked for 30 years at the Buccleuch Arms in Thornhill as a cook. The hotel was then run by the Glendinning family and she only left when the last of that family died.

Micro-history Helen once saw Sir Walter Scott when he came into the kitchen at the Buccleuch Arms and spoke to the head cook. Sir Walter was on a journey to visit the Duke of Buccleuch at nearby Drumlanrig Castle.

Some confusion exists between Ann Park and the Helen Hyslop story, for Ann's name is recorded with variations such as Ann Hyslop, Helen Anne Hislop, Helen Hyslop, Etc. Ann Park was possibly a second-cousin of William 'Jock' Hyslop,