Robert Burnes

Robert Burnes or Robert Burness (1719 – 3 January 1789) was a paternal uncle of the poet Robert Burns. He left the family farm of Clochnahill or Clokenhill in Kincardineshire with his younger brother William Burnes, and found work at the Lochridge or Lochrig limestone quarries and lime kilns that lay near Byrehill Farm near Stewarton. He was a teacher, a gardener later in life and a land steward on the nearby Robertland Estate, possibly through the influence of his nephew. Robert Burns referred to his him as Poor Uncle Robert upon his death in 1789. He retained the spelling 'Burnes' throughout his life; however, his nephew favoured the Ayrshire spelling of 'Burns' and official records as well as his memorial inscription omit the 'e'.

Robert is said to have gone to England or Southern Scotland at first, working for some time as a gardener, He then lived for several years, arriving around 1748, certainly by 1781, His brother William recorded in a letter dated 1781 that his brother lived in 'Stewarton' and that his circumstances were "rather indifferent." Robert attended his brother William's funeral in 1784.

Robert had severe rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis They are said to have kept in close contact with Gilbert and Robert whilst they were living at Mossgiel. This individual was a land steward at the Robertland estate. William Logan, the Robertland Estate Factor living at Kilmaurs House or Place had employed a Robert Burnes and wrote a series of letters from May 1774 to 1784 to his employer that sometimes refer to a Robert Burnes.

This Robert had detailed knowledge of selecting kilned lime and the liming of crops, caring for cattle, and drainage work. Deputising for the absentee factor he collected rents and wrote to the laird. A duplicate copy of the register confirms these details and gives the spelling 'Burnes'. This confirms that 'Poor Uncle Robert' became for a time the Robertland Estate land steward as related in the 'Caldhame Letters', working under the Factor, William Logan, first of Kilmaurs House and later Thornton House. and was buried in Stewarton, probably in the Burnes family lair, but she is not recorded on the 1910 memorial itself. She died two years after her husband had written of her 'tender' condition.

Robert and Agnes had four children of whom John (b. 15 September 1767, d. 17 February 1846) was the oldest son,

Janet Dean's mother worked with Fanny and recollected that Robert Burns gave her a holograph copy of 'The Holy Fair' which the family treasured, but its whereabouts now is unknown. On 17 July 1792 she likewise wrote that she had just seen Fanny who had given her a piece of her wedding-gown and that she would keep this as an important relic of her friendship with Robert Burns who had done so much to help his 'orphan' cousin.

Fanny (b. circa 1772, d. 23 Apr 1839) Fanny died in 1839.

John Burnes John's (b. 15 September 1767, d. 17 February 1846) birth was registered in the Parish of Irvine. He is known to have helped guard the Stewarton St Columba Church graveyard against the activities of body snatchers or resurrectionists, although it is not known if this was as a volunteer or in paid capacity.

John Burnes may have worked as a farm labourer or as a weaver, but in his final years from 1843 he was a recipient of poor relief from the Stewarton parish as noted in the Heritors Records. He died on 17 February 1846, aged 78, and was buried next to his father under the 1910 memorial.

Jean Wyllie of Mid Buiston Farm near Kilmaurs recalled that John or Jock worked for her father Hugh as a ploughman and that he was clever, good looking, but a bit of a rascal. John was able to recite 'The Twa Dogs' and 'The Cotter's Saturday Night'. He told a story of helping Robert Burns at Ellisland by burning whin at the entrance to the barn to 'smoke out' a group of Buchanites after they had taken shelter without seeking permission. This Robert had died before 1781 as his Uncle William does not list him in a letter that he wrote that year to his nephew James Burnes. He is also not mentioned in a letter of 1784 written by his father to his nephew Robert Burns.

Helen Burnes A Helen Burns is recorded as being buried at Stewarton on 13 August 1803.

Death and memorial On 3 January 1789 Robert died at Stewarton although for long he was thought to have died at Ellisland. Robert was a popular and much respected figure in the area and he is buried in a prime location in Stewarton's St Columba Church cemetery where in 1910 the Stewarton Literary Society erected a memorial obelisk made of Ballochmyle red sandstone to him and to his eldest son John who had died on 17 February 1846 and is buried next to him.

On the day of the unveiling the Stewarton Burgh Band marched through the streets and Andrew Kerr, President of the Stewarton Literary Society hosted the proceedings. The whole project had originally begun following a talk delivered by Duncan McNaught of Kilmaurs and the honour was given to him to unveil the memorial.

Association with Robert Burns

Robert Burns used to visit his uncle in Stewarton at the Buck's Head Close or at the Buck's Head Inn, he also visited nearby Robertland House. He is said to have stayed at the inn.

When Robert Burnes died, his nephew Robert did what he could to help John, William and Fanny Burnes, his cousins, to gain employment. In February 1789 Robert Burns wrote from Ellisland Farm to his cousin, James Burnes in Montrose from Ellisland, saying: "We have lost poor uncle Robert this winter... His son William, has been with me this winter, and goes in May to bind himself to be a Mason with my father in law who is a pretty considerable architect in Ayrshire. His other son, the eldest, John, comes to me, I expect in Summer.... His only daughter, Fanny, has been with me ever since her father's death and I purpose to keep her in my family til she be quite woman grown, and be fit for better service. She is one of the cleverest girls, and has one of the most amiable dispositions, that I have ever seen."

Chronology 1748 (Circa) – Robert living at Titwood Farm in Dreghorn Parish.

1766 – Robert (Aged 46/7) marries Agnes Craig at Dreghorn.

1767 – John Burnes born in Irvine.

1769 – William Burnes born in Irvine.

1771 – (Circa) Fanny (Frances) Burnes born.

1774 to 1784 – William Logan, Robertland Estate factor appoints Robert Burnes (aged 54/55) as a land steward. Family move to Caldhame Farm.

1776 to 1779 – Letters written by Robert Burnes to Sir James Hunter Blair.

1778 – Robert Burnes is born and had died before 1781. that he is also not well and lists just three children.

1784 – Robert attends his brother William's funeral.

1786 – Robert's wife, Agnes Craig, dies and is buried in Stewarton.

1787 – Death of Sir James Hunter Blair of Robertland.

1789 – Robert dies at Stewarton aged 69/70. Fanny Burnes moves to Ellisland.

1790 – William, John and Fanny living at Ellisland.

1792 – Fanny marries Adam Armour.

1803 – A Helen Burnes dies and is buried at Stewarton.

1846 – John Burnes dies and is buried at Stewarton.

1850 – William Burnes dies.

1910 – Memorial stone to Robert and John unveiled.