Genealogical Memoirs of the Family of Robert Burns and of the Scottish
The Hirsel Library Press w.—Shelf <fc ——Tfe 5— t «,• I m h ^H ft.y m ^H , I v • Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from National Library of Scotland http://www.archive.o7^/(5ietails/genealogicalmemo1877roge GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS FAMILY OF ROBERT BURNS AND OF THE SCOTTISH HOUSE OF BURNES Eev. chaeles eogees, led. HISTORIOGRAPHER TO THE ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OP ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ANTIQUARIES, COPENHAGEN ; MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC, MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW ENGLAND LONDON PEINTED FOE THE EOYAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETY 18 77 EDINBURGH : PRINTED BY M'FARLANE AND ERSKINE, ST JAMES SQUARE. PREFACE. Of the numerous biographers of the poet Burns, few have dilated on his lineage. Some doubtless felt that his position might not be elevated by any pedigree, however famous. Others may have been content to hold that himself being in lowly circumstances, any inquiry as to his progenitors would be useless and unprofitable. By his biographer Dr Currie he is described as " in reality a peasant." What in respect of descent Burns really was these Memoirs will show. Bemotely sprung from a landed stock, his im- mediate ancestors were yeomen, at first opvdent, latterly the reverse. The family had produced another poet, the author of "Thrummy Cap;" but decided indications of intellectual activity did not appear in the house till subsequent to the marriage of the poet's paternal grandfather. The wife of this person was of the family of Keith of Craig, a branch of the house of Keith-Marischal.
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