BURNS - Dumfries info required

[Kenda1]

Thanks - I have found more info this time but still can't trace his parents. Will have to give up this side again for awhile!

[Gadget]

Think I've now found them in 1871

821 15 page 33

76 St Michael Street Close, Dumfries St Michaels

Peter Burns, 50, woollen weaver, b. Annan
Grace, 45, b. Kirkmahoe
Thomasina, 14, woollen weaver,
James, 13, woollen twister
Charles, 10, Scholar
Ann, 8
Robert, 4

All children born Dumfries.

So mother possibly died 1861-1971 but where 

I'm perplexed by the beer manufacturer - wonder if it was written down in error or a joke  he was a weaver on his death record 

[Gadget]

Thanks Monica 

That seems mostly the Kerr/Browns. We need to find Jane's death record  but it seems that Lesley doesn't seem to use SP and has given up already

Gadget

[Kenda1]

Hi Gadget

Have had trouble with SP but now back on but still struggling with his father. I have also found him following his marriage but no trace of his birth. I was thinking he was born in ireland, but census shows his birth as Annan (?)

LESLEY

[Gadget]

He is consistent throughout all the censuses that he was born Annan, so we will have to take this. It might just be the first place he remembered but 

I have tried finding his mothers death - with no luck. That would give her husband's name.


Gadget

[Biltong]

I have just stumbled on this posting.  My grandfather was Robert Burns, aged 4 on the 1871 census.  My understanding is that Peter was secretive about his origins.  My mother believed he had come from Ireland, probably during the famines.  Various censuses give varying birth years, and various family members have different legends of his origins.  I have a copy of a verse published in the papers on his death, calling him a "Botanical beer manufacturer".  My mother understood he was a respected herbalist who collected his own herbs.  On Robert's death, Peter's big books on herbs etc had to be sold.  Descendants of James remember the big glass herb containers.

An early census has Peter's mother, born in Ireland, living with him.

If you are still around, and are interested, I will dig out more precise information.

Bill Macpherson
Busselton
Western Australia

[Biltong]

Sorry  -  more detail.  Your (our) Peter Burns has no connection with the poet.  He is buried with Grace and my grandfather Robert in St Michael's "New" Cemetery off Craigie Road.

[Kenda1]

Just found your message, thank you. Did you ever manage to find Peter's father or more details on where his mother came from??

[Biltong]

Sorry Kenda1.  All I know is that the 1861 census names Peter's mother Jane  -  age 60  -  occupation Pirnwinder (I must Google that) and born Ireland.

Peter's death certificate, informed by eldest son James, gave Peter's parents' details as --------------
He died 24/1/1898 aged 74 at 2 Nith Place of cyctitis.  In 1891, he and his wife Grace and my (as yet) unmarried grandfather Robert were at 3 Nith Place.  As I've said before, every census gives a conflicting age.

His children were:
Thomasina Grace b1/5/1856
James b27/5/1858
Charles William b 2/7/1860
Ann b28/6/1862
Robert b 6/1/1867
Janet Berwick b 3/7/1870

Are we related?