Historical records matching Elizabeth "Betty" Park Burns, illegitimate
view all 31
Immediate Family
-
husband -
-
son
-
daughter -
daughter
-
daughter
-
-
daughter
-
daughter
-
daughter
-
mother -
father
About Elizabeth "Betty" Park Burns, illegitimate
Elizabeth "Betty" Burns[edit] Elizabeth "Betty" Burns was born on 31 March 1791 in Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh (1791–1873), after Ann had returned to her parents or sister[11] in the later stages of her pregnancy.[7] Elizabeth was indisputably the daughter of Ann Park and Robert Burns.[8] Jean Armour brought up Elizabeth, as one of her own family,[12] commenting that "Our Robin should hae had twa wives."[5] She received, at the age of 21, the sum of £200 from the fund raised by her father's admirers.[12]
She is said to have been named by her mother's friends and remained in Leith for two years until Jean sent a servant to bring her to the Burns' home at Ellisland.[11] She had her father's looks and the neighbours at Leith were aware of her parentage.[11] Jean gave her the surname Burns after her husband's death.[11]
Elizabeth or 'Betty' Burns as she was known, married Private John Thomson of the Stirlingshire Militia. He was the son of William Thomson and Agnes Adam, and had been born in Glasgow in 1788. They married on 2 June 1808 in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Thomson sent Betty to stay with his parents in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, until he left the militia in 1814, taking up the trade of handloom weaving, and remaining in Pollockshaws until their deaths. John died on 22 February 1869, and Betty died on 13 June 1873 in Crossmyloof at the age of 82. They are both buried in the Old Burgher churchyard in Pollokshaws.[12]
Their children were William Thomson b. 23 March 1809, d. 22 May 1855; Jean Armour Thomson b. 27 July 1815, d. 22 January 1891; Robert Burns Thomson b. 16 December 1817, d. 14 April 1887; Agnes Thomson b. c 1821, d. 6 May 1865; Sarah Burns Thomson b. c 1825, d. 15 December 1885; James Glencairn Thomson b. 19 October 1827, d. 9 July 1911; Elizabeth Thomson b. 26 July 1830; and Margaret Thomson b. 3 May 1833, d. 23 November 1896.[13]
She felt that the Burns family did not accept her, most notably through her exclusion from the Burns Festival in Ayr of 1844.[14] Significantly her son Robert was rejected upon trying to greet his father's sons, his uncles, at the Ayr Festival.[15] She stated that her 'unfortunate' birth was the greatest stain by far on her father's character.[11]
view all 13
Elizabeth "Betty" Park Burns, illegitimate's Timeline
| 1791 |
March 31, 1791
|
Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
|
|
| 1809 |
March 23, 1809
|
Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, , England
|
|
| 1815 |
July 27, 1815
|
Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
|
|
| 1817 |
December 16, 1817
|
Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
|
|
| 1820 |
October 4, 1820
|
Pollowshaws, Eastwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland
|
|
| 1824 |
April 26, 1824
|
Eastwood, Renfrew
|
|
| 1827 |
October 19, 1827
|
Langside,Cathcart,Renfrewshire
|
|
| 1830 |
July 26, 1830
|
Langside, Cathcart, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
|
|
| 1833 |
May 3, 1833
|
Pollokshaws Opstwood, Renfrewshire
|
|
|
1833
|
Eastwood, Renfrew
|