William Burns (saddler)
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William Burns | |
|---|---|
 A gravestone with a half-moon-shaped leather workers knife | |
| Born | 31 July 1767[1] |
| Died | 24 July 1790 (aged 22)[1] London[1] |
| Occupation | Saddler |
| Spouse | Unmarried |
| Children | None |
| Parent(s) | William Burnes Agnes Broun[1] |
William Burns (1767–1790) was the second youngest brother of the poet Robert Burns and the third son born to William Burness and Agnes Broun. William was born at Mount Oliphant Farm on the Doonholm Estate near Alloway, about three miles from Ayr, on the 12 July 1769. He was christened circa 6 August 1767 by the Rev. Rev William Dalrymple of Ayr parish and kirk.[1]
Death
His siblings were Robert (b. 25 January 1759); Gilbert (b. 28 September 1760); Agnes (b. 30 September 1762); Annabella (b. 14 November 1764); John (b. 12 July 1769); Isabella (b. 27 July 1771).[2]
The family moved from Mount Oliphant Farm to Lochlea Farm near Alloway in 1777 and then moved to Mossgiel Farm near Mauchline in 1784, after William's father William Burnes had died.[3] At Mossgiel Farm William would have worked as a labourer like his brothers and here he shared a tiny room in the loft with his younger brother John.[4]
William was "intelligent and personable, but gentle and diffident" and had qualities that Robert Burns felt that he saw in himself.[5]
Writing to Dr James Currie on 23 June 1802 John Murdoch, William's old teacher, gave details of his visit with William, writing that "... he repeated a lesson of morality I had given him about twenty years before that, when he was a mere child. To that lesson he declared himself indebted for almost all the philanthropy he possessed. Let not parents and teachers imagine that it is needless to talk seriously to children"[6]
Helen or Nelly Millar of Grassmilees Farm, lying to the east of Mauchline, recollected that she had been William's lass but after they had been a "bit cast out" and had never "southered up" and she instead married a Mr Martin and went to great efforts to ensure that William attended and she had a dance with him.[7] William had worked with Mr Waddel, a sadler as an apprentice and later with a Mr Rodger in Kilmarnock.[7]
For several months, aged 18, William lived with his brother and family during Robert's first winter at Ellisland Farm. Robert's friend Robert Ainslie had failed to find an apprenticeship as a saddler in Edinburgh, much to Robert's disappointment, and William was having no success finding work locally.[1]
William was, after a few months, finally apprenticed to a saddler in Longtown, Cumbria, he then moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he worked for the saddlers Messrs Walker and Robson in Middle Street. Now qualified, William found a temporary job in London as journeyman saddler with William T. Barber, at 181 the Strand, travelling there by ship from Newcastle.[8][9] Anyone who wanted to work in the saddler trade had to serve an apprenticeship, sometimes starting as early as 13. Such apprentices would work long hours and learned how to master the special knives, including the classic half-moon-shaped round knife. and other equipment required to make and repair saddles, harnesses, bridles, etc. A 'Journeyman or Jorman' was a master craftsman who had served his apprenticeship.[10]
William was only twenty-two when he died after a few days illness in London, from a 'putrid fever' on 24 July 1790. This term was often applied to typhus, transmitted by lice and common in London in the 18th century, the symptoms of which are red spots over the arms, back, and chest; attention deficit, progressing to delirium; and gangrenous sores and the associated smell of putrid or rotting flesh.
Unfortunately his exact grave site has been lost, although he was first buried in the churchyard of St Marys-le-Strand. Following building development works he was re-interred in the Necropolis Cemetery in Woking.[11][1] Robert Burns paid for all of the bills incurred through his brother's funeral and illness, the receipt is dated 8 October 1790.
John Murdoch, the Burns family's old teacher, first visited William in London on 12 July 1790, when he was working there as a journeyman sadler. Shortly after his visit and before he could make a second, William died. On 14 September Murdoch wrote a long letter to Robert recording that, on receiving his letter of 16 July, which he finally received: "on the 26th in the afternoon per favour of my friend Mr Kennedy, and at the same time was informed that your brother was ill. Being engaged in business till late that evening, I set out next morning to see him, and had three or four medical gentlemen of my acquaintance, to one or other of whom I might apply for advice, provided it should be necessary. But when I went to Mr Barber's, to my great astonishment and heartfelt grief, I found that my young friend had, on Saturday, bid an everlasting farewell to all sublunary things".[12] Sublunary means something belonging to this world as against a better or more spiritual one.
Murdoch helped with the funeral arrangements, attended it as the principal mourner and sent Robert details of this sad occasion.[13][14]
Association with Robert Burns
William was Robert's second youngest brother, John being the youngest. Robert was only eight years older than William and the relationship with his sibling was "affectionate, loyal, serious, never over-bearing or dictatorial, and always frank in his counsel. Robert however treated William as he might have treated one of his sons had he lived long enough to see him in the years of his young manhood."[12]
William and his siblings religious education was partly taught at home by their father, using the A Manual of Religious Belief that William Burnes had written for that purpose, assisted by John Murdoch.
Whilst at Mount Oliphant[15] or Lochlea Farm Robert wrote a story, The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren, for his young siblings. William's youngest sister Isabella remembered this story and told it to Dr Chambers in 1850/51. The story was published in Chambers's Nursery Rhymes of Scotland.[16]
Writing to Gilbert Burns in 1787 about his highland tour Robert stated that "I have been trying for a birth (sic) for William, but am not likely to be successful."[17]
In February 1787 wrote to Agnes Maclehose and reported that he had spent the evening with William and Richard Brown in Glasgow.[18] A plaque on the Marks & Spencer's department store in Argyle Street records that George Durie's Black Bull Inn once stood on the site and this was where they probably would have stayed the night. The Black Bull Inn was where the Edinburgh stagecoach terminated, Robert having travelled on it, Richard meeting him there and William no doubt travelling up on Jenny Geddes, Robert's horse.[19]
Robert made it clear to William whilst he was searching for an apprenticeship that he would always have a home with his brother's family and 'filial' support. His letters go so far as to relate details of items of clothing that were sent to him by Robert.[20]
