Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Colette Crampsey

Robert Burns' little known connection with Shawlands in Glasgow's south side

Tonight will see thousands of Scots at home and abroad raise a glass in tribute to the life and work of our national 'bard', Robert 'Rabbie' Burns.

And that means plenty of folk here in Glasgow will be holding their own Burns Night celebration 263 years on the anniversary of his birth in 1759.

Scots grew up learning about the Ayrshire-born man's legendary works but few people are aware that Burns' actually has an interesting connection with the city.

Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

The famous poet spent time living in Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Dumfreisshire during his life - but a little known fact is that he had strong ties with Shawlands, as it's where his daughter Betty Burns lived.

Elizabeth "Betty" Burns was born in Leith in 1791 and moved to Dumfries and later to Glasgow's south side when she married soldier, John Thompson, in 1808, according to business page My Shawlands.

Betty was the illegitimate daughter of Burns along with others, as he was believed to have had at least 12 children, nine from his marriage to Jean Armour.

Jean brought up Betty as one of her own family in Ellisland, once saying:"Our Robin should hae had twa wives."

Betty's husband John was the son of William Thomson and Agnes Adam and had been born in Glasgow in 1788.

John sent Betty to stay with his parents in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, until he left the militia in 1814 and went on to take up the trade of handloom weaving.

Betty moved between Shawlands and Pollokshaws finally settling in a house that is on the site of the Co-op in Pollokshaws Road, where she and John lived until their death.

John died on February 22, 1869 and Betty died on June 13, 1873 at the age of 82. They are both buried in the Old Burgher churchyard in Pollokshaws.

So there you go, remember next time you're picking up your shopping in the Co-op you're standing on the ground that Betty Burns once lived.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.