On the 17th February 1784, Robert Burn's Father William died in Lochlie, Robert & Gilbert had already made arrangements with Gavin Hamilton to lease Mossgiel Farm on the outskirts of the village, and the whole family moved in. The next 4 years were to be some of the most traumatic and productive of the poet's life. During this time Burns was to become a father for the first time (Elizabeth Paton, a farm servant at both Lochlie & Mossgiel, gave birth to a daughter "Dear Bought Bess"). He was to meet and marry Jean Armour, only for her father to cut up the marriage contract. Jean Armour subsequently gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl (Jean & Robert. Jean died aged four and is buried in the churchyard).
He was to meet and also marry "Highland" Mary Campbell, who was a nursemaid for Gavin Hamilton's children. She and Burns planned to immigrate to Jamaica, but unfortunately she died at Greenock before this could take place.
Burns set out and had published his Kilmarnock Edition, and then planned to have an Edinburgh Edition published. Jean Armour then fell pregnant to Burns again, and subsequently had a second set of twins, both of which died within 10 days. They are also buried in the churchyard. Previous to this on 23rd February 1788 Burns had bought Jean a mahogany bed and had set up house with her in a room in what is now the "Burns House Museum" in Castle Street. On the 5th August 1788 the Reverend William "Daddy" Auld and Mauchline Kirk session recognise the authenticity of Burns's marriage to                                                           Jean.
Burns also at this time had begun preparations to move to Ellisland Farm on the outskirts of Dumfries, and also became an excise man. In December 1788 Jean moved to Nithsdale to join Robert, thereby ending their association with Mauchline.

At the beginning I referred to this time as the "Golden Years". It was whilst living and having local connections with Mauchline that Burns wrote some of his finest works. He wrote approximately 56 poems among which were "The Holy Fair" "Holy Willies Prayer" "Holy Willies Epitaph" "The Kirks Alarm" "The Belles of Mauchline" "Man Was Made To Mourn" and many of his major works. He wrote at least 15 epistles (verse letters) to among others J. Lapraik, D. Sillars and the Reverand John McMath. He also wrote whilst in Mauchline, "The Jolly Beggars Cantata", a major work in every manner, and one of his finest works "The Cottars Saturday Night" which is felt to be his tribute to his father.

GAVIN HAMILTON
(from Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 26 June 1858)

As Burns's earliest patron, his prudent adviser in times of trouble and perplexity, his constant associate in brighter and happier hours, and especially as the sagacious friend who first urged on the poet to the publication of his works, Gavin Hamilton occupies a prominent part in the brilliant but painful history of our Scottish bard. He was, when Burns first became acquainted with him, a writer, or legal practitioner, in very respectable circumstances in Mauchline. The origin of their acquaintanceship is well known. Shortly before their father's death, Robert and Gilbert Burns applied in person to Mr Hamilton regarding the farm of Mossgiel, which they intended as a retreat for the family, should the Lochlea landlord proceed to extremities with them. Gavin had but a lease of the farm himself from the Earl of Loudoun, and had built the steading as a sort of summer residence for his family. There is an old person, named George Patrick, at present living, at the advanced age of 86, in Mauchline, who remembers very distinctly this first visit of the two brothers to their future place of abode. He was then a ploughboy on the farm of Mossgiel, and was in the act of driving the plough when he observed Robert and Gilbert walking about the farm and examining it. The poet, he says, wore on that occasion, drab-coloured clothes, and had his long black hair tied, according to the fashion at that time, in a knot behind. After expressing themselves satisfied with the appearance of the farm, they called in at Mr Hamilton's office, and a bargain was struck. Gavin did not lose sight of his tenants, and it was
not long till he discovered the superior genius of the latent poet. Captivated by his powers of conversation, he admitted him at all times a welcome guest to his table. The distinction between landlord and tenant was mutually forgot, and they lived together on the most intimate and familiar terms. Mr Hamilton, though a man of the most generous disposition and upright character, was unfortunate enough not to make his conduct square with the notions of Mr Auld, then minister of Mauchline. The consequence was a series of petty persecutions which the kirk session - some of whose members were actuated also by personal pique towards Hamilton - thought proper to instigate against him....
(The details of the dispute need not be repeated here. In the subsequent issue of the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3 July 1858, note is made that Hamilton "earnestly urged on him, at the time, the publication of his poems - a thing which seems never to have crossed the mind of the poet himself as a likely means of profit". Remark is made of their continued association.)
Gavin Hamilton lived respected for many years after in Mauchline, and died regretted. Several of his immediate descendants still reside in the village. His daugher, Williamina, widow of the late Rev. J Todd, was removed from us only a few weeks ago, at the great age of 79. She would be seven years of age when Burns frequented the house.

Other sites related to Robert Burns:

Burns Country

      www.ellislandfarm.co.uk     www.burnshowffclub.org   

 The World Burns Club   Burns Museum, Mauchline

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