Genealogical memoirs of the family of Robert Burns and of the Scottish house of Burnes

THE FAMILY OF ROBERT BURNS. 7
Near Burnhouse of Kair lie the lands of Inchbreck, in the
parish of Glenbervie. These lands were in 1547 granted by
Sir Alexander Douglas of Glenbervie to David Stuart, in
reward of his care of the granter when he lay wounded on
the field of Pinkie. On the authority of the late Professor
Stuart of Aberdeen, owner of Inchbreck, we learn that in
1547 the lands were rented by persons named Burnes, whose
descendants continued to occupy the lands. 1
On the 5th April 1637, "John Burnes, servitor," probably
factor or chamberlain to Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton,
attached his name at Edinburgh to a deed granted by the Earl
of Traquair, Treasurer of Scotland, to Alexander Straitown of
that ilk. 2 The lands of Thornton are situated in Kincar-
dineshire, in the district of Glenbervie or Inchbreck, where we
obtain the first trace of the Burnes family. The name of
Patrick Burness, clerk to the Presbytery of Brechin, is
attached to a bond, whereby, on the 26th August 1659, John
Lindsay of Edzell granted " ane hundreth merks and six
bolls of oatmeal, etc." to the "Eeader of Loghlie." 3
In the parish churchyard of Glenbervie four tombstones
commemorate members of the Burnes family, farmers on the
Inchbreck estate. One of these, in the form of a sarcophagus,
elaborately decorated, records the names of William Burnes,
tenant in Bogjorgan, who died in 1715, and of the members
of his family. On the upper portion of the stone are the
initials W. B. and C. F., between the figure of a heart, richly
sculptured. Beneath are the words, " Here under lies
1 Dr Burues' Notes ou his Name, p. 14 ; Jervise's Memorials of Angus and
the Mearns, 1861, 8vo, pp. 95-99.
2 Dr James Burnes, who relates this fact, states that the deed was in the
possession of his father. — Notes on his Name, p. 13.
3 Dr Burnes' Notes ou his Name, p. 17.