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

THE FAMILY OF ROBERT BURNS. 19
maintained a friendly correspondence, received a friendly
visit from him in 1787, and on his prematnre death offered
to aid in the upbringing of his children. He died at Montrose
on the 12th June 1837, aged eighty-seven; his remains were
deposited near those of his father, in the old burgh church-
yard. He married, 6th January 1777, Anne, daughter of
John Greig of Montrose, by his wife, Jean, daughter of
Eobert "Watson of Sheilhill, Forfarshire; she was born 16th
July 1749, and died 12th February 1796.
By his wife, Anne Greig, James Burnes was father of four
sons and four daughters. Anne, the eldest daughter, born
16th April 1783, died in 1785; Christian, second daughter,
born 15th April 1785, died in 1815 unmarried; Elizabeth,
third daughter, died in 1818 unmarried; Sarah, fourth
daughter, died unmarried in 1814. John, the eldest son, died
in infancy in 1779 ; George, third son, born 30th September
1781, died in 1801 ; and Eobert, youngest son, died in 1790.
James Burnes, second son of James Burnes and Anne
Greig, was born on the 1st April 1780. 1 Articled to his
father, he studied law and became a solicitor. As Dean of
the Guildry incorporation, he entered the town council on
the 11th December 1817, and, on the 23d September 1818,
was elected chief magistrate. After an interval of four years,
he was re-elected provost in September 1824; he resigned
office on the 2d February 1825, when he was appointed joint
town-clerk. He evinced a deep interest in municipal affairs,
and having early exposed the abuses of the close burgh
system, he has been described as the father of Scottish
burghal reform. A zealous agriculturist, he was appointed
a J.P. for Forfarshire, in recognition of his public services.
1 Montrose Parish Reg.