Robert Burnes (1719-1789)

Robert Burnes
Obelisk commemorating Robert and John Burnes at Stewarton
Born	1719 Clochnahill Farm, Kincardineshire, Scotland
Died	3 January 1789 Stewarton, Scotland
Occupation	Quarryman, Gardener, Land Steward and Teacher

Robert Burnes or Robert Burness (1719-1789) was an uncle of the poet Robert Burns on his father's side, who left the family farm of Clochnahill or Clokenhill in Kincardineshire with his younger brother William Burnes. He found work at the Lochridge or Lochrig limestone quarries and lime kilns that lay near Byrehill Farm near Stewarton. He may have been a gardener later a teacher and then a land steward on the nearby Robertland Estate. Robert Burns referred to his relation as Poor Uncle Robert.

Robert is said to have gone to England or Southern Scotland at first, working for some time as a gardener, having supposedly parted from his brother on the summit of Garvock Tap. He then lived for several years, arriving around 1748, in a cot house at Titwood Farm in Dreghorn Parish, where he worked in the summer months as a quarryman and possibly being apprenticed at some point as a stonemason. His brother William recorded in a letter dated 1781 that his brother lived in Stewarton and that the circumstances were "rather indifferent". Robert attended his brother William's funeral in 1784.

Robert had severe rheumatism or arthritis that prevented him from doing hard physical work in the cold winter months and to maintain himself and his family he opened a school in his home for the sons of local farmers. When his condition became too painful and debilitating he moved to a house or to the Buck's Head Inn located at the Buck's Head Close just off the main street in Stewarton and later he moved to another house in the town, the location of which has been forgotten, however Caldhame Farm on the Robertland Estate was the home of Robert Burnes and his wife Agnes Craig whilst he was a land steward between 1774 and 1784.

Sir James Hunter Blair of Blairquhan uncovered six letters in his family's archive written between 1776 and 1779 by a Robert Burnes to the first baronet from Caldhame near Stewarton; a seventh letter was discovered recently by the Blairquhan Castle archivist. This individual was a land steward at the Robertland estate. William Logan, the Robertland Estate Factor living at Kilmaurs House or Place had employed a Robert Burnes and wrote a series of letters from May 1774 to 1784 to his employer that sometimes refer to Robert Burnes.