12 Facts About Agnes Broun

Agnes Broun was aged just 10 when her mother, Agnes Broun Rainie, died.

Agnes Broun's grandmother was a repository of much oral tradition, including Scottish songs and ballads that influenced Agnes Broun and encouraged her to pass them on to her children.

Agnes Broun attended a dame school held in a weaver's cottage and learned psalms by heart, acquired basic reading skills, but did not learn to write, not even her own name.

Agnes Broun was at first engaged to William Nelson, a ploughman, with whom she worked, but she broke off the engagement after seven years, due reportedly to an indiscretion on Nelson's part.

Agnes Broun is recorded to have had a major role in cultivating the family's five acres at Alloway's New Gardens, keeping poultry, growing vegetables and making cheeses using milk from her four or so cattle the family kept.

Agnes Broun died aged 87 and is buried in the churchyard in Bolton Parish Church, Bolton, East Lothian.

Agnes Broun's disposition was naturally cheerful; her manner, easy and collected; her address, simple and unpresuming; and her judgement uncommonly sound and good.

Agnes Broun possessed a fine musical ear, and sang well.

Agnes Broun's half-sister was Jean Brown who, in 1775, married James Allan and lived at Old Rome Ford near Gatehead, in East Ayrshire.

Agnes Broun is widely known to have entertained her young "Rabbie" with legends from local oral traditions, and folk songs.

Agnes Broun is credited with having a significant influence upon Robert Burns's love for song.

Agnes Broun was buried with her son Gilbert and her daughter Anabella in Bolton Parish Kirkyard within a railed enclosure.