Jenny Clow
Jenny Clow | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1766 |
| Died | 1792 Scotland |
| Occupation | Domestic Servant |
Janet, Jennie or Jenny Clow was a domestic servant to Mrs
Life and character
Following an affair whilst with the poet while he was in Edinburgh, the twenty-year-old Jenny Clow gave birth in November 1788[6] to Robert Burns's child, Robert Burns Clow,[2] She is said to have had a port wine birthmark that caused her embarrassment in public situations.[4] Jenny died three years later from TB.
Association with Robert Burns
Robert Ainslie had written to tell Robert about Jenny's condition, just a year after writing a similar letter regarding May Cameron. In his reply the poet wrote "I am vexed at that affair of the girl, but dare not enlarge on the subject until you send me direction, as I suppose that will be altered on your late Master and Friend's death." He goes on to describe how he was duped over a silhouette, as if this matter concerning a few shillings concerned him more than Jenny's condition. No further correspondence with Robert Ainslie over Jenny survives.[7]
On 6 January 1789 a letter written at
Whilst he was in Dumfries in November 1791, three years after the birth of Robert Burns Clow, Robert Burns received a letter from Agnes McLehose, informing him that Jenny Clow "to all appearances is at this moment dying. Obliged, from all the symptoms of a rapid decay, to quit her service, she is gone to a room almost without common necessaries, untended and unmourned. In circumstances so distressing, to whom can she so naturally look for aid as to the father of her child, the man for whose sake she has suffered many a sad and anxious night, shut from the world, with no other companions than guilt and solitude? You have now an opportunity to evince you indeed possess those fine feelings you have delineated, so as to claim the just admiration of your country. I am convinced I need add nothing farther to persuade you to act as every consideration of humanity must dictate." Burns asked Mrs McLehose to get a porter to take five shillings from him to Jenny Clow.[8]
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In November 1791 Burns obtained a week's leave from the excise and went to Edinburgh to meet with the dying Jenny Clow. He stayed at the White Hart Inn and had tracked Jenny down within a few hours of arrival, giving her an undisclosed sum of money.[11]
Robert Burns Clow
Jenny Clow and Robert Burns' son, Robert Burns Clow, was born in Edinburgh in 1788. Robert Burns was willing to take the baby into his home, but his mother would not part with him.[8] He later became a wealthy merchant in London. Robert married and had a son, also Robert Burns Clow, who went to Borneo, married a chief's daughter and was killed by pirates.[5] He had been given his father's names, as this was the custom at the time.[12] Although he named his own son after Robert Burns, he never capitalised on the link with his famous poet father.[9]
Clarinda's Reply
A Scottish Musical Play, written by Mike Gibb and Kevin Walsh about Agnes or Nancy McLehose, mainly focusing on her unconsummated love affair with Robert Burns, while also highlighting the poet's relationship with Jenny Clow.[13]
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ Wordpress Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ a b Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ a b c Westwood, Page 138
- ^ a b Rootsweb Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ a b Clarinda Review Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ Life of Robert Burns Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ Mackay, Page 423
- ^ a b c Burns Encyclopedia retrieved : 2012-02-26
- ^ a b Mackay, Page 425
- ^ Leopard Archived 2008-12-10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved : 2012-03-12
- ^ Mackay, Page 488
- ^ Mackay, Page 424
- ^ Burns Scotland Retrieved : 2012-02-26
- Sources
- Mackay, James (2004). Burns. A Biography of Robert Burns. Darvel : Alloway Publishing. ISBN 0907526-85-3.
- Westwood, Peter J. (2008). Who's Who in the World of Robert Burns. Robert Burns World Federation. ISBN 978-1-899316-98-4.
