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John McMurdo
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John McMurdo
John McMurdo (1743–1803) was a friend of Robert Burns who became the chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry at Drumlanrig Castle where the poet was a frequent visitor. His eldest daughter Jean (1777-1839) was also a close friend of Burns, who wrote the song "Bonie Jean" in her honour. As an old Nithsdale family the McMurdos were related to the Sharpes of Hoddam, the Charteris of Amisfield, the Fergussons of Craigdarroch, Dr James Currie and the Duncans of Torthorwald amongst others.
His father was Robert McMurdo of Drungans and his mother was Philadelphia Douglas. His father was the chamberlain to 'Old Q', the 4th Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas at Drumlanrig Castle to whom he was related as a distant cousin and John, although qualified as a lawyer, succeeded him in 1780, retiring in 1797. He married Jane Blair (1749-1836), daughter of David Blair, daughter of the Provost of Dumfries and the couple had seven sons and seven daughters. Jane died on the 19 April 1836 and is buried in St Michael's Kirkyard in Dumfries. John McMurdo died at Bath in 1803.
In 1793 he had a town house built in Dumfries and he also purchased an estate near Annan called Hardriggs as an investment.
McMurdo's daughter Arenta was named in honour of the major commandant of the Royal Dumfries Volunteers, Colonel Arent Schuyler De Peyster. Burns and McMurdo were members of the Volunteers.
Burns was introduced to McMurdo by Robert Riddell of Glenriddel in the summer of 1788 when he was moving into Ellisland Farm and became a frequent visitor to the McMurdo family who were living in Drumlanrig Castle itself.
Burns wrote a poem in tribute to McMurdo and engraved the verses onto a window pane at McMurdo's accommodation in the castle:
Steven Clarke, musical editor of "The Scots Musical Museum" was persuaded by Burns to travel down from Edinburgh to teach Jean and Philadelphia Barbara McMurdo to sing and play the piano. Clarke transcribed the tune "There was a lass and she was fair" and taught the sisters the words to an old song that Jean Armour Burns sang and in April 1793 Burns sent it to George Thomson for publication with a letter detailing its history. Thomson declined to publish it, Burns later sent a copy to Jean McMurdo together with a letter.
Philadelphia was a noted beauty, known to her friends as Phillis and an inspiration to Burns who wrote several songs in her honour, such as "Adown Wandering Nith", "Phillis the Fair" and "Philly and Willie."
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John McMurdo
John McMurdo (1743–1803) was a friend of Robert Burns who became the chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry at Drumlanrig Castle where the poet was a frequent visitor. His eldest daughter Jean (1777-1839) was also a close friend of Burns, who wrote the song "Bonie Jean" in her honour. As an old Nithsdale family the McMurdos were related to the Sharpes of Hoddam, the Charteris of Amisfield, the Fergussons of Craigdarroch, Dr James Currie and the Duncans of Torthorwald amongst others.
His father was Robert McMurdo of Drungans and his mother was Philadelphia Douglas. His father was the chamberlain to 'Old Q', the 4th Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas at Drumlanrig Castle to whom he was related as a distant cousin and John, although qualified as a lawyer, succeeded him in 1780, retiring in 1797. He married Jane Blair (1749-1836), daughter of David Blair, daughter of the Provost of Dumfries and the couple had seven sons and seven daughters. Jane died on the 19 April 1836 and is buried in St Michael's Kirkyard in Dumfries. John McMurdo died at Bath in 1803.
In 1793 he had a town house built in Dumfries and he also purchased an estate near Annan called Hardriggs as an investment.
McMurdo's daughter Arenta was named in honour of the major commandant of the Royal Dumfries Volunteers, Colonel Arent Schuyler De Peyster. Burns and McMurdo were members of the Volunteers.
Burns was introduced to McMurdo by Robert Riddell of Glenriddel in the summer of 1788 when he was moving into Ellisland Farm and became a frequent visitor to the McMurdo family who were living in Drumlanrig Castle itself.
Burns wrote a poem in tribute to McMurdo and engraved the verses onto a window pane at McMurdo's accommodation in the castle:
Steven Clarke, musical editor of "The Scots Musical Museum" was persuaded by Burns to travel down from Edinburgh to teach Jean and Philadelphia Barbara McMurdo to sing and play the piano. Clarke transcribed the tune "There was a lass and she was fair" and taught the sisters the words to an old song that Jean Armour Burns sang and in April 1793 Burns sent it to George Thomson for publication with a letter detailing its history. Thomson declined to publish it, Burns later sent a copy to Jean McMurdo together with a letter.
Philadelphia was a noted beauty, known to her friends as Phillis and an inspiration to Burns who wrote several songs in her honour, such as "Adown Wandering Nith", "Phillis the Fair" and "Philly and Willie."
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