John was born at Mount Oliphant Farm on the Doonholm Estate near Alloway on the 12 July 1769.

[6][1] He was buried in an unmarked grave at Mauchline on November 1, said to be near the north-west corner of the present day kirk.

"[7] The entry in the church records reads "John Burns, Mosgiel, Buried on 1st Nov. in second Mort cloth, for which the cost was 5 shillings".

It was said that when she was buried in 1858 at the family lair in Alloway kirkyard the gravedigger exposed the bones of both her father and of John.

Whilst at Mount Oliphant[10] or Lochlea Farm Robert wrote a story, The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren, for his young siblings.

[6] The entry was: "Oct: 85 } If ever any young man, on the vestibule of the world, chance to throw his eye over these pages, let him pay a warm attention to the following observation; as I assure him they are the fruit of a poor devil's dear bought Experience; Burns finished with In the first place, let my Pupil, as he tenders his own peace, keep up a regular, warm intercourse with the Deity".