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In a preface to an edition of the works of John Burness, dated Stonehaven, May 1819, the writer gives the following account of the author :- John Burness was the youngest son of William Burness, Farmer in Bogjordan, Parish of Glenbervie, and County of Kincardine. He was born on the 23rd of May, 1771. He lost both his parents before he had attained his thirteenth year, and never was but one year at any school.

He served his apprenticeship to the baker business in Brechin, at which trade he worked till about the latter end of 1794, when he enlisted in the Angus Fencible Volunteer Corps of Infantry, then raising in Arbroath, and commanded by Major John Fraser of Balmadus. With this corps he was at Dumfries in the year 1796, where he got acquainted with his relation, Robert Burns. Here he wrote his tale of "Thrummy Cap," which was shown to Burns a little before his death. The corps to which the author was attached, subsequently went to Stranraer in Galloway where he wrote "Charles Montgomery." They afterwards embarked for the Shetland Isles, where "Rosmond and Isabella" was written.

Upon the disbanding of the corps at Peterhead, 1st April, 1799, he came to Stonehaven, where he commenced business for himself as a baker. Here he first published his "Charles Montgomery."

Matters not answering his expectations in Stonehaven, he gave up business, and engaged himself as a substitute in the Forfar Militia ; and with them he continued till the 10th of June, 1815, when he was discharged at Naas, in the county of Kildare, Ireland, when he once more returned to Stonehaven and attempted the baker business, but was still unsuccessful.

The Author's fate was a sad one. In 1826 while engaged at his employment as a Book Canvasser, and probably selling his own publications, he was overtaken by a snow-storm near the Kirk of Portlethen and perished. He was buried in the Spital Cemetery, Aberdeen.

Burness was a second-cousin of Robert Burns, whose father, William Burness, was born near Stonehaven. The forefathers of the two poets are buried in the churchyard of Glenbervie, where a tombstone is erected to their memory.

Burness was best known as the author of "Thrummy Cap," but he had a very varied Muse, writing plays in blank verse and in prose; also tales, tragic and humorous, songs, etc. "Thrummy Cap" and "The Ghaist O' Garron Ha' were his most popular works. Burns is said to have considered "Thrummy Cap" the best ghost story in the language.