Ann Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Anna Park
The Globe Tavern Close, Dumfries
Born	1769 Moffat
Died	1791 Scotland
Occupation	Barmaid

Helen Anne Park, often known as Anna Park, was born in 1769 in Moffat, Scotland. For a long time, people thought her parents were Joseph Park and Jean Dick. However, newer studies show her parents were actually Walter Park and Elizabeth Blacklock. Anna worked as a barmaid at 'The Globe' tavern. Her sister, Margaret Ewing (who was born Park), used to be the landlady there. Anna had a child, Elizabeth 'Betty' Burns, with the famous poet Robert Burns.

Life and Family

Anna was the niece of Mrs. Jean Hyslop. Mrs. Hyslop was the landlady of the Globe Tavern in Dumfries before Anna's sister, Margaret, took over. Anna had five sisters: Margaret, Janet, Betty, Elizabeth, and another Janet. Her father worked as a servant and later drove a chaise (a type of carriage).

Anna had a daughter named Elizabeth. It is thought that Elizabeth was born in Leith. This was done so that the birth would be private. Anna is said to have given Elizabeth to Robert Burns in 1793. This was when Anna was looking for a job as a domestic helper.

Some stories say that Anna passed away around the time Elizabeth was born. Maria Riddell, a friend of Burns, wrote that Jean Armour (Burns's wife) was kind for taking in a child "who had lost her mother." Anna seems to disappear from historical records in the early 1790s.

Records show that two of Anna's grandsons attended the 1859 Glasgow Anniversary Celebrations. These grandsons were the sons of her daughter Betty and John Thomson.

Anna Park and Robert Burns

A portrait of Robert Burns from 1787, found in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Robert Burns first met Anna Park at the Globe Tavern in Dumfries. She worked there as a barmaid. Burns called her his "Anna of the gowden locks" (meaning golden hair). However, when the song was first printed in 1799, it said the person in the song had "raven locks" (dark hair).

Anna might also have been the inspiration for Burns's love song, "Yestreen, I had a pint of wine." Burns thought this was his best love song.

Not much information exists about the relationship between Burns and Anna Park. She disappears from records after their daughter 'Betty' was born. There was some confusion about Anna's first and last names in different old writings. Some sources called her Ann Hyslop or Helen Anne Hislop.

In January 2009, Janet Elsie-May Coom became an honorary member of the Irvine Burns Club. She is a great-great-great-granddaughter of Robert Burns, through his daughter Anna Park.

Ann Park facts for kids

Life and Family

Anna Park and Robert Burns

See also