Jenny Clow facts for kids

Janet, Jennie, or Jenny Clow was a young woman who worked as a domestic servant for Mrs. Agnes Maclehose. Mrs. Maclehose was a friend of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Jenny was born in Fife, Scotland, in 1766. She was the youngest of eight children in her family.

Jenny Clow's Life

Jenny Clow was about twenty years old when she had a child with Robert Burns in November 1788. Their son was named Robert Burns Clow. It is said that Jenny had a birthmark that made her feel shy in public. Sadly, Jenny Clow died just three years later, in 1792, from a serious illness called TB.

Her Connection to Robert Burns

Robert Burns knew about Jenny's situation. A friend, Robert Ainslie, wrote to him about it. Burns wrote back, saying he was "vexed" (bothered) by the news.

Later, in January 1789, Jenny Clow asked for legal support from Robert Burns. He planned to travel to Edinburgh to "settle that matter" with her. At this time, Jenny was already suffering from TB, the illness that would eventually take her life.

In November 1791, when Robert Burns was in Dumfries, he received a letter from Agnes McLehose. She wrote to him that Jenny Clow was very ill and seemed to be dying. Agnes explained that Jenny had to leave her job because she was so sick. She was in a room with very few things and no one to care for her. Agnes asked Burns to help Jenny, reminding him that he was the father of her child. Burns then asked Mrs. McLehose to give Jenny Clow five shillings from him.

Burns later took a week off from his work and went to Edinburgh to see Jenny Clow. He found her quickly and gave her some money to help her.

Robert Burns Clow

Jenny Clow and Robert Burns's son, Robert Burns Clow, was born in Edinburgh in 1788. Robert Burns offered to take the baby into his home, but Jenny did not want to part with her son.

Robert Burns Clow grew up to become a successful merchant in London. He got married and had a son, who was also named Robert Burns Clow. This younger Robert Burns Clow traveled to Borneo. He married the daughter of a local chief but was sadly killed by pirates. It was common at the time to name children after their fathers or famous relatives. Even though he named his son after the famous poet, Robert Burns Clow never tried to use his connection to his famous father for his own benefit.

See also

• Jean Armour
• Alison Begbie
• May Cameron
• Mary Campbell (Highland Mary)
• Jean Gardner
• Nelly Kilpatrick
• Peggy Thompson
• Ann Park
• Elizabeth Paton
• Kate Kemp

Images for kids

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  Agnes Maclehose's gravestone.

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  Full view of the Naysmith portrait of Robert Burns from 1787.