Peggy Thompson Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Peggy Thompson
Born	Ayrshire, Scotland
Died	Scotland
Occupation	Housekeeper and wife to John Neilson

Margaret "Peggy" Thompson was a housekeeper in Scotland. She later became Margaret Neilson after marrying John Neilson of Monyfee. They lived at Minnybae Farm near Kirkoswald. Peggy is known as the "charming Fillette" from the writings of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Her husband, John Neilson, was also an old friend of the poet.

Robert Burns first saw Peggy in her garden on August 23, 1775. He was in the school's backyard, measuring the sun's position at noon.

Later in her life, Peggy moved to Ayr. Her children were still living there in 1840.

Peggy Thompson and Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns first met Peggy when he was a student at Kirkoswald school in the summer of 1775. His teacher was Hugh Rodger. Peggy lived with her parents right next door to the school. Burns wrote that she made him forget his studies. He said she "over-set my trigonometry, and set me off in a Tangent from the sphere of my studies." This means she distracted him from his schoolwork.

Robert Burns and Peggy Thompson often met at Tarboth or Tarbolton Mill. They also went to the same church. They became quite close, even though Peggy was already engaged to someone else. Burns said that "Peggy was my Deity for six or eight months." This shows how much he admired her.

Burns also wrote about how much Peggy affected him: "I met with my Angel.... It was vain to think of doing any more good at school. The remaining week I staid, I did nothing but craze the faculties of my soul about her, or steal out to meet with her; and the two last nights of my stay in the country, had sleep been a mortal sin, I was innocent. I returned home very considerably improved..." This means he was so focused on her that he couldn't study. He spent his time thinking about her or secretly meeting her. He even stayed up late just to be with her.

Thomas Orr, who was a student with Burns at Kirkoswald, said he carried letters between Burns and Peggy. This happened in the summers of 1782 and 1783. When Peggy got married, Burns wrote, "I am very glad that Peggy is off my hands as I am at present embarrassed enough without her." He was likely referring to another situation he was dealing with at the time.

In 1785, ten years later, Burns was planning to move away. He gave Peggy a copy of his poems. He wrote a special message inside, calling it "To an old Sweetheart."

The poem "Composed in August" is believed to be about Peggy. Burns wrote it after he met her again when she was Mrs. Neilson.

In the first volume of the Glenriddell Manuscript, Burns wrote a note about Peggy: "... Poor Peggy! Her husband is an old acquaintance and a most worthy fellow. When I was taking leave of my Carrick relations, intending to go to the West Indies, when I took farewell of her, neither she nor I could speak a syllable. — Her husband escorted me three miles on my road, and we both parted with tears." This shows that their goodbye was very emotional for both of them.

Interesting Facts About Peggy Thompson

Peggy's last name is sometimes spelled 'Thomson' by some writers.

When Burns stayed in Kirkoswald in 1775, he did not live in the village itself. He stayed at Ballochneil Farm, which was about a mile away. He lived there with his uncle, Samuel Broun.

Peggy Thompson facts for kids

Peggy Thompson and Robert Burns

Interesting Facts About Peggy Thompson

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