In August 1900 the legal establishment of Kinross-shire paid solemn tribute to the county’s sheriff clerk, Robert Burns Begg.
He was an expert in antiquaries, an author and poet. He was also great-nephew of Scotland’s Bard, Robert Burns.
For the best part of a century, Mr Begg’s family had performed important functions in the county.
His father, Robert Burns Begg senior, was the son of Isobel, Burns’ sister. Isobel and her nine children had experienced tragedy and hardship but ploughed a furrow of humble and honourable independence.
She never cashed in on the Burns name despite tough times and it was only towards the end of her life that she was granted a pension recognising the contribution to national life of her family. Isobel died in 1858, the last child left of William and “she never cashed in on the Burns name despite tough times Agnes Burns, parents of Robert. She was born in Ayrshire in 1771 and married John Begg at Mauchline.
He was an estate factor in Lanarkshire and was killed in 1813 when a horse fell on him.
Isobel was left with nine children under 18 and eked out a living teaching near Lesmahagow. Lack of family funds forced her eldest son William to scrap plans to train as a doctor.
Instead, he became schoolmaster at Ormiston, Tranent and his mother and sisters moved with him. A younger son, Robert Burns Begg, was elected schoolmaster at Kinross, where that branch of the family put down deep roots.
He taught for 51 years and then served as inspector of poor until his death in 1876.
It was his son, Robert junior, who became a substantial legal figure in the district and to whom a large granite memorial was dedicated in Kinross cemetery in 1902.
Robert commenced practice as a writer in 1860 and rose to sheriff clerk and county clerk. He was the author of works including a memoir of his grandmother Isobel and a history of Lochleven castle.
Robert junior was a founding member of Kinross Burns Club in 1888, when he proposed the Immortal Memory to his great uncle.