Janet, Jennie or Jenny Clow was a domestic servant to Mrs Agnes Maclehose, née Craig (1759-1841), the Clarinda to Robert Burns' Sylvander.[2] She was the daughter of Andrew (or Alexander[3]) Clow and Margaret Inglis[3] from Fife and was the youngest of eight children.[3][4] Her mistress sent her to deliver a letter to the poet and he seduced her.[5]
Following an affair whilst with the poet while he was in Edinburgh, the twenty-year-old Jenny Clow gave birth in November 1788[6] to Robert Burns's child, Robert Burns Clow,[2] She is said to have had a port wine birthmark that caused her embarrassment in public situations.[4] Jenny died three years later from TB.
Association with Robert Burnsedit
Robert Ainslie had written to tell Robert about Jenny's condition, just a year after writing a similar letter regarding May Cameron. In his reply the poet wrote "I am vexed at that affair of the girl, but dare not enlarge on the subject until you send me direction, as I suppose that will be altered on your late Master and Friend's death." He goes on to describe how he was duped over a silhouette, as if this matter concerning a few shillings concerned him more than Jenny's condition. No further correspondence with Robert Ainslie over Jenny survives.[7]
On 6 January 1789 a letter written at Ellisland Farm to Mr Robert Ainslie makes it clear that Jenny Clow had served Burns with a writ and he intended to travel to Edinburgh, to "settle that matter with her, and free her hand of the process".[8] She was suffering at this time from TB, from which she eventually died in January 1792.[9]
Whilst he was in Dumfries in November 1791, three years after the birth of Robert Burns Clow, Robert Burns received a letter from Agnes McLehose, informing him that Jenny Clow "to all appearances is at this moment dying. Obliged, from all the symptoms of a rapid decay, to quit her service, she is gone to a room almost without common necessaries, untended and unmourned. In circumstances so distressing, to whom can she so naturally look for aid as to the father of her child, the man for whose sake she has suffered many a sad and anxious night, shut from the world, with no other companions than guilt and solitude? You have now an opportunity to evince you indeed possess those fine feelings you have delineated, so as to claim the just admiration of your country. I am convinced I need add nothing farther to persuade you to act as every consideration of humanity must dictate." Burns asked Mrs McLehose to get a porter to take five shillings from him to Jenny Clow.[8]
In November 1791 Burns obtained a week's leave from the excise and went to Edinburgh to meet with the dying Jenny Clow. He stayed at the White Hart Inn and had tracked Jenny down within a few hours of arrival, giving her an undisclosed sum of money.[11]
Robert Burns Clowedit
Jenny Clow and Robert Burns' son, Robert Burns Clow, was born in Edinburgh in 1788. Robert Burns was willing to take the baby into his home, but his mother would not part with him.[8] He later became a wealthy merchant in London. Robert married and had a son, also Robert Burns Clow, who went to Borneo, married a chief's daughter and was killed by pirates.[5] He had been given his father's names, as this was the custom at the time.[12] Although he named his own son after Robert Burns, he never capitalised on the link with his famous poet father.[9]
Clarinda's Replyedit
A Scottish Musical Play, written by Mike Gibb and Kevin Walsh about Agnes or Nancy McLehose, mainly focusing on her unconsummated love affair with Robert Burns, while also highlighting the poet's relationship with Jenny Clow.[13]
Mackay, James (2004). Burns. A Biography of Robert Burns. Darvel : Alloway Publishing. ISBN0907526-85-3.
Westwood, Peter J. (2008). Who's Who in the World of Robert Burns. Robert Burns World Federation. ISBN978-1-899316-98-4.
January 01, 1970
jenny, clow, janet, jennie, domestic, servant, agnes, maclehose, née, craig, 1759, 1841, clarinda, robert, burns, sylvander, daughter, andrew, alexander, clow, margaret, inglis, from, fife, youngest, eight, children, mistress, sent, deliver, letter, poet, sedu. Janet Jennie or Jenny Clow was a domestic servant to Mrs Agnes Maclehose nee Craig 1759 1841 the Clarinda to Robert Burns Sylvander 2 She was the daughter of Andrew or Alexander 3 Clow and Margaret Inglis 3 from Fife and was the youngest of eight children 3 4 Her mistress sent her to deliver a letter to the poet and he seduced her 5 Jenny ClowBorn1766Newburgh 1 ScotlandDied1792ScotlandOccupationDomestic Servant Contents 1 Life and character 1 1 Association with Robert Burns 2 Robert Burns Clow 3 Clarinda s Reply 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife and character editFollowing an affair whilst with the poet while he was in Edinburgh the twenty year old Jenny Clow gave birth in November 1788 6 to Robert Burns s child Robert Burns Clow 2 She is said to have had a port wine birthmark that caused her embarrassment in public situations 4 Jenny died three years later from TB Association with Robert Burns edit Robert Ainslie had written to tell Robert about Jenny s condition just a year after writing a similar letter regarding May Cameron In his reply the poet wrote I am vexed at that affair of the girl but dare not enlarge on the subject until you send me direction as I suppose that will be altered on your late Master and Friend s death He goes on to describe how he was duped over a silhouette as if this matter concerning a few shillings concerned him more than Jenny s condition No further correspondence with Robert Ainslie over Jenny survives 7 On 6 January 1789 a letter written at Ellisland Farm to Mr Robert Ainslie makes it clear that Jenny Clow had served Burns with a writ and he intended to travel to Edinburgh to settle that matter with her and free her hand of the process 8 She was suffering at this time from TB from which she eventually died in January 1792 9 nbsp Agnes Maclehose s gravestone nbsp Full view of the Naysmith portrait of 1787 Scottish National Portrait Gallery Whilst he was in Dumfries in November 1791 three years after the birth of Robert Burns Clow Robert Burns received a letter from Agnes McLehose informing him that Jenny Clow to all appearances is at this moment dying Obliged from all the symptoms of a rapid decay to quit her service she is gone to a room almost without common necessaries untended and unmourned In circumstances so distressing to whom can she so naturally look for aid as to the father of her child the man for whose sake she has suffered many a sad and anxious night shut from the world with no other companions than guilt and solitude You have now an opportunity to evince you indeed possess those fine feelings you have delineated so as to claim the just admiration of your country I am convinced I need add nothing farther to persuade you to act as every consideration of humanity must dictate Burns asked Mrs McLehose to get a porter to take five shillings from him to Jenny Clow 8 Oh Jenny s a weet poor body Jenny s seldom dry She draigl t a her petticoats Comin thro the rye 10 In November 1791 Burns obtained a week s leave from the excise and went to Edinburgh to meet with the dying Jenny Clow He stayed at the White Hart Inn and had tracked Jenny down within a few hours of arrival giving her an undisclosed sum of money 11 Robert Burns Clow editJenny Clow and Robert Burns son Robert Burns Clow was born in Edinburgh in 1788 Robert Burns was willing to take the baby into his home but his mother would not part with him 8 He later became a wealthy merchant in London Robert married and had a son also Robert Burns Clow who went to Borneo married a chief s daughter and was killed by pirates 5 He had been given his father s names as this was the custom at the time 12 Although he named his own son after Robert Burns he never capitalised on the link with his famous poet father 9 Clarinda s Reply editA Scottish Musical Play written by Mike Gibb and Kevin Walsh about Agnes or Nancy McLehose mainly focusing on her unconsummated love affair with Robert Burns while also highlighting the poet s relationship with Jenny Clow 13 See also edit nbsp Scotland portal Jean Armour Alison Begbie May Cameron Mary Campbell Highland Mary Jean Gardner Nelly Kilpatrick Peggy Thompson Ann Park Elizabeth Paton Kate KempReferences editNotes Wordpress Retrieved 2012 02 26 a b Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved 2012 02 26 a b c Westwood Page 138 a b Rootsweb Retrieved 2012 02 26 a b Clarinda Review Retrieved 2012 02 26 Life of Robert Burns Retrieved 2012 02 26 Mackay Page 423 a b c Burns Encyclopedia retrieved 2012 02 26 a b Mackay Page 425 Leopard Archived 2008 12 10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012 03 12 Mackay Page 488 Mackay Page 424 Burns Scotland Retrieved 2012 02 26 Sources Mackay James 2004 Burns A Biography of Robert Burns Darvel Alloway Publishing ISBN 0907526 85 3 Westwood Peter J 2008 Who s Who in the World of Robert Burns Robert Burns World Federation ISBN 978 1 899316 98 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jenny Clow amp oldid 1084444998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
