Mary Campbell was born at Achnamore Farm, near Dunoon in 1763, to Archibald and Agnes Campbell. The family also lived in Campbeltown for a while. When Mary was in her early teens, she went as a nursemaid to the children of Burns’ friend, Gavin Hamilton, at his house in Mauchline where she met Burns. She then moved to Coilsfield (Burns’ Castle O’Montgomery in the song Highland Mary) to be a dairymaid. Amongst the sketchy facts about her life, it was said that she was tall and fair-haired with blue eyes and it was after Burns was deserted by Jean Armour that he turned seriously to Mary.
The Highland Lassie
Burns wrote The Highland Lassie, O’ in the spring of 1786 and called it: “A composition of mine in very early life, before I was known at all in the world. My Highland lassie was a warm-hearted, charming young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love.” Burns said they met by appointment on the second Sunday of May by the Banks of Ayr to take their farewell before they would meet as arranged.
Plighting their Troth
The relationship between Burns and Mary is further confirmed by the suggestion that they exchanged Bibles and possibly some kind of matrimony vows before parting. According to ancient Scottish custom this could be effected by standing on opposite banks of a burn clasping one hand each in the running water while the other hands held a Bible.
Jamaica on the Steamer Nancy
It seems that Burns and Mary had planned to go to Jamaica. Mary was to cross the sea to Greenock and sail with Burns on the steamer, Nancy. According to Burns, however, Mary “had scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever which hurried my dear girl to the grave in a few days, before I could even hear of her illness.” He wrote about it in the song ‘Will ye go to the Indies my Mary, and leave auld Scotia’s shore?’
Highland Mary’s Death
There was speculation as to the cause of Mary’s death. Some said it was because of fever after nursing her brother, Robert, who died of typhus, others said it was from premature childbirth with Burns’ child. Whatever the cause, Mary Campbell was buried in the Old West Highland Churchyard at Greenock, in 1786, in a lair owned by her relation Peter MacPherson. The cause of her death was nearer to being solved when, in 1920, the churchyard was being destroyed to make way for industrial expansion.
A Child’s Coffin
Mary Campbell’s grave was opened so that her bones might be moved to a new resting place. Among the remains they found the bottom board of an infant’s coffin suggesting that Mary had given birth to a still-born child. However, it is possible that some other relative’s child had shared the same grave, as was often the custom.
Highland Mary’s Resting Place
Highland Mary’s grave is in Greenock cemetery, which contains plaques to her memory. It is a pleasant memorial garden surrounded by a low railing where romantics can gaze upon the adoring couple depicted on the stone and remember Robert Burns’ lost love.
