This is a bit of a longshot but my grandfather was always adament that we were related to Robert Burns.
It is only in the past 4 years that I have really taken an interest in my family history and that this possible connection has really hit a chord.
Initially, I could find nothing, my grandfather has lived in Boldon Colliery near South Shields for all his life, he grew up in 43 Church Street in Boldon, same house his father was born in, and the same house his granfather moved in.
I recently found a shock discovery that my great great great grandmother also lived in that house. She was named Ann Eliza Urwin (possible its Elizabeth Ann, or Annie Eliza just to complicate things), she appears to had the name Ann Eliza Todd from her first marriage but her maiden name I was shocked to find is Burns. This made the whole thing a lot more plausable but unfortunatly she is a little difficult to nail down due to multiple marriages and moving around a lot while she was younger. On different Census returns she lists her place of birth down as both Brampton and sometimes Whitehaven. She appears to have gotten married both times in the area of Brampton. She also lived in Farlam for a period of time. its possible that the marraiges are registered in the area of Brampton and that the village of Farlam is the location. Not sure, don't own marraige certificates just yet.
I would apreciate any help researching this connection but at this stage I am not certain as to whether I am decended from Robert Burns himself, a brother or sister, or even a cousin. Seems more plausable that a connection can be found somewhere, still can't find one yet.
