| Administrative History | John Burness was a cousin of Robert Burns, and was also a poet. He lived in the North East of Scotland, and was not an educated man. His most famous work was ‘Thrummy Cap’, written in Doric. 'Charles Montgomery' was first performed at the Masons' Hall, Lerwick, Shetland in 1799. 'Thrummy Cap' was published in Dumfries in the same year. |
| Description | 'Charles Montgomery, a Tragical Dramatic Tale', 1799; 'Thrummy Cap', 1799, and other works, original manuscript with later notes by James Rettie and William Walker, (1840-1931), bibliophile, 1799. |