David Sillar

David Sillar
Spittleside Farm, Tarbolton
Born1760
Spittalside, Tarbolton, Scotland
Died2 May 1830
Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Occupation(s)Farmer, teacher, poet, grocer, and, baillie

David Sillar (1760–1830) was a Scottish farmer, poet, grocer, schoolteacher and baillie who was a close friend of the poet Robert Burns. He died in 1830, aged 70, after a long illness, and was buried in Irvine's Old Parish Church cemetery.[1] His eroded gravestone was replaced by a facsimile thanks to the Irvine Burns Club. He married twice and had only one son survive him, a Dr. Zachary Sillar M.D. of Liverpool.[2] His father was Patrick Sillar, tenant farmer at Spittalside near Tarbolton, Ayrshire.[3] He first married a widow, Mrs Margaret Kerr, née Gemmell shortly after moving to Irvine and had seven children[4][5] and his second wife was the sister of John Bryan of the Sun Inn, Kilmarnock.[6]

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  5. ^ Paterson, Page 63
  6. ^ Paterson, Page 56