1775. Burns attends Hugh Rodger’s school at Kirkoswald.
1777. At Whitsun William Burnes moves from Mt. Oliphant to Lochlie.
1779. Burns joins a dancing class ‘in absolute defiance’ of his father’s commands.
1780. The Tarbolton Bachelors’ Club organized.
1781. Burns courts Alison Begbie. His father’s dispute with David M’Lure, his landlord, begins. Burns joins the Freemasons, and about midsummer goes to Irvine as a flax-dresser.
1782. Jan. 1. The Irvine shop burnt out; soon after, Burns returns to Lochlie.
Sept. 24. William Burnes’s dispute referred to arbiters.
1783. Jan. Burns wins a £3 prize for flax-seed.
April. Burns begins his Commonplace Book.
May 17. M’Lure gets a writ of sequestration against William Burnes.
Aug. 18. The ‘Oversman’ reports in Burnes’s favor.
Aug. 25. Burnes makes first appeal to Court of Session.
Autumn. Robert and Gilbert secretly arrange to rent Mossgiel.
1784. Jan. 27. The Court of Session upholds William Burnes.
Feb. 13. Death of William Burnes. The family moves to Mossgiel.
1785. May 22. Birth of Elizabeth, the poet’s daughter by Elizabeth Paton.
Nov. 1. Burial of John Burns, the poet’s youngest brother. During this year Burns began to write his satires, composed ‘The Jolly Beggars’, and in Oct. finished his first Commonplace Book. He also met Jean Armour.
1786. Jan. (?). Burns plans migration to Jamaica.
April 3. ‘Proposals’ for the Kilmarnock Poems sent to press.
c. April 23. James Armour repudiates Burns as a son-in-law.
May 12. Supposed date of composing ‘The Court of Equity’.
May 14. Supposed date of farewell to Highland Mary.
July 9. Burns’s first penitential appearance in church.
July 22. Burns transfers his share in Mossgiel to Gilbert.
July 30. Burns in hiding from James Armour’s writ.
July 31. The Kilmarnock Poems published.
c. Sept. 1. First postponement of Jamaica voyage.
Sept. 3. Jean Armour bears twins, who are christened Robert and Jean.
c. Sept. 27. Second postponement of Jamaica voyage.
Oct. 23. Burns dines at Catrine House.
End of Oct. Abandonment of Jamaica plans.
Nov. 27. Burns sets out for Edinburgh.
Dec. 1. Elizabeth Paton accepts Burns’s settlement of her claim.