Kate Kemp of Barskimming lived with her father at the Bridge House on the northern side of the single span Barskimming Old Bridge (Barskimming Auld Brig), River Ayr, Scotland. Both Robert Burns and James Andrew, the miller at Barskimming Mill, had a romantic interest in her and one visit led to the composition of the poem and dirge "Man was made to Mourn".
Life and character
Her father may have been the James Kemp of Barskimming who is recorded in the Parish of Stair as the father of William Kemp who was baptised on 19 August 1766 being around eighteen in 1784 and any sibling a likely similar age. No other 'Kemp' births are recorded around this time, however in 1781 a Margaret Kemp from Mauchline came to live in the parish of Stewarton with a 'clearance certificate' of good character. Kate lived in a sylvan and delightfully rural location at the old Barskimming Bridge or Kemp's House (NS4906525460) that lay on the north or Mauchline side of the road to Stair about two miles south of the town centre, sadly demolished sometime after 1861. Kemp is a unique surname in the parishes of Mauchline and Stair at the time of Burns, suggesting that the family were not local in origin. Old Kemp's daughter is described as having been a trim trig lass, one of the leading belles of the district and it is recorded that Burns had an e'e to Kate.
Kate lived with her elderly and disabled father who had a slight paralysis and on the recorded occasion of one evening visit by Robert Burns and James Andrew she was not at home because she was out in the fields looking for a cow that had wandered resulting in her competing admirers having, as it turned out, productive time on their hands whilst awaiting her return. Wilson records from a 'correspondent' who recalled the words of James Andrew, miller of Barskimming Mill, that Kate's father was ".. not originally possessed of the best of tempers, was rendered peevish and querulous by disease and in consequence of slight paralysis, generally supported himself on two sticks".
Association with Robert Burns
One evening Robert Burns walked from his then new home at Mossgiel down to the Barskimming Bridge House that lay next to the River Ayr with the intention of courting Kate who had caught his eye as a 'trim trig lass'. Kate's distressed father explained that one of their cattle was lost and that Kate was away searching for it, adding that she had been away so long that he was afraid that she was lost as well. Burns decided to go for a walk on the Bridge or Miller's Holm in the hope that Kate would return with the lost cow.
The first verse of the poem "Man is Made to Mourn" seems to reflect Burns's meeting with 'Old Kemp' -
At the Stair end of the bridge Burns encountered James Andrew and the conversation that ensued went as follows "Weel miller, what are you doing here?" "Na, Robin," said the miller, "I s'ould put that question to you, for I am at home and ye'are no." "Why," said Robin, "I cam doun to see Kate Kemp." "I was just gaun the same gate," said the miller. "Then ye need gang nae further," said Burns, "fur baith her and the cow's lost and the old man is perfectly wud at the want o'them. But come, we'll tak' a turn or two in the holm till we see if she cast up."
James Andrew was content to accompany his competitor for Kate's affections and at first they were both involved in a cheerful discourse, however at length Burns fell into a deep and silent ruminations and after a while the friends silently parted. Some days later they met up again and Burns apologised to James for giving the impression that he had not enjoyed his company that evening on the holm, however the miller explained that he had guessed that Burns was engrossed in the composition of a poem. Robert read out his new work and also gave James a copy of the petry that the occasion had created and this was how it is said that "Man was Made to Mourn" came finally and fully into existence. The holm at that time was planted with lime and chestnut trees planted by Sir Thomas Miller of Barskimming.
The Burns family had moved to Mossgiel or Mossgaville from Lochlea near Tarbolton in March 1784 and Robert is recorded to have written '"Man is Made to Mourn" in 1784, so his courtship of Kate Kemp must have been in that year. He met Jean Armour in April 1785 so he may have ceased his attempts at courtship by then.