Janet, Jennie or Jenny Clow was a domestic servant to Mrs Agnes Maclehose, née Craig (1759-1841), the Clarinda to Robert Burns' Sylvander. She was the daughter of Andrew Clow and Margaret Inglis from Fife and was the youngest of eight children. Her mistress sent her to deliver a letter to the poet and he seduced her.
Agnes Maclehose's gravestone.
Full view of the Naysmith portrait of 1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Agnes Maclehose, or Agnes Craig, known to her friends as Nancy and to Robert Burns followers as Clarinda, was a Scotswoman who had an unconsummated affair with Burns during 1787-88, on which he based the 1791 song "Ae Fond Kiss". The pseudonyms of her "Clarinda" to his "Sylvander" were adopted by the pair for confidential correspondence purposes. Maclehose, used here throughout, has been various styled, including "McLehose", "MacLehose" and "M'Lehose".
Agnes Maclehose's memorial stone in Canongate Kirkyard by H S Gamley
Canongate Kirk, the site of Agnes's burial.
Georgian houses, Calton Hill, Edinburgh.
Full view of the Naysmith portrait of 1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery