The First Burns Anniversary Supper Almonte 1830 notations Of Bairns and Burns

A unique notebook or album kept by the late James Wilson, who died
years ago, was one of the treasured possessions of his daughter, Miss Flora Wilson. It contained many interesting things, amongst them being a report of the proceedings of the first Burns Anniversary Supper held in Almonte in the year 1830, which anniversary has been faithfully kept by the succeeding Scots.

Therefore in January in 1928 the present day Scots will sit down to supper in memory of Robert Burns for ’the hundredth time since the settlement of Ramsay’. The record of that first supper was made by William Wilson, a native of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, who had come to Ramsay to settle.

Later on he sent for his sweetheart, Flora Lallie, to join him here and they were married on her arrival. Miss Lallie came from Kilmarnock also. William Wilson was the father of James Wilson and the record does not say where the first Burns Supper was held. It just says: “The first supper held in Ramsay on Burns the poet’s natal day was January 25th, 1830.“

Mr. James McFarlane was appointed to the chair. After complimenting the meeting on the honour conferred on him, he gave as a toast to the Literature and Agriculture of Ramsay. After which he rose from the
chair, which was instantly filled by Mr. James Bryson, vice-president who gave the toasts.