Auctioneer's hammer, used at the sale of the effects of Jean Armour Burns

This auctioneer's hammer was used by the Dumfries auctioneer, John Richardson, at the sale of the effects of Jean Armour Burns, the poet's widow, following her death in 1834.   Jean continued to live in the family home in Burns Street after her husband's early death in 1796.  By the time of her own death in 1834 the house had become a place of pilgrimage and relics of Robert Burns and his family were treasured and preserved.   The sale therefore created much interest, it took place over two days and was reported in great detail in the local newspaper.  Many of the family's possessions which can now be seen in Burns House are mentioned.