Aboot Annie | Annie Shirer Rhymes

www.annieshirercollector.com

A Remarkable Cultural Contributor

Celebrating Annie Shirer's Legacy

Preserving Scottish Literary Heritage

Annie Shirer was a prolific collector of Scots rhymes and songs, contributing significantly to the Rymour Club and the Greig-Duncan Collection, enriching our cultural heritage with her remarkable work.

Her dedication to collecting Doric songs helped document and celebrate the rich tapestry of Scottish culture through her invaluable contributions to the arts..

To find out more about Annie's life and collections, please visit our sister web page, www.annieshirercollector.com

(Doric translation below)
Annie Shirer wis born on the 6th December 1873 at Atherb Cottage, Maud in the parish o New Deer. Her faither wis a fairmer, William Shirer (1826-1906) kent as "Auld Cyarnie," an her mither wis his servant, Jessie Fiddes. She wis brocht up by William's brither, her Uncle Kenneth McLean Shirer (1822-1913) an his wife Margaret Clarke (1835-1892)

Wi dinna ken fit skweel Annie wint til, bit the Education (Scotland) Act o 1872 meant that Annie wid ging tae skweel fae the ages o 5 an 13 years auld. She wis an educatet quine! Aifter leavin the skweel, Annie an her cousin Maggie Shirer learnt tae be dressmakers an fowk wid visit them far they bade at Loch Cottage, Kininmonth tae get fitted fur their new claes.

It wis sare hard wark - nae funcy sewin machines tae mak things easier! Annie hid tae tak care o her auld Uncle Kenneth an later on Cousin Maggie an aa. Fooiver, Annie hid a hobby - she wid ging aff "rakin the countryside" collectin various sangs fur Gavin Greig - he wis collectin aa the ballads, sangs an bothy tunes o the North East an Annie wis aene o his maist busy collectors! He hid a column in the Buchan Observer an wid thank her fur her contributions. He ca'd her "a Kininmonth Lassie".

Bit she didnae jist collect sangs fan she wis visitin fairms an hooses, she collectit Doric Rhymes an aa. It wis meybe Gavin Greig fa pit her in contact wi The Rymour Club in Edinburgh. They winted tae collect, preserve an study traditional Scottish sangs, rhymes, an lore afore it wis aa lost. Annie gied them mair than 130 rhymes, riddles an proverbs an they publisht them 120 years ago in "Rhymes From Mintlaw District." The club spiered that the published rhymes were jist some o her "large and remarkable collection."

By kennin fowk fae The Rymour Club, Annie wrote tae, an wis visited by weel kent academics - Annie wis freens wi Millie, Duchess of Sutherland and daughter o the Earl o Roslyn. In aene o the club's notes, Annie wis even ca'd "The Marchioness o Mintlaw."

Annie passed awa aged 42 in 1915 an left aa her Doric rhymes an collectit sangs as weel as poyems she hid written hersel behint. They were kept in a kist at the faimly's fairm at Eastloch Hills, Kininmonth. As a wee loon, her Great Nephew, Jim Shirer wid visit the fairm an spier tae hae a lookie through "Annie's Kist."

Sadly aa the writins in Annie's Kist wis lost ower twa faimly redd-oots. Fooiver fan he wis auler, Jim Shirer hid a buik o her rhymes publisht. He ca'd it "Annie's Kist."

Annie Shirer (1873 - 1915)

Annie off on her bicycle collecting rhymes (by Kininmonth Primary pupils)

This page tells a bit of Annie's story in Doric and is suitable for primary school pupils to read to understand a little of her life.

Doric Translation

Annie Shirer was born on the 6th December 1873 at Atherb Cottage, Maud in the parish of New Deer. Her father was a farmer, William Shirer (1826-1906) known as "Auld Cyarnie," and her mother was his servant, Jessie Fiddes. Annie was brought up by William's brother, her Uncle Kenneth McLean Shirer (1822-1913) and his wife Margaret Clarke (1835-1892)

We don't know which school Annie went to, but the Education (Scotland) Act of 1872 meant that Annie would go to the school from the age of 5 until she was 13 years old. She was an educated lady! After leaving school, Annie and her cousin Maggie Shirer learned to be dressmakers and their customers would visit them where they lived at Loch Cottage, Kininmonth to get fitted for their new clothes.

It was ver hard work - there were no fancy sewing machines to make things easier! Annie had to take care of her old Uncle Kenneth and later on, her Cousin Maggie as well. However, Annie had a hobby - she would go off "rakin the countryside" (searching the countryside) collecting various songs fur Gavin Greig. He was making a collection of all the ballads, songs and bothy tunes of the North East, and Annie was one of his most busy collectors! He had a column in the Buchan Observer and would thank her fur her contributions. He called her "a Kininmonth Lassie".

But she didn't just collect songs fan she was visiting farms and houses, she collected Doric Rhymes as well. It was maybe Gavin Greig who put her in contact with The Rymour Club in Edinburgh. Their aim was to collect, preserve and study traditional Scottish songs, rhymes, an lore before it was all lost. Annie gave them more than 130 rhymes, riddles and proverbs and they published them 120 years ago in "Rhymes From Mintlaw District." The club said that the published rhymes were just some of her "large and remarkable collection."

By having contacts at The Rymour Club, Annie wrote to, and was visited by well known academics - Annie was friends with Millie, Duchess of Sutherland and daughter of the Earl of Roslyn. In one of the club's notes, Annie was even calledd "The Marchioness of Mintlaw."

Annie died aged 42 in 1915 an left all her Doric rhymes and collected songs as well as poems she had written herself behind. They were kept in a kist (wooden box) at the family's farm at Eastloch Hills, Kininmonth. As a young boy, her Great Nephew, Jim Shirer would visit the farm and ask to have a look through "Annie's Kist."

Sadly all the writings in Annie's Kist were lost over two family clear outs. However when he was older, Jim Shirer had a book of her rhymes published. He called it "Annie's Kist."