Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-17
For the Spectator.
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray.

we'll as ourself, have long wished to know some
thing of the origin Of the names Of our two
little n,ountaias, ''Bessie Bell and Mary
Gray" A few days ago we very unexpectedly
met with an old volume Of the 'Edlnburg Nj
sical Miscellany containing the song called
!" Bessie Bell and Mary Grqy,' song we had
often heard Of but complete copy of which
we never saw before, and we concluded to write
to some Scotch gentlemen of our acquaintance
in New York, hoping they might be able to
give us some information on the subject. These
gentlemen kindly furnished all they could OBJ
tain about those two bonnie tdsses r. from
whom our ''twa little mountains, we doubt
not, took their names We have been told that
these hills were named by the early Scotch
Irish settlers here, and that theT ancestors
who left Scotland and settled in the North of
Ireland brought the names from Scotland, and
finding two hills in Ireland resembling two in
Scotland that had been named in honor of
those two famous Scotch beauties, gave them
the same names
Between thirty-fve and forty years ago sto-
ry was published in an Annual-we think in
Washington, which stated that these hills were
named after two young ladies'" beautiful and
interesttag'' of course, Bessie Bell and Mary
Groy," who lived near the hills, and were mur-
dered by the Indians. This story without
doubt originated entirely in the brain of the
author. We give you herewith all that our
Scotch friends in New York have sent us, be-
leviDg that its publication in the Spectator
may interest many OF your readers.
SCOTCH IRISH.
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY.
O, Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They were twa bonnie lasses;
They bigg'd bowr on yon burn brae,
And theelx' d it over wi rashes.
Fair Bessie Bell To- ed yestreen,
And thocht | nee could alter;
But Mary Gray's twa paw-kie cen
Gard a. my fancy talter
Bessie's hairs like lint tap,
She smiles like May morning
When Phebus starts frae Thetis' lap,
The hills wi rays adornin';
White is her neck, saft is her hand,
Her waist and feet fu gently,
WTika grace she can command
Her lips 0, WOW! they'r dainty.
Mary's locks are like the craw,
Her cen like diamonds glances,
She's aye sac clean, redd-up and Draw;
She kills whene'er she dances,
Blythe as a kid, wi wit at will
She blooming tight, and tall is,
And guides her airs sac graceful still;
OJove, she's like thy Pallas!
Young Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
Ye unco sair cppress us;
Our fancies jee between ye twa,
Ye are sic bonnie asses.
Waes me! for bath | Gamma get
To ane by law we're stinted;
Then I'll draw cuts, and TAX my fate,
And be WI one contented.
BESSIE Bell and Mary Gray'-Mr. STEM
house. note upon this song is as follows =
'The first stanZa of this song is old, the rest OF
it was written by Mr.. Ramsay. Thomson
adapted Ramsey improved song to the old
air in his Orpheus Caledon@us,, in 1928, from
whence it was copied into the first Volume Of
Watts Musical Miscellany, printed at London
in 1929. The tune also appears in Craig's Col
lection in 1880, and in many others subsequent
to that period. The heroines Of the song, VIZ
Miss Elizabeth Bell, daughter of Mr.. Bell of
Kinvaid, Perthshire, and Miss Mary Gray
daughter of Mr. Gray, of Lyndock, are reported
to have been very handsome young ladies' and
very intimate friends While Miss Bell was
residing at Lyndock, ON visit to Miss Gray
in the year 1865, the plague broke out; with
a view to avoid the contagion they built bow
er, or small cottage, in very retired and ro
mantle place called Burn brae Here they re-
sided short time; but the plague raging with
increased fury they at length caught the in
fection, after receiving visit from gentleman
who was their mutual admirer; and here they
both died. They were inferred about half
mile from the mansion house; and MAJOR Ber-
ry. the late proprietor Of that estate, carefully
enclosed the spot and consecrated 1t to those
amiable and celebrated friends. Lyndock is
now the property of Thomas Graham, Lord
T.vuaock, the gallant hero of Bariossa. Mr.
Cav selected the tune of Bessie Bell and Mary
Gray" for one of his songs in the Beggar's
Opera beginning, "a curse attend that wo
mans love who always would be pleasing" ac-
ted ted at London, in 1928 See Museum Illus
trations, vol. 3 PIP l22, 1913" In the addi-
t;onal illustrations, ibid .. 203, c. K Sharpe,
ESQ. writes thus =" Bessie Bell and Mary
GRAY died of the plague communicated by
their lover, in the year l645* See ,Pennant,
mThere is such great discrepancy in these two
dates, that we suppose the mistake has been made
bv the writer in copying.