In one of his later confessions, William Burke gave a brief biography of himself: Burke is 36 years of age, was born in the parish of Orrey, county Tyrone (Ireland); served seven years in the army, most of that time as an officer's servant in the Donegal Militia.  He was married at Ballinha, in the county of Mayo, when in the army, but left his wife and two children in Ireland.  She would not come to Scotland with him.  He has often wrote to her, but got no answer.