The Stewarts of Sliochd Iain Duibh Bheig were a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  Please refer to the Glenbuckie page for a full introduction.  This family originally resided in Glen Finglas.  Please refer to the Stewarts in Glen Finglas page for a full introduction to the Glen Finglas Stewarts.

II Branch – Clan Sliochd Iain Duibh Bheig

In Muirlaggan, Lianach, Blarchrioch, and Invernenty

This family is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:

Commonly called Sliochd Iain Dui Bheig (“Children of Little Black John”).  [John was the] fifth son of Duncan [Stewart], 9th of Glenbuckie (sic – by our accounting Duncan was actually 5th of Glenbuckie) and [Duncan’s wife, who was] a daughter of MacGregor of Inverlochlaraig.  [John] was called Iain Du Beg (“Little Black John”) in extreme from another man called Iain Du mor (“Big Black John”) in the same house.

John Dubh Beg Stewart Expels the MacGregors from Glenfinglas

John Du Beg was one of the stoutest men in the country.  It was him who was with Major [James] Stewart [2nd of Ardvorlich] when they drove the MacGregors from Glenfinglas – and he was the best soldier of the two.  They slept in the hill and their followers deserted them.  The place was between Glenbuckie and Glenfinglas.  The Major was for returning back if it was not for John Beg.  The MacGregors being that day burning there houses in Glenmain which was close with wood.  The two came to the tree where the MacGregors had left their arms and John Du Beg asked the Major whether he would secure the arms or catch Callum Owr, the leader of the MacGregors. The Major undertook the securing of the arms and threw them into a hole full of water. John Du Beg said to Callum Owr if he would stir he would kill him and brought him [as a] prisoner to Doune where he was executed.  [And Major James Beg] Stewart got the tack of the Glen [Finglas].

Rob Mac Pharick mac Iain Du Beg (Rob, son of Patrick, who was in turn son of John Dubh Beg Stewart, patriarch of this branch) was Tacksman in Lianach [of] Glenbuckie.  [He] left two sons: James & Peter. (James’ description follows.  Peter is described in 2 Line below.)

1 line

1. James Stewart had five sons:
   1. Duncan, [a] tacksman [at] Aldannabreg [in] Aberfoil [who] died without any sons
   2. James, [a] tacksman of Wester Invernenty [in] Braes of Balquhidder, again of Bohelechan [in] Drymen parish.  [He had] three sons living at Drymen [and who all had] families.  Duke of Montrose’s work. (He works for the Duke of Montrose?)
   3. Alexander, [a] tacksman [in] Invernenty [in] Braes of Balquhidder.  [He had] one son:
      1. Robt, a cottager [in] Allanabreak [in] Aberfoil who hath one son:
         1. a shoemaker in Callendar
   4. Duncan, [a] tacksman [in] Blarchroich [in] Braes of Balquhidder.  [He] left two sons: Robt & Duncan
      1. Robert is a shepherd to Blair Drummond [in] Kincardin parish.  [He had:]
         1. one son [who is] an honest and industrious person
      2. Duncan, his brother, now dead, left three sons [who are all] minors in Flanders Moss [on] Blair Drummond’s estate.  His wife nursed a child to Blair Drummond and hath been the means of supporting his family.
   5. John, [who was a] tenant [in] Lianoch [of] Glenbuckie.  (John is actually recorded as #3, which does not fit with the accounting above.  As written it would appear that he is a third son of Rob mac Pharick, but Rob is listed as having only two sons.  It is more likely that he is actually the 5th son of James as is shown here.)  [He] left one son:
      1. James, once tenant of Tommineoin [in] Glenbuckie, [and who is] now a crofter at Kilmahog near Callander [on] Buchanan of Lenny’s estate.  [He had] three sons minors.

2 & 3 Line

Patrick mac Ross mhic Pharick (Patrick a.k.a “Peter”, son of Robert, who was in turn son of Patrick, whom we know from above was in turn the son of Iain Dubh Beg) had two sons called Donach Rioch & Iain Riach.*

1. Donach Rioch, (“Duncan with the grey/brown hair”) One of them, Duncan, a good soldier a Tacksman of Lianach [in] Glenbuckie left two sons
   1. a son [who is] a moss laird [at] Flanders Moss [in] Summerline.  [He is] an industrious man [who] has two sons with himself
   2. a son Duncan, his brother, [who is] a workman [in the] village of Thornhill [in] Down [Doune] parish.  [He has] four sons [who are all] minors.
2. Iain Riach Mor (“Big John with the grey/brown hair”, shown in the original document as 3 Line) lived at Camusbarron near Stirling [and] had four or five sons.  I believe one of them was the same John Stewart who served and died with you when in the 42 Regt.  John Riach Mor was a very good soldier.

This finishes Sliochd Iain Du Beig.

* Rioch and Riach are different but similar words in Gaelic. Rioch means “to flail the skin” and riach means “to cut along the surface”.  Both words could be references to battle wounds.  However, Rioch and Riach are also both Anglicized forms of riabhach (pronounced “ree-oo- wachk”) which means “brindled or greyish brown.”  The latter derivation is believed to be the one intended here.

We account for this family as follows:

John Dubh Beag STEWART, in Muirlaggan and Ledcreich, b: ABT 1586 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, as an illegitimate son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie.  John’s first nickname, Dubh, means “black”, which infers that he had dark hair.  In order to avoid confusion it must be clearly noted that this John Dubh Stewart had an older half-brother who was also named John who also had black hair.  In order to differentiate between the two, the elder legitimate brother was known as John Dubh Mor Stewart, which means “Big Black John”, while this younger illegitimate brother was known as John Dubh Beag Stewart which means “Little Black John.”

John Dubh Beag is the patriarch of Branch II of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie as accounted in Stewarts of the South.  John is mentioned in the following testament as having resided in Muirlaggan and having had a son John who inherited his estate: “Testament of John dow beg Stewart in Murlagan who died in November of 1669 given up by John Stewart his son.”  John Dubh Beg, along with his distant cousin Major James Beg Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich, were responsible for evicting Clan Gregor from Glenfinglas.  It should be noted that his mother was also a MacGregor.  Stewarts of the South records the following:

“John Du Beg was one of the stoutest men in the country.  It was him who was with Major [James] Stewart [2nd of Ardvorlich] when they drove the MacGregors from Glenfinglas – and he was the best soldier of the two.  They slept in the hill and their followers deserted them.  The place was between Glenbuckie and Glenfinglas.  The Major was for returning back if it was not for John Beg.  The MacGregors being that day burning there houses in Glenmain which was close with wood.  The two came to the tree where the MacGregors had left their arms and John Du Beg asked the Major whether he would secure the arms or catch Callum Owr, the leader of the MacGregors. The Major undertook the securing of the arms and threw them into a hole full of water. John Du Beg said to Callum Owr if he would stir he would kill him and brought him [as a] prisoner to Doune where he was executed.  [And Major James Beg] Stewart got the tack of the Glen [Finglas].”

Elsewhere in the same document the author refers to this incident again in which he specifies that John Dubh Beag resided in Ledcreich:

“The MacGregors who were always ready to seize opportunities came and forced the remains of the Clan from the glen and became possessors themselves.  After the restoration of Charles II, Major (James Beag) Stewart… undertook for the Earl Murray to drive the MacGregors out of the glen as they would neither pay rent and committed some acts of riot.  …this he executed together with one John Dubh Beg of [the] Glenbuckie family of Leadchrich.”

Glen Finglas was divided into four portions by Maj. James Beag Stewart of Ardvorlich who gave one-quarter to the family of Glenbuckie. However, despite the role of John Dubh Beag Stewart leading the clearing of Glen Finglas, he never got to share in the spoils. The Glenbuckie portion of Glen Finglas was retained by this John’s older half-brother, John Dubh Mor Stewart.

A bond in 1622 which names the heads of most of the Balquhidder Stewarts includes: “John Dow Stewart in Glenfinglas and his brother-german, Walter”. The bond does not specify which of the two John Dubh Stewarts (Beag or Mor) was residing in Glen Finglas, however we now know that it was John Dubh Mor who resided in Glen Finglas (see notes on John Dubh Mor for more information) while John Dubh Beag is noted above as residing in Muirlaggan and Lecreich.

John Dubh Beg Stewart had the following children:

1.  John STEWART 2nd in Muirlaggan b: ABT 1610 in Muirlaggan, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  John is recorded in the following testament: “Testament of John dow beg Stewart in Murlagan who died in November of 1669 given up by John Stewart his son.” We have no record of this John having heirs. (Nor do we have a record to the contrary, either.)
2.  Patrick mac Iain Dubh Beg STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1615 in Muirlaggan, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  Patrick’s identity is extrapolated from the reference to his son in Stewarts of the South as Rob mac Pha[t]rick mac Iain Dubh Beg, a tacksman at Lianach in Glenbuckie.
   1. Patrick’s descendants are presented immediately below.

Patrick mac Iain Dubh Beag Stewart in Lianach

 Patrick mac Iain Dubh Beag STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1615 in Muirlaggan, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as a son of John Dubh Beag Stewart.  Patrick’s identity is extrapolated from the reference to his son in Stewarts of the South as Rob mac Pha[t]rick mac Iain Dubh Beg, a tacksman at Lianach in Glenbuckie.  He was father of:

1.  Robert mac Pharick mac Iain Dubh Beg STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1650 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He is shown in Stewarts of the South as Rob mac Pha[t]rick mac Iain Dubh Beg.  He was a tacksman at Lianach in Glenbuckie.  He had the following children:
   1.  James STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1690 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
      1. James is shown below as the patriarch of Line 1
   2.  Patrick mac Ross mhic Pharick STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1695 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  Stewarts of the South refers to him as Patrick mac Ross mhic Pha[t]rick.
      1. Patrick is shown below as the patriarch of Lines 2 & 3.

Line 1 – James Stewart in Lianach

This family is being discussed here: http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=1680&mforum=stewart#1680

 James STEWART in Lianach b: ABT 1690 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He was father of:

1.  Duncan STEWART , in Aldenbreg b: ABT 1720 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  According to Stewarts of the South, Duncan was a tacksman at Aldanabreg, near Aberfoyle who died without sons. (Note: Stewarts of the South indicates that James had two sons named Duncan.)
2.  James STEWART , in Wester Invernenty and Bohelecan b: ABT 1723 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a tacksman at Wester Invernenty and later at Bohelecan, near Dryman.  According to Stewarts of the South he had the following children:

   1. 3 sons STEWART, who all had families.

3.  Alexander STEWART , in Invernenty b: ABT 1725 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He was father of:
   1.  Robert STEWART , in Allanabreak b: ABT 1750 in Invernenty, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  According Stewarts of the South he was a cottager [in] Allanabreak [in] Aberfoil.  He was the father of:
      1. Son STEWART b: ABT 1780 in Invernenty, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, a shoemaker in Callendar.
4.  Duncan STEWART, of Blaircrioch b: ABT 1728 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  (Note: Stewarts of the South indicates that James had two sons named Duncan.)  Duncan is described in Stewarts of the South as a tacksman at Blaircroich.  He is presumed to have married Elisabeth MCNIE although no record of their marriage has been found.  By her, he had the following children:
   1.  Robert STEWART bap. 6 MAY 1759 in Blarcrioch, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was described in Stewarts of the South as a shepherd on the Blair-Drummond estate.  Robert is found in the 1841 and 1851 censuses with some of his daughters.  It is suggested that Robert STEWART married firstly on 14 DEC 1786 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland to Catherine FERGUSON (with Robert recorded as being from Callander and Catherine from Balquhidder) and registered secondly on 29 DEC 1786 in Callander parish.  Parish records indicate that they had only one child:

      1.  Duncan STEWART, b. 24 NOV 1787 and bap. 30 NOV 1787 in Callander village, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  Duncan is described in Stewarts of the South as “an honest and industrious person”.  Duncan married on 9 MAR 1827 in Kilmadock Perthshire, Scotland and Kincardine, Perthshire Scotland to Margaret GILLESPIE, daughter of Hugh Gillespie, Foreman at the Deanston Works in Deanston beside Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Duncan and Margaret immigrated in 1834 to Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. 

         1. Their descendant information is presented on the Duncan Stewart of Puslinch Page.

      It is presumed that Catherine Ferguson died in childbirth.  And it is suggested that Robert STEWART married secondly on 3 APR 1788 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland to Catharine STEWART and registered secondly on 5 JUL 1788 in Balquhidder parish (with Robert recorded as being from Kincardine and Catharine from Balquhidder).  They had the following children:

      1. Margaret STEWART, bap. 7 MAR 1790 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given).  It is suggested that she died young prior to the birth of her same-named sister.

      2. Catharine STEWART, bap. 30 OCT 1791 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given).  She is shown as a spinster with her father in 1851.  It is presumed she never married.

      3. Janet STEWART, bap. 9 FEB 1794 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given)..  She is shown as a spinster with her father in 1851.  It is presumed she never married.

      4. Alexander STEWART, bap. 12 JUN 1796 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given).  He is not recorded in Stewarts of the South nor found in later census records and is thus presumed to have died in childhood.

      5. Margaret STEWART, bap. 30 JUN 1798 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given), (mother given only as “Catharine”).  She is found as a spinster with her parents in 1841, but not in 1851, and is presumed to have not married and either died or emigrated between 1841-1851.

      6. Elisabeth STEWART, bap. 2 JUN 1800 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given).  She is not found in later census records and may have married prior to 1841 or died young.

      7. Agnes STEWART, bap. 8 MAY 1803 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland (with no specific location in Kincardine given).  She is found as a spinster with her parents in 1841, but not in 1851, and is presumed to have no married and either died or emigrated between 1841-1851.

   2.  John STEWART, bap. 1 AUG 1762 in Drumlich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He is not mentioned in Stewarts of the South and is presumed to have died young.

   3.  Duncan STEWART b: ABT 1765 in Blaircroich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who resided at Flander’s Moss (no viable match can be found in the 1814 Moss Census).  Stewarts of the South records that “[Duncan’s] wife nursed a child to Blair Drummond and hath been the means of supporting his family.”  He had the following children:
      1. 3 sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.
5.  John STEWART , in Lianach b: ABT 1730 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He resided in Lianach in Glenbuckie.  MacGregor’s accounting differs here, however Stewarts of the South is unclear.  John Stewart was father of:
   1.  James STEWART , in Tommineoin b: ABT 1750 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a tenant in Tommineoin and later in Kilmahog.  He had the following children:
      1. 3 sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.

Line 2 & 3 – Patrick mac Ross mhic Pharick Stewart in Lianach

 Patrick mac Ross mhic Pharick STEWART b: ABT 1695 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  Stewarts of the South refers to him as Patrick mac Ross mhic Pha[t]rick.  He had the following children:

1.  Duncan Rioch STEWART of Lianach b: ABT 1725 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, whom Stewarts of the South refers to as Donach Rioch.  Rioch means “cut skin” which would be an apt description for a soldier, but it’s also an anglicized form of riabhach (pronounced “ree-achk”) which means “brindled or greyish brown.”  Thus his nickname is likely “Duncan with the brown/grey hair.”  Stewarts of the South records that he was “a good soldier [and] a Tacksman of Lianach [in] Glenbuckie [who] left two sons”:
   1.  Son STEWART in Summerline b: ABT 1750 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to Stewarts of the South he was “a moss laird [at] Flanders Moss [in] Summerline.  [He is] an industrious man.  (Presumably this son’s name would be Peter, but no viable candidate has been found in the 1814 Moss Census.)  He had:
      1. 2 sons STEWART who were living with their father ca. 1815-1820.
   2.  Duncan STEWART , in Thornhill b: ABT 1755 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to Stewarts of the South he was “a workman [in the] village of Thornhill [in] [Doune] parish.”  He had:
      1. 4 sons STEWART who were all minors ca. 1815-1820.
2.  John Riach Mor STEWART in Cambusbarron b: ABT 1730 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, whom Stewarts of the South refers to as Iain Riach Mor.  Riach means “flailed skin” which could be a reference to battle wounds, but, like Rioch, it is also an anglicized form of riabhach (pronounced “ree-achk”) which means “brindled or greyish brown.”  Thus his nickname would be “Big John with the brindled hair.” Stewarts of the South says that John lived at Camusbarron near Stirling and that he was “a very good soldier”.  John had the following children:
   1.  John STEWART b: ABT 1750 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to Stewarts of the South he served and died in the 42nd Regiment under the command of Major General David Stewart of Garth, recipient of the Stewarts of the South document.
   2.  3 other sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.

Research Leads

Duncan STEUART in Lianach of Glenbuckie

1. Margaret STEUART, bap. 7 FEB 1699 in Lianach of Glenbuckie (father given as ____ Stewart)
2. Mary STEUART, bap. 29 DEC 1701 in Lianoch of Glenbuckie (father given as ____ Stewart)
3. Unknown STEUART, bap. 2 APR 1703 in Lianoch of Glenbuckie
4. Unknown STEUART, bap. 3? MAY 1706 (date unclear) in Lianoch of Glenbuckie
5. Janet STEUART, bap. 13 MAR 1707 in Lianoch of Glenbuckie (father given as ____ Stewart)

James STEUART and Betterage (Beatrice) STEUART (and/or James STEUART and Janet STEUART) in (Wester) Achtow and Kirkton and possibly Lianach. James and Betterage were m. 18 JAN 1717 in Balquhidder (both in this parish).  But there is an earlier marriage for James and Janet m. 19 MAY 1715 in Balquhidder, “both of this parish”.  There are no children shown for James and Janet either in Fiona or IGI, however the first child, Margaret, below is shown with mother given only as “Steuart”.  Thus Margaret could be the child of either mother.  And the James who married Janet could be the same James who married Betterage or it could be two different Jameses.

1. Margaret STEUART, bap. 19 NOV 1718 in Lianach (mother given only as “Steuart”, could be a child of either Betterage or Janet Steuart, see note above)
2. Robert STEUART, bap. 23 OCT 1719 in Wester Achtow (mother given as Betterage Steuart)
3. Patrick STEUART, bap. 20 DEC 1730 in Wester Achtow (mother given as Betterage Steuart)
4. Patrick STEUART, bap. 25 FEB 1733 in Wester Achtow (mother given as Betterage Steuart)
5. William STEWART, bap. 27 SEP 1740 in Kirktown of Balquhidder (mother given as Betterage Steuart)

John STEUART and Christian ROSS (or REID) in Lianach and Immereoin

1. Duncan STEUART, bap. 13 MAY 1750 in Lianach (“in antenuptual fornication”, mother recorded as “Christian Ross”, John’s father’s servant woman)
2. Robert STEUART, bap. 23 FEB 1752 in Lianach of Glenbuckie (mother given as “Roid”)
3. Janet STEUART, bap. 3 JUN 1753 in Immerowan (mother not given)
4. Catharine STEWART, bap. 5 FEB 1757 in Imeroin (mother given as “Christian Red?”)
5. Margaret STEWART, bap. 29 JUL 1759 in Lianach (mother given as “Christian Red”)