Stewarts of Grandtully in Comrie and Port of Menteith

James Stewart, Blacksmith & Vintner in Comrie

James Stewart, Blacksmith & Vintner in Comrie,   b. Abt 1728, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.

James Stewart is estimated to have been born about 1728 at Woodend of Lawers in Monzievaird and Strowan parish, Perthshire, Scotland as the eldest son of John Stewart and Helen Kinloch-Campbell (shown above), although no record of his baptism has been found.

James is described in Stewarts of the South as being one of three brothers who were smiths in the area of Comrie and Crieff parishes: James, Alexander, and John. Their father is not identified by named, but has been identified through researching the family of James’ brother, Alexander, for whom a baptism record does survive.

“James Stewart, [a] smith in Comrie, whose progenitors were from there for some generations back. [He] left three sons: Peter, a smith in Comrie, [with] a family of sons [who are] all minors; John, a smith in Crieff, [with] a family of minors; Duncan, the youngest, [who is] a labourer at Crieff with a family [of] all minors.'” (Stewarts of the South, Section IV)

James Stewart is also mentioned parish inventory later in Stewarts of the South, Section VI, as:

“James Stewart, vintner and smith [in] Comrie, of [the] Grandtully family, a good character, [on] Lord Viscount Melville’s Estate, (who pays annual rent of) £40.”

James Stewart is estimated to have married in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, about 1754 to Ann Morrison, although no record of their marriage has been found as the Comrie parish clerk did not record any marriages at this time.

Marriages and Children

James Stewart and Ann Morrison had seven children together after which Ann Morrison is believed to have died.

1. 1. Janet Stewart,   b. 22 Dec 1755, Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   2. John Stewart,   b. 19 Mar 1758, Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1762, Perthshire, Scotland 
   3. James Stewart,   b. 19 Mar 1760, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   4. John Stewart, Smith in Crieff,   b. 9 Aug 1762, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.
      John Stewart was born 9 Aug 1762 in Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, as a son of James Stewart and Ann Morrison.John Stewart married on 21 Jan 1791 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotlandc to Jean McEwen. They had three documented children but the gaps in the birth order of their children suggest they likely had several more children whose baptismal records have not survived.John Stewart is described in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as: “John, a smith in Crieff, [with] a family of minors.”

       

      1. James Stewart,   b. 1 Jul 1792, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      2. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1795, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. John Stewart,   b. 3 Mar 1797, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Between 1848 and 1851, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland . Family records show him as a brass founder in Edinburgh, marrying Helen Lawson, and the father of John Stewart, born 1848 in Edinburgh, with John Sr dying before 1851.
         1. John Stewart,   b. 1848, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. 5 Dec 1912, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland .
            John Stewart married 31 Dec 1867, Canongate, Edinburgh to Mary Wilson. “John Stewart, 20, (Baker Journeyman), Mary Wilson Weir, 19, (Bookfolder), 212 Canongate, Edinburgh. Parents: John Stewart, Deceased, Brass Founder, Helen Stewart, nee Lawson, Thomas Weir, Tailor, Jane Weir.” (Canongate Parish Register)

             

            1. William Dunsmore Stewart,   b. 1868, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
            2. Helen Lawson Stewart,   b. 1870, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
            3. James Lawson Stewart,   b. 1871, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
            4. John McEwan Stewart,   b. 24 Apr 1874, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. 12 Sep 1946, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland  
            5. Jane Stewart,   b. 1877, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
            6. Mary Stewart,   b. 1879, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
            7. Charles Stewart,   b. 1885, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      4. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1800, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      5. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1803, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      6. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1805, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      7. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1808, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      8. William Stewart,   b. 17 Jun 1810, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   5. Peter Stewart, Smith in Comrie,   b. 23 Dec 1766, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1841 .Peter is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Peter, a smith in Comrie, [with] a family of sons [who are] all minors.” Peter is suggested by onomastic and geographic association to have married on 5 Dec 1799 to Ann Robertson.Only Peter’s children, Peter, Ann, and Elisabeth are found in Scottish census records. If his other sons were apparently alive c. 1820 when Stewarts of the South was written, this strongly suggest that some or all of his other sons emigrated to unknown locations prior to 1841.
      1. James Stewart,   b. 29 Mar 1800, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
         
      2. Peter Stewart,   b. 10 May 1802, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. George Stewart,   b. 18 Aug 1804, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      4. Ann Stewart,   b. 24 Feb 1807, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      5. John Stewart,   b. 30 Jul 1809, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      6. Alexander Stewart,   b. 26 Aug 1811, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      7. Elisabeth Stewart,   b. 14 Sep 1818, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   6. Alexander Stewart,   b. 21 Jul 1770, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Alexander is not described in Stewarts of the South and has not been found in later census records. He is presumed to have died young.
   7. Helen Stewart,   b. 13 Jun 1773, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. (Contrary to claims made in online trees, she did not marry Henry McEwan from Alloa. This relationship has been disproved by DNA.)

James Stewart married secondly on 5 Jun 1776 in Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland to Marjory Carmichael. They had two children together.

1. 1. Robert Stewart,   b. 1 Mar 1777, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Robert is not mentioned in Stewarts of the South and is presumed to have died young.
   2. Duncan Stewart,   b. 6 Jul 1778, Comrie Village, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.Duncan is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Duncan, the youngest, [who is] a labourer at Crieff with a family [of] all minors.”Duncan Stewart married on 16 Jan 1801 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Anne McGregor-alias-Drummond, b. Abt 1780, Perthshire, Scotland. Their marriage was registered secondly two days later on 18 Jan 1801 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. They had the following children:
      1. Ann Stewart,   b. 26 Nov 1801, Comrie, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1805, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland  
      2. May Marjory Stewart,   b. 17 Jul 1803, Comrie, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. Ann Stewart,   b. 19 Apr 1805, Comrie, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      4. Janet Stewart,   b. 14 Dec 1809, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      5. James Stewart,   b. 11 Jan 1812, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN

John Stewart, in Muirend

John Stewart, in Muirend, b. 20 May 1730, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN.

John Stewart was born 20 May 1730 at Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland, as the second son of John Stewart and Helen Kinloch-Campbell (shown further above).

John Stewart is recorded in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as being one of three brothers (James, Alexander, and John) who all descend from 1-Line of the Stewarts of Grandtully in Comrie, however their father’s name is not mentioned and the author has mixed up the birth order of the three brothers.

John Stewart is further described in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as:

“John Stewart, brother to the above I mentioned, was [a] smith at Muirend near Comrie in the estate of Lord Meagens, [which is] now the property of Capt Graham of Airth and Struan. That estate was in the hands of many proprietors, the first of them was one of the seventeen sons of Murray of Tullibardine, [who was] called Struan Murray. [The property] went to different names. This John left one son [with] a family of children [who are] all minors. He is a smith where his father was. They were industrious well-doing people.”

John Stewart resided at Muirend, about one kilometre southest of the 19th-century Village of Comrie, but subsumed into the modern village.

John Stewart married on 5 Jun 1769 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Elizabeth Riddoch. They had three recorded children, but they may have had more.

John Stewart’s date of death is unknown.

Marriage and Children

John Stewart and Elizabeth Riddoch had the following known children:

1. 1. John Stewart, in Muirend,   b. 3 Jun 1770, Cultibraggan, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 26 Jan 1852, Muirend, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland .John Stewart was born 3 Jun 1770 in Cultibraggan, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, as the only surviving son of John Stewart and Elizabeth Riddoch. Cultibraggan is located about one kilometre southwest of Muirend where his father later lived.John Stewart was a smith at Muirend just one kilometre southeast of the Village of Comrie as was his father before him.

      John Stewart is described in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, c. 1820, as:

      “John Stewart, brother to the above I mentioned, was [a] smith at Muirend near Comrie in the estate of Lord Meagens, [which is] now the property of Capt Graham of Airth and Struan. That estate was in the hands of many proprietors, the first of them was one of the seventeen sons of Murray of Tullibardine, [who was] called Struan Murray. [The property] went to different names. This John left
      one son [with] a family of children [who are] all minors. He is a smith where his father was. They were industrious well doing people.” (Stewarts of the South, Section IV, Grandtully family)

      John Stewart is presumed to have married about 1811 to Ann Ferguson although no record of their marriage has been found. They had 12 children at Muirend in Monzievaird and Strowan parish, Perthshire, Scotland.

      In 1841, at age 65, John Stewart was residing at Muirend in Monzievaird, Perthshire, Scotland, with his wife Ann and their children. He was employed as a smith and publican.

      In 1851, at age 78, John Stewart was residing at Dunira Street in Comrie Village in Comrie parish, Perthshire, Scotland with his wife and two of their younger daughters. He was employed as a vintner.

      John Stewart died 26 Jan 1852 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.

      John Stewart must have been very active in the local Comrie parish church as he has a very elaborate gravestone which is attached to the church wall and prominently located immediately beside the main entrance.

      “35, mural, Erected by the surviving daughters to the memory of their father John Stewart, late blacksmith in Muirend, who died at Comrie 26th January 1852, aged 82 years, and of their mother Ann Ferguson, who died at Comrie 3rd November 1868, aged 75 years, and of their brothers and sisters: John, James, Peter, Duncan, Elizabeth, Ann, and Margaret, also Mary. Hellen died 30th January 1889, Catherine died 28th July 1889, Elizabeth died 10th July 1910, Janet died 21st April 1914.” (Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions for Comrie and transcription from photos at FindAGrave) Stone is elaborate and placed prominantly into the church wall beside the entrance.

      John Stewart and Ann Ferguson had the following children:

      1. John Stewart, in Monzievaird and Dunblane,   b. 13 Sep 1812, Muirend, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Information on John Stewart is presented below.
      2. James Stewart,   b. 15 Aug 1815, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. Ann Stewart,   b. 1 Jun 1817, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1819 
      4. Ann Stewart,   b. 4 Mar 1819, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      5. Catherine Stewart,   b. 1820, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      6. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. 1 Apr 1821, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 10 Jul 1910, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland  
      7. Peter Stewart,   b. 12 May 1823, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      8. Margaret Stewart,   b. 3 Jun 1825, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      9. Helen Stewart,   b. 13 Jul 1827, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 30 Jan 1889, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland  
      10. Duncan Stewart,   b. 30 Mar 1830, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN  
      11. Janet Jessie Stewart,   b. 28 Mar 1831, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 21 Apr 1914 
      12. Mary Stewart,   b. 22 Nov 1835, Monzievaird, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   2. Catherine Stewart,   b. 26 May 1776, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   3. Peter Stewart,   b. 28 Mar 1779, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Peter Stewart presumed to have died young as his father is described in Stewarts of the South as having only one son. 

John Stewart, in Monzievaird and Dunblane

John Stewart, in Monzievaird and Dunblane,   b. 13 Sep 1812, Muirend, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. 

John Stewart was born 13 Sep 1812 at Muirend in the parish of Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland as the son of John Stewart, blacksmith at Muirend and Ann Ferguson (shown above). “1812, Sept’r 13th, John Stewart and [Catherine (crossed out)] Ann [written in above] Ferguson in Muirend, their child John.” (Monzievaird and Strowan Parish Register)

John Stewart’s father and grandfather are mentioned in the following entry from Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as being descended from the Stewarts in Grandtully:

“There was a branch of Stewarts that says they are of the family of Grantulloch (Grandtully). [They] came to Strathearn with a daughter of Grantully that was married to the Laird of Lawers. But they know scarcely anything of their own extraction. This was the last Laird of Lawers of the name of Campbell, who was murdered by Barron Edramucky in Greenock when he was to be married to a grandaunt of General Campbell of Monzie.
1. James Stewart, [a] smith in Comrie, whose progenitors were from there for some generations back.
2. Alexander Stewart, brother to the above James, is a smith [at] Lawirs…. They were smiths to the family of Lawirs for a long time back and very good ferriers.
3. John Stewart, brother to the above I mentioned, was [a] smith at Muirend near Comrie in the estate of Lord Meagens, [which is] now the property of Capt Graham of Airth and Struan. That estate was in the hands of many proprietors, the first of them was one of the seventeen sons of Murray of Tullibardine, [who was] called Struan Murray. [The property] went to different names. This John left
one son [with] a family of children [who are] all minors. He (the son, also named John) is a smith where his father was. They were industrious well doing people.”

John’s father is John Stewart, the younger smith at Muirend, son of John Stewart, Sr, the elder smith at Muirend.

Marriage to Mary Morrison

John Stewart married on 3 Nov 1837 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Mary Morrison. They had one son, John, who was born in 1838 in Comrie. They are believed to have moved shortly thereafter to the vicinity of Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland.

Move to Dunblane and Affair with Christian Ferguson

In early 1840, John Stewart is believed to have had an extramarital affair with Christian Ferguson in Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland.

On 21 Dec 1840, in Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland, John Stewart and Christian Ferguson had an illegitimate son, James. “1841 – James, natural son to John Stewart and Christian Ferguson in Dunblane, born 21st Dec’r 1840 and baptized in May 1841” (Dunblane Parish Register)

Following the birth of their illegitimate son, James Stewart, Christian Ferguson was charged and tried for the sin of fornication in the Dunblane Church. The minutes of the proceedings identify the father of her child as [blank] Stewart from the parish of Monzievaird. The case for the father being this John Stewart from Monzievaird is laid out in the footnotes below.

“Dunblane 25 April 1841, The which day the Kirk Session being met and constituted. Sederunt The Rev’d William Mackenzie Moderator and Elders. Compeared voluntarily before them Christian Ferguson in Dunblane confessing the sin and guilt of fornication and gave up as partner of her guilt and father of her child _____ Stewart of the parish of Monzievaird — this said individual in presence of one of the Elders that he was the father of her child. She was seriously and suitably exhorted to repentance and amendment of life and appointed to appear before them a second time.” (Dunblane Church of Scotland Kirk Session Minutes 1820-1873, p. 181, CH2/101/12)

(There is no mention of their transgression in the minutes of the Monzievaird Kirk Session.)

John Stewart has not been found in the 1841 census. However, in 1841, Christian Ferguson and her son James Stewart were residing with Christian’s mother, also named Christian Ferguson, and without the father of her child.

Move to Clackmannan

How the affair was handled by John Stewart and his wife, Mary Morrison, is unknown, but they had their next child, James, in 1842 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, just southeast of Dunblane. (It was not uncommon for illegitimate children to share the same name as one of their legitimate half-siblings.) This was followed by their third child, Ann, in 1845 in Alloa, their fourth child, Duncan, in 1848, in Clackmannan Village, and their fifth child, Mary in early 1851 in Clackmannan Village.

In 1851, at age 38, John Stewart was residing at Hornsbrae House in Devon, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. He is identified as born in Strowan, Perthshire (adjacent to Comrie and part of the joint parish of Monzievaird and Strowan) and was employed as a coal grieve (a supervisor of an open pit coal mine). Also residing with him was his wife and their children: John Stewart, age 15, James Stewart, age 9, Ann Stewart, age 7, Duncan Stewart, age 4 and Mary Stewart, age 7 months. (1851 Scottish Census)

Meanwhile, in 1851, Christian Ferguson and her illegitimate son James Stewart were residing in Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland, with her mother, and without the father of her child. She also had a newborn illegitimate child, Peter Davidson, whose father was also not present. She would subsequently marry in 1852 to Peter Davidson’s father, John Davidson.

In 1861, at age 48, John Stewart was residing at Devonside in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, with his wife and children. He was identified as being born in Monzievaird and was employed as an innkeeper.

In 1865, John’s illegimate son, James Stewart, was married in Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland. One of the witnesses to the marriage was John Stewart, believed to be either this John Stewart or more likely his son, John Stewart, half-brother to the groom.

In 1871, at age 57, John Stewart was residing at 50 Hamilton Street in Tillicoulty, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, with his wife and two of their younger children. He was identified as being born in Monzievaird, and was employed as a carter.

John Stewart has not been identified in the 1881 or later census records. He is presumed to have died between 1871-1881, but his exact date and place of death are unknown.

John Stewart is listed on the family gravestone in the kirkyard at the White Church in Comrie Village, although his dates of death and birth are not given. The stone is elaborate and is attached to the wall of the kirk and located immediate to the left of the front door. It’s location suggests the family were prominent in the life of the church. The stone reads:

“(Mural) Erected by the surviving daughters to the memory of their father John Stewart, late blacksmith in Muirend, who died at Comrie 26th January 1852, aged 82 years, and of their mother Ann Ferguson, who died at Comrie 3rd November 1868, aged 75 years, and of their brothers and sisters: John, James, Peter, Duncan, Elizabeth, Ann, and Margaret, also Mary. Hellen died 30th January 1889, Catherine died 28th July 1889, Elizabeth died 10th July 1910, Janet died 21st April 1914.” (Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions for Comrie and transcription from photos at FindAGrave) Stone is elaborate and placed prominantly into the church wall beside the entrance.

Alexander Stewart, Farrier at Woodend of Lawers

Alexander Stewart, Farrier at Woodend of Lawers,   b. 21 May 1747, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 28 May 1823, Albion, Edwards, Illinois, USA  .

Alexander Stewart was born 21 May 1747 at Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan parish, Perthshire, Scotland, as the youngest son of John Stewart and Helen Kinloch-Campbell (shown further above). “1747, May 21st, John Stewart and Helen Kinloch, in Woodend, their child, Alexander.” (Monzievaird Parish Register)

Stewarts of the South, Section IV, c. 1820, dedicates several paragraphs to a multigenerational presentation of Alexander Stewart’s family. The reference to Alexander reads:

“Alexander Stewart, brother to the above James, is a smith [at] Lawirs (Lawers), [working for] Lord Balgray. [He has] one son [who is also] a smith and [a] ferrier (farrier). [He has] gone to America [where he has] a family of sons [who are all] minors. They were smiths to the family of Lawirs for a long time back and very good ferriers (farriers).”

On 4 May 1771, Alexander Stewart married Christian McVicar. “1771, April 4th, Alexander Stewart and Christian McVicar, both in this parish, were lawfully proclaimed, and married this day.” (Monzievaird Parish Register)

They had nine children together. The naming of their children appears to break the traditional naming custom of naming the eldest son after the baby’s paternal grandfather, which, in this case, would be John, not James. However, the baptismal record of first son James’ birth indicates that James was “begotten in antenuptial fornication” so, while he was born after his parents were married and thus not illegitimate in the eyes of the law, the church appears to have treated him as semi-illegitimate so Alexander and Christian appear to have named James as if he were illegitimate and began the traditional naming custom with their second child, John.

He is likely also the Alexander Stewart identified later in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, c.1820, in the parish inventories for Monzievaird parish as:

“8. Alexander Stewart, [a] smith [in] Toman buie (Tom an buidhe), of [the] Grandtully family, an industrious well-doing man, on Lawer’s estate [of] Lord Balgray. [Balgray is] a real scourge of mankind and a depopulator of all his lands, and the country if he could. Monivard parish. (Pays annual rent of) £15.”

The exact location of Tomanbuie has not been identified.

Nothing more is known of Alexander’s later life.

An online tree claims that he died 28 May 1823 in Albion, Edwards, Illinois, USA, about 30 miles from where his son, Alexander Stewart, lived. This is a highly plausible but unverified claim. If true then he would have immigrated likely sometime after 1820.

Marriage and Children

Alexander Stewart and Christian McVicar had the following children:

1. 1. James Stewart,   b. 20 Oct 1771, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. ​
      “1771, Oct’r 20th, Alexander Stewart and Christian McVicar in Woodend, their child James; begotten in antenuptual fornication.” (Monzievaird Parish Register)James’ birth breaks the traditional naming pattern because he was begotten in fornication and was treaded as semi-illegitimate.Nothing more is known of James. He may have died young or emigrated.
   2. John Stewart,   b. 17 Jan 1773, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1850, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland  . John Stewart married on 30 Sep 1798 in Monzievaird, Perthshire, Scotland to Elizabeth McRorie. They had the following children:
      1. Alexander Stewart,   b. 14 Aug 1799, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      2. Peter Stewart,   b. 3 May 1801, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1873, Alloa, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland   . Peter Stewart married on 12 Jun 1825 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret McInnes,   b. 29 Aug 1802, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. They had the following children:
         1. Ann Stewart,   b. 15 Aug 1826, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland ,   d. 1873, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland  
         2. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. Oct 1828, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 10 Feb 1911, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland 
         3. John Stewart,   b. 3 Nov 1828, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 17 Aug 1892, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.  
         4. William Stewart,   b. 23 Jan 1831, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         5. Margaret Stewart,   b. 1834, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 26 Oct 1922, Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland   
         6. Peter Stewart,   b. 1838, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 21 Jan 1921, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland 
         7. Ferguson Stewart,   b. 1839, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 20 Jul 1908, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland 
      3. John Stewart,   b. 31 Jul 1803, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 25 Aug 1866, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland   
      4. Christian Stewart,   b. 10 Mar 1805, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      5. James Stewart,   b. 16 Nov 1806, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 23 Jan 1863, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland  .James Stewart is shown in 1851 in Crieff with a daughter, Christian, born 1825 in Crieff. She is not found in any other records. She is presumed to be illegitimate as James is recorded as single, not widowed, at his time of death.1863 Deaths in the Parish of Crieff in the County of Perth. James Stewart, blacksmith (single), died 1863 January twenty-third, East High Street, Crieff, age 54, son of John Stewart, blacksmith, deceased, and Betty Stewart, MS McRorie (deceased). Witness: John Stewart, brother. (Scotland Statutory Register of Deaths)
         1. Christian Stewart,   b. 1825, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      6. Henry Stewart,   b. 8 Jul 1809, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 19 Aug 1841, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland  . Henry Stewart married on 9 Feb 1834 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland to Mary Soutar,   b. 15 Mar 1813, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:
         1. John Stewart,   b. 18 Jan 1835, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
         2. Andrew Stewart,   b. 1838, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
         3. Catherine Stewart,   b. 1840, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
         4. Henry Stewart,   b. 1844, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      7. William Stewart,   b. 29 Jul 1811, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN . William Stewart married on 1 Jul 1838 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland to Mary McEwan,   b. 10 Mar 1817, Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Between 1844 and 1851, Scotland  . Their marriage was registered secondly on 8 Jul 1838 in neighbouring Muthill parish. They had the following children:
         1. John Stewart,   b. 1840, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         2. Ellen Stewart,   b. 1841, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         3. William Stewart,   b. 1844, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      8. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. 6 Jun 1813, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 21 Jun 1893, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland  . Elizabeth Stewart is presumed to have married to James Drummond,   b. Abt 1810, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, although no record of their marriage has been found. They had the following child:
         1. James Drummond,   b. 28 Oct 1851, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      9. Helen Stewart,   b. 22 Jun 1816, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   3. Helen Stewart,   b. 28 Dec 1774, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1862, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland  . Helen Stewart married on 20 May 1792 in Monzievaird, Perthshire, Scotland to John Cram,   b. 1766, Monzievaird And Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland. ,   d. 1851, Scotland . They had the following children:
      1. Catherine Cram,   b. 16 Jun 1793, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 2 Apr 1864, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland  
      2. Christian Cram,   b. 30 Nov 1794, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. Helen Cram,   b. 18 Dec 1796, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      4. Duncan Cram,   b. 1800, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1884, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland  
      5. Elizabeth Cram,   b. 21 Jan 1801, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      6. Alexander Cram,   b. 13 Mar 1803, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 19 Apr 1880, Bride of Allan Logie Perthshire Scotland 
      7. Janet Cram,   b. 20 Apr 1805, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      8. John Cram,   b. 17 May 1807, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      9. Ann Cram,   b. 28 May 1809, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      10. Henry Cram,   b. 2 Aug 1811, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      11. Peter Cram,   b. 17 Oct 1813, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1870, Scotland  
   4. Christian Stewart,   b. 27 Oct 1776, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   5. Margaret Stewart,   b. 3 Apr 1779, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1 Aug 1852, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland 
   6. Dr. Alexander Stewart, Farrier in Comrie and Doctor in Burnt Prairie,   b. 18 Feb 1781, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 5 May 1865, Burnt Prairie, White, Illinois, USA  . Information on Alexander Stewart and his family is presented below.
   7. Henry Stewart,   b. 2 Feb 1783, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   8. Ann Stewart,   b. 6 May 1785, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   9. Catherine Stewart,   b. 21 Mar 1787, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 25 Oct 1863, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland  

Dr. Alexander Stewart, Farrier in Comrie and Doctor in Burnt Prairie

Dr. Alexander Stewart, Farrier in Comrie and Doctor in Burnt Prairie,   b. 18 Feb 1781, Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 5 May 1865, Burnt Prairie, White, Illinois, USA   

Alexander Stewart was born 18 Feb 1781 in Woodend of Lawers, Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland, as a son of Alexander Stewart and Christian McVicar (shown above).

“1781, Feb 18th, Alexander Stewart and Christian McVicar in Woodend of Lawers, their child, Alexander.” (Monzievaird Parish Register)

This birth is contrary to the date on his gravestone which idenfies his birth as 16 Apr 1779. Early gravestones must be treated as secondary source evidence as their inscriptions were only as accurate as the knowledge of the informant — in this case separatated by 84 years and an ocean from the birth event.

The erroneous gravestone inscription has led many researchers to speculate on Alexander’s baptism record with most settling on an entry from 26 April 1779 in the Town of Perth, Perthshire, Scotland as the son of Patrick Stewart and Janet Yeaman as being the closest chronologically. No other evidence supports this choice. It matches neither proximally nor onomastically. Whereas the baptism shown here on 18 Feb 1781 fits both proximally and onomastically. It makes more sense that Alexander Stewart was born a mere 0.5 km from where he married and had children, in the same place where his father and grandfather were born, rather than 40 km away in the Town of Perth. It also aligns with other evidence found in the account of Alexander’s family presented in Stewarts of the South as well as other parish records. It also makes better sence of later family traditions that emerged among Alexander’s American descendants.

(It is possible that Alexander could have been born on 26 Apr 1779 yet not baptized until 18 Feb 1781, but that is highly unlikely. The normal practice at the time was to baptize children as soon as possible after they were born, often the same or next day, rarely more than two or three days later. There were exceptions, but usually they applied to a whole family having their children baptized on the same day, not an individual. If Alexander’s baptism was late by nearly two years then his siblings would have had to be individually baptized late by the same amount, which would never have happened.)

Alexander Stewart grew up at Woodend of Lawers where he followed in the generational family trade as a farrier — a specialized form of blacksmiths who initially specialized in making horseshoes and shoeing horses. Horses were the engine of society. In an era before veterinary medicine had become a designated field of study, farriers became experts in the care of horses feet and the ailments that affected their feet, progressively expanded their knowledge base to include general animal husbandry and holistic care for horses and other livestock. Their trade evolved from mere shoers of horses into a precursor form of veterinary care and they were often nicknamed “horse doctors” or “cow doctors” in an era before veterinarians existed. Veterinary medicine as a designated field of study was not introducted into Scotland until 1823 when William Dick opened the first Veterinary College at Edinburgh University. Prior to this time “horse doctors” trained as apprentices under master farriers.

It would be anachronistic to refer to Alexander Stewart as either a veterinarian or a doctor as we understand them today in regards to his life in Comrie. He was a farrier who likely had no formal medical license or medical degree. He fulfilled the role of a veterinarian in Comrie before there was such a thing as veterinarians.

On 21 May, 1805, Alexander Stewart married in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, to Mary McLachlane.

“Alexander Stewart and Mary McLachane in this parish were listed and after regular proclamation were married May 21, 1805.” (Comrie Parish Register)

They had eight children prior to emigrating, but baptismal records have been found for only their first child, Alexander, bap. 7 Dec 1805 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. The births of the other seven children are presumed to have taken place in Comrie, but no record of their baptisms has been found in Church of Scotland or the Secession Associate churches in Comrie or neighbouring parishes, or anywhere in Scotland.

The names chosen by Alexander and Mary for their children adhere closely to the traditional naming custom:

1. Alexander Stewart, b. 1805. (Eldest son named after both grandfathers, Alexander Stewart and Alexander McLachlane, as well as the father, Alexander Stewart.)
2. John Stewart, b. 1807. (Named after his uncles, John Stewart and John McLachlane.)
3. Jessie Stewart, b. 1808. (Eldest daughter named after her maternal grandmother, Janet/Jessie McOuan.)
4. Christina Stewart, b. 1810. (Second daughter named after her paternal grandmother, Christian McVicar.)
5. Martha Stewart, b. 1810. (Breaks the traditional pattern.)
6. David Stewart, b. 1814.
7. Mary Stewart, b. 1816. (Named after her mother.)
8. Henry Stewart, b. 1818. (Named after his uncle Henry Stewart.)
Two children were born post-immigration in America:
9. James Stewart, b. 1820. (Named after his uncle James Stewart.)
10. William Stewart, b 1822.

According to his son Sandy Stewart’s later biography, Alexander’s “four boys accompanied their parents to the States in 1817. They set sail around September 1st, 1817.” This date could be correct but no source is given for it. What we do know is that in 1818 there was a mass migration from Comrie on three shipes that saled from Port Greenock near Glasgow: the Curlew, the Sophia, and the Jane. These three ships arrived at Quebec City, Quebec, Canada whence most of the passengers departed for Beckwith Township in Ontario, Canada.

Family tradition claims that Alexander Stewart arrived in New York City, but Pauline Massey in her 1969 published history of this family notes that there is no evidence to support the claim that he arrived in New York City. If he was part of the 1818 Comrie exodus then it is possible that he may have headed south from Quebec through the Mohawk Valley, down the Mohawk River to eventually arrive in New York City as this was a common travel route.

Stewarts of the South, Section IV, c. 1820, dedicates several paragraphs to a multigenerational presentation of Alexander Stewart’s family, in which Alexander’s father is identified as having a son who was a farrier who recently went to America:

“Alexander Stewart, brother to the above James, is a smith [at] Lawirs (Lawers), [working for] Lord Balgray. [He has] one son [who is also] a smith and [a] ferrier (farrier). [He has] gone to America [where he has] a family of sons [who are all] minors. They were smiths to the family of Lawirs for a long time back and very good ferriers (farriers).”

We can be confident that this entry refers to this Alexander Stewart as no other Alexander Stewart has been identified in local records who lived on the Lawers estate, was a farrier, had children including multiple sons who were still of the age of minority c. 1820, and had recently immigrated to America.

Alexander Stewart, along with his wife Mary McLaughlin and their sons Alexander Jr, John, David and Henry, arrived in Carmi, White, Illinois on 25 Dec 1818, having left their daughter back home in Scotland in the care of their maternal grandparents. (source: Dr. Alexander Stewart and Mary McLachlan Stewart Family by Pauline and Jewel Massey, 1969, Albion, Illinois, USA)

By 1820, Alexander Stewart and his family had settled in Burnt Prairie in Waconteby Township, White, Illinois, USA.

In 1824, Robert Owens established a socialist commune in the area and became an acquaintence of Alexander Stewart.

That same year, 1824, Alexander Stewart wrote home to send for his daughters to join the family in America now that they were settled. They came allegedly in the care of a friend of Alexander’s from Edinburgh. The friend accompanied Alexander’s four daughters to New York where he robbed them of their possessions and left them stranded and penniless on the docks. They were rescued by a kind, elderly Scottish gentleman named Ferguson, who was, coincidentally, a former classmate of Alexander Stewart. Dr. Ferguson took the girls into his custody and arranged to house them in the homes of other respected Scottish settlers in New York until their parents could be contacted. Unfortunately, the address for Alexander Stewart appears to have been among their possessions that were stolen. So they had no means to contact their parents, nor seemingly their grandparents back home. The story claims that the daughters remained in New York for two years before their father was able to locate them. By this time, the eldest daughter, Jessie Stewart, had fallen in love with a New York man named George Dick who had come from Stirling, Scotland. They were married with her father’s blessing and in his presence in New York before Alexander returned to Burth Prairie with his younger three daughters.

“Thursday, January 27. 1825–This evening Mr Alexander Stewart, a Scotchman and a veterinary surgeon who has studied in London and Edinburgh and was for 14 years Surgeon to the Perth Agriculture Society, and who now resides 15 miles from Albion, Illinois.” (William Owen’s Diary in the Murphy Museum at New Harmony, Indiana, USA.)

There is likely no truth to the claim that Alexander Stewart was “for 14 years Surgeon to the Perth Agriculture Society.” And the likelihood that he studied in London and Edinburgh is low. (See sidebar on the spurious claims made in the Massey history.)

Family tradition claims that, while on the frontier in Illinois, Alexander Stewart was the closest thing to a medical doctor for miles around. Thus the locals came to him for medical assistance. This constant need allegedly inspired Alexander to seek out more formal training as a physician.

In 1828, Alexander’s son, John Stewart was killed in a hunting accident, having been mistaken for a wild turkey.

In 1830, Alexander Stewart was residing in White County, Illinois, USA.

In 1840, Alexander Stewart was residing in White County, Illinois, USA.

In 1850, at age 70, Alexander Stewart, along with his wife Mary, and their son, James, age 22, were residing in District 13, White, Illinois, USA. Alexander Stewart was employed as a Physician.

In 1852, Alexander Stewart’s son, James Stewart, died of cholera while travelling to Mississippi.

In 1855, Alexander Stewart was residing in Burnt Prairie, Township 3, White, Illinois, USA.

In 1860, at age 80, Alexander Stewart and his wife Mary were residing in Burnt Prairie, Township 3 S, Range 9 E, White, Illinois, USA. He was employed as a doctor.

Alexander Stewart died 5 May 1865, at age 87, in Burnt Prairie, White, Illinois. The last eight years of his life he was blind. He was buried in Liberty Cemetery, Burnt Prairie, White County, Illinois.

“Sacred to the Memory of Alex Stewart, Sr., M.D.. born in Perthshire, Scotland, April 16, 1779. Departed this life May 5, 1865. In Memory of Mary Stewart, Consort of A. Stewart, Born in Perthshire, Scotland 1778, Died August 6, 1862” (Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Burnt Prairie, White County, Illinois, USA)

James Stewart, in Borland of Ruskie

James Stewart, in Ruskie, b. 13 May 1703, Ballibeg of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN. James Stewart was a son of George Stewart and Geills Graham (shown above).

James Stewart is the unnamed father of the following two brothers identified in Stewarts of the South, Section IV:

1. John Stewart, [a] taxman (tacksman) of Portend of Menteith, in the Lordship of Menteith, now the Duke of Montrose’s estate, and a Laird of Property of One Hundred per annum and some thousands in cash. [He has] one son. It is a difficult matter for me to give his character, for at times you would think [him] friendly, but his chief aim is grasping at money, for the bottom of his mind is self and… [illegible]. [He pays annual] Rent £25. He is a real contrast in nature.
2. He has a brother, Robert, a tenant in the estate of Sir John Murray of Lendrick, formerly the Haldane’s [property], called Ruskie [in] Port [of Menteith] Parish. [He pays annual] Rent £150.

Marriage and Children

George Stewart married on 24 Jun 1729 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Helen Napier,   b. Abt 1700, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:

1. 1. George Stewart,   b. 13 May 1731, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   2. Janet Stewart,   b. 22 Apr 1733, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   3. Margaret Stewart,   b. 7 Apr 1735, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   4. William Stewart, in Auchensalt and Craigfranky,   b. 13 May 1737, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1785, Burnheard of Mackorie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland   . William Stewart is the progenitor of 3-Line (shown further below.)
   5. Ann Stewart,   b. 15 Feb 1742, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   6. Alexander Stewart,   b. 19 Aug 1744, Borland of Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   7. John Stewart, in Portend of Menteith,   b. 16 Apr 1747, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. John is described in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as:”John Stewart, [a] taxman of Portend of Menteith, in the Lordship of Menteith, now the Duke of Montrose’s estate, and a Laird of Property of One Hundred per annum and some thousands in cash. [He has] one son. It is a difficult matter for me to give his character, for at times you would think [him] friendly, but his chief aim is grasping at money, for the bottom of his mind is self and… [illegible]. Rent £25. He is a real contrast in nature.”

      And later in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, in the parish inventory for Port of Menteith Parish:

      “9. John Stewart, esquire, Tacksman of Portend of Monteith, near the island, when (sic, where?) the ancient family of the Graham, Earl of Monteith resided, [now] the Duke of Montrose’s property, £330. He says himself [that] he is of the family of Grantully, but very unlike them in point of valour, for they were famous soldiers. He has a good deal of hospitality, if you do not want money, [and he] pretends to clannishness, but believes the bottom of that passion to be founded in a desire of having a good fat cow in the latter end of harvest and a lean cow in spring for the market and wintering. [He] has about £150 a year and values himself much upon his wisdom and money.”

      There is no entry in the Port of Menteith parish register that remotely resembles a match for John’s son. As such, John Stewart’s son remains unidentified:

      1. _____ Stewart,   b. Abt 1775, Portend, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   8. Robert Stewart, in Ruskie,   b. 5 Feb 1749, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Information on Robert Stewart’s family is presented below.

Robert Stewart, in Ruskie

Robert Stewart, in Ruskie, b. 5 Feb 1749, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN.

Robert Stewart and his family are described in Stewarts of the South as:

“Robert, a tenant in the estate of Sir John Murray of Lendrick, formerly the Haldane’s [property], called Ruskie [in] Port [of Menteith] Parish. Rent £150. This Robert Stewart has seven sons:

1. 1. one of them is in the West Indies in opulent circumstances and sending home supplies to his father and [to] the rest of the family;
   2. Another son is a Major and farmer in Gartmore [in] Port [of Menteith] Parish. [He] has three sons [and pays] rent £20;
   3. One son, John, [is] a tenant in the Estate of Ramsay of Auchtertyre, now [the property of Henry] Dundas. [He is] a writer in Edinburgh. Rent £150. [He is] newly married;
   4. James, a tenant near his father in Sir John Murray’s Estate [in the] Barony of Rusgi (Ruskie) [in] Port [of Menteith];
   5. Patrick, [pays rent of] £120. [He has] two sons;
   6. One of them a wright in Stirling, has two sons;
   7. One of them [is] a saddler in Greenock [and is] unmarried.”

Robert Stewart and his son John are also listed in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, Parish Inventory for Port of Menteith parish:

10. Mr Robert Stewart, his brother, tenant in Ruskick (Ruskie), pretends a good deal to bigot religion without much knowledge, £290, [on] Sir John Macgregor-Murray’s property, and of the ancient estate of Haldane of Lanrick, respectable and good-hearted people

11. Mr John Stewart, his son, [in] Nether Rusky, [which is] something of the carse clay kind, same property (Sir John MacGregor-Murray’s), £100

Marriage and Children

Robert Stewart married on 7 Dec 1773 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret Taylor, b. Abt 28 Oct 1753, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:

1. 1. Helen Stewart,   b. 22 Dec 1774, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Online trees claim that Helen Stewart married on 9 Dec 1798 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to James McFarlane and had four children in Kippen: Margaret, Mary, Robert, and Helen. This relationship is not confirmed but it fits onomastically, chronologically and geographically with what we know of Helen’s birth family. Census records support that the Helen Stewart who married James McFarlane in Kippen came from Port of Menteith.
      1. Margaret McFarlane,   b. 11 Aug 1800, Kippen, Stirlingshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      2. Mary McFarlane,   b. 4 May 1802, Kippen, Stirlingshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      3. Robert McFarlane,   b. 15 Oct 1805, Kippen, Stirlingshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      4. Helen McFarlane,   b. 30 Aug 1812, Kippen, Stirlingshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   2. James Stewart, in Ruskie,   b. 26 Oct 1776, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.

      James Stewart was born 26 Oct 1776 in Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland as a son of Robert Stewart and Margaret Taylore.

      James Stewart is described in Stewarts of the South, Section IV, as: “James, a tenant near his father in Sir John Murray’s Estate [in the] Barony of Rusgi (Ruskie) [in] Port [of Menteith].”

      He is believed to have had no children.

      He is suspected, but not proven, to be the James Stewart in Torrie who was witness to his niece Helen’s marriage:

      Helen Stewart b: 10 Jun 1818 in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland m Alexander Millar “from Greenock”, b 25 Oct 1811 in Easter Torrie, son of Alexander Millar and Janet Cairns, witnessed by Alexander Cairns and James Stewart, both of Torrie, m 15 JUNE 1838 in Kilmadock.

      James Stewart has not been found in census records or other public records.

   3. Maj. George Stewart, in Gartmore,   b. 27 Oct 1778, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 20 Feb 1856, New York, New York, New York, USA  .

      George is not identified by name in Stewarts of the South, but he matches the description of the following son of Robert Stewart in Ruskie: “Another son is a Major and farmer in Gartmore [in] Port [of Menteith] Parish. [He] has three sons (sic, only two sons have been identified) [and pays annual] rent £20.”

      He also partially matches this description: “One of them [is] a saddler in Greenock [and is] unmarried.” However, he was married with children at the time of writing of Stewarts of the South.

      Ancestry’s “Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Marriages, 1615-1854” shows an additional marriage for George Stewart and Catharine Cairns on 17 Nov 1805 in Port of Menteith that is not found at ScotlandsPeople. As Ancestry’s “Seclect Counties…” is a transcription conducted by volunteers, ScotlandsPeople is to be preferred as correct here. The 1805 marriage is disregarded.

      George Stewart married on 4 Nov 1810 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Catherine Cairns,   b. Abt 1790, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:

      1. James Stewart,   b. 26 Oct 1811, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. 22 Sep 1876, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA  . James Stewart was born 26 Oct 1811 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland and is believed to have died in infancy prior to the birth of his same-named brother on 22 Oct 1812 in Gartmore, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland. And it is believed that it was the James Stewart, born 22 Oct 1812 who immigrated to New York, USA and had a family there. However, American records (including his grave stone) give his birth as 26 Oct 1811, but without source. It is believed that this date in American records may come from a later historian who identified the wrong birth record and was unaware of the rest of James’ family in Gartmore.

         James Stewart married on 4 Oct 1838 in New York, New York, USA  to Jane Howell,   b. 9 Dec 1817, Llandough Parsonage, The Vale of Glamorgan, Wales ,   d. 2 Apr 1888, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA  . They had the following children:

         1. Katherine Sands Stewart,   b. 25 Jul 1839, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, USA ,   d. 16 Jun 1897, Manhattan, New York, New York, USA  
         2. George Taylor Stewart,   b. 2 May 1841, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 7 Feb 1898
         3. Jane Elizabeth Stewart,   b. 7 Apr 1843, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 11 Feb 1844, New York, New York, USA  
         4. Jane Stewart,   b. 21 Jan 1845, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 22 Apr 1851, New York, New York, USA  
         5. Mary Louisa Stewart,   b. 2 Aug 1847, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 17 Apr 1849, New York, New York, USA  
         6. Mary Stewart,   b. 10 Sep 1849, New York, New York, USA ,   d. Aug 1908
         7. Helen Napier Stewart,   b. 12 Dec 1851, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 12 Mar 1856, New York, New York, USA  
         8. Isabella Cumming Stewart,   b. 2 Apr 1854, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 5 Aug 1926, Manhattan, New York, USA  
         9. Matilda Stewart,   b. 13 Feb 1856, New York, New York, USA ,   d. 19 Jan 1900
         10. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. 13 Feb 1856, New York, New York, USA ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         11. Margaret Ann Stewart,   b. 9 Mar 1858, New York, New York, USA ,   d. UNKNOWN
         12. James Alexander Stewart,   b. 18 Jul 1860, Marbletown, Ulster, New York, USA ,   d. 1 Apr 1861, New York, USA  
      2. James Stewart,   b. 22 Oct 1812, Gartmore, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      3. Mary Stewart,   b. 23 Dec 1813, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1817, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland  
      4. Mary Stewart,   b. 22 Dec 1817, Gartmore, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      5. George Stewart,   b. 30 Nov 1818, Gartmore, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      6. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. 22 Oct 1821, Gartmore, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      7. Jean Stewart,   b. 18 Feb 1823, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   4. William Stewart, in Mid Torrie,   b. 29 Sep 1780, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 10 Apr 1828, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland  .

      William is not identified by name in Stewarts of the South but is believed to be the son of Robert Stewart in Ruskie who is described as: “One of them [is] a saddler in Greenock [and is] unmarried.” However, William was married with children at the time of writing of Stewarts of the South.

      William Stewart died young in 1828, leaving his widowed wife with a household of young children, and then she also died young in 1846. We find most of the children disappearing from record after the 1841 census. It is likely that these children, having lost both parents young, scattered to places unknown in search of a livelihood where simple census searches can’t identify them. Their most likely destination would have been Glasgow.

      William Stewart is presumed to have married Abt 1811 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret McArthur,   b. 17 Jun 1787, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1846, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland  . They had the following children:

      1. Jean Stewart,   b. 16 Jan 1812, Thornhill, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 11 Aug 1886, Callander Village, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  .

         Jane McAlpine, married to Duncan McAlpine Feuar, died 11 Aug 1886, at Back Row Callander, daughter of William Stewart, farmer, deceased, and Margaret nee McArthur, deceased. Informant: Duncan McAlpine, husband.

         1. John McAlpine,   b. 1839, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 10 Apr 1866, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland  
         2. William Stewart McAlpine,   b. 1842, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 18 Oct 1891, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland  
         3. Robert McAlpine,   b. 1844, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 15 Mar 1930, Lennieston, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland  
         4. Margaret McAlpine,   b. 1844, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         5. James McAlpine,   b. 1847, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         6. Duncan McAlpine,   b. 1848, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
         7. Henry Robertson McAlpine,   b. 1850, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 12 Apr 1905, Callander Village, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  
         8. Janet Ann McAlpine,   b. 11 Mar 1855, Boglot, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 14 Mar 1938, Callander , Perthshire, Scotland  
      2. Margaret Stewart,   b. 26 Dec 1813, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.

         Margaret Stewart was born 26 Dec 1813 in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, as the daughter of William Stewart and Margaret McArthur. The exact location of her birth is not recorded in the parish register.

         In 1841, at age 24, Margaret Stewart was residing at Mid Torrie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland in the home of her brother, Robert Stewart. Also residing with them was their widowed mother, Margaret McArthur, age 47, and several of her younger siblings.

         Margaret Stewart has not been found in later records.

         Margaret Stewart married David McVey,   b. 1815, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland . They had the following children:

         1. William McVey,   b. Abt 1847, Callander, perthsh  
         2. Daniel McVey,   b. 1850, Callander, perthsh 
         3. David Mcvey,   b. 1855, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland 
      3. Robert Stewart, in Deanston,   b. 17 Jul 1816, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.

         Robert Stewart was born 17 Jul 1816 in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, as the son of William Stewart and Margaret McArthur. The exact location of his birth is not recorded in the parish register.

         In 1841, at age 22, Robert Stewart was residing at Mid Torrie Farm, identified as being in Deanston civil parish, but in the ecclesiastical parish of Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland. He was employed as a farmer. Also residing with him was his widowed mother, Margaret Stewart, age 47, and his siblings, Margaret Stewart, 24, James Stewart, 17, Janet Stewart, 16, William Stewart, 12, and John Stewart 10.

         In 1851, at age 33, Robert Stewart was residing at Mid Torrie Farm, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland with his sister, Janet Stewart, age 25. Robert was employed as a farmer of 130 acres, employing two labourers.

         Robert Stewart has not been found in later records, with one exception. He is believed to be the father of Helen Stewart who died in 1935 and identified in her obituary as the fourth daughter of “Robert Stewart in Deanston.”

         No birth records have been found for Robert’s daughters in Kilmadock. No census records have been found with Robert and his daughters living in the same location at the same time.

         1. Helen Stewart,   b. 1863, Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 13 Jan 1935, Woldingham, Surrey, England  
      4. Helen Stewart,   b. 10 Jun 1818, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Helen Stewart married Alexander Miller and had a family. Update pending.
      5. James Stewart,   b. 15 Nov 1820, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      6. Janet Stewart,   b. 10 Jul 1824, Torrie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      7. Anne Stewart,   b. 8 Dec 1825, Torrie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      8. William Stewart,   b. 12 Jul 1828, Mid Torrie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
      9. John Stewart,   b. 1831, Mid Torrie, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   5. Isabel Stewart,   b. 1783, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
   6. Patrick Stewart,   b. Abt 1785, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
   7. John Stewart, in Nether Ruskie,   b. 8 Oct 1788, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Stewarts of the South describes John in two contradictory entries:

      John is described in Stewarts of the South as: “One son, John, [is] a tenant in the Estate of Ramsay of Auchtertyre, now [the property of Henry] Dundas. [He is] a writer in Edinburgh. Rent £150. [He is] newly married.”

      Stewarts of the South Appendix – Port of Menteith Parish
      11. Mr John Stewart, his son, [in] Nether Rusky, [which is] something of the carse clay kind, same property (Sir John MacGregor-Murray’s), £100

   8. Robert Stewart, in the West Indies,   b. 8 Oct 1788, Ruskie, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN.

      Robert Stewart is not identified by name in Stewarts of the South, but, by process of elimination, he would be the following son of Robert Stewart in Ruskie: “one of them is in the West Indies in opulent circumstances and sending home supplies to his father and [to] the rest of the family.”

      (Robert Stewart may be the same person as Robert Stewart in Deanston, shown elsewhere in this database, but not likely.)

   9. David Stewart, in Auchensalt & Yonkers,   b. 17 Jul 1792, Siock, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 8 Dec 1867, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA 

      David Stewart was born 17 July 1792 in Siock, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland, to Robert Stewart and Margaret Taylor in Ruskie. No place named Siock has been found on any map. It may be a transcription error for Ruskie. (On his death registration, his birith is given as 13 May 1791.)

      David is not identified by name in Stewarts of the South (c, 1815). He was still single at the time and is believed to have been too young to have been described by the author.

      David Stewart was fined £1-1s in 1812 for an unspecified reason by the Port of Menteith Kirk Session. (Such fines were often for fornication, however no corresponding illegitimate birth has been found.)

      David Stewart was fined 5s in 1813 for an unspecified reason by the Port of Menteith Kirk Session.

      On 29 Nov 1818, David Stewart married in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Marion Kay. They had nine children together before immigrating to Yonkers, New York, USA.

      David Stewart and Marion Kay resided at Auchensalt is just west of Thornhill, near Ruskie in Port of Menteith parish, Perthshire, Scotland.

      In 1822, a David Stewart and Janet McMillan had a child named Marion. This is their only child. There is no other contemporary David Stewart found in any Port of Menteith records at this time. Marion is later found in census records with her mother who consistently uses her maiden name, which suggests that Marion may have been illegitimate.

      Sometime between 1835-1840, David Stewart and his family immigrated to New York, USA.

      In 1840, David Stewart was residing in Yonkers, New York, USA. The census does not identify his family members by name.

      In 1850, at age 55, David Stewart was residing in Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA, with his wife and children: John, George, and Janet. David was employed as a farmer.

      David Stewart has not been found in the 1860 census.

      David Stewart died on 8 Dec 1867 in Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA. In his will, David Stewart names his wife and son John as executors. He divides his estate into eight portions — one for each of his children. (This would exclude his deceased daughter Margaret and the suspected illegitimate daughter Marion/Marjory back in Scotland.) He also names sons Robert, James and William as executors and trustees.

      David Stewart married on 29 Nov 1818 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to Marion Kay,   b. 9 Nov 1791, Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 24 Jul 1877, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA  .

      1. Jane Stewart,   b. 29 Nov 1819, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 16 Mar 1857, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA  
      2. Margaret Stewart,   b. 29 Nov 1819, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 20 Dec 1819, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland  
      3. Robert T. Stewart,   b. 10 Oct 1821, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 30 Jun 1897, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA 
      4. William Stewart,   b. 12 Oct 1823, Thornhill, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      5. James Stewart,   b. 13 Nov 1825, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 17 Sep 1911, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA  
      6. David Stewart, Jr.,   b. 20 Jun 1828, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Jan 1866, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, USA   
      7. John Stewart,   b. 10 Apr 1830, Auchensalt, Port of Monteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, USA  
      8. George Stewart,   b. 9 Oct 1831, Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, USA  
      9. Janet Jessie Stewart,   b. 24 Apr 1835, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1907, Lloyd, Ulster, New York, USA