The Stewarts in Auchrig

The Stewarts in Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland

Branch III of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich

The Stewarts in Auchrig resided through the 17th to 19th centuries in Auchrig in Port of Menteith parish in historic Perthshire, Scotland (present-day Stirling Council Area.) They descend from Alasdair Oig Stewart in Auchrig who lived in the mid-17th century. He was the son of Duncan Oag Stewart in Auchrig and Inchallbeg who was a younger brother to the Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. Nothing is known of the life of Alasdair Oig Stewart himself or his early descendants. The stories of his later descendants are presented below.

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, a large number of the descendants of this family migrated to industrial city of Glasgow.

Ancestors and Descendants of the Stewarts in Auchrig

The Stewarts in Auchraig descend from the Stewarts of Ardvorlich who are the senior branch of the Stewarts of Balquhidder.

The Stewarts in Auchrig have 6 descendant lines:

1. 1. The Stewarts in Monbreachy
   2. The Stewarts in Letter of Strathgartney
   3. The Stewarts in Rowchoish
   4. The Stewarts in Coilantogle
   5. The Stewarts in Drunkie
   6. The Grudairgorrach Stewarts in Bute

These families are all presented in detail below.

Duncan Oag Stewart of Auchraig and Inchcallbeg

Duncan Oag Stewart, of Auchraig and Inchcallbeg,   b. Abt 1597, Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Apr 1632. Duncan was the youngest son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. 

Duncan Stewart is described in Stewarts of the South as being the patriarch of Branches 3 & 4 of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. Duncan is described as:

“Duncan Brother to Major Stewart of Ardvorlich, Tacksman of Auchraig [in] Port Parish Monteith, then the property of Ardvorlich. His son Alexander whose offspring are called Sliochd Alastir Oaig.”

And also as:

“Duncan Oag of Ardvurlich, commonly called ‘Letter Stewart,’ Tacksman of Letter & Auchraig then belonging to Ardvurlich, Port Parish.”

“Oag” means “young”, as in “Young Duncan”.

Not in Glen Finglas

Duncan is recorded in The Stewarts of Ardvorlich Vols. 1 & 3 incorrectly as having been the first of this family to settle in Glen Finglas. In 1592, Duncan’s father, Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich, conducted a cattle raid into Dryman in Stirlingshire. Court records list one of his accomplices as Duncan M’Alister Stewart in McGlenfinglas. The late John Stewart of Ardvorlich, author of The Stewarts of Ardvorlich, incorrectly identified this Duncan Mcallaster Steuart as being the son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich, however this Duncan wasn’t yet born in 1592, so he could not have been his father’s accomplice. There is no record that this Duncan ever lived in Glen Finglas.

Uncomfortable Neighbours – the Grahams

Duncan held the lands of Auchraig and Inchalbeg near Lake Rusky in Menteith as tenant to his father. These lands are deep in the heart of Clan Graham country which must have made for a very uncomfortable holding after Duncan’s oldest brother, James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich, murdered James Graham, Lord Kilpont, and prompted the Grahams to swear a blood feud against the Stewarts of Ardvorlich.

Duncan’s testament is registered in the Dunblane Commissariat Records on 16 Nov 1632; “Stewart, Duncan, son to Alaster Stewart, in Ardvorlich.”

Family

Duncan’s wife is unknown. Duncan is believed to have been father of:

1. 1. Alasdair Oig Stewart, in Auchrig (Ardv. III),   b. Abt 1625, Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
      1. Alasdair’s descendants are presented below.
   2. _____ Stewart, in Letter (Ardv. IV),   b. Abt 1630, Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, believed to be son of Duncan Stewart.  He is suggested as the patriarch of Ardvorlich IV Branch – Letter Stewarts.

Alasdair Oig Stewart in Auchrig

Alasdair Oig Stewart, in Auchrig (Ardv. III),   b. Abt 1625, Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Alasdair was the son of Duncan Oag Stewart, shown above.

According to Stewarts of the South, Alexander (Alasdair) Stewart was the patriarch of Branch III of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. “Oig” is Gaelic for “young”, as in “Young Alexander.” Alexander was a witness to a bond by John Reidheugh of Wester Kerse to Janet Comrie, relict of William Stewart of Balemeanoch, and Alexander and Robert Stewart, their sons, for 1400 merks on 8 JUN 1650. (MacGregor, Gordon, Red Book of Scotland)

The number and names of Alasdair Stewart’s children are unknown, but a theoretical partial family can reconstructed from descendant information below. From that information, it is suggested that Alasdair Oig Stewart in Auchrig was the father of:

1. 1. _____ 1 Stewart, in Auchrig (Ardv III.1 2 6),   b. Abt 1665, Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN. This son’s first name is not known. He is suggested as the father of:
      1. Donald Dubh Stewart, in Grodich (Ardv. III.1 2),   b. Abt 1700, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Aft 1747. Donald Stewart is described in Stewarts of the South as “Donald Dubh, late tacksman of Grodich, Glenfinglas.”
         1. James Stewart, in Monbreachy,   b. Abt 1740, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN, Monbreachy, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland  . James’ information and descendants are presented under 1 Line (below).
         2. Duncan Stewart, in Lettir of Strathgartney,   b. Abt 1745, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, Lettir of Strathgartney, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland . Duncan Stewart’s information and descendants are presented under 2 Line (below).
      2. Lieut. Alexander Grudairgorrach Stewart,   b. Abt 1705, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN. Alexander Grudairgorrach Stewart’s information and descendants are presented under 6 Line (below).
   2. _____ 2 Stewart, (Ardv. III.3 4 5),   b. Abt 1670, Auchrig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN. This son may be identical with his brother, above. This son is shown as a placeholder ancestor of Lines 3, 4 & 5 of the Stewarts of Auchrig, below. Stewarts of the South does not indicate how these branches descend from Alasdair Oig Stewart in Auchrig. They could descend from Alasdair’s first son, as do lines 1, 2 & 6, but they may descend separately. This person is suggested as the theoretical father of:
      1. _____ Line 3 Stewart,   b. Abt 1700, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. This person is suggested as the father of:
         1. John Stewart, in Ruchoais,   b. Abt 1735, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. John Stewart’s information and descendants are presented under 3 Line (below).
      2. _____ Line 4 Stewart,   b. Abt 1701, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. This person is suggested as the father of:
         1. James Stewart, in Coilantogle,   b. Abt 1735, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. James Stewart’s information and descendants are presented under 4 Line (below).
      3. _____ Line 5 Stewart,   b. Abt 1702, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. This person is suggested as the father of:
         1. Duncan Stewart, in Drunkie,   b. Abt 1735, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. Duncan Stewart’s information and descendants are presented under 5 Line (below).

1 Line – James Stewart in Monbreachy

Monbreachy (sometimes shown on maps as “Monievrechie”) is located just west of the Lake of Meneith in Port of Menteith parish, in historic Perthshire, Scotland. (See maps below.) It is believed to derive from the Gaelic Monadh Bhreacaidh which means “speckled mount.”

NOTE: This family should not be confused with the similar family of James Mor Stewart, tenant in Grodich, who moved to Monbreachy and who belonged to the Stewarts in Blairgarry (Gartnafuaran Branch II).

This line is described in Stewarts of the South as:

James Stewart, the lineal branch son to Donald Dubh, late tacksman of Grodich, Glenfinglas, was a tacksman of Monbreachy, port parish, [which is the] Duke of Montrose’s estate, Ld (Lordship) of Monteith – rent £250.  He has four sons:

1. Donald, who is a wright in Callander and has three sons who are all minors.
2. Alexander, who is a tacksman of Auchyle, Port parish.  He has four sons who are all minors.  Rent £60
3. Archibald, who is a cow feeder in Glasgow.  He has three sons who are all minors.
4. Charles, a natural son, is a sawyer in Callendar. He has four sons who are all minors.  He is the most active of this family.

The above James was a very sensible man and imparted but little of it to his family except to the natural son.

James Stewart, in Monbreachy,   b. Abt 1740, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, Monbreachy, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland . James Stewart was the eldest known son of Donald Dubh Stewart in Grodich (shown above).

James is described in Stewarts of the South as: “James Stewart, the lineal branch son to Donald Dubh, late tacksman of Grodich, Glenfinglas, was a tacksman of Monbreachy, port parish, [which is the] Duke of Montrose’s estate, Ld (Lordship) of Monteith – rent £250.” In the Appendix to Stewarts of the South, he is listed as: “Mr James Stewart, Tacksman of Monvrechy, of the Ardvorlich family, a decent, respectable and honourable character, but has kept all his activity to himself, except one natural son. £250. Duke of Montrose’s property.”

Family

James Stewart had relations with Catherine MacIntyre, b. UNKNOWN, Perthshire, Scotland , d. UNKNOWN and had the following natural child:

James Stewart later married an unknown woman and had the following known children and possibly others:

2 line – Duncan Stewart in Letter of Strathgartney

NOTE: This family should not be confused with the nearly identical Duncan Stewart in Ardcheanochdan from the Stewarts in Dallanlaggan (Glenbuckie Branch IX, Sliochd Gleanmagaolric.)

This family is described in Stewarts of the South as:

Duncan Stewart, was tacksman of Letter, Lochcathrineside, in Callendar parish, which is the estate of Perth.  He was brother to the above James (Line 1a above). His sons are:

1. John Stewart, is a subtenant of Toighbaid, Barony of Lendrick, Callander parish, which was once part of the Perth estate, but now belongs to Sir Patrick Murray of Auchtertyre. John is a bachelor.
2. Donald, his brother, is a cottager in Milton of Aberfoil. He has one son who is a minor.
3. David, who is a shepherd to his uncle James Stewart, has one son who is a minor.
4. Charles Stewart, a natural son, is a lotter at Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire.  He has one son, who is a minor.

This Duncan Stewart may be the Duncan Stewart in Larg, Auchnahard and Ardcheanochdan who married Agnes Stewart.

This Duncan has not been identified in parish records. We account for his family as:

Duncan Stewart, in Lettir of Strathgartney,   b. Abt 1745, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, Lettir of Strathgartney, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland . According to Stewarts of the South, “Duncan Stewart, was tacksman of Letter, Lochcathrineside, in Callendar parish, which is the estate of Perth. He was brother to the above James (Line 1a above).” Gordon MacGregor (Red Book of Scotland) lists only John, Donald, and David as children of this family, however it appears MacGregor may have confused them with the nearly identical contemporary family of Duncan Stewart in Ardcheanochdan. The two families are nearly identical.

Family

Duncan Stewart married Janet Stewart, b. Abt 1760, d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:

Duncan Stewart had the following child with an unknown mistress:

3 line – John Stewart in Rowchoish (Rochoaish, Ruchoais)

5 line – Duncan Stewart in Drunkie

Drunkie is the old name for the settlement now known as Invertrossachs. It was located on the south shore of Loch Venacher in the parish of Port of Menteith.

Stewarts of the South makes an error in the numbering of the lines of this family and repeats repeats 4 Line. We have corrected this family to be 5 Line.

This family is described in Stewarts of the South as:

Alexander Stewart son to Duncan Stewart late tenant of ?Drunky, Port parish, Lordship of Menteith, now the property of Mr. Hunter in Edinburgh. He (Alexander) is a grocer in Glasgow. He has:

1. three sons in good circumstances; one of them is a student of Divinity.

Duncan STEWART in Drunkie (Invertrossachs) b: ABT 1735 in Perthshire, Scotland. Duncan is mentioned in the following reference in Stewarts of the South which pertains to his son, Alexander: “Alexander Stewart son to Duncan Stewart late tenant of ?Drunky, Port parish, Lordship of Menteith, now the property of Mr. Hunter in Edinburgh.”

1. 1. Alexander STEWART b: ABT 1765 in Drunkie, Strathgartney, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland.  Alexander is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Alexander Stewart son to Duncan Stewart late tenant of Drunky, Port parish, Lordship of Menteith, now the property of Mr. Hunter in Edinburgh. He (Alexander) is a grocer in Glasgow. He has three sons in good circumstances; one of them is a student of Divinity.”
      1. Son STEWART b: ABT 1795 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  This unknown son is described in Stewarts of the South as a “student of Divinity.”
      2. Son STEWART b: ABT 1800 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
      3. Son STEWART b: ABT 1805 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

6 line – Lieutentant Alexander Grudairgorrach Stewart

“The Batty Brewer”

Stewarts of the South mistakenly numbers this family as 5 Line instead of 6 Line. This family is described in Stewarts of the South as:

James Stewart had an uncle Alexander Stewart, commonly called Grudairgorrach. He (Alexander) was a Lieutenant in Colonel Stewart Invernenty’s Regiment in the year 1745. He (James or Alexander?) left one son

1. 1. James who has two sons, who are slate quarriers on the Isle of Bute.  His two sons are:
      1. David, who has four sons who are minors.
      2. James, who has four sons who are minors.

This finishes Sliochd Alastair Oaig.

Lieut. Alexander Grudairgorrach STEWART b: ABT 1700 in Perthshire, Scotland. Alexander is described in Stewarts of the South as follows: “James Stewart had an uncle Alexander Stewart, commonly called Grudairgorrach. He (Alexander) was a Lieutenant in Colonel Stewart Invernenty’s Regiment in the year 1745.”

Grudairgorrach means “The Batty Brewer.” Grudaire means “brewer” and gorrach means “demented.” To maintain the poetic alliteration of the original, we render that as “The Batty Brewer.”

Stewarts of the South gives no indication of where this line lived before the two grandsons moved to Bute. As such, we have been unable to identify them in records.

He was father of:

1. 1. James STEWART b: ABT 1730 in Perthshire, Scotland.  James is described in Stewarts of the South as: “James who has two sons, who are slate quarriers on the Isle of Bute.”
      1. David STEWART b: ABT 1765 in Perthshire, Scotland.  David is described in Stewarts of the South as a slate quarrier in Bute with four minor sons.
      2. James STEWART b: ABT 1770 in Perthshire, Scotland.  James is described in Stewarts of the South as being a slate quarrier in Bute with four minor sons.