VII Branch – The Stewarts “of the Gaelic Bible”

The Stewarts “of the Gaelic Bible” were a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  Please refer to the Glenbuckie page for a full introduction.  This family also had one cadet line who resided in Duart in Glen Finglas.  Please refer to the Stewarts in Glen Finglas page for a full introduction to the Glen Finglas Stewarts.

The First Gaelic Bible

The New Testament was first translated into Scot’s Gaelic by Rev. James Stewart of Killin in 1767.  The Old Testament was later translated by his son, Rev. Dr. John Stewart of Luss, both of whom are of this branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  The following article from Electric Scotland describes the process in more detail:

It was in every way desirable that a correct translation of the Gaelic Bible should be provided for the use of the Highlands, and this was finally undertaken by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The person employed to perform the work was the Rev. James Stewart of Killin, a man fully qualified for it, and although his translation retained too much of the Irish dialect of O’Donnell’s Irish New Testament, it was welcomed as a highly creditable work, and as a great boon to the Highlands. Many minor changes have been made in the Gaelic New Testament of 1767, but it has been the basis of all subsequent editions which have sought merely to render certain portions of the work more idiomatic and pleasing to a Scottish ear. The publishing of this version of the New Testament proved a great benefit to the Highlands.

Soon after the publication of the New Testament, it was resolved that the Old Testament should be translated into Gaelic also. This work, like the former, was undertaken by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, assisted by a collection made throughout the congregations of the Church of Scotland amounting to �1483. The principal translator employed was the Rev. Dr. John Stewart of Luss, son of the translator of the New Testament, who translated three portions of the work, while a fourth portion, including the Prophets, was executed by the Rev. Dr. Smith of Campbellton, the accomplished editor of the Sean Dana. The whole work was completed and published in the year 1801. This work has been of incalculable service to the Highlands, and is one of the many benefits conferred upon that portion of the country by the excellent Society who undertook it. Objections have been taken to the many Irish idioms introduced into the language, and the extent to which the Irish orthography was followed, but these are minor faults, and the work itself is entitled to all commendation. — http://www.electricscotland.com/history/literat/gaelicb.htm

1 Line – In Duart in Glen Finglas

Line 1 of this branch is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:

Duncan Stewart, late tenant in Duart in Glenfinglas & Coirchrom, by [the] Earl of Murray’s estate, had a numerous family, none of which survived him except two sons of three marriages.

Duncan has not been identified in any public documents.

2 Line – In Killin

Line 2 of this branch is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:

1. The late pious and worthy Reverend Mr James Stewart, Minister of Killin.  (A later entry is moved forward to here for continuity.) The Reverend Mr James Stewart had three sons [who lived to adulthood]: John Peter & James
   1. Dr John Stewart, Minister of Luss [on] Lochlomondside.  He cannot be called a bad man, but has a good deal of unsociable pride, which no minister should have, as their doctrine is humility and charity, which many of them preach and fewer practice. Dr Stewart hath one son:
      1. Joseph
   2. The Reverend Patrick Stewart, Minister of Killin, who I believe the best before this pedantic coxcomb
   3. James, a half pay Officer at Croftandeoran near Killin
   4. Donald a manufacturer in Glasgow who died a young man
   5. a Thomas who died young also
   6. Mrs MacLaggan a real Phoenix. (This is a reference to James’ daughter Catherine who married Rev. James MacLagan, Minister of Blair Atholl.  This represents one of the very few references to a daughter in the entirety of Stewarts of the South.)
2. Donald, his brother, [a] tacksman of Shibhrigh [in the] Breas of Doune [on the] Earl of Murray’s [estate].
3. David Stewart, tacksman [in the] Braes [of] Doune [on] Murray’s estate was brother to the Revd Jas Stewart.  [David had] three sons:
   1. Donald, a wright, [who] went to the island of Colossa where he married and became Bowman or Arroch to ?Ardsheal.  His wife nursed some children to ?Ardsheal and became a favourite of that family.  [They] had three sons:
      1. James, a quartermaster and Lieutenant in the 91st Regiment — a decent well looking man
      2. Alexander, a manufacturer in Paisley
      3. John in the family line in Collosa with his father
   2. Duncan, the wright, a famous character [who] married against his inclinations [and] began drinking and died. [He] left no sons, but some daughters
   3. John, [who had] something of Dr Stewart’s character. [John was] a workman to Lord Doune [and] was seized with a palsy [and now] lives near Doune Lodge.  [He has] two pecks of meal per week from the Earl of Murray.

The author of Stewarts of the South then concludes his description of this branch with the following comment: “This finishes that worthy family of whom few clans can boast of such characters.”

We account for this branch as follows:

Unknown STEWART, b ABT 1670 in Perthshire, Scotland.  The accounting of Branch VII of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie begins with three brothers: James, Donald and David whose father is not identified.

1.  Rev. James STEWART Minister of Killin b: 1701 in Perthshire, Scotland.  James is described in Stewarts of the South as: “The late pious and worthy Reverend Mr James Stewart, Minister of Killin. The Reverend Mr James Stewart had three sons [who lived to adulthood]: John Peter & James.”

   James is described in the Fasti Ecclesia, Volume 4, as: “James Stuart, born 1701, licensed by the Presbytery of Dunblane 3rd July 1733; assistant at Weem; presented by John, Earl of Breadalbane, in 1736; ordained 23rd March 1737; died 30th June 1789. He translated the New testament into Gaelic, and began a translation of the Old Testament which was finished by his son, minister of Luss. there is a public monument to him in Killin. He married 23rd June 1742, Elizabeth Drummond, who died 22nd Feb. 1796 and had issue — John, DD, minister of Luss, born 31st July 1743; Thomas, born 5th April 1745; Patrick, minister of this parish [Killin]; Elizabeth, born 28th April 1748; James, born 28th April 1751; Donald, born 13th Jan. 1754; Catherine, born 29th April 1756, (married James McLagan, minister of Blair Atholl). Publication – Tiomadh Nuadh ar Tighearna* (Duneudain**, 1767, and in 1796 the editio princeps of the New Testament in Gaelic).” * New Testament; ** Edinburgh.

   James’ accomplishments in translating the New Testament into Gaelic are described in the following article:

   It was in every way desirable that a correct translation of the Gaelic Bible should be provided for the use of the Highlands, and this was finally undertaken by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The person employed to perform the work was the Rev. James Stewart of Killin, a man fully qualified for it, and although his translation retained too much of the Irish dialect of O’Donnell’s Irish New Testament, it was welcomed as a highly creditable work, and as a great boon to the Highlands. Many minor changes have been made in the Gaelic New Testament of 1767, but it has been the basis of all subsequent editions which have sought merely to render certain portions of the work more idiomatic and pleasing to a Scottish ear. The publishing of this version of the New Testament proved a great benefit to the Highlands.

   Soon after the publication of the New Testament, it was resolved that the Old Testament should be translated into Gaelic also. This work, like the former, was undertaken by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, assisted by a collection made throughout the congregations of the Church of Scotland amounting to �1483. The principal translator employed was the Rev. Dr. John Stewart of Luss, son of the translator of the New Testament, who translated three portions of the work, while a fourth portion, including the Prophets, was executed by the Rev. Dr. Smith of Campbellton, the accomplished editor of the Sean Dana. The whole work was completed and published in the year 1801. This work has been of incalculable service to the Highlands, and is one of the many benefits conferred upon that portion of the country by the excellent Society who undertook it. Objections have been taken to the many Irish idioms introduced into the language, and the extent to which the Irish orthography was followed, but these are minor faults, and the work itself is entitled to all commendation. — http://www.electricscotland.com/history/literat/gaelicb.htm

   James married on 23 JUN 1742 in Perthshire, Scotland to Elizabeth DRUMMOND b: ABT 1720 in Scotland.  Her birth family is unknown.  They had the following children:

   1.  Rev. Dr. John STUART D.D. Minister of Luss b: 31 JUL 1743 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  John is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Dr John Stewart, Minister of Luss [on] Lochlomondside.  He cannot be called a bad man, but has a good deal of unsociable pride, which no minister should have, as their doctrine is humility and charity, which many of them preach and fewer practice. Dr Stewart hath one son Joseph.”

      John is described in the Fasti Ecclesia Volume 3, for the parish of Luss in Dunbarton:  “JOHN STUART, born 31st July 1743, son of James S., min. of Killin ; licen. by Presb. of Edinburgh 27th Feb. 1771; ord. to Arrochar 12th May 1774 ; trans, to Weem 2nd May 1776 ; pres. by Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, Bart., Nov. 1776 ; trans, and adm. 27th Aug. 1777; D.D. (Glasgow 1795); died 24th May 1821. For translating the Old Testament into Gaelic, he received a grant from the Treasury of �1000, and the thanks of the General Assembly. He marr. 24th July 1792 (sic), Susan (whom he had baptized in infancy, died 7th June 1846), daugh. of Joseph McIntyre, D.D., min. of Glenorchy, and had issue — Elizabeth, born 9th Dec. 1793 (marr. James McLagan, min. of Kinfauns); Joseph, min. of Kingarth, born 24th March 1798 ; Christian, born 22nd July 1800; Jacobina, born 7th Nov. 1803. Publications The Blessedness of Giving greater than that of Receiving, a sermon (Edinburgh, 1809) ; Account of the Parish (Sinclair s Stat. Ace., xvii.). \Typo-graphia Scoto-Gadelica, 15.]”

      John’s accomplishment in translating the Bible into Gaelic is also noted in the article quoted above under his father James’ notes.

      John married on 21 JUL 1792 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland to a woman 23 years his junior whom he baptised as an infant, Susan MCINTYRE b: ABT 12 JUN 1769 in Glenorchy and Inishail, Argyll, Scotland, daughter of Rev. Joseph McIntyre, Minister in Glenorchy and Inishail and Christian McVean.  John and Susan had the following children:

      1.  Elizabeth STUART b: 09 DEC 1793 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland.  Elizabeth married on 23 AUG 1819 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland to her first-cousin Rev. Dr. James MACLAGAN D.D. b: 16 MAY 1788 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland, son of Rev. James MacLagan, Minister of Blair Atholl, and Elizabeth’s aunt, Catherine Stewart.  From the Fasti Ecclesiastia: (Kinfauns) James MacLagan, born 16th May 1788, son of James M., minister of Blair Atholl; licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow 9th June 1813; ordained (assistant and successor) to Auchtergaven 25th Nov 1813; presented by William, Earl of Mansfield, 1st March, translated and admitted 10th May 1821. Joined the Free Church in 1843; minister of Kinfauns Free Church, 1843-6; appointed Professor of Divinity in Free Church College, Aberdeen, 1846; D.D. (St. Andrews, 13th Dec 1851); died 29th Dec 1852. He married (1) 25th Aug 1819, Elisabeth (died 3rd May 1824) daughter of John Stuart, D.D., minister of Luss, and had issue — Catherine Mary, born 19th Aug 1820, died Oct 1835; Susan, born 2nd June 1822, died 24th June 1834; (2) 3rd March 1834 Katherine (died 25th April 1891) daughter of Alexander Stormonth of Kinclune and had issue… [who are not Stewart descendants are not accounted for here].  Elizabeth and James had two daughters both of whom died young.
         1.  Catherine Mary MACLAGAN b: 19 AUG 1820 in Auchtergaven, Perthshire, Scotland.  She died at age 15, just a few months after her younger sister.
         2.  Susan MACLAGAN b: 02 JUN 1822 presumably in Auchtergaven, Perthshire, Scotland, although no record of her birth has been found.  Susan died at age 12, just a few months prior to her older sister.
      2.  Rev. Joseph STUART b: 25 MAR 1798 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland.  Joseph Stuart, born 24th March 1798, only son of John S., DD, minister of Luss; educated at University of Glasgow; licensed by the Presbytery of Dunbarton 3rd Dec 1822; presented by John, Marquess of Bute, in January and ordained (at Scoulaig) 11th May 1825; died unmarried 1st Sept. 1826. (Fasti Ecclesia)
      3.  Christian STUART b: 21 JUL 1800 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland
      4.  Jacobina STUART b: 07 NOV 1803 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland
   2.  Thomas STEWART b: 05 APR 1745 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  Thomas is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Thomas who died young also.”
   3.  Mary STEWART b: 10 APR 1747 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland
   4.  Rev. Patrick STEWART b: 02 APR 1749 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  Patrick is described in Stewarts of the South as: “The Reverend Patrick Stewart, Minister of Killin, who I believe the best before this pedantic coxcomb.”  The “pedantic coxcomb” is believed to refer to the author of Stewarts of the South himself.  Patrick is described in the Fasti Ecclesia as: “Patrick Stuart, born 2nd April 1747, son of preceding; licensed by the Presbytery 6th October 1778; presented by John, Earl of Breadalbane in June and ordained (assistant and successor) 27th October 1779; died 18th May 1795. Publication — Account of the Parish [of Killin].”
   5.  James STEWART (twin) b: 28 APR 1751 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  James was a twin with his sister Elizabeth.  James is described in Stewarts of the South as: “James, a half pay Officer at Croftandeoran near Killin.”  James has not been identified in any later records.  It is not known if he married or had children, but Stewarts of the South makes no mention of such, so it is presumed that he did not.
   6.  Elizabeth STEWART (twin) b: 28 APR 1751 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  Elisabeth was a twin with her brother James.
   7.  Donald STEWART b: 13 JAN 1754 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  Donald is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Donald a manufacturer in Glasgow who died a young man.”  The reference implies that he died unmarried and without children.
   8.  Catherine STEWART b: 29 APR 1756 in Killin, Perthshire, Scotland.  Catherine is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Mrs MacLaggan a real Phoenix.” This represents one of the very few references to a woman in the entirety of Stewarts of the South.  She must have been quite a character for the author to have deemed her to be worth mentioning in what is otherwise a strictly patriarchal accounting!  Catherine married on 5 JUN 1784 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland to James MACLAGAN Minister of Blair Atholl b: ABT 1750 in Perthshire, Scotland
      1.  Ann MACLAGAN b: 24 MAY 1785 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
      2.  James MACLAGAN b: 12 AUG 1786 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
      3.  Rev. Dr. James MACLAGAN D.D. b: 16 MAY 1788 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland.  James married his first cousin, Elizabeth STUART b: 09 DEC 1793 in Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland, daughter of his uncle Rev. Dr. John Stuart, D.D., Minister of Luss (above) and Susan McIntyre.
         1. Their children are presented above.
      4.  Betty MACLAGAN b: 01 OCT 1790 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
      5.  Dugal MACLAGAN b: 09 MAR 1793 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
      6.  Patrick MACLAGAN b: 06 FEB 1795 in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
2.  Donald STEWART of Shibhrigh (Severie) b: ABT 1705 in Perthshire, Scotland.  Donald is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Donald, [James’] brother, [a] tacksman of Shibhrigh [in the] Braes of Doune [on the] Earl of Murray’s [estate].” Donald had not been identified in any public records.  “Shibhrigh” is shown on modern maps as “Severie” and is located high up in the Braes of Doune above Annat.
3.  David STEWART b: ABT 1710 in Perthshire, Scotland.  David is described in Stewarts of the South as: “David Stewart, tacksman [in the] Braes [of] Doune [on] Murray’s estate was brother to the Revd Jas Stewart. [David had] three sons.”
   1.  Donald STEWART b: ABT 1740 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Donald is described in Stewarts of the South as: “1 Donald, a wright, [who] went to the island of Colossa (Colonsay?, Argyll and Bute off Islay and Jura) ) where he married and became Bowman or Arroch to ?Ardsheal. His wife nursed some children to ?Ardsheal and became a favourite of that family. [They] had three sons.”
      1.  James STEWART b: ABT 1770 in Scotland.  James is described in Stewarts of the South as: “James, a quartermaster and Lieutenant in the 91st Regiment — a decent well looking man.”
      2.  Alexander STEWART b: ABT 1775 in Scotland.  Alexander is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Alexander, a manufacturer in Paisley.”
      3.  John STEWART b: ABT 1780 in Scotland.  John is described in Stewarts of the South as: “John in the family line in Collosa with his father.”
   2.  Duncan STEWART b: ABT 1745 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Duncan is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Duncan, the wright, a famous character [who] married against his inclinations [and] began drinking and died. [He] left no sons, but some daughters.”
   3.  John STEWART b: ABT 1750 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  John is described in Stewarts of the South as: “John, [who had] something of Dr Stewart’s character. [John was] a workman to Lord Doune [and] was seized with a palsy [and now] lives near Doune Lodge. [He has] two pecks of meal per week from the Earl of Murray.”

Research Leads

Robert STEWART and Janet MCCRUAR in Severie

1. Patrick STUART, bap 29 MAY 1743 in Severie, Kilmadock, wit John Dewar and John McLilon? in Severie

Patrick STEWART and Jean MCRUAR in Calliebohalzie

1. Andrew STEWART, bap 16 JUL 1749 in Calliebohalzie,Witt. Donald McRuar and Archibald McRuar both at Callibahalzie

The only contemporary David Stewart in Kilmadock or Kincardine so far identified is the following who is a possible match for David above but seems too late:

David STEWART/STUART and Janet CAMPBELL who married on 12 JUL 1766 in Kilmadock and Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland and who had the following children:

1. UN-NAMED (Donald?) STUART – Christening: 10 NOV 1766 Lochfield, Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland
2. JOHN STEWART – Christening: 20 OCT 1768 Borland, Kincardine By Doune, Perth, Scotland
3. NAOMI STEWART – Christening: 29 NOV 1770 Borland, Kincardine By Doune, Perth, Scotland
4. RACHAL STEWART – Christening: 08 NOV 1772 Blars, Kincardine-Doune, Perth, Perth, Scotland
5. RACHELL STEWART – Christening: 30 MAR 1777 Blair, Kincardine-Doune, Perth, Perth, Scotland
6. DAVID STEWART – Christening: 18 NOV 1781 Blair, Kincardine-Doune, Perth, Perth, Scotland
7. JOHN STEWART – Christening: 18 JAN 1784 (not given) Kincardine By Doune, Perth, Scotland