Duncan Stewart and his wife both died young, prior to the introduction of civil records and prior to the earliest detailed census of 1851.  Therefore public records and evidence of this family are scarce.  Research on this family has been made significantly more difficult by the fact that this family closely resembles two other contemporary Puslinch families headed by different Duncan Stewarts.  Several private and public genealogies have, at times, hopelessly confounded these three families together.  Even the venerable Donald Whyte in his Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada, (vol. 2, pg. 353) presents the family of one of the other Duncan Stewarts, but includes three of the children from this family.  Then, to make matters worse, one of the sons (Hugh) of this family actually lied about his origins, so the family traditions in his branch conflicted with documentary evidence.  It has taken the Fellow Researchers on this page over three years to disentangle the various families and descendant lines.  After several false starts, I believe we have finally correctly accounted for this family.

Who was Duncan Stewart?

Duncan Stewart was a pioneer in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.  It is believed that he was born 24 NOV 1787 in the village of Callander, Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland as the only child of Robert STEWART and Catherine FERGUSON.  They lived at Summerline Flander’s Moss.  Duncan’s father, Robert Stewart, was a “Moss Laird” who worked as a shepherd for Blair Drummond.  It is believed that Duncan’s mother died in childbirth and that his father married secondly to Catharine STEWART (who may have been his second cousin).  Duncan was a descendant of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  Duncan probably worked in the millworks in the nearby town of Deanston.  Duncan married Margaret GILLESPIE, a daughter of Hugh Gillespie, the head foreman at the Deanston Millworks.  They had 3 children in Scotland and then in 1834 they immigrated to Puslinch, Ontario along with Margaret’s family, the Gillespies.  The two families settled on adjacent farms in Puslinch.  To learn more about Margaret Gillespie’s birth family please refer to the Gillespie Family Page.

The 1840 census gives us the following information about the family after immigration.  This is the only census this family appeared in.

Duncan Stuart (residing next door to Hugh Gillespie), with 2 males under 16, 1 male over 16, 4 females under 16, 1 female over 16, 8 total family members, Church of Scotland.

The spelling “Stuart” is inconsequential here; it merely reflects the way the enumerator believed the name was spelled.  The 1840 census does not give us the names of the members of the household, however their ages would correspond perfectly with:

1. Duncan Stewart (m>16)

2. Margaret Gillespie (f>16)

   1. Robert Stewart (m<16)

   2. Hugh Stewart (m<16)

   3. Mary Stewart (f<16)

   4. Jane Stewart (f<16)

   5. Margaret Stewart (f<16)

   6. Elizabeth Stewart (f<16)

We must note that William is absent here, suggesting that William may have been born later than believed.  (We have no documentary evidence of William’s existence.  He is recalled only in the family tradition of Jane Stewart’s descendants.  It is possible that William may not have existed.)

Duncan’s primary occupation in Puslinch would have been working his land.  Pioneer settlers were given large parcels of uncleared land and given a set amount of time to clear a portion of the land to build their own house and begin to farm the land.  Their initial house would likely have been little more than a one room log cabin.  Life would have been extremely difficult.  They would have had nothing but themselves, their neighbours and their faith to rely on.  The nearest urban settlement would have been Guelph, about ten miles away.

Sometime around 1848 both Duncan and his wife died prematurely.  We have the following testimony:

Puslinch Papers Lot 24, 24 FEB 1848, “Duncan McFarlane swore before John Hammersely that Duncan Stewart has been the owner and in occupation of the front half of Lot 27 since the month of May 1840, but he is now deceased.”

The preceding testimony and the 1840 census are the only pieces of documentary evidence we have regarding Duncan and Margaret’s life in Canada. 

Duncan and Margaret’s cause of death is not entirely clear.  Family tradition among their daughter Jane’s descendants says that Duncan and Margaret died of smallpox.  And that is entirely possible.  Margaret’s sister, Mary Gillespie and her husband both died of smallpox in the winter of 1848/49.  However there is also the following obituary found in the Guelph Mercury newspaper:

(Obit) STEWART, DUNCAN Burned to death, having fallen into a fireplace while drunk. Funeral on Saturday. Sept(?) 27, 1848. His wife died the same way nine months ago, Jan. 12, 1848.

It is not certain that this obituary pertains to our Duncan Stewart and his wife, but the dates are close enough that it could be.

At the time of Duncan and Margaret’s deaths, most of their children were teenagers.  It seems the older ones had to fend lives for themselves while the younger ones went to live with their grandparents, the Gillespies.  Consequently, their children scattered and the various descendant branches seem to have lost touch with each other very quickly.  This lack of communication between the various descendant branches has also complicated later research.

Duncan Stewart’s Ancestors

Tracing Duncan Stewart’s ancestry is very difficult.  Since he left no written record in Canada then our only hint to find the trail of his ancestry is his marriage record back in Scotland.  The marriage of Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillespie is recorded in two parishes: Kilmadock and Kincardine-by-Doune — adjacent parishes in southern Perthshire, Scotland.  When a marriage is double-registered like this it usually means that the bride came from one parish and the groom from the other.  We know that Margaret Gillespie came from Kilmadock parish (see Gillespie Family Page), therefore it seems reasonable to suggest that Duncan Stewart came from Kincardine parish.  We also know that their eldest son was named Robert, suggesting that Duncan’s father’s name was probably Robert.

Duncan died prior to the institution of public death records in Canada, so there is no record of his death.  So far, no grave stone has been found.  So the only reference we have to Duncan’s age is the 1840 census in Puslinch which records only that he was “over 16”.  Unfortunately the first public census was not taken in Scotland until 1841, after Duncan and Margaret immigrated.  So we cannot rely on Scottish public census records to identify Duncan’s birth family either.

Robert Stewart, Shepherd to Blair Drummond

In Summerline Flander’s Moss, Blair Drummond, Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

THIS FAMILY HAS ERROS THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED

Fortunately there was a privately commissioned census of Stewart families living in southern Perthshire around 1815.  This private census document is described in full detail on the Stewarts of the South Pages.  When we look to see if there was a Robert Stewart living in Kincardine parish at that time who might possibly be the father of Duncan Stewart, we find in the Index of Stewarts of the South that there was only one Robert Stewart living in the entire parish and he is described as:

Robert Stewart, same place (Summerline Flander’s Moss), of the Glenbuckie family, an industrious man

This index entry indicates that Robert was descended from the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  When we cross-reference this index entry with the Glenbuckie section of Stewarts of the South (Section II) we find the corresponding full reference for Robert as follows:

Duncan, [a] tacksman [in] Blarchroich [in] Braes of Balquhidder.  [He] left two sons: Robt & Duncan

1. Robert is a shepherd to Blair Drummond [in] Kincardine parish.  [He had:]
   1. one son [who is] an honest and industrious person
2. Duncan, his brother, now dead, left three sons [who are all] minors in Flanders Moss [on] Blair Drummond’s estate.  His wife nursed a child to Blair Drummond and hath been the means of supporting his family.

This entry tells us that the Robert in question was the eldest son of Duncan Stewart in Blarchroich (Blarcrioch) and that Robert himself had only one son.  Scottish naming patterns (which were generally strictly adhered to in southern Perthshire) would dictate that Robert would most likely name his only son “Duncan”.  So far this is a promising match for our Duncan Stewart.

If we can find this Robert Stewart in the Scottish census records in 1841 or 1851 and he has his son Duncan with him then we know we can eliminate him as a potential match.  Obviously that is not the case or we would not have spent this many words describing the process!  Indeed, we do find Robert Stewart in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses and there is no sign of his son Duncan with him which could indicate that his son Duncan emigrated.  Again, this corresponds with the Duncan we are looking for.

1841 census – Blair Drummond (Summerline Moss), Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

1. Robert STEWART, age 80 (b. 1761), born in Perthshire, residence: Blair Drummond, Kincardine, agricultural labourer

2. Kathrine STEWART, age 79, (b. 1762), born in Perthshire,

3. Agnes STEWART, 1811, born in Perthshire

4. Margaret STEWART, b. 1806 in Perthshire

1851 Census – Blair Drummond (Summerline Moss), Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

1. Robert STEWART, b. 1758 in Balquhidder, retired shepherd, age 93

2. Catherine STEWART, b. 1795 in Kincardine, dtr, age 56

3. Janet STEWART, b. 1797 in Kincardine, dtr, age 54.

From these census records it would seem that Duncan’s mother’s name is Catherine.  An ideal match can be found in the Callander and Kincardine OPRs.  It is suggested that Duncan’s father, Robert, married firstly to Catherine FERGUSON with whom he had one child, Duncan (the subject of this study), and then secondly to Catharine STEWART.  Unfortunately none of the entries for Robert’s suggested second marriage give any further information on location, however, neither do they contradict our theory.

It is suggested that Robert STEWART married firstly on 14 DEC 1786 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland to Catherine FERGUSON (with Robert recorded as being from Callander and Catherine from Balquhidder) and registered secondly on 29 DEC 1786 in Callander parish.  Parish records indicate that they had only one child:

1. Duncan STEWART, b. 24 NOV 1787 and bap. 30 NOV 1787 in Callander village, Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland (only birth for this couple)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We will never be able to prove that we have correctly identified Duncan’s birth family.  In Duncan’s case that would be impossible.  To increase our confidence in this match it will be necessary to survey all the remaining Stewart families in Kincardine parish to see if Duncan could have come from one of them.  However, onomastics would already eliminate all the other families, as there is only one with a father named Robert listed in Stewarts of the South.  There is another family found in the Kincardine OPR with a father named Robert, but Duncan appears not to fit with this family.

Admittedly our identification of Duncan’s birth family relies heavily on onomastic assumptions, but so far everything fits and the match is still excellent enough that I am confident it is correct.

What gives further support to this entry is that another Perthshire-to-Puslinch immigrant was Peter McNaughton.  Peter McNaughton also immigrated in 1834 from the Blair Drummond estate in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland where he worked as overseer for the Kirkline Moss portion of the estate (the next farm over from Summerline) and Peter McNaughton also settled in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.  Peter McNaughton along with Hugh Gillespie (Duncan Stewart’s father-in-law) were the two founding elders of Duff’s Presbyterian Church in Puslinch.  This would suggest the strong possibility that this group of families all emigrated together.

Duncan Stewart of Blarcrioch

Stewarts of the South indicates that Robert Stewart, Duncan’s father, was himself the son of another Duncan Stewart who resided in Blarcrioch in Balquhidder parish.  Robert’s birth entry can be easily identified in the OPR:

Duncan STEWART and Elisabeth MCNIE in Glenbuckie, Blarcrioch, Drumlich and possibly Invereoich (see also Duncan Stewart and Elisabeth McNivan/McNee in Milntown of Callar, Invereoich, and Cuill)

1. Isabel STEWART, bap. 9 MAY 1757 in Inveriach (Fiona shows mother as “McKechnie(?)”, IGI shows “NcNee”.  May not be a child of this family, may a child of Duncan Stewart and Isabel McNivan/McNee.)

2. John STEWART, a bastard child bap. 3 JAN 1758 in Glenbukky (may not be from this family)

3. Robert STEWART, bap. 6 MAY 1759 in Blarcrioch

4. John STEWART, bap. 1 AUG 1762 in Drumlich~~an

“Grandfather” Duncan in Blarcrioch would probably have been born sometime in the late 1720s or early 1730s.  No corresponding OPR entry can be found for him in Balquhidder, but the OPRs become unreliable this early.  However, Stewarts of the South presents us with a complete picture of the names and locations of all of Duncan’s ancestors back to their connection to the Stewarts of Glenbuckie.  And our research with the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Forum has determined the complete ancestry of the Glenbuckie Stewarts right back to the origin of the surname Stewart.  Duncan’s full ancestry, in outline, going back 1000 years, would be as follows:

1. Flaad of Dol, b. abt. 1048 in Dol, Brittany (a Celtic Kingdom which later became part of France).
2. Alan fitz Flaad, Sheriff of Shropshire in England, b. abt. 1078 in Dol, Brittany.
3. Walter fitz Alan, High Steward of Scotland, b. abt. 1108 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
4. Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland, b. abt. 1126 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
5. Walter “The Steward”, 3rd High Steward of Scotland, first to use the surname “Stewart”, b. abt. 1180 probably in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
6. Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, b. 1214 in Crawford, Lanark, Scotland
7. James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland, b. 1243 probably in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
8. Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, hero of Bannockburn, b. 1293 probably in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland, married Princess Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert the Bruce.
9. Robert Stewart, King of Scots, the first of the Stewart Kings, b. 1316 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
10. Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland, b. abt. 1341 in Dundonald, Ayr, Scotland
11. Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany, b. abt. 1362 in Dunreath, Strathblane, Argyll, Scotland.
12. Sir James Mhor Stewart, fugitive, b. abt. 1400 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland
13. James Beag Stewart, 1st of Baldorran, b. abt. 1430 in exile in Antrim, Ireland
14. Sir William Stewart, 2nd of Baldorran, Royal Baillie of Balquhidder, b. abt. 1455 in Baldorran, Campsie, Stirling, Scotland
15. John Stewart, 1st of Glenbuckie, b. abt. 1481 in Baldorran, Campsie, Stirling, Scotland
16. Duncan Stewart, 3rd of Glenbuckie, b. abt. 1502 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
17. Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie, b. abt. 1530 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
18. Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie, b. abt. 1552 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
19. John Dubh Beag Stewart, of Muirlaggan, b. abt. 1586 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
20. Patrick mac Iain Dubh Stewart, in Glenfinglas, b. abt. 1615 in Glenfinglas, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
21. Robert mac Phatrick mac Iain Dubh Stewart, in Lianach, b. abt. 1650 in Glenfinglas, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
22. James Stewart, in Lianach, b. abt. 1690 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
23. Duncan Stewart, of Blarcrioch, b. abt. 1728 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
24. Robert Stewart, shepherd to Blair Drummond, b. 1759 in Blarcrioch, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
25. Duncan Stewart, b. 1787 in Callander village, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  He immigrated in 1834 to Puslinch, Ontario, Canada.

For further discussion on the Glenbuckie Stewarts please refer to our Stewarts of Glenbuckie page.

For further discussion on the progress of confirming Duncan’s ancestors, see Research Leads below.

The Descendants of Duncan Stewart & Margaret Gillespie

Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillespie eight children, the first three were born in Scotland and the last five were born in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.  Duncan and Margaret’s family was a fractured family.  Their children ranged from 5 to 21 when Duncan and Margaret died.  1851 census records seem to indicate that their children were somewhat scattered — either raised by their grandparents or left to find their own life.  Their son Robert was described by a contemporary Puslinch resident as “a fool who sold his property for a yolk of oxen and moved to Guelph”.  Hugh left his wife and moved to Manitoba with his mistress and fabricated a story (possibly based in part on truth) that he was an orphan from Scotland who worked on an estate in Eastern Ontario.  Jane was already living with her future husband at age 17, a year before they actually married.

Duncan STEWART married on 9 MAR 1827 in Kilmadock Perthshire, Scotland and Kincardine, Perthshire Scotland to Margaret GILLESPIE and had the following children:

1.  Mary STEWART b: 17 DEC 1827 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  She immigrated to Canada with her parents and was raised in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 5 NOV 1847 in Duff’s Presbyterian Church, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Thomas DUNN in Puslinch. He was born 15 MAY 1825 in Coldingham, Berwick, Scotland as the son of Robert Dunn and Margaret Allan.  Thomas DUNN married secondly in 1864 to Mary Evans and had children by her.  These children, not being descended from Duncan Stewart or Margaret Gillespie are not presented here and are beyond the scope of this study.  This branch is being researched by Erie Matthews.  Thomas Dunn and Mary Stewart had the following children:
   1.  Margaret A. DUNN b: 1848 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 25 MAR 1874 in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada to Henry A. MARTIN b: 1849 in USA, son of Henry Martin and Almira Shepherd.  This family is found Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario in the 1881 Canadian census, but they cannot be located anywhere in Canada in 1901. 
      1.  Bertha MARTIN b: 1876 in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
      2.  Charles MARTIN b: 1879 in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
      3.  Mable MARTIN b: FEB 1881 in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
   2.  Mary Anne DUNN b: 8 APR 1849 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 25 MAR 1868 in Wellington County, Ontario to Elisha BOLES b: 26 SEP 1848 in Nassagaweya, Halton County, Ontario.  They had the following children:
      1.  John BOLES b: 24 OCT 1865 in Ontario
      2.  John Wesley BOLES b: 1868 in Ontario
      3.  Annie Maria BOLES b: 1871 in Ontario
      4.  William BOLES b: 22 FEB 1881 in Muskoka, Simcoe County, Ontario
   3.  Charlotte Ann DUNN b: 24 OCT 1850 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 15 OCT 1872 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario to James SAMMONS b: 29 JUL 1843 in Cobourg, Hamilton Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, son of Israel Sammons and Hannah Gordon.  James was the brother-in-law of Charlotte’s uncles Robert Stewart and Hugh Stewart (below) who also married into the Sammons/Simmons family.  Charlotte and James had the following children:
      1.  Thomas Israel SAMMONS b: 4 MAR 1873 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
      2.  Mary Elizabeth SAMMONS b: 17 OCT 1875 in Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario
      3.  Euphemia Ellen SAMMONS b: 1878 in Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario
      4.  James SAMMONS b: 3 FEB 1880 in Melancthon, Grey County, Ontario
      5.  George SAMMONS b: 14 MAR 1883 in Corbetton, Melancthon, Grey County, Ontario
      6.  Sarah Hannah SAMMONS b: 26 FEB 1885 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
      7.  Charles Levi SAMMONS b: 11 APR 1888 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
      8.  Gilbert Elijah SAMMONS b: 18 MAY 1890 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
      9.  Charlotte Ann SAMMONS b: 18 NOV 1892 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
      10.  Margaret L. SAMMONS b: APR 1898 in Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario
   4.  Robert DUNN b: DEC 1852 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married ABT 1874 to Elizabeth EVANS b: 7 MAY 1849 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, daughter of Charles Evans and Elizabeth Allan.  Robert and Elizabeth had the following children.  For more information on this branch, please contact Erie Matthews.
      1.  Annie Emaline DUNN b: 16 OCT 1878 in Weston (Etobicoke), West York County, Ontario
      2.  Thomas Edwin DUNN b: 5 OCT 1881 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
      3.  Ada Eveline DUNN b: 28 DEC 1883 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
      4.     Martha Esther DUNN b: 22 Jul 1886 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married about 1912 to Edwin Reiner.
      5.  Robert Sydney DUNN b: 21 AUG 1890 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   5.  Thomas DUNN b: 1854 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married on 10 DEC 1878 in Mount Forest, Wellington County, Ontario to Mary HARRIOT b: 26 SEP 1861 in Ontario.  They had the following children:
      1.  William DUNN b: 1879 in Ontario
      2.  Barbara DUNN b: JAN 1881 in Proton, Grey County, Ontario
      3.  Robert DUNN b: 22 JAN 1883 in Melancthon Township, Dufferin County, Ontario
      4.  Sarah Ellen DUNN b: 1885 in Ontario
      5.  Mary C. DUNN b: 25 FEB 1896 in Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   6.  Willimine DUNN b: 1859 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 10 FEB 1885 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario to John LEWIS b: 1862 in Shropshire, England.  It is believed that they had no children.
2.  Robert STEWART b: 22 MAY 1830 in Doune, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Robert immigrated to Canada as a toddler with his parents and was raised in Puslinch.  He was 18 years old when his parents died.  According to a later Puslinch historian, Robert sold his farm for a yolk of oxen and moved to Guelph — for which act he was later described as “a useless son”.  Robert married on 21 FEB 1861 in Duff’s Presbyterian Church, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Lydia SAMMONS. She was born ABT 1842 in Coburg, Hamilton Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, as the daughter of Israel Sammons and Hannah Gordon.  Lydia’s sister, Elizabeth, married Robert’s brother, Hugh Stewart.  Lydia’s brother, James, married Robert’s niece, Charlotte Dunn.  The Simmons/Sammons family were living in Nassagaweya Township, Halton County (just east of Puslinch) at the time of the marriage.  Robert worked as a farm labourer, firstly for his sister’s father-in-law, Robert Dunn (1861) and then for his brother, Hugh Stewart (1871 & 1881).  Robert Robert and Lydia had the following children:
   1.  Hannah STEWART b: ABT 1862 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario of whom nothing is known.

   2.  Hugh STEWART, b. ABT 1864 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He is found with his parents in 1871 but not in 1881.

   3.  Mary Ann STEWART b: 18 MAY 1867 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario who married on 30 MAR 1898 in St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Campbellville, Halton County, Ontario to Louis NEGRO, b: 3 MAY 1855 in United States or Italy, as the son of Leonard Negro and Cora Lalamaster.  They had the following children:
      1.  Thomas NEGRO b: 25 JUL 1895 in Campbellville, Halton County, Ontario
      2.  Lewis NEGRO b: 14 JAN 1899 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario
      3.  Robert Albert NEGRO b: MAY 1900 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario.  Robert died in infancy.
      4.  Elizabeth NEGRO b: 6 AUG 1901 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario
      5.  Leonard NEGRO b: AFT 1901 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario
   4.  Sarah STEWART b: DEC 1870 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario of whom nothing is known.
3.  Jane STEWART b: 10 MAR 1832 in Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Jane was only 16 years old when her parents died. According to a 1908 biography, she was then raised by her grandparents Hugh Gillespie and Mary Reid.  She married on 15 MAR 1852 in Halton County, Ontario to John D. MCCORMICK who was born 20 MAR 1823 in Ayrshire, Scotland as the son of Thomas McCormick and Jane Eglisome.  John McCormick was residing in Port Nelson, Halton County, Ontario at the time of their marriage which is where they had their first two children.  The 1851 census shows them already living together in Port Nelson a year prior to their wedding.  They then moved to Tilbury, Essex County, Ontario where they settled and had a further four children.  Many of their descendants remain in Essex to this day.  This family is currently being researched by Brenda Dale of Manitoba. They had the following children:
   1.  Mary Jane MCCORMICK b: 1857 in Port Nelson, Halton Co., Ontario
   2.  Thomas MCCORMICK b: 14 OCT 1859 in Port Nelson, Halton Co., Ontario
   3.  Elizabeth MCCORMICK b: 22 DEC 1861 in Tilbury W. Twp., Essex Co., Ontario
   4.  John MCCORMICK b: 14 JAN 1866 in Tilbury W. Twp., Essex Co., Ontario
   5.  Robert MCCORMICK b: 15 JUL 1869 in Tilbury W. Twp., Essex Co., Ontario
   6.  William MCCORMICK b: 15 OCT 1871 in Tilbury W. Twp., Essex Co., Ontario
4.  Margaret STEWART b: 1834 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.  The local Presbyterian church was not founded until 1835, so it is presumed that Margaret’s birth is not recorded.

5.  Hugh STEWART b: 8 JUL 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Hugh Stewart married first on 6 OCT 1858 in Morriston, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Agnes MITCHELL (a.k.a. Nancy Mitchell and Elsie Mitchell). She was born about 1837 in Ireland.  Hugh and Agnes had six children after which Hugh abandoned his family and took up with his mistress, Elizabeth Simmons. Elizabeth was born 2 JAN 1843 in Ontario.  She MAY have been related to Lydia Sammons who married Hugh’s brother Robert.  Hugh had five children by his mistress before his wife Agnes died.  After which Hugh moved his entire family to Arden, Manitoba where he established himself as an extremely successful pioneer farmer and entrepreneur. 

   1. Hugh’s descendants are presented below as the Stewarts of Arden, Manitoba.
6.  Elizabeth STEWART b: 9 DEC 1838 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She was ten years old when her parents died.  It is presumed she was also raised by her Gillespie grandparents, but it is not known for sure.  Elizabeth married about 1854 to James EVANS of Guelph.  He was born 7 DEC 1827 in Yorkshire, England by whom she had 6 children.
   1.  Margaret Jane EVANS b: 24 SEP 1855 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   2.  George EVANS b: 12 JAN 1860 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario.  George married Susannah SOPER and had the following children:
      1.  George EVANS b: 6 APR 1882 in Bruce District East, Brant County, Ontario
      2.  Edith Alberta EVANS b: 8 APR 1886 in Shaw Station, Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario.  Edith Alberta Evans, married her cousin Hugh J. Stewart, son of Hugh Stewart above.
   3.  Sarah Anne EVANS b: 18 JUN 1860 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario
   4.  John EVANS b: 1868 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   5.  Hugh EVANS b: ABT DEC 1870 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   6.  Thomas EVANS b: 16 OCT 1871 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario
7.  William STEWART b: ABT 1841 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He is not found in the 1840 census so it seems he was likely born after the census.  Family tradition claims that William died in 1848 along with his parents.  If his parents did die of smallpox, then it is presumed that William did too.  William is not recorded in any census nor is there any documentary evidence of his existence.  He comes only from family tradition.
8.  Janet “Jessie” STEWART b: 1843 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Nothing more is known of her.  She is not found in the 1842 census in Puslinch, but records conflict over her birth date and she may have not been born yet.  She married on 10 MAR 1862 in Halton County, Ontario to Francis GORDON, b. 1834 in Scotland.  They had the following children:
   1.  Margaret GORDON b: 26 JAN 1863 in Georgetown, Halton County, Ontario.  Margaret married on 28 OCT 1886 in Georgetown, Halton, Ontario to Thomas FRY b: 4 APR 1859 and had a large family.  They moved from Halton to Oshawa, Ontario.
   2.  Mary GORDON b: 18 JAN 1865 in Nassagaweya Township, Halton County, Ontario.  Mary married on 5 NOV 1890 in Galt, Waterloo, Ontario to Anthony MARSHALL b: 19 JUL 1856 and had children.  They moved to Galt, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and later to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
   3.  William John GORDON b: 17 MAR 1868 in Milton, Halton County, Ontario.  William married on 27 AUG 1890 in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada to Margaret MORTON b: ABT 1870 and had a large family in Nassagaweya, Halton, Ontario, Canada and later in Disley, Saskatchewan, Canada.
   4.  Thomas Edward GORDON b: 29 JAN 1870 in Milton, Halton County, Ontario.  Thomas married on 12 JUL 1892 in Halton County, Ontario to Hannah CARNOCHAN b: ABT 1870 and had one child.
   5.  George Henry GORDON b: 20 DEC 1872 in Halton County, Ontario.  George married Naomi Pearl VAN FLEET b: OCT 1877 in Nova Scotia, Ontario and had a family in Nassagaweya, Halton, Ontario, Canada.

Hugh Stewart, Pioneer Settler of Arden, Manitoba

This family is currently being researched by Sharron Schaub, Alice Fluegge and Kay Drewry. 

Hugh Stewart, as you will see below, became the patriarch of a massive clan.  Hugh was born 8 JUL 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario as a son of Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillespie (shown above) and was named after his grandfather, Hugh Gillespie.  He was raised on a pioneer farm just south of the present city of Guelph, Ontario, in what could be kindly described as “rough” circumstances.  Hugh was only 11 years old when his parents died.  What happened to Hugh after his parents died is not clearly known.  He has not been found in the 1851 census and he may have been living with his grandparents, the Gillespies.  (They too are not found in the 1851 census, so it is not known which of the orphans may have lived with them or not.) 

Hugh Stewart married on 06 Oct 1858 to Agnes Mitchell.  In 1861 Hugh was working as a farm labourer on his brother-in-law Thomas Dunn’s farm in Puslinch.  In 1871 Hugh had his own farm and his older brother, Robert, was working as a labourer on Hugh’s farm. 

Hugh married secondly on 6 MAY 1874 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario (shown at right) to Elizabeth Simmons.  Hugh records himself as a “widower”, however one of the granddaughters of Hugh and Agnes, who was alive during Hugh’s lifetime, claims that Hugh was not a widower, but that he abandoned his first wife and that she did not die until ten years later.  Documentary evidence to either confirm or refute either version is presently lacking. 

Whether by death or divorce, the chronology of the transition from first marriage to second is very revealing:

	17 Nov 1873 Margaret Jane Stewart is born to Hugh Stewart and Agnes Mitchell.
	06 May 1874 Hugh marries Elizabeth Simmons in Guelph
	19 Dec 1874 Euphemia Ellen Stewart is born to Hugh Stewart and Elizabeth Simmons

This chronology reveals that Hugh was married to his second wife only six months after the birth of his last child by his first wife, and that Hugh’s second wife was already two months pregnant at the time of their wedding.  Thus Hugh “had relations” with his second wife only four months after the birth of his last child by his first wife.

In 1879, Hugh travelled out west with his two eldest sons to establish a homestead in Arden, Manitoba. By 1881 Hugh had returned to Ontario and in 1883 he moved out west with his entire family.  In Manitoba, Hugh and Elizabeth contrived a rather elaborate story to explain their relationship.  The story was passed on and believed by their descendants, however the descendants of Hugh’s first marriage knew the truth.

The family legend, recorded by Alice Fluegge, goes as follows:

Hugh Stewart came to Canada as a 16 year old orphan from Scotland in 1853.  He settled initially near Guelph, Ontario and began a family.  “After Hugh Stewart’s first wife died “Hugh Stewart began working for Sir John Simmons down in the corner of Lower Canada, along the St. Lawrence near the corner of Upper Canada. Hugh fell in love with one of John Simmons’ daughters, Elizabeth, who was born January 2, 1843. They had come from two different worlds; he was an orphan working his way up and she was the daughter of an important landowner. She was educated by a governess and could sing in both French and English. She also had learned the fine art of doing needlepoint. Her father refused to give Hugh and Elizabeth permission to marry, so they eloped about 1872. This caused a permanent rift between the two families and they never had any contact again.”

This story is an entertaining fiction, but the truth is that:

1. Hugh was not born in Scotland; he was born in Puslinch, Ontario and he did not come to Canada by himself.  However, contrary to this family legend, Hugh givens his place of birth as “Ontario” consistently in all census records.
2. Hugh was not a widower. His first wife, Agnes Mitchell, was not dead when Hugh married Elizabeth Simmons.  Furthermore, he moved pretty fast to marry Elizabeth only six months after his last daughter was born to Agnes.  Thus it is clear that Hugh was already involved with Elizabeth before he left Agnes.  It must be noted, too, that Elizabeth was already two months pregnant when she married Hugh. 
3. As Hugh married Elizabeth in Guelph, it would be hard to describe their marriage as an “elopement”.
4. Elizabeth was not born in Eastern Ontario, but by her own admission on her marriage register, she was born in Nassagaweya, Halton County, Ontario, just a few miles east of Puslinch, Wellington County. 
5. Elizabeth’s father was not “Sir John Simmons”.  In the marriage register, Elizabeth records that her parents were Israel Simon and Hannah Gordon of Nassagaweya.   No such person as “Sir John Simmons” has been found and it is respectfully suggested that he doesn’t exist.
   1. Recent research points to the likelihood that, prior to coming to Canada, the Simmons/Sammons family resided in Schoharie, New York, where they may have been involved with the estate of Sir John Johnson. Perhaps Sir John Johnson’s identity has been “borrowed” for the person of “Sir John Simmons”.
6. Elizabeth Simmons did not come from an estate in Lower Canada (Quebec).  However the Simmons family did live in Cobourg in Eastern Ontario prior to moving to Nassagaweya, but that was also prior to Elizabeth’s birth.
7. It is highly unlikely that Elizabeth was educated by a governess, but her mother, Hannah Gordon, was Qu�becoise, so it is probably true that Elizabeth was bilingual. 

In Manitoba it appears that Hugh was an extremely successful pioneer farmer and entrepreneur and grew to be a wealthy man. Hugh hired himself out doing custom threshing. He imported Clydesdale horses from Scotland and sold them to homesteaders. He also successfully expanded his farm holdings to over 600 acres.  Hugh lived to be 76 years old when he was killed having been dragged by a runaway team of horses in 1913.

The following was in the Alexander History about Hugh Stewart:

“Hugh came to Manitoba with sons Joe and Duncan in 1879, established a homestead and built a huge log house. Elizabeth came west in 1883 with Euphemia 9, Bob 7, and Sarah 2. They came to Portage La Prairie by train and from there by ox cart. Their home along the Ridge was used as a stopping place. Young men came through and stayed there while they were looking for work.”

A descendant of Hugh who is old enough to have known him describes him as “a horrible and controlling man [who] left his wife and kids”. She claims that Hugh’s son, Duncan, had little to do with Hugh after they moved to Manitoba and that Duncan “kept his [own] kids away from Hugh and Elizabeth…because the family hated them”. She claims that Hugh treated his children like slave labourers and never educated them; that he “worked his own kids to the bone and they were all illiterate.”

Now here’s where it gets even more confusing:  We have confirmation (above) that Hugh and Elizabeth were married, yet their children describe themselves as illegitimate in later Manitoba registrations.  If Hugh and Elizabeth were lawfully married, why would their children claim otherwise?  Could it be, from the above descriptions, that they never honoured their parents’ relationship as legitimate?

Hugh STEWART b: 8 JUL 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Hugh Stewart married firstly on 6 OCT 1858 in Morriston, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Agnes MITCHELL (a.k.a. Nancy Mitchell and Elsie Mitchell). She was born about 1837 in Ireland.  Hugh and Agnes had six children after which Hugh abandoned Agnes.  Agnes died in 1883 after Hugh had already had 5 children by his second wife, Elizabeth Simmons.  Hugh and Agnes had the following children:

1.  Duncan STEWART b: 28 DEC 1860 in Aberfoyle, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Duncan Stewart accompanied his father, Hugh, and his brother Joseph to Manitoba in 1879 to establish a homestead there. Duncan returned briefly to Ontario in 1881 to marry Mary Ann Campbell. Duncan remained in Arden, Manitoba for only two years and then moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It is believed that Duncan had little love for his unfaithful father and moved his family away from Hugh in order to protect them from Hugh’s temper and lifestyle. However, after some time they returned to Arden until after Hugh’s death in 1913, after which they moved to Pleasantdale, Saskatchewan. When Duncan died in 1946, his son, Duncan Jr, donated a portion of the family farm to become the cemetery where Duncan Sr. was buried.  According to granddaughter Sharron Schaub: “Duncan’s family were remembered for their hospitality: for opening their home for church meetings, picnics and parties. Duncan could step dance and play the violin.” Due to a case of severe frostbite, Duncan eventually had to have his leg amputated. He took it with such good grace that he and a neighbour, who also had a wooden leg, created their own unique Highland dance together involving tapping their wooden legs like African wood sticks.
   Duncan Stewart married on 30 NOV 1881 in Duff’s Presbyterian Church, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Mary Ann CAMPBELL b: 26 APR 1862 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  They had the following children:
   1.  Hugh STEWART b: 18 JAN 1882 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  Hugh inherited his father’s musical ability with the violin and step dancing.  Hugh married on MAY 1907 in Mount Forest, Saskatchewan to Anne MCLEAN of unknown birth.  They had the following son:
      1.  Stanley STEWART b: 9 JUL 1907 in Mount Forest, Saskatchewan
   2.  Janet Evelyn “Jessie” STEWART b: 21 SEP 1884 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (then part of the Northwest Territories), Canada.  She married in 1901 to Edward O’KEEFE b: 23 JUN 1876 in Ireland.  Jessie died prematurely a year after the birth of their son, Gordon.  Their children were raised by Jessie’s parents, Duncan and Mary Stewart.  Jessie and Edward had the following children:
      1.  Harvey O’KEEFE b: APR 1902 in Arden, Manitoba
      2.  Hugh O’KEEFE b: 1904 in Arden, Manitoba
      3.  Gordon O’KEEFE b: JAN 1906 in Arden, Manitoba
   3.  Mary Ann “Annie” STEWART b: 31 MAR 1887 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  She married on 16 MAR 1910 to Nelson HARPER of unknown birth.  They had the following children:
      1.  Weldon HARPER b: Private
      2.  Raymond HARPER b: Private
      3.  Stanley HARPER b: ABT 1914
      4.  Tannis HARPER b: Private
      5.  Doris HARPER b: Private
      6.  Reta HARPER b: Private
      7.  Arden HARPER b: Private
      8.  Gordon HARPER b: Private
   4.  Duncan Campbell STEWART b: 6 MAY 1889 in Wallace, Northwest Territories (now Saskatchewan).  He married firstly on 8 DEC 1915 in Saskatchewan to Elsie SIMMONS.  Elsie was the daughter of William Simmons who was in turn the nephew of Elizabeth Simmons, the mistress of Duncan Campbell Stewart’s grandfather Hugh Stewart.  They had the following children:
      1.  Art STEWART b: Private
      2.  Dorothy STEWART b: Private
      3.  Kenneth STEWART b: Private
      4.  Percy STEWART b: Private
      5.  Evelyn STEWART b: Private
      6.  Melvin Calvin STEWART b: Private

      After Elsie’s premature death, Duncan married secondly to Emily Rose Mabley, by whom he had a further 10 children.  As they are still living, their names and information have not been published for privacy reasons.

   5.  Ethel J. STEWART b: 10 FEB 1891 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan who married Will ANDERSON.
   6.  Elizabeth M. STEWART b: 21 JAN 1893 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba who married Hugh MCLEAN.
   7.  William STEWART b: 9 SEP 1895 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba. As William’s name is not preserved in family histories, it is presumed that he died as a child.
   8.  Peter M. STEWART b: 10 JUL 1896 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba who married in 1918 to Ordella EDWARDS.
   9.  Stanley James STEWART b: 4 JUN 1899 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba who died young from typhoid.
   10.  Charlie STEWART b: 1 JUL 1901 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba who married Katie HOWIE.
   11.  Esther STEWART b: 3 JAN 1904 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba who married Ed BRADFORD.
2.  Joseph STEWART b: 23 FEB 1863 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married abt 1890 to Esther M. THOMPSON b: ABT 1865.  They had the following child:
   1.  Hugh Mitchell STEWART b: 25 DEC 1891 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba
3.  Hugh J. STEWART b: 12 FEB 1865 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario.  Hugh J. Stewart married on 8 FEB 1907 in Morriston Evangelical Church, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to his cousin Edith Alberta Evans.  She was born 8 APR 1886 in Shaw Station, Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, believed to be the granddaughter of Hugh Stewart Sr.’s sister, Elizabeth Stewart. (see first generation above).  Hugh J. Stewart and Edith Alberta Evans had the following children:
   1.  Mary STEWART b: Private
   2.  Muriel STEWART b: Private
   3.  Irene STEWART b: Private
4.  James STEWART b: 10 APR 1867 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario. James followed his siblings out west to Manitoba and settled in Neepawa, not far from his father in Arden.  He married on 9 SEP 1914 in Neepawa, Manitoba to Daisy CHRISTMAS of unknown birth.  They had the following children:
   1.  Thomas James STEWART b: 11 JUN 1915 in Neepawa, Manitoba
   2.  Elsie May STEWART b: Private
5.  Mary Ann STEWART b: 14 DEC 1870 in Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married in 1889 in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan to Neil MCEACHERN b: 15 AUG 1866 in Oro Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.  They had the following children:
   1.  Nancy MCEACHERN b: 14 AUG 1890 in Probably Saskatchewan
   2.  Duncan MCEACHERN b: 23 JUN 1892 in Probably Saskatchewan
   3.  Barbara MCEACHERN b: 16 SEP 1893 in Probably Saskatchewan
   4.  Archie MCEACHERN b: 21 JUL 1895 in Probably Saskatchewan
   5.  Margaret MCEACHERN b: 12 DEC 1896 in Probably Saskatchewan
   6.  Donald MCEACHERN b: 16 MAR 1899 in Probably Saskatchewan
   7.  Hugh MCEACHERN b: 14 JAN 1901 in Probably Saskatchewan
   8.  Mary MCEACHERN b: 30 MAY 1902 in Probably Saskatchewan
   9.  Peter MCEACHERN b: 8 JUL 1906 in Probably Saskatchewan
   10.  Mabel MCEACHERN b: Private
   11.  Dorothy MCEACHERN b: Private
   12.  Kathleen MCEACHERN b: Private
6.  Margaret Jane STEWART b: 17 NOV 1873 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married firstly abt 1890 to Robert CATHERS, b: 05 May 1864 in Grey District, Huron County, Ontario by whom she had the following children:
   1.  John CATHERS b: 30 Nov 1890 in Marquette, Dauphin, Manitoba
   2.  Elsie Elizabeth CATHERS b: 11 Jan 1893 in Marquette, Dauphin, Manitoba
   3.  Ann May CATHERS b: 19 Mar 1895 in Marquette, Dauphin, Manitoba

   Margaret married secondly after 1901 to Unknown HOFENBRACK by whom she had the following child:

   1. Frances HOFENBRACK

Hugh Stewart married secondly on 6 MAY 1874 in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario to Elizabeth SIMMONS.  She was born 2 JAN 1843 in Ontario.  Hugh and Elizabeth had the following children, the first five of whom were all born while Hugh’s first wife was still alive.  These children, although lawful, recorded themselves in later Manitoba records as being of illegitimate birth.

1.  Euphemia Ellen STEWART b: 19 DEC 1874 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married firstly on 30 AUG 1893 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to James GARDINER b: 30 JAN 1860 in Glencoe, Middlesex County, Ontario.  They had the following children:
   1.  Hugh William GARDINER b: 22 DEC 1894 in Eden, Rosedale, Manitoba
   2.  Randolph Russell GARDINER b: 28 AUG 1897 in Eden, Rosedale, Manitoba
   3.  Myrtle Marjorie GARDINER b: 25 FEB 1901 in Neepawa, Winnipeg, Manitoba
   4.  James Stewart GARDINER b: 28 JUN 1904 in Neepawa, Winnipeg, Manitoba
   5.  Elizabeth Ellen GARDINER b: 19 FEB 1907 in Neepawa, Winnipeg, Manitoba
   6.  Harold Raymond GARDINER b: UNKNOWN in McCreary, Manitoba
   7.  Pearl GARDINER b: UNKNOWN

   Euphemia married secondly on 16 DEC 1914 in Kelwood, Neepawa, Manitoba to Andrew ALEXANDER b: 23 APR 1874 in Eramosa Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  They had the following children:

   1.  Elizabeth Rebena ALEXANDER b: Private
   2.  Dorothy ALEXANDER b: 2 MAY 1919 in McCreary, Manitoba
   3.  Walter Bruce ALEXANDER b: 25 DEC 1921 in McCreary, Manitoba
2.  Robert Richard STEWART b: 18 JUL 1876 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Robert farmed two miles west of Arden.  He married Ellen Elizabeth ROBERTSON of Carberry, Manitoba.  They had the following children:
   1.  Elizabeth STEWART b: ABT 1915 in Manitoba
   2.  John STEWART b: Private
   3.  Isobel STEWART b: 4 MAY 1918 in Manitoba
   4.  William STEWART b: 19 SEP 1919 in Manitoba
   5.  Gordon STEWART b: Private
   6.  Duncan STEWART b: Private
   7.  Grace STEWART b: Private
   8.  Mae STEWART b: Private
3.  Sarah STEWART b: 18 JUL 1878 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married in 1908 to Herbert Richard GERRISH b: 16 MAY 1872.  They had the following children:
   1.  Susan Jane GERRISH b: 24 SEP 1909
   2.  Ernest Cliffert GERRISH b: Private
   3.  Herbert Linsay GERRISH b: Private
   4.  Violet May GERRISH b: Private
4.  Georgina STEWART b: 12 JUN 1880 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married Marc Espen.
5.  Rachel STEWART b: 23 APR 1883 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  She married Frank S. Bailey in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
6.  Roseanne STEWART b: 4 MAY 1885 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  She married in 1902 to Arthur RIDDELL b: 22 APR 1880.  They had the following children:
   1.  Gordon RIDDELL b: Private
   2.  Leila RIDDELL b: Private
   3.  Carl RIDDELL b: Private
   4.  Murray RIDDELL b: Private
   5.  Raymond RIDDELL b: Private
7.  Janet May STEWART b: 29 DEC 1889 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  She married on 8 JAN 1913 in Lansdowne, Manitoba to Guomundur Johann GOODMAN b: 18 APR 1887 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  They had the following children:
   1.  Dorothy V. GOODMAN b: Private
   2.  Stewart GOODMAN b: Private
   3.  Harold Murray GOODMAN b: Private
   4.  Donald Oliver Elroy GOODMAN b: Private
8.  William Gordon STEWART b: JUN 1890 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  He died at age 12.
9.  John STEWART b: 1891 in Arden, Lansdowne, Manitoba.  He died at age 11.

Research Leads

The following family is found living next door to Hugh and Robert Stewart in 1871 and 1881.  Onomastics would suggest that they may be related.

James MCLAREN, b. 1836 in Scotland and his wife, Margaret, b. 1840 in Scotland

1. Peter MCLAREN, b. 1863 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
2. Mary MCLAREN, b. 1865 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada
3. Catherine MCLAREN, b. 1868 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada
4. Kenneth MCLAREN, b. 1869 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada
5. Maggie MCLAREN, b. 1871 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada
6. James MCLAREN, b. 1873 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada
7. Ellen MCLAREN, b. 1876 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

Residing in their household is:

1. Peter MCLAREN, b. 1789 in Scotland (1871 only)
2. Kenneth Stewart MCLAREN (or Kenneth STEWART), b. 1782 in Scotland (1871 only)
3. Janet MCLAREN, b. 1834 (1871) or 1828 (1881) in Scotland
4. Donald STEWART, b. 1837 in Scotland (1881 only – in 1901 he is employed by Peter Mclean)  Could Mclean/McLaren be a transcription error?

1841 census – Blair Drummond (Summerline Moss), Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

1. Robert STEWART, age 80 (b. 1761), born in Perthshire, residence: Blair Drummond, Kincardine, agricultural labourer

2. Kathrine STEWART, age 79, (b. 1762), born in Perthshire,

3. Margaret STEWART, b. 1806 in Perthshire

4. Agnes STEWART, 1811, born in Perthshire

1851 Census – Blair Drummond (Summerline Moss), Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

1. Robert STEWART, b. 1758 in Balquhidder, retired shepherd, age 93

2. Catherine STEWART, b. 1795 in Kincardine, dtr, age 56

3. Janet STEWART, b. 1797 in Kincardine, dtr, age 54.

An ideal match can be found in the Callander and Kincardine OPRs.  Unfortunately none of the entries for Robert’s suggested second marriage give any further information on location.  It is suggested that Duncan’s father Robert married firstly to Catherine Ferguson with whom he had one child, Duncan, and then secondly to Catharine Stewart.

Robert STEWART and Catherine FERGUSON (m. 14 DEC 1786 in Balquhidder [Robt in Callander, Cath in Balq] and 29 DEC 1786 in Callander)

1. Duncan STEWART, b. 24 NOV 1787 and bap. 30 NOV 1787 in Callander (only birth for this couple)

Robert STEWART and Catharine STEWART (m. 3 APR 1788? in Kincardine) and 5 JUL 1788 in Balq (“Robert in Kincardine, Cath in Balq”)

1. Margaret STEWART, bap. 7 MAR 1790 in Kincardine

2. Catharine STEWART, bap. 30 OCT 1791 in Kincardine

3. Janet STEWART, bap. 9 FEB 1794 in Kincardine

4. Alexander STEWART, bap. 12 JUN 1796 in Kincardine

5. Margaret STEWART, bap. 30 JUN 1798 in Kincardine (mother given only as “Catharine”)

6. Elisabeth STEWART, bap. 2 JUN 1800 in Kincardine

7. Agnes STEWART, bap. 8 MAY 1803 in Kincardine

Assuming Catharine to be the daughter of an Alexander then this is the only OPR match in Balq, which would appear to be Robert’s cousin

Alexander STEWART and Elisabeth CARMICHAEL in Easter Invernenty, m. 23 AUG 1755 in Balquhidder, with Alexander from Balquhidder parish and Elisabeth from Muthill parish.

1. Jean STEWART, bap. 17 OCT 1756 in Easter Innernenty
2. Catharine STEWART, bap. 25 JUN 1759 in Easter Innernenty
3. Duncan STEWART, bap. 30 APR 1761 in Easter Innernenty

Glenbuckie II Branch: Sliochd Iain Duibh Bheag, Line 1

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

1. James Stewart had five sons:
   1. Duncan, [a] tacksman [at] Aldannabreg [in] Aberfoil [who] died without any sons (sic – this shows two sons named Duncan, but the first is probably a Robert)
   2. James, [a] tacksman of Wester Invernenty [in] Braes of Balquhidder, again of Bohelechan [in] Drymen parish.  [He had] three sons living at Drymen [and who all had] families.  Duke of Montrose’s work. (He works for the Duke of Montrose?)
   3. Alexander, [a] tacksman [in] Invernenty [in] Braes of Balquhidder.  [He had] one son:
      1. Robt, a cottager [in] Allanabreak [in] Aberfoil who hath one son:
         1. a shoemaker in Callendar
   4. Duncan, [a] tacksman [in] Blarchroich [in] Braes of Balquhidder.  [He] left two sons: Robt & Duncan
      1. Robert is a shepherd to Blair Drummond [in] Kincardin parish.  [He had:]
         1. one son [who is] an honest and industrious person
      2. Duncan, his brother, now dead, left three sons [who are all] minors in Flanders Moss [on] Blair Drummond’s estate.  His wife nursed a child to Blair Drummond and hath been the means of supporting his family.
         1. [three sons who were minors in 1815]
   5. John, [who was a] tenant [in] Lianoch [of] Glenbuckie.  (John is actually recorded as #3, which does not fit with the accounting above.  As written it would appear that he is a third son of Rob mac Pharick, but Rob is listed as having only two sons.  It is more likely that he is actually the 5th son of James as is shown here.)  [He] left one son:
      1. James, once tenant of Tommineoin [in] Glenbuckie, [and who is] now a crofter at Kilmahog near Callander [on] Buchanan of Lenny’s estate.  [He had] three sons minors.

This is the ONLY household from Section II that matches the Appendix Index, and this Robert is shown as a son of a Duncan, so it is likely that his one son would be a Duncan with an eldest son, Robert.

From our accounting of Glenbuckie:

John Dubh Beg Stewart, son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie, had the following children:

1.  John STEWART, in Glenfinglas, b: ABT 1610 in Glenfinglas, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, who is recorded in the following testament: “Testament of John dow beg Stewart in Murlagan who died in November of 1669 given up by John Stewart his son.”  The estate which the son John inherited is believed to be the 1/8 tack of Glenfinglas.  We have no record of this son having heirs (nor do we have a record to the contrary, either) and it appears that the 1/8 tack belonging to the Glenbuckie Family may have reverted back to the main stem after this John’s death.  This would suggest that it is unlikely this John had heirs.
2.  Patrick STEWART b: ABT 1615 in Glenfinglas, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  Patrick’s identity is extrapolated from the reference to his son in SOS as Rob mac Pha[t]rick mac Iain Dubh Beg, a tacksman at Lianach in Glenbuckie.  He was father of:
   1.  Robert STEWART , in Lianach b: ABT 1650 in Glenfinglas, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  He is shown in SOS as Rob mac Pha[t]rick mac Iain Dubh Beg.  He was a tacksman at Lianach in Glenbuckie.  He had the following children:
      1.  James STEWART b: ABT 1690 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He was father of:
         1.  Duncan STEWART , in Aldenbreg b: ABT 1720 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  According to SOS, Duncan was a tacksman at Aldanabreg, near Aberfoyle who died without sons.
         2.  James STEWART , in Wester Invernenty b: ABT 1723 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a tacksman at Wester Invernenty and later at Bohelecan, near Dryman.  According to SOS he had the following children:

            1. 3 sons STEWART, who all had families.

         3.  Alexander STEWART , in Invernenty b: ABT 1725 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He was father of:
            1.  Robert STEWART , in Allanabreak b: ABT 1750 in Invernenty, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  According SOS he was a cottager [in] Allanabreak [in] Aberfoil.  He was the father of:
               1. Son STEWART b: ABT 1780 in Invernenty, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, a shoemaker in Callendar.
         4.  Duncan STEWART , in Blaircroich b: ABT 1728 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a tacksman at Blaircroich.  He had the following children:
            1.  Robert STEWART b: 1759 in Blaircroich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a shepherd on the Blair-Drummond estate.  He was father of:
               1. Son STEWART, described by SOS as “an honest and industrious person”.
            2.  Duncan STEWART b: ABT 1765 in Blaircroich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who resided at Flander’s Moss.  SOS records that “[Duncan’s] wife nursed a child to Blair Drummond and hath been the means of supporting his family.”  He had the following children:
               1. 3 sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.
         5.  John STEWART , in Lianach b: ABT 1730 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  He resided in Lianach in Glenbuckie.  MacGregor’s accounting differs here.  I believe MacGregor has misread SOS, however SOS is unclear here.  John Stewart was father of:
            1.  James STEWART , in Tommineoin b: ABT 1750 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a tenant in Tommineoin and later in Kilmahog.  He had the following children:
               1. 3 sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.
      2.  Patrick\Peter STEWART b: ABT 1695 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.  SOS refers to him as Patrick mac Ross mhic Pha[t]rick.  He had the following children:
         1.  Duncan Rioch STEWART b: ABT 1725 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, whom SOS refers to as Donach Rioch, or “Duncan of the cut skin”.  SOS records that he was “a good soldier [and] a Tacksman of Lianach [in] Glenbuckie [who] left two sons”:
            1.  Son STEWART b: ABT 1750 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to SOS he was “a moss laird [at] Flanders Moss [in] Summerline.  [He is] an industrious man.  He had:
               1. 2 sons STEWART who were living with their father ca. 1815-1820.
            2.  Duncan STEWART , in Thornhill b: ABT 1755 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to SOS he was “a workman [in the] village of Thornhill [in] [Doune] parish.”  He had:
               1. 4 sons STEWART who were all minors ca. 1815-1820.
         2.  John Riach Mor STEWART b: ABT 1730 in Lianach, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, whom SOS refers to as Iain Riach Mor, or “Big John of the flailed skin” (possibly a reference to battle wounds).  SOS says that John lived at Camusbarron near Stirling and that he was “a very good soldier”.  John had the following children:
            1.  John STEWART b: ABT 1750 in Perthshire, Scotland.  According to SOS he served and died in the 42nd Regiment under the command of Capt. James Stewart, recipient of the SOS document.
            2.  3 other sons STEWART, about whom nothing is known.

OPRs

6 MAY 1759, Duncan STEWART and Elisabeth MCNIE in Blarcrioch had a son baptized and called Robert.

Duncan STEWART and Elisabeth MCNIE in Glenbuckie, Blarcrioch, Drumlich and possibly Invereoich (see also Duncan Stewart and Elisabeth McNivan/McNee in Milntown of Callar, Invereoich, and Cuill)

1. Isabel STEWART, bap. 9 MAY 1757 in Inveriach (Fiona shows mother as “McKechnie(?)”, IGI shows “NcNee”.  May not be a child of this family, may a child of Duncan Stewart and Isabel McNivan/McNee.)

2. John STEWART, a bastard child bap. 3 JAN 1758 in Glenbukky (may not be from this family)

3. Robert STEWART, bap. 6 MAY 1759 in Blarcrioch

4. John STEWART, bap. 1 AUG 1762 in Drumlich~~an

Duncan STEUART and Jean/Janet CAMPBELL in Kirktown

1. Alexander STEUART, bap. 24 FEB 1743 in Kirktown of Balquhidder (mother given as Jean Campbell)

2. John STEUART, bap. 6 APR 1746 in Kirktown (mother given as Jean Campbell)

3. Duncan STEUART, bap. 2 JUN 1754 in Kirktown (mother given as Janet Campbell)

4. Jean STEWART, bap. 11 AUG 1756 in Kirktown (mother given as Jean Campbell)

Alexander STEWART and Margaret MCINTYRE in Lianach, Invernenty, and Gartnafuaran

1. Katharine STEWART, bap. 20 DEC 1753 in Lianach

2. Isobell STEWART, bap. 3 JAN 1755 in Lianach

3. Robert STEWART, bap. 9 MAR 1756 in Invernenty (conceived in fornication, sponsored by Duncan Stewart in Auchleskine.  May not be the same family. There was another Alexander Stewart in Invernenty at the time.)

4. Janet STEWART, bap. 29 MAR 1757 in (illegible) of Glenbuchky

5. Robert STEWART, bap. 6 JUL 1759 in Gartnafuaran

James STEWART and Mary MCFARLANE (MCPHARLANE) in Inverlochlarig Mor, Fighnabruaich, and Wester Invernenty

1. Robert STEWART, bap. 1 JAN 1756 (recorded on 22 APR 1756) in Innerlochraigmor

2. Patrick STEWART, bap. 13 JUL1758 in Inverlochlaigvoir

3. John STEWART, bap. 8 SEP 1759 in Fighnabruaich

4. James STEWART, bap. 13 JUN 1762 in Wester Innernenty

5. Patrick STEWART, bap. 16 APR 1768 in Fignabruaich?

Robert STEWART and Christian MCLAREN in Stronslany, Craigruie, Blarchrioch, Inverlochlarig Beg and Invernety, m. 18 APR 1767 in Balquhidder and 30 APR 1767 in Callander with Robert of Balquhidder parish and Christian of Callander parish

1. John STEWART, bap. 30 NOV 1770 in Stronslany

2. Mary STEWART, bap. 29 MAY 1774 in Craigruie

3. Duncan STEWART, bap. 2 JUL 1776 in Blarchrich

4. Donald STEWART, bap. 11 AUG 1778 in Innerlochlarigbeg

5. Christian STEWART, bap. 25 JAN 1781 in Innerlochlarigbeg

6. Margaret STEWART, bap. 13 APR 1784 in Innerlochlarig beg

7. Katharine STEWART, bap. MAY 1786 in Innernenty

Duncan “Rioch” may be Duncan Roy

Duncan Roy STEUART, servitor to the miller of Edinample, and Janet COSKERACK in Wester Achtow

1. Margaret STEUART or COSKERACK, bap. 2 DEC 1732, begotten in fornication

Duncan Roy STEWART and Janet MCALLUM in Invercarnaig and Blarcreach. m. contracted on 14 MAR 1737 and married “upon Tuesday about 4 in the afternoon on 5 of April 1737.”

1. James STEUART, bap. 7 MAY 1738 in Innercharnock

2. Kathrine STEUART, bap. 14 JUL 1741 in Innercharnack

3. Un-named STEUART, bap. 16 FEB 1744 in Blarcriech