The Stewarts of Tomnasai and Kirkton

Alexander Stewart, 1st of Tomnasai

Alexander Stewart, 1st of Tomnasai,   b. Abt 1669, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Between 1729 and 1742, Tomnasai, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 60 years). Alexander was a younger son of Duncan Stewart, 8th of Glenbuckie, shown on our Stewarts of Glenbuckie page.

Alexander is described in Stewarts of the South as: “Alexander Stewart, son to the said Duncan Stewart of Glenbuckie & Graham of Dochry’s daughter. [Alexander] was Tacksman of Tomnasai near the Kirkton of Balquhidder [on] Sir John McGregor’s estate, of which he was dispossessed some time before his death, by one Ronald McGregor a son to Rob Roy, when the forfeited estates were in the hands of the Barons of the Exchequer.”

Stewarts of the South goes on to say that Alexander left three sons, and appears to identify these sons as Alexander, David, and John, who are described in some detail. However, these are actually Alexander’s grandchildren, not his sons. Stewarts of the South has omitted an entire generation in its accounting. Alexander’s son, Duncan, who is the actual father of the three sons so mentioned is missing from the accounting presented in Stewarts of the South. Stewarts of the South mentions that Alexander was dispossessed of Tomnasai by Ronald McGregor, however, chronologically, it is more likely that it was Alexander’s son, Duncan, who was dispossessed and forfeited.

Tomnasai has not been located on any maps, but its description places it near the Kirkton of Balquhidder. Its name may derive from Tom na saidh, which means “hill of the post” or from Tom na soi which means “gentle hill” or “a hill that is calm or of ease.” Alexander’s grandson, John, a published poet, said he was born on “the Hill of the Hay” which may be an allusion to the name, Tomnasai. (Barbara Neal)

Alexander Stewart is also listed in Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions for the cemetery at Brig O’ Turk: “26 table stone (next to 25) DS 1786. IC. Pelican plucking its breast, on her nest. Alexander STEWART, brother John STEWART of Glenbucky, first son Duncan, 6 JUN 1760, age 68 (by sons Alexander, John, Duncan).” This entry requires some interpretation: Duncan Stewart is the one who died on 6 JUN 1760 at age 68. The stone is placed by Duncan’s sons, Alexander, John and Duncan. The deceased Duncan was the first son of (this) Alexander Stewart (of Tomnasai), who was in turn the brother of John Stewart of Glenbuckie. The initials “IC” are the Latin initials of Duncan’s second wife, Janet Campbell.

It is important to note that Duncan is described as Alexander’s “first son”, thus we can infer that Alexander had other sons, who are presently unknown to us. Whoever these sons were they appear to have had no descendants recorded in Stewarts of the South.

Alexander’s son, Duncan, was presumably born at Tomnasai. He later moved to Brig o’ Turk where he began his family. He returned to Kirkton sometime between 1729-1742. This likely indicates Duncan returning to claim Tomnasai as his inheritance, which suggests that Alexander likely died between 1729-1742.

Marriage and Children

No record has been found of who Alexander Stewart married. He had the following children:

Duncan Stewart, 2nd of Tomnasai, and 1. Margaret Stewart, and 2. Janet Campbell

Duncan Stewart, 2nd of Tomnasai,   b. 1692, Tomnasai, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 6 Jun 1760, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age 68 years). Duncan is the only known surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Tomnasai, shown above.

Duncan Stewart was born in 1692 in Tomnasai near the Kirkton in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, as the son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Tomnasai. His mother is unknown. No record has been found of Duncan’s birth as his birth predates the commencement of baptismal records in the parish of Balquhidder. His year of birth is calculated from his age at death as recorded on his gravestone. Duncan was named after his paternal grandfather, Duncan Stewart, 8th of Glenbuckie.

Nothing is known of Duncan’s early life except that it appears he moved sometime before 1716 to Brig o’Turk where his uncle Walter Stewart lived.

On 23 July 1716, at age 24, Duncan married in Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland, to Margaret Stewart. She resided in Callander parish, but her birth family has not been identified. Her father’s name was likely Donald, but this is uncertain.

Over the next decade-and-a-half, Duncan and Margaret had five children in Brig o’ Turk until 1729 when they moved back to Kirkton and had another child. (There are three more births for Duncan Stewart and Margaret Stewart between 1731-1739 in nearby Stronvar which appear likely to be this same couple, but could be another couple with the same names.)

Margaret Stewart died sometime before 1743 when we find Duncan in Kirkton with his second wife, Janet Campbell, and having a family there. No record has been found of their marriage.

As Tomnasai is identified as being adjacent to the Kirkton of Balquhidder, Duncan’s return to Kirkton, likely means that he had returned to live at Tomnasai. This likely means that Duncan’s father died around this time and that Duncan returned to Tomnasai as heir to the property.

Stewarts of the South incorrectly says that Duncan’s father, Alexander of Tomnasai, had three sons, Alexander, David, and John. We now know that Stewarts of the South is missing a generation in its accounting. These three sons are actually sons of Duncan Stewart, 2nd of Tomnasai, from his second marriage with Janet Campbell, not sons of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Tomnasai. There is no baptismal record for a son named David because David was used as a substitute name for Duncan in Scottish culture in the same way that Daniel was used as a substitute name for Donald. So the son identified as David in Stewarts of the South is actually Duncan, born in 1754.

Stewarts of the South describes Duncan’s surviving sons with key details that allow us to corrobrate them with other records which are discussed under their individual entries:
1st Alexr was a servant to the Queen of Denmark daughter to George II – and had a pension, left one son
2d David died unmarried had no children
3d John resides in Callander – was a gentleman’s servant and became door keeper to the Secretary of States Office in the time of the Honble Henry Dundas and Mr Pit’s administration.

Stewarts of the South incorrectly states that Alexander Stewart of Tomnasai “was dispossessed some time before his death, by one Ronald McGregor a son to Rob Roy, when the forfeited estates were in the hands of the Barons of the Exchequer.” Whereas this dispossession actually occurred in Duncan’s lifetime as attested in the Statistics of the Annexed Estates 1755-1756, which lists Ronald Drummond (alias MacGregor) as a tenant in Kirkton along with Duncan Stewart, Robert McLaren, and ten cottars.

Duncan Stewart, 2nd of Tomnasai, is listed in Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions for the cemetery at Brig O’ Turk:

“26 table stone (next to 25) DS 1786. IC. Pelican plucking its breast, on her nest. Alexander STEWART, brother John STEWART of Glenbucky, first son Duncan, 6 JUN 1760, age 68 (by sons Alexander, John, Duncan).”

This entry requires some interpretation: Duncan Stewart is the one who died on 6 JUN 1760 at age 68. The stone is placed by his sons, Alexander, John and Duncan. The initials “IC” are the Latin initials of Duncan’s second wife, Janet Campbell.

Upon Duncan Stewart’s death in 1760, Ronald McGregor petitioned for his lease to cover the entire farm at Kirkton, in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.

Marriages & Children

Duncan Stewart married firstly on 23 Jul 1716 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  to Margaret Stewart,   b. Abt 1695, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1741, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 45 years), Her birth family is unknown. It’s possible that her parents may have been named Donald and Mary. Duncan Stewart and Margaret Stewart had the following children:

Duncan Stewart is presumed to have married secondly to Janet Campbell,   b. Abt 1720, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, although no record of their marriage has been found. Janet’s birth family is unknown but her son said that she came from the family of the Campbells of Breadalbane whose home was nearby at Edinample on Loch Earn. Duncan Stewart and Janet Campbell had the following children:

Possible Additional Children

The following births may also belong to this family:

1. 1. Robert Steuart, bap. 2 SEP 1731 in Stronvar Mor, son of Duncan Steuart and Margaret Steuart
   2. Alexander Steuart, bap. 8 SEP 1734 in Stronvar Mor, son of Duncan Steuart and Margaret Steuart
   3. John Steuart, bap. 7 JAN 1739 in Stronvar, son of Duncan Steuart and Margaret Steuart

These entries have the same parents’ names as Duncan’s first marriage. They fit chronologically with Duncan’s first marriage. Stronvar is located only a mile from Kirkton. And these entries do not conflict with any other known family currently in the Stewarts of Balquhidder database. So it’s possible that these could be additional children from Duncan’s first marriage or it could be a different family with the same-named parents who just happen to be living nearby. We have insufficient information to conclude one way or the other.

“1766 – Princess Caroline Matilda, age 15, grand-daughter of King George II (and sister of George III) marries her cousin, King Christian VII of Denmark. The late Queen was her aunt. Following tradition, when she arrived in Denmark, her British servants were dismissed and replaced by Danish ones. Later, when her husband is suffering from mental decline, she is running the country, and presumably has her own servants, who would be loyal to her – including (probably) our Alexander Stewart.” (Neal)

“1772 – Queen Carolina Matilda exiled to Celle (Zell) Hanover, Germany. Brown’s Memoir book (Original Memoirs of the sovereigns of Sweden and Denmark, Vol I, Brown, 11th ed. 1895, H. S. Nichols, London. Originally published in 1818) has stories about the Danish court, as well as the court at Celle, told through a valet named Ernestus. There is mention of a “running footman” named Alexander Stuart, who is later presented as a close servant to the Queen. Problematically, this Stuart is said to have died of the same illness that took the Queen. I don’t know if the author is mistaken, has combined characters, as happens when condensing a long novel into a shorter work, or if there was more than one Alexander Stewart/Stuart at court.” (Neal)

“May 10,1775 – Death of Queen Caroline Matilda in Celle, Germany. From the various sources, primarily Brown’s “Memoirs,” it seems that “running footmen” were often young Scots Highlanders, who ran ahead of the carriages to check for obstacles and road conditions, and seldom were allowed to ride on the coach. They could receive a pension after seven years. A “footman” was tasked with duties such as serving food and other jobs of a closer nature. Again, it is not clear which job our Alexander Stewart had and when, but he indicates he was in the Queen’s suites, which points to the more intimate assignment.” (Neal)

“1776 or 1777 – Alexander Stewart returns to Britain from Germany, about age 33, and according to (his brother) John, joins the Royal Navy. Alex mentions that he served 5 years.” (Neal)

“1779-1783 Siege of Gibraltar. (Alexander’s brother) John says that Alexander served on the ship “Royal George,” which sank during a storm in port of Spithead in 1782. All those aboard were lost, so he must have been ashore or under a different assignment at that time. At the end of the 1817 book, is an Erratum statement that says, “Royal George,” should read “Ganges,” a similar ship that also saw service at Gibraltar.” (Neal)

“April 12, 1782 – Battle of Dominica in which the British fleet under Admiral Rodney, had a resounding victory over the French fleet. John says that Alexander was aboard the “Pearl,” which saw service in the West Indies.” (Neal)

“1783 – I do not know when Alex was discharged from the Navy. John said he lived in London for “a twelvemonth” before returning to Scotland. Alexander Stewart would have received a pension from his service to the late Danish queen, as well as for his military service.” (Neal)

Alexander then disappears from records for the next ten years.

“1793 – Alexander Stewart of Balfron, Stirlingshire married Ann Stuart of Callander, Perthshire. Alex would be about age 50. Ann is probably much younger.” (Neal) They had three children.

“December, 1798 – Alexander Stewart published Observations on Occurrences from 1794 to 1797 by Alex. Stewart, Many Years in the Suite of Carolina Matilda, Queen of Denmark in Glasgow. The book consists of editorial essays against the still-smoldering Reform movement, Thomas Paine and any sort of Revolutionary sentiment against King George III. Alexander Stewart spent his entire adult life defending the House of Hanover, even in retirement with his blistering missives against Reformers who would do away with monarchy. ” (Neal)

According to Alexander’s brother John’s memoirs, Alexander died in 1809, preceded in 1808 by the death of his wie, Ann. John wrote in Jan, 1817, “Ann died 8 years ago, with Alex following her about 6 months later.” Their son, Duncan John Stewart, would be only about 12 years old.

Marriage and Children

Alexander married in 1793 in Balfron, Stirlingshire, Scotland  to Anne Stewart,   b. Abt 1770, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1808, Balfron, Stirlingshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 38 years). Her birth family has not been identified. They had the following children:

Henry Dundas lived 1742-1811 and served in Parlaiment 1774-1805. In 1766, Henry became Solicitor General for Scotland. John was presumably serving as doorward ca. 1774-1805. William Pitt, served under George III, and was Prime Minister in 1783-1801, 1804-1806.

In 1770, at about 24 years of age, John Stewart left Scotland. In 1796, he wrote that he had been gone 26 years and mentioned that he was working for Gov. James Johnston on Minorca, who was there from 1763-1774.

1774 – 1775 – John Stewart went to Rome with Gov. James Johnston “and all the places and palaces he visited there himself.” John said at Easter, 1775, that he climbed the rope-work to the cupola of St. Peter’s. He later wrote a poem about it, which is in his 1800 book.

In 1775, Henry Dundas became Lord Advocate for Scotland, having been a Member of Parliament for Midlothian since 1774. In that same year, John Stewart was in Florence, Italy, on the first day of Lent. John requested, and was granted a brief meeting with Prince Charles Stuart, who was in exile there. In his 1800 book, John described two conversations in which he says about himself that he was born in the Kirkton of Balquhidder between the battles of Falkirk and Culloden, and that he was a son of Tom-na-soi in Glenbuckie and that his mother was of the Campbells of Breadalbane. At the mention of Glenbuckie, Prince Charles said “Ah! Poor Alexander, I remember that affair,” which was a reference to the suspicious death of Capt. Alexander Stewart, 10th of Glenbuckie. Another account of John’s meeting with the Prince appears in The Lyon in Mourning, Vol III, in which the unidentified speaker claims the slain Stewart chieftain was a “close relative.” (See Who Was Prince Charlie’s Valet? for further information.)

In 1784, John Stewart was in Lorraine, France, and received news of the return of forfeited Scottish lands from the Exchequer to “the unfortunate Stuarts.” The farm in Kirkton, Balquhidder remained in the hands of Randald McGregor.

In 1786, Ranald McGregor, son of Rob Roy, died and the farm at Kirkton, including Tomnasai, went to the McLarens.

In 1790, Sir Robert Boyd started his second term as Governor of Gibraltar. John Stewart‘s later statements about Boyd’s death suggests that John was on Gibraltar at this time.

In 1791, Henry Dundas was appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department.

In August, 1793, John wrote his poem on Europa-point, Gibraltar.

In 1794, Sir Robert Boyd, Governor of Gibraltar, died. John said he served him for four years. It may be at this point that John Stewart, age 48, went to work for Mr. Dundas in London.

In 1797, Governor James Johnston died. John Stewart served Johnston on Minorca and saw him buried at Westminster Abbey. “Fighting Johnston” was at battles of Fontenoy in 1745 and Minden in 1759. He was Lt. Governor of Minorca 1763-1774 and (absentee) Governor of Quebec from 1774-1797.

In August, 1798, the Battle of the Nile took place. It was a great naval victory for Admiral Nelson and was referenced in one of John Stewart’s poems.

In June, 1799, John Stewart, age 53, retired to Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.

In 1800, John Stewart published in London, Britons United, or Britannia Roused, a book of poems and stories about his life and career in the British Government, coinciding with his retirement from Mr. Dundas’ office. The bookseller was William Stewart of Piccadilly, and the printer was D. Stewart of Bridgeport, Westminster, possible relatives in London.

In 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar occured which was referenced in one of John Stewart’s poems.

On June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo was fought. It was referenced in John Stewart’s poems.

1817 – John Stewart publishes book in Edinburgh, written from his home in Callander. This is another book of poems plus a reprint of Alex’s book and a mini-bio, from which many facts on this page are reckoned.

John Stewart never married nor had any children.

In 1827, local newspapers record the death of a John Stewart at a farm at Callander, as well as stories about a John Stewart, formerly of Callander, raising cattle at Greenock, who was trampled to death by one of his own bulls at the age 90. About the same time, there is a death record for a John Stewart, age 90, occupation Porter, which matches with the account of Stewarts of the South saying that John Stewart was a doorman for Mr. Dundas. It is not know if any or all of these accounts refers to John Stewart, and his age is out by a decade.

John is also listed in Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions as one of the three sons of Duncan who placed a stone in Brig O’ Turk cemetery in memory of their father: “From Brig O’ Turk Cemetery, 26 table stone (next to 25) DS 1786. IC. Pelican plucking its breast, on her nest. Alexander STEWART, brother John STEWART of Glenbucky, first son Duncan, 6 JUN 1760, age 68 (by sons Alexander, John, Duncan)”.

For further information see Barb’s Genealogy.