The Stewarts of Wester Brig o’ Turk

Brig o’ Turk Gallery

Lt. Walter Stewart, 1st in (Wester) Brig o’ Turk, and Agnes Stewart

Lt. Walter Stewart, in Wester Brig o’ Turk,   b. Abt 1675, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1760, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 85 years). He was a younger son of Duncan Stewart, 8th of Glenbuckie. Walter married to Agnes Stewart, in Ballachallan,   b. Abt 5 May 1678, Ballachallan, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 8 Jan 1756, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  

Walter Stewart’s birth family can be found on our Stewarts of Glenbuckie page. Agnes Stewart’s birth family can be found on our Stewarts of Ballachallan page. 

According to Duncan Stewart (1739), Walter was a Lieutenant and had children. Stewarts of the South shows Walter’s son as John Stewart in Brig O’ Turk.

Alison Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions reads: “Laedere Noli. Lieut. Walter Stewart, wife Agnes Stewart 8.1.1756, age 80, by son John, 1760.” It is believed that the 1756 death is Agnes’ and the 1760 reference is to the death of Walter.

Walter is mentioned in the following reference in Stewarts of the South:

“But the nearest of them in this country is one Walter Stewart, an unworthy person, [who] was son to John Stewart, [and] was [a] tacksman [of] Wester Bridge of Turk, [belonging to the] Earl [of] Murray [in] Callander parish. His grandfather, Walter Stewart, [was] son to Duncan Stewart, 12th of Glenbuckie (sic — Stewarts of the South follows, but misunderstands the accounting of Duncan Stewart (1739). This is actually a reference to Duncan Stewart, 8th of Glenbuckie, who married Jean Graham of Duchray) [and Duncan’s wife, who was] a daughter to Graham of Dochry (Duchray). He was, some years ago, turned out of that farm for some misconduct or other. His mother (sic. grandmother) was of Balchallan (Ballachallan). It was for the small crime of cutting an oak tree [that] he was turned out and he denied the charge, but it was proven and no argument would prevail with the Earl of Murray to let him stay because of not letting the truth. But other people were undermining him. He had one eighth of Glenfinglas. He is now a poor cottager — a real contrast of his progenitors, which shows the uncertainty of human affairs. He has four sons.”

Stewarts of the South records that Walter’s son John married a daughter of Stewart of Ballachallan, but no such daughter can be found. However Walter’s wife, Agnes, is a near exact match for a daughter of Duncan Stewart, 1st of Ballachallan. It is therefore suggested that Stewarts of the South was off by one generation and that it was actually Walter who married a Stewart of Ballachallan.

Walter and Agnes Stewart had the following child:

John Stewart, 2nd in (Wester) Brig o’ Turk and Balleich, and Isabel Graham of Balleich

John Stewart, 2nd in Brig o’ Turk and Balleich,   b. Abt 1710, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Abt 13 Aug 1767, Balleich, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 57 years). John Stewart’s exact date of birth is unknown. His date of birth shown here is merely an estimate. John was the son of Walter Stewart, 1st in Brig o’ Turk, shown above. 

Caution – There is another contemporary John Stewart in Wester Brig o’ Turk who belongs to the Stewarts of Glenbuckie Branch III.3. There is a risk of duplication between the two families.

John Stewart was a tacksman at Brig o’ Turk and one of the eight portioners of Glenfinglas who was involved in “The Glen Affair” in 1755, but was deceased by the time of the Appeal in 1772 and was represented by his “only son and heir” Walter.

No record has been found of John Stewart’s birth. His age at death is not recorded. His birth shown here is merely an estimate.

Stewarts of the South says the following of John’s family:

“But the nearest of them in this country is one Walter Stewart, an unworthy person, [who] was son to John Stewart, [and] was [a] tacksman [of] Wester Bridge of Turk, [belonging to the] Earl [of] Murray [in] Callander parish. His grandfather, Walter Stewart, [was] son to Duncan Stewart, 12th (8th) of Glenbuckie [and Duncan’s wife, who was] a daughter to Graham of Dochry (Jean Graham of Duchray). He was, some years ago, turned out of that farm for some misconduct or other. His mother was of Balchallan. It was for the small crime of cutting an oak tree [that] he was turned out and he denied the charge, but it was proven and no argument would prevail with the Earl of Murray to let him stay because of not letting the truth. But other people were undermining him. He had one eighth of Glenfinglas. He is now a poor cottager – a real contrast of his progenitors, which shows the uncertainty of human affairs. He has four sons.”

Stewarts of the South is incorrect that John married “a woman of Balachallan.” It was actually his father, Walter, who married a Stewart of Ballachallan.

In addition to the children shown below, the following birth in the Callander OPR may also be a child of this John Stewart: “John Stewart and Janet Ferguson, Wester Bridge of Turk, 17 Nov 1733, 17 Nov 1733, Christian.” As we do not know when John Stewart was born, it is difficult to determine if he would be of parenting age in 1733.

The Callander OPR records that John Stewart, Tacksman of Wester Bridge of Turk, and Effie McCallum, an unmarried woman, had a daughter born and baptized on 18? May 1752, named Catharine.

Alison Mitchell’s Monumental Inscriptions reads: “Laedere Noli. Lieut. Walter Stewart, wife Agnes Stewart 8.1.1756, age 80, by son John, 1760.”

On 5 Mar 1761, John Stewart at Bridge of Turk in Callander parish married Mrs. Isabel Graham, widow of Harry/Henry Graham of Balleich. She had three daughters by her first marriage. (“5 Mar 1761, Mr. John Stewart at Bridge of Turk in Callander parish and Mrs. Isabel Graham in Reiland, to the deceast(?) Hary Graham, Tacksman in Balleich.” Aberfoyle OPR)

According to John’s testament (see below), he died on or before 13 Aug 1767. As his wife is not mentioned in his testament, it is presumed that she predeceased him sometime after their last son, Walter, was born on 1 Apr 1765. Their children were still minors at the time and were not eligible to inherit until 13 July 1780. The cautioners listed in the testament were Alexander Stewart at Bohelechan and formerly at Bridge of Turk and William Graham at Kirktown of Aberfoil. Alexander Stewart has not been identified in other records, but is likely a brother or close cousin. William Graham is likely John’s brother-in-law.

John had relations with Effie McCallum,   b. abt. 1730 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, d. unknown. They had the following illegitimate daughter:

John Stewart married on 5 Mar 1761 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  to Isabel Graham, of Balleich,   b. 1731, Drymen, Stirlingshire, Scotland ,   d. Abt 1766  (Age 35 years). They had the following children:

Sgt. Walter Stewart, 3rd in (Wester) Brig o’ Turk, and Polly McGregor

• Evicted for cutting down an oak tree

Sgt. Walter Stewart, 3rd in Brig o’ Turk,   b. 30 Mar 1765, Balleich, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1841  (Age < 75 years). Walter was a son of John Stewart, 2nd in Brig o’ Turk, shown above.

Walter succeeded his father as a tacksman at Brig o’ Turk. He was expelled from Brig o’ Turk by the Earl of Moray for cutting down an oak tree without permission and thereafter lived in reduced circumstances as a cottar in Glenfinglas.

“Walter, son to John Stewart and Isabel Graham in Baleich was born the 30th day of March and baptized the first day of April 1765 by Mr Charles Rose at Donan.” (Aberfoyle OPR)

The names and genders of these children are not identified. They are not found in the Aberfoyle OPR. Based on the reference in Stewarts of the South indicating that Walter had four sons, it is presumed that these two unnamed children were sons.

“The Dumbarton Fencibles was raised by Colonel Campbell of Stonefield in 1794. The regiment was first stationed in Guernsey, and in 1797 was moved to Ireland, being reduced to 500 the previous year. The Dumbarton Fencibles were actively employed during the Irish Rebellion. The regiment returned to Scotland in 1802, and was disbanded the same year.” (Wikipedia)

“[At Guernsey, in 1796, the regiment] was reduced to 500 men-orders being issued to discharge all above that number. In consequence of this measure the regiment was benefited by the dismissal of some indifferent characters recruited in Glasgow and other adjacent towns; so that, although reduced in numbers, it gained in character.” (Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland, by Major-General David Stewart of Garth. c/o ElectricScotland)

Whether Walter Stewart was one of the “indifferent” soldiers dismissed in 1796 is unknown, but the birth dates of his children suggest he was back home in Aberfoyle almost immediately.

Walter is presumed to have married about 1800 to Polly McGregor although no record of their marriage has been found. Their children are described as lawful.

In the early 1800s, following the birth of her two natural children, Walter’s sister, Jean Stewart, is repeatedly cited in the Callander Kirk Session minutes for various transgressions in which she is identified as Mrs Paterson alias Jean Stewart, sister of Walter Stewart at Bridge of Turk.

In 1801, Walter Stewart at Bridge of Turk is cited in the Aberfoyle Kirk Session minutes as a witness for Agnes Campbell against William Strang. William Strang was the intimate partner of Walter’s sister, Jean.

In 1802, Walter Stewart at Bridge of Turk is mentioned in the Aberfoyle Kirk Session minutes in a citation regaring his sister, Jean Stewart, in reference to one of her illegitimate children.

No death or burial record has been found for Walter Stewart. He is not found in the 1841 census and is presumed to have died before 1841.

Walter Stewart had relations with Margaret McCallum,   b. Abt 1770, Craigughty, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. They had the following illegitimate children:

Sgt. Walter Stewart is presumed to have married Polly McGregor,   b. 1774, Ardnachmuin, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1841  (Age < 66 years), although no record of their marriage has been found. They had the following children:

John Stewart, 4th and last in Brig o’ Turk, and Janet Menzies

John Stewart, 4th in Brig o’ Turk,   b. 20 Nov 1800, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. 1881, Brig o’ Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland   (Age 80 years). John Stewart was the eldest son of Sgt. Walter Stewart, 3rd in Brig o’ Turk, shown above.

John Stewart was born on 20 Nov 1800 in Brig o’ Turk (probably Wester Brig o’ Turk). He was the fourth generation of his family to reside at Brig o’ Turk. John’s father, Sgt. Walter Stewart, was evicted from Brig o’ Turk for cutting down an oak tree. John is presumed to have been exempted from the eviction or permitted to return to Brig o’ Turk as his children were all born in Brig o’ Turk and he is found in census records residing in Brig o’ Turk.

Stewarts of the South (Glenbuckie section) does not mention John Stewart by name. It mentions only that his father, Walter Stewart, had four sons. The following reference in the Stewarts of the South – Appendix for Callander parish is believed to apply to this John Stewart:

“Mr John Stewart, Wester Bridge of Turk of the family of Glenbuckie, a real Highlander of the good old character and in the Earl of Murrays property. £10. One of the eight sharers of Glenfinglas.”

He would be on the young side, probably just about 20 at the time that the document was written. His father is not mentioned in the appendix as Aberfoyle parish is not covered in the parish-by-parish accounting.

On 16 Nov 1838, at 38 years of age, John Stewart married in Callander parish to Janet Menzies. They had three children.

In 1841, at age 35 (sic), John Stewart was residing in Mill of Turk (presumably the miller’s residence at Brig o’ Turk) in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland. John was employed as a miller. He was residing with his wife, Janet, age 30, and a child of unknown relationship, John McNaughton, age 5.

In 1851, at age 48 (sic), John Stewart was residing at Bridge of Turk in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, employed as a meal miller. He was residing with his wife, Janet, 45, and their children Walter, 9, Henrietta, 7, and James, 4.

In 1861, at age 58 (sic), John Stewart was residing at Road 5 in Bridge of Turk in Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland with his wife Janet, 50, and their son, James, 13. John is listed as a former meal miller. Also residing with them was 66 year old Mary McGregor who was likely related to John’s mother, Polly McGregor.

In 1871, at age 72, John Stewart was residing at Bridge of Turk in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland with his wife Janet, 55, and their married daughter Henrietta Ferguson, 26, and her husband Duncan Ferguson, 24, and their child, Catherine Ferguson, 1. Mary McGregor, 78, was still residing with them.

John’s death certificate is indexed as: 1881 death JOHN STEWART 83 mother’s maiden name MACGREGOR Callander.

John Stewart married on 16 Nov 1838 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  to Janet Menzies,   b. 1811, Dull, Perthshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children: