The Stewarts of Dalveich and Ardveich, on Loch Earn, Balquhidder Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
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Photo by Don Walker, 2006 - taken from up Meal a' Mhadaidh
Welcome to our page on the Stewarts of Dalveich and Ardveich, Perthshire, Scotland.
This page is part of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group Web Site jointly hosted by myself, Ryk Brown, and my research partner, Chuck Speed. The research presented on this page is not ours alone. It is the product of all the Fellow Researchers of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group. We are indebted to them for their generous contributions. This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other. The first-time reader is advised to begin with the introduction found on the Principal Families Page before proceeding on with this page.
This page is part of my personal family history website and represents one of my own ancestral lines. If you are specifically looking for information on the Dalveich Stewarts then you may begin here, but you will probably want to start back a page with their ancestors, the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. Otherwise you may wish to begin at the start page of my family history website. If you have been following my own family line from the Comrie Stewarts of Puslinch, then you will want to refer to Line 7 below.
Please Note: This page is intended only as a narrative historical overview of this family. There is additional detailed information available for almost ever person presented on this page. To avoid the unnecessary work of double-entering some data, the additional information can be found in the accompanying GEDCOM database. Please make sure you click on the INDEX button at the bottom of the page so you don't miss out on potentially valuable additional information.
Acknowledgments
The research presented on this page is not mine alone. It contains information submitted by all the Fellow Researchers listed below. I am indebted to them for their generous contributions. This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other. It would be too cumbersome a task to reference each piece of data as to which researcher it has come from. The information shown on this page should be understood as a product of ALL of the Fellow Researchers. I am merely the editor and not the sole author. - Ryk
Dalveich is a farmstead on the north shore of Loch Earn in southern Perthshire. There is a Highland fault line which runs southwest to northeast from Edinample and under Loch Earn passing through Dalveich. Dalveich, Ardveich, Carnlia and Glenbeich were all farmsteads possessed at various points by members of our Stewart Clan. Carnlia at one time even housed a mill and the ruin of it is still visible today. (see photos below)
Dalveich, in Gaelic, is Dal-Bheathaich, which means "field of the birch woods". Ardveich is Ard-Bheathaich which means "height of the birch woods". And Glenbeich is Gleann Beathaich, which means "valley of the birch woods". All three of these small settlements are located at various points along the Beich Burn ("Birch Creek") as it flows out of the mountains to empty into Loch Earn directly across the lake from Ardvorlich.
Carnlia is believed to derive from Cairn+leigh = "a pile of stones or a stone fort" + "a clearing in a woods". Thus Carnlia may mean "the clearing in the woods near the stone fort/pile." It may also mean "corn field".
It may be helpful to clarify that Glenbeich, as a compound word, always refers to the farmstead of that name, whereas Glen Beich, as two separate words, always refers to the Beich Valley (or Glen) through which the Beich Creek (or Burn) runs. When "beich" combines with other words in Gaelic it sometimes acquires a softening "h" after the first letter to become "bheich" and is pronounced "vaychk" (with the traditional Scottish "ch" sound). Thus the place name elements of beich and veich represent the same word.
Lower Glen Beich and Loch Earn
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Richard Murray and licensed for reuse under this
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The parish boundary between Comrie parish in the east and Balquhidder parish in the west passes right through the middle of Loch Earn and between Dalveich and Ardveich. Thus, members of this family can be found in both Comrie and Balquhidder parishes, and many descendant lines can also be found in the neighbouring parishes of Callander, Kilmadock, Kincardine and Port of Menteith. A significant number of descendant families immigrated to Canada in 18th and 19th centuries. Today their descendants can be found scattered across the globe.
Dalveich, Ardveich, and Carnlia are all located at the foot of Meal a' Mhadaidh, "the Hill of the Bloodhounds", "so named because Malcolm Og MacGregor raced the Campbell bloodhounds to the top and had enough time to turn round and shoot them with his long gun." (Gordon MacGregor)
Before the Stewarts were there it's probable that that land was MacLaren country and certainly in the early 1600's a witch lived there. She could put a hex on a cow and foresaw things and was not to be treated lightly! There is story about a Stewart from Dalveich who set off to get married and was murdered just after the ceremony was completed and outside the church. Maybe the murderer was the frustrated suitor of the hand of the bride! - Peter McNaughton
Prior to the arrival of our Stewarts, Ardveich belonged to the Chief line of the MacLarens. Their former residence of Ardveich Castle, an old fortified tower house, now sits in ruins. Parish records show that although Clan Laurin was diminished in its power in later years, they still continued to reside at Ardveich alongside our Stewarts.
Glen Beich viewed from Ardvorlich (click to enlarge)
�2005 by Ryk Brown for Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group
![]() Carnlia House (ruins) |
![]() Carnlia Mill foundation (ruins) |
![]() View south towards Ardvorlich from Carnlia |
![]() Don Walker straddling the Carnlia Water, likely where the mill wheel once stood |
Photos of Carnlia Ruins by Don Walker, 2006
Our story began on the previous page with the Stewarts of Ardvorlich and continues now with John Dubh Mhor Stewart, the first of the Dalveich line. John Dubh Mhor Stewart was a natural son of James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich. "Natural son" is a polite way of saying he was illegitimate. The Stewarts of the South document describes John as a "rude and boisterous man" who held Dalveich, Lochearnside, in the parish of Balquhidder as a wadsetter (an ancient form of lease). The land, at that time belonged to the Marquis of Atholl. By 1820 it was part of the Breadalbane estate.
"Dubh Mhor" (pronounced "doo vor") is a Gaelic nickname. "Dubh" is Gaelic for "black"; probably a description of John's black hair. "Mhor" means "great, big, or large". If he was anywhere near the size that his father was reputed to be, then in this case it more than likely meant "big". Essentially his name meant "Big Black John Stewart".
What do we know of John Dubh Mhor Stewart?
Birth - We do not know exactly when John Dubh Mhor Stewart was born. But he was probably born about 1630. His exact date of birth is unknown and no record has been found of his birth. As a natural son, he would have been born either prior to his father's first marriage or in-between his father's marriages. Given the approximate likely birth dates for John's children it is highly unlikely that he was born prior to his father's first marriage in 1620. John must also have been old enough to take the field at Tippermuir in 1645 in order to have been present when his father killed Lord Kilpont. Thus it is suggested that he was born about 1630.
Marriage - There is no record of the name(s) of the wife or wives of John Dubh Mhor Stewart. It appears that he had children over a 20-30 year period which suggests the possibility that he was married more than once. And, given that John himself was a natural child (illegitimate) and given the commonality of natural children in that era it seems reasonable to suggest that some of John's sons may have been natural children too. In 1667, John was co-tenant in Carnlia with a Donald McCara (possibly mac rath = "son of grace" a surname indigenous to the Atholl region). Nothing is known of Donald, but the forename Donald became extremely prominent among John's descendents, suggesting the possibility that Donald may have been John's father-in-law or brother-in-law.
Death - We do not know exactly when John Dubh Mhor Stewart died. The Ardvorlich History says that John Dubh Mhor Stewart lived to a very old age, past the Rising in 1715, and long enough to see one of his great-grandsons reach adulthood. Thus he must have lived to at least 90 years of age and another reference says he lived to over 100 years of age. In 1733, a Robert Steuart entered into a contract of wadset for the lands of Ardveich with James Drummond, Earl of Perth, on 4 January, 1733 (source: MacGregor). It is presumed that he would be a son (or possibly grandson). The date strongly suggests that John Dubh Mhor had just died and that his son was securing his inheritance of Ardveich. This would be about the right age for a man whose great-grandson was an adult. Thus it is suggested that John died in late 1732.
Burial - The Walker Family History claims that John Dubh Mhor Stewart and his resident descendants "are all buried in Ardvorlich Burying Place, Old Chapel of Dundurn, St. Fillans." We have no other confirmation of this claim, but the claim is entirely reasonable. This burial ground is reserved for members of the family of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich and their cadets.
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Photos of Dundurn
Chapel and Burial Ground Oct. 2005, by Ryk Brown. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Burial ground for the Stewarts of Ardvorlich and their cadets including the
Stewarts of Dalveich.
Undocumented location of the grave of John Dubh Mhor Stewart.
The Ardvorlich History records the following about John Dubh Mhor Stewart:
John Murray, 1st Marquis of Atholl, resided at Blair Castle and married Lady Amelia Stanley, daughter of the 7th Earl of Derby. Lady Stanley was said to be fond of John Dubh Mhor Stewart. Her husband, the Marquis, granted the lands of Dalveich and Carnlia to John Dubh Mhor.
"The Major [James Beag Stewart of Ardvorlich] had a natural son, John Dubh Mhor, who, though his father and friends left Montrose, remained behind and joined himself to the Atholl Regiment. He was a very fine looking Highlander and a good soldier. He afterwards became a great favourite of the Marquess of Atholl and got from him a beneficial tack* of the Mill and Lands of Carnlia on the north side of Loch Earn. When the Marquess brought his lady to Scotland (afterwards Countess of Derby in her own right) she wished to see a handsome Highlander in his full equipment, and John Stewart was accordingly introduced to her and became so much a favourite as to be frequently at Blair. He lived 'til after the Revolution (1715) and left eight sons, every one of whom had descendants and they now form one of the most numerous branches of the family, many of them being settled in different parts of South West Perthshire. His descendants enjoyed the tack of Carnlia for several generations and had actually at one time got a feu* right but were afterwards prevailed upon to resign it for a wadset* which was, of course, redeemed." (M.S. Book of Ardvorlich)
*A tack, feu, or wadset were various mediaeval forms of land tenure (in decreasing superiority). They would each be somewhat akin to a modern mortgage or lease.
On 3 November 1656, a John and Duncan Stewart were given the wadset of the four markland of Dalveich, and one markland of Croftnalekin ("Croft na Leachin" = Leachin of Auchraw) bounding the former, on the north shore of Loch Earn. It is presumed that this John Stewart is John Dubh Mhor. His partner, Duncan Stewart, has not been identified.
"The Dalveich and Croftnalekin holdings were accompanied by the shielings of Tomchaddiltie Badguir (Balquhidder?). In addition the tenure included half the fishings pertaining to Dalveich on Loch Earn. The share was to Duncan Stewart and his spouse Janet Buchanan, for an advance of five hundred pounds Scots. John and Duncan Stewart were portioners in tenancy of a subdivided holding.... The sasine for Dalveich was witnessed by James Stewart (2nd) of Ardvorlich, Alexander Stewart, feuer of Annat, one James Stewart in Bradinchyllis (Branachallie?), and Robert Stewart in Monchyle." (James Stewart, Settlements of Western Perthshire).
The sasine in question was: "Sasine confirming an annual rent to Janet Buchannan, spouse of Duncan Stewart in Dalveich, dated June, 1657. RS52/13/f.77" (MacGregor)
The identity of John's land partner in Dalveich remains a mystery. Duncan Stewart would be too young to be a son of John's if John was born in 1630 and Duncan was married in 1657. In 1569 there was a Duncan McAlistair Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart, 2nd of Gartnafuaran, who was residing in Carnlia, but this Duncan would be far too late to be the same person and the Gartnafuaran Duncan is believed to have had no children.
According to the Atholl Hunting Rolls, a John Stewart (presumably our John Dubh Mhor) and Donald McCara were tenants in Carnlia in 1667.
Also in James Irvine Robertson's Atholl Collection is: "
From the above information we can identify the following places as having been possessed by John Dubh Mhor Stewart:
![]() | Dalveich (including fishing rights) |
![]() | Ardveich |
![]() | Carnlia (including mill rights, also frequently spelled "Carnlea") |
![]() | Leachin of Auchraw (a.k.a Croftnalekin = "Croft of Leachin", frequently spelled "Leckin") |
Dalveich and Ardveich are shown on the map and photo above. Carnlia is shown on the photo, but not on the map. Leachin is not shown on either, but is located on the lakeshore between Dalveich and Auchraw. The chapel at Leachin is the traditional burial place for the McLaren Clan, with their senior family being McLaren of Ardveich. Prior to the arrival of our Stewarts all of these lands and indeed most of the west end of Loch Earn belonged to the McLarens. They were the chief clan in the area and had right of first entry into Balquhidder Kirk (which they once defended with the sword against the MacGregors).
In the late 18th century and early 19th century the Highlands of Scotland were emptying. Gaelic speaking Scots were leaving the lands they'd lived on for centuries. For some the reasons were political but mostly it was economical. Some left willingly while others were forced off their ancestral lands. Our Stewarts were no different.
Some of the Dalveich Stewarts remained in Scotland and we have a few living descendants in our group who still reside in Scotland. Some left for England, some for Australia and New Zealand. Very few of the Dalveich Stewarts went to the USA (although the USA seems to have been a preferred destination for the Glenbuckie Stewarts). By far, the largest group of Dalveich Stewart emigrants went to Canada.
Of those who immigrated to Canada in the early 1800s, some settled in Hamilton, Ontario, and some in Nova Scotia. But of the Canadian immigrants from this clan, by far the largest group settled in Renfrew County in eastern Ontario along the banks of the Ottawa River and in the areas just south of the river, particularly in the townships of McNab, Horton, and Admaston.
The following members of this clan are known to have settled in Renfrew County. There may be others that we still haven't identified as the list seems to be growing.
![]() | John Stewart, b 1802 in Ardveich, son of John Stewart in Ardveich and Kiep, son of Donald Stewart in Wester Ardveich and Kichp of 3 Line, below, immigrated in 1830 to McNab township and later moved to Horton Township. |
![]() | James Stewart, b 1798 in Ardveich, illegitimate son of Alexander Stewart, son of Donald Stewart in Wester Ardveich and Kichp of 3 Line, below, immigrated in 1830 to Horton township. |
![]() | Peter McIntyre, b 1798 in Carnlia, son of Margaret Stewart in Wester Ardveich, daughter of Alexander Stewart, son of Donald Stewart in Wester Ardveich and Kichp of 3 Line, below, immigrated in 1830 to Horton township. Peter's wife, Mary Stewart, was descended from 5 Line, below. |
![]() | Robert Stewart, b 1781 in Wester Ardveich, son of Alexander Stewart, son of Donald Stewart in Wester Ardveich and Kichp of 3 Line, below, immigrated sometime before 1851 to McNab township. |
![]() | Robert Stewart, b 1787 in Rannag of Glenogle son of Duncan Stewart in Summerline, son of Daniel Stewart in Walbeich of 4 Line, below, immigrated in 1830 to McNab township. |
![]() | John Stewart, b 1796 on the Blair Drummond Moss, half-brother to the preceding Robert Stewart, son of Duncan Stewart in Summerline, son of Daniel Stewart in Walbeich of 4 Line, below, immigrated in 1830 to McNab township. |
John Dubh Mhor Stewart became the patriarch of a Stewart clan known as Sloichd Iain Dubh Mhor, which simply means "seed (offspring) of Big Black John". According to the Ardvorlich History, he had eight sons, all of whom had descendants. It is presumed he also had daughters, however nothing is known of them. The Ardvorlich History says that this was one of the largest branches of the Ardvorlich family.
The names of only three of John's sons are known for certain: James, John and Alexander. His eldest son would most certainly have been named James, after his father. His second son would likely be named after John's father-in-law whose name is unknown (but at this time it appears most likely to have been Donald, or its substitute version "Daniel"). His third son would likely be named John (unless that was also his father-in-law's name). The Walker Family History confirms that one of his sons was named Alexander, probably a later son. The name Alexander is no surprise to find in this family as John Dubh Mhor's grandfather was Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. Correspondence cited below would suggest that two of his other younger sons were probably named Robert and Charles. From the names of his 18th century descendants and from other correspondence we can suggest that his other sons' names probably included Duncan and possibly Walter. This gives us a list of 8 possible or confirmed names corresponding with his 8 sons: James, Donald, John, Alexander, Charles, Robert, Duncan and Walter.
The birth dates for his sons are not known but it is unlikely that he had any children earlier than 1650. However, for John to have lived long enough to have seen a great-grandson grow to adult age then John could not have begun his family much later than 1660. Given that he probably had some daughters too and given an average space between children of 2-3 years, it would appear that the births of his children probably ranged from ABT 1660-1690. This seems like a rather large family for only one mother, thus it is further suggested that John Dubh Mhor Stewart was probably married more than once.
Stewarts of the South presents us with a picture of the known descendants of John Dubh Mhor in approximately 1815 - 1820. The Ardvorlich History gives us a brief biographical account of John himself, plus a partial genealogy of one or two branches of descendants from the mid-19th century. As the Ardvorlich History indicates that each of John's eight sons had children, then we should expect to find significantly more descendants in 1815 than those described in Stewarts of the South. Thus it may be that some of John's sons had only daughters (as Stewarts of the South only accounts for male lines), or many of John's grandsons may have emigrated, or some of his descendant lines may have failed in the third generation, or it may also be that the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745 took heavy casualties in the male lines of this family. The latter suggestion seems supported by anecdotal and circumstantial evidence. Birth records appear to show a few male lines who suddenly stop having children after 1745.
The records of the Forfeited (Jacobite) Estates 1755-56 lists the lands of Jacobites that were forfeited as a consequence of the Rising of 1745. Included in the records of the Perth estates is the farm of Wester Ardveich. It lists the occupants of the farm as: Alexander McLaren, Duncan Stewart, James Stewart, 3 subtenants and cottars for a total of 6 families. These Stewarts would be Duncan Stewart of 3 Line (below) whose family later resided at Lochearnhead and James Ross Stewart of 5 Line below. Evidence (below) would suggest that Duncan's brother John Stewart likely died during the Rising. And we have testimony that Robert Stewart of 7 Line died at Culloden, although his death is not recorded.
The report also gives us a tantalizing statistical glimpse at these families. It lists that there are 6 families residing at Wester Ardveich in 1755 with:
- 9 adult males over 17
- 6 adult females over 17
- 6 males between 10-17
- 2 females between 10-17
- 2 male children under 10
- 3 female children under 10
For a total of 14 males and 14 females. And it says that 14 of these spoke English. Thus only 50% of the household members were bi-lingual. The rest spoke only Gaelic.
It would appear that the Stewarts of Dalveich were closely allied with the MacLarens of Ardveich. The fact that the MacLarens of Ardveich were also allied by marriage with the Stewarts of Appin may be an indication as to why the Stewarts of Dalveich appear to have been strongly Jacobite while many of the other Ardvorlich branches were not.
When we account for all the known evidence to date we can piece together the following tentative accounting of the descendants of John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich.
John Dubh Mhor STEWART , Of Dalveich, born: ABT 1630 in Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. (His exact place of birth is unrecorded. In the absence of documentary evidence, his father's residence is suggested as his birth place.) John died ABT 1732 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. He may have married more than once. It is suggested that John Dubh Mhor Stewart had the following children:
According to The Ardvorlich History, #5 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich and Stronvar and #6 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich and Coilmore are sibling lines, however their exact relationship is uncertain. The Ardvorlich History claims that Alexander Stewart of 6-Line is the older brother of James Ross Stewart of 5-Line, however Stewarts of the South presents 5-Line as preceding 6-Line thus suggesting that Alexander was the younger brother, apparently contradicting The Ardvorlich History. Neither of these sources are 100% reliable when it comes to birth order and precedence. Current research would appear to favour that Alexander was younger than James. Their father's name is not known for certain. He was probably one of the middle sons of John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich. Present accounting would favour that this line descends from Robert Stewart.
It is suggested that Robert was the father of:
Anna STEUART, bap. 14 JAN 1723 in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Marjory STEUART, bap. 5 FEB 1725 in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Helen STEUART, bap. 26 JAN 1727 in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
John STEUART, bap. 5 JAN 1729 in Glenogle, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Alexander STEUART (double entered as "Alistir"), bap. 18 AUG 1734 in Stronvar Mor, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Thornhill
www.multimap.com
Main Steet, Thornhill
� Copyright
Andrew Smith and licensed for reuse under this
Creative Commons Licence.
The first branch of descendants of the Dalveich Stewarts is a family of Stewarts who lived in Thornhill, just west of the village of Doune in Kilmadock parish. It is believed that the author of Stewarts of the South did his best to present descendant lines in order of seniority, however such a reconstruction would have been based on the the author's knowledge at that time, and based likely on the families' own recollections. Thus it cannot be counted on that the earlier lines are necessarily senior to the later lines.
The Stewarts in Thornhill are described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Alexander Stewart - a feuer in Thornhill village, Doune parish (just west of the village of Doune). Alexander has four (adult) sons. They are:
Alexander Stewart, a wright in Callander who has
one minor son.
Duncan Stewart, a journeyman wright.
James Stewart, a journeyman wright.
Daniel Stewart, who is living with his father. Daniel has
one son, a minor.
Our present reconstruction of this branch is as follows:
Alexander STEWART, b abt 1700Alexander STEWART in Thornhill, b. ABT 1730 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as "a feuer in Thornhill village (just west of the village of Doune), Doune (Kilmadock) parish. Alexander had four (adult) sons (ca.1815-20)." Alexander's relationship to the sons of John Dubh Mhor is unknown, but the fact that he is listed first in Stewarts of the South might suggested that he represented the most senior line and likely descending from James, the eldest son, probably a grandson of James. However the fact that Alexander no longer resided in Dalveich might suggest that he descended from a younger son and that Stewarts of the South has these lines out of order. Alexander had the following children:
Alexander STEWART, b. ABT 1760 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as "a wright in Callander".
Son STEWART, b. AFT 1800 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.
James STEWART, b. ABT 1766 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as "a journeyman wright."
Daniel (Donald) STEWART, b. ABT 1770 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as "living with his father" in 1815.
(Note - Daniel Stewart, schoolmaster in Doune, previously shown here as possibly being the Daniel above has since been eliminated. He can be found here.)
1851 Census results that appear to be good matches:
David STEWART (substitute name for Duncan), age 67, b 1784 in Thornhill, Perthshire, res High St., Thornhill, occ shoemaker, no other residents. Residing next door to...
James STEWART, age 82, b 1769 in Thornhill, Kincardine, Perthshire, res High
St., Thornhill, occ tanner.
Helen STEWART, wife, age 66, b 1785 in Thornhill
1841
James STEWART, 1771, tanner, and Helen STEWART, 1786, res Old Town Thornhill
Residing next to:
IGI
no birth can be found for Thomas 1811 or Samuel 1815
James STEWART and Helen MITCHELL, m 30 JUN 1816 in Kincardine *** (See family of David Mitchell in database)
Thomas STEWART and Margaret MCCULLOCH, m 12 JAN 1834 in Kincardine and 24 JAN 1834 in Kilmadock
James STEWART, b 10 MAY 1767 in Kincardine, s/o Andrew (no mother)
James STEWART, 9 AUG 1767 in Kincardine, s/o James Stewart and Mary McEwen
James STEWART, 1 JAN 1769 in Kincardine, s/o John Stewart (no mother)
Alexander STEWART and Janet MCKINLAY
The second line of descendants of the Dalveich Stewarts was a family who lived in Greeloaning. This line is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Donald Stewart - a feuer in Greeloaning, Dunblane parish, is now living in Upper Canada, America (present-day Ontario, Canada). He has four sons who are all minors.
John Stewart, brother of Donald Stewart, is a gardener and land surveyor in London, and is in respectable circumstances.
Our present reconstruction of this family is as follows:
Unknown STEWART, b. ABT 1740 in Perthshire, Scotland. His identity is unknown. He was father of the following brothers:Donald STEWART, b. ABT 1770 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as "a feuer in Greenloaning, Dunblane parish, is now living in Upper Canada, America (present-day Ontario, Canada)." He had the following children:
John STEWART, b. ABT 1775 in Perthshire, Scotland. He is described in Stewarts of the South as a "brother of Donald Stewart, was a gardener and land surveyor in London (England), and is in respectable circumstances" (ca.1815-20).
Ardveich c/o the
British Rock Art Collection
This line is being researched by Anne Danielson, Jerry Byers and Douglas Wilson.
The third line of the Stewarts of Dalveich is a family who lived in Ardveich and had branches in Lochearnhead and Kichp (Keip/Kip) in Strathyre. This family is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Donald Stewart - late tacksman in Ardveich, Loch Earnside, in Comrie parish, on the Drummond's estate. ("Late" would indicate that he had recently died by ca. 1815). He had three sons, and they are:
- John Stewart, a tacksman at Keip (the original transcriber indicates this word is illegible) of Strathyre in Balquhidder, on Buchanan of Cambusmore's estate. He has five sons: two adults and three under age.
- Alexander Stewart - a moss lord in Flanders Moss at Summerline. He has two sons who are minors.
- Robert Stewart - a shepherd to Captain Stewart of Glenbuckie. He is living at Kintyre, a minor. (It's not clear whether Robert Stewart, the shepherd, was a minor, or if he had one son who was a minor.)
Robert Stewart - who was once the innkeeper at Loch Earnhead (and has presumably died by ca. 1815) left two sons [who are(?)] tacksmen of Ruinacraig, Strathyre, in Balquhidder on Cambusmore's estate. They are:
- Duncan Stewart, who has one son who is a minor
- Robert Stewart, his brother, who is a bachelor and pays rent �160
It was previously suggested here that this line may have been the one presented in The Walker Family History, however that has now been shown to be incorrect. Both lines descend from a Donald/Daniel Stewart through a son Alexander about the same age, so the confusion is understandable.
This family is also mentioned in The Ardvorlich History, where Donald is mentioned in the Stewarts of Glenfinglas section as follows:
John [son of John Ban Mor Stewart in Glenfinglas], who married Christie Stewart of the Ardveich family. She was grandaunt of the Minister of Killin. Her brother was Donald Stewart of Kichp, who was grandfather to the Minister.
A reference in the Dalveich section of The Ardvorlich History refers to the wife of Donald's son, John:
Anne, who married her second cousin, a farmer at Kip, and was mother of the Free Church minister at Killin.
The Free Church minister mentioned in the above references is found in our commentary on Mitchell's MIs in Killin cemetery:
83 Reverend Alexander STEWART, Master of Arts, minister (at) Killin, born (at) Ardveigh (sic Ardveich) 1812, died (at) Bridge of Allan 31 AUG 1882. (Mitchell notes: Alexander married in 1839 to Janet Robertson and �came out� in 1843).
The Comrie OPR allows us to accurately identify the baptism and birth family of Rev. Alexander Stewart and confirm his relationship as son of John Stewart in Kip, son of Donald Stewart in Ardveich and Kip.
The relationship between Donald Stewart and Robert Stewart, above, is not clearly indicated in Stewarts of the South.
Donald's son, Alexander is referred to above as a "moss lord in Flanders Moss at Summerline". Summerline is actually "Summer's Lane" in Flander's Moss, just south of Blair Drummond. The 1841 and 1851 federal census records show Alexander residing at Summer's Lane. There was also a special census conducted of the Moss itself in 1814 and Alexander can be found in that census too. Alexander's marriage and death records confirm that his parents were Donald Stewart and Catharine McLaren and that he was born in Ardveich.
From all of the above data we can confidently present the following account of this family:
"John" STEWART, in (Wester) Ardveich, b. ABT 1710 probably in Ardveich, Comrie,
Perthshire, Scotland. He is suggested above as possibly being the son of a
theoretical "Donald" Stewart in Ardveich, who was, in turn, a son of John Dubh
Mhor Stewart. His first name is unconfirmed, but he was father of
Donald and Christian in Ardveich and was probable an uncle to Robert
Stewart in Lochearnhead (below). He may also have been a brother to Daniel
Stewart of
4 Line - The Stewarts in Walbeich. The fact that
John's children, Donald and Christian, both had eldest
sons named John suggests that their father's name was also John. His age suggests that he
would have been a grandson of John Dubh Mhor Stewart, patriarch of this clan.
A Buchanan
family tree gives John's name as Archibald, but without documentation. As
there is no occurrence of the name Archibald among the descendants of this
branch it is suggested that the Buchanan tree is in error.
As we have documentation of only two children born to John, and as chronology would suggest that these children were probably both born prior to 1745, and as this family were known Jacobite supporters, and as John is not known to have had any children after 1745, it is speculated that he may have died in 1745 during the Rising.
John is not included with his brother Duncan in the listing of forfeited estates in 1755-56 further suggesting that he died in 1745.
John is suggested to have had the following children:
Donald STEWART in
Wester Ardveich and Kichp, b. ABT 1740
probably in Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Donald is shown in
Stewarts of the South as the patriarch
of 3 Line. The Ardvorlich History records him as "Donald of the Kichp, grandfather of the
minister at Killin" who had a sister, Christian, who married
John STEWART in
Auchnahard. Donald is further described in Stewarts of the South
as "a tacksman in Ardveich, Lochearnside, in Comrie parish, on Drummond's
estate". And it indicates that he died prior to ca.1815-20 and had three sons.
Donald
married on 16 JUN 1776 in Comrie parish and 29 JUN 1776 in Balquhidder
parish to Catharine MCLAREN, with Donald recorded as being from Balquhidder
parish and Catharine being from Comrie parish. It is worth noting that
Donald and Catharine already had four children by the time they got
married, although it is strange that their earlier children are still
referred to as "lawful". As Ardveich is in
Comrie parish it is suggested that Donald was living at Kip at the time of
his marriage. It may be that his father was still residing at Ardveich
at the time and that upon his father's death Donald returned to Wester
Ardveich and gave Kip to his son John. Donald Stewart and Catharine
McLaren had the following family:
John
STEWART in Ardveich and Kiep, bap. 20 OCT 1765 in Wester Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire,
Scotland. Comrie OPR: "20 OCT 1765 Donald
STEWART and Catherine MCLERAN in W Ardveich had their lawful son
baptised named John."
John is described in Stewarts of the South as "a tacksman at Kiep of Strathyre in Balquhidder,
on Buchanan
of Cambusmore's estate." The Ardvorlich History indicates that he married his second cousin Anne
STEWART, daughter of
James Og
Stewart of 5 Line below (however
there are onomastic problems with this relationship), and that they were parents of the Free Kirk minister at Killin.
Stewarts of the South says they had five sons, including two adults and three minors ca.
1815-20. Mitchell's MIs reveals the identity of the Free Church
minister at Killin and allows us to identify the remainder of this family
with confidence. John Stewart married on 25 JUL 1795 in Comrie,
Perthshire, Scotland, to Anne STEWART. They had the following children. This line is
being researched by
Douglas Wilson.
Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol 4, Alexander Stewart, born Loch Earn 1811, fifth son of John S., farmer, Ayrshire (sic "Ardveich"); educated at University of Glasgow; M.A. (1832); licensed by Presbytery of Skye as missionary to Highlanders in Presbytery of Paisley; ordained 24th July 1839. Joined the Free Church in 1843; minister of Killin Free Church 1843--83, died 30 AUG 1883. He married 3rd Sept 1839 Janet (died 29th March 1899), daughter of Rose Robertson, Foxbar.
Alexander STEWART, bap. 12 APR 1770
in Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Alexander is described in
Stewarts of the South as
"a
moss lord in Flanders Moss at Summerline"
with two sons. Census records confirm that he resided at Summer's Lane in
Flander's Moss near Blair Drummond. Alexander was involved firstly with
Margaret FERGUSON of Tomranach of Ardveich, and they are recorded as
having an illegitimate son, James, who is found living with Alexander in
the 1814 Moss census.
James
STEWART, bap. 18
FEB 1798 in Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. James is recorded in
the Comrie OPR as: "James STEWART OR FERGUSON, bap. 18 FEB 1798, child begotten
in fornication, son of Alexander Stewart in Ardveich and Margaret Ferguson in
Tomranach of Ardveich." There were three Alexander Stewarts residing in Ardveich
at the time. Alexander of 7-Line can be eliminated as his complete family is
known and conflicts chronologically with this birth. Alexander of 6-Line already
had a son named James. By process of elimination this leaves only Alexander
Stewart of 3-Line to be the father of James, as we presently show here.
The 1814 Moss census shows Alexander Stewart of 3-Line residing at Summer's Lane with a James Stewart matching this James, thus confirming the relationship as shown here. Furthermore, this James Stewart is found in 1841 in Horton Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada residing nearby to Peter McIntyre (uncle of this James Stewart) and shown as born in FEB 1798 (although the years were rounded in the 1841 census to the nearest five years) firtjer confirming the relationship as shown here.
James and Margaret Stewart came to Horton in 1830 with their first two sons. They spent their first night at the Airth home. They moved to Lot 6, Con 1 what was later the Farquharson farm on Smiths Creek and here other members of their family were born. Later they moved to Lot 4, Conc. 2, Horton Twp, Renfrew, ON. (Limecraig). They were living at Horton Twp, Renfrew, ON in 1851 and 1861. Margaret was living was a widow with her son, John, in 1871. Today (2008) the farm still stands and is in the hands of the Mclaren family and is operated as an apple orchard. (c/o descendant Doug Cram.)
James Stewart married on 10 JUN 1827 in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret STEWART b: ABT 9 FEB 1806 in Kirklane, Blair Drummond Moss, Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland, daughter of John Stewart in Kirkline and Mary Gow. James and Margaret had the following children:
Alexander Stewart married on 18 DEC 1803 in Balquhidder and 27 DEC 1803 in Comrie to Kathrine MCINTYRE, b: ABT 14 JAN 1781 in Carnlia, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland as the daughter of Finlay McIntyre in Carnlia and Catharine McIntyre. They had the following children:
John Stewart in Auchnahard died about 1778 and his wife, Christie Stewart married secondly on 25 APR 1779 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland to another John STEWART in Corriechrombie (Glenbuckie Branch III).
"Duncan" STEWART , in Lochearnhead b: ABT 1715 in Probably Wester
Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. This "Duncan" is suggested as a
theoretical placeholder only. No evidence of his existence has been found.
Stewarts of the South indicates that Donald Stewart of Kip was related to
Robert Stewart in Lochearnhead, but does not indicate how they are related. The
fact that Robert's eldest son is not named John would suggest that Robert was
probably a first cousin of Donald. Onomastics would suggest that Robert's
father's name was Duncan. Therefore, in the absence of any other evidence it is
suggested that Robert's father's name may have been Duncan and that Duncan was a
brother to John Stewart in Wester Ardveich.
Finlay
MCINTYRE who
moved firstly to Islay, Argyll and later immigrated along with his
half-brother Peter to Nova Scotia, Canada. This family is being
researched by Jerry Byers.
![]() Alexander Stewart birth |
![]() Duncan Stewart birth |
![]() Robert Stewart birth |
![]() John Stewart marriage |
Certificates c/o Douglas Wilson |
The fourth line of the Dalveich Stewarts is a family who lived in Walbeich. The farm of Walbeich has not been identified. Walbeich could be a transcription error for Dalveich. It could also be "Bhalbeich" ("bh" is pronounced as "w" in Gaelic) suggesting "Balbeich" which means "farmtown of Beich". The suffix "beich" is synonymous with "veich" as found in the suffixes of Dalveich and Ardveich. This would suggest that Walbeich was also located somewhere in Glen Beich. The fact that 3 Line and 5 Line may be sibling lines would seem to imply that this line is also a sibling line of lines 3 & 5. The Stewarts in Walbeich are presented in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Daniel Stewart - was once a tacksman in Walbeich (and is presumably dead in ca. 1815). He left four sons:
- John Stewart, a tacksman at Gartnafuaran, which was once the property of Stewart of Don in Balquhidder parish, but is now Sir John McGregor's estate. He has three sons -- one adult and two minors.
- Duncan Stewart, of Summerline flanders Moss. He has two sons -- one adult who is a smith and the other who is a minor
- Lieutenant Alexander Stewart, of the P Militia, who is now a feuer in St Fillans, Comrie parish, on Drummond's estate. He has two sons -- one who is a student of Divinity and the other who is a minor by a second marriage.
- Donald Stewart of Summerline flanders Moss. He left one son (presumably an adult son). (Donald Stewart is presumably dead by ca. 1815).
Our present accounting of this branch is as follows:
Donald STEWART , in Wester Ardveich, b ABT 1670 in Dalveich, Balquhidder,
Perthshire, Scotland. It is known that John Dubh Mhor had eight sons.
Donald's first name is not known for certain but is suggested from onomastics.
He is suggested as the patriarch of 3 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich,
Lochearnhead and Kichp and 4 Line - The Stewarts in Walbeich.
He is suggested as the father of:
Daniel STEWART , in Walbeich b: ABT 1710 in Probably Wester Ardveich,
Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Daniel is a substitute name for Donald. Daniel is given in Stewarts of the South
as the patriarch of 4 Line of the Stewarts of Dalveich. This branch
resided in Walbeich. No such place has been identified on any maps, but its name
would suggest that it was located somewhere in Glen Beich. It may be an
Anglicization of Bhalbeich, or Balbeich, suggesting "farmstead of
the birch trees".
Daniel's parentage is not known. He is shown here as a son of Donald Stewart in Wester Ardveich simply because he fits chronologically and onomastically as well as fitting the accounting pattern of Stewarts of the South. Given the apparent gap in age between Daniel and his suggested other brothers, as well as the fact that his line is accounted separately from 3 Line, would suggest further that Daniel may have had a different mother from John Stewart in Wester Ardveich and Duncan Stewart in Lochearnhead.
Daniel is described in Stewarts of the South as "once a tacksman in Walbeich" and also as the father of John, Duncan, Lt. Alexander, and Donald. However current research suggests that Stewarts of the South is off by one generation and that Daniel may have been the grand-father of these four brothers, but their father appears far more likely to have been Robert, as shown here. All of the four sons named in Stewarts of the South had eldest sons named Robert, strongly suggesting that their father was named Robert. There is a family headed by a Robert Stewart in Dalveich whose children match almost perfectly with the sons shown for this branch. Thus it is suggested that Daniel Stewart in Walbeich was the father of:
John STEWART in Gartnafuaran b: ABT 12 APR 1761 in Dalveich, Balquhidder,
Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as the son of Robert Stewart in Dalveich and
Janet Stewart. John is described in Stewarts of the South as "a
tacksman at Gartnafuaran, which was once the property of Stewart of Don in
Balquhidder parish, but is now (ca.1815-20) Sir John McGregor's estate." He
had the following children (described as three sons, one adult and two
minors).
No records in the Balquhidder OPR come close to matching the description of John and his children. Identifying this family still eludes us.
Donald STEWART in Summerline Flanders Moss b: ABT 09 AUG 1763 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as the son of Robert Stewart and Janet Stewart. Donald is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
"Donald Stewart of Summerline flanders Moss. He left one son (presumably an adult son). (Donald Stewart is presumably dead by ca. 1815)."
Donald's family is described in the Appendix of Stewarts of the South as follows:
"Widow of Donald Stewart with her son, of the Ardvorlich family, who was a good-hearted friendly man."
Donald and his family can be found in the 1814 Blair Drummond Moss Census as follows:
Rossburn 7b
Former Possessor: Angus McIntyre
Present Possessor: Donald Stewart 40 yrs
Jannet Ferguson 35 "
Children
Elizabeth 6 yrs
Jannet 1 "
Persons deceased
Robert 41/2 1808 Hives
Robert 11/2 1811 Colic
The descriptions in Stewarts of the South match with what we find in the 1814 Blair Drummond Moss census and the Kincardine OPR which show that Donald had two sons named Robert who both died in childhood and one son, Peter, who was born just prior to the authorship of Stewarts of the South.
Donald Stewart married on 14 FEB 1801 in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland to Janet FERGUSON b: 1771 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Donald and Janet's marriage record in Kincardine shows them as "both in this parish" but the 1814 Moss Census says they were originally from Balquhidder. They had the following children:
Duncan STEWART in Summerline b: ABT 12 OCT 1765 in Dalveich, Balquhidder,
Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as the son of Robert Stewart in Dalveich and
Janet Stewart. Duncan's name is given in the Balquhidder OPR as
"Alexander" at his time of birth. This has been confirmed in the original
OPR and is not a transcription error. However the fact that the OPR shows
Robert having three sons all named Alexander is suspicious to begin with.
Plus the second "Alexander" matches perfectly with what we know of Robert's son,
Duncan. Thus it is suggested that one of two things happened: either the
minister recorded the wrong name in the OPR or Robert's first son, Alexander,
had already died so Robert initially named this son Alexander, then changed his
mind and called this son Duncan and named his following son Alexander -- or we
have made an error in accounting Robert as the father of this family.
Duncan is described in Stewarts of the South as: "Duncan Stewart, of Summerline flanders Moss. He has two sons -- one adult who is a smith and the other who is a minor." He is an exact match for the Duncan Stewart found in the 1814 Blair Drummond Moss Census residing at 9 Rossburn Lane:
Former Possessor: Alexander Stewart
Present Possessor: Duncan Stewart 50 yrs
Mary Campbell 50 "
Children:
Robert 26 yrs
John 16 "
Jenny 13 "
Persons deceased: None
Years Settled on the Moss: 18 years
Where they came from: Lochearnside
Cats 1
Poultry 2
Cows 2
The Appendix of Stewarts of the South shows only three Duncan Stewarts
listed as residing on The Moss:
1. Duncan Stewart, in the above place (Summerline Flander's Moss), and of the
same family (Glenbuckie), an industrious character
2. Duncan Stewart, Summerline Flander's Moss, Glenbuckie family, a middling,
industrious character
3. Duncan Stewart, same place (Summerline Flander's Moss), Ardvorlich family, an
industrious character
When we compare these entries with their corresponding entries in the main family genealogy sections of Stewarts of the South it is immediately clear that the two Glenbuckie references are not even close to matching the description of the Duncan Stewart residing at 9 Rossburn Lane. The third entry refers to Duncan, descendant of Daniel Stewart in Walbeich, as shown here, whom we have already shown is an exact match. Thus we can state with confidence that the Duncan Stewart residing at 9 Rossburn Lane and Duncan Stewart of the Stewarts in Walbeich, are a perfect match for each other and they represent the only corresponding match between Stewarts of the South and the 1814 Blair Drummond Moss Census, and thus they must be the same person.
The births of Duncan's children are easily identifiable in parish records as shown here. Duncan's first marriage is recorded in the Balquhidder OPR as: "Duncan Stewart late at Lochearnhead and Margaret McGregor [at] Cuilt both in this parish were married here after their clandestine marriage and paid the dues of 2/6." Duncan had one son, Robert, by this marriage. Margaret McGregor presumably died in childbirth or shortly after. Duncan subsequently had relations with Mary Campbell, but there is no record of any marriage.
Duncan's two sons match perfectly with a Robert and John Stewart who are found residing in 1851 in McNab Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada along with many other descendants of this clan and other former residents from the west end of Loch Earn.
Duncan married firstly on 1 JAN 1786 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret MCGREGOR b: ABT 1765 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. They had the following son:
It is presumed that Margaret McGregor died in childbirth or shortly afterwards. Duncan Stewart became involved secondly with Mary CAMPBELL b: 1764 in Lochearnside, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. No record of a marriage has been found. They had the following children:
This family is being researched by Tom Stewart and Brenda Mills (nee Stewart)
The two half-brothers, Robert and John Stewart, sons of Duncan Stewart in Summerline, Flanders Moss, were residing on the Blair Drummond Moss in Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland. About 1830 or so they immigrated to McNab Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada, where they had the following families.
Robert STEWART b: ABT 5 APR 1787 in Rannag of Glenogle, Balquhidder,
Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as son of Duncan Stewart in Summerline and
Margaret McGregor. The 1814 Blair Drummond Moss Census shows Robert as 26
years old and residing with his father and step-mother at 9 Rossburn Lane. This
entry corresponds perfectly with Robert's birth in the Balquhidder OPR. Stewarts
of the South says that Robert Stewart, son of Duncan Stewart in Summerline Moss,
was a smith. He is also a perfect match for a Robert Stewart found residing in
1851 in McNab Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada nearby to his
half-brother John Stewart, as shown here, and nearby to several McGregors, who
could be related to his mother. He was also residing nearby to Christie
Stewart-nee-McIntyre widow of John Stewart from 3-Line of the Dalveich Stewarts,
above. Robert Stewart married on 26 FEB 1826 in Kincardine by Doune,
Perthshire, Scotland to Jane MCNIE b: 1799 in
Scotland. She is believed to be the Jane/Janet MCNIE bap. 30 DEC 1798
Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland as the daughter of Peter McNie and
Katherine McIntyre who resided at 9a Summer's Lane on the Blair Drummond Moss.
Jane's mother, Katherine McIntyre is believed to be the daughter of Patrick
McIntyre of the Carnlia McIntyres.
Robert and Jane had the following children:
John STEWART b: ABT 16 AUG 1796 in Blair Drummond Moss, Kincardine by
Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as son of Duncan Stewart in Summerline
and Mary Campbell. John grew up on the Blair Drummond Moss in Kincardine
by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland and resided at 9 Rossburn Lane on The Moss with
his parents and half-brother in 1814. John immigrated to McNab
Township, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada along with his older half-brother,
Robert. They came with a large migration of Dalveich Stewarts, Carnlia
McIntyres and Ardveich MacLarens around 1830-1834. In 1851
in Renfrew, Ontario, John was residing only a few farms away from Malcolm
McLaren formerly from Glen Ogle. John married on 9 DEC 1823 in
Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Elizabeth\Helen DEWAR b: 1798 in Comrie,
Perthshire, Scotland, however her birth family has not been identified.
John and Elizabeth had the following children:
Lt. Alexander STEWART in St. Fillans b: ABT 27 APR 1771 in Dalveich,
Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as a son of Robert Stewart in
Dalveich and Janet Stewart. Alexander is described in Stewarts of the
South as a lieutenant in the Perthshire Militia and as "a feuer in St Fillans,
Comrie parish, on Drummond's estate" with two sons from two marriages: the
first, a student of divinity, and the second, a minor. (ca.1815-20) The Comrie
OPR clearly identifies Alexander's second marriage in which he is described as
"Lieutenant Alexander Stewart" "in Comrie" initially and "in St. Fillans"
latterly. His first marriage is not so clear. There is only one son born to an
Alexander Stewart in Comrie in the preceding few years (that has not been
accounted for with another family) and that is William Stewart, bap 17 JAN 1802
in Comrie Village in Comrie parish as the son of "Mr." Alexander Stewart and
Jane(t) Reid. This is the only child for them. They were married on 25 AUG 1800
in Comrie with Alexander described as "in the parish of Balquhidder" and Janet
Reid as "in this parish" (Comrie). The specification of "Mr." is noteworthy as
it is very rare in the OPRs of that era. It usually designates one of two
things: a clergyman or a minor landowner/feurer. Thus William's birth is a
near-perfect match for Lieut. Alexander's first son, except for onomastics.
According to Stewarts of the South, Alexander's father was named Daniel Stewart
in Walbeich. However, current research suggests that his father's name was more
likely Robert and that Robert's father or grandfather was the Daniel Stewart in
Walbeich mentioned in Stewarts of the South. As such, if William is this
Alexander's first son then Alexander violated onomastic custom, possibly because
his first wife may have died in childbirth and Alexander chose to honour Janet
Reid's father by naming their son after him instead of his own father, perhaps
feeling that he would have another opportunity to name a son after his own
father. If so, then the onomastics work just fine. As such, for now we are
tentatively William as Alexander's first son with the preceding uncertainties
noted.
The Comrie OPR records Alexander's second marriage as: "1815, April 6th, Lieut. Alexr Stewart and Margt Comrie, both in this parish, proclaimed themselves and were married on the 8th."
Alexander is believed to have married firstly on 23 AUG AND 05 SEP 1800 in Balquhidder and Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Janet REID b: ABT 1875 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. They had the following child:
Lt. Alexander Stewart is confirmed to have married secondly on 08 APR 1815 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret COMRIE b: 23 AUG 1786 in Monzievaird, Perthshire, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Comrie and Martha Robertson. Alexander Stewart and Margaret Comrie had the following family:
This family is being researched by Vera Holmes, Helen Nicholson and Jerry Byers.
This line has been extremely difficult to reconcile, but I think we are finally getting close. We have three different accounts of this line:
All three accounts conflict to varying degrees. All three accounts present a "James Stewart in Stronvar". It might be tempting to suggest that these accounts conflict because they represent more than one James. However, the Stewarts of the South appendix, which is the next best thing to a census, lists only one James Stewart in Stronvar ca. 1815-1820. Balquhidder OPR data also supports only one James. Thus it appears that we are left with three conflicting accounts of the same family. However, recent research has uncovered the birth record for James Og Stewart, son of James Ross Stewart, which has finally allowed us to reconcile all three accounts and to determine which conflicts are genuine errors or misinterpretations.
Stewarts of the South Version
Stewarts of the South accounts for this line as follows:
James Stewart, otherwise known as Sheumas Ross (Sheumas is Gaelic for James, so his English name would be James Ross Stewart. Ross can be a nickname form of Robertson, thus James' father may have been named Robert or his mother may have been a Ross/Robertson, or a Ross was a wooded promontory and may refer to his residence i.e. "James of the Ross") - late tenant at Ardveich, Loch Earnside, on Drummond's estate. (Presumably he died by ca. 1815.) He left two sons, and they are:
- James Stewart, who is a tenant of Stronvar in Balquhidder parish, on Captain [Duncan] Stewart [of Glenbuckie]'s estate. His rent is �60. Stronvar once belonged to Captain Fergusson of [ditto] (Stronvar) and to the present Provost Fergusson in Cupar, Fifeshire, who sold it to Capt [Duncan] Stewart [of Glenbuckie]. Although I am sorry to say the seller is better than the buyer.
- He has two sons who are both minors.
- Robert Stewart, who was once a foreman to Mr (William) Stewart (8th Laird) of Ardvorlich. He is now working in the same capacity with one Mr Rob at Menstrie in Blairlogie parish on Sir Ralph Abercrombie's estate in Stirlingshire.
- He has two sons (presumably adult sons).
Stewarts of the South Appendix lists only one person of the name Stewart residing in Stronvar ca. 1815-1820:
![]() |
No 11 Mr James Stewart, tenant at Stronvar, of the Ardvorlich family an industrious clannish char �60. Capt Stewart of Glenbuckie's property. |
This latter "#11" James must be identical with the eldest son James "tenant of Stronvar" listed above.
Another account of this branch comes from private correspondence from a descendant of Christina Margaret McIntyre (shown below). Christina received a letter from her aunt Margaret Stewart in 1908 which claimed that Margaret's mother (and Christina's grandmother), Mary, was born in 1798 in Stronvar as the daughter of James Stewart and Jean McDiarmid. It further claims that James was the youngest of three brothers, the others being John and Donald, and says that Donald had to flee the country due to his "wild behaviour". However, it would now appear that James as not the youngest of three brothers and had no brothers named John or Donald. However, it is interesting that Donald Stewart in 2-Line above is described as having left the country for Ontario, Canada. Perhaps his story had become confused into this family's account.
The Ardvorlich History presents an account of this family as follows:
There were two brothers of this family living at Ardveich at the end of the 18th century. They were Alexander (Sandy) Stewart and his brother James Stewart....
[Alexander from 6-Line is presented here -- see below for his information.]
The second brother, James, long resided about Stronvar. His son was called James Og and lived on a croft just where the nursery used to be at Ardvorlich. The croft was called Ashinranoch, He had two sons and about six daughters. [James Og should be shown as one of the children below. James Og had two sons and three (known) daughters. James Ross had two sons and six daughters. Thus the children below are those of James Ross Stewart, not James Og Stewart.]
- Robert, who lived at Ashinranoch, and was a ploughman at Ardvorlich. He married Lizzie MacLaughlan, a servant at Ardvorlich. His son, William, is now (1879) a shopkeeper at Menstrie.
- Alexander (Sandy). [No such son has been found and this reference conflicts with all other sources. It is believed that The Ardvorlich History is mistaken here.]
- Anne, who married her second cousin, a farmer at Kip, and was mother of the Free Church minister at Killin.
- Mary was mother of Robert and Peter Ferguson in St. Fillans.
- Another [Margaret] was married to a Stewart [sic, McIntyre] and was mother to Mrs. Mackintyre of Gartnafuaran. [Donald McIntyre in Gartnafuaran married Catharine McIntyre, daughter of Duncan McIntyre and Margaret Stewart. This Margaret Stewart is a perfect age to be another daughter of James Ross Stewart. Thus it is suggested that The Ardvorlich History is in error here and that this daughter married a McIntyre, not a Stewart, as no such person has been found. Furthermore, the onomastics match our present reconciliation.]
- Another married a McIntyre and was grandmother to the people at Coshinachie, whose parents used to be in Gleninisach. [This daughter has not been identified and may be confused for the previous one.]
Coshinachie - identified from a photo in Around Callander and the
Trossachs, by Morag Lloyds, in which it is shown just east of the Smithy and
near the road junction.
www.nls.uk
The late Major John Stewart of Ardvorlich authored a history of the Balquhidder Stewarts. This was published privately and we have only been able to view select pages. The Ardvorlich History includes a detailed account of a James Stewart who "long resided about Stronvar". The Major's source for this account was an unknown private author ca. 1879. The use of third person language suggests that the author was not a member of this family, but was writing an account from outside the family. If so, then such an account must be considered as the least reliable of the three accounts.
This version claims that James Stewart in Stronvar was the younger brother of Alexander Stewart of 6-Line (below). The Ardvorlich History version does not include any dates. The reference to "the Free Kirk Minister at Killin" allows us to accurately identify the family of Anne Stewart below and to establish a basis for dating the remainder of the family. Whereas Stewarts of the South seems to indicate that James was the older brother, instead of Alexander. OPR data would support the Stewarts of the South chronology, suggesting that The Ardvorlich History has the ages of the brothers reversed.
The description of James' son Robert Stewart in Ashinranock as presented in The Ardvorlich History version is consistent with the description of Robert in Stewarts of the South, but Stewarts of the South shows him as the brother of James Og ("the Younger").
From these three sources, supplemented with OPR data and IGI data we can now reconstruct the following family:
Robert STEWART , in Glenbeich and Ardveich b: ABT 1678 in Dalveich,
Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as a son of John Dubh Mhor
Stewart of Dalveich. It is known that John Dubh Mhor had
eight sons. Robert's name is not known for sure but is suggested from evidence in the following
letter: "1713 - Alex Stewart, London, wants brother Robert
Stewart, in Glenbeach (Glenbeich) to send him money." He is presumed
to be the Robert Steuart who entered into a
contract of wadset for the lands of Ardveich with James Drummond, Earl of
Perth, on 4 January, 1733 (source: MacGregor) as no other favourable Robert
Stewart has been identified. It is known that John Dubh Mhor lived to
over 100 years of age. The date of the preceding sasine suggests that
John likely died just prior to 4 JAN 1733 and this is the record of his son
securing his inheritance. We have no confirmation that these references
apply to the same Robert, nor that they apply to a son of John Dubh Mhor
Stewart. It is possible that these references could be to a grandson of
John. However the current accounting seems to be the most likely
arrangement.
According to The Ardvorlich History, #5 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich and Stronvar and #6 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich and Coilmore are sibling lines, however their exact relationship is uncertain. The Ardvorlich History claims that Alexander Stewart of 6-Line is the older brother of James Ross Stewart of 5-Line, however Stewarts of the South presents 5-Line as preceding 6-Line thus suggesting that Alexander was the younger brother, apparently contradicting The Ardvorlich History. Neither of these sources are 100% reliable when it comes to birth order and precedence. Current research would appear to favour that Alexander was younger than James. Their father's name is not known for certain. He was probably one of the middle sons of John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich. Present accounting would favour that this line descends from Robert Stewart.
It is suggested that Robert was the father of:
The Ardvorlich History says that "there were two brothers of this family living at Ardveich at the end of the 18th century. They were Alexander (Sandy) Stewart and his brother James Stewart." James' brother is recorded below as Alexander Stewart in Ardveich of 6-line. The Ardvorlich History says that Alexander and James "lived at Carnlia in Glenveich and were descended from Ian Dubh Mor, natural son of Major James Stewart of Ardvorlich." James and Alexander are almost certainly grandsons, or possibly great-grandsons of John Dubh Mhor Stewart. Their father's name is not known for sure. It would be tempting to suggest from James' onomastics that James' father's name was also James, but we cannot be sure that the children shown below constitute all of James' children. We are presently favouring the onomastics of James' brother, Alexander, and showing their father's name as Robert. The Ardvorlich History also states that James Ross Stewart had two sons and about six daughters. Thus it is presumed that at least one of the daughters shown below died young.
James Ross Stewart married Catherine MCLAREN b: ABT 1730 in Scotland, although no record of their marriage has been found. They had the following children:
James
MCMILLAN, b. JAN 1834 in Brodick, Isle of Arran, Bute, Scotland. James
immigrated to Williamsburg, York, New Brunswick, Canada.
This line is being researched by Shane Laurie.
The next branch of the Dalveich Stewarts were a family living in Ardveich and Coilmore. This family is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Alexander Stewart - a tacksman at Ardveich in Comrie Balquhidder parish. He left four sons. (It is presumed that Alexander is dead in ca. 1815.) His sons are:
- Robert Stewart, a soldier in the 79th Regiment. He has a family of sons (presumably adult sons).
- A son of unknown name who is now in training with the Artillery
- A second son of unknown name who is also training with the Artillery.
James Stewart, who is a lotter (buyer and seller of wool) at Coilmore on Ardvorlich's estate.
This family is described in The Ardvorlich History as follows:
There were two brothers of this family living at Ardveich at the end of the 18th century. They were Alexander (Sandy) Stewart and his brother James Stewart.
The eldest, Alexander (Sandy), was a wright and had the following issue:
- Robert, who died without children.
- James, who was brought up as a weaver, then in Callander. Afterwards he became a shepherd at Balmenoch and Ardvorlich. Latterly he became a crofter at Coilmore. He married a MacGregor and had one daughter, Annie. He died in 1861. Annie was the faithful servant at Ardvorlich, who was well known to the last generation. She served four lairds and eventually died at Ardvorlich about 1897. She was buried at Dundurn inside the chapel.
- John, who was a constable. He died in 1855. He had two sons in Australia, John and Abel.
- Bell, a cook, died in William Street, Edinburgh.
- Mary, married Duncan Ferguson, firstly a shepherd at Gleninishach, Balquhidder, latterly a crofter at Coilcreich.
These two accounts conflict on a couple of points:
The Ardvorlich History gives no dates for any of these people. However the reference to son James who was father of Annie, servant at Ardvorlich, can be confirmed by cross-reference to Mitchell's MIs and reconciled with OPR data, thus giving us a basis for dating the rest of the family.
This family is accounted for as follows:
Alexander STEWART
in Ardveich, b. ABT 1735 probably in Ardveich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Alexander
is shown in Stewarts of the South as the patriarch of 6 Line of the
Dalveich Stewarts. The Ardvorlich History says that Alexander ("Sandy")
was a wright and claims that "there were two brothers of this family living at
Ardveich at the end of the 18th century. They were Alexander (Sandy)
Stewart and his brother James Stewart." However, dating their families
makes it seem nearly impossible for Alexander and James to be brothers as they
appear to be a full generation apart from each other. The Ardvorlich
History may be out by one generation. It seems likely that this is the
Alexander Stewart referred to in correspondence from the Stewart Society: "In
1798, a James, Robert, John and Alexander Stewart were living in Wester
Ardveich." Shane Laurie's research has confirmed that this Alexander
STEWART had a family with Catherine MCKERRACHER/MCARTHUR (MCKERCHER, MCARCHIR,
MCKARICHER), although no record of their marriage has been found. They had the following
children:
This line is being researched by Ryk Brown, Brian Stewart and Don Walker.
The seventh line of descendants of the Stewarts of Dalveich are a family of Stewarts who resided first in Glentarken and later in Moral near St. Fillans, east of Loch Earn. They are described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Alexander Stewart, who is a tacksman in Dalveich, Balquhidder parish on Breadalbane's estate. He has three sons -- one adult and two under age.
Robert Stewart - a feuer in St Fillans, Comrie parish, on Drummond's estate. He has three or four sons under age.
Loch Earn looking west from above St. Fillans
Both of these men together with their children are easily identifiable in the Balquhidder and Comrie parish records. But trying to make them fit into a single accounting of one family is challenging.
The relationship between Alexander and Robert above is not indicated in Stewarts of the South. This would suggest either that the author of Stewarts of the South did not know the relationship of these two, or that it was too distant to note. If Alexander and Robert were brothers or even first-cousins then it seems likely that Stewarts of the South would have mentioned this. Thus it seems likely that they are at least second cousins and probably even more distant.
This family is also presented in the Walker Family History below. The level of detail shown for each line ought to give us good confidence in the accuracy and reliability of this account. The Walker document shows the line of descent as:
James Stewart, B. about 1589. His mother was a sister to John Drummond Ernoch, Forester in Glenartney. (See Legend of Montrose) Born under tragic circumstances. Killed Lord Kilpont in a quarrel never yet explained)
John Stewart, known as "Iain dubh (mac) Shemais" (Black John son of James)
Alexander Stewart, resided at Carnlia, No Record
Donald Stewart, resided at Carnlia, married a daughter of Alexander MacGregor � Woodside Lochearnhead. Don�t know her name, of Clan Dughail Chiar
Alexander Stewart, resided at Carnlia, married Janet Stewart Lochearnside. Her mother's name was MacLaren
Alexander Stewart in Cuilt, B. at Carnlia about 1809. Alexander Stewart (2) married Margaret Dewar, B. Killin about 1820. She was daughter of Alexander Dewar & Janet MacKay. Said Alexander Dewar was born at Nether Bolespie, and was the son of Duncan Dewar and Margaret MacGregor. Janet MacKay, B. Killin, her mother�s name was Janet Macnab, who was the daughter of Donald Macnab, Glendochart; Janet Macnab had a brother Duncan.
Alexander Stewart, author of this account.
Balquhidder OPR data allows us to easily, fully, and accurately identify the family of Alexander Stewart in Carnlia who married Janet Stewart of Lochearnside. Their children were:
John STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1794 FEB 2 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Donald STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1796 MAR 20 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Robert STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1800 JAN 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Isabel STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1802 MAR 28 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Patric STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1804 JUN 17 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Margaret STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1806 MAY 14 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Margaret is believed to have married to John McGregor and had two daughters, Isabella and Janet. They were residing in Kilmadock in 1851 and moved to Australia in 1852. This family is being discussed here: http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2457&mforum=stewart#2457
Alexander STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1809 FEB 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Daniel (Donald) STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1813 JUN 4 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
This is clearly an excellent match with the description of Alexander Stewart presented in Stewarts of the South and does not fit well with any other Line above. Thus we can be fairly certain that the Walker History refers to 7-Line, here.
Alexander's birth family can then be readily identified in the OPR as:
Donald Stewart and Isabel McGregor had the following children:
Mary STEWART, b. ABT 11 JUN 1758 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
John STEWART, b. ABT 23 MAR 1760 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Catharine STEWART, bap. 28 JUL 1762 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Jannet STEWART, bap. 24 JUL 1764 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Alexander STEWART, bap. 20 JUN 1767 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Now the problems begin to arise in trying to reconcile this account with Stewarts of the South, with itself, and with what we believe to be true of the family of Alexander's distant cousin, Robert.
First problem: Onomastics. This family appears to break the customary naming pattern in both generations presented here. If Donald's father's name was Alexander, then we should expect to find his eldest son named Alexander. Instead, his eldest son appears to be John. Similarly with Alexander, who, being the son of Donald, should have named his first son Donald. Instead we again find the first son named John. What is most intriguing is that if we discount each of these first sons named John then the remainder of their families follow customary naming patterns. Could it be that this family chose to name their first sons John in honour of their founder, John Dubh Mhor Stewart, and then followed customary naming patters afterwards? (A similar case has been noted below in the The McIntyre Family in Carnlia with the birth of John Lorne Stewart McIntyre.)
Second problem: Chronology and seniority. There are almost 140 years between the birth of John Dubh Mhor Stewart and his great-grandson, Alexander Stewart in Carnlia. To fit only two generations in-between requires quite a stretch. It means that these men averaged 45-50 years of age when their sons were born. However comparisons with other lines will show that to be not unusual in this family, but it suggests that some of these were probably younger sons. To make it fit, it requires that Donald must be born probably no later than 1620 and the first Alexander must be born about 1680. This fits okay until we try to reconcile it with OPR data and what we believe to be true of Alexander's distant cousin Robert in Stewarts of the South.
We find in the Balquhidder OPR an entry for "Robert Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart in Dalveich, born November 1697" whom we believe to be the ancestor of Robert Stewart of this line. If Alexander had had a son, Robert, in 1697 then it makes it challenging (though not impossible) for him to be the father of Donald, ca. 1720. However, this entry may actually be "Dalreich" not "Dalveich". Dalreich (or Dalreach) is located in Lower Glenbuckie and was the residence of an early branch of the Gartnafuaran Stewarts.
We must presume that Alexander's first son would be named John, after his father, John Dubh Mhor Stewart. Such a son must be older than Robert and must have been born no later than 1695. (There would be no record of his birth as the parish records don't begin until 1696.) This would mean that Alexander must have been born much earlier than 1680; probably closer to 1670, if not earlier. But if we push Alexander's birth too early it causes significant problems with the seniority of all the lines above. It would also make the later Alexander's line junior in seniority to Robert's, which means that Stewarts of the South must have the men listed in reverse order, or that there is an illegitimate birth in Robert's ancestry, or we have Robert's ancestry incorrect. Or....
These are the problems we face with incomplete information. We'll hurt our brains if we try too hard to make all the puzzle pieces fit when we're still missing several significant pieces. Thus we are forced, for now, to leave this line with its chronological challenges. With this qualification we present the following tentative accounting of this line:
Alexander STEWART in Carnlia, b. ABT
1680 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Alexander is the
patriarch of
7 Line - The
Stewarts in Carnlia, Glentarken and Moral. Alexander is the
only son of John Dubh Mhor for whom we have any form of documented evidence
of his identity. Alexander is recorded in the Walker Family
History as being a son of "Iain Dubh
Shenman", son of James Stewart of Ardvorlich. There is no such Gaelic word as "Shenman". This would be a
transcription error for Iain Dubh Sheamuis, or "Black John (of) James",
known to us as John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich, progenitor of this clan.
The Walker History says that Alexander resided and died in Carnlia and that he and all his descendants are buried
in the Stewart of Ardvorlich family burial ground at Dundurn Chapel at the east
end of Loch Earn.
"John" STEWART, b. ABT 1695 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. There is no documented evidence of such a John Stewart. He is suggested by onomastics only -- Alexander would have named his eldest son after his father. He is presumed to have died young.
Robert STEUART, b: NOV 1697 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire,
Scotland. He is presumed to have married Mary STEUART, although no
record of their marriage exists. They were living in Ardveich when
their only known son was born. Family tradition recalls that Robert
was killed at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 -- the ages of their children
would support this tradition. Robert and Mary are believed to have
had the following children:
Janet/Jean STEWART was born in Easter Glentarken and baptized Oct 08, 1769
in Comrie. It is believed she is the Janet Stewart "Lochearnside"
who married on 08 DEC 1792 in Comrie,
Perthshire, Scotland to Alexander STEWART in Carnlia, presented in the
Walker History.
Donald STEWART in Carnlia, b. ABT 1720
in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Donald is believed to be
the Donald Stewart, son of Alexander and Janet Stewart, bap. 4 SEP 1720 in
Auchleskine, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland as the only known child of
this couple. As Auchleskine is not
far from Glenbeich, the Auchleskine birth is a reasonable suggestion.
According to The Walker Family
History, Donald resided at Carnlia and married a daughter of
Alexander MacGregor of Woodside of Lochearn of Clan Dughail Chiar.
(Clan Dugal Ciar, or the Clan of sable-haired Douglas: this was the chief's
family.) There are only two marriages in the Balquhidder or Comrie OPR
for a Donald Stewart with any MacGregor in the right date range. This
one happens to be in Dalveich and the other one has been identified with a
different family, confirming that this is the marriage noted in the Walker
History. Donald's suggested birth
place of Auchleskine was also occupied by a family of MacGregors descended
from Sir Gregor MacGregor of Clan Dughail Chiar -- so that too would be
consistent. Donald STEWART married on 10 APR 1756 in Balquhidder,
Perthshire, Scotland to Isabel MCGRIGOR of Comrie parish and had the
following family:
Mary STEWART, b. ABT 11 JUN 1758 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
John STEWART, b. ABT 23 MAR 1760 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. John is not recorded in family tradition, not mentioned in Stewarts of the South, not identified as a father of any later children, not found in census records, and his brother Alexander seems to be deferred to as nominal head of this branch in Stewarts of the South (ca. 1815), thus it is presumed that John died young.
Catharine STEWART, bap. 28 JUL 1762 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Jannet STEWART, bap. 24 JUL 1764 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Alexander STEWART in Carnlia, bap. 20 JUN 1767 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Stewarts of the South describes Alexander as "Alexander Stewart, who is a tacksman in Dalveich, Balquhidder parish on Breadalbane's estate. He has three sons -- one adult and two under age." It indicates that Alexander is closely related to Robert Stewart in St. Fillans but does not indicate their relationship. The Walker Family History says that "Alexander Stewart married Janet Stewart [in] Lochearnside. Her mother's name was a MacLaren." This family is easily identifiable in the OPR. Alexander STEWART married on 08 DEC 1792 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to his first cousin Janet STEWART, believed to be the sister of the aforementioned Robert Stewart and the daughter of John Stewart and Margaret MCLAREN of this line. They had the following children:
John STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1794 FEB 2 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Donald STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1796 MAR 20 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. As Daniel is substitute name for Donald then it may be that this Donald died young prior to the birth of his younger brother, Daniel.
Robert STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1800 JAN 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Isabel STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1802 MAR 28 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Patric STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1804 JUN 17 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Margaret STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1806 MAY 14 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Alexander STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1809 FEB 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. According to The Walker History, Alexander was born at Carnlia about 1809 married Margaret DEWAR from Killin, she being born about 1820. This family can be found in 1861 and later census records, but Alexander has not been found in the 1841 or 1851 censuses. They were married on 1 JUL 1856 in Killin and had only one child:
Alexander STEWART, bap. 7 FEB 1860 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. According to the Walker History he was born 7 JAN 1860 with no place given. However, his obit says that he was born at Cuilt. Census records show this family residing in 1871 in Auchtomore and in 1881 in Craggan, Strathyre. This Alexander later moved to Falkirk where he was a police officer and an award-winning Gaelic scholar and poet.
Daniel (Donald) STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1813 JUN 4 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
The following entries from the Comrie OPR are promising candidates to belong to the above family. If so, we would suggest that the Alexander Stewart who married Janet Drummond and who resided in Woodend and Meovie would be the correct age to be the brother of Donald Stewart, in Carnlia, above. Such would not conflict with what we know of the above family from The Walker History as that document does not provide any information on the siblings of the primary line.
02 MAR 1735 |
Alexander |
STEUART |
Elizabeth |
DRUMMOND |
Easter Dundurn |
Elizabeth |
|
01 MAY 1750 |
Alexander |
STEWART |
Jannet |
DRUMMOND |
in Woodend |
Girsall |
|
01 JUN 1752 |
Alexander |
STEWART |
Janet |
DRUMMOND |
Meovie |
John |
|
04 MAY 1761 |
Alexander |
STEWART |
Janet |
DRUMMOND |
Meovie |
Janet |
|
Coilantogle ruins
� Copyright
Simon
McKeating and licensed for reuse under this
Creative Commons Licence.
The final family of Stewarts to descend from the Dalveich Stewarts were a family who resided in Cuilantogle ("Cuil an-t'ogle" = "woods of the deep") in Callander parish. They are described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Walter Stewart - late tacksman in Cuilanleogail, Callendar parish, on the Earl of Murray's estate. (Presumably Walter is dead in ca. 1815.) He left three sons:
A son of unknown name who is a soldier. He has a family.
A son of unknown name who is a labourer in the town of Stirling. He has a family.
Another son of unknown name who is also a labourer in the town of Stirling. He has a family.
It must be noted when trying to identify 8 Line that Stewarts of the South describes the late Walter as having two sons who were living in Stirling and were of adult age each with a family, but the Stewarts of the South-Appendix does not show these two sons. Thus it must be presumed that the author was not well acquainted with this line and the information may be of questionable reliability.
Son STEWART. His name is not known, but it is suggested based on chronology that Walter (below) was most likely a grandson of John Dubh Mhor Stewart.Callander OPR records reveal the another family that also appears to be an extremely close match. Here is a family of a Walter Stewart living in Cuilantogle at about the right time. However the family below has only two sons and the second one is probably too young to have had a family in 1815. If this is the correct family then it may be Walter's second marriage and their may be children from a previous marriage yet undiscovered.
Walter STEWART married on 30 MAY 1783 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret FERGUSSONNE. They had the following children:
- Alexander STEWART, b. 20 APR 1784 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
- Cathrine STEWART, b. 14 APR 1786 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
- Margaret STEWART, b. 19 OCT 1787 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
- Margaret STEWART, b. 19 OCT 1789 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
- Duncan STEWART, b. 10 MAR 1793 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
- Christian STEWART, b. 24 MAY 1796 in Cuilantolge, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
A McIntyre researcher sent me the following information on a family that may be one of the sons of Walter above. This family is being discussed here: http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=235&mforum=stewart (This family may have been accounted for elsewhere. Note to double-check.)
John STEWART, b. ca 1770 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland. He married on 9 DEC 1803 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret MCINTYRE, b. 26 APR 1780 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland (daughter of John mac Patrick McIntyre and Anna Sinclair). They had the following known children:
- Walter STEWART, b. 12 MAY 1805 in Quarry of Achra, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. 1851 possibly Walter b 1806 in Balquhidder, res Main St. Callander, labourer, wife Margaret b 1817 in Kilmaly, Inverness. and/or 1861 res Polder Moss, Port of Menteith, Walter b 1806 in Balquhidder, ag lab, servant to Janet Stewart, b 1809 in Kincardine with her son James b 1841 in Port and dtr Jean b 1846 in Port
- Donald STEWART, b. ABT 1811 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. He was residing in 1881 in Easter Torrie, Norrieston, Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland.
- Mary STEWART, b. 31 AUG 1814 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
- John STEWART, b. ca. 1815 in Balquhidder parish, Perthshire, Scotland (no baptism registered). He died in 1894 in Perthshire, Scotland. He married on 21 JAN 1846 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland to Elizabeth MCCALLUM (family records give the marriage date as 14 JAN 1893??, but I'm certain this is an error). Elizabeth was born 1820 in Fortingall, Perthshire, Scotland and died 1894. It is believed that they had the following children:
- John STEWART, b. 19 NOV 1847 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland.
- Janet STEWART, b. 5 SEP 1849 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- Archibald STEWART, b. 29 MAY 1851 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland. He is presumed to have died young prior to the birth of his same named brother.
- Duncan STEWART, b. 18 JAN 1853 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- Donald STEWART, b. 13 NOV 1854 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- James STEWART, b. 23 JUL 1856 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- Walter STEWART, b. 12 JUL 1858 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- Margaret STEWART, b. 14 FEB 1860 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland
- Alexander STEWART, b. 12 SEP 1864 in Buchanan, Stirling, Scotland
Unknown STEWART, father of
Possible birth for John, however this family is accounted with Belinda Dettman's Stewarts of Wester Brackland
John STEUART and Elizabeth MCLARAN (MCLERAN, MCLAREN) in Auchenlarich (no marriage found)
- Elizabeth STEUART, b 26/31 MAR 1715 in Easter Brachlan, Callander
- Janet STEUART, b 10/11 JUL 1718 in Auchinlacih, Callander
- Walter STEUART, b 12/17 OCT 1721 in Auchenlarich
- Donald STEWART, b 15/21 MAR 1735 in Lurgruy, Callander (Lurgavowie)
C113362 1710-1749 Callander
Cuilantogle is located in Callander parish. The Callander OPR in later years often just recorded the parents names without giving their location, however the following entries from the Callander OPR refer to Stewarts specifically living in Cuilantogle. These may or may not be related to Walter Stewart of 8 Line:
Donald STEUART and Janet STEUART in Cuilantogle (no marriage found)
John STEUART and Mary STEUART in Cuilantogle (no marriage found)
James STEUART in Cuilantogle m. on 30 JUN 1714 in Callander to Janet MCEUAN (gap from marriage to first child may reflect 1715 Rising)
Walter BUCHANAN in Cuilantogle m. 21 OCT 1718 in Callander to Catherine STEUART
John STUART in Cuilantogle m. on 18 JAN 1722 in Callander to Isabel FERGUSON
James STEWART and Katherine MCEWAN (N'Ewan) in Gartchonzie, Cuilantogle and Bochastle (no marriage found, may be a second marriage for James above)
Walter STEWART in Bochastle and Isabel MCLERAN
Duncan STEWART and Isabel STEWART in Cuilantogle
Alexander STEWART and Jean STEWART in Cuilantogle
Robert STEWART and Jean MCFARLANE in Cuilantogle
Alexander STEWART and Janet MCCALLUM
Alexander STEWART-alias-MCGREGOR and Janet STEWART in Cuilantogle
Donald STEWART and Janet DRUMMOND-alias-MCGREGOR in Cuilantogle
Alexander BUCHANAN and Jean STEWART in Cuilantogle
John STEWART and Mary WRIGHT (MCINTYRE) in Cuilantogle
John STEWART and Janet BUCHANAN, married 8 JAN 1773 in Callander, "both in this parish."
In the early 18th century the Royal House of Stuart came to an end with the death of Queen Ann Stuart. She was succeeded by King George of the house of Hanover, Germany. Many Scots believed that a Stuart heir still belonged on the throne. The first to attempt a return was James Stuart. His followers became known as Jacobites ("Jacob" is Latin for "James"). His son, Charles, better known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", also made an attempt to regain the throne. Both of these attempts were strongly supported by Scottish Highlanders and war broke out between the Jacobites and the Hanoverians on more than one occasion. The Hanoverians were victorious and the Jacobites were pursued and punished without mercy. The Hanoverian British Crown sent soldiers into the Highlands to evict anyone of known Jacobite loyalties. In many cases the families were given less than five minutes notice to gather their belongings and leave. If the Highlanders hesitated then the soldiers raped the women and burned down the house with the occupants still inside. Proud elements of Highland culture were outlawed. Highlanders were prohibited from carrying weapons or wearing tartans. It was a brutal campaign of terror and ethnic cleansing intended to ensure that Highlanders never again rose in rebellion against the crown.
By the end of the 18th century the old Highland way of life was quickly coming to an end. The Lowland English-speaking culture was starting to encroach on the Gaelic-speaking Highlands, and the Industrial Revolution was beginning to change the way everyone lived. People were flocking from the poor and overcrowded Highlands to the newly booming Lowland cities. These factors together with the persecution of Jacobite sympathizers were causing the Highlands to empty at an alarming rate. Within less than fifty years, many of the once densely populated Highland valleys were completely emptied of people; many of these valleys remain empty to this day. It is said that by the mid-19th century there were more Highland-born Scots living in Nova Scotia, Canada than were still living in the Scottish Highlands themselves!
[Excerpt from an article at Electric Scotland by David Rorer]
Glentarken is a glen in Comrie parish, descending from an altitude of 1150 ft., 2 miles south by eastward to Loch Earn (306 ft.), at a point 1 � miles west by north of St Fillans.
It contains a huge monolith, "The great stone of Glentarken." It is not a traveled stone, but a mass detached from the low cliff below, which has rolled but a short distance and is poised in the most singular way upon one of its edges. It measures 70 ft. in circumference at the base, 110 ft. in circumference 10 ft. above the ground, and its solid contents above ground exceed 25,000 cubic ft. The glen probably derives its name from "Tarachin," or "Talargan," an old Pictish personal name.
In the olden days what might be called a clachan existed on the hillside at the entrance to Glentarken, but life on that exposed site was latterly found inconvenient and uncomfortable; accordingly, the families were moved to more suitable surroundings at the foot of the loch*, and the cottages in the glen were allowed to fall into ruins. The remains of these may still be seen in heaps of stones here and there.
We find that the lands of Glentarcai, Morall, and the Fordees were set to John of Murray and his mother before the year 1492.
James IV granted the lands of Glentarkane to the Drummonds. In 1511 (R.M.S.i. 3574)
* This would explain the move of our Stewarts from Easter Glentarken to Moral.
Sometime around the year 1815-1820 a letter was written for Colonel David Stewart of Garth when the Colonel was contemplating writing a history of the Stewarts. This document has come to be known as the Stewarts of the South. From internal evidence it is possible that the author was Captain James Stewart who was dismissed as Atholl's Factor in 1818. The full unedited document can be found here. The letter describes many of the Stewarts living in southern Perthshire including partial fragments of their ancestry. The letter categorizes each Stewart household of its day according to which branch of which family they belong. Unfortunately there is about a 100-150 year gap between the origins of each branch and those living at the time of the letter. The challenge is left to the genealogist to connect the lines in-between.
The letter describes several branches of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich including the branch of the Stewarts of Dalveich. The Dalveich family is described as Branch VII of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. The Stewarts of the South gives us a profile of this family ca. 1820, however we cannot ensure the complete reliability of that source. The line numbering system used here is the same as that used in the Stewarts of the South in order to facilitate easier cross-referencing. The reader should follow the link below for that document's information on the Dalveich Stewarts.
For a further explanation and discussion of this letter, please click the Stewarts of the South button below.
The Ardvorlich History, written by the late Major John A.M. Stewart, 14th Laird of Ardvorlich, excerpts of which were forwarded to me by the Stewart Society, reveal the following:
There were two brothers of this family living at Ardveich at the end of the 18th century. They were Alexander (Sandy) Stewart and his brother James Stewart.
The eldest, Alexander (Sandy), was a wright and had the following issue:
- Robert, who died without children.
- James, who was brought up as a weaver, then in Callander. Afterwards he became a shepherd at Balmenoch and Ardvorlich. Latterly he became a crofter at Coilmore. He married a MacGregor and had one daughter, Annie. He died in 1861. Annie was the faithful servant at Ardvorlich, who was well known to the last generation. She served four lairds and eventually died at Ardvorlich about 1897. She was buried at Dundurn inside the chapel.
- John, who was a constable. He died in 1855. He had two sons in Australia, John and Abel.
- Bell, a cook, died in William Street, Edinburgh.
- Mary, married Duncan Ferguson, firstly a shepherd at Gleninishach, Balquhidder, latterly a crofter at Coilcreich.
The second brother, James, long resided about Stronvar. His son was called James Og and lived on a croft just where the nursery used to be at Ardvorlich. The croft was called Ashinranoch, He had two sons and about six daughters.
- Robert, who lived at Ashinranoch, and was a ploughman at Ardvorlich. He married Lizzie MacLaughlan, a servant at Ardvorlich. His son, William, is now (1879) a shopkeeper at Menstrie.
- Alexander (Sandy).
- Anne, who married her second cousin, a farmer at Kip, and was mother of the Free Church minister at Killin.
- Mary was mother of Robert and Peter Ferguson in St. Fillans.
- Another was married to a Stewart and was mother to Mrs. Mackintyre of Gartnafuaran.
- Another married a McIntyre and was grandmother to the people at Coshinachie, whose parents used to be in Gleninisach.
These Ardveich Stewarts lived at Carnlia in Glenveich and were descended from Ian Dubh Mor, natural son of Major James Stewart of Ardvorlich.
[The preceding sentence is ambiguous in its reference and was previously believed to refer to the preceding family. However, present research indicates that it refers to the following family. The Alexander (Sandy) shown above is not the same person as the Alexander shown below whose cooper's anvil is at Ardvorlich. Though it appears that Major Stewart of Ardvorlich believed them to be the same person when he published his book. The fact that they were both wrights/coopers, both named Alexander, and both living in/near Ardveich makes the confusion understandable. The preceding Alexander is from Line 6 above, while the following Alexander is found in the Walker History.]
In 1936...(a contemporary local resident) ...presented me (Major Stewart) with the Cooper's Anvil, which is in the Hall, and told me it had belonged to the Ardveich family... She recalls:
The Cooper's Anvil was once the property of Alexander Stewart. He was born and brought up in Glenbeich before the clearances, early in the 19th century. He was a cooper by trade, but when that trade gave out, and was superceded by other materials besides wood, he went to reside with his own relations, also a family of the name of Stewart who rented Auchtoomore in Balquhidder, and acted as head shepherd. He and his wife resided at the Cuill, now a ruin, and near Edinchip House and Balquhidder Station, on the right of way to Balquh... (photocopy ends here.)
Elsewhere in the excerpts from the Ardvorlich Papers is a list of Stewarts in the parish of Balquhidder. It includes listings for every place with dates ranging from 1480-1800. There is only one entry for Ardveich or Dalveich:
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1798 - James, Robert, John, and Alexander Stewart of Wester Ardveich. |
Our research team have now fully transcribed all the birth and marriage records for persons of the surname Stewart in Balquhidder parish. To see an accounting of these records arranged by location and to view those families recorded as having resided in Dalveich, Ardveich, Glenbeich or Carnlia please refer to our Balquhidder Births by Name page.
Two entries in the Balquhidder OPR throw significant monkey wrenches into our ability to reconcile this family:
Other entries of note:
![]() | 1711 Agust 9th The said day Donald Steuart and ___ had a child bap___ called John. |
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1718 June 10 Which day John Steuart and Anna Steuart had a child baptised called Donald. |
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1718 December 30 Which day Donald Steuart and Janet McNab in Easter Indernenty had twins baptised called Donald and John. |
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1719 July 30 Which day Donald Steuart and ___ Fergussone in Glenbuckie had a child baptised called Duncan. |
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1720 Sept 4th Which day Alexr Steuart in Achlesken and Janet Steuart his wife had a child baptised called Donald. |
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1720 October 9 Which day Donald McLaren and Margaret Steuart in Lechdin had a child baptised called Patrick. |
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1721 Novr 19 Which day James Steuart and ___ ~ in Dalveich had a child baptised called Alexr. |
1722 May 4th qch day James Steuart and Lilias Drumond in Easter Indernenty had a child baptised called Donald.
9 MAY 1728 Marjory Stewart, dtr of James Stewart and Lillias Drummond in Wester Dundurn
17340205 | 05 FEB 1734 | Robert | STEUART | Mary | STEUART | Ardveich | John |
"(On 3 November 1656) John and Duncan Stewart were given the
wadset of the four markland of Dalveich, and one markland of Croftnalekin
bounding the former, on the north shore of Loch Earn.... The Dalveich and
Croftnalekin holdings were accompanied by the shielings of Tomchaddiltie Badguir.
In addition the tenure included half the fishings pertaining to Dalveich on Loch
Earn. The share was to Duncan Stewart and his spouse Janet Buchanan, for
an advance of five hundred pounds Scots. John and Duncan Stewart were
portioners in tenancy of a subdivided holding.
The sasine for Dalveich reveals the relationship of these Stewart Tacksmen.
The witnesses included James Stewart (2nd) of Ardvorlich, Alexander Stewart, feuer
of Annat, one James Stewart in Bradinchyllis (Branachallie?), and Robert Stewart
in Monchyle. All of these were related families of the Balquhidder
dynasty. Another was Lawrance McLaren in Dalveich, who must have been a
portioner." -
p. 63.
"The north shore of Loch Earn appears as dominantly corn lands." p71
1718-1801 when Balquhidder was under the lordship of Atholl -- "The other large estate belonged to the minor heir of Col. Campbell of Fonab, comprising Glenogle, Auchraw, Dalveich, Carnlia, Glenbeich, and the mill of Carnlia, the whole being thirty marklands plus the hill. p120
In a personal letter to me from the Archivist of the Stewart Society it is noted:
"In 1798, a James, Robert, John and Alexander Stewart were living in Wester Ardveich. Also, a father and son named Robert at Blarcreich. These are the only ones at a suitable time . The Settlements of Western Perthshire also show the above four brothers*. In 1776, a Robert Stewart with three others took out a lease of the township of Lednascridan."
Please note, the archivist of the Stewart Society is presuming that James, Robert, John, and Alexander were brothers. The Ardvorlich papers simply show them all living in Wester Ardveich at the time. Our accounting above would suggest that they were John and Alexander of 3 Line and James and Robert of 5 Line; two pairs of brothers who were cousins to each other.
The following was sent to me by Gordon MacGregor, author of The Landed Families of Strathearn.
From the Stewart of Garth Papers - Dalveich was owned in the early 1700s by Robert Stewart, 1st of Garth, younger son of Drumcharry, who styled himself as Robert Stewart in Dalveich. His third son, Neil, was baptized in Balquhidder in 1728 with his parents shown as residing in Carnlia.
The following extracts are from the Garth Papers:
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1711 - Receipt from Atholl to Robert Stewart in Brae of Moness for the lands of Dalveich, Glenbeich, and Carnlia. (This receipt is for Robert Stewart of the Garth family. He is NOT a Stewart of the Dalveich family. |
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1713 - Letter by Alex Stewart to brother Charles Stewart of Dalveich. H/w by Strowan's servant, your wallet and wife's provisions |
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1713 - Alex Stewart, London, wants brother Robert Stewart, in Glenbeach (Glenbeich) to send him money |
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1720 - Receipts Ellan Stewart of Findynate to Elspeth Carcich on Balnaret and Robet Menzies in a 12 Mar 1721 letter from William ?Cane to Robert Stewart at the miln of Dalveach - concerns payments for an advocation and other transactions - on back some accounts of money expended. |
The first reference is to a Garth Stewart. I believe the remainder of these references are to descendants of John Dubh Mhor.
James Irvine Robertson, descendant of the Garth Stewarts and inheritor of the original documents of The Stewarts of the South sent me the following from the Atholl Hunting Rolls"
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I see in the Atholl's Hunting Rolls of 1667 'Carin Lea' lists two tenants 'Donnald McCara & Jon Stwart' |
Gordon MacGregor, author of The Landed Families of Strathearn, every now and then throws me a little tidbit on this family.
Written below the tack there is an assignation by said earl to "Colin Campbell of Glenurquhay, 9 May 1569."
Clearly various families of [Balquhidder] Stewarts have been settled at Carnlia for quite some time! By his patronymic it seems as though he is probably a Gartnaferan Stewart.
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This is a tack by Janet Stewart, Lady Ruthven, (second wife of Patrick, 3rd Lord Ruthven, and daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl) of the two merklands of Carnlia, then occupied by Malcolm Coulkeir (a Glengyle MacGregor) and Duncan MacAllaster Stewart, and the lands of Glenbeich, occupied by John McYulay VcAne Vore (John, the son of Finlay, the grandson of Big John) to her nephew, John Stewart, Earl of Atholl, (the extractor got confused between the Latin terms for grandson and nephew, "Nepos", and should read "her nephew", as this John Stewart, Earl of Atholl, was nephew to Janet Stewart) for the term of 3 years. Dated 12 April 1569. Which the said earl then assigned to Colin Campbell of Glenorchy on 9 May 1569. |
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Basically Janet Stewart grants these lands, occupied by her tenants, to her nephew, John, Earl of Atholl, for three years, which John soon after assigns to Glenorchy. |
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My thoughts regarding the Duncan MacAllister Stewart in Carnlia was that he may well be a previously unrecorded son of Alexander, 2nd of Gartnafuaran, as chronology and nomenclature, given that there were few Alexander Stewarts in Upper Strathearn at that time, would tend to suggest such a hypothetical link. Of course, he could be from an unrecorded son of one the early Balindoran Stewarts - all just supposition and a mulling around of ideas until more facts present themselves to help unravel the problem. |
According to the preface to Sir Walter Scott's A Legend of Montrose, one of John Dubh Mhor's grandsons lived past the age of 100 and preserved the so-called "authentic" version of the murder of Lord Kilpont and shared that story with the Ardvorlichs in the early 1800s.
Fellow Researcher Donald Walker of California, USA (and formerly of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada) has presented us with a transcription of the first legitimate family history for this clan. This document is incredibly valuable as it gives us the first reliable accounting of the number of generations of descendants of John Dubh Mhor Stewart and helps establish a reliable timeline for the early generations.
The author of this family tree was Alexander Stewart, b. 1860 in Balquhidder who lived in Falkirk where he was a policeman, poet, and Gaelic scholar. The text was copied verbatim by Alexander's daughter, and her hand-written transcription is included below. The daughter is a grandaunt of Donald Walker who submitted this tree to us.
The tree is presented here as transcribed from the family bible with corrections noted and explanatory notes to follow.
Family Bible Record - TranscriptionWho Am I?
Alexander Stewart (2) married Margaret Dewar, B. Killin about 1820. She was daughter of Alexander Dewar & Janet MacKay. Said Alexander Dewar was born at Nether Bolespie, and was the son of Duncan Dewar and Margaret MacGregor. Janet MacKay, B. Killin, her mother�s name was Janet Macnab, who was the daughter of Donald Macnab, Glendochart; Janet Macnab had a brother Duncan. Alexander Stewart (3) married Janet Stewart Lochearnside. Her mother's name was MacLaren. Donald Stewart (4) married a daughter of Alexander MacGregor � Woodside Lochearnhead. Don�t know her name, of Clan Dughail Chiar Alexander Stewart (5) No Record John Stewart (6) James Stewart (7) (See Legend of Montrose) Born under tragic circumstances. Killed Lord Kilpont in a quarrel never yet explained. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 are all buried in Ardvorlich Burying Place, Old Chapel of Dundurn, St. Fillans.* |
Family Bible Record - OriginalOriginal hand written transcription by Alexander Stewart's daughter |
7. James Stewart - The references above make it clear that this is Major James Beag Stewart, 2nd Laird of Ardvorlich.
6. John Stewart (b ca. 1630) - He is recorded in the family bible as "Iain Dubh Shenman". There is no such Gaelic word as "Shenman". This would be a transcription error for Iain Dubh Sheamuis, or "Black John (of) James". He would be synonymous with John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich, progenitor of this clan. As the original author Alexander Stewart was an award winning Gaelic scholar then it must be presumed that the original bible record is correct and that the error is in Alexander's daughter's transcription.
5. Alexander Stewart (b. ca 1670) - Although the family bible gives no information on this Alexander other than that he resided at Carnlia, it is still the only documentary evidence we have for a confirmed son of John Dubh Mhor Stewart! This record and the next three generations allow us to plot the first reliable chronology of the generations of descendants of John Dubh Mhor. This Alexander is shown above as being the father of Donald Stewart. Descendant Donald Walker suggests that the following record could be this family:
Alexander STEUART and Janet STEUART had the following child:
Donald STEUART, bap. 4 SEP 1720 in Auchleskine, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
4. Donald Stewart - As Auchleskine is not far from Glenbeich, the Auchleskine birth above is a reasonable suggestion. Donald is recorded above as residing at Carnlia and having married a daughter of Alexander MacGregor of Woodside of Lochearn of Clan Dughail Chiar. (Also known as Clan Dugal Ciar, or the "Clan of Douglas with the sable coloured hair". This was the chief's family.) There are only two marriages in the Balquhidder or Comrie OPR for a Donald Stewart marrying any MacGregor in the right date range. This one happens to be in Dalveich (which for our purposes can be considered to be the same place as Carnlia). The other is shown below in the Commentary. Donald Walker shows this Donald Stewart tentatively as having been born in Auchleskine. Auchleskine was also occupied by a family of MacGregors descended from Sir Gregor MacGregor of Clan Dughail Chiar -- so that too would be consistent. This Donald Stewart married on 10 APR 1756 to Isabel MCGREGOR with the following family. The children shown here match onomastically with Isabel's family, but not with Donald's.
Mary STEWART, b. 11 JUN 1758 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
John STEWART, b. 23 MAR 1760 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Catharine STEWART, b. 28 JUL 1762 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Jannet STEWART, b. 24 JUL 1764 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Alexander STEWART, b. 20 JUN 1767 in Dalveich, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. This Alexander matches chronologically with the following...
3. Alexander Stewart - He is shown above as having married Janet Stewart of Lochearnside, whose mother was a MacLaran. Again here there is an ideal match in the OPR with the following family. This would be the family of Alexander STEWART who married on 08 DEC 1792 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Janet STEWART. Alexander and Janet Stewart lived in Carnlia, near Dalveich. The fact that this couple have the right names and are found in Carnlia makes it virtually certain that this is the correct family. They had the following children:
John STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1794 FEB 2 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Donald STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1796 MAR 20 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. As Daniel is substitute name for Donald then it may be that this Donald died young prior to the birth of his younger brother, Daniel.
Robert STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1800 JAN 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Isabel STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1802 MAR 28 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Patric STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1804 JUN 17 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Margaret STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1806 MAY 14 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Alexander STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1809 FEB 12 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Daniel (Donald) STEWART, born in Carnlia and bap. 1813 JUN 4 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland.
Alexander's wife, Janet Stewart is said to be the daughter of a MacLaren mother and lived on Lochearnside. There are only three Janet Stewarts who were the right age in Comrie or Balquhidder parishes and whose mother was named MacLaren. They are:
Janet Stewart, bap. 21 MAR 1763 in Comrie, Perth, Scotland, daughter of Robert Stewart and Mary MacLaren, exact place not yet known.
Janet Stewart, bap. 1 FEB 1767 in Wester Ardveich, Comrie, Perth, Scotland, daughter of James Ross Stewart and Catharine MacLaren, of 5 Line above.
Janet Stewart, bap. 8 OCT 1769 in Glentarken, Comrie, Perth, Scotland, daughter of John Stewart and Margaret MacLaren of 7 Line above.
Entries 2 and 3 can both be described as "Lochearnside", however the third one makes the most sense onomastically.
2. Alexander Stewart - He is recorded as being born at Carnlia about 1809 and is a perfect match with the family above. He is recorded as having married Margaret DEWAR from Killin, she being born about 1820. This family can be found in 1861 and later census records, but Alexander has not been found in the 1841 or 1851 censuses. They were married on 1 JUL 1856 in Killin and had only one child, Alexander, following:
1. Alexander Stewart - He is recorded above as being born 7 JAN 1860 with no place given. However, his obit says that he was born at Cuilt. His baptism record is easily identifiable in the Balquhidder OPR as bap 7 FEB 1860 in Balquhidder. Census records show this family residing in 1871 in Auchtomore and in 1881 in Craggan, Strathyre. This Alexander later moved to Falkirk where he was a police officer and an award-winning Gaelic scholar and poet.
* This reference indicates that every male head of this family from John Dubh Mhor to the early 19th century are buried in Dundurn. This is an extremely significant reference as it confirms for us that Dundurn was not just the burial grounds for the Laird's family of Ardvorlich, but for the entire Ardvorlich Clan. However, none of these persons from 2-6 are listed in Mitchell's grave inscriptions for Dundurn cemetery. Therefore it must be presumed that they are all buried in unmarked graves.
Another contemporary Donald Stewart who married a MacGregor can be identified in the Balquhidder OPR:
Donald STEWART and Margaret MURRAY-alias-MCGRIGOR in Edinample and Balvoir, m. 24 JAN 1761 in Balquhidder parish, "both in this parish".
John STEWART, bap. 16 AUG 1761 in Edinample (mother given as Margaret Murray)
Patrick STEWART, bap. 7 AUG 1763 in Balvoin (mother given as Margaret McGrigor)
Helen STEWART, bap. 1 MAY 1766 in Balvoir (mother given as Margaret McGrigor)
Mary STEWART, bap. 7 AUG 1768 in Croft of Edinample (Fiona shows parents as David Stewart and Margaret Murray, while IGI shows Donald Stewart and Margaret Murray.)
Robert STEWART, bap. 11 AUG 1770 in Croft of Edinample (mother given as Margaret Murray)
Janet STEWART, bap. 4 APR 1773 in Croft of Edinample (mother given as Margaret McGrigor)
Duncan STEWART, bap. 22 DEC 1776 in Edinample (mother given as Margaret McGrigor)
_____ STEWART, bap. 19 JUL 1779 in Croft of Edinample
Donald STEWART, bap. 6 DEC 1781 (date uncertain, entry is inserted) in Croft of Edinample
James STEWART, bap. 2 JUN 1782 in Edinample (Donald described as a wright in Edinample)
However this family has already been identified HERE.
The most recent Alexander Stewart is recorded above in his obit as having been born in Cuilt, with his family before him having come from Carnlia in Glenbeich and having later resided in Auchtomore. We have a note in The Ardvorlich History that:
These Ardveich Stewarts lived at Carnlia in Glenveich and were descended from Ian Dubh Mor, natural son of Major James Stewart of Ardvorlich.
In 1936...(a contemporary local resident) ...presented me (Major Stewart) with the Cooper's Anvil, which is in the Hall, and told me it had belonged to the Ardveich family... She recalls:
The Cooper's Anvil was once the property of Alexander Stewart. He was born and brought up in Glenbeich before the clearances, early in the 19th century. He was a cooper by trade, but when that trade gave out, and was superceded by other materials besides wood, he went to reside with his own relations, also a family of the name of Stewart who rented Auchtoomore in Balquhidder, and acted as head shepherd. He and his wife resided at the Cuill, now a ruin, [which is] near Edinchip House and Balquhidder Station, on the right of way to Balquh... (photocopy ends here.)
That this description perfectly matches with the family above is undeniable.
The following McIntyre family resided in
Carnlia and intermarried so often with Stewarts of this branch that has
become helpful to present this McIntyre family in full below. Given
that McIntyre is an occupational surname (from mac an-t soar, "son of
the wright/sawyer/carpenter") I have long suspected, and even suggested,
that the McIntyres in Carnlia are probably a sept of another local clan and
that they took on the occupational patronymic to differentiate themselves
from their kin. I've recently been sent a reference to support this
theory. From The MacLaren, A History of Clan Labhran by
Margaret MacLaren, which is probably the definitive tome on Clan Labhran, in
which the author says:
"There were several families of McIntyres (anglicized Wright) who settled in Balquhidder. The rental for 1509 for the crown lands of Balquhidder show the following McIntyres were tenants at the western end of the Glen: Gillemore in Monachyl, Donald in Invercarnaig, and Duncan in Monachyl Tuarach. The following year Donald, John, Gilbert, and Duncan McIntyre were tenants in Invenenty. There is of course a Clan McIntyre and a member of that Clan may have settled in Balquhidder, but it seems more probable that these MacIntyres were MacLarens, distinguished by a professional by-name. They fought with the MacLaren contingent under Steward of Appin in the '45. MacIntyres or Wrights whose origin can be traced to Balquhidder may be regarded as a sept of Clan Labhran." -- From The MacLaren, A History of Clan Labhran by Margaret MacLaren.
Mark McIntire of the Clan MacIntyre Society (USA) has suggested that a case can be made for the Balquhidder MacIntyres being a cadet of Clan MacIntyre of Glencoe. However, as the origins of these MacIntyres are not germaine to our Stewart research, we will have to leave it to the MacIntyre and MacLaren researchers to sort that out. Meanwhile, we will focus briefly on this one McIntyre family in Carnlia:
Patrick MCINTYRE, b. ABT 1740 in Probably Carnlia, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland. Patrick married on 25 JUL 1772 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland to Catharine KING b: ABT 1750 in Scotland. They had the following children:
John and Christian began their family in Scotland, then in 1831 they immigrated with the remainder of the McIntyre family to Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. John died in 1836 (birth date is according to grave stone).
Possible births for John STEWART who married Christian MCINTYRE.
16 NOV 1800 in Kincardine, son of John Stewart and Rabina Oswald
7 AUG 1801 in Lidanscridan, Balquhidder, son of John Stewart and Katharine
Stewart
27 JUL 1802 in Wester Ardveich, Comrie, son of John Stewart and Ann Stewart
(as preferred above).
30 OCT 1803 in Achra, Balquhidder, son of John Stewart and Margaret
McDonald.
Christian McIntyre and John Stewart had the following children whose descendants are shown above under #3 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich, Carnlea, and Kichp
PLEASE NOTE: Donald and his wife Catharine both had parents with exactly the same names, both from Carnlia, and they were married only one day apart. Census records confirm this is NOT an error. In 1851 Donald and Catharine were residing at Gartnafuaran with Catharine's widowed father in their household, and they were living right next door to Donald's elderly parents.
Donald McIntyre and Catharine McIntyre had the following children:
Finlay is believed to have married secondly to Margaret STEWART, although no record of their marriage has been found. She is believed to be the Margaret Stewart b: ABT 16 FEB 1783 in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland as a daughter of Robert Stewart in Lochearnhead and his wife Agnes McNab of #3 Line - The Stewarts in Ardveich, Carnlea, and Kichp. They had the following child:
History - 1982
The following family is found in a tree submitted to Ancestry. The submitted records show the family coming from "Gleneich" and "Denny" in or near Balquhidder parish. It is believed these are likely transcription errors for Glenbeich or Glenveich and Derry -- both of which were McLaren properties. c/o familyDOTtreesATyahooDOTca
Patrick MCLAREN, b ca 1690 in Scotland m Margaret STEWART
Robert McLaren, b ABT 1700 in Balquhidder...
People researching this family include the following. If you wish your name added to the fellow researchers' list, please contact me.
From | Researching | |
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | all branches of this family | |
Brian Stewart | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | ancestors and descendants of 7 Line |
Helen Nicholson | Ontario, Canada | ancestors and descendants of 5 Line |
Vera Holmes | Alberta, Canada | ancestors and descendants of 5 Line |
Jerry Byers | Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada | ancestors and descendants of 5 Line and 3 Line |
Don Stewart Walker | California, USA | ancestors and descendants of 7 Line |
Shane Laurie | New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada | ancestors and descendants of 6 Line |
Anne Danielson | Falkirk, Scotland | ancestors and descendants of 3 line |
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