Stewart, Peter DesBrisay, Lieut. Col.
B: 1785, Charlottetown, PEI
D: 01 Nov 1867, Buried 04 Nov 1867
M: (1) Feb 1810, Dorcas Baker, in London, England. Dorcas d. 22 Sep 1841 in Demerara, West Indies. Cause of death was yellow fever.
M: (2) Margaret MacLeod

FN: Charles Stewart
MN: Mary DesBrisay

Death of Lieut. Col. Peter Desbrisay Stewart, from Pollard's Historical Sketches, p. 197 - 198.

The next death to record is that of the late Adjutant General Lieut. Colonel Peter D. Stewart, which sad event took place on November 1st, 1867, at his residence, Spring Park. Colonel Stewart was born in Charlottetown in 1785, where his days ended at the age of eighty-two years. At the age of fourteen he obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery, and as an officer of that regiment first performed garrison duty in the fortification of his native town. England being at war, young Stewart was present with the armament against Copenhagen in 1807. After a long service he retired from the army and returned to the land of his birth. Here on the retirement of Colonel Swabey, as the Adjutant General of Militia in 1859, Colonel Stewart received that appointment, in which he served to the period of his death. In connection with the venerable gentleman's journey through this life, we shall mention a most melancholy accident which happened in the year 1829. During that period, Captain Stewart was on garrison duty with his battery at Halifax, N.S., while Mrs. Stewart and family were passing the winter and spring at Charlottetown. On the 15th May, the family at the usual hour having retired to rest in apparent security from trouble, were awakened from their repose by the loud barking of their dog; in ascertaining the cause of this, the house was discovered to be on fire. The alarm being given the inmates were instantly removed in safety, except a little girl aged nine. Thereupon a noble minded boy, aged twelve, under the impulse of affection rushed into the burning house in order to save his sister and bring her forth, but sad to relate - both were consumed in the devouring flames..

A memorial plaque displayed on the rear wall of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Charlottetown reads:

"In Memory of LIEUT. COL. PETER DESBRISAY STEWART,

Who died Nov 1st, 1867. Aged 83 years. He entered the army at an early age in the Royal Artillery Woolwich, serving with distinction at Copenhagen, West Indies, North American Colonies, and Ireland, when having attained the rank of Lieut. Col. he retired from the service, and returned to this Island where he held the appointment of Adjutant General of the Militia & Volunteers, applying himself with zeal and ability to the reconstruction of the defensive forces of his native land. The deceased was eldest son of Attorney General Stewart, and grandson of Chief Justice Stewart of this Island. This record of departed worth is erected by his family as a tribute to the memory of an indulgent parent, an efficient and devoted officer, and a warm hearted generous citizen. He will ever be remembered with affectionate regard."

Church record for death and burial signed by D. Fitzgerald.

Royal Gazette Tues. Feb. 8, 1842

DEATH - WIFE OF MAJOR P.D. STEWART

At Demerara, of Yellow Fever, the beloved wife of Major P.D.Stewart, Royal Artillery, after an illness of 10 days, she departed this life on the 22d. September, 1841, leaving a large family to deplore her loss. She was a kind & affectionate mother, & a sincere friend to all who knew her. She is deeply lamented by her friends. - London Morning Herald, Dec.7th.

Children of Peter Stewart and Dorcas Baker:

1. Dorcas Octavia Pedder Stwart
B: Mar 1820
D: Jun 1909, buried in Charlottetown, PE, CAN.

2. Flora MacDonald Stewart
B:
D:
M: 12 Oct 1865, Benjamin de St Croix DesBrisay

3. Charles Stewart, Lt.
B: 19 May 1813, Woolwich, England
Bapt: 24 Oct 1814, Woolwich, Kent, England, Saint Mary Magdalene.
D: 13 Jan 1842, Gandamak, Afghanistan.

He served in 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery. Memorial listed on the "Dum Dum Column" - "To the memory of Captain Thomas Nichol, Lieut. Charles Stewart, Serjeant M. Mulhall, and the Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery who fell in the performance of their duty during the insurrection at and retreat from Cabul, in the months of November and December 1841 and January 1842, on which occasions of unprecedented trial, officers and men upheld, in the most noble manner, the character Regiment to which they belonged. This gallant band formed the oldest troop in the Bengal Artillery; it had previously been distiguished on numerous occasions, having served in Egypt, the Mahratta and Nepaul wars, and Ava...."

Children of Peter Stewart and Margaret MacLeod ?

4. Peter Stewart
B:

5. Mary Magdaline Stewart
B:
M: William Southey

Contributors:

Stewart Families, Terry Spear, Thomas Woodman Stewart, Waldron Haslam Leard, Donna Collings, Al McNutt, Owen Gray, Patricia Alnes and Anna Lee Hogan.