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Comrie Stewarts

The "Comrie" Stewarts in
Puslinch Township,
Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

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Ryk Brown's New Genealogy Website

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The information below is not current. Links below may no longer work.

Discuss descendants of this family with fellow researchers at:
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STEWARTS OF BALQUHIDDER DISCUSSION FORUM

Contents

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section or page.

Contents of this page

  1. Introduction
  2. The Stewarts of Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
    1. Moral, Perthshire
    2. Coming To Canada
  3. The Descendants of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan
    1. Margaret Stewart and William McCallum
    2. Elizabeth Stewart
    3. Mary Stewart
    4. Jean Stewart & Unknown McGowan
    5. Ann Stewart
    6. John Stewart
    7. Duncan Stewart and Margaret (Mary) Drummond
    8. Robert Stewart & Mary Gillespie
    9. Peter Stewart & Catherine McLean
    10. William Stewart & Agnes McLean
  4. The Stewart Farm in Puslinch
  5. Crown Cemetery
  6. Duffs Presbyterian Church
  7. Links
  8. Fellow Researchers
  9. Index & Personal Information Pages (GEDCOM)
  10. Legend
  11. Contact

Links to other related pages on this web site

  1. My Main Page
  2. My Discussion Forum
  3. My Index and Online Database
  4. About Our Family History
  5. Stewarts of Dalveich and Ardveich, Perthshire, Scotland

    1. Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Perthshire, Scotland

  6. McNaughtan Family in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland

  7. Gillespie Family in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

  8. Ord Family in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

  9. Tait Family in Puslinch, Wellington, County, Ontario, Canada

  10. Stewart Family in Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada

  11. Brown Family in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada

  12. Stewart Families in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

    1. The "Comrie" Stewarts

    2. The "Crieff" Stewarts

    3. The "Mountsberg" Stewarts

    4. Stray Stewart Families

    5. Stewart Family in Arden, Manitoba, Canada

    6. Stewart Burials in Puslinch Cemeteries

  13. Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group
    1. Stewarts of Balquhidder Discussion Forum

    2. Stewarts of Balquhidder Principal Families

Introduction

Welcome to my page on one of the Stewart families of Puslinch.  This page is part of my personal family history website and represents one of my own ancestral lines.  It is also a cousin page to the Stewart Pioneers of Puslinch, a website for Puslinch researchers in cooperation with the Puslinch Historical Society and the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Forum.  If you are specifically looking for information on this Stewart family then this is where to start, otherwise you may wish to begin with one of the preceding links.

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

The first of the pioneer Stewart families of Puslinch that I will present is the Stewart family which I have chosen to call the "Comrie Stewarts". This is my own family. The Comrie Stewarts are so named because they emigrated from the parish of Comrie in Perthshire, Scotland. (Comrie is properly pronounced with a long 'o' sound, although many imported locals in Comrie today pronounce it with a short 'o'.)  They came from near the village of St. Fillans in Comrie Parish, located on the east end of Loch Earn.

As this is my own family I have much more information available on this family than any of the other pioneer Stewart families of Puslinch.

The Stewarts of Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland

Catharine Stewart (nee McNaughtan), widow of the late Robert Stewart, and her eleven children (some of whom were already married) left their farm, called Moral, near the village of St. Fillans on the eastern shore of Loch Earn, Perthshire, Scotland in 1834 and came to Canada where they settled in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, in what was then British North America.

Moral, Perthshire (a.k.a. Morral, Moril, Morril, Morel, Morrel, etc.)


Moral (now extinct and not marked) shown at the red circle; showing its proximity to St. Fillans, Dundurn and Comrie.
www.multimap.com


Moral shown next to Tynriach (Tigh an riabhach = "the brindled brown house") on this 18th century map.
(Source unknown)


Present-day Moral (or its approximate location)
Photo by Ryk Brown, � 2005

Our Stewart family came from a small farmstead, called Moral.  Moral is located about 2 miles east of the village of St. Fillans in the area of present-day Dunira, half-way between St. Fillans and Comrie, and across the modern A85 highway from the hill of Dundurn.  (See map above.)  My best guess on a translation for Moral is Mor + ail = "big rock".  As Moral was directly across from Dundurn, which is indeed a "big rock" such a name would make sense.

Where the road passes through the croft of Moral there is a commemorative stone marking the place where James Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich, murdered seven McGregors of Glencoe.  James Stewart of Ardvorlich was the great-great-great grandfather of Robert Stewart, patriarch of this family.

About 1834 Duncan Comrie led a group of about 200 residents of Comrie parish to Canada to escape what he referred to as "poor economic conditions."  They settled in Carlton Place, Ontario, near present-day Ottawa.  Today the towns of Comrie and Carlton Place are twinned with each other.  Our Stewarts are not listed among those who accompanied Duncan Comrie, but our family may have followed shortly afterwards.

Robert Stewart in Moral


Loch Earn looking west from above St. Fillans
-- Seeing this picture makes one realize just
how difficult it must have been to leave.

The patriarch of this family, Robert Stewart, was born in Easter Glentarken on the north shore of Loch Earn, as the eldest of two sons of John Steuart and Margaret McLaran, and was baptized 8 MAY 1762, in Comrie parish, Perthshire, Scotland.  His grandfather, also named Robert Stewart, was killed at the Battle of Culloden -- the final Jacobite battle where the cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated.  Robert was descended from the Stewarts of Dalveich and Ardveich of the clan Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor ("children of Big Black John"), who were an illegitimate cadet branch of the notorious Stewarts of Ardvorlich

On 4 DEC 1795 Robert Stewart married Catharine McNaughtan in Comrie.  Catharine was born and raised in the croft of Moral in Comrie.  Catherine was the same age as one of Robert's younger sisters, Mary.  Mary Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan would have been classmates in the parish school at St. Fillans.  The story of Catharine's birth family is told on the McNaughtan of Comrie Page.  It is believed that Robert's sister, Margaret Stewart married Catharine's brother, Peter McNaughtan.

Robert Stewart died sometime between 1825-1830 (probably closer to 1830), before the family left Scotland. (Parish death records do not begin until 1831.)  The cause of his death is unknown, but, as he was in his early 60s when his last child was born, natural causes is presumed.  On his death, the farm passed to his elder sons.  It appears that Duncan assumed primary responsibility for the farm as there is no mention of John (perhaps John had established his own household elsewhere.)  Family tradition among Duncan's descendants recalls that after Robert's death, Duncan made substantial improvements to the farm causing an increase in taxes (or perhaps rent).  It is recalled that after the second increase Duncan decided to move to Canada with his wife and newborn daughter.  Apparently Duncan's widowed mother, Catharine McNaughtan, and the rest of Duncan's siblings also decided to move to Canada.

Coming To Canada

A typical journey from Scotland to Canada, in those days, often took more than three weeks, usually in the hold of a cargo ship crammed with people with no facilities and no supplies.  Our Stewarts seem to have had such a journey, however Duncan's descendants recalled that the journey, in this case, lasted eight weeks.  While on the journey from Scotland to Canada one of Catharine's sons-in-law contracted cholera and died in Montreal, Lower Canada (Qu�bec) where they landed.

When the widow Catherine Stewart and her eleven children docked in Montreal in 1833, Canada was not yet a country. The Stewarts left Scotland to come to British North America, not Canada, and they landed in the province of Lower Canada. It would be another 30 years before Canada would become a country of its own and Upper Canada would become known as Ontario.

From Montreal the family travelled to "Muddy York", Upper Canada (Toronto, Ontario) by French Canadian oxen-pulled river boats. At one point their boat wrecked on a rock and the family had to cling to the rock all night until morning before being rescued. They stayed three weeks in Toronto (presumably seeking a settlement location), then on to Hamilton where they were quarantined "until the next fall" (presumably for several months) because of the one case of cholera back in Montreal.  The city of Hamilton had just suffered a major cholera outbreak, specifically from peasant immigrant ships, and the city was in the midst of a cholera panic.  Anyone who was even suspected of having been in contact with a cholera case was locked up and quarantined until it could be determined for certain that they were safe.  Of course, they were locked up with known cholera cases and many who did NOT have cholera before they were quarantined contracted it because of the quarantine.  It is believed that the Stewarts were released from quarantine in the fall of 1834.

Following release, Duncan (and possibly also John) remained in Hamilton while the rest of the family headed north towards Guelph.  The road from Hamilton to Guelph did not exist at this point and they would have spent several days walking along a cart path through uncleared forest and seeking shelter where they could in order to get to their new home.  They settled in the Puslinch area of Wellington County just west of present-day highway 6, north of the 401 and southwest of the city of Guelph.

At the time that they settled in Puslinch, their land was still uncleared rough forest -- they were true pioneer settlers, and they were the first Europeans to live on their land. Before they could farm their land or even build a house they first had to clear the land of trees. Their first winters were spent in little more than a shack with no door and nothing but a blanket to keep out the weather and the predators. Bears, wolves, and rattlesnakes were common hazards.

Their neighbours included many other Highland Scot families; in fact quite a few were from their home county of Perthshire. There were also a lot of German, some Dutch and English, and mixture of other settlers. Our Stewarts were staunch Presbyterians and they were among the founding members of Duff's Presbyterian Church in Morriston, which still exists today.

In the early 19th century, Upper Strathearn was predominantly a Gaelic speaking area, and our Stewarts would certainly have spoken Gaelic as their first language.  They would have been schooled in English, so they were most likely fluently bilingual, but Gaelic would have been the language of the household.  The Highlanders in Puslinch held fiercely to their homeland customs and language and Duff's Presbyterian Church, where they worshipped, originally held services only in Gaelic and actually continued worship in Gaelic right into the early 20th century.

Of the eleven children who immigrated with Catherine Stewart the whereabouts of only some are known for sure. The other children presumably moved on elsewhere. In the mid-1800s land was being grabbed up quickly. Many settlers stopped briefly in southwestern Ontario, but then continued on towards the Bruce Peninsula where new land was opening up, or to the Prairie Provinces where free land incentives were being offered, or to the lands opening up in the western United States. Our stray Stewarts could have ended up anywhere; we simply don't know. It's also possible that some of the first generation daughters may have married and remained in Puslinch or Hamilton but those marriages predate local church records so their married names are unknown.

The Descendants of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan

Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan had eleven children, all but one of whom were born in Moral, near St. Fillans, Perthshire, Scotland and baptized in the local parish church in Comrie. What is rare for a family of this era is that it appears all eleven children survived to adulthood.  They were:

  1. Has Children Margaret STEWART b: ABT 10 JUN 1798 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  2. Has No Children Elisabeth STEWART b: ABT 27 OCT 1799 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  3. Has No Children Mary STEWART b: ABT 2 MAY 1802 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  4. Has Children Jean ("Jane") STEWART b: ABT 7 JUN 1804 in Meovie (Mewie) near St. Fillans, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  5. Has No Children Ann STEWART b: ABT 1 JUN 1806 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  6. Has No Children John STEWART b: ABT 1 SEP 1808 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  7. Has Children Duncan STEWART b: ABT 2 JAN 1811 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  8. Has Children Robert STEWART b: ABT 13 JUN 1813 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  9. Has No Children Catherine STEWART b: ABT 24 MAR 1816 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  10. Has Children Peter STEWART b: ABT 24 JUL 1820 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
  11. Has Children William STEWART b: ABT 22 NOV 1824 in Moral, Comrie Parish, Perthshire, Scotland

The known descendants of each of these children are detailed below.  To put the size of this family into perspective, we estimate that of the eleven children those who had children themselves probably now have more than 2000 descendants each.  Thus Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan have potentially more than 12,000 descendants.  Obviously we cannot track them all, but we are doing the best we can to track as many as possible.

Margaret Stewart and William McCallum

Margaret STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 10 JUN 1798 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the eldest daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). It is believed (though not confirmed) that she may have married firstly on 05 FEB 1819 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland to Duncan MCGREGOR.  If the marriage is correct then the following children may belong to this couple:

  1. James DRUMMOND (alias MCGREGOR), bap. 12 NOV 1820 Kincardine By Doune, Perth, Scotland
  2. Peter MCGREGOR, b. 19 JAN 1824, bap. 30 JAN 1824 Callander, Perth, Scotland

Margaret STEWART is known to have married on 20 NOV 1826 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland to William MCCALLUM (believed to be a second marriage for William and probably a second marriage for Margaret).  He was born in 1778 in Islay, Argyll, Scotland, although no record of his birth has been found.  Margaret and William began their family in Scotland and then in 1834 they immigrated, along with the rest of Margaret's family, to Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  They had the following confirmed children:

  1. Has No Children Catharine MCCALLUM b: 18 FEB 1827 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  She is found with her parents in Hamilton in 1851.  Her later whereabouts is unknown.
  2. Has No Children Jean MCCALLUM b: 4 OCT 1828 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  She is not found with her parents in Hamilton in 1851 and may have already been married or may have died young.
  3. Has Children Marion MCCALLUM b: 7 DEC 1829 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  She is found with her parents in Hamilton in 1851.  Marion married on 5 DEC 1862 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to John KERR b: 17 JUN 1837 in Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland, believed to be the son of Robert Kerr and Janet Cochrane (although his parents are not confirmed.)  John worked initially as a general carpenter and later as a coal merchant.  Marion and John moved sometime during the mid-1860s to Montreal, Quebec, Canada where their son Robert was born.  But by 1871 they had returned to Ontario and settled in Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada where it appears that they spent the remainder of their lives.  Marion and John had the following known children.  Given the spread of ages it seems likely that they had other children who did not survive childhood:
    1. Has No Children Maggie KERR b: 1863 in Ontario, Canada
    2. Has Children Robert KERR b: 15 AUG 1867 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Robert was the proprietor of a commercial machine sales company.  He married on 16 JUL 1898 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada to Margaret HOLLINRAKE b: 7 FEB 1868 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.  They had the following children:
      1. Has No Children Robert Bruce KERR b: 29 DEC 1901 in Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada
      2. Has No Children Margaret KERR b: DEC 1905 in Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada
      3. Has No Children Donald Stuart Munroe KERR b: 10 JUN 1908 in Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada
    3. Has No Children Margaret C. KERR b: 17 APR 1874 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada.  By 1911 she was still single and residing with her widowed father in Brantford.  It is presumed that she never married.
    4. Has No Children William KERR b: 23 AUG 1876 in Brantford, Brant, Ontario, Canada.  He was residing with his parents in 1901.  His later whereabouts are unknown.
  4. Has Children Elizabeth MCCALLUM b: 4 APR 1832 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  She is found with her parents in Hamilton in 1851.  Elizabeth married in 15 JUN 1866 in Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to her first cousin, Robert Stewart.  Robert was born 20 JUN 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, as the son of Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie (shown below).  The marriage was witnessed by Robert's brother, James Stewart, and Elizabeth's half-brother, David McCallum.
    1. Their descendants are presented below under Robert Stewart, son of Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie.
  5. Has Children Margaret MCCALLUM b: NOV 1834 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  She is found with her parents in Hamilton in 1851.  Margaret married on 9 JUN 1858 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to David MCCULLOCH/MCCULLOUGH b: 29 MAY 1835 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland, son of David McCulloch and Sarah Howie.  David and Margaret had the following children:
    1. Has Children David Waverley MCCULLOUGH b: FEB 1861 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  David worked as a book-keeper and grocery clerk.  David married on 26 DEC 1883 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Harriet Annie Mary ROBINSON b: 1859 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, daughter of John and Mary Eliza Robinson.  David and Harriet are believed to have had only the one following child who died at birth, shortly after which Harriet died.  David is later found in 1901, widowed and childless, residing with his brother John.
      1. Has No Children David W. MCCOLLOCH b: 30 SEP 1884 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  He died at birth.
    2. Has No Children Sidney MCCULLOCH b: 1862 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  He is found in 1881 residing with his parents.  His later whereabouts is unknown.
    3. Has No Children Matthew H. MCCULLOCH b: JUN 1865 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  Matthew worked as a stock broker and resided with his brother John.  It is believed that he never married.
    4. Has No Children Minnie MCCULLOCH b: 1864 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  She is only found in 1881 and is likely the same person as Marion below.
    5. Has No Children Sarah M. MCCULLOUGH, b: 1864 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  She may be the same person as Sydney or Minnie. (See notes on Sydney.) Minnie is found only in 1881 while Sarah M. is found only in 1891.
    6. Has Children John Oliver MCCULLOCH b: 1867 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada
    7. Has No Children Marion MCCULLOCH b: SEP 1870 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada She resided with her brother John as late as 1901.  Her later whereabouts are unknown.
    8. Has No Children Henry B. MCCULLOCH b: 1873 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  Henry moved to Detroit, Michigan, USA.  He married on 16 DEC 1901 in Sandwich (Windsor), Essex County, Ontario, Canada to Jessie THORBURN b: 1874 in Michigan, USA, daughter of William Thorburn and Mary Middlewood.  Henry and Jessie were residing in Detroit, Michigan, USA at the time of their marriage. (Ontario Marriage Register). In 1910 Henry and his family were residing in Ward 17, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA. Henry was employed as a clerk in a varnish factory.
      1. Margaret B MCCULLOCH, b 1902 in Michigan, USA.
      2. Faith M MCCULLOCH, b 1905 in Michigan, USA.
      3. Mary O MCCULLOCH, b 1907 in Michigan, USA.
      4. Jean E MCCULLOCH, b 1908 in Michigan, USA.
    9. Has No Children Alexander Lawson MCCULLOCH b: FEB 1878 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  Alexander worked initially as a store clerk and later as an accountant for The Steel Company of Canada (known today as Stelco).  He died in 1923 and his death registration indicates that he was married although no record of his marriage has been found.  It is not known if he had any children.

This family is found in the 1851 census residing in the city of Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada.  Residing with them is 5 year old James Stewart, orphaned son of Margaret's brother, Robert Stewart (shown further below).  Recorded as being absent from the household are two adult males.  These are believed to be sons of William's from a previous marriage as he was quite old for this to be his first marriage.  Their daughter Elizabeth's marriage, above, was witness by a David McCallum.  David is presumed to be a son from William's first marriage.  Further research is underway to confirm this theory.  In 1901, Elizabeth's daughter, Minnie Catherine Stewart was living with a Joseph H. McCallum (presumably a maternal cousin), born 11 OCT 1852 in rural Ontario, a Presbyterian and a druggist.  In 1881, Joseph H. McCollum, age 29, is found in Milton, Halton, Ontario living with his wife Elizabeth, age 28, and their four month old daughter Jessie W.  His occupation is listed as "D...".

Margaret's brother Peter Stewart recorded in his journal that one of his sisters was married prior to emigrating and that her husband contracted cholera and died on the journey from Scotland and that the family had to be quarantined because of this.  Peter does not record which sister this was, but family tradition among Duncan Stewart's descendants maintained that it was the oldest sister.  However this has now been shown to be incorrect as Margaret Stewart was married to William McCallum in Glasgow, prior to emigrating, and they are both found alive in Hamilton in 1851.  Thus it must have been one of the other sisters whose husband died.

Elisabeth Stewart and Unknown McNaughtan

Elisabeth STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 27 OCT 1799 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the second daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). According the Llewella McIntyre's notes, Elisabeth married a MCNAUGHTON.  His exact identity is not confirmed, and it is not known if she married in Scotland or Canada, but he could be John McNaughtan of Balquhidder.  If so, then they were married in May 1834 just prior to the family leaving for Canada.  Or she may have married after immigrating to one of the McNaughtons in Puslinch.

1840 census records in Puslinch indicate that three of the eldest daughters were resident in the Stewart household in Puslinch, but by 1842 these daughters had moved elsewhere.  It is believed that Elisabeth was one of the three. 

Elisabeth's brother Peter Stewart recorded in his journal that one of his sisters was married prior to emigrating and that her husband contracted cholera and died on the journey from Scotland and that the family had to be quarantined because of this.  Peter does not record which sister this was, but family tradition among Duncan Stewart's descendants maintained that it was the oldest sister.  However this has now been shown to be incorrect as Margaret Stewart was married to William McCallum in Glasgow, prior to emigrating, and they are both found alive in Hamilton in 1851.  Thus it may have been Elisabeth whose husband died.

Mary Stewart

Mary STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 2 MAY 1802 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the third daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). It is not known if she married. Her whereabouts after immigration is unknown.  1840 census records indicate that three of the eldest daughters were resident in the Stewart household in Puslinch, but by 1842 these daughters had moved elsewhere.  It's not known for certain if Mary was one of the three.

Mary's brother Peter Stewart recorded in his journal that one of his sisters was married prior to emigrating and that her husband contracted cholera and died on the journey from Scotland and that the family had to be quarantined because of this.  Peter does not record which sister this was, but family tradition among Duncan Stewart's descendants maintained that it was the oldest sister.  However this has now been shown to be incorrect as Margaret Stewart was married to William McCallum in Glasgow, prior to emigrating, and they are both found alive in Hamilton in 1851.  Thus it may have been Mary whose husband died.

Jean Stewart & Unknown McGowan

Jean STEWART was born in Meovie near St. Fillans and baptized on 7 JUN 1804 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the fourth daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). Jean, who went by "Jane", appears to be the only child of this family to be born in Meovie (Mewie) near St. Fillans. However it is possible that the poor handwriting in the OPR does not say Meovie and may actually say Moril -- at any rate, the two crofts were side-by-side so the distinction is inconsequential. Jane emigrated from Perthshire, Scotland with her mother and siblings. The complete story of their journey can be found in the notes of Jane's mother, Catherine. According to Llewella McIntyre's genealogy, Jane married a man whose surname was MCGOWAN. Based on her son's birth date it is presumed that she married after immigrating. 1840 census records indicate that three of the eldest daughters were resident in the Stewart household in Puslinch, but by 1842 these daughters had moved elsewhere. It is believed that Jane was one of the three.

Jane's brother Peter Stewart recorded in his journal that one of his sisters was married prior to emigrating and that her husband contracted cholera and died on the journey from Scotland. Peter does not record which sister this was. It's unlikely that it was Jean as it appears she married after immigrating.

Jane has not been found in 1851. In 1861 and 1871 Jane was residing in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada, at the home of her brother Peter. Jane was widowed and residing with her son.

Jane and her husband had the following known child:

  1. Has No Children Peter MCGOWAN b:1839-1844 in Ancaster, Wentworth or Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Peter was born sometime between 1839-1844 either in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada or in Ancaster, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada. Census records vary widely regarding his date of birth. His place of birth is given in several census records as Puslinch, however his death registration gives his place of birth as Ancaster. The informant was his cousin, Neil Stewart, son of Peter Stewart. Peter McGowan's father's name is unknown. He appears to have been his parents' only child. Peter McGowan has not been found in the 1851 census. In 1861 and 1871 he was residing in Puslinch with his widowed mother at the home of his uncle Peter Stewart. Peter McGowan is shown in the 1871 census as being of "unsound mind." He has not been found in 1881, but is presumed to have been residing in Puslinch. In 1891 and 1901 he was residing in Puslinch and working as a farm hand on his uncle Peter Stewart's farm.

Ann Stewart

Ann STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 1 JUN 1806 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the fifth daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). It is not known if she married. Her whereabouts after immigration is unknown.  1840 census records indicate that three of the eldest daughters were resident in the Stewart household in Puslinch, but by 1842 these daughters had moved elsewhere.  It's not known for certain if Ann was one of the three.

Ann's brother Peter Stewart recorded in his journal that one of his sisters was married prior to emigrating and that her husband contracted cholera and died on the journey from Scotland and that the family had to be quarantined because of this.  Peter does not record which sister this was, but family tradition among Duncan Stewart's descendants maintained that it was the oldest sister.  However this has now been shown to be incorrect as Margaret Stewart was married to William McCallum in Glasgow, prior to emigrating, and they are both found alive in Hamilton in 1851.  Thus it may have been Ann whose husband died.

John Stewart

John STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 1 SEP 1808 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the eldest son of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan. In keeping with Scottish tradition John was named after his paternal grandfather. 

IGI records indicate that John may have married Janet MCGREGOR before emigrating, but this uncertain.  Family tradition among Duncan's descendants recalls that John remained in Hamilton with Duncan and did not move to Puslinch with his younger siblings.  Early census records for Wellington County confirm that John did not live with the rest of his family in Puslinch.  He would have been 26 years old when he immigrated so he likely established his own household.  Duncan's family seems to have had some connection with the Ancaster area just outside of Hamilton (though this could be through sister Jean Stewart) so it is speculated that John may have settled in Ancaster.  However John has not been found in the 1851 census and no other documentary evidence has so far been found to identify John's whereabouts in Canada after immigration.

Peter Stewart records that he came to Canada with five brothers and five sisters, which would indicate that John must have come to Canada.  However, family tradition among Duncan's branch seems to recall that Duncan behaved as the eldest son of the family farm in Scotland.  Perhaps John had already established his own residence or was somehow incompetent to manage the family farm after his father's death.

Duncan Stewart and Margaret (Mary) Drummond-alias-MacGregor in Elgin County

The following narrative history is based on information researched by the late Nora Smith and Edie Morra (nee Stewart).

Duncan STEWART was born in 1811 on the family farm croft in Moral, Upper Strathearn, Perthshire, Scotland as the second son of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). In keeping with Scottish tradition, Duncan was named after his mother's father, Duncan McNaughtan.

Family tradition records that Duncan inherited the family croft in Scotland when his father died sometime around 1830. It is possible that he inherited it jointly with his older brother John, but anecdotal information on John is entirely non-existent. Family tradition records that Duncan made "considerable improvements" to the family farm which brought about increased taxes (however, I would suggest that it would be more likely increased rent from the Earl of Perth who was eager to empty his lands of tenants). When a second-such increase occurred it is said that Duncan reached the limits of his tolerance and made the decision to move his family to the New World. It seems that his entire birth family, including his widowed mother, and all of his siblings, some of whom were married, also decided to go with Duncan.

Duncan's wife, Margaret DRUMMOND, was born in Upper Strathearn in 1811. Her exact birth family and record has not yet been identified. Her marriage record shows her name as Mary Drummond. This may be a copying error for "Marg" or Mary was also a known Gaelic substitute name for Margaret.

Margaret's granddaughter recalled that Margaret was proud that she was actually a MacGregor whose Drummond surname was only an alias. During the lifetime of Margaret's husband's ancestor, Alexander Stewart, 1st Laird of Ardvorlich, Clan Gregor was outlawed and the MacGregor surname was banished in Scotland. MacGregors were forced to take on other surnames or face execution. Margaret's ancestors chose the alias of Drummond, but, like many other MacGregors, they held on to the memory that their real surname was MacGregor.

Margaret shared memories of her life growing up in Upper Strathearn with her grandchildren. She recalled growing up in the beautiful surroundings of Sir Walter Scott's book, "The Lady of the Lake", including Loch Earn, Loch Katrine and Ben Vorlich.

She recalled tragically that when she was a child playing on a hillside with her brother, James, a storm was coming. James took off his plaid, wrapped Margaret in it and sent her home. James took shelter under a tree which was struck by lightning, killing him.

She also recalled going to town to purchase her first set of china dishes and having to remove her shoes and stockings to ford a stream while carrying the dishes home in the folds of her dress.

Margaret married in 1832 to Duncan Stewart. They lived on Duncan's family farm in Moral in Upper Strathearn. Duncan and Margaret became increasingly disenchanted with the declining conditions of life in their home strath and increasingly enamoured with the promises of a better life in the New World. Shortly after the birth of their first daughter Catharine, as noted above, Duncan and Margaret made a decision to move to the New World.

One funny story -- Margaret recalled being quite good at baking apple pies. When she came to Canada she heard all about these excellent pumpkin pies. She tried to bake a pumpkin pie following her apple pie recipe, using chunks of raw pumpkin in the pie. The pie was apparently inedible.

The entire Stewart family left Scotland in 1833 or 1834. Family tradition records that they left when Duncan's daughter, Catharine, was only two months old, however accounts differ as to whether she was born in 1833 or 1834. Census records claim the family arrived in Canada in 1834. The reader should refer to the notes on Duncan's mother, Catharine McNaughtan, for the details of their journey.

By 1834 the family had arrived in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. Duncan Stewart, along with his wife and daughter remained in Hamilton, while his widowed mother and most of his siblings moved north to Puslinch Township in Wellington County and settled there on a farm.

The MacNab Connection


Dundurn, Scotland
click to enlarge

Dundurn

MacNab's Dundurn Castle in Hamilton is named after an old Pictish fort in Comrie parish in Upper Strathearn, Perthshire, Scotland where both MacNab's ancestors and our Stewart ancestors came from.  Dundurn is Gaelic for "fort of a fist" as the old Pictish fort sat on a hill which is in the shape of a fist.

While living in Hamilton, Duncan Stewart appears to have come into the good graces of The Hon. Sir Allan Napier MACNAB , 1st Baronet of Dundurn Castle, Premier of the United Provinces of Canada.  MacNab's ancestors came from Dundurn in Upper Strathearn, which is directly across the river from Moral, where Duncan Stewart was born.  MacNab's great-grandfather was a commander in the Jacobite Army of 1745 in which Duncan Stewart's great-grandfather also served (and died).  MacNab was also a distant cousin as his maternal great-grandfather was Robert Stewart, 7th of Ardvorlich.  The fact that Duncan Stewart's grandmother was a MacNab who came from the very same parish as Sir Allan MacNab's grandfather suggests the strong possibility that Duncan Stewart and Sir Allan McNab could also have been cousins on Duncan mother's side.

Sir Allan MacNab was at the time, arguably the most politically powerful man in Hamilton, and one of the most politically powerful in Canada.  MacNab served as Premier of the United Provinces of Canada from 1854-56, prior to Canada becoming an independent country.

Sir Allan MacNab secured a job for Duncan Stewart as a foreman road builder, supervising the building of the Dundas Road from Hamilton to London (at the time a stone road, which later became Highway 2). According to a descendant: "One morning, while building the road, Duncan came across his men gathered around a small black and white furry animal who sat unafraid watching them at the roadside. Duncan, having never seen such a creature before, poked the animal with a stick and then had to proceed immediately home to bury his clothes." Apparently they don't have skunks in Scotland.

Duncan Stewart purchased a lot on York Street, opposite Dundurn Castle, the residence of MacNab. On this property Duncan built a house which apparently remained standing until well into the 20th century when it was demolished for development of Dundurn Park.

Duncan served on the local militia in Hamilton during the time of the Rebellion.

Louise Hatch, a descendant of Duncan, records the following anecdote:

"In Hamilton, Duncan was a friend, and something of a favourite, with the pre-rebellion Governor, Sir Alan MacNab. The Stewart home was in fact just across the street from the MacNab Mansion. The land upon which it stood is now part of Dundurn Park. As a mark of friendly favour, in the disposal of the militia at the time of the rebellion, Duncan, whom Sir Alan MacNab knew to be hard of hearing, was placed out of range of probable combat in a safer position as a guard or watchman of a certain road. Sir Alan's kindness in this and other matters was rewarded with heartfelt loyalty. Always Tories of the deepest dye in Scotland, the Stewarts remained so in Canada until the young and smart Sir John A. MacDonald, by some ruse, as they considered it, undermined the power of his colleague Sir Alan MacNab. [After which] Duncan vowed that 'never again would he cast a vote for the interloper'. And no more he did."

About 1845  Duncan apparently moved his family to Ancaster and/or Puslinch, while retaining ownership of the York Street property. In 1847 he traded his home for a farm belonging to Mr. Dality in Maple Grove, Bayham Township, Elgin County East, Ontario. (Maple Grove Road is just south of Eden, near Tilsonburg.)  However it appears that he did not occupy this farm until 1850.  It is believed that the farm was still mostly uncleared wilderness at the time as Duncan's wife recalled marking the trees to be removed and his daughter recalled growing up extremely lonely and isolated.

Duncan Stewart remained on the Maple Grove Road farm for the remainder of his life and he is buried in Eden Cemetery.

Duncan Stewart was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 2 JAN 1811 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.  He married on 14 FEB 1832 (Valentine's Day!) in Scotland to Margaret MCGREGOR-alias-DRUMMOND, herself born in 1811.  (However Margaret's name on the IGI marriage record is given as Mary Drummond.  This is either a transcription error for "Marg" or Mary is also a known Gaelic substitute name for Margaret.)  I am indebted to the late Nora Smith of the Elgin Genealogical Society and Edie Morra for their research on this family.

Duncan Stewart and Margaret Drummond had the following children:

DESCENDANT INFORMATION HAS UPDATES PENDING

  1. Has Children Catharine STEWART b: 2 JAN 1834 in Moral, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.  She married on 29 DEC 1861 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario to Whitson Edward MOORE b: 20 NOV 1838 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario. 

    "Mr. Moore taught at Smuck School at Maple Grove and at Corinth. He was 84 years old when in 1922 he very ably addressed the old teachers and pupils of Corinth School gathered to bid farewell to the old building with all its memories, and which was to be demolished to make room for the present modern building.

    A few years after his marriage in 1861 to Miss Catherine Stewart, daughter of Duncan and Margaret Drummond Stewart of Maple Grove, Mr. Moore gave up teaching and farmed in Bayham. His first farm was the Todd farm. Later, he sold this and bought the Auston place, which he sold after some years to Ambrose Jackson in 1872. He then bought a farm at Frome.

    In the early spring of that year he drove from his home near Straffordville to Frome to finish up negotiations over his new farm. On his way home he passed through St. Thomas, where a sale was being held. A farm in Bayham was being sold for taxes and just to help the sale he put in a bid and to his consternation a 200 acre farm was knocked down to him. He now had 400 acres of land on his hands, a lot of land in those days.

    However, that same Spring, he sold 100 acres to Alex Grant Sr. Later, the other 100 of his acquisition to John Neville. Some time after this land passed into the hands of the Rollason brothers, who finished paying for it.

    Whitson Edward was a prominent member of the then Methodist Church at Frome and superintendent of the Sunday School until his death in 1924. He was an early riser and when it became necessary for him to �slow up�, his family wanted him to rest longer in the morning. He said, �When I was a young man I resolved that the sun would never find me in bed and it hasn�t�. He was very fond of reading and if he saw any of the children idle he would say �Don�t be idle. If you have nothing to do, get a book�. There were seven children - Allen, Margaret, Mary, Leah, Edward, Lilly, Whitson. (sic)" (Talbot Times)

    They had the following children:

    1. Has No Children Allen Andrew MOORE b: 25 JAN 1863 in St. Thomas, Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  He married on 15 APR 1897 to Sarah Jane BROWN b: 7 DEC 1867 in Yarmouth Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  They moved to Dauphin, Manitoba.  "Allen married Sarah Brown of St. Thomas. He farmed at Frome till 1911, when he returned and lived in Talbotville for several years then decided to visit a farm he had bought near Dauphin, Manitoba. He liked the West but always intended to return. He died in Dauphin. He had one adopted daughter, Mrs. McKinnon." (Talbot Times)
    2. Has No Children Margaret Jane MOORE b: 28 AUG 1864 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She remained on the family homestead in Bayham.  It is believed that she never married.
    3. Has No Children Mary Christina MOORE b: 3 JUN 1866 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She remained on the family homestead in Bayham.  It is believed that she never married.
    4. Has No Children William or Duncan Wilson MOORE b: 28 FEB 1868 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario who died as an infant.
    5. Has Children Leah Clara MOORE b: 6 FEB 1870 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She married Elgin HATCH b: 31 JAN 1871 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  "Leah married Elgin Hatch, a farmer at Maple Grove. Their family was three sons, Dean, Kenneth, and Fergus." (Talbot Times)  They had the following children:
      1. Has No Children Dean Arthur HATCH b: 23 FEB 1899 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario
      2. Has No Children Kenneth MacGregor HATCH b: AFT 1901 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario
      3. Has No Children Fergus Arnold HATCH b: AFT 1901 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario
    6. Has No Children Canby William MOORE b: 15 OCT 1871 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario who died as a child.
    7. Has No Children Edward Stewart MOORE b: 1 NOV 1873 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She remained on the family homestead in Bayham.  It is believed that he never married.
    8. Has Children Lillian Bell MOORE b: 10 APR 1875 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She married to William NEWTON b: 1870.  "Lilly taught school at Avon then went West and taught. She married William Newton, a farmer. Mr. Newton died in 1932. Mrs. Newton is now living with her daughter in Edmonton. There were two children, Catherine and Jack." (Talbot Times).  They had the following children:
      1. Has No Children Catherine Marion NEWTON b: Private
      2. Has No Children John Drummond NEWTON b: Private
    9. Has No Children Whitson Duncan MOORE b: 17 MAR 1877 in Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  He married Henrietta MCRAE b: 1874 in Fingal, Elgin County, Ontario.  "Whitson taught at Avon, then in the West. He bought a farm and sold it. He then owned a lumber yard. He has a nursery now in Biggar, Saskatchewan. He married Henrietta McCrea. They had no children." (Talbot Times)
  2. Has Children Robert Bruce STEWART b: 27 NOV 1835 in near Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  He married on 30 JUL 1862 in Near Hamilton or Toronto, Ontario to Margaret PERROTT b: AUG 1845 in Ontario.  Robert moved to Toronto sometime before 1881 where he worked as a carriage blacksmith.  He and Margaret had the following children:
    1. Has Children Albert Duncan STEWART b: 17 JUN 1862 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  Albert married on 14 MAR 1888 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Sarah Maria HUGHES 5 FEB 1866 in Toronto, York, Ontario as the daughter of William and Mary Hughes.  Albert and Sarah had the following children:


      Toronto Mayor
       Wm. J. Stewart

      1. Has Children William James STEWART, MPP b: 13 FEB 1889 in Toronto, York, Ontario .  William James Stewart was Mayor of the City of Toronto from 1931-1934, in 1937 he became a member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament, and in 1943 he became speaker of the legislature.  He also owned Bates & Dodds Funeral Home on Queen Street West at Strachan Avenue in Toronto.  More information on his political career can be found here.  He married firstly ABT 1910 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Ethel Leah HUFF b: 22 SEP 1887 in Bothwell, Kent County, Ontario and secondly AFT 1955 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Thelma Jean STANDEAVEN b: UNKNOWN in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He had the following children from his first marriage:
        1. Has Children Ethel Marjorie STEWART b: 23 SEP 1911 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.  She married on 14 MAR 1951 to Frederick William STAUNTON b: ABT 1910
          1. Has No Children Living STAUNTON
        2. Has No Children Marian Elizabeth STEWART b: 1914 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada m Rex LOVELL b: ABT 1910
        3. Has No Children Edith Ruth STEWART b: 17 JUN 1919 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
        4. Has Children William James STEWART b: 1920 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada m Diana GILPIN b: ABT 1920
          1. Has Children Living STEWART
          2. Has No Children Living STEWART
          3. Has No Children Samuel STEWART b: ABT 1946 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada
          4. Has No Children Julia Ruth STEWART b: 1950 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada
        5. Has Children Albert Huff STEWART b: Private m Barbara ROSS b: Private

          William James Stewart married secondly AFT 1955 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Thelma Jean STANDEAVEN b: UNKNOWN in Toronto, York, Ontario.

      2. Has No Children Robert Drummond STEWART b: 21 JAN 1891 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He died as a child.
      3. Has No Children Albert Duncan STEWART b: 24 SEP 1894 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He married on 7 OCT 1915 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada to Janet MCUAIG/MCQUAIGE b: ABT 1893.
      4. Has Children John Hughes STEWART b: 20 JAN 1896 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He married on 17 DEC 1925 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Gladys Irene BYNG b: 29 NOV 1905 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  They had the following children:
        1. Has No Children John Albert STEWART b: 17 JUN 1924 in Toronto, York, Ontario
        2. Has Children Edith Marion STEWART b: Private
      5. Has No Children Wesley Norman STEWART b: 3 JAN 1898 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He died as a child.
      6. Has Children Roy Ernest STEWART b: 25 MAR 1899 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He married in Toronto, York, Ontario to Jessie Winifred SMITH b: ABT 1900 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  They had the following child:
        1. Has No Children Ronald STEWART b: AFT 1920 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He moved to British Columbia.
      7. Has Children Henry Allan STEWART b: 23 SEP 1902 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He was Chief Clerk for the Crown Chancery of Ontario.  He married ABT 1934 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Mary Margaret Pauline KINGSTON b: 10 AUG 1909 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  They had the following child:
        1. Has No Children Living STEWART, whose information is withheld for privacy reasons.
      8. Has No Children Edith Marion STEWART b: 15 AUG 1905 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  She died as a child.
      9. Has Children Wesley Erwin STEWART b: 25 FEB 1907 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He married BEF 1943 in Toronto, York, Ontario to Amy Myrtle ANTHONY b: 25 FEB 1907 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  They shared a common birth date; it is not a copying error.  Wesley was a firefighter and Platoon Chief for the Toronto Fire Department.  They had the following child:
        1. Has No Children Living STEWART, whose information is withheld for privacy reasons.
      10. Has Children Thomas Beamish STEWART b: 30 DEC 1910 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  Thomas was a firefighter and District Chief for the Toronto Fire Department.  He married Muriel Lillian BENNIE b: Private.  They had the following children:


        Toronto
        Fire Chief
        Wm. A. Stewart

        1. Living STEWART, whose information is withheld for privacy reasons.
        2. William Albert STEWART.  He is currently the Chief of the Toronto Fire Services (click on his name for a bio).  Bill has graciously consented to being identified here, but his remaining personal information is withheld for privacy reasons.
    2. Has No Children Robert Bruce STEWART b: 20 JUN 1865 in Toronto, York, Ontario
    3. Has No Children Mary May R. STEWART b: 31 OCT 1867 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  She married on 19 JUN 1902 to George Washington STREET.  Mary was married one day after her brother Henry.  A matching George W. Street is found in 1910 residing in Brooklyn, New York, USA as a widower. It is not certain that it is the same George W. Street who married Mary Stewart, but, if so, then it would appear that Mary died sometime between 1902-1910.
    4. Has Children Walter Drummond STEWART b: 6 APR 1869 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He married firstly in DEC 1899 to Claribel A. HOWELL b: 22 MAR 1875 in Ontario.  At some point he moved to Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario where his grandparents and cousins lived.  After Claribel's death, Walter married secondly to Margaret E. HOWELL, presumably his late wife's sister, but that is not known for sure.  Walter and Claribel had the following known children:
      1. Has Children John Duncan Drummond STEWART b: 15 OCT 1899 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  He married Vera C. MCCURDY b: 1897.  They had the following children"
        1. Has No Children Allan Russell STEWART b: Private
        2. Has No Children Paul STEWART b: Private
      2. Has Children Murray Howell STEWART b: 1905 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  He married Dora Dee WALSH b: 1912.  They had the following child:
        1. Has Children Velma Jacqueline STEWART, b 2 MAY 1935 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.  She died in 1972 in Altoona, Florida, USA.  Her marriage and descendant information is private.
      3. Has Children Reginald Walter STEWART b: 1908 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  He married Erie Beatrice KENNEDY b: Private.  They had five children whose identities are not published for privacy reasons.
      4. Has Children Donald Elisha STEWART b: Private.  He married firstly to Elda Kathleen ANDERSON b: Private.  They had five children whose identities are not published for privacy reasons.  Donald marries secondly to Ruth KYLE b: Private.
      5. Has Children Robert F. STEWART b: Private.  He married firstly to Mary Maxine ELLIOT b: Private, by whom he had one child.  He married secondly to Margaret J. MACGREGOR b: Private, by whom he had four children.  Information on these children is not published for privacy reasons.
    5. Has No Children William Joseph STEWART b: 24 MAR 1871 in Toronto, York, Ontario
    6. Has No Children John McCallum STEWART b: 11 SEP 1872 in Toronto, York, Ontario
    7. Has Children Edwin Douglas STEWART b: 15 NOV 1874 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.  Edwin married firstly on 15 DEC 1904 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada to Anna BEUTHNER b: 1875 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, daughter of Gustav and Anna Beuthner.  Anna died almost a year to the day later on 16 DEC 1905 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.  There is no record of them having any children.  Edwin married secondly on 30 SEP 1909 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada to Ada Almeda JEFFRIES b: 23 DEC 1882 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada, daughter of Henry Albert Jeffries and Mary Jane Collins.  Ada is recorded as Widow Stewart at the time of her marriage to Edwin. No record of her first marriage has been found. Her previous Stewart husband is unknown.  Her first husband is unknown. Ada died 12 APR 1921 in Mimico, Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada of Tuberculosis.  Edwin and Ada had one known child:
      1. Has No Children Grace A. STEWART b: Private

      Edwin married thirdly on 20 SEP 1922 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada to Sadie KEENOR b: 1876 in Ontario, Canada, daughter of John Keenor and Eliza Sinclair.  It is not known if they had any children.

    8. Has Children Henry Allan STEWART b: 13 JAN 1877 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.  Henry married on 18 JUN 1902 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada (the day before his sister Mary's wedding) to Christina Ross ROWLES b: FEB 1879 in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, daughter of Joseph Rowles and Margaret Cameron.  They had the following  children:
      1. Has No Children Margaret Eileen STEWART b: 21 MAR 1904 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
      2. Has No Children Norman STEWART b: MAY 1907 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
      3. Has No Children Doris STEWART b: APR 1910 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
    9. Has No Children Beatrice Maude STEWART b: 2 NOV 1880 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  She moved to Whitby, Ontario.  It is believed that she never married.
    10. Has No Children Luther Ernest STEWART b: 19 MAR 1883 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  He never married.  He worked in a major department store in Toronto.
    11. Has No Children Norman Oliver STEWART b: 9 SEP 1885 in Toronto, York, Ontario
    12. Has No Children Janet McLennan STEWART b: 16 MAY 1892 in Toronto, York, Ontario.  Janet married on 28 JAN 1914 to William Joseph Johnson WALKER.  It is not known if they had any children.
  3. Has No Children Margaret STEWART b: 1837 in or near Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. She died as a child.
  4. Has No Children Margaret Christina STEWART b: 13 OCT 1840 in or near Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  She resided in Bayham Township all her life.  In later census records she is found living with her brother William and thus it is presumed that she never married.
  5. Has No Children William STEWART b: 17 NOV 1842 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  He never married.
  6. Has No Children Duncan STEWART b: 1845 in or near Hamilton or Ancaster, Wentworth, Ontario.  He died as a child.
  7. Has Children John STEWART b: 7 NOV 1847 in or near Ancaster, Wentworth County, Ontario.  John married on 16 DEC 1891 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada to Rebecca HOWEY b: 1 JUL 1862 in Ontario, daughter of Henry and Pheobe Ann Howey.  They had the following known children:
    1. Has Children Shirley Winnifred STEWART b: 27 SEP 1892 in Bayham Towsnhip, Elgin County, Ontario.  She married 25 APR 1923 in Elgin County, Ontario to John BILLINGTON b: 1879 in South Dorchester, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada, son of George Billington and Sarah Herrington.  They had the following child:
      1. Has No Children Norma Christine BILLINGTON b: 3 OCT 1924 in Yarmouth Township, Elgin County, Ontario.  She married Lloyd Gilbert SMITH b: Private.  This is the late Norma Smith whose research formed the basis of knowledge on much of Duncan Stewart's branch.
    2. Has Children Henry Duncan STEWART b: 8 DEC 1898 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.  Henry married on 4 APR 1923 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada to Evelyn Hope HOWEY, b: 1900 in Bayham Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada, daughter of James Howey and Margaret Baldwin.  Henry and Evelyn had the following children:
      1. Has No Children Irene STEWART b: Private
      2. Has Children Max STEWART b: Private
    3. Has No Children William Ian Howey STEWART b: 1904 in Bayham Township, Elgin County.  William married Dorothy Jean CHUTE.  William lived in Bayham for his entire life.  He died in 1966 and is buried in Eden Cemetery in Bayham.  William and Jean had the following child:
      1. Has Children Living STEWART 
  8. Has No Children Jane Anne STEWART b: 1849 in or near Ancaster, Wentworth, Ontario.  She died as a child.

Robert Stewart & Mary Gillespie

bulletSee STEWARTS of Hamilton Page for more information on this family

Robert STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 13 JUN 1813 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the third son of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above).  In keeping with Scottish tradition, Robert was named after his father. Robert married on 22 JUL 1836 in Galt, Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America to Mary Gillespie.  She was born 12 JUL 1811 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland.  More information on Mary's family can be found on the Gillespie Family of Puslinch page.  Robert and Mary were married only 16 months after the Stewarts and Gillespies arrived in Puslinch.

By March 1835 (at the latest) the family had arrived in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada (Ontario). They were among the earliest settlers in Puslinch. They occupied concession 3, lot 19-rear with the Gillespies occupying the front of the same lot.

Early census records indicate that Robert and Mary were Secessionist Presbyterians, not Church of Scotland. The Secession Presbyterian Church (United Synod) was organized in part by Mary's father, Hugh Gillespie, in 1837.

In fall of 1848 and winter of 1849 an outbreak of smallpox claimed the lives of Robert and Mary, along with Robert's mother Catharine, and Mary's sister and brother-in-law, Margaret Gillespie and Duncan Stewart (no known relation).  Robert and Mary's four children became orphans. Robert's brother Peter and sister Catherine were in their 20s by this point (and residing on the same family farm) so they raised Robert and Mary's orphans.  Duncan and Margaret's orphans were raised by the Gillespies.

Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie had the following children who were all orphaned:

  1. Has Children Robert STEWART b: Jun 20, 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America.  Robert was only 11 years old when his parents died leaving him as an orphan on the family farm.  His uncle Peter assumed responsibility for the family farm and raised Robert.  Robert later moved to Hamilton where he married on 15 JUN 1866 in Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ontario to his first cousin Elizabeth/Edith MCCALLUM.  She was born 4 APR 1832 in Gorbals, Lanark, Scotland as the daughter of William McCallum and Margaret Stewart (shown above).  Robert's story is told in more detail on the Stewart Family in Hamilton page.  Robert and Elizabeth had the following children:
    1. Has No Children Margaret E. STEWART b: 31 AUG 1867 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  She married on 14 DEC 1905 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to James Anderson MUIR b: DEC 1859 in Scotland.  They had no children.
    2. Has No Children Mary Elizabeth STEWART b: 20 APR 1869 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  She married on 28 AUG 1901 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to John LEITH b: 19 NOV 1871 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  By 1911 they had no children.
    3. Has No Children Robert James STEWART b: 12 JUL 1871 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA.  Robert was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, while his parents briefly lived there, but Robert lived most of his life in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He died young at the age of 35 and is believed to have not married nor had children.
    4. Has Children Minnie Catharine STEWART b: 3 NOV 1873 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  Minnie married firstly on 28 JUL 1898 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Police Constable John CAMERON b: 27 JUN 1862 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  In 1901, they were living with a Joseph McCallum (presumably a maternal cousin), and they are shown with no children.  In 1911 John is shown as a detective with the Hamilton Police Force with no children.  It is worth noting that Minnie's first cousin, Jane Ord Stewart (daughter of Hugh above) also married a police officer, namely Tom Brown who later became Chief.  They had the following child:
      1. Has No Children Stewart Ferguson CAMERON b: 27 JUL 1905 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario.  He died at birth and thus the descendant line of Robert Stewart became extinct.

      Minnie married secondly on 1 OCT 1924 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Beniah BAER b: 1877 in Canada.  It is not known if they had any children, however given their ages at the time it is unlikely.

  2. Has Children Hugh STEWART b: ABT 1840 in Puslinch Township Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America.  Hugh seems to have stayed on the family farm in Puslinch for a little while, giving a hand at farming.  Hugh married about 1869 probably in Puslinch, Ont. to Mary TAIT of Puslinch.  Mary was born 5 JAN 1844 in Beauharnois Canal, Ch�teauguay Valley, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada as the daughter of Leonard Tait and Jane Ord, both also from Puslinch.  By 1870 Hugh and Mary moved to Hamilton where Hugh became a grocer.  This is the author's family and a more detailed account of this family can be found on the Stewart Family of Hamilton page.  Hugh and Mary had the following children:
    1. Has No Children Robert Albert STEWART b: 1 OCT 1869 in Hamilton, Ont.
    2. Has Children Leonard Tait STEWART b: 2 NOV 1871 in Hamilton, Ont.
    3. Has Children Jane Ord STEWART b: 26 SEP 1875 in Hamilton, Ont. married on 19 OCT 1904 in Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ont. to Chief Constable Thomas Albert BROWN, M.B.E.  He was born 12 APR 1880 in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland.  More detailed information on this branch can be found on the Brown Family of Hamilton page.  They had the following children:
      1. Has Children John Stewart BROWN b: 28 JUN 1905 in 173 Walnut St. S., Hamilton, Ont. This is the author's paternal grandfather.
      2. Has Children Margaret Ruth BROWN b: 12 APR 1907 in Hamilton, Ont.
      3. Has Children Mary Helen BROWN b: 4 DEC 1912 in Hamilton, Ont.
      4. Has Children Florence Jean BROWN b: 9 AUG 1917 in Hamilton, Ont
    4. Has No Children James Gillespie STEWART b: 28 OCT 1877 in Hamilton, Ont.
    5. Has No Children Maggie STEWART b: OCT 1880 in Hamilton, Ont.
    6. Has No Children David Tait STEWART b: 24 JAN 1883 in Hamilton, Ont.
    7. Has No Children Agnes STEWART b: BET 1883 AND 1885 in Hamilton, Ontario
  3. Has Children Catharine STEWART b: 28 DEC 1842 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America married on 11 FEB 1869 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario to Hugh Munro MCINTYRE of Dundas, Wentworth, Ontario.  He was born b: 16 OCT 1832 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  Hugh and Catharine moved to Bellflower, Illinois.  They had the following children.  Further descendant information can be found in the Personal Information Pages
    1. Has Children Allan MCINTYRE b: 21 SEP 1870 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA.  He married firstly on 23 FEB 1898 in Bellflower, McLean County, Illinois, USA to Minnie Belle KEEFER b: 1875 in Illinois, USA.  They had the following children:
      1. Has Children Zelia MCINTYRE b: 24 MAY 1899 in Bellflower, McLean County, Illinois, USA
      2. Has No Children Stewart MCINTYRE b: 19 DEC 1900 in Bellflower, McLean County, Illinois, USA
      3. Has No Children Keefer MCINTYRE b: 2 DEC 1905 in Bellflower, McLean County, Illinois, USA.

      Allan McIntyre married secondly in 1907 to Ida Lourine FRANCISCO b: 1880 in Church Hill, Tennessee, USA.  They had the following children:

      1. Has No Children Clyde MCINTYRE b: 30 AUG 1908
      2. Has No Children Wilbur MCINTYRE b: 12 AUG 1909
      3. Has No Children Harry MCINTYRE b: 24 NOV 1910

      Allan married thirdly in 1912 to Verna Emma FLETCHER b: 8 OCT 1880 in Illinois, USA.  They had the following child:

      1. Has Children Delmar Willis MCINTYRE b: 22 OCT 1914
    2. Has Children Robert MCINTYRE b: 6 OCT 1872 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA.  Robert married on 2 FEB 1898 in Bellflower, McLean County, Illinois, USA to Zella May JOHNSON b: SEP 1874. They had the following child:
      1. Has No Children Gaylord MCINTYRE b: 1903 in Illinois, USA
    3. Has Children Hugh Monroe MCINTYRE b: 1 FEB 1875 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA.  Hugh married on 3 MAR 1899 in Champaign County, Illinois, USA to Isabelle JORDAN b: 9 JUL 1873 in Fisher, Champaign County, Illinois, USA.  They had the following children:
      1. Has Children Freda MCINTYRE b: 1901
      2. Has Children Walter MCINTYRE b: 1910
    4. Has No Children Euphemia MCINTYRE b: 17 JUN 1878 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA
    5. Has No Children Mary S. MCINTYRE b: 12 DEC 1880 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA.  She married 1901 in Illinois, USA to William M. BIGGS b: 1880 in Illinois, USA.
    6. Has Children Catharine MCINTYRE b: 5 MAR 1884 in Bellflower Township, Mclean County, Illinois, USA.  She married in 1907 to Rev. Cecil Clyde WISHER b: 23 OCT 1879.  They had the following children:
      1. Has No Children Hugh Paul WISHER b: 1909
      2. Has No Children Catherine WISHER b: Private
  4. Has No Children James STEWART b: 22 MAY 1847 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America.  James Stewart was orphaned in infancy at the age of only 20 months after his father died. James' siblings were raised by their Uncle Peter Stewart and Aunt Catherine Stewart on the Stewart farm in west Puslinch. However, in 1851 James is found in the nearby city of Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario in the care of his aunt and uncle Margaret (nee Stewart) and William McCallum (above).

    In the 1861 census James can be found living with his Uncle Peter and Aunt Catherine Stewart and his brother and sister Hugh and Catherine, and then in 1866 as a witness to the wedding of his brother Robert at Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. After that his whereabouts is uncertain. An excellent match has been found for him living in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1870 not far from his brother, however this is an unconfirmed reference. No match has been found for James in the 1880/81 census. It is possible that James may have died between 1870-1880/81.

Catharine Stewart


Catharine Stewart

Catharine STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 24 MAR 1816 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as a daughter of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above).  Catharine Stewart must have been an amazing woman. After her brother Robert married and started his own family, Catharine would have helped her widowed mother continue to raise the youngest two boys, Peter and William to adulthood.  Then when her mother, along with her brother Robert and his wife Mary all died, Catharine and her brother Peter became guardians to Robert's four orphaned children.  After the orphans were old enough to live on their own, she continued to live with her brother Peter even after he married and had children.  Catherine was in her 60s when her last nephew was born. Then Peter's wife Catharine (nee McLean) died prematurely, leaving Peter's children without a mother and Catharine became primarily responsible for these children's care also. Catharine Stewart never married, nor had any children of her own, but spent her entire life raising her younger brothers, and the thirteen children of her two brothers, Robert and Peter.

Peter Stewart & Catherine McLean


Peter Stewart


1851 Census

Peter STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 24 JUL 1820 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as a son of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan.  He was probably named after his uncle, Peter McNaughtan. Peter is probably the most well-known member of this family in Puslinch.

It appears that Peter was a bit wild while growing up. His memoirs tell of a time while he was helping clear a neighbour's farm land. "There was a great work party with many neighbours and their oxen working to clear trees and stumps." Peter's team of oxen were going slower than everyone else's so he fed them each a bottle of whisky. Accordingly, they perked up! He also comments that, fortunately, they were not his own oxen!

Peter also used to haul whisky to Toronto for David Allen, a distiller from Guelph. Peter and his partner Robert Allen (David's brother) would sell the whisky for $0.20/gallon. Their trip from Guelph to Toronto and back would take four days.

After the premature deaths of Peter's mother Catherine, brother Robert, and sister-in-law Mary (see Robert Stewart & Mary Gillespie above) Peter inherited the family farm.  He and his sister Catherine also found themselves caring for Robert and Mary's four orphaned children. Peter and Catherine raised their niece and nephews until they were old enough to live on their own. It was only after the orphans were grown and gone that Peter himself married Catherine McLean. Together they had nine children of their own. Tragically Peter's wife Catherine also died prematurely leaving Peter and his sister Catherine to raise these children.

Peter served as an elder at Duff's Presbyterian Church for 27 years. He also ran the local Sabbath School for many years.  He was remembered as an esteemed and generous man.

Peter Stewart and his sister Catherine remained on the family farm until they died around the year 1900. The farm remained in the family for another generation in the hand's of Peter's son, Neil Stewart. Peter's farmhouse still stands today, and though it is no longer in the family, some of Peter's descendants still live in the area.

Peter Stewart married sometime between 1862 and 1866 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario (although no record of this marriage has been found) to Catherine MCLEAN of Puslinch.  She was born in 1844 in Inverness, Scotland as the daughter of Neil and Mary McLean.  (It is not yet known if they were related to the Col. Maclean family of Puslinch who later founded one of Canada's largest media empires, the inventors of cable television, and owners of Maclean-Hunter Cable Television, and Maclean's Magazine.)  Peter and Catharine had the following children:

In order to avoid confusion, it is worth clarifying that Peter's mother, wife, sister, daughter and more than one niece were all named Catharine Stewart. It must have been a very confusing family!

  1. Has No Children Mary STEWART b: 29 JAN 1867 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario.  She never married. It is believed that she lived her whole life in Puslinch.   She is buried in Crown Cemetery, Puslinch.
  2. Has No Children Robert STEWART b: 28 APR 1868 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario and moved to Marigold, British Columbia.  He never married.  Although he died in British Columbia, he had his remains flown back to Ontario to be buried in Crown Cemetery.
  3. Has Children Catherine Annie STEWART b: 1870 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario married David MCNAUGHTON b: 24 AUG 1855 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  His birth family is presented on the McNaughton Family of Puslinch Page.  They moved to Brookdale, Manitoba.  They had four children, but it is not known if these children were born in Puslinch, Ontario, or Brookdale, Manitoba.  When Catharine died she had her remains flown back to Puslinch to be buried with her parents and grandmother in Crown Cemetery.  Their children were:
    1. Has No Children James MCNAUGHTON b: ABT 1890 in Manitoba or Ontario
    2. Has No Children Elizabeth Vinnie MCNAUGHTON b: 5 JUN 1893 in Manitoba
    3. Has No Children Minnie MCNAUGHTON b: 28 APR 1897 in Manitoba
    4. Has No Children Annie MCNAUGHTON b: MAY 1903 in Manitoba
  4. Has Children Neil STEWART b: 27 MAY 1872 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario married AFT 1901 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Catharine Isabel McPherson, b: 6 DEC 1870 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  Neil inherited the Puslinch family farm from his father Peter. Neil and Catharine had two sons on the farm: Peter Douglas Stewart and Donald McLean Stewart.  It is not known whether it was Neil or one of his sons who sold the farm but many of Neil's descendants remain in the area today.
    1. Has No Children Peter Douglas STEWART b: JUL 1904 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married to a woman named Anne whose surname is unknown.
    2. Has Children Donald McLean STEWART b: 27 NOV 1907 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington County, Ontario.  He married Helen Lansing DICKIESON b: Private.  They had five children whose identities are not published for privacy reasons.
  5. Has Children John James Harris STEWART b: 9 NOV 1873 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario moved to Carberry, Manitoba, where he married Elizabeth RENWICK of Ayr, Ontario.  They had three children.  John and Elizabeth then moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where they later died.  Their children were:
    1. Has Children Peter Renwick STEWART b: 16 JUL 1902 in Carberry, Manitoba
    2. Has Children Robert Harris STEWART b: 20 AUG 1904 in Willow Range, Manitoba
    3. Has Children Glen Alford STEWART b: 26 MAR 1914 in Oakville, Manitoba
  6. Has No Children Kenneth STEWART b: 28 FEB 1875 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario also moved to Brookdale, Manitoba, presumably with his sister Catharine Annie Stewart.  Kenneth never married and, like many of his siblings, he also had his remains flown back to Ontario to be buried in Crown Cemetery.
  7. Has Children Duncan STEWART b: 20 OCT 1876 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario married Jennie REEVES and moved to Calgary, Alberta.  They had two daughters.
    1. Has No Children Josephine STEWART b: Private
    2. Has No Children Irene STEWART b: Private
  8. Has No Children Elizabeth Sarah STEWART b: 4 SEP 1878 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario never married and moved to the nearby city of Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario.
  9. Has Children Margaret Isabel STEWART b: 7 AUG 1880 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Ontario married Harvey Alexander Stewart.  Though they share a common last name, Harvey was not related to Margaret's family.  Harvey came from a different family of local Stewarts, known as the Mountsberg Stewarts, which is a family that has also been researched by this author.  The story of Harvey's family can be found on the Mountsberg Stewarts Page.  Margaret and Harvey established their own farm just south of the village of Morriston in Puslinch.  It is believed that this farm remains in their family still today.  They had seven children, one of whom is worthy of special note: Flying Officer George Alexander Stewart.

William Stewart & Agnes McLean of Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario

bulletSee STEWARTS of Hamilton Page for more information on this family

William STEWART was born in Moral near St. Fillans and baptized on 22 NOV 1824 in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland as the youngest child of Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan (shown above). He would have been only eight or nine years old when the family left Scotland. William married Agnes MCLEAN presumably in Puslinch circa 1850.  No record has been found for the marriage.  Agnes' birth family is unknown so it is not known if she was related to Catherine McLean, wife of Peter Stewart (above), nor is it known if she was related to the Macleans of Puslinch who were of Maclean-Hunter Cable Television and Macleans Magazine fame.  Scots naming patterns would suggest that she was probably the daughter of a Norman & Agnes Mclean however such a family has not yet been identified.

About 1863 William and Agnes together with their family moved to Hamilton.  They were received as members of Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton on 7 JAN 1864.  William seems to have worked as a general labourer.  It is not known exactly where he worked, or at what job.  William's son, Edward, is listed in the 1881 census in Hamilton as a grocer and he may have been working with his cousin, Hugh Stewart who owned a grocery store.  William Stewart and Agnes McLean are buried in Hamilton Cemetery nearby to William's cousin Hugh Stewart (son of Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie).

As this family lived most of their life in Hamilton, and as their descendants all came from Hamilton the later descendants of this family have now been moved to the STEWARTS of Hamilton Page.  Here below is shown only the first generation, many of whom were born in Puslinch. The children of William Stewart and Agnes McLean are:

  1. Has Children Robert STEWART b: 2 DEC 1851 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada married Margaret TAIT.  She was born 1857 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada Colony, British North America.  Margaret Tait was the sister of Mary Tait who married Hugh Stewart (above under the branch of Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie).  They had children.  More information on this family can be found on the Tait Family of Puslinch page. 
  2. Has No Children Norman STEWART b: 7 FEB 1854 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada
  3. Has No Children John STEWART b: 11 MAY 1855 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada
  4. Has Children Edward STEWART b: 20 JAN 1858 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada
  5. Has No Children Katy STEWART b: 14 SEP 1861 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada
  6. Has No Children Peter STEWART b: ABT 18 AUG 1863 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada
  7. Has No Children William STEWART b: ABT 1865 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada.
  8. Has Children Agnes STEWART b: ABT 20 FEB 1865 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada married Alfred Mountain and had children.
  9. Has Children Sarah STEWART b: 8 DEC 1866 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Upper Canada.  She married Edward Bolton and had children.
  10. Has No Children Mary STEWART b: 1870 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
  11. Has No Children Alexander STEWART b: ABT 1871 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
  12. Has Children Archibald STEWART b: Jul 4, 1872 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario married about 1898 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario to Mabel Estelle HYDE and had children.

Please refer to the STEWARTS of Hamilton Page for more information on this family.

The Stewart Farm in Puslinch

Our family's Stewart farm was held by Robert Stewart and his widowed mother Catharine McNaughtan.  They were the original occupants of Concession 3, lot 19-rear, in Puslinch Township.  Their in-laws, the Gillespies, occupied the front of the same lot.  And Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillespie initially lived next door.  This Duncan Stewart was originally believed to be the brother of our family, but this has since been disproved.

Although "our" Stewart farm is no longer in the family, their original 1834 log cabin (now dilapidated and on an adjacent property) and the 1860 stone farmhouse still remain standing to this day just northwest of the present intersection of highways 401 & 6-North.

bulletThe lot numbering system in Puslinch records properties as "front" or "rear" of a particular lot on a particular concession.  This means that one property "fronted" onto the concession while the other property "backed" onto the concession.  It does not mean that a particular 100 acre lot was actually divided into a front 50 acres and a rear 50 acres.  Thus the Stewarts and Gillespies each occupied 100 acre lots that were essentially "across the street" from each other.

When Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie were married and began their family they appear to have built a second house on the same property with Robert and Mary and their children living in one house and the widow Catharine living in the other house with her youngest children, Peter, Catharine, and William.


Peter Stewart's
1860 Farmhouse
(photo c/o Puslinch Historical Society -- Click to enlarge.)

When Robert and his wife and mother all died during the smallpox outbreak in 1848 this property passed to Robert's younger brother, Peter.  Peter and his sister Catharine remained on the Puslinch farm for the rest of their lives.  In the 1860s Peter built a new stone farm house to replace the earlier log cabin.  Youngest son, William, remained on the property until 1870, when he moved his family to the nearby city of Hamilton.  When Peter died in 1901 the farm passed to his son Neil who held the property into the 20th century.

According to Peter's memoirs, the family initially lived in a shanty "without any door but an old country blanket hung over". A later biography of Peter Stewart indicates that the land was originally owned by a Mr. Burnside, however later research indicates that it's more likely that Burnside was just the government clerk who registered their ownership of the land. The Stewarts appear to have been the original settlers of the property.

Crown Cemetery

Most of the members of our Stewart family who died in Puslinch are buried in Crown Cemetery, Puslinch, just across the street from Duff's Presbyterian Church.  The strong bonds with Puslinch lived on for many generations even after later descendants had moved away -- some of who had moved even thousands of miles away.  Many of these later descendants actually had their remains flown back to Puslinch to be buried with their pioneer ancestors who had first settled the land.

Duff's Presbyterian Church

Our Stewart family were among the founding families of what is now known as Duff's Presbyterian Church in Puslinch.  In 1837 a congregation of the Secession Presbyterian Church was founded in Aberfoyle with Hugh Gillespie (Margaret and Mary's father) as one of the founding elders.  Early census records indicated that Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie were also founding members of this Secession congregation.  This congregation was short-lived and eventually amalgamated with it's nearby neighbouring church from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland -- the present-day Duff's Presbyterian Church.

More information on Duff's Church can be found here.  The congregational roll from 1844 survives and it records the following Stewarts, all of whom belong to our family:

bulletCatharine Stewart (this would be Robert and Peter's spinster sister Catharine of the first generation, b:1817)
bulletMr. & Mrs. Robert Stewart (Robert Stewart & Mary Gillespie)
bulletWidow Stewart (Robert's mother, Catharine Stewart, nee McNaughtan)
bulletPresumably Peter and William Stewart were too young to have been members in 1844

Links

Description Location
History of St. Fillans http://www.scottish-towns.co.uk/perthshire/fillans/history.html
General information on St. Fillans http://www.scottish-towns.co.uk/perthshire/fillans/index.html
More local information on St. Fillans http://www.perthshire-scotland.co.uk/stfillans2.htm
Comrie information http://www.scottish-towns.co.uk/perthshire/comrie/index.html
Comrie Community Website http://www.comrie.org.uk/index.html
Ancient Map of Strathearn http://www.nls.uk/pont/specialist/pont21.html
Alice Fluegge's Stewart Website for descendants of Hugh Stewart (son of Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillespie) http://users.rcn.com/alindzy/tregayweb.html

Fellow Researchers

People researching this family include the following.  If you wish your name added to the fellow researchers' list, please contact me.

Email From Belongs to branch: Researching
Ryk Brown Ontario, Canada Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie (son Hugh Stewart) all branches
Sharon Foster Illinois, USA Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie (dtr. Catharine Stewart) all branches
Brian Stewart Ontario, Canada William Stewart and Agnes MacLean (son Archibald Stewart) all branches
Edie Morra (nee Stewart) Ontario, Canada Duncan Stewart and Margaret Drummond (son Robert Stewart) all branches
Ed Stewart Ontario, Canada Duncan Stewart and Margaret Drummond (son Robert Stewart) all branches

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Legend

Has Children = This person has known descendants.

ABT = "about" and is used in three ways:

  1. Where it precedes a precise date of birth, such as "ABT 3 DEC 1855", then it means that the person was baptized on 3 DEC 1855, but his/her exact date of birth is unknown.

  2. Where it precedes a semi-precise date of birth with the month only given, such as "ABT DEC 1855", then that means that the birth is recorded in the civil birth registrations for the quarter ending with that month.  Thus the person's birth was registered sometime between the beginning of October 1855 and the end of December 1855, but no baptism record has been found nor any more precise birth record.

  3. Where it precedes a year only, such as "ABT 1855", then it means that there is no information on the person's birth date at all and an educated guess has been made that he/she was probably born sometime around 1855.

Contact

Please post your questions, comments, corrections, or additional information to:

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STEWARTS OF BALQUHIDDER DISCUSSION FORUM

This page was last updated on April 19, 2011

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