Descendants of Walter Stewart "of the Ravine" in Strone, Upper Strathgartney, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
Cadet Branch VI of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie
Discuss this family with fellow researchers at:
Click on any of the following to be taken to that section or page.
This page is part of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group Web Site jointly hosted by myself, Ryk Brown, and my research partner, Chuck Speed. The research presented on this page is not ours alone. It is the product of all the Fellow Researchers of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group. We are indebted to them for their generous contributions. This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other. The first-time reader is advised to begin with the introduction found on the Principal Families Page before proceeding on with this page.
The Stewarts in Strone were a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie. Please refer to the Glenbuckie page for a full introduction.
This family is being researched by Don McArthur and John Rae. Thanks to John Rae for solving the meaning of "cliugh".
Strongalvaltrie (Strone) shown with its older name on this mid-19th
century map -- showing its proximity to Edraleachdach.
www.nls.uk
Strone (the houses on the left) viewed from the west.
� Copyright
Colin
Smith and licensed for reuse under this
Creative Commons Licence.
Strone in Upper Strath Gartney and the Forest of Ben Venue
where Walter Stewart served as Earl's Forester
www.multimap.com
The sixth cadet branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie descends from "Walter of the Glen." Their primary residence was the farmstead of Strone in Upper Strathgartney. They lived right next door to their cousins of V Branch in Edraleachdach and Lorachan.
Strone is the name of a farmstead located on Loch Katrine in the upper reaches of Strathgartney in Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland. The farm is located in a remote and beautiful lochside glen in an area now known as The Trossachs.
Strone is the name used on modern maps, however this is an abbreviation of the older name of Strongalvaltrie (as shown on the mid-19th century map above). We believe this to derive from the Gaelic Sr�n gil bhaile tr�igh (pronounced "strone gill val tray") which means "beach house by the promontory of the ravine." Sr�n means "nose, point, promontory" and can be found with the following Anglicized spellings: Strone, Stroan, Stron, Sroan, and Strowan as "sr" in Gaelic is pronounced as "str" with a strongly rolled "r". Gil means "ravine." Bhaile is the lenited form of baile which means "farm, house, farmstead." And tr�igh means "beach." When one looks at the accompanying maps and photo it can be seen that Strone is located on a promontory beside a ravine and overlooking a beach.
This family is identified in Stewarts of the South as Sliochd Valter nan Cliugh. "Valter" is simply a variant on "Walter". Cliugh is believed to be a spelling variant of cleugh, which is a Scots word (not Gaelic) meaning "gorge, ravine, cliff, crag" and is synonymous with the Gaelic word gil, the second element in the name of Strongalvatrie. The ravine in question would most certainly be the one beside Strone and the one after which Strongalvaltrie is likely named (and not Glen Finglas as previously suggested here). Thus the name of this clan appears to curiously combine both Scots and Gaelic elements in a name that means "Descendants of Walter of the Ravine."
Stewarts of the South identifies Walter nan Cleugh as "of Glenbuckie house [who] was forester to the Earl of Monteith in Benvinu when that family lived in splendor in the Island of Port of Monteith." We believe that reference to Walter as "of Glenbuckie house" indicates that he was a son of the main stem of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie. If so then there are only two possible candidates that could match this description:
Walter Stewart, natural son of Alexander Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie
Walter Stewart, lawful son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie.
The second Walter is preferred for a couple of reasons. It is more likely that a lawful son would be appointed as an Earl's forester rather than an illegitimate son. And Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie, was himself appointed as Deputy Royal Forester in Glen Finglas. It seems more likely that a Royal Forester would be in a better position to secure for his son a position as an Earl's Forester. On that basis alone we suggest that Walter nan Cleugh was probably identical with Walter Stewart, son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie.
Walter nan Cleugh was the Forester to the Earl of Menteith in Benvinu. "Benvinu" is believed to refer to Ben Venue, just south of Loch Katrine. This forest is just across the loch from Strone and would be visible from Strone.
This report was originally based on research conducted by Don McArthur, one of our Fellow Researchers, as presented in his report Sliochd Valter nan Cliugh. However the present accounting has been expanded beyond Don's original report. We account for the descendants of Walter nan Cleugh as follows:
Walter nan Cleugh STEWART 1st of Strone and Earl's Forester of Ben Venue b: ABT 1580 in Glenbuckie, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland as the youngest lawful son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie. Walter was known as "Walter nan Cleugh" or "Walter of the Ravine" probably so-named after the ravine that ran alongside the property of Strone, believed to be his primary residence. A bond in 1622 which names the heads of most of the Balquhidder Stewarts includes: "John Dow Stewart in Glenfinglas and his brother-german, Walter". Dow is an Anglicization of Dubh. MacGregor suggests, and we concur, that these two brothers were sons of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie. The John Dow in question is believed to refer to John Dubh Mor Stewart, rather than his illegitimate half-brother, John Dubh Beg Stewart. Walter is the patriarch of VI Branch of Stewarts of the South, Sliochd Bhalter nan Cliugh, and served as Forester to the Earl of Menteith in Ben Venue just across Loch Katrine from his residence at Strone.
Stewarts of the South says "One of [Walter's] descendants was commonly called by the name of Iain du na Stroain ("Black John of Strone")" and that "John Du na Sroan had three grand uncles". Our present accounting shows that Black John of Strone was probably a great-grandson of Walter, thus his three grand uncles would be sons of Walter, for a total of four surviving sons. However, Stewarts of the South is confusing in its accounting of these lines. Stewarts of the South presents us with four descendant lines (sort of) for Walter nan Cliugh. Since we know Walter had four surviving sons it would make sense to conclude that each descendant line corresponds to the descendants of each of the surviving sons. However, close examination of the descendant data shows that's not the case. 1 Line and half of 2 Line comprise the descendants of Iain Dubh na Stroan, who descends from the eldest son of Walter nan Cleugh. The second half of 2 Line is stated as descending from one of Iain Dubh na Stroan's grand-uncles. So 2 Line, as shown in the original document, actually descends from two different brothers. To add to the confusion, the author of Stewarts of the South repeats himself and uses 3 Line twice! Is the second 3 Line meant to be a continuation of the first or is it an error in numbering and there are really five lines of descendants from four brothers? Then to add even more to the confusion, the author has mixed up the sequence of sons in the first of the two 3 Lines (this is discussed in more detail below).
All this means that we cannot rely too heavily on the accounting of lines of descendants in Stewarts of the South to correspond with the descendants of the four sons of Walter nan Cleugh.
Walter's wife is unknown. Walter is suggested as the father of:
The first line of descendants of Walter nan Cleugh is a cadet branch who resided in Strone on Loch Katrine in Strathgartney in Callander parish, Perthshire, in the area now known as The Trossachs.
This line is described in Stewarts of the South as follows:
- One of his descendants was commonly called by the name of Iain du na Stroain ("Black John of Strowan" or Sron, meaning "a nose shaped peak or promontory") [a] tacksman of Sroin [on] Lochcatherinside [in] Callander parish [on] Drummond of Perth's estate. He was [a] Lieutenant in [the] Duke of Perth's Regt [in] the year [17]45. He was feuer of Balmenoch ("middle farmtown") in Glenbuckie, which he sold to [the Glenbuckie] family after [17]45, as all his goods were destroyed. Perhaps no clan could boast of an honester friendlier man than this was.
[Iain dubh na Sroan] left three sons:
- (1 line) Duncan died before his father and had one son:
- A writer in Stirling [who is] now dead also
- Walter, [a] tenant in Stroine. [He] left three sons: John, Donald & Alexander, [who each] retained a good part of their father's hospitality.
- John Stewart, [a] tacksman of Stroin and Ardmacmavine. [He] is a bachelor.
- Donald, a tenant with [his brother] John at Stroin. [He is also] not married.
- Alexander, [a] subtenant to his brother [John]. [He has] one son [who is] a minor. [He pays] rent �200.
- (2 line) Alexander Stewart, [a] tacksman of Sheanchoil [in] Aberfoil parish [in the Lordship] of Monteith [on the] Duke of Montrose['s property]. [He has] three sons:
- John is a writer in Glasgow
- Duncan is with his father at home looking after the farm
- Alexander is a minor and at home likewise
The following references from Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions from Brig o' Turk cemetery pertain to this family:
16 table stone, John STEWART in Strongalbuthee (believed to be a transcription error for "Strongalbaltree"), son Duncan 28 FEB 1773, age 34.
17 foot stone next to 16, by John STEWART [illegible], father Walter STEWART, late tenant of Stroan, born JUL 1811, died 1869.
According to Mrs. Stewart of Milton's account:
There were Stewarts in Stronegalvaltrie at Loch Katrineside. I don�t think they were of the Glenfinlas Stewarts. John and Donald were there. They were uncles (sic cousins) to Duncan in Stronegalvaltrie, who was to be heir of Monacheil, & who raised the law plea. Duncan was married to Magdaline Stewart, daughter of Walter Stewart, Edralechcan.
John and Duncan (sic Donald, see before) Stewart in Stroan, had a nephew, Duncan who was there with them. This Duncan married Magdalene Stewart youngest sister to Mrs. Stewart (of Milton�s) mother. They had Alexander [sic - John?] who was drowned in the Leith 3 Nov 1887. Duncan (Alex�s father) had a brother Alexander, a writer in Glasgow.
We account for this family as follows:
Lieut. John Dubh na Sroan STEWART 4th of Strone (Strongavaltrie), b: ABT 1700 in Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland, shown above as the son of "Walter" Stewart in Strathgarntey. John is described in Stewarts of the South as: "One of [Walter nan Cliugh Stewart's] descendants was commonly called by the name of Iain du na Stroain ("Black John of Stroan" or Sron, meaning "a nose shaped peak or promontory") [a] tacksman of Sroin [on] Lochcatherinside [in] Callander parish [on] Drummond of Perth's estate. He was [a] Lieutenant in [the] Duke of Perth's Regt [in] the year [17]45. He was feuer of Balmenoch ("middle farmtown") in Glenbuckie, which he sold to [the Glenbuckie] family after [17]45, as all his goods were destroyed. Perhaps no clan could boast of an honester friendlier man than this was."
Stroain (also spelled Sron, Sroan, Stron, Stroan, Stroine, Strowan, etc.) is recorded on present-day maps as Strone and is located exactly 1 km west of Edraleachdach on the north shore of Loch Katrine in Strathgarntey, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland. It is suggested that John du na Stroan is the John Stewart shown in the Callander OPR as residing in "Stronganaltrie" -- which is recorded elsewhere in the Callander OPR as just "Stron" and is transcribed in Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions as "Strongalbuthee" and may be a corruption or transcription error for "Stron Gartney", that is, "Stron in Strathgartney". The children shown in the Callander OPR for John Stewart in Stranganaltry match very closely with the description of the children of John's given in Stewarts of the South. They also fit onomastically with this line.
John is presumed to have married Elisabeth STEWART b: ABT 1715 in Scotland, although no record of their marriage has been found. Elisabeth's birth family has not been identified. They had the following family:
Note the gap in children after 1745.
There were Stewarts in Stronegalvaltrie at Loch Katrineside. I don�t think they were of the Glenfinlas Stewarts. John and Donald were there. They were uncles (sic cousins) to Duncan in Stronegalvaltrie, who was to be heir of Monacheil, & who raised the law plea. Duncan was married to Magdaline Stewart, daughter of Walter Stewart, Edralechcan.
John and Duncan (sic Donald, see before) Stewart in Stroan, had a nephew, Duncan who was there with them. This Duncan married Magdalene Stewart youngest sister to Mrs. Stewart (Milton�s) mother. They had Alexander who was drowned in the Leith 3 Nov 1887. Duncan (Alex�s father) had a brother Alexander, a writer in Glasgow.
The estate of Monachyle was held by Donald McDonald of Monachyle who died without children. Donald was predeceased by his brothers, none of whom had heirs. Traditional rules of inheritance would suggest that Monachyle should have passed next to Donald McDonald's sisters from oldest to youngest. However, Donald McDonald apparently bestowed Monachyle on the son of his younger sister, Ann. This son's name also happened to be Duncan Stewart. This Duncan Stewart of Monachyle had previously served as the manager of Monachyle estate under Donald McDonald. Doubtless, Donald McDonald felt that Duncan Stewart had "earned" the right to the estate by having served him loyaly for many years. Furthermore, Duncan Stewart of Monachyle was a descendant of the earlier Stewarts of Monachyle. It may further be assumed that Duncan Stewart of Monachyle felt he deserved the estate as it had previously been held by his own ancestors.
However, this Duncan Stewart in Shenachyle felt he had a claim to the estate and sued his distant cousin for the estate. (Perhaps under the influence of his two brothers who were both lawyers?) Duncan Stewart in Shenachyle's only known claim would have been through his wife's mother, who, being the oldest sister of Donald McDonald probably would have had a better claim than Duncan Stewart of Monachyle being the son of Donald McDonald's younger sister. However, even if this Duncan could have established the validity of his mother-in-law's claim, then his eldest brother-in-law, James Stewart, 5th of Edraleachdach and Lorachan, would have had the superior claim over Duncan's wife, Magdalene Stewart. Duncan Stewart in Shenachyle was not successful in his claim and the estate of Monachyle passed to Duncan Stewart of Monachyle.
Although Duncan was not successful in acquiring the enormous and prosperous estate of Monachyle, he did acquire the family estate of Strone just prior to his death. Duncan died in 1878 at Strone and his widow Magdalene is shown in 1881 residing at Strone as head and as a farmer of 2500 acres. Thus it would appear that Duncan inherited Strone sometime after the 1871 census and prior to his death in 1878.
Duncan Stewart married on 19 APR 1840 in Shenachyle, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland to his distant cousin, Magdalene STEWART b: 4 NOV 1814 in Edraleachdach, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, daughter of Walter Stewart, 4th of Edraleachdach and Lorachan, and Elizabeth McDonald. Magdalene's birth family is shown on our Stewart of Glenbuckie Branch V page. Duncan and Magdalene had the following family:
Drumloist
www.multimap.com
Lianach in Glen Buckie www.multimap.com |
Lianach www.multimap.com |
The next line of descendants of Walter nan Cleugh are presented as part of 2 Line in the original document, but are recorded as descending from a different brother than the first half of 2 line. This is quite confusing, but is indicative of some of the challenges we have in correctly interpreting Stewarts of the South. This line is presented in Stewarts of the South as follows:
John Du na Sroan had three grand uncles, [the] first of them:
- Peter Stewart, [a] tacksman of Lianach [in] Glenbuckie, of whom came:
- John Stewart, present tenant of Lianach. [He has] three sons [who are all] minors [and pays] �200 rent.
- Donald Stewart his brother Copartner two sons minors rent �200
The language used above is misleading. Peter Stewart, tacksman of Lianach, may or may not be the first of the grand-uncles. John Stewart "present tacksman of Lianach" was the son of a Patrick/Peter Stewart who was also a tacksman of Lianach -- matching the description shown above. This would make it appear more likely that "Peter Stewart, tacksman of Lianach" shown above is the father of John. Whereas the "first of the three granduncles" would be a great-grandfather to John. The problem is that there could very easily be TWO Peter Stewarts who were both tacksmen of Lianach. It is quite conceivable that first grand-uncle could easily be named Patrick/Peter and he could easily have been an earlier tacksman of Lianach. So the reference to Peter above is quite ambiguous as to whether it refers to the first grand-uncle of Iain Dubh na Stroan or to the father of John Stewart, tenant in Lianach...or both. However, the fact that none of the other sons of Walter nan Cleugh are mentioned by name would suggest that it would be highly unlikely that the author of Stewarts of the South knew the name of the second son, but none of the others. Thus it is exceedingly more likely that Peter Stewart, above, was NOT the first of the three grand-uncles, but was indeed just the father of John Stewart, tenant in Lianach.
The following references from Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions from Balquhidder cemetery pertain to this family:
10 Peter STEWART died at Lianoch in 1796, John STEWART, farmer in Lianoch died at Immeroin 25 JUL 1844, age 75, by Peter STEWART farmer at Inverchagernie (in) Strathfillan.
11a Duncan STEWART, tenant (in) Kirktoun (of Balquhidder), died OCT 1817, wife Janet FERGUSON died (at) Balmore, 19 DEC 1845, children Duncan, tenant in Balmore (aka Dallanlaggan) 30 SEP 1836
11b by R & D STEWART, father Donald STEWART, died Kirktoun (of) Strathfillan 14 JAN 1867, age 85, wife Christian STEWART, 13 MAR 1858, age 64, their son Peter 17 FEB 1862, age 48.
We presently account for this line as follows:
Patrick/Peter STEWART, in Lianach, b: ABT 1735 in Balquhidder, Perth, Scotland. Patrick's birth record has not been identified. He is recorded in Mitchell's MIs for Balquhidder cemetery: "10 Peter STEWART died at Lianoch in 1796, John STEWART, farmer in Lianoch died at Immeroin 25 JUL 1844, age 75, by Peter STEWART farmer at Inverchagernie (in) Strathfillan." Peter married firstly on MAR AND 4 APR 1766 in Aberfoyle and Callander, Perthshire, Scotland to Helen STEWART b: ABT 1740 in presumably Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland. Helen's birth family has not been identified. They had the following children:
In addition to the children above Alexander Fergusson also had the following illegitimate child while he was married to Helen Stewart:
Donald FERGUSSON, b. 17 MAY 1846, bap. 14 MAR 1848 in Stronvar, illegitimate child of Alexander Ferguson in Stronvar with Jean STEWART in Kirkton.
Patrick/Peter married secondly ABT 1772 to Katherine FERGUSON b: ABT 1745 in Scotland. They had the following family:
Lendrick - The modern location of Lendrick is shown here. The
former locations of Lendrick (Lanrick) and Drepan are shown by the red dots.
www.multimap.com
Lendrick Lodge (now a spiritual
retreat centre)
Note - Branch IV of Annat also resided in Lendrick
This next group of descendants is presented in a confusing manner in Stewarts of the South. It appears that there are two sets of nuclear families, likely cousins to each other, who descend from a common ancestor. The first of these two families comprises four brothers: Duncan, Andrew, Walter and Daniel. The second family seems to comprise three brothers: John, Charles, and William. However Stewarts of the South presents the second set of three brothers in the middle of the first family of four brothers. The accounting below has been rearranged into its proper familial order in order to facilitate clarity, however the reader is encouraged to view the original for comparison (found in the index at the top of this page).
It seems likely that the following two families probably descend from a common son of Walter nan Cleugh, but given the accounting problems with this branch we cannot be certain. This family is presented in Stewarts of the South as follows (with Walter and Daniel moved to their correct familial place as noted above):
[Unknown Stewart, father of:]
- Duncan Stewart, late tacksman of Balmenoch [in] Glenbuckie. [He had] one son:
- Duncan, [a] tacksman of Kirkton [in] Balquhidder [on] Sir John M[urray] Macgregor's estate. [He is] a bachelor [and] a thrifty farmer [who pays] �250 rent
- Andrew Stewart, brother to the above Duncan of Balmenoch, was [a] tacksman of Coilbohaile, [in the] Breas of Doune [on the] Earl's estate. He left
- one son.
- There was one Walter Stewart (the entry for Daniel, below, confirms that Walter was a brother to Andrew, above), once [a] tenant [in the] Breas of Doune, [who was] of the above race. [He] had a son:
- a labourer to the Duke of Montrose. [He had]
- three sons at Buchanan in the Duke's works.
- Daniel Stewart, [who was a] tacksman of Drepan [in the] Barony of Lendrick [on] Sir Patrick Murray's estate from Perth family, [in] Callander parish. [Daniel] was brother to [the] foresaid Walter & Andrew. [Daniel] left four sons:
- John, an undertaker of works about Glasgow
- James, a land surveyor in Glasgow. [He has]
- two sons.
- Walter, a labourer in Glasgow
- Duncan, a shoemaker in Port Dundas at Glasgow. [He has]
- two sons.
[Unknown Stewart, father of:]
- John Stewart, [a] smith [at] Burn of Camus near Doune Lodge. [He had] 3 sons:
- James, a smith and successor to his father. [He] is unmarried.
- John, a labourer in Crieff, [who has]
- two sons
- James, a wright in Stirling, [who has]
- two sons [who are both] minors
- Charles Stewart, brother to the above John, was a mason at Burn of Camus. [He] left two sons, [both of whom made fortunes as spirit dealers in Glasgow] (the grammar is so convoluted in the original here that only a complete rewrite can make it clear)
- John, [who had a family]
- James, [who had a family]
- William Stewart, brother to Charles Stewart, was a smith in Doune. [He] left two sons:
- John, a respectable cloth merchant in Glasgow
- William, a master ferrier [in the] Dragoon guards
Our present accounting of this family is as follows:
"Donald" STEWART , in Drepan b: ABT 1675 in Probably Strathgarntey, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland. Donald is suggested above as a son of the third son of Walter nan Cliugh, however this is unconfirmed. No documentary evidence has been found to verify the existence of "Donald". He is suggested by onomastic evidence only. It is suggested by the known information about this sons, that "Donald" was probably a tacksman of Drepan. Donald is suggested as the father of:
The second branch of this line, namely the brothers John, Charles, and William, has not yet been identified.
Inverlochlarig
� Copyright
Andrew
Smith and licensed for reuse under this
Creative Commons Licence.
This line is recorded in Stewarts of the South as a second "3 Line". It is not clear from the original document if it is intended that this line is a continuation of the accounting of 3 Line shown above, or if the author made an error and repeated "3 Line" instead of "4 Line". In the absence of corroborating evidence we are presently suggesting that this line descends from the youngest son of Walter nan Cleugh.
Stewarts of the South presents this line as follows:
- Duncan Stewart, [a] late subtenant of Stroin (Strowan) [on] Lochcathrineside left two sons:
- first son David now dead
- 2 son Walter Flesher in Glasgow is unmarried
- Walter Stewart, brother to [the] foresaid Duncan had two sons:
- first of them dead
- second son Walter now in Nova Scotia in north America and doing well there [and] intends to return
- 3 Donald Stewart, [a] subtenant of Stroine (Strowan) [who] had one son:
- commonly called the Morrair for being servant to the Earl of Murray. [He] left one son
- a sea captain
Robert Stewart, tacksman of Inchry [in] Aberfoil parish [once a part of the lordship] of Monteith [and] now [the] Duke of Montrose's. [Robert] left one son:
- James, a merchant & grocer [in the] new town of Fintry [in] Stirlingshire. [The town was] erected by Mr Spiers of Kilchroich, a respectable gentleman.
James Stewart, or Sheumas MacPharic (James, son of Patrick), [who was a] tacksman of Inverlochlarig [in the] Braes of Balquhidder [on the] Earl of Murray's estate, left two sons:
- first, James, [who] died at Pitmmain in our own country (Perthshire). He was an honest man. He was Grieve to Mr Menzies of our own country, and before that to MacIntyre [who was] a great rascal. And I doubt not but [that] James was a better man than either of the masters, although the servant again.
- his brother 2 John, formerly [a] tenant of Immireoin [in] Glenbuckie & Murlagan in Balquhidder [on] Capt Stewart's estate. [He is] now condemned to be a moss laird, which is not much better than Egyptian slavery. Perhaps this man left few equals in goodness in Balquhidder and now as little respect is paid to him as to an old pack horse, which shows the uncertainty of human affairs.
The first branch of this family, namely the brothers Duncan, Walter, and Donald as well as Robert have not been accounted for as yet. We account for the remainder of this line as follows:
Patrick STEWART b: ABT 1680 in Probably Strathgartney, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland. Patrick was presumably a tacksman in Inverlochlarig in Braes of Balquhidder, as inferred from the information on his son. No such Patrick has so far been identified in any documentary records. As Patrick's son was known by the patronymic of James mac Patrick then we can be certain of Patrick's name. Patrick was the father of:
Patrick is recorded as the father of:
John's initial residence is given in Stewarts of the South as Immereoin and Muirlaggan, but in the Balquhidder OPR his residence is recorded as Clach-glas ("Greystone") of Glenbuckie for the baptisms of his children. Clachglas is merely a residence on the Immereoin portion of Glenbuckie, thus the two places can be considered synonymous. About 1793, John moved his family to 9 Wood Lane ("Woodline Moss") in Flanders Moss on the Blair Drummond Estate. John married on 24 JAN 1784 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland to Mary REID b: 29 JUN 1760 in Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, daughter of Duncan Reid and Christian McGregor. John and Mary had the following family:
Census records give us some additional information. In 1841 we find Catharine's father, Duncan Stewart, residing with his brother James on the family farm, but without his wife and two daughters -- it is believed his wife and second daughter had died. Meanwhile, Catharine, age 5, is found in the care of her bachelor maternal uncle, Duncan McLachlan, age 25, residing in Thornhill, Kincardine by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland. They are living in the household of William Black, a 40 year old baker and his 30 year old wife, Margaret. Also living with them is a 10 year old Margaret Malcolm. Residing next-door is an 18 year old Isabella Stewart (presently no known relation, but worth pursuing in the future). It would be understandable to find a semi-orphaned young girl in the care of relatives other than her father if there was a woman as care-giver. However, we must presume that Duncan Stewart was just as capable as his bachelor brother-in-law, Duncan McLachlan, at looking after a 5 year old girl. This would make it appear that Duncan Stewart was either incapable of raising his daughter for some reason or that he abandoned her.
In 1851 Catharine's father, Duncan, along with Duncan's brother's
family are not found at all and are presumed to have emigrated, although
Duncan may have died. Catharine, meanwhile, is found living in Raploch,
Stirling, age given as 18 and place of birth as Kilmadock (sic),
recorded as a "border" and a "pauper" and residing with the following
family:
Alexander Simpson, head, tailor, 48, b in Stirling, Stirlingshire
Ann (McCowan) Simpson, wife, 41, b ditto (m. 30 NOV 1828 in Stirling,
Stirling)
Janet Simpson, dtr, 17, b ditto
Peter Simpson, son, 4, b ditto (b 17 DEC 1846 in Stirling, Stirling)
Isabella Simpson, dtr, 4 b ditto
John Simpson, son, 1, b ditto
Catherine Simpson, dtr, 1, b ditto
Catharine is not found in 1861 or 1871. However, in 1881 Catharine is found in the town of Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Her residence is given as "35 Broad Street, Burgh Police Cells" and her given occupation we'll refer to euphemistically as "outdoor worker". This would explain the illegitimate births of her children and her absence from the 1861 and 1871 census records. If Catharine worked as an "outdoor worker" then it's likely she could have been easily missed by the enumerators.
In 1891, Catharine is found residing at 24 Lower Castlehill, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland and her employment is recorded specifically as "outdoor worker". She is residing with 40 year old James Malcolm, a stone mason's labourer. This same James Malcolm is found in 1871 residing with Catharine's daughter, Isabella (see notes on Isabella for more information). And note the 10 year old Margaret Malcolm above who lived with Catharine as a young girl. At present no relationship has been shown between the Malcolm family and Catharine.
Catharine's children are found in 1871, 1881, and 1891 living with various people who are no known relation to Catharine, and her daughter is recorded in 1871 as a "pauper's child". None of this family has been found in the 1901 census.
Catharine's death certificate in 1910 lists her occupation as "outdoor worker". Her age is given as 73 years. Her parents are given as Duncan Stewart, a flesher, (deceased), and Margaret (sic) McLachlan (deceased). The informant is her daughter Isabella Rae. The discrepancy over Catharine's mother's first name is understandable given that Janet McLachlan died very young and would have been almost unknown to her own daughter and certainly completely unknown to her granddaughter. This was likely compounded by the fact that census records imply that Catharine had little contact with her own children.
Family tradition accords that "Catherine Stewart made regular visits to Ann Ferguson at Thornhill to make sure both Isabella and Duncan were being looked after properly and also to make sure Ann was well funded for doing so. Catherine did keep in touch with both her children and their relationship was very close. Catherine lived to see all eight of Isabella's children born."
Catharine had the following illegitimate children by unknown fathers:
Census records show Isabella residing with a variety of families as a child, but never with her own mother (see note above).
In 1871, Isabella was residing at House #57, Kincardine, Kincardine
by Doune, Perthshire, Scotland with the following family:
Isabella Stewart, born 1869 in Stirling, Stirling, occupation:
pauper's child
Isabella McFarlane, head, born 1805 in Kilmadock, occupation: pauper -
former dom serv.
Janet McFarlane, born 1815 in Kincardine, former dom serv, (possible
dtr of William McFarlane and Janet Luke)
James Malcolm, born 1854 in Kincardine, nephew, shoemaker (b 7 NOV
1852 in Kincardine, s/o John Malcolm and Janet McFarlane - only child
of this couple)
Elisabeth Forrester, b 1844 in Kincardine, niece, dom serv unemployed.
(dtr of David Forrester and Janet McFarlane - only child of this
couple.)
The census indicates no family relationship between Isabella Stewart and Isabella McFarlane, the head of the house, but the common first name might suggest that the younger Isabella was named after the older. Perhaps Isabella McFarlane was a friend of Isabella Stewart's mother, or perhaps she is a maternal aunt or cousin by means as yet undiscovered. It is noteworthy that James Malcolm (shown above) who was residing with Isabella in 1871 is found 20 years later residing with Isabella's mother, Catharine. However, no family relationship is indicated in either census.
In 1881, Isabella is found at High Street in Kincardine residing
with the following family:
Ann Ferguson, head, born 1827 in Gargunnock, Stirling, former gen serv.
Daniel Ferguson, son, 1855 in Kilmadock, shoemaker.
Isabell Stewart, boarder, 1869 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, scholar
Duncan Stewart, boarder, 1873 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, scholar
(Isabella's brother)
Again here, Isabella's host family is of no known relation to her, but she has her brother living with her.
In 1891, Isabella is found at Blackhouse, Kippen, Stirling, Scotland, working as a domestic servant for the family of William and Helen Short -- no known relation.
Isabella and her husband have not been found in the 1901 census. Isabella married on 29 NOV 1889 in Kirk Street, Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland to John REOCH-alias-RAE b: ABT 1865 in Scotland.
Sunart (Suanard) in Argyll - showing its proximity to Balquhidder and the
Balquhidder Stewart Clan lands.
www.nls.uk
The final line of descendants of Walter nan Cleugh is the family of Peter Stewart, schoolmaster in Suanard (Sunart), Argyllshire. Suanard is shown as Sunart on modern maps and is outlined in bright green on the map above. It is a large district. Unfortunately Stewarts of the South does not tell us where in Sunart Peter Stewart resided.
Peter Stewart was called by the nickname of "Par nan Bearla (Beurla)" which means "English Peter", presumably because his birth family were Gaelic-speakers and, as a school teacher, Peter would have been required to teach in English.
This line is accounted in Stewarts of the South as "4 Line", however it is actually the fifth line of descendants presented (see notes above on the double 3 Line). As the last line of descent it's possible that Peter was the sole descendant of the youngest son of Walter. However, as there are really five lines of descent from four brothers, it's also possible that English Peter may descend from an illegitimate son of one of the earlier branches. Peter's family is presented in Stewarts of the South as follows:
Peter Stewart, commonly called Par na Bearla ("English Peter") [who was] a schoolmaster in Suanard [in] Argyleshire left four sons:
- Two of them Officers in the Army and lost their lives in their country's cause
- the third a soldier, now a pensioner in Fort William
- the fourth a minor in Strontian.
This finishes Sliochd Valtair nan Cliugh.
Peter and his sons have not been identified in any records at this time. We do not presently have an accounting for this line.
Walter STEWART and Catherine MCFARLANE in Corriechrombie
Walter STEWART and Isabel MCCLARAN in Drepan
Donald STEWART and Janet WOOD in Lendrick
Donald STEWART and Anna STEWART (possibly a second marriage for the preceding Donald)
Donald STEWART and Christian WRIGHT/MCINTYRE in Lendrick
Archibald STEWART and Jannet STEWART in Drepan and Lendrick, m 23 NOV/12 DEC 1723 in Kilmadock and Callander
Archibald STEWART (d1791) and Mary MCFARLANE (d 1796) in Lendrick no marriage record (2nd marriage for the preceding?)
Robert STEWART and Mary MCRUER in Drepan, m 6 JUN 1728 in Callander
Donald MCBEATH and Christian STEWART in Drepan and Ballewin
Patrick FERGUSON and Beatrix STEWART in Lendrick
Alexander STEWART (b 1710-1720, son of John?) and Catharine STEWART in Stron(gavallry), m 23 JUL 1747 or 09 JAN 1750 in Callander
Alexander STEWART and Catharine STEWART in Blargarry (possibly a second marriage for Alexander, but more likely a completely different family
Walter STEWART and Mary STEWART in Imereoin and Lianach of Glenbuckie. possibly m. 21 APR 1758 in Callander parish, but may be a different couple.
James STEWART, bap. 8 JUN 1759 in Edraleachdach, Callander parish (not certain to be of this family)
Janet STEWART, bap. 19 NOV 1767 in Imer-Ewan of Glenbuky
John STEWART, bap. 3 DEC 1773 in Lianach of Glenbukie
From Mitchell's MIs - Kilmahog Cemetery
27 pelican plucking its breast, in her nest (Stewart crest). Daniel STEWART, late farmer (at) Landrick, died 11 MAR 1846, age 89, wife Margaret MACKINLAY, 22 OCT 1848, age 83.
28 emblems of mortality. 1803. Archibald STEWART, MAY 1791, wife Mary MCFARLAND, 24 MAY 1796, by son Daniel in ---- (illegible).
29 (broken) Archibald STEWART, farmer (at) Emdrick --- Sept --- died MAY 1847, ----- who died 9 JUL 1861. Elizabeth Buchanan STEWART, teacher (at) Callander, died 23 FEB 1862.
For more information on
any of the individual persons featured on this page
please click on the INDEX button below to enter Ryk Brown's online database,
then select the first letter of the surname you are
looking for.
The index button will take you to Ryk's searchable GEDCOM database
hosted by RootsWeb's World Connect Project.
= This person has known descendants.
ABT = "about" and is used in three ways:
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 1795, but his/her exact date of birth is unknown.
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.
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.
Site hosted by: Ryk Brown & Chuck Speed.
To contact the hosts, or any of our researchers, go to the
STEWARTS
OF BALQUHIDDER DISCUSSION FORUM
and leave a message.
This page was last updated on May 31, 2011