THE STEWART FAMILIES OF THIS AREA

The history of the Stewarts is both noble and complex. Historically, the Stewarts descended from an ancient family who were located in Brittany. They acquired lands in England after the Norman conquest and a younger son Walter Fitz- Alan, moved to Scotland when David I ascended the throne of Scotland. Walter was granted extensive estates in Renfrew and East Lothian around 1138 and the office of High Steward was made hereditary in the family.

On behalf of King David, Walter and later his descendants, down to his great grandson Alexander who was High Lord Steward of Scotland in 1263, battled to support the Crown of Scotland. The surname of Stewart was derived from the office of High Steward. Historically the name Stewart had the alternate form of Stuart. Other variations are: Steuart, Steward and Stuard.

Alexander’s son James was the fifth High Steward or Stewart. His brother, Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl, fell when fighting alongside William Wallace in the cause of independence at the Battle of Falkirk in 1258. From Sir John arose a number of famous Scottish families.

From his eldest son, Alexander, came the line of the Earls of Angus. The line ended with a female who carried the earldom to the Douglases who are Earls of Angus and Dukes of Hamilton, still.

From his second son, Alan, descended the Stewart Earls of Lennox. His heir, Lord Darnley, married Mary Queen of Scots and became ancestor of the later Stewart Kings. Also descended from Alan are the Earls of Galloway who are currently chiefs of the Stewarts.

From his fourth son came the Stewarts of Innermeath, the Stewarts of Murtly and Grandtully, the Stewart Earls of Athol and the Stewarts of Appin.

From his sixth son, Robert, came the Stewarts of Allanton. Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl’s nephew, Walter the sixth High Stewart, fought with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn and Berwick with great credit and was awarded the hand of Robert’s only daughter, Marjory who was killed shortly after the marriage while carrying their son. The child was saved and went on to take the throne as King Robert 11 in 1371.

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It was from the two marriages of Robert 11 that many of the later troubles and disputes of the Stewart Kings, which cannot be gone into in this short summary, arose. Of the main line of the Stewart Kings are both Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, who are amongst Scotland’s most romantic heroes. Their male line came to an end with Charles’ younger brother Henry in 1807.

Regarding this section, the focus is on describing the various families of Stewarts who settled in the Marshfield area and that have connections with the Pioneer Cemetery. It is not believed that the four families mentioned here were closely if at all related when they came to the Island.

Over the years these families of Stewarts have been identified most often as: the Five Mile House Stewarts (descendants of Peter Stewart), Souter or Shoemaker Stewarts (descendants of Alexander Stewart), Apple Tree Stewarts (descendants of Donald Stewart) and the French Fort Stewarts (descendants of John Stewart).

Submitted by Eleanor Boswell