Stewarts of Balquhidder

Liesl · Wee Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 : Items

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to find a connection between some Australian Stewart's back to Scotland.

I am looking for the children of Charles Stewart b1832 (Father: Archibald, Mother: Mary Carrick)

I think Charles married Elizabeth Murie in 1860. The census states that he was a Grocer

One of their children was David Murie Stuart born: 1864 (again a grocer and wine merchant)
He married May Ann McDonald about 1890

One of their children Esme born 1903 immigrated to Australia and married into my family.

Am I correct in my assumptions??

Thank you for your help

Belinda · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

Hi Liesl

If your Charles is the son of Archibald Stewart and Mary Carrick you are my cousin. Archibald Stewart was the brother of my gggg grandmother Janet Stewart, b 1788 in Brackland, who married James Graham in Lennieston and their grandson James Graham immigrated to Melbourne Australia in 1851.

Archibald's parents were James Stewart in Brackland (of the Gartnafuaran Stewart line) and Katharine McQueen.

Which links are you unsure about and what do you want to know? I might be able to help with links to Australia.

Belinda

Liesl · Wee Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 : Items

Wow Belinda! That's excellent - the link I am unsure about is whether the Charles Stewart son of Archibald and Mary did indeed marry an Elizabeth Murie.

I know that Archibald and Mary had a son named Charles and I also know that a Charles Stewart married an Elizabeth Murie. I just need to know if they are the same Charles!

Man I hope that is not too confusing.

Esme Stuart married my Great uncle William Moody

Liesl

Belinda · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:05 am Post subject:

Yes it's definitely the same Charles Stuart.

He married Elizabeth Murie in Perth on 21 Aug 1860, as Charles C. Stuart. The names of his children are very revealing and their father is named Charles Carrick Stuart and mother Elizabeth Murie, so that clinches it, in my eyes. The children, all born in Perth, were:
Archibald Stuart b 15 Jan 1862
David Murie Stuart b 12 Apr 1863
Mary Stuart b 8 Jan 1865
Charles Stuart b 12 Apr 1867
Walter Stuart b 26 Nove 1869.

As the parents of Charles Stuart were Archibald Stewart and Mary Carrick there's absolutely no doubt that this is the right Charles. Not only does he call himself Charles Carrick Stuart but his children's names imply his father was Archibald and his (or his wife's) mother was Mary.

Belinda

Liesl · Wee Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 : Items

Thanks for your help Belinda. It's great to have that info confirmed. Now I can really get my teeth into this line.

Do you know why the name changed from Stewart to Stuart?? Is there some significance?

Thanks again

Liesl

Belinda · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:12 am Post subject:

There's not really any significance in the spelling of the name.

Until the middle of the 19th century names were spelt as sounded, or as the local minister, or the parish clerk, thought they should be spelt. Then as more of the population became literate, some people began to insist on a particular spelling of a surname, though some still spelled phonetically and they might change the spelling of a name in consecutive paragraphs of a letter, for instance! I think it was fortuitous how a name ended up being spelled. Stuart became more fashionable in the 19th century, as it was how the Scottish Royal family had spelt the name since Mary Queen of Scots came to the throne. She spelt it in the French fashion, while her Scottish kin still spelt the name as Steuart or Stewart.

Belinda