Stewarts of Balquhidder

charmian · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:09 am Post subject: The Stewarts in Laggan

The Stewarts in Laggan are a lesser known branch in this forum, and as the most senior of this branch of the family, I must try to put this right. (Goodness, that makes me feel old, but strangely enough I am the youngest and only surviving member of my generation!) Having recently joined this forum I was inspired to look through my father's commonplace book of old newspaper cuttings - which is actually quite historical, and I found this lovely piece about my grandmother including some background information about my family. It is undated, but looking through our family papers I see it must have been 1917 as she died six years after her husband who died in 1911. And of even more general interest is the information about the Stewart burial ground at Dundurn, St. Fillans.

STRATHYRE (where Laggan is situated)
THE LATE MRS. STEWART LAGGAN - There passed away peacefully at Laggan, Strathyre, on 25th Jan., Mrs. Helen Stewart, widow of Mr. John Stewart, farmer, Laggan. She had been ailing for some time, but was thought to be improving, when she had a relapse, and passed away at the age of 59. Mrs Stewart was a lady of most estimable character - kind to the poor, and respected by all classess. She was a native of Inverness-shire and is survived by a family of three sons and two daughters. The eldest son is Mr. John Stewart, (my father) solicitor, Dunblane, who is Clerk to the District Committee of the Western Division of the County Council, and who holds a number of other public offices. The funeral, which was largely attended took place on Monday to the family burying-ground at Dundurn Chapel, St Fillans, where as a scion of the Stewart of Ardvorlich, they have the right to bury inside the chapel. As the place, however, is rather overcrowded, Mrs. Stewart's remains were interred immediately outside the chapel. The funeral service at the house was conducted by the Rev. David Cameron, B.D., and at the grave by the Rev. Mr. Scott, Dundurn, and the Rev. Mr. Cameron, Balquidder.
It is interesting to note that her husband, Mr. John Stewart, was for a long time manager of the home farms at Immerion, belonging to Mr Carnegie of Stronvar, under the last and the present laird. Mr. Stewart, after he retired, succeeded his brother, Mr. Robert Stewart in the tenancy of Laggan Farm, where he died some six years ago.
Before going to Laggan the Stewarts occupied lands on the shores of Loch Earn, not far from their kinsmen, the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, the present chief being Major Stewart, Governor of the Calton Jail, Edinburgh.

Belinda · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:50 am Post subject:

Hi Charmian

I happened across Malcolm Gray's file of Monumental Inscriptions of Stewarts in South Pertshire on Chuck's site last night. It includes details of the Stewarts interred at Dundurn, and the file can be seen at
http://www.chuckspeed.com/balquhidder/history/Monumental_Inscriptions_for_Stewarts_in_%20SouthernPertshire.htm

Your Stewarts in Laggan appear, as follows:

29 James STEWART, farmer (at) Laggan (in) Strathyre, died SEP 1852, wife Mary STEWART predeceased him, brother William STEWART (at) Ardoch Mill (in) Strathyre, died 23 APR 1860 (family: Christina 12 MAR 1881, Robert farmer (at) Laggan, died 24 NOV 1900 (his wife Janet STEWART 26 NOV 1880, son Peter farmer (at) Immervoulin, died 15 APR 1935), John farmer (at) Laggan, 29 MAR 1911 (his wife Helen MACKAY 25 JAN 1917, son James farmer (at) Laggan died 5 MAR 1935)).

and
32 (next to 31) John STEWART, died (at) Laggan (in) Strathyre 29 MAR 1911, wife Helen MCKAY, died there 25 JAN 1917, youngest son James died there 15 MAR 1935, youngest daughter Sarah 19 MAY 1967.

Both stones record details of the interment of John and Helen Stewart as you have just posted, and I thought our Stewart Forum members would be interested to see this.

Regards

Belinda

Ryk · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

I remember seeing these stones when I visited Dundurn in '05. I'm going to see if I happened to have taken some photos.

Okay, Charmian, you're killing me with these little teases! LOL! Very Happy

I can't wait for you to post your Laggan genealogy here so that we can see how your line connects to Ardvorlich! I'm DYING with anticipation!!! Please...end the torture and post your stuff! Smile

Ryk

PS - As the Laggan Stewarts were definitely a cadet of Ardvorlich I am moving this thread to the Ardvorlich section.
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

charmian · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry Ryk, I'm just feeling my way here, and as the family tree is so huge, I'm trying to work out the best way to post it on the site. But I hope some anecdotes of the nearer-in-time Stewarts are amusing.
The other interesting bit as I told Belinda is the part of the Stewarts being descended from the ghost of Banquo! There I've done it again- teased you all! But maybe y'all know about this!
Charmian of Laggan

Ryk · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:03 am Post subject:

Charmian
Trust me, you have nothing to apologize for!

I certainly appreciate that you probably have a lot of information to sort through. I just get excited when we get a lead on a new line that we've had no information on before.

Perhaps you can help me with a couple of things, just to get your line anchored...at your leisure: Wink

Thanks
Ryk
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

Belinda · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:08 am Post subject:

Ryk, I found the 1851 census entry for James Stewart in Laggan and he's a generation older than you thought.

Details for the 1851 entry for Laggan, Balquhidder parish, are:
James Stewart 86 Head b Comrie, Perthshire, Farmer Of 1500 Acres Pasture 20 Ar Chiefly Hill
Robert Stewart 29 Son b Balquhidder
John Stewart 27 Son b Balquhidder Perthshire
Christian Stewart 25 Dau b Balquhidder Perthshire
Catharine Stewart 57 Farm Servant b Callander Perthshire
Christian McLaine 75 Visitor b Balquhidder Perthshire
Janet Cameron 26 Gen Servant b Ardnaumiata, Argyle
Catharine McFarlane 17 Gen Servant b Callander Perthshire
Peter McIntyre 13 Servant (Cork Ster) b Balquhidder, Perthshire

James Stewart died in 1852 so his elder son Robert took over the farm, and the entry for the 1861 census for Laggan looks like this:
Robert Stewart 39 abt 1822 Head b Balquhidder Perthshire Farmer
Janet Stewart 38 abt 1823 Wife b Balquhidder Perthshire
Mary Stewart 6 abt 1855 Daur b Balquhidder perthshire
Jane Stewart 4 abt 1857 Daur b Balquhidder Perthshire
James Stewart 1 abt 1860 Son b Balquhidder Perthshire
Daniel Stewart 68 abt 1793 Uncle b Callander Perthshire
Mary Fisher 29 abt 1832 Sister b Balquhidder Perthshire Serv (dom)
James McMillan 48 abt 1813 Visitor b Callander Perthshire Shoemaker
Malcom Fergerson 31 abt 1820 Servant b Balquhidder Perthshire Shepherd
Duncan McParlan 26 abt 1835 Servant b Balquhidder Perthshire Servant (farm)

James Stewart's birth is in the IGI, as follows:
James Stewart, bapt 10 July 1765, Comrie, Perth, F: Robert Stewart, M: Mary McLeran.

I think his father Robert Stewart was probably the one bapt in Comrie on 6 Feb 1726, F: James Steuart, M: Jean Steuart.

This makes it likely that Robert's father James Steuart was born about 1700, so he's more likely to be a descendants of one of the earlier Balmenoch lines than of William Stewart, 3rd of Balmenoch.

In fact all this is irrelevant as Charmian has the details, but, like you, I get excited about a new line and can't resist trying to put it all together.

Och Aye

Belinda

charmian · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:53 am Post subject:

Ryk and Belinda,
I am so impressed with how much you know - stretching entirely across the world. Your research is amazing.
Here goes – it is not easy as there is one link that we are not quite sure about. I had good help from Ardvorlich himself and also a researcher, so the research is far from all mine. That’s why I got help.

I think we should start with Robert Stewart, 3rd of Ardvorlich d. 1680
Married Jean Drummond of Comrie.

They had three children:
1. James 4th of Ardvorlich d. 1698
m. Elizabeth Buchanan

2. Robert Stewart f.n. m Margaret (not sure if they were married). Here I don't know what f.n. means.
Their children:
1. Jean b. 1693
2 Alexander b. 1700 m Helen McNiven

Alexander’s children
1. Robert Stewart in Balmeannoch b. 1726
m. Christian (Mary) McLaren
Their children
1. Jean b. 1761
2. Janet b. 1762
3. James Stewart in Laggan 1765-1852 m. Mary Stewart
4. John b 1767
5 Robert b 1770
6 William 1776-1860 Miller and forester in Ardoch d unm

James Stewart’s children
1. John Stewart 1863-1911 (my grandfather)
2. Robert Stewart 1821-1900

The family divides into two here.
More later phew …… Maybe I can sort out Peter Stewart for Belinda.

Please Ryk and Belinda have a look at this and see if it adds up with your research. I am very interested to hear your comments.
On the direct Ardvorlich line I see that Robert Stewart in Balmeannoch (note spelling) m. Janet of Comrie. Robert was the son of William Stewart who m Margaret McMean) And of course I start wondering is it Janet ….. of Comrie? But I am being sidetracked.
However that is not my line since we descend from Robert Stewart of Ardvorlich, probably illegitimately as Ardvorlich said that “he went over the hill” presumably to Laggan.
Will stop here for a bit as I want to clarify my thoughts.
Charmian of Laggan

Ryk · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

Charmian

Thanks for this sketch. It's very helpful! I'm still going through it and will offer more thorough comments later but here are some quick first thoughts --

My first reaction was "no, this can't be correct." We have no evidence of Robert 3rd Ardvorlich having any son named Robert. And if you descend from Robert 3rd Ardvorlich then your line would be more senior than the current laird! When the principal line died out in the mid-18th century then your ancestor, Alexander, above, would have had a better claim to the estate of Ardvorlich than Robert 3rd Balimeanach had. And you should be sitting in the nice house on the south shore of Loch Earn instead of Sandy. Shocked

But then I re-read your comment at the end about "probably illegitimately". And then the "f.n" became clear....

Jared can correct my Latin here but "f.n." will be something like "filius natural" = "natural son" = illegitimate, which is why we have no record of him. Thus "Robert f.n." above would have been excluded from considerations of inheriting. So your line above DOES make sense.

"He went over the hill" could be a euphemism for a non-marital relationship, but it could also be literal. According to Stewarts of the South, the later William 8th Ardvorlich was known for evicting his own kin off the Ardvorlich lands and leaving them to fend. So "he went over the hill" could also be a literal reference to the move from Balmeanoch to Laggan.

Regarding the spelling of Balmeanoch -- I think you'll find a wide range of spellings for it. As it's really just a phonetic Anglicization of the Gaelic, then which one we take to be "correct" is somewhat arbitrary. The current OS map shows it as "Balimeanach". Stewarts of the South shows the 19th century spelling as "Balmenoch". As you have some of the Gaelic you'll know the Gaelic would be "Baile-meadhonaich" ("middle farmstead") and pronounced something like "balleh-mennichk". For me, when I'm not closely consulting my notes I tend to slip into a semi-phonetic spelling of the Gaelic because that's what I hear in my head. But as you are the closest kin we have to the Balmeanoch line, if that is the spelling preferred in your family, I certainly have no objection to using it here.

Belinda -- thanks for the census info. That's very helpful. It does seem to sync with Charmian's info.

I think between all these preceding posts we now have enough to create a fairly solid sketch of the Laggan family. Of course, Charmian, that doesn't let you off the hook for the more detailed version later on! Laughing

It just gives me and Belinda something to satisfy our appetites for a little while. Wink

This is way too much fun!

Thanks a tonne Charmian and it's really great to have you with us.

Slainte agus beannachd leibh,

Ryk
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

Ryk · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

The "in progress" accounting of the Stewarts of Laggan is now available for viewing at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rykbrown/stewart_of_ardvorlich.htm
Scroll down near the bottom to "Cadet Branches". Laggan is the first listed.
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

charmian · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject:

Ryk,
What a truly wonderful job you have done with the information I have given you so far about the Stewarts of Laggan.
I just want to correct myself on one thing. Robert Stewart f.n. of Ardvorlich did actually marry Margaret, (but no surname) according to the tree. It was I who got involved in the illegitimacy at the wrong place.
Charmian

Ryk · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the correction. I'll correct the report accordingly.

The Comrie OPR gives Jean's birth as 7 MAY 1693 and shows her parents as Robert Stewart and Margaret nicInvine. So now you can add Margaret's surname to your tree.

I presume she was related to Helen McNiven who married Alexander.
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

Jared · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:04 am Post subject:

charmian · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Hi Ryk,
I am impressed by your dedication and ongoing work on the development of the family.
I found your list of place names and would like to work on that as I have a very ancient gazetteer which might add something.
But oh dear, I can't find the place name chart again. Could you tell me where it is please. My own fault of course as I haven't followed it as closely as I should!

Charmian of Laggan
Sole descendant of John Stewart of Laggan!!

Ryk · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Charmian

Welcome back. It's great to hear from you again. Thank you for your offer to work on the list of place names. It has been terribly neglected and is in much need of correction and completion. You assistance would be greatly appreciated.

You can find the list of place names at the bottom of the Principle Families page, located here:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rykbrown/principal_families.htm
Ryk
_________________
Ryk Brown
Descendant of the Stewarts of Dalveich (Ardvorlich)
Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor

Ryk · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

Our newest member "Clanman", an old friend of our group who has just joined our board, sent me the following while he was awaiting upgrade to full member access: