| Notes |
- Donald Stewart was the illegitimate son of Maj. David Stewart of McOrriston. No record of Donald's birth has been found. His date of birth is estimated based on the known age of his father and the estimated age of his son. His exact place of birth is unknown, though he was likely born at his father's residence of McOrriston in Kincardine-by-Doune parish in Perthshire, Scotland. Donald had a legitimate half-brother, Maj. James Stewart of McOrriston, who also served as an officer in the Jacobite army in 1745, a legitimate half-sister, Margaret Stewart, and an illegitimate half-sister, Elizabeth Stewart.
Donald's father was Forester in Glen Finglas for the Earl of Moray, so it's likely that Donald spent his younger years between McOrriston and Glen Finglas.
Donald Stewart's father, Maj. David Stewart of McOrriston, served as an officer in the Atholl Brigade of the Jacobite army and as Jacobite co-Governor of Doune Castle during the Jacobite Rising of 1745-46. Donald's grandfather, James Stewart, 4th of Ardvorlich, had been Steward of Doune Castle.
Donald Stewart was also a Jacobite. He served in the Appin Regiment and is incorrectly listed in the Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s Army 1745-46 as "Stewart, Donald, Perthshire, natural son to David Stewart of Ballachallan." (sic) As we have shown above, his actual father was Maj. David Stewart of McOrriston, who had been confused in historical records with David Stewart of Ballochallan.
Donald Stewart's rank is not listed in the Muster Roll. As military officer positions were often bought in those days, and as both his father and brother were Majors, it seemsly likely that Donald had an officer's position. The only indication of what his rank might have been comes from a fictional character in the novel, Waverly, by Sir Walter Scott, named "Lt. Col. Donald Stewart" who was governor of Doune Castle when the central character was imprisoned at Doune. The fictional character was allegedly based on this Donald Stewart, however it seems more likely that the character was based on an amalgam of Donald and his father, as there is no record of Donald having served in any governing capacity at Doune. And it's unlikely that he did so as he and his father served in different regiments.
Whether accurately or not, in honour of Sir Walter Scott's character, we are attributing the rank of "Lt. Col." to Donald Stewart in quotation marks to indicate that it is not confirmed..
The Muster Roll also records that Donald Stewart was killed in action at the Battle of Culloden. As does Stewarts of the South which says (partially correctly) that:
"Next, David, [Ardvorlich's] brother was Tenant in Glenfinglas (and sometimes in Macorriston) [and] was Forrester to the Earl of Murray. He was married to a daughter of Steward of Balled widow of Campbell of Lochdochard by whom he had one son - he was a promising youth [who] was slain at the unfortunate battle of Culloden."
The author of Stewarts of the South correctly identifies Donald's father as being the brother of Ardvorlich, but is incorrect about Donald's mother's identity. Margaret Stewart of Fungorth (of the family of Balled, widow of Campbell of Lochdochard) was Donald's step-mother. His birth mother, as noted above, is unknown.
Although Donald Stewart was recorded as killed in action at Culloden, he actually survived, escaped, and took to the hills in hiding. How is it possible that he could have been wrongly recorded as killed in action if he actually survived? If he was an officer, he would have known that his life would have been forfeit if he was captured after Culloden. So he may have switched uniforms with a fallen soldier on the field leaving the British authorities to mistakenly identify the corpse by its uniform, while Donald escaped inconspicuously.
Donald Stewart lived in hiding for an unknown amount of time, possibly months or even years. He was accompanied by his young son, William. Eventually Donald emerged from hiding far to the east in rural Aberdeenshire where he acquired the farmstead of Hythie.
Donald's great-grandson, George Stewart (1799-1882), in a 1748 letter to his sister, said:
"I can remember that when I was a very little boy, my father told us that his grandfather was a laird; and lost his land by joining Prince Charles; and wandered about from place to place with our grandfather (then a boy) to conceal themselves until at last they settled at Hythie some time after the rebellion was over.... I was told that the name of [the former estate] was "Bally-hallen" and that it was in the mouth of the highlands."
George went on to search to identify his ancestor's lost estate and concluded (probably correctly) that it's actual name was Ballochallan. However, as noted, this was based on a case of mistaken identity between David Stewart of Ballochallan who was not Donald's father and Maj. David Stewart of MacOrriston, who was Donald's actual father.
It seems likely that Donald Stewart would have needed financial assistance in purchasing the farmstead of Hythie. It's unlikely that a Jacobite fugitive on the run, who was son of a de facto executed Jacobite fugitive, would have had much in the way of financial resources. His first recourse would have been to turn to his late father's family, where his uncle, Robert Stewart, was laird of Ardvorlich. However, Robert Stewart of Ardvorlich was deeply in debt after the failed Jacobite Rising and was forced to sell all his possessions. The executor for the sale was David Stewart of Ballochallan, who was a wealthy man. David's younger brother had served in the Atholl Brigade under Donald's late father. So the two families were close. It's possible that David Stewart of Ballochallan aided Donald Stewart in gaining Hythie.
Donald lived the rest of his life at Hythie in relative obscurity. He has not been found in any further public records. His date of death is unknown and no record of his death has been found. According to his great-grandson, George Stewart in Andover, Donald Stewart was buried in the churchyard at Fetterangus without any monumental stone to mark the spot. Later generations erected a memorial cairn in honour of their ancestor and what they believed to be their connection to the Stewarts of Ballochallan.
We know nothing of any wife or mistress for Donald Stewart. According to Donald's great-grandson, George Stewart in Andover, Donald Stewart had a son, William Stewart. As George was writing about his own grandfather, we can trust this information to be accurate. George does not mention if William had any siblings. None have so far been identified, although there were a small number of other Stewart households in Old Deer parish in the late 1700s who could be related.
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The Origin of the Stewarts in Hythie
"Lt. Col." Donald Stewart son of Maj. David Stewart of Ballochallan, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle?
For decades, the origin of the Stewarts in Hythie has been plagued by confusion and conflation. The founder of the Stewarts in Hythie was "Lt. Col." Donald Stewart, Deputy Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, who fought at the Battle of Culloden and was incorrectly recorded as deceased, but who actually survived. He was believed to be the son of Maj. David Stewart of Ballochallan, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle. After surviving Culloden, Donald became a fugitive and took to the hills with his young son in tow in order to avoid capture. He fled to rural Aberdeenshire, where he acquired the farmstead of Upper Hythie and settled down with his son to farm as inconspicuously as possible. But where did Donald Stewart actually come from?
Donald Stewart's great-grandson, George Stewart in Andover (1799-1882), in an 1848 letter to his sister, recalled stories that his father told him as a boy about his great-grandfather, Donald Stewart, having been the son of "Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle and the last laird of Ballyhallan." George Stewart wrote that his great-grandfather Donald had been Governor of Doune Castle for Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and that he had been the inspiration for the same-named character in Sir Walter Scott's novel, Waverly. George recalled his father saying that Donald Stewart's father's estate "in the mouth of the Highlands" had been forfeited after The '45 for siding with the Jacobites and that Donald had to "take to the hills" wandering in hiding for several years until it was safe to settle down again. At which time he acquired the farmstead of Hythie where he lived the rest of his life inconspicuously and died without note. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Fetterangus churchyard. His descendants later erected a cairn in his honour commemorating the family's connection to the Stewarts of Ballochallan.
As an adult, George Stewart in Andover set out to research the facts behind the stories he'd learned as a child from his father. He'd been told that his great-grandfather was named Donald Stewart, that he had held Doune Castle for the Jacobites during the 1745 Rising, and that he was laird of a farmstead "in the mouth of the Highlands" called "Ballyhallan." Upon checking a map he discovered the farmstead of Ballochallan located not far from Doune Castle and concluded (probably correctly) that Ballochallan and Ballyhallan must be the same place.
The Muster Rolls of The '45 lists Donald Stewart, son of "David Stewart of Ballochallan" as having been killed at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. George Stewart discovered this information and concluded that David Stewart of Ballachallan must have been the Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle and must be the father of his great-grandfather, Donald Stewart in Hythie. For generations, the descendants of this the Stewarts in Hythie believed themselves to be descended from the Stewarts of Ballochallan.
As with many family traditions, we shall see that this story was mostly correct in its essence, but incorrect in some of the details. It turns out to be a case of mistaken identity between two different David Stewarts.
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The Real David Stewart of Ballochallan
The challenge in correctly identifying the ancestor for the Stewarts in Hythie lies in the fact that Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, and David Stewart, last laird of Ballochallan, were actually two different people, alive at the same time, but whom history has confused for each other and conflated into one person.
Maj. David Stewart, "Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle", was a real person. He became a fugitive after Culloden and was captured in the Braes of Leny and imprisoned in the Tolbooth at Stirling where he died in November 1746, just a few months after the battle. He had an illegitimate son, Donald, who fought at Culloden and was recorded as killed in action there. David served in the Atholl Brigade alongside Charles Stewart, younger of Ballochallan, who was also captured.
David Stewart, "Last Laird of Ballochallan" was also a real person. He is more correctly identified as David Hume Stewart, 3rd of Ballochallan. He was alive at the time of the Battle of Culloden, but he did not take part in the battle. He was not a Jacobite and was never a prisoner. He did not die in captivity in the Stirling Tolbooth in 1746. He lived a long and prosperous life at Ballochallan where he died nearly a decade later in 1774. He was not the "last laird of Ballochallan", nor did he have a son. He passed the estate on to his nephew, George Home Stewart, of Argaty and 4th of Ballochallan. David Hume Stewart was also the older brother of Charles Stewart, younger of Ballochallan, who served in the Atholl Brigade with Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, and was also imprisoned.
Historical records have incorrectly identified David Stewart, prisoner in the Stirling Tolbooth, as being David Stewart of Ballochallan. It's uncertain how this mistaken identification occurred, but it may simply have been a misreading of the prisoner's list with Maj. David Stewart and Charles Stewart, younger of Ballochallan, both serving in the Atholl Brigade together, and, knowing that Charles' brother was named David Stewart of Ballochallan, mistakenly assuming they were brothers. While we don't know for sure how this mistake crept into historical records, we do know that the error already existed as early as 1848 when George Stewart in Andover cited the information to his sister.
So who was the real Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle?
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The Real David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle
Maj. David Stewart of MacOrriston
As noted above, Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, was a real person. But he was not David Stewart of Ballochallan. He was David Stewart of MacOrriston, Earl of Moray's Forester in Glenfinglas. He was the son of James Stewart, 4th of Ardvorlich, Chamberlain of Doune Castle, residence of the Earl of Moray.
(John MacGregor of Glengyle was also appointed by Prince Charles Edward Stuart as Governor of Doune Castle. It is unclear what the actual governing relationship was between David Stewart and John MacGregor, so we shall refer to them as co-governors.)
David Stewart was a Major in the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. He was co-Governor of Doune Castle when it was in Jacobite hands. He was a natural choice for this position since his father had served as Chamberlain to the Earl of Moray at Doune Castle, so he was probably intimately familiar with the castle. After the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, David became a fugitive, hiding in the hills. He was captured seven months later in November 1746 in the Braes of Leny. He was held in captivity in the Tolbooth at Stirling where he later died of his injuries while awaiting trial.
And, most importantly, he had an illegitimate son named Donald Stewart who was recorded as having been killed in action at the Battle of Culloden.
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Was there are real connection to Ballochallan?
It must be noted that Donald Stewart, 1st in Hythie, had a mortal reason to keep his real identity secret. His father had been left to die of his injuries in the Stirling Tolbooth. And, even after he was dead, the British Government refused to include him posthumously in the general pardon. Donald had every reason to fear that he would face the same fate if his true identity was discovered. This reason alone may explain the confused origin story of the Stewarts in Hythie.
How did the name "Ballyhallan" enter the family tradition?
The problem with the confident claim that Donald Stewart was the son of Maj. David Stewart of MacOrriston, Governor of Doune Castle, and not David Stewart of Ballochallan, is the fact that the confusion of these two men occurred in written historical records of prisoners quite separate from the oral tradition that was passed down through the first four generations of the Stewarts in Hythie. The knowledge that the Stewarts in Hythie were connected to the estate of "Ballyhallan" came from stories told by Alexander Stewart in Aberdour in the early 1800s to his young son, George Stewart, latterly in Andover. Alexander was speaking about his own grandfather, so he either got these stories directly from his grandfather's mouth, or second-hand through his father. Those should be reliable and accurate sources. However, details of stories often get altered as those stories pass from one generation to the next.
It was later in George's life that he began searching for the elusive "Ballyhallan" and stumbled upon the name of Ballochallan. George was certainly correct in his belief that Ballyhallan and Ballochallan were the same place, but George would have had no knowledge of the confusion between the two David Stewarts prior to beginning his search for Ballyhallan.
The name of Ballyhallan was already a part of his family tradition from at least the time of George's father, Alexander Stewart in Aberdour. Thus, within just the first three generations of the Hythie family, the name "Ballyhallan" had already become associated with the family's origin.
George Stewart recalled his father describing Ballyhallan as an estate "in the mouth of the Highlands" which the family had owned and which had been forfeited after the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Ballochallan and MacOrriston are a mere five miles from each other in Historic Perthshire, Scotland (present-day Stirling Council Area) and could both be described as being "in the mouth of the Highlands."
Possible Connections to the Stewarts of Ballochallan
There are a number of possible ways that the name of Ballyhallan/Ballochallan could have become attached to the origin story of the Stewarts of Hythie in the first three generations without David Stewart of Ballochallan being the father of Donald Stewart in Hythie.
Theory 1: The forgotten name of MacOrriston
Donald Stewart may have told his family the story that his father had been the Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle who came from an estate in the mouth of the Highlands. This part of the story was correctly preserved by the Hythie Stewart family but the correct name of MacOrriston may have been forgotten. Perhaps someone in the early generations of the Hythie family went looking for the forgotten name of this estate and came across the historically confused records of Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, being from Ballochallan. And the confusion entered the oral tradition in the Hythie family.
Theory 2: A possible maternal connection
Another possibility is that there could be a maternal connection with the Stewarts of Ballachallan. Donald Stewart was an illegitimate son of Maj. David Stewart of MacOrriston. His mother's name is not known. It's possible that Donald Stewart could have been maternally related to the Stewarts of Ballochallan.
Theory 3: David Stewart of Ballochallan may have been a benefactor
A very plausible explanation is that David Stewart of Ballochallan may have been a financial benefactor to Donald Stewart in Hythie. Donald Stewart would likely have needed financial assistance to purchase Hythie. It's doubtful that he had any personal financial resources of his own as a fugitive on the run and as the illegitimate son of an effectively-executed traitor to the Crown.
Donald Stewart's own family of origin was broke. He was nephew to Robert Stewart, 5th of Ardvorlich, chief of the clan. But Robert was not in a position to assist his nephew. The estate of Ardvorlich was in such serious financial trouble after the failure of the 1745 Rising that the entire contents of Ardvorlich House had to be sold to pay the estate debts. David Hume Stewart of Ballochallan was appointed as one of the executors overseeing the sale.
David Hume Stewart was a very wealthy man. His younger brother, Charles Stewart, had served in the Atholl Brigade under the command of Donald Stewart's late father. And David Stewart of Ballochallan was managing the financial afffairs of Donald Stewart's birth family. David Stewart of Ballochallan would have had reason to know of Donald Stewart's situation and also a strong inclination to be generous in helping Donald find safe new housing far away from suspicion. Thus, it's possible that David Hume Stewart of Ballochallan may have given Donald Stewart the money to purchase Hythie, and thus his name became connected, not as an ancestor of the family, but as a benefactor.
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Gordon MacGregor (Red Book of Scotland) states that Donald Stewart was a natural son of David Stewart, son of James Stewart, 4th of Ardvorlich. There is no record of his mother's name. Donald served in the Appin Regiment during the '45 and was recorded as presumed killed at the Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746.
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From Stewarts of the South:
"Next David his brother was Tenant in Glenfinglas (and sometimes in Macorriston) was Forrester to the Earl of Murray he was married to a daughter of Steward of Balled widow of Campbell of Lochdochard by whom he had one son - he was a promising youth he was slain at the unfortunate battle of Culloden."
Stewarts of the South has confused David's two sons. David's lawful son, James, was born to Margaret Stewart of Fungorth (Balled) and survived until after the Jacobite Rising. It was David's natural son, Donald, who was recorded as slain at the Battle of Culloden. Donald's mother was not Margaret Stewart of Fungorth.
Donald Stewart's great-grandson, George Stewart (1799-1882), wrote in 1848: "I can remember that when I was a very little boy, my father told us that his grandfather was a laird; and lost his land by joining Prince Charles; and wandered about from place to place with our grandfather (then a boy) to conceal themselves until at last they settled at Hythie some time after the rebellion was over.... I was told that the name of [the former estate] was "Bally-hallen" and that it was in the mouth of the highlands."
Donald could not have been a son of David Stewart of Ballochallan. However, the reference to "Governor of Doune Castle" is consistent with Donald Stewart, son of David Stewart, Forester of Glen Finglas and Governor of Doune Castle, who was son of James Stewart, 4th of Ardvorlich and Governor of Doune Castle
This recollection matches the story of Donald Stewart and picks up on the confusion with the Stewarts of Ballachallan. George goes on to conclude that his ancestor was "Donald Stuart, Governor of Doune Castle" for Prince Charles during the '45 and was "the last Stewart laird of Ballachallan near Doune". It's possible that Donald may have been promised his father's estate of McCorriston, which is also near Doune.
Later in George's letters he indicates that Donald Stewart was buried in the churchyard at Fetterangus without any monumental stone to mark the spot.
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Stewart, Donald, Perthshire, natural son to David Stewart of Ballachallan, listed as killed at Culloden. (Livingstone, Alistair of Bachuil, et al, Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s Army 1745-46. Aberdeen University Press, 1984.)
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“a neighbouring clansman, Stewart of Ballochallan, was Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle. He figures in Waverly (by Sir Walter Scott) as “Donald Stewart, governor of the garrison, and Lieuteneant Colonel in the service of his Royal Highness Prince Charles Edward.” (Waverly, note 28, as cited by David B. Morris, Robert Louis Stevenson and the Scottish Highlanders, Eneas Mackay, Stirling, 1929, p. 41)
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The Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Vol. 1, by Maj. John Stewart, 14th of Ardvorlich (privately published), pp. 96, 103-105.
David, who is described as "in Glenfinglas" He was out in the '45 and probably in the '15, but his story is told in full later. (p. 96)
David Stewart, another brother of the Laird, was deeply involved in the '45. The information about him is very complicated by the fact that he had been confused with at least two others of the name of Stewart, David Stewart of Ballachallan and Major David Stewart of Kynachan. (43)
In the Scottish History Societies publication, Prisoners of the '45, he is described as "David Stuart or Stewart of Ballachallan, a Major in Lord George Murray's Regiment (the Athole Brigade) was brother of Stewart of Ardvorlich" (44) The account of David goes on to say that he was taken prisoner on the 19th of July, 1746, whilst hiding with six other refugees in a hut on the Braes of Leny. He put up a stiff fight but was finally wounded and overpowered. He was taken to Stirling and confined in the Castle where he died of his wounds.
The Prisoners' Roll shows that while in prison he was in hospital with a gunshot wound in the thigh, and that a surgeon's fee of 6/8 was paid for treating him.
The evidence brought against him was that he was seen at Dunblane dressed and armed like a rebel Highlander, wearing a White Cockade. Others stated that he acted as a rebel officer in taking possession of Castle Doune with a big body of armed men. He was specially excepted from the Act of Pardon of June 1747, but as he had died in the Tolbooth of Stirling in November 1746, that at least did not affect him.
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It seems beyond doubt that this was in fact David Stewart, not of the Ballachallan family, but of the Ardvorlich family, for the Testament of David Stewart, brother-german to Mr. Stewart of Ardvorlich, in Glenfinglas, was given up in 1747 and in it is stated that he died in the Tolbooth of Stirling in November, 1746(45) David Stewart of Ballachallan, however, lived for many years after the '45, a public and peaceful life, until in fact 1762. Charles Stuart of Ballachallan, who must have been the younger brother of David of that family, was amongst those specially excepted from the Act of Pardon by George II in 1746. (46)
These reasons seem strong enough to warrant the assumption that David of Ballachallan of the Prisoners of the '45 and David of Glenfinglas are one and the same person and that he was in fact David, brother of the Laird of Ardvorlich.
This David married Margaret Stewart, widow of John Campbell of Lochdochart and he had a son James by her. His wife had a daughter Margaret by her first marriage.
In the Prisoners of the ‘45 there is mention of Major James Stewart, said to be son of Major David Stewart, and as David must have been at least 60 years of age at that time, it is likely to be true. Further, the Duke of Atholl in a MS Roll of those engaged in the '45, states that David had a son Major James Stewart, who was also "out" and that he was captured but nothing is known of him by the family. (47)
Amongst the six others taken prisoner with David in the Braes of Leny were Malcolm MacGregor of Cornour, a captain in Glengyle's Company of MacGregors, and Donald MacLaurin or McLaren, a captain in the Appin Regiment, described as a drover from Wester Invernentie, Balquhidder. He was also wounded in the thigh while defending himself and was taken to Stirling and later to the Canongate in Edinburgh.
Later he was ordered to Carlisle for his trial, but on the way there at a place called the Devil's Beef Tub, he contrived to escape from his escort, slid down a steep cliff, into a morass and, placing a turf on his head, managed to escape detection.
He made his way back to Balquhidder where he lived for 7 years disguised as a woman until the Act of Indemnity was passed in 1753. (48)
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The Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Vol. 3, (ibid), pp. 33-35
STEUARTS OF BALLACHALLAN (1)
According to Duncan Stewart, author of 'The History of the Royal House of Stewart’, Duncan Stewart, who bought the Estate of Ballach-allan, was the second son of John Stewart of Annat, third of that line. Ballachallan is a small estate and lies within a few miles of Annat, some three miles to the south of Callander, and now forms part of Cambusmore Estate. Duncan must have acquired it some time after 1649, for, in 'The Rental of Perthshire' of that date, it belonged to one Walter Graham (2)
George Stewart, his son, married Mary, daughter and eventual heiress of Harie Home of Argaty. The Homes of Argaty were an ancient and important family of that neighbourhood, and Argaty was a much larger and more valuable property than Ballachallan. By Mary Home, George had four sons and several daughters, one of whom, Janet, married Walter Graham of Nether Glenny.
George must have died before 1751 for Mary Home, described as his widow, succeeded her brother George Home of Argaty in the estate of Argaty in that year. David Home Steuart, their eldest son, was served heir to his grandfather, Duncan Stewart of Ballach-allan, in that same year (3).
David Home Steuart, 3rd of Ballachallan, was 'out' in the 45.(sic) At one time he commanded the garrison of Doune Castle in the Prince's interest (though some authorities ascribe this to his brother George) (4). (sic) He died without legitimate issue, but had a natural son Donald, said to have been killed at Culloden, when serving with the Appin Regiment (5). David died sometime after 1768, when he executed an entail of his estates, and was succeeded by his next brother George (6)
David Steuart of Ballachallan is the subject of a very curious historical 'mix up'. In 'Prisoners of the '45' he is described as David Stuart or Stewart of Ballachallan, a Major in Lord George Murray's Regiment (The Atholl Brigade) was brother of Stewart of Ardvorlich.’
The account of David goes on to say that he was taken prisoner on the 13th of July 1746, whilst hiding in the Braes of Leny. He put up a stiff fight, but was finally wounded and
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overpowered. He was taken to Stirling and confined in the Castle, where he died of his wounds. The charge brought against him was that he was seen at Dunblane dressed and armed like a rebel Highlander wearing a White Cockade. Others stated that he acted as rebel officer in taking possession of Castle Doune with a body of armed men.
Now David Stuart of Ballachallan was not a brother of Ardvorlich, but the Ardvorlich of that date, Robert Stewart, did have a brother. David who died in the Tolbooth of Stirling in November 1746. In his Testament given up in 1748, he is described as David Stewart, brother germane to Mr. Stewart of Ardvorlich, in Glenfinglas. Executor George Home of Argaty. He left some money to his son James, if alive.
In my family records the story of the wounding and capture of David Steuart attributed in 'Prisoners of the '45 to David of Ballachallan, is attributed to David in Glenfinglas. Again, in Prisoners of the '45' there is mention of a Major James Stewart said to be son of Major David Stewart. David Stewart in Glenfinglas must have been about sixty at that time so may well have had a son who held the rank of Major, and he did have a son called James. (7)
There is a further mix up. In an inquiry in 1748 into 'treasonable practices against various gentlemen who were out in the Rebellion', evidence was raked up against David Stewart of Kymachan (though it is stated in the Atholl and Tullibardine Chronicles that Kynachan was killed at Culloden). Cornelius Inglis surgeon, late Dean of Guild of the Burgh of Lanark, stated that ‘about Christmas 1745 a party of rebels came to the place on their way from England and he saw and one called Major David Stewart who said he had an estate within five or ten miles of Stirling, but had forgot what style he bore and declares that he saw the said Haldane of Lanrick and Major David Stewart, as they were cailed, bearing arms, and that the said David Stewart acknowledged to the deponent that he had been twice in the Rebellion already'.
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This evidence undoubtedly refers to David of Ballachallan whose estate lay some ten miles (Scots) from Stirling, and who would naturally be in company with Haldane of Lanrick, one of his neighbours.
There are certainly curious features about the whole story. David of Ballachallan, who had been thoroughly implicated in the Rising apparently succeeded to his grandfather’s estate in 1751 and to part of Argaty, and lived a public and peaceful life for many yfears after. His brothers. George and Willian, as thoroughly implicated, had to fly to America. A Donald Stewart, said to be a son of Ballachallan, settled in Aberdeenshire after Culloden, one would suspect well away from incriminating relations and associations (8). David's estates were not among those forfeited after the 145, so far as I am aware (9).
Just to complicate matters still further, the 'Act of Pardon' of 1748, granted by George II, mentions Charles Stuart of Ballachallan as specially excluded!
End notes:
(8) I have lately had some correspondence with Captain B.G. Stewart, Milton Cottage, Morhamchurch, Bude, Cornwall, who is descended from a Donald Stewart, who settled at Hythie, Aberdeenshire, after Culloden. According to his family tradition, supported by a letter written by his forbear George Stewart in 1848, this Donald was of Ballachallan stock.
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The Letters of George Stewart in Andover 1848
[The following letters were written in 1848 by George Stewart in Andover, grandson of William Stewart, 2nd in Hythie. He wrote firstly to his sister, Margaret, and secondly to his nephew, George Aloysius Stewart. They were transcribed from the original handwriting and typed by an unknown person (possibly George Benard Stewart in 1962) with margin notes written in by hand. Photos of the typed letters were digitized and transcribed by the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group in 2025.]
Copy of two letters relating to the STUARTS of BALLY-HALLAN
Dated 1848 @Redenham
(Handwritten margin note: “George Stewart, father Emaline Stewart in Colchester”) From the writer, GEORGE STEWART, to his sister: (Handwritten margin note: “Margaret May”)
My dear Sister,
I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to give me the information which I asked for respecting our forefathers.
The only thing you mention that I did not know is that our grandfather’s name was William and that he was buried at Fetterangus. My notion was that his name was John and that he and our great-grandfather were both buried at Old Deer, but I find on referring to a large map of Scotland (which Mr. Drummond made a present to me since he left Redenham) that Hythie is in Fetterangus.
Before I should make any statement of any information which I thought I had obtained concerning our ancestors, I wished to know what might be remembered by their descendants residing in the neighbourhood of where they lived and died in obscurity: so that I might compare such with my own: both as regards my recollection of what I heard from my father; and likewise; with what I have lately found out. By making the enquiries which I did, I was in hopes that they would have brought to light some letters or other written documents which would have put our descent beyond the possibility of doubt. If any such ever existed, they have fallen into the hands of those who could not understand their value, but we are not all antiquarians.
But to proceed with my subject I can remember that when I was a very little boy, my father told us that his grandfather was a laird: and lost his land by joining Prince Charles: and wandered about from place to place with our grandfather, (then a boy) to conceal themselves. until at last they settled at Hythie some time after the rebellion was over. On various occa-
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sions, I have heard my father mention them and state that they cherished a hope for a time that the fortunes of the Stuarts would take a turn when they would have been able to claim their lands again.
Being rather inquisitive I would ask questions and on inquiring what the name of the place was that belonged to them and in what part of the country it was situated I was told that the name of the place was "Bally-hallan"; and that it was in the mouth of the highlands meaning on the highland borders
At that time, I only thought of it as being an odd sort of name; and that if it was anywhere near the highlands, it was not much worth troubling about; and, of course, thought it must be somewhere to the westward where I could see the tops of high mountains my conception of the highlands being then very imperfect as to their extent in particular.
When I had got to be a big boy, and not many years before I had left Scotland, the subject of our great-grandfather came up between my father and myself and I remember having expressed my surprise that a person having lands as he had should have exposed them and his life for such a purpose as joining in a rebellion against his king. My father explained that Prince Charles's name was Stuart, as well as our great-grandfather's and that a distant relationship existed between them and being bound by the laws of clanship, he turned out as well as the rest of the Stuart clan along with the other adherents of their family, to endeavour to place them again on the throne of Great Britain from which they believed they had been unjustly expelled.
Years have rolled on and I had forgotten the name "Bally-hallan" but remembered the rest of the stories although but imperfectly. But I will presently show you that what little I did remember enabled me not only to recover and correct what I had former y heard about the nave of the place of our forefathers;
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but to find out to a certainty where it was situated and also the part that our great grandfather took in the rebellion of 1745/6.
Now for my discovery and consequent recollection of forgotten names and circumstances.
About two years ago, I read a book called the "Picture of Glasgow" in which there were several routes described from that city to assist strangers visiting that part of the country and wishing to make an excursion in the adjacent Highlands to choose one to their taste.
One of these runs by Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond, Loch Katrine and through the pass called the Trossachs to Callander in "Perthshire and into the Lowlands by the banks of the river "Teith" passing the ruins of Doune Castle and so on to Stirling.
It was with peculiar pleasure that I read the description of the scenery on this rout. When the traveller is conducted to Callander in place of mountain and lochs, he finds villages and gentlemen's seats end in the book I have mentioned and in that part of the rout after leaving Callender notice is taken of several gentlemen's seats as adorning the banks of the Teith among them is Ballachallan once the seat of a family named Stuart. When I read this, it struck me that I had heard something about this place and on repeating the word the sound seemed familiar to my ears and after a few moments’ consideration the long-forgotten name of "Bally-hallen" flashed on my memory and I had no difficulty in reconciling the two as being one and the same place and since I have had my large map of Scotland to refer to I actually find Ballachallen marked on it and the situation agrees exactly with what my father told me about Bally-hallan being in the mouth of the highlands as I find that the place is just a little within the highland border. Now I think I have shown you that our great-grandfather must have been the last Stuart of Ballachallan.
I will give you a little of the historical part of my discovery but as I have not the books by me to refer I must give it from memory and as I read several books of Sir Walter Scotts about the save time I
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shall not be able to distinguish which book I take each statement from.
Sir Walter says, in speaking of Doune Castle as the place where the prisoners taken at the battle of Falkirk by Prince Charles' army, that this old fortress was held during the time of the rebellion for Prince Charles by a gentleman of property in the neighbourhood of Callander named Stuart.
In speaking of the escape of some prisoners from Doune Castle, Sir Walter mentions that it was related by the people in the neighbourhood that Stuart the governor of the castle was seen riding about the country next day red with haste and bloody with spurring in search of his prisoners.
Sir Walter introduces him in his celebrated novel Waverley which is nothing more nor less than a tale describing the different characters who figured in the rebellion of 1745.
According to the tale, Waverley is taken prisoner and is lodged in Donne Castle and not exactly understanding why he is kept there he demands from the governor who he is and by what authority he keeps him there, by which he answers that his name is Donald Stuart and that he holds the fortress for Prince Charles Stuart: I believe that to this statement there is a note on the margin in which Sir Walter says that Donne Castle was held by Stuart of Ballech near Callander.
There he is mentioned. He is represented as having the command of a party of Highlanders which most likely be armed and paid. He was of course withdrawn from Donne Castle when the Prince retreated to Inverness. And in the spring of 1746 I can find no mention of his name in any of the great battles that took place before Culloden nor am I aware of anything that would show whether he was present there or not. But whether he ever encountered the King's troops or not in the field the fact of his being in arms against them and having kept some of them prisoners who fell into the hands of his friends was sufficient to excite the resentment of the successful party against him and had he not found safety in obscurity there is little doubt but that his head would have
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been added to the forfeiture as well is it was with many others engaged in the same unfortunate cause.
I had almost forgotten to mention that I have several times heard my Aunt Margaret mention Ballyhallen and wish they could have it again, but on such occasions my father would put an end to the conversation by telling her that as it was gone from them and that it was of no use to murmur. I have also heard my uncle John mention the subject but have no distinct recollection of what he said about it. I should think that he and my Aunt were likely to have known more than my father as he, like myself, left home early and was not likely to have heard much about it when he was at an age to be capable of understanding or likely to remember what he did hear. I almost wonder at myself for having remembered so much when I consider that it is a quarter of a century since I have had an opportunity of refreshing my memory &c. &c.
Extracts from a second from the same to his nephew:
"You are perhaps acquainted with their history subsequent to that event but I will however add a short account of the descendants which will bring the history down to the present time.
You must observe that being of the royal stock they, like many others, had adopted the French Orthography of their name but afterwards they resumed the more original one, as my father informed me, to appear more plebian and so to avoid notice on account of their name.
To begin with the last Stuart of Bellachalian. I can only say that after numerous vicissitudes and severe privations he settled at Hythie in the parish of Fetterangus about 12 miles from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. He lived there a few years to feel the full effect of this fall in fortune and at his death he had only the companion of his misfortunes his son William to lament him. He was buried in the churchyard of Fetterangus without any monumental stone to mark the spot. Such was the fate of the Donald Stuart
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of Waverly, the governor of Donne Castle, who would now have been forgotten even by his descendants of the third generation if it had not been for your inquisitive uncle.
To proceed with William Stuart of Ballachallan. He lived in the cottage where his father died and about 20 years after he had been there, and, when he had become used to his humble station, he married and left family John Alexander and Margeret who were enabled to erect a tombstone on the grave which still marks the spot where father and son lies.
John Stewart the eldest (my uncle) lived in the family cottage and died some years ago having 5 or 6 sons and I believe one daughter. I believe one of the sons still lives in the same cottage one is dead and the others live in the neighbourhood with large families.
Alexander (my father) died at Copland hill near Peterhead in 1839 had five sons and one daughter.
Your father is the eldest, I the second, and James & Alexander the third and fourth are dead. You know the rest.
Margaret did not marry and died some years ago.
You are aware that for a man to have ancestors in whose name he may take a pride it imposes a great obligation on him as he has this good and honour to maintain and to do that he must take care that his own conduct through life shall be such that those ancestors would have approved in their descendants and this may be done in an humble sphere as well es in a lofty one. I have never heard my father nor my uncle mention our ancestors with anything like vanity of their lineage but seemingly with a view to let us know that we were descendants of honourable men and that we right act so we to be worthy of them.
(George (1799) writing to his nephew George Aloysius 1848)
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Abt 1705 - UNKNOWN
