| Notes |
- For decades, the origins of the Stewarts in Hythie have been plagued by confusion and conflation. The founder of the Stewarts in Hythie was Lt. Col. Donald Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle who fought at the Battle of Culloden and survived, but was mistakenly recorded as deceased. He 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.
Donald Stewart's great-grandson, George Stewart in Andover (1799-1882), recalled his great-grandfather as being the son of "Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle and the last laird of Ballyhallan." George Stewart in Andover (probably correctly) identified "Ballyhallan" as being Ballochallan in Kilmadock parish near Callander in southwest Perthshire, Scotland. And the laird of Ballochallan at the time of the Jacobite Rising was David Hume Stewart, 3rd of Ballochallan.
Donald lived the rest of his life inconspicuously at Hythie 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.
The only problem with this story is that David Stewart of Ballochallan and Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, are two different people whom history has confused with each other. The evidence (below) strongly supports the likelihood that Lt. Col. Donald Stewart, who acted as Governor of Doune Castle for Prince Charles was the son of Maj. David Stewart in McCorriston, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, and not the son of David Hume Stewart, 3rd of Ballochallan. And that Donald was acting as Governor of Doune Castle on behalf of his father, who was appointed as Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle. It being a castle he knew well because his own father, James Stewart, 4th of Ardvorlich, had been Chamberlain of Doune Castle for the Earl of Moray.
The only problem with this confident attachment of Donald Stewart to Maj. David Stewart, Governor of Doune Castle, and not David Stewart of Ballochallan, is the fact that the confusion of these two men occurred in historical records of prisoners. And the knowledge of the Stewarts of Hythie being connected to the estate of "Ballyhallan" came through oral tradition from father to son to grandson to great-grandson, George Stewart, who presumably, as a boy being told of "Ballyhallan", was completely unaware of the confusion between the two David Stewarts.
Ballyhallan was described to George Stewart as a boy by his father as an estate "in the mouth of the Highlands." This description applies equally correctly to both Ballochallan and McOrriston. What may have happened here is that the authentic tradition of Donald Stewart being the son of David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle, who came from an estate in the mouth of the Highlands, was correctly preserved by the Hythie Stewart family, but that someone in an earlier generation of the Hythie family went looking for the 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.
Donald's father, Maj. David Stewart, was a Major in Lord George Murray's Regiment (The Atholl Bridage) and was captured three months after the Battle of Culloden, on 19th of July, 1746, while hiding with six other fugitives in the Braes of Leny. He died weeks later in captivity in the Tolbooth at Stirling. Among those captured with him was Capt. Donald McLaren of Invernenty. His name was later incorrectly presented in later publications as David Stewart of Ballochallan. One of the other fugitives may have been Charles Stewart, younger of Ballochallan, which may be the source of the confusion over David's origin.
The real David Stewart of Ballochallan (David Hume Stewart, 3rd of Ballochallan) was not "out in the '45'." Like many Jacobite families, the Stewarts of Ballochallan tried to hedge their bets and play both sides by having the eldest son and heir stay home and not fight as a rebel, while the younger sons were "out" fighting for Prince Charles Edward Stuart. This way, if the Jacobites won then the family could show that they had actively supported the cause. Whereas, if the Jacobites lost (as they did) then the family could show that the eldest son and heir of the family estates had remained loyal and thus their estates would be safe from forfeiture. This is exactly what the Stewarts of Ballochallan did. David Stewart of Ballachallan did not fight and, thus, was not captured and continued living on the family estates of Ballachallan and Argaty until his death in 1774. Meanwhile, his younger Jacobite brothers, George and William, had to flee to America to avoid capture, and his other younger brother, Charles Stewart, younger of Ballochallan, was captured and died in captivity. Thus, David Hume Stewart of Ballochallan could not be the Maj. David Stewart who was captured at Leny and died in the Stirling Tolbooth in 1746.
The real Maj. David Stewart's family also hedged their bets. Maj. David Stewart's older brother, Robert Stewart, 5th of Ardvorlich, was not "out in the '45" and thus protected the estate of Ardvorlich from forfeiture, while younger brother, David was serving as an active Jacobite officer.
Lt. Col. Donald Stewart was recorded as a natural son of Maj. David Stewart of Ballochallan, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle. As we have shown, David Stewart of Ballochallan and Maj. David Stewart, Jacobite Governor of Doune Castle were two different people whose names have become conflated over time. Ballochallan family records show no indication of David Hume Stewart having a natural son, whereas Ardvorlich family records show Maj. David Stewart, in McOrriston, as having a natural son, Donald Stewart, who was allegedly killed at Culloden.
Stewart in Hythie family records claim that their progenitor, Donald Stewart, 1st in Hythie, was a Jacobite fugitive, "son of the last laird of Ballyhallan, Governor of Doune Castle." Donald Stewart's great-grandson, George Stewart in Andover, in 1848, mistakenly connected his ancestor with the wrong David Stewart. And thus, for generations, the Stewarts in Hythie believed themselves to be descended from the Stewarts of Ballochallan. Descendants even erected a memorial cairn in honour of their ancestral connection to the Stewarts of Ballochallan.
Lt. Col. Donald Stewart, although recorded as killed in action at Culloden, actually escaped and fled with his young son, William, to safety in Aberdeenshire, distancing himself from his Jacobite roots in the hopes of not being captured. He acquired the farmstead of Upper Hythie, likely with clandestine financial support from his Ardvorlich relatives or their Ballochallan cousins. After settling in Upper Hythie, Donald did his best to blend in and he disappeared from public records. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Fetterangus, with only the stories passed down through his son, William, to preserve his family origins.
We know nothing of the mother of Donald's son William. No marriage record has been found. No record of William's birth has been found, thus no record of his birth mother. We also don't know if Donald had more children other than William. There are a handful of other Stewart households of unknown origins living in Old Deer parish in the late 1700s who could possibly descend from unknown brothers of William. It's entirely possible that, by 1848, when George Stewart of Andover wrote to his sister, he'd either lost touch with any extended branches, or simply didn't mention them in his letters. At present, the only son we know of was William Stewart.
------
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.
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.
-----
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.)
---
“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)
---
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.
104
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)
105
---
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
34
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'.
35
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.
---
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-
-2-
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;
-3-
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
-4-
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
-5-
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
-6-
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)
|
Abt 1705 - UNKNOWN
