| Notes |
- Duncan Stewart was born about 1708, probably in Duniverig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland, as the only documented son of James Stewart in Duniverig and Elizabeth Morrison. He lived most of his life at Achray farm on the western shore of Loch Achray in what is now the Trossachs National Park, in Aberfoyle parish, in the southern Highlands of historic Perthshire, Scotland. He later acquired a feu holding at Tar in Ruskie in Port of Menteith parish. We suspect Duncan was a Jacobite, but currently lack evidence to confirm these suspicions.
Duncan Stewart married about 1730 presumably in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland to Janet Stewart, although no record of their marriage has been found. Janet is known to us only from her mortcloth burial record in 1763. Neither have the baptisms for their children been found. It is strongly believed that this family was Roman Catholic. Duncan's son's father-in-law ran a clandestine Roman Catholic boarding school in Kilmadock parish. None of this family had baptisms recorded until after 1745 at which point they had bulk baptisms for the entire family. This patterns suggests a mass family "conversion" from Catholicism to Presbyterianism.
Duncan Stewart is identified as the father of James Stewart of Tar by a note in Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions. A matching birth on 14 Nov 1708 in Duniverig, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland, son of James Stewart in Duniverig and Elizabeth Morrison, seems likely to be his birth. This baptism was witnessed by John, Donald and Alexander Stewart who may have been Duncan's uncles. These witness names match with the names listed in Stewarts of the South as associated with this family. (The three sons of Duncan "Oig" Stewart in Ardcheanochdan being James, Alexander, and Donald. And 6-Line of this family descending from John Dubh Stewart in Duniverig.) We should also expect Duncan's father to be named James as his only documented son was named James. And the property of Duniverig is identified in conjuction with 6-Line of this family. Thus, the 1708 birth matches chronologically, geographically, and onomastically, however, it is not confirmed. There were three properties named Duniverig -- it is not clear which of them was Duncan's birth place.
Duncan Stewart became a wealthy man, but how he did so is uncertain. Circumstantial evidence suggests that Duncan Stewart was likely a smart businessman who was involved in lumber harvesting for shipbuilding and land acquisition, and possibly involved in iron smelting and Jamaican sugar plantations. (Several of his grandchildren lived in Jamaica. The Scottish trade with Jamaica was primarily connected with sugar plantations.)
In the 1720s and 1730s there was an Ironworks in operation on the Achray farm property. (See note below.) It is not known what, if any, business relationship Duncan Stewart's family had with the Ironworks, but it's reasonable to assume that he or his father had some connection.
Stewarts of the South says, "The late James Stewart of Tar('s) father was in partnership with the late General Stewart of Raith's (sic, Rait's) father in purchasing Oakwoods, which trade was not at that time taken by any but clever active men." Oakwoods was a commercial forest in Breadalbane flanking both sides of Loch Tay from which the wood was harvested for use in ship building. (See advertisement below.) His business partner was Alexander Stewart in Powblack and of Frew, father of the later celebrated General Robert Stewart of Rait.
According to Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions, Duncan Stewart was a tacksman (leaseholder) of Achray farm on Loch Achray in Aberfoyle parish, Perthshire, Scotland. Stewarts of the South tells us that this branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie resided initially at Craig Leven which is only one kilometer from Achray at the east end of Loch Katrine.
Duncan Stewart is shown in Mitchell's Monumental Inscriptions for Brig o' Turk cemetery in reference to his son, James, as follows:
"12 (at top - a pelican plucking its breast, on her nest) (in Latin) Katharine STEWART, 24 DEC 1735, husband James STEWART esquire of Tar (Mitchell notes: Duncan STEWART in Achray, feuer of Tar in Ruskie in 1754, son James succeeded him in 1784 and died before 1811 - son John, daughters Janet, Anne, etc, two wives)."
This entry tells us that Duncan Stewart was not only a tacksman at Achray but that he later purchased a feu right to Tar in Ruskie, perhaps in 1754 (as implied by Mitchell). A feu and a tack are both ancient forms of land leases from a superior landlord (in this case, the Duke of Montrose). However, a feu was superior to a tack and granted additional rights nearly akin to full ownership of the land. Feu rights were also hereditary and very expensive to purchase. Duncan appears to have purchased his feu of Tar about the same time that his business partner, Alexander Stewart in Powblack, also purchased a feu right to the nearby farm of Frew. The Highlands provided security and good grazing lands for cattle, but poor farmland for growing crops., Thus, it was common for wealthy Highland families to purchase lowland tracks of good farmland, like Tar in Ruskie, in order to raise more bountiful crops to feed their families and to sell for income.
Duncan Stewart's wife/wives is/are unknown. His only documented child is his son, James Stewart, who succeeded him in the estate of Tar and the tack of Achray. Given his apparent long life, it is very likely that he had several other children, however no records of them have been found. Two potential daughters, Agnes and Janet (shown here), have been identified in other records, but they are not confirmed.
Mitchell indicates that Duncan's son James succeeded in the estate of Tar in 1784. Thus, it is presumed that Duncan died in 1784. He would have been about 76 years old.
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Between 1722-1738 there was an iron mill/ iron works at Achray, known as the Iron Forge Company. Receipts were collected by John Gordon of Kirconnel, Collector of Exise, between 1722-1738. It's possible that the Forge operated before and/or after 1722-1738, as these are merely the dates for which tax receipts exist. (NRS - RH15/120/91)
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The following advertisement explains Oak Woods. This particular ad was posted after the death of Duncan Stewart of Achray and Tar.
"Oak Woods in Breadalbane. There is to be sold by public roup, in the course of a few weeks, the day to be mentioned in a future advertisement, and within the house of William Colby, inn-keeper in Killin, The natural Oak Woods of Breadalbane, lying on both sides of Loch Tay, in whole, or in separate lots as offerers shall incline. The wood is of proper age, and there are a considerable number of reserves fit for ship-timber. There are excellent roads from the woods both to Perth and Stirling, which are distant about thirty completed miles. The ground-officers will flow the woods; and the articles of roup may be seen in the hands of Mr Stewart, factor for Lord Breadalbane, at Ardmore by Crieff, and Mr John Campbell, writer to the signet; to either of whom application may be made as to any particlars." (Edinburgh, 22 Feb 1787)
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The following is suspected, but not confirmed to be Duncan's birth. It matches with all known information about this family.
Duncan, 14/11/1708, son of James Stewart and Elizabeth Morrison in Donaverig. W: John, Donald & Alexr S
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The following family lived nearby and may be related. Borland is immediately east of Tar.
Duncan Stewart and Agnes Ure in Borland (of Rusky)
1. Elisabeth, 3/5/1741, dtr of Duncan Stewart and Agness Ure in Borland of Ruskie. W: James S Wm Ure
2. Duncan, 26/6/1743, Duncan Stewart and Agnes Ure in Borland of Rusky
3. Agness, 3/4/1748, Duncan and Agness Ure in Borland
4. John, 9/8/1749, Duncan Stewart and Agnes Ure in Borland
5. (blank), 2/4/1755, son of Duncan Stewart and Agnes Ure in Borland
6. Duncan, 18/2/1761, Duncan Stewart and Agnes Ure in Borland
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1708 - 1784 (75 years)
