| Notes |
- James Mhor Stewart was born illegitimately about 1510, probably at the family estate of Baldorran. His exact date and place of birth is not known. His mother is unknown. His byname "Mhor" (pronounced "vore") means "big." He may have acquired the byname to differentiate him from his same-named lawful half-brother.
Until recently, James was believed to have been 4th of Baldorran. In 2021, professional researcher, Gordon MacGregor, (The Red Book of Scotland) discoverd documents proving that Walter Stewart, 3rd of Baldorran actually had two sons named James, one lawful and the other natural (illegitimate). The lawful son inherited and later sold Baldorran, while this son, the natural one, resided in Port of Lochearn.
Duncan Stewart (1739) says:
"Walter had likewise a natural son, James, who was legitmated under the Great Seal in 1533, and the father is then alive, as he is designed simply, Filius natural, Walter Stewart, de Baldorran.
"James was served heir to Walter Stewart of Baldorran, his father, in the year 1575. He married ___ Stewart, daughter to Patrick Stewart in Glenbucky, and left issue, 1 William, who died without lawful succession, 2 Alexander, first of Ardvorlich, 3 John, of whom Annat, 4 James Oig, and 5 Patrick."
James' same-named lawful brother disposed of the family estate of Baldorran and lost the hereditary ballieship of Balquhidder after three generations. James is recorded as having resided in Port of Lochearn (later renamed to St. Fillans) at the east end of Loch Earn.
James married his first cousin, a daughter of Patrick Stewart, 2nd of Glenbuckie, with whom he had four children. Her name is not known. James also had a natural son, Patrick, by an unknown MacLaren mistress. As natural sons were usually either born pre-or post-lawful marriage, then, assuming John's wife did not die prematurely, it's more likely that Patrick was born prior to James' marriage. Patrick is said to have received a life lease for the farm of Lednascridan about 1533, however as Patrick could not have been an adult to receive property in 1533, and as this date coincides with the legitimizing of James' own birth, then it would seem more likely that Patrick was born about 1533 and that he may have received a promise of Lednascridan at his birth to be fulfilled upon reaching adulthood. (See notes on Patrick for more information.)
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Abt 1510 - Abt 1580 (~ 70 years)
