| Notes |
- Stewarts of the South describes John as: "John Stewart of Annat had a natural son called Iain Buigh mor. He give him a farm in Glenfinglas. His descendants are now called Bains."
John was called "Iain Buidhe Mor" or "Big Blond John" although the alternative spelling in Stewarts of the South of "Buigh" would mean "Big Effeminate John" (unlikely); the former is preferred. Given that his grandfather was known as "Allaster mac Iain Dubh" (Alexander, son of black-haired John), this would suggest that this John's mother was likely blonde.
This John is recorded in The Ardvorlich History as the earliest verifiable ancestor of the Stewarts in Glenfinglas and referenced in "1663 John S. in Glenfinglas Test[ament] (Auchnahard), James S., his lawful son. Another James S. married his daughter. Another daughter married Walter S. in Auchinferron (Gartnafueran?) -- DCR [Dunblane Commissariat Records]." This would suggest that John died in 1663. The fact that John Buidhe Mor's grandson, John Ban Mor, had a daughter who married Walter Stewart in Gartnafuaran and another daughter who married James Stewart in Duart suggests that the reference is confused and is referring to the later John Ban Mor.
The Annat Tree refers to this John as "John Dow Stewart in Glenfinglas, natural son". However John Dow Stewart, the natural son, actually refers to John Dubh Beag Stewart the natural son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glen Finglas. John Dubh Beag Stewart was responsible for the Clearing of Glen Finglas. Several generations of the Glenbucke Stewarts were referred to as "Dubh" ("Black," meaning "dark-haired"), whereas this John and his descendants were referred to as "Bain", the "Fair-Haired Stewart," presumably to differentiate them from their Glenbuckie cousins. The Annat Tree has confused the two Johns.
The Ardvorlich History says that the earliest verifiable ancestor of this family was "John Bhuie Stewart" who was "first in the Glen" and was "preceded by a John or twa." Stewarts of the South, Ardvorlich Section IX - "The Bains of Glenfinglas," gives the origins of this branch as: "John Stewart of Annat had a natural son called Iain Buigh mor. He gave him a farm in Glenfinglas. His descendants are now called Bains." The accounting of the Bains in Stewarts of the South matches with the accounting of the Glenfinglas Stewarts in The Ardvorlich History. Thus, we follow Stewarts of the South and suggest that John Buidhe Mor Stewart was a natural son of John Stewart of Annat. Chronology would suggest that the John of Annat in question would have to be John Stewart, 2nd of Annat.
Sometime around 1620, following the clearing of Glenfinglas, the Annat family complained to James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich, after he received a beneficial tack of Glenfinglas and portioned it among the principal branches of the Balquhidder Stewarts, but left out the Annat family. Chronology makes it likely that it was Alexander Stewart, 1st of Annat, who complained about being left out of the Glenfinglas tack. The Annat family were then given a one-eighth share of Glenfinglas. By later accountings, it would appear that their portion was Auchnahard. However, Mrs Stewart of Milton's Account says that this family resided first in Duart, then in Grodich, and only after 1750 did they move to Auchnahard, so we cannot be certain where in Glen Finglas this family began.
The Ardvorlich History claims that the later John Buidhe Mor was preceded by "a John or two". It seems likely that the Annat portionof Glen Finglas probably went first to John Stewart, future 2nd of Annat, while Alexander was still alive, then John, future 2nd of Annat, likely held the property until his father's death, at which point he would have inherited the principal estate of Annat, to become John Stewart, 2nd of Annat, which would be when his natural son, John Buidhe Mor probably took possession of the tack in Glenfinglas.
John's death date of 1663 comes from The Annat Tree submitted to the International Genealogical Index. We presently have no further reference for this death date.
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Abt 1625 - 1663 (~ 38 years)
