| Notes |
- Sgt. John Stewart, Sr. (1791-1855), was a Highland soldier born at Bridge of Teith near Doune in Kilmadock parish, Perthshire, Scotland. His family originated 20 miles to the north at Ardveich at the foot of Glen Beich on the north shore of Loch Earn on the boundary between Balquhidder and Comrie parishes. They belonged to clan Sliochd Iain Dubh Mhor, a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, the senior branch of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. John carried the name of his great-grandfather, John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich, an illegitimate son of Maj. James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich.
John served in the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and was later stationed in Ireland where he met and married his wife, Sarah Margaret Smale (or Small) (1805-1854). They began their family in Ireland and, upon John’s discharge from the army, they returned to his home in Balquhidder parish and resided at Lochearnhead, just a short walk from his ancestral home at Ardveich.
John was something of a favourite of his clan chief, William Stewart, 8th of Ardvorlich, who secured for him a position as a police sergeant and inspector. With his police salary and military pension, he was able to live out his life comfortably.
In 1845, John named his daughter, Helen Maxton Stewart, after Helen Maxton, wife of William Stewart, 8th of Ardvorlich.
John Stewart and Sarah Smale had eight children. Sarah Smale died in 1854 and her husband, Sgt. John Stewart Sr., died a year later in 1855, leaving their children orphaned, ranging in ages from 26 to 10 years old. The older siblings appear to have stepped in to look after the younger siblings. Daughter, Sarah, describes them as being unable to continue living in their parents’ former home.
Of their children:
Eldest daughter, Mary Ann Stewart, had an illegitimate son, Michael, by an unknown man and then married William Rattray, a railway porter from St. Ninians, Stirlingshire. They had several children of their own and took in Mary Ann’s younger sisters, Isabella and Helen. John Jr became a poet and a sailor and travelled the world before finally settling in New Zealand with his younger brother, Alexander (a.k,a. “Abel”), where he was a farmer, a gold prospector, and finally a respected school teacher. His poetry invokes images of New Zealand and implies a sympathy for the plight of exploited indigenous Maori peoples. Middle daughter, Sarah, also became a poet and worked as a household servant before marrying another poet, John Hyslop, known as “The Postman Poet.”
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The 79th Cameron Highlanders
John Stewart’s regiment is not recorded, but his cousin, Robert Stewart in Ardveich, served in the 79th Cameron Highlanders who fought in the Napoleonic Wars (1793 - 1815). The movements of the 79th match with what is known of John’s service. He served in St. Helena during Napoleon’s captivity and later in Ireland.
In 1793-94, the 79th were stationed in Ireland and England, then they were deployed to Belgium to fight against Napoleon at the Battle of Flanders. In 1795 they were deployed to the West Indies for two years, then back to England, and to France. In 1801, they were sent to Egypt to stave off French control of the route to India. Then to Menorca in Spain, Portugal, Denmark, back to France. After Napoleon’s abdication in 1814, they were stationed in Cork, Ireland. From there it was back to Belgium in 1815 to battle a returned Napoleon and finally to France for the defeat and capture of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. They remained in France until 1818 after which they were deployed for home service. For John, home service was presumably in Ireland, perhaps back in Cork.
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John Stewart's mother was identifed as "Kathrine McKerracher" at his baptism.
John Stewart is described in The Stewarts of Ardvorlich Vol. 3 as "a constable (who) died in 1855 (and) had two sons [now in] in Australia, John and Abel (sic - Alexander)." John never moved to Australia so it is likely thatThe Stewarts of Ardvorlich Vol. 3 meant that his two sons were "now in Australia."
About 1827, John married Sarah SMALL, probably in Ireland, although no record of their marriage has been found.
The 1841 census shows the family residing in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland and shows John's occupation as an army soldier.
The 1851 census shows the family residing in Coilmore, Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland and shows John's occupation as "police constable, Sergeant."
On 17 Nov 1855, at age 64, in St. Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, John Stewart died. He is buried in the Stewart family ground at the Old Kirkyard, Dundurn, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. His parents are listed as Alexander Stewart, wright, and Catherine McKercher. His children are listed as Mary Stewart (23), Catherine Stewart (22), John 21, Isabella 18, Sarah 16, Alexander 14, Helen 10. The informant is James Stewart, his brother.
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Abt 1791 - 1855 (~ 64 years)
