| Notes |
- Patrick Stewart renounces his rights to the estate of Glenbuckie
Patrick Stewart was born in the mid-16th century as the oldest son of his father, Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie. As the eldest son, Patrick would have been the rightful heir of the estate of Glenbuckie, and his younger brother Duncan would have been heir to the lesser estate of Ledcreich. But, for some reason, that didn't happen. Instead, Patrick and Duncan exchanged their lands and hereditary rights, so Patrick inherited the estate of Ledcreich and his younger brother, Duncan, inherited Glenbuckie. In one source we are told that Patrick "sold" his rights and in another that he "renounced" his rights. Why would Patrick renounce his rights not only to the larger estate but also to the chieftainship of the Glenbuckie sept of the Stewarts of Balquhidder? This was unheard of! There must have been an important reason to do so. Whatever that reason was, it was not written down, nor was it passed down to his great-grandson, Patrick Stewart, 5th of Ledcreich, who recorded the history of the Stewarts of Ledcreich. We are left to guess at the reason. We'll explore one possibility below.
In 1763, Patrick's great-great grandson, another Patrick Stewart, denominated 5th of Ledcreich, recorded his family history. In that family history, Patrick Stewart, 5th of Ledcreich, refers to his great-great grandfather, Patrick Stewart, 1st of Ledcreich, saying:
"This Patrick sold his right and title to Glenbucky to his next brother, Duncan Stewart, second son to the aforesaid Alexander, and his posterity enjoys the land and title at present."
This family history was cited in Stewart Clan Magazine:
"[Patrick] sold his right and title of Glenbucky to his next younger brother Duncan and his posterity enjoy the land and title to the present day [1763]." (Edson, George, Stewart Clan Magazine, Tome C, Dec. 1934, vol. xii, no. 6, pp. 91-92, citing the 1763 family history.)
Gordon MacGregor, author of The Red Book of Scotland, says,
"[Patrick] renounced his rights to the lands of Glenbucky and, instead, obtained those of Ledcreich, and married Christian Drummond. He had issue."
Duncan Stewart (1739) says little of this Patrick other than that he was "of whom Patrick Stewart of Ledcreich is the 5th in a lineal descent".
A Stewart Murder
The 16th century was a violent time as we shall see.
Patrick is one of several members of the clan to be mentioned in the following document as having participated in 1569 in the murders of John and Hugh Stewart in Balquhidder:
"Reg. Privy Seal. Vol.VI. No. 737. 8 Sept. 1569. Gift to Alexander Stewart in Pittareg of the escheat of numerous persons all from Balquhidder including Alexander Stewart in Gartnascrow and Andrew his son also Duncan Stewart his son, and Blak Alexander Stewart in Glenbuckie and Patrick his son, for the murder of Hugh and John Stewart, his brother, in the lands of Balquhider in December last [1568]".
Based on the wording of this escheat, it would seem that Hugh and John Stewart belonged to a family of Stewarts in Pittareg in northern Perthshire.
What provoked the murder is unknown, but the guilty parties are identified as Alexander Stewart, 2nd of Gartnafuaran and his son, Andrew Stewart, latterly 3rd of Gartnafuaran, Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie, and his eldest son, Patrick Stewart, latterly 1st of Ledcreich. In other words, the senior chieftain and his heir for the number two and three branches of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. Their punishment was only to have their goods forfeited to Alexander Stewart of Pittareg. That appears to have been a light sentence for murder, so there may have been a mitigating provocation for the killing such as a robbery or assault. And someone from Glenbuckie and Gartnafuaran may have sought retribution and took it too far.
If this murder brought the Stewarts of Glenbuckie into disrepute, and Patrick had a direct hand in that, then that might explain why Patrick renounced his rights to Glenbuckie in favour of his younger brother. It may have been a demotion of sorts, perhaps at the behest of his father, or others in the broader Clan Stewart of Balquhidder, or possibly their allies in Clan Campbell. However, this is merely supposition.
Gordon MacGregor, author of The Red Book of Scotland, mentions this escheat as well as an even bigger murder case that Patrick was also later implicated in:
"Patrick Stewart, 1st of Ledcreich, had his goods escheated for complicity in the murder of Hugh and John Stewart in December of 1568 and is styled eldest son to his father in a Bond of Manrent (below) to Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy in 1586."
A MacGregor Murder
In 1586 the following people, all from the Stewarts of Glenbuckie, including Patrick Stewart, 1st of Ledcreich, his brothers, his father, his uncle, and his first-cousin, were all included in a bond of manrent to Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, for the murder of John MacOlchallum Comrie. (Gordon MacGregor, author of The Red Book of Scotland, personal correspondence):
Walter Stewart in Bailliefoile (natural son of Patrick Stewart, 2nd of Glenbuckie)
Robert Stewart (son of Walter Stewart in Balliefoile)
Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie
Patrick Stewart, 1st of Ledcriech (son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie (son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
Robert Stewart of Broichie (son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
James Stewart (son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
John Stewart of Voil (natural son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
Walter Stewart (natural son of Alexander Dubh Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie)
There is much more to this bond of manrent than meets the eye!
A bond of manrent was a contract of protection, usually between a powerful clan and a weaker clan. In this case, Clan Campbell was the most powerful clan in all of Scotland. Their chief, the Earl of Argyll, was Chancellor of Scotland! Argyll's cousin, Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, issued this bond of manrent. Two centuries prior, during dispute between the Stewart Dukes of Albany (ancestors of the Stewarts of Balquhidder) and their cousins, the Royal House of Stewart, the Campbells of Lochawe (ancestors of both the Campbell Earls of Argyll and the Campbells of Glenorchy) had supported the Stewarts of Albany. Then, five generations later, in 1484, Sir William Stewart of Baldorran (great-great-grandson of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, and great-great grandfather of Patrick Stewart, 1st of Ledcreich) married the daughter of Sir Colin Campbell, 1st of Glenorchy, thus forming an alliance by marriage between the two clans. That means that every Stewart listed in the bond of manrent was also a cousin of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy who issued the bond.
What appears to have happened here is that a person or persons connected to the Stewarts of Glenbuckie murdered John MacOlchallum Comrie, who may have actually been a MacGregor. Clan Gregor at this time were in conflict with Clan Campbell. Highland clans believed in retributive justice. Thus, if a Stewart of Glenbuckie killed a MacGregor, then the MacGregors would naturally want revenge on the Stewarts of Glenbuckie. In response to that, we find the powerful Clan Campbell weighing in with a bond of protection for every major house belonging to the Stewarts of Glenbuckie, sending a message to the MacGregors that if they sought revenge on the Stewarts of Glenbuckie they would also have to face Clan Campbell. If this reminds you of an episode of Sons of Anarchy, well, you're not wrong.
If Patrick was directly involved in both of these murders, then perhaps he was a bit of a hothead and his ability to be the future chieftain of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie was questioned. Perhaps even Clan Campbell were frowning. That could be a possible reason to demote Patrick and to promote his younger brother, Duncan, to be 5th of Glenbuckie.
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Abt 1550 - UNKNOWN
